A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…

But be it, that Wittenberg were so simple a borough, as M. Harding imagineth. Yet were it not more simple then was the Town of Nazareth: in which poor Town notwithstanding, first appeared the most glorious, and greattest Light of the world. Christian modesty would not disdain the Truth of God in respect of place. That rather becometh the Proud looks of the Scribes, and Pharisees. They despised Christ and his Disciples, and called them Nazarenes, in despite of his Country. And there hence, it is likely, first grew that scornful question used by Nathanael,¹ Nunquid ex Nazareth potest aliquid esse boni? Can any good thing come from Nazareth, so poor a Town? So Celsus the Heathen despised the Religion of Christ, because it came (not from Rome, or Athens, but) from the Barbarous Jews.² For thus Origen reporteth of him: Dogma Christianuns affirmat à Barbaris cepisse ortum, hoc est, à Judaeis. He saith, the Doctrine of the Christians had his beginning only from a Barbarous Nation, that is to say, from the Jews.

But be it, that Wittenberg were so simple a burrough, as M. Hardinge imagineth. Yet were it not more simple then was the Towne of Nazareth: in whiche poore Towne notwithstandinge, firste appeared the most glorious, and greattest Light of the world. Christian modestie would not disdeigne the Truthe of God in respecte of place. That rather becommethe the Proude lookes of the Scribes, and Phariseis. They despised Christe and his Disciples, and called them Nazarenes, in despite of his Countrie. And there hence, it is likely, first grewe that scorneful question vsed by Nathanael,¹ Nunquid ex Nazareth potest aliquid esse boni? Can any good thinge come from Nazareth, so poore a Towne? So Celsus the Heathen despised the Religion of Christe, bicause it came (not from Rome, or Athens, but) from the Barbarous Iewes.² For thus Origen reportethe of him: Dogma Christianuns affirmat à Barbaris cepisse ortum, hoc est, à Iudaeis. He saithe, the Doctorue of the Christians had his beginninge onely from a Barbarous Nation, that is to say, from the Iewes.

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