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…

An other proper pastime ye make your self with your Negatives, and Ablatives. And wherefore, it were hard to tell, saving that, I see, ye were well disposed, and well it became you, to be merry. The Ancient Learned Fathers, having to deal with impudent Heretics, that in defence of their Errors, avouched the Judgement of all the Old Bishops, and Doctors, that had been before them, and the general consent of the Primitive, and whole Universal Church, and that with as good regard of Truth, and as Faithfully, as you do now, the better to discover the shameless boldness, and nakedness of their Doctrine, were oftentimes likewise forced to use the Negative, and so to drive the same Heretics, as we do you, to prove their Affirmatives: which thing to do, it was never possible. The Ancient Father Irenaeus thus stayed him self, as we do,¹ by the Negative: Hoc neque Prophetae Praedicaverunt, neque Dominus docuit, neque Apostoli tradiderunt: This thing neither did the Prophets publish. nor our Lord teach, ²nor the Apostles deliver. By a like Negative Chrysostom saith, Hanc Arborem non Paulus plantavit, non Apollo rigavit, non Deus auxit: This Tree (of Error) neither Paul planted, nor Apollo watered, nor God increased. In like sort Leo saithe, Quid opus est in cor admittere, quod Lex non docuit, quod Prophetia non cecinit, quod Evangelij Veritas non praedicavit, quod Apostolica Doctrina non tradidit? What needeth it, to believe that thing, that neither the Law hath taught, nor the Prophets have spoken, nor the Gospel hath preached, nor the Apostles have delivered? And again, Quomodo nova inducuntur, quae nunquam nostri censer Mayors? ³Howe are these new devises brought in, that our Fathers never knew?

An other proper pastime yee make youre selfe with youre Negatiues, and Ablatiues. And wherefore, it were harde to telle, sauinge that, I see, ye were wel disposed, and wel it became you, to be mery. The Ancient Learned Fathers, hauinge to deale with impudent Heretiques, that in defence of their Erroures, auouched the Iudgemente of al the Olde Bishoppes, and Doctoures, that hadde benne before them, and the general consente of the Primitiue, and whole Vniuersal Churche, and that with as good regarde of Truthe, and as Faithefully, as you doo nowe, the better to discouer the shamelesse boldenesse, and nakednesse of theire Doctrine, were oftentimes likewise forced to vse the Negatiue, and so to driue the same Heretiques, as wee doo you, to proue theire Affirmatiues: whiche thinge to doe, it was neuer possible. The Anciente Father Irenaeus thus staied him selfe, as wee doo,