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…

The B. of Salisbury.

The B. of Sarisburie.

M. Harding, as well here, as else where, thinketh it an easy matter, with a bold Asseveration to smooth his unlearned simple Reader, specially such a one, as hath no eyes to look after him. These words of S, Augustine, saith he, pertain only unto the matter he had then in hand, and therefore may not be forced to any other. And here he remembereth us of a profound point in Logic, that a Negative Conclusion from the Special to the General cannot hold. Here it were a matter worthy the hearing: first, how M. Harding could enter so deeply, to know so much of S. Augustine's meaning: next, for as much as in respect of him self, he evermore fancieth us to be unlearned, how he were able to teach us to know the same. He assureth us upon his word, that these words of S. Augustine must needs be pounded, and restrained to that one only matter, & may not in any wise be stretched farther: & this, he imagineth, was S. Augustine's meaning. Thus, good Reader, by M. Hardinges handling, thou haste here a meaning of S. Augustine's, that S. Augustine himself never meant. For S. Augustine in the same matter, and against the same Heretic Petilian, although not in the same Book, writeth thus:¹ Sive de Christo, sive de eius Ecclesia, sive de quacunque re alia, quae pertinet ad Fidem, vitamque nostrā, non dicam, Si Nos, Sed, si Angelus de Coelo nobis annuntiaverit, praeterquàm quod in Scripturis Legalibus, & Evangelicis accepistis, Anathema sit: Whether it be of Christ, or of his Church, or of any thing else what so ever, pertaining either to our life, or to our Faith, I will not say, If I me self, but if an Angel from Heaven shall teach us otherwise, ²then we have received in the Books of the Law, and in the Gospels, hold him accursed.

M. Hardinge, as wel here, as els where, thinkethe it an easy mater, with a bolde Asseueration to smoothe his vnlearned simple Reader, specially sutche a one, as hathe no eies to looke after him. These woordes of S, Augustine, saithe he, perteine onely vnto the mater he had then in hande, and therefore maye not be forced to any other. And here he remembrethe vs of a profounde pointe in Logique, that a Negatiue Cōclusion from the Special to the General cannot holde. Here it were a mater woorthy the hearinge: firste, howe M. Hardinge coulde enter so déepely, to knowe so mutche of S. Augustines meaninge: next, for as mutche as in respecte of him selfe, he euermore fansiethe vs to be vnlearned, howe he were hable to teache vs to knowe the same. He assuerethe vs vpon his woorde, that these woordes of S. Augustine muste néedes be pounded, and restreined to that one onely mater, & maie not in any wise be stretched farther: & this, he imagineth, was S. Augustines meaninge. Thus, good Reader, by M. Hardinges handlinge, thou haste here a meaninge of S. Augustines, that S. Augustine himselfe neuer meante. For S. Augustine in the same mater, and against the same Heretique Petilian, although not in the same Booke, writethe thus: