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 M. Harding saith, Whoso ever maketh this argument, which in your Word is implied, The Scriptures are to be asked: Ergo, the Holy Fathers are not to be asked, maketh a foolish argument.

But M. Hardinge saithe, VVhoso euer maketh this argumente, whiche in your VVoorde is implied, The Scriptures are to be asked: Ergo, the Holy Fathers are not to be asked, maketh a foolishe argumente.

It seemeth no great point of Wisdom, M. Harding, to upbraid others with folly without cause: God increase both you and us in all wisdom, and understanding in Christ Jesus. How be it, our Argument, how so ever it hath pleased you to fashion, and to handle it, as we meant it, and made it, had no such Folly. Wherefore, what so ever Folly is now come to it, it is your own: it is not ours. For we deny not the Learned Fathers expositions, and judgements in doubtful cases of the Scriptures. We read them our selves: We follow them: We embrace them: and, as I said before, we most humbly thank God for them. But thus we say, The same Fathers opinions, and judgements, for as much as they are sometimes disagreeable one from an other, and sometimes imply contrarieties, and contradictions, therefore alone, and of them selves, without farther authority, and guiding of God's Word, are not always sufficient Warrants to charge our Faith. And thus the Learned Catholic Fathers themselves have evermore taught us to esteem, and to weigh the Fathers.

It seemeth no greate pointe of Wisedome, M. Hardinge, to vpbraide others with folie without cause: God encrease bothe you and vs in al wisedome, and vnderstandinge in Christe Iesu. How be it, our Argumente, howe so euer it hathe pleased you to fashon, and to handle it, as we meante it, and made it, had no sutche Folie. Wherefore, what so euer Folie is nowe come to it, it is your owne: it is not ours. For wée denie not the Learned Fathers expositions, and iudgementes in doubteful cases of the Scriptures. Wée reade them our selues: Wée folowe them: Wée embrace them: and, as I saide before, wée moste humbly thanke God for them. But thus wée saie, The same Fathers opinions, and iudgementes, for as mutche as they are sometimes disagréeable one from an other, and sometimes implie contrarieties, and contradictions, therefore alone, and of them selues, without farther authoritie, and guidinge of Goddes Woorde, are not alwaies sufficient Warrantes to charge our Faithe. And thus the Learned Catholique Fathers themselues haue euermore taught vs to esteeme, and to weighe the Fathers.