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…

Hereby we may see, that whether we say, We believe that God is God, or, we believe In God, both these phrases are used of the godly, and are therefore both good, & Catholic. If M. Harding find any want, or imperfection in our words, let him supply it with good favour: so he condemn not either S. Paul, or Hermes, or Origen, or Hilary, or Charles the Great, or other Catholic, and godly writers, as well Greeks, as Latins: who, as I have showed, have used the like. Certainly the General Confession of all our people, and of our whole Church, is this, We believe In God: We believe In Christ: We believe In the Holy Ghost.

Hereby wée maie sée, that whether wée saie, Wee beleeue that God is God, or, we beleeue In God, both these phrases are vsed of the godly, and are therfore both good, & Catholique. Yf M. Hardinge finde any wante, or imperfection in our woordes, let him supplie it with good fauoure: so he condemne not either S. Paule, or Hermes, or Origen, or Hilarie, or Charles the Greate, or other Catholique, and godly writers, as wel Gréekes, as Latines: who, as I haue shewed, haue vsed the like. Certainely the General Confession of al our people, and of our whole Churche, is this, VVee beleeue In God: VVee beleeue In Christe: VVee beleeue In the Holy Ghoste.

But M. Harding saith, we grate over busily upon the Article of Christs Ascension into Heaven. What then? Should we have left it out? Verily that would have been some good countenance to your cause▪ An• therefore when Pope Nicolas would have brought us your new Article of Transubstantiation into the Creed, he should first have utterly removed this whole Article of Christs Ascension. For these two Articles may not well stand together by any construction in one Creed. As for us, we have said nothing herein, but that hath often ben said, and avouched by the Holy Learned Fathers. Damasus the Bishop of Rome, in his Creed grateth hereon as much, as we. His words be these: Devicto mortis imperio, ¹cum ea Carne, in qua natus, & passus, & mortuus fuerat, & resurrexit, Ascendit ad Patrem, sedetque ad Dextram eius in Gloria: Having overcome the empire of death, with the same flesh, wherein he was borne, and suffered, and died, and rose again, he Ascended unto the Father, and sitteth at his Right hand in Glory. Which words S. Hierome in larger manner expoundeth thus: Ascendit ad Coelū, Sedet ad Dextram Dei Patris,