But, good Christian Reader, for thy better understanding, least happily thou be deceived, it may please thee to know, that these Authorities, alleged here by M. Harding, are neither new, nor strange, nor unknown to any man of mean learning but have been both often brought in, and alleged by others, and also weighed, and examined, and thoroughly confuted long a go. In deed M. Harding hath added of him self some beauty of his eloquence, and majesty of words▪ and yet not so much, nor such, but it may easily be answered, although not with like eloquence, whereof in these cases there is no need, yet at least with more trueth. I trust, by indifferent conference hereof, thou shalt soon see the Ancient Fathers, Some that never were, by M. Harding surmised, and counterfeited: Some untruly alleged: Some corruptly translated: Some perversely expounded: Some unaptly, and guilefully applied: Their words sometimes abridged▪ sometimes enlarged: sometimes altered▪ sometimes dissembled: Fabulous, and unknown Authorities newly founded: Childish Arguments fondly concluded: To be short, infinite Untruths, and known Untruths boldly avouched In consideration hereof S. Augustine crieth out, O rerum Naturae obscuritas:1 quantum •egmen est Falsitatis? O the Darkness of Natural things. What a coover•e have lies to lu•ke in? Therefore Socrates saith, We may not believe every Argument, that is showed us, upon the sight. But must open it, and search it, and look it through. For oftentimes it seemeth otherwise, then it is. It seemeth strong without, and is weak within. ⟨image 3⟩King Agesilaus, when he understood his Enemies of policy, to cover the smallness, and weakness of their bodies, had bomebasted, and embossed out their coats with great quarters, that they might seem big, and mighty men, and that his soldiers therewith were much dismayed, after he had overthrown, and slain them in the field, pulled of their coats, and stripped them, and left them naked: and, when he had caused his Soldiers to behold the poor, lither, slender, wearish bodies, nothing like that, they seemed before, then said he unto them: Lo, these be they, of whom ye stood so much afraid: these be their great bodies: these be their mighty bones. Even so, good Reader, if thou stand in fear of these M.
But, good Christian Reader, for thy better vnderstanding, least happily thou be deceiued, it may please thee to know, that these Authorities, alleged here by M. Harding, are neither new, nor strange, nor vnknowen to any man of meane learning but haue beene bothe often brought in, and alleged by others, and also weighed, and examined, and thorowly confuted longe a goe. In deede M. Harding hath added of him self some bewtie of his eloquence, and maiestie of woordes▪ and yet not so much, nor suche, but it may easily be answeared, although not with like eloquence, whereof in these cases there is no neede, yet at leaste with more trueth. I trust, by indifferent conference hereof, thou shalt soone see the Ancient Fathers, Some that neuer were, by M. Hardinge surmised, and countrefeited: Some vntruely alleged: Some corruptely translated: Some peruersly expounded: Some vnaptly, and gui•efully applied: Their woordes sometimes abbridged▪ sometimes enlarged: sometimes altered▪ sometimes dissembled: Fabulous, and vnknowen Authorities newly founded: Childish Argumentes fondly concluded: To be shorte, infinite Vntruethes, and knowen Vntruethes boldely auouched• In consideration hereof S. Augustine crieth out, O rerum Naturae obscuritas:1 quantum •egmen est Falsitatis? O the Darkenesse of Natural thinges. VVhat a coouer•e haue lies to lu•ke in? Therefore Socrates saith, VVee may not beleeue euery Argumente, that is shevved vs, vpon the sight. But must open it, and searche it, and looke it through. For oftentimes it seemeth otherwise, then it is. It seemeth stronge without, and is weake within. ⟨image 3⟩Kinge Agesilaus, when he vnderstoode his Enimies of policie, to coouer the smalnesse, and weaknes of their bodies, had bomebasted, and embossed out their coates with greate quarters, that they might seeme bigge, and mighty men, and that his souldiers therewith were muche dismaide, after he had ouerthrowen, and slaine them in the fielde, pulled of their coates, and stript them, and left them naked: and, when he had caused his Souldiers to beholde the poore, lither, sclender, wearishe bodies, nothing like that, they seemed before, then saide he vnto them: Lo, these be they, of vvhom ye stoode so muche afraide: these be their greate bodies: these be their mighty boanes. Euen so, good Reader, if thou stande in feare of these M.
- 1August▪ de Morib• Ma••chae. […]. •. ca. 16.August▪ de Morib• Ma••chae. 〈…〉. •. ca. 16.
