An answer to a certain book, writtenAn answere to a certeine booke, written

Now for Saint James epistle, where you demand how it may appear that it was not refused by the whole Church, I would know, whether you will say it was indeed refused by the whole Church, or no? if you will so say, then you shall, as much discredit the authority thereof,¹ as ever Luther or any Protestant hath done. For as the whole Church never received any book for canonical, but that which was truly Canonical: so the whole Church hath never refused any as Apocryphal, but such as were indeed Apocryphal. If then the whole Church of Christ hath refused Saint James Epistle, it will necessarily follow, that S. James Epistle is not canonical. But that the whole ⟨p. 30⟩Church ever refused it, is untrue, as maybe proved by the testimonies of writers, and Histories of the Church.² Eusebius, that was the greatest adversary of it, and did most sharply censure it, yet in the same place confesseth, that both that and the rest were received and published in most Churches. Wherefore when you say,³ that for this part you must credit me upon my word, herein you bewray either great ignorance, or desire to quarrel. The difference then which I put between the Apocryphal books of the old testament, and these books of the new, that they were rejected by the Church wholly, these not so, is fully proved: whereupon it followeth that the Church of England had greater reason to refuse them, then these, and was therein led by learning, & knowledge, not by fancy and opinion, as you say. What learning, or what divinity is your Church led by, first to esteem of these alike, then to allow for Canonical, such books, as you confess, and can not deny to have been refused by the whole Church?

Now for Saint Iames epistle, where you demaund how it may appeere that it was not refused by the wholl Church, I would know, whether you will say it was indeed refused by the wholl Church, or no? if you will so say, then you shall, as much discredite the authoritie thereof,¹ as euer Luther or anie Protestant hath done. For as the wholl Church neuer receiued anie booke for canonical, but that which was truelie Canonicall: so the wholl Church hath neuer refused any as Apocryphall, but such as were indeed Apocryphall. If then the wholl Church of Christ hath refused Saint Iames Epistle, it will necessarilie follow, that S. Iames Epistle is not canonicall. But that the wholl