M. Hardinge.
VVee graunt, that in olde time slaunders were made vpon the Faithefull. But no like slaunder is made by vs vpon you in the matter, whereof ye speake. For let vs graunt, that ye haue in deede put your selues aparte, and are gone from the contagion of naughtie persons and Hypocrites. This is the very thinge, we laie to your charge. For though we were suche, as for a great number ye shall neuer be able to prooue, yet by Christes owne sentence ye muste doo that,* 1.1 whiche they that sit in the chaire of Moses bid you doo, although they be Hypocrites, as the Scribes and Phariseis were, of whome Christe spake &c. But it shal be inoughe for you to doo, as the Successours of Peter bid you to doo, and so to folowe their saieinges, and not their dooinges.
The Primitiue Churche is continewed with our time, by the Successours of S. Peter. for whose Faithe neuer to faile Christe praied, and whome‡ 1.2 onely he made Shepeherde to feede all his Flocke of Sheepe and Lambes. Christe* 1.3 now requireth of you, not to obeie Peter and Paule, but to obeie him, who sitteth in their chaire. VVhere ye saie, it is an odious matter to forsake vs, and yet haue foresaken vs: where ye confesse that ye despise not the Churche, we be of, and yet graunt that ye haue departed from it: how standeth this togeather? Remember ye what ye saie? Knowe ye what ye doo? VVho will regarde your woorde, whiche with one breathe saie, and vnsaie? If it be odious, why doo ye it? If ye despise not the Churche, why departe ye from it?