A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.

The Apologie, Cap. 9. Diuision. 3.

But I put case, an Idole be sette vp in the Churche of God, and the same Desolation, whiche Christe prophesied to comme, stoode openly in the Holy Place? What if somme Theefe, or Pirate in∣uade, and possesse Noes Arke? These folkes, as often as they tel vs of the Churche, meane thereby them selues alone, and attri∣bute al these titles to theire owne selues, boastinge, as they did in times paste, whiche cried, The Temple of the Lorde, The Tem∣ple of the Lorde: or, as the Phariseis, and Scribes did, whiche craked, they were Abrahams Children. Thus with a gaie, and ioly shewe deceiue they the simple, and seeke to choke vs with the bare name of the Churche. Mutche like as if a Theefe, when he hathe gotten into an other mans house, and by violence either hathe thruste out, or slaine the owner, shoulde afterwarde assigne the same house to him selfe, castinge foorthe of possession the righte Enheritour: Or, if Antichriste, when he had once entred into the Temple of God, should afterwarde saie, This house is mine owne, and Christe hathe nothinge to doo withal. For these menne nowe, after they haue leafte nothinge remaininge in the Churche of God, that hath any likenesse of his Churche, yet wil thei seeme the Patro∣nes, and the valiaunte maineteiners of the Churche: Very like as Gracchus amongest the Romaines stoode in Defence of the Treasu∣rie, notwithstandinge with his prodigalitie, and fonde expenses, he had vtterly wasted the whole stocke of the Treasurie. And yet was there neuer any thinge so wicked, or so farre out of reason, but lightely it mighte be couered, and Defended by the name of the Churche. For the Waspes also make honycombes, as wel as Bees: and wicked men haue companies like to the Churche of God. Yet for al that, They be not streight vvaie the people of God, vvhiche are called the people of God: neither be they al Israelites, as many as are comme of Israel the Father.* 1.1 The Arians, notwithstanding they were Heretiques, yet bragged they, that they alone were

the Catholiques,* 1.2 calling al the reste, now Ambrosians, nowe Atha∣nasians, nowe Iohannites. And Nestorius, as saith Theodorete, for al that he was an Heretique, yet couered he him selfe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to wite,* 1.3 with a certaine cloke, & colour of the true and Right Faith. Ebion, though he agreed in opinion with the Sa∣maritanes, yet, as saith Epiphanius, he woulde needes be called a Christian. The Mahometistes at this daie, for al that al Histories make plaine mention, and themselues also cannot denie, but they tooke their fist beginning of Agar the bonde vvoman, yet for the very name, and stockes sake, chuse they rather to be called Sarace∣nes, as though they came of Sara the free vvoman, and Abrahams true and lavvful vvife. So likewise the false Prophetes of al ages, whiche stode vp against the Prophetes of God, and resisted Esaias, Ieremie, Christe, and the Apostles, at no time craked of any thinge so mutche, as they did of the name of the Churche. And for none other cause did they so fearcely vexe them, and cal them Re∣negates, and Apostatas, then for that they forsooke their felowship, and keapte not thordinaunces of the Elders. Wherefore, if we would folowe the iudgementes of those menne onely, who then gouerned the Churche, and would respecte nothinge els, neither God, nor his woorde, it must needes bee confessed, that the Apostles were rightly, and by iust Lawe condemned of them to death, bicause they fel from the Bishoppes and Priestes, that is, you must thinke, frō the Catho∣lique Churche: and bicause they made newe alterations in Reli∣gion, contrarie to the Bishoppes, and Priestes willes, yea, and for al their spurninge so earnestly against it.

M. Hardinge.

VVhat a foolishe putcase, and what a fond what if is that, to saie, VVhat if a pirate inuade the Arke of Noe?‡ 1.4 As though God sate not at the sterne, and had the bel••e in his owne hande.

* 1.5 Antichriste can not sit in the temple of God,* 1.6 vntil the vicare of Christe, who keepeth posses∣sion, be throwen out, and then wil Christe come with his Angels to destroie the wicked man with the breath of his mouth. Ye that are the berbingers of Antichriste, are not yet able to cast out the lieutenant of Christe.* 1.7 Ye heaue at the vnderministers. Your maister wil accompleshe al iniquitie, and he shalbe the desolation that Christe spake of. VVe vnderstande, what ye shoote at. But ye are ashamed to vtter plainely your blasphemie.‡ 1.8 Ye would saie (as it may seeme) if ye durste, that Christe is the desolation, and that Antichrist is the true God.* 1.9 In effect I do not greatly belie you.

Neither if the Apostles might go from the Bishoppes of Moses lawe, therefore may ye departe from the vicare of Christe. For the lawe of Moses is changed, and the priesthod of Aaron is trans∣ferred: But the lawe and priesthood of Iesus Christe tarieth for euer, as Dauid said, Thou art priest for euer, according to the order of Melchisedech. Ye hault too manifestly.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Antichriste, ye saie, cannot sit in the Temple of God, vntil the Vicare of Christe, who keepeth possession, be throwen out. So the olde Troians sometime saide, Theire Cittie coulde neuer miscarrie, while theire Palladium remained emongest them.

But who tolde you these straunge newes,* 1.10 M. Harding? Who made the Pope Christes Vicare general throughout the whole Churche?* 1.11 Or who bade him keepe possession in steede of Christe? Muste wee needes thinke, that the whole state of Christes Churche, hangeth onely of the Pope? Or that, if the Pope were not the Pope, the Churche of Christe were not the Churche? Or, muste youre sim∣ple woorde nowe be taken for a Prophesie, that Antichriste shal neuer enter in∣to Goddes Temple, before the Pope bee throwen oute? This Fable woulde haue benne better furnished with more credite.

Verily whereas we saie, vvee put case, an Idole be set vp in the Churche of God: Or, vvhat if somme Theefe or Pirate inuade and possesse Noes Arke, neither is this, vvhat if, so fonde as you woulde seeme to make it: nor this, Put case, so impossible. For S. Paule saithe, Antichriste shal sitte in the Churche of God, and shewe him selfe aboue al that is worshipped, or called God: that is to saie, Beinge a Theefe, and a Pirate, he shal enter perforce into Noes Arke.

Nowe, M. Hardinge, If Antichriste maie sitte in the place of God, mutche more maie he sitte in the place of Peter. I wil not saie, the Pope is Antichriste. God wil reuele him in his time:* 1.12 and he shalbe knowen. S. Iohn saithe, This is the wisedome: who so hath vnderstandinge, let him recken the number of the Beaste. Vpon whiche woordes,* 1.13 Irenaeus welneare fifteene hundred yeeres agoe, saithe thus: The name of Antichriste, expressed by that number shalbe, Latinus: And he addeth further, Hoc valdè verisimile est. Quoniam verissimum Regnum hoc habet vocabulum.

S.* 1.14 Gregorie saith, He is Antichriste, that shal claime to be called the Vniuersal Bishop: and shal haue a Garde of Priestes to attende vpon him. Againe, Irenaeus saithe, Antichristus, cùm sit Seruus, tamen adorari vult, vt Deus. Antichriste, notwithstandinge he be but a slaue, yet, he wilbe woorshipped, as if he were God. Ioa∣chimus Abbas saithe, Antichristus iampridem natus est Romae, & altiùs ex∣tolletur in Sede Apostolica: Antichriste is longe sithence borne in Rome, and yet shal be higher anaunced in the Apostolique See.

Thus is he described, that shal sitte in the place of Christe, and shal maine∣teine possession againste Christe.* 1.15 But, Christe shal comme vvith his holy An∣gels, and shal destroie him vvith the breath of his mouthe.

That ye allege of the Priesthoode of Melchisedech, serueth you here to smal pourpose. Wee knowe, that, not the Pope, but Christe alone is a Prieste for euer,* 1.16 accordinge to the Order of Melchisedech. S. Augustine saithe: Ipse est Sacerdos noster in aeternum, secundum Ordinem Melchisedech, qui semetip∣sum obtulit holocaustum pro peccatis nostris: & eius Sacrificii Similitudinem celebrandam in suae Passionis Memoriam commendauit: Christe is oure Prieste for euer after the Order of Melchisedech, whiche hath offered vp him selfe a Sacrifice for oure sinnes: and hath deliuered vnto vs a Similitude, or Likenesse of that Sacrifice, to be donne in remembraunce of his Passion.

Likewise againe he saithe,* 1.17 Holocausti eius Imaginem ad Memoriam Pas∣sionis suae in Ecclesia celebrandam dedit, vt esset Sacerdos in aeternum: non se∣cundum Ordinem Aaron, sed secundum ordinem Melchisedech: Christe hathe geuen an Image, or Resemblaunce of that Sacrifice, to bee keapte in the Churche in Remem∣braunce of his Passion, that he might be a Prieste for euer: not after the Order of Aaron, but after the Order of Melchisedech.

Howe be it,* 1.18 touchinge this whole mater, I haue answeared more at large in my Former Replie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  August. in Ser∣mon. Contra A∣rianos, to. 6.
• * 1.2

  Augustinus in Ep. 48 ad Vincē. Epiphani. lib. 1. Haere. 30.
• * 1.3

  Sozomen. lib. 6. cap. 38.
• ‡ 1.4

  As though S. Paule had not vvarned vs, that Antichriste shal sitte, and shevve him selfe in the place of Christe.
• * 1.5

  Ergo An∣tichriste shal sitte in the Popes chaire. 2. Thess. 2
• * 1.6

  But vvhat if Christes Vicare him selfe be An∣tichriste?
• * 1.7

  Math. 24.
• ‡ 1.8

  Vntruth, Ma∣licious and sclaunderous.
• * 1.9

  Ergo yee belie vs, al∣though not greatly.
• * 1.10

  To sit in the place of Christe.
• * 1.11

  2. Thess 2.
• * 1.12

  Apocalyp. 13.
• * 1.13

  Irenaeus, li. 5. cap. vltimo.
• * 1.14

  Gregor. lib. 4. Epist 38 Sacer∣dotum paratus est exercitus. Irenae lib. 5. Cap. penulti. Ioachimus Ab∣bas.
• * 1.15

  2. Thess. 2.
• * 1.16

  Augustin in lib. 83. quaesti. quae. 61.
• * 1.17

  In eadem quae∣stione.
• * 1.18

  Articul. 17. Diuision. 15.