M. Hardinge.
These and the like places haue ben already alleaged, of olde time, against the Catholiques, by the Donatistes, as S. Augustine sheweth: and of late yeeres by youre scholemaister Iohn Caluine of Ge∣neua. VVe neede not to studie for newe answeres to the argument made out of these and suche other places, mutche fitter for this purpose, then these are, sithe that the same is so wel answered by S. Au∣gustine. Oftentimes (saithe he) Goddes worde rebuketh the wicked sortes of the Churche so,* 1.1 as though al were suche, and none at al remained good. For thereby we are warned, them in their certaine number to be called al, as mutche to sale, al the children of hel. But Sirs, what if the Churche at the beginning of the worlde, and at the general drowning, was of smal number? And what if the Synagog were sometime quite extinguished? Must it therefore folowe, that the church also after that God hath geuen to Christe his Sonne the endes of the worlde to be his possession,* 1.2 maie nowe be brought to a fewe, and to faile altogether? VVhere was the Churche (saie ye) when of al the worlde there were but eight persons, and they onely saued aliue from the vniuersal destruction? Forsooth they were in Noes Arke. And nowe haue we‡ 1.3 our Noes Arke also, in whiche who so euer abideth not, the same is drowned.
Neither were the Prophetes and Apostles sent, nor Christe came him selfe to repaire a newe the Churche, whiche had in faithe wholy erred: but both they were sent, and he came, that it shoulde not wholly erre.