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. 1.

But, whereas they haue commaunded, that those Decrees should be voide, as thinges nowe waxen too olde, and that haue loste theire grace, perhaps they haue prouided, in theire steede, certaine other better thinges, and more profitable for the people. For it is a com∣mon saieinge with them, that if Christe him selfe, or the Apostles vvere aliue againe, thei could neither better, nor more Godly go∣uerne Gods Churche, then it is at this presente gouerned by thē. They haue put sommewhat in theire steede in deede: but it is chaffe in steede of vvheate,* 1.1 as Hieremie saith: & sutche thinges, as, accor∣ding to Esaies woordes, God neuer required at theire handes. They haue stopped vp, saith he, al the vaines of the cleare springing vva∣ter, & haue digged vp for the people deceiuable, & puddlelike pits, ful of mire, and filth, vvhiche neither haue, nor are hable to holde pure vvater. They haue plucked awaie from the people the Holy Communion, the VVoorde of God, from whence al comforte shoulde bee taken, the true Worshippinge of God also, and the right vse of Sacramentes, and Praier, and haue geeuen vs of their own, to plaie withal in the meane while, Salte, Water, Oile, Boxes, Spittle, Palmes, Bulles, Iubilees, Pardons, Crosses, Sensinges, and an endelesse rabble of Ceremonies, and (as a man might terme them with Plautus) prety games, to make sporte withal.

M. Hardinge.

Raile and reuel whiles ye wil, the Churche is gouerned by* 1.2 disciline. If Christe himselfe or his Apostles wee aliue againe, the worde, that is to saie,‡ 1.3 the Doctrine of our belefe, no we preached and receiued in the Catholike Church, ‡ neither shoulde be altered, ‡ nor coulde be bet∣tered. ‡ For it is the same, he taught him selfe. And that we doubt not of it, accordinge to his promise, he hath sente the holy Ghoste, to enforme the Churche of al truthe.* 1.4 Remember you not, who saide, I am God,* 1.5 and am not changed? againe, that the worde of God remaineth for euer?

This beinge true, it is euident, that we haue the sound and weighty wheate, whiche no persecution of tyraunces, and blasies of heretikes, no contagion of euil manners, for these fiften hundred yeeres could either blowe from the floore of our Lordes berne, the Churche, or corrupt. VVe haue accordinge to the Apostles counsel,* 1.6 kepte that hath ben committed vnto vs. VVe haue enioyed the fountaine of the wa∣ter of life.

Ye charge vs soare, that we haue plucked awaie from the people the holy communion, the worde of God, the true worshippinge of God, the right vse of Sacramentes, and praier. VVho so euer taketh these fiue awaie, wherein chiefly standeth our saluation, the same‡ 1.7 is Antichrist. VVere not that ye haue already done so mutche for vs, as the worlde maie take you for impudente liers, we would not quietly beare so greauous a matter. But nowe, that ye haue tried your selues so false of your worde, we litle esteme it: your railinge is no slaunder. Lastly concerninge praier, what hath ben ordeined by our holy

forefathers* 1.8 of al ages,* 1.9 directed with the sprite of God, for the maintenance and encrease of it to Gods honoure, al that in fewe yeres by the instincte of Sathan, to promote his Kingedome, ye haue vt∣terly abolished, and by wicked violence brought the people from‡ 1.10 deuotion to a carelesse idlenesse, from speaking to God with hartes and lippes, to ‡ a spiritual dummesse, from praiers ‡ to chapters, from holy thinkinge to ‡ vnprofitable harkeninge.

Ye can not abyde salte, water, oyle, palme, the crosse, incense, &c. no maruel. No more can not the deuil, who possesseth you, and rideth you, and after his owne wil driueth you from truthe, from Chri∣sten Religion, and from al Godlines. VVere it so that your sprite coulde a waie with those thinges, then were it not agreeing with his sprite. Vntil ye geue place to the spirit of God, who maie driue out of you the spiritie of Sathan, we looke to heare no better tidinges of you.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Ye were sommewhat angrie, M. Hardinge, when ye thus besturred your selfe. It pitieth me in your behalfe. Christe, and his Apostles, yée saie, neuer ruled the Churche in bet∣ter order, then it is nowe ruled by the Pope, and his Cardinalles. Euen so might they haue saide, that had turned the House of God into a Caue of Theeues. One of your frendes saith,* 1.11 Apostolorū temporibus rudis adhuc erat Ecclesia: In the time of the Apostles, the Churche as yet was rude, and Barbarous, and out of order. And, being afterward repro∣ued for his blasphemous speache, he answeared lewdly in his pleasance,

Rudis, indigesta{que}ue moles.

Others of you saie, Christus in Coelo praesidet: Papa in Terris residet: Christe ruleth in Heauen: the Pope in Earthe. An other saithe,* 1.12 Omnes Sanctiones Sedis Apo∣stolicae sic accipiendae sunt, tanquam ipsius Diuina voce Petri firmatae: Al the Lawes of the Apostolique see of Rome muste so be taken, as if they were confirmed by the Diuine voice of Peter him selfe.

An other saith,* 1.13 Sicut ostium regitur Cardine, ita Ecclesia Romana regitur Con∣silio Cardinalium: As the doore is ruled by the hooke, so is the Churche of Rome ruled by the Counsel of Cardinalles.

Therefore the Pope him selfe saithe thus vnto them, Vos eritis Senatores vr∣bis, & Regum similes, veri Mundi Cardines, super quos militantis ostium Ec∣clesiae voluendum, & regendum est: Ye shalbe the Senatours of my Cittie, and like vn∣to Kinges, the very bookes, and staies of the worlde, vpon whom the very doore of y^• Churche Militante muste be turned, and ruled. Sutche are they, whom S. Hierome ima∣gineth thus to saie, Non est Vir in domo. Non est Christus Corporaliter in Ecclesia. Surgens enim à mortuis, Ascendit in Coelum: nobis{que} Ministerium gubernandae Ec∣clesiae, suam, videlicet, Domum reliquit: My Husbande is not at home. (That is to saie) Christe is not nowe Corporally in the Churche. For, beinge risen from the deade, he is Ascended into Heauen: and hath leafte vnto vs the gouernmente of his Churche: that is, the whole or∣deringe of his House.

True it is, as you saie,* 1.14 God is one, and is not Changed. And his Woorde endureth for euer. But the Change is in you, and not in God. Goddes Woorde is the Woorde of Life: your Woorde is the Woorde of Vanitie. God the Father hath not planted it: Therefore it shalbe plucked vp by the rootes. God saithe by the Prophete Mala∣chie: The lippes of the Prieste shal keepe knowledge:* 1.15 and the people shal require the Lawe at his mouthe. For he is the Angel of the Lorde of Hostes. Vos autem recessistis de Via, &c. But you are gonne backe from the VVaie: you haue offended many a one in the Lavve: you haue broken the Couenante of Leui, saith the Lord of Hostes. And therefore haue I made you to be despised.

Yee haue changed the moste parte of the Apostles Doctrine: And of al, that euer they ordeined, yée haue in a manner leafte nothinge standinge. S. Bernarde

saithe of your owne Churche of Rome,* 1.16 A planta pedis vsque ad verticem Capi∣tis, non est sanitas vlla: From the sole of the foote, vnto the Crowne of the heade, there is not one whole place:* 1.17 And yet ye beare vs strongely in hande, that Christe, and his Apostles neuer ruled the Churche in better order, then it is nowe ruled by the Pope, and his Cardinalles.

Al the reste of your emptie talke is answeared sufficiently before. Yet one pange of your Eloquence. I maie not in any wise leaue vntouched. Thus ye saie, By the in∣stincte of Satan, ye haue brought the people from deuotion, to carelesse idlenesse: from speakinge to God with hartes, and lippes, to a spiritual doumbenesse: from Praiers, to Chapters: from Holy thinking, to vnprofitable hearkeninge. If I were not wel acquainted with your speache, M. Har∣dinge, I could not thinke, ye would so vnaduisedly bestowe your woordes. I doubte not, but euen hereby it shal soone appeare, whether of vs hath wilfully broken the Apostles Orders, & refused the Godly Examples of the Holy Primitiue Churche of God. Yee telle vs, that the Readinge of the Scriptures vnto the people, in the Churche of God, is a Spiritual doumbenesse, and a thinge vnprofitable, as onely diuised of our selues, and that, as you saie, by the instincte of Sathan, and neuer be∣fore, either knowen, or vsed by any Catholique Learned Father.

Yet the Aunciente Father Origen saithe,* 1.18 Iudaicarum Historiarum Libri traditi sunt ab Apostolis, Legendi in Ecclesijs: The Bookes of (the Olde Testament, which are called) the stories of the Iewes, were deliuered by the Apostles, to be readde in the Churches.* 1.19 Dionysius saithe, Deinde ordine habetur Sacrorum Librorum Le∣ctio: After warde folowe in order the Lessons of the Holy Bookes. Iustinus Martyr saithe, Die Solis omnes, qui in oppidis, vel in agris morantur, vnum in locum conue∣niunt: Commentaria{que} Apostolorum, vel Prophetarum Scripta leguntur. Deinde, is, qui praeest, admone•• omnes, & horratur, vt ea, quae Lecta sunt, bona, imitentur. Deinde surgimus omnes, & comprecamur: Vpon the Sondaie, the Christian people, that dwel in towne,* 1.20 or Countrie, meete togeather in one place. There the Epistles of the A∣postles, or the prophetes Writinges are pronounced vnto vs. Afterward, he that is the Chiefe, or Minister, warneth, and exhorteth al the reste, that they wil folowe those good thinges, that they haue hearde readden. That donne, wee rise vp al, and praie togeather. S Cyprian saithe,* 1.21 Lector personat Verba sublimia: Euangelium Christi legit: A Fratribus conspicitur: cum gaudio Fraternitatis auditur: The Reader soundeth out the high, and Heauenly Woordes: he readeth out the Gospel of Christe: He is seene of the Brethren: he is hearde with ioie of (al) the Brotherhoode.

The Fathers in the Councel of Constantinople saie thus,* 1.22 Tempore Dip∣tychorum cucurrit omnis multitudo cum magno silentio circum circa Altare, & audiebant: At the time of Readinge (of the Chapter) al the multitude of the peo∣ple with greate silence drewe runde about the Anltare, or Communion Table, and gaue eare.

In the Councel of Laodicea it is written thus,* 1.23 In Sabbatis Euangelia cum alijs Scripturis legi conuenit: Vpon y^e Sabboth daie it is conuenient, that y^e Gospelles, and other Scriptures be readde (in the Churche vnto the people).* 1.24 Leo saith, Solen∣nitati Sacratissimae Lectionis subiungatur exhortatio Sacerdotis: After the so∣lemne Readinge of the moste Holy Lesson, let there folowe the Sermon, or Exhortation of the Prieste. S.* 1.25 Chrysostome saithe, Sta•• Minister, & Communis Minister, & alta vo∣ce clamat. Post illam vocem Lector incipit Prophetiam Esaiae: The Minister, and Common Minister standeth vp, and crieth out with lowde voice (saieinge, keepe silence, and geeue eare). After that, the Reader beginneth the Prophesie of Esaie. S. Ambrose saith,* 1.26 Non possum ego à me facere quicquam: sicut audio, & iudico. Audistis Lectum: Ego non accuso vos: Moses vos accusat: Audistis Lectum: (Christe saithe) I cannot doo any thinge of mee selfe: As I heare, so I iudge. Yee haue hearde it readden: I accuse you not: It is Moses, that accuseth you. Yee haue hearde it readden.

S. Augustine saithe,* 1.27 Audistis, cùm Euangelium legeretur: Modò, cùm lege∣retur, si intenti fuistis Lectioni, Audistis: Audiuimus in Lectione, quae Lecta est, Fratres dilectissimi:* 1.28 Ye hearde, when the Gospel was readde: Ye hearde ere while, when it was readde, if ye gaue eare to the Readinge: Deerely beloued, wee haue hearde in the Lesson, that hath benne readde.

Hereby, I thinke, it maie appeare, that the Readinge of Lessons, and Chap∣ters, is no Newe Diusse in the Churche of God.

And yet wil you tel vs, M. Hardinge, that al this is onely a Spiritual doumbenesse, and an vnprofitable Hearkeninge, brought in by the instincte of Sathan, to promote his Kingedome? Or, if you dare so to tel vs, muste wée be∣léeue you?

Verily,* 1.29 Isidorus saith, Lectio est non parua audientium aedificatio. Vnde o∣porter, vt quando Psallitur, Psallatur ab omnibus: quando Oratur, Oretur ab omnibus: quandò Lectio Legitur, facto silentio, aequè audiatur à cunctis: The Lesson (in the Church) bringeth great profite to the hearers. Therefore when Singing is, let al Singe togeather: when Praier is, let al Praie togeather: And, vvhen the Lesson, or Cha∣pter is readde, let silence be made, and let al heare togeather. Tertullian saith, Coimus ad Literarum Diuinarum Commemorationem.* 1.30 Fidem Sanctis Voci∣bus pascimus: Spem erigimus: Fiduciam figimus: We comme togeather to the Readinge of the Holy Scriptures: wee feede our Faithe with those Heauenly Voices: wee raise vp our affiance: wee fosten our hope. Againe he saithe,* 1.31 Vbi fomenta Fi∣dei de Scripturarum Lectione? Where is the feeding of Faithe, that commeth by the open pronouncinge, and Readinge of the Scriptures?

Origen saithe,* 1.32 Non fuisset Necessarium, Legi haec in Ecclesia, nisi ex his aedificatio aliqua audientibus praeberetur: It had not benne Necessarie, to haue these thinges readde in the Churche, onlesse thereof might growe somme profite to the hearers.

Leo saith,* 1.33 Sacram Dominicae Passionis Historiam Euangelica, vt moris est, narratione decursam, ita omnium vestrum arbitror inhaesisse pectoribus, vt vnicuique audientium, ipsa Lectio quaedam facta sit vitio: I thinke, that the Holy storie of our Lordes Passion, whiche wee, as the manner is, haue readde vnto you, is so faste∣ned vnto al your hartes, that the very hearinge it selfe vnto euery of the Hearers is a kinde of seeinge. Chrysostome saith, The manner was, that before euery sutche Lesson, or Chapter, the Minister should saie vnto the people, with a loude voice, Attenda∣mus: Let vs Marke.* 1.34

S. Augustine saith, Epistolae Apostolicae, non tantùm illis Scriptae sunt, qui tempore illo,* 1.35 quo scribebantur, audiebant, sed etiam nobis. Non enim ob aliud in Ec∣clesia recitantur: The Apostles Epistles were not written onely to them, that hearde them at the same time, when they were written, but also to vs. For to none other pour∣pose they are readde openly in the Churche.

This therefore is no Spiritual Doumbenesse, M. Hardinge: This is no vnprofitable Hearkeninge: This is no Instincte, or VVoorke of Sathan. S. Augustine saithe, Vide Formicam Dei: Surgit quotidiè: Currit ad Ecclesiam Dei: Orat: Audit Lectionem:* 1.36 Hymnum cantat: ruminat, quod audit: Apud se cogitat: recon∣dit intùs grana electa de area: Beholde Goddes Emote: Shee riseth daily: Shee renneth to the Churche of God: shee Praieth: Shee heareth the Lesson, or Chapter: Shee fin∣geth the Psalme: Shee cheweth, or remembreth, that shee hathe hearde: Shee museth vpon it within her selfe: And within shee laieth vp the Cornes chosen from the floore.

But your Churches, M. Hardinge, are ful, not onely of Spiritual, but also of Corporal, and horrible doumbenesse. Of al, that is saide, or donne there, the

poor Godly People knoweth nothinge. S. Augustine saithe,* 1.37 Si intellectum mentis remoueas, nemo aedificatur, audiendo, quod non intelligit: If yee re∣moue the vnderstandinge of the minde,* 1.38 no man is edified, or taketh profite by hearinge, that he cannot vnderstande.

Chrysostome saithe, Perdiderunt audiendi laborem, & tempus. Nam qui non intelligit,* 1.39 quod audit, perdit, quod audit: They haue loste bothe theire laboure in hearinge, and also the time. For he, that vnderstandeth not, that he heareth, loseth the thinge, that he heareth. Therefore the Pope him selfe in his Pontifical, gée∣ueth this special Charge vnto the Reader,* 1.40 Stude Lectiones Sacras distinctè, & a∣pertè proferre ad Intelligentiam, & aedificationem Fidelium: Endeuoure thee selfe to pronounce the Holy Lessons (or Chapters) distinctely, and plainely (not to a Spiri∣tual doumbenesse, but) to the vnderstandinge, and profite of the Faitheful.

Touching the Praiers, that the simple people maketh in a tongue vnknowen, Christe saithe,* 1.41 This people honoureth me with theire lippes: But theire hartes are far from mee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hierem. 23. Esai. 1.
• * 1.2

  But the Pope vseth neither of them.
• ‡ 1.3

  Vntruthes, vvithout either measure, or re∣garde of shame.
• * 1.4

  Malach. 3. Psal. 118.
• * 1.5

  O folie. The Change is in you, and not in God.
• * 1.6

  Depositum 1. Tim. 6.
• ‡ 1.7

  The Gospel in your mouthe.
• * 1.8

  Vntruthe For your Barbarous vnknovven Pr••i∣ers, to the time of the Anciente Lerned Fathers, vvere neuer knovven.
• * 1.9

  Christes gouerne∣ment no better, thē the Popes.
• ‡ 1.10

  Vntruthes ioi∣ned vvith open Blasphemie.
• * 1.11

  Matth. 21. Latomus de Vtra{que} Specie. Iacobus Andreae aduersus Hosiū, Pag. 70.
• * 1.12

  Dis. 19. Sicomnes
• * 1.13

  Andreas Barba∣tius Siculus ad Bessarionem: Polydor. Vergil. de Inuentorib. Lib. 4. Cap. 9. Ceremoniar. Li. 1 Sect. 8. Cap. 6. Hierony. in Pro∣uerb. 7.
• * 1.14

  Malach. 3. Psal. 118. Matth. 15.
• * 1.15

  Malach. 2.
• * 1.16

  Readinge of Chap∣ters.
• * 1.17

  Bernard. in Con∣uersione Pauli.
• * 1.18

  Origen. in Iosua Homil. 15.
• * 1.19

  Dionylius Eccle. Hierar. Cap 3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.20

  Iustinus Martyr Apologia. 2.
• * 1.21

  Cyprian Lib. 2. Epist. 5.
• * 1.22

  Concil. Constan∣tinopo. 5. Actio. 1.
• * 1.23

  Concil. Laodice. Can. 16.
• * 1.24

  Leo de Resurre∣ctione Domini, Sermo 2.
• * 1.25

  Chrysostom. in Acta. Homil. 19.
• * 1.26

  Ambros. Lib 5. Epist. 20. Iohan. 5.
• * 1.27

  Readinge of Chap∣ters.
• * 1.28

  Aug. in Psal 3. August. in 50 Homil. Hom. 4▪ August. de Tem∣pore. Sermo 2.
• * 1.29

  Isidor. de Eccles. Offic. li. 1. ca. 10.
• * 1.30

  Tertullian. in Apologetico.
• * 1.31

  Tertullian. ad Vxorem. Lib. 2.
• * 1.32

  Origen. in Leui∣ticum, Homil. 5.
• * 1.33

  Leo de Passione Domin. Serm. 19.
• * 1.34

  Chrysost. in Acta Homil. 19.
• * 1.35

  August. Contra Cresconium. Li. 1 Cap. 9.
• * 1.36

  Aug. in Psal. 66.
• * 1.37

  Readinge of Chap∣ters.
• * 1.38

  Augu. de Genesi ad Literam. Li. 12. Cap. 8.
• * 1.39

  Chrys. in Matth. Homil. 131.
• * 1.40

  In Pontificali.
• * 1.41

  Matth. 15.