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. 10. Diuision. 2.

And yet, whatsoeuer it be, these menne crie stil, that nothing ought to be changed: that mens mindes are wel satisfied here withal: that the Churche of Rome, the Churche, whiche cannot erre, hath de∣creed these thinges. For Syluester Prieriàs saith, that the Romishe Churche is the Squier, and Rule of Truthe, & that the Holy Scri∣pture hath receiued from thence Authoritie, and Credite. The Doctrine, saith he, of the Romaine Churche, is the infallible Rule of Faithe, from the vvhiche the Holy Scripture taketh her force. And Indulgences, and Pardonnes (saithe he) are not made knovven to vs by the Authoritie of the Scriptures, but they are knovven to vs by the Authoritie of the Romaine Churche, and of the Bi∣shoppes of Rome, vvhich is greater, then the Scriptures. Pigghius also letteth not to saie, that without the licence of the Romaine Church, we ought not to beleue the very Plaine Scriptures: Mutch like as if any of those, that cannot speake pure, and cleane Latine, and yet can babble out quickely, and readily a litle somme sutche Lawe Latine, as serueth the Courte, woulde needes holde, that al others ought also to speake after the same waie, that Mammetrectus, and Catholicon spake many yeeres agoe, and whiche themselues doo yet vse in pleadinge in Courte: for so maie it be vnderstoode sufficiently, what is said, & mennes desires maie be satisfied: & that it is a fonde∣nesse, nowe in the later ende, to trouble the worlde with a newe kinde of speakinge, and to cal againe the olde finenesse and eloquence, that Cicero, and Caesar vsed in theire daies in the Latine tongue. So mutche are these menne beholden to the folie, & darkenesse of the for∣mer times.* 1.1 Many thinges, as one writeth, are had in estimation oftentimes, bicause thei haue benne once dedicate to the Temples of the Heathen Goddes: Euen so wee see at this daie, many thinges allowed, & highly sette by of these menne, not bicause they iudge them so mutche woorthe, but onely bicause they haue benne receiued into a custome, and after a sorte dedicate to the Temple of God.

M. Hardinge.

Ye haue neuer donne with the Churche of Rome. I cannot blame you. For so long as that standeth, without ye repente and tourne,* 1.2 ye shal neuer be taken but for sutche as ye be, Schismatikes, and He∣retikes. But alas poore soules, what thinke ye to ouerthrowe that Churche builded vpon the rocke ‡ 1.3 Peter, againste whiche hitherto neither tyrauntes, nor Heretikes farre passinge you in lerninge, and

honestie of common life,* 1.4 coulde euer preuaile? Trowe ye to extinguishe that faithe of the Romaine Churche,* 1.5 whiche is the same that was the faithe of Peter,* 1.6 for which Christe praied, that it should neuer faile? Ye laboure in vaine. VVel may Sathan winne you: the Churche whiche our Lorde praied for, by you shal he neuer winne. Geue ouer therefore your vaine and wicked attemptes. Trust not in the patches, that falsely ye allege out of Canonistes gloses, scholemen, riminge poetes, Heretikes, and who so euer, be they neuer so bad. Some ignorant persons maye ye deceiue, whose sinnes deserue the same.

VVhat Syluester Prierlât saieth. I minde not here to discusse.‡ 1.7 Neither where he saithe, that you alleage, haue you thought good to tel vs, lest. by perusinge the place, we shoulde take you in a lie, as we haue almoste in al your other allegations. The like sinceritie you use in alleaginge Pighius. VVe binde our selues neither to the wordes of Syluester, nor of Pighius. If they erre, what is that to vs? Let them beare theire owne burthen. If they tel truth, we beleue them for truthes sake. If otherwise, we leaue that parte for you to carpe. If Syluester Prierias saide, that for pointes of belefe, the Doctrine of the Romaine Churche is a squire to trie theire truthe by: the same* 1.8 beinge wel vnderstanded is right true. Likewise if Pighius saie, that the Romaine Churche sheweth vnto vs, which be the approued and vn∣doubted scriptures, and whiche be not: this is so true, as your selfe (I suppose) wil yelde thereunto. As for that the scripture receiued from the Churche of Rome Authoritie, credite, and force:‡ 1.9 if in your meaninge you exclude God, that is your lie, not Syluesters sentence. If relation be made to vs, that we ought not geue credite vnto it,* 1.10 onlesse it had ben shewed to be holy scripture by the Romaine Church, whiche is the true Churche of Christe: in this sense, be it Syluester, or who els so euer saithe it, it is a true saieinge, and agreable to S. Augustine,* 1.11 Ego Euangelio non crederem, nisi me Catho∣licae Ecclesiae commueret Authoritas. I woulde not beleue the Gospel, except the Auctori∣tie of the Catholike Churche moued me. And for that you alleage out of him, touchinge indulgences, truthe it is, the ful, and whole knowledge of them is not plainely opened vnto vs, by expresse and eui∣dent wordes of Scripture, no more then the mysterie of the blessed Trinitie, baptizinge of infantes, and many other truthes: but rather by the doctrine of the Romaine Churche.

VVhere you tel vs of Pighius, that he letteth not to saie, that without the licence of the Romishe Churche (for in that word you please your selfe wel) we ought not to beleue the very plaine scriptures: ‡ 1.12 we wil proclaime you a lyer, vntil you shewe vs, where he spake so farre beside reason, and lerninge. The holy Churche doth not wil vs to staie from belefe of the scriptures, vntil we haue licence: but by al waies and meanes inuiteth and stirreth vs to beleue the truthe in the scriptures vttered.

The B. of Sarisburie.

The greatest weight hereof vpon twoo of your Doctoures, Syluester Prieriâs, and Albertus Pigghius. Whoes credite notwithstandinge yée woulde faine otherwise saue vpright, yet here, as it séemeth, ye are contente, for shame to géeue them ouer. VVe binde our selues, yée saie, neither to the woordes of Syluester, nor of Pigghius. If they erre, what is that to vs? This shorte, and blunte answeare, notwith∣standinge it séeme to like wel you, yet perhaps Prieriâs, and Pigghius it woulde not like. I sée no greate cause to the contrarie, but either of them might as wel re∣nounce your Authoritie, and saie of you, Wée are not bounde, neither to M. Har∣dinges woordes, nor to his felowes.

For that yée doubte the Truthe of our allegations, reade Syluester Prieriâs Maister of the Popes Palace, in his Booke entituled,* 1.13 Contra praesumptuosas Martini Lutheri Conclusiones, de potestate Papae. His wordes there emongest others be these: Quicū{que} nō innititur Doctrinae Romanae Ecclesiae, ac Romani pōlificis, tanquam Regu∣lae Dei infallibili, à qua etiam sacra Scriptura robur trahit, & Authoritatem, Haereticus est: Who so euer leaneth not to the Doctrine of the Romaine Churche, and of the Bishop of Rome, as vnto the infallible Rule of God, of vvhiche Doctrine the Holy Scripture taketh force and Authoritie, he is an Heretique.

Againe he saithe,* 1.14 Authoritas Romanae Ecclesiae, Romani{que} pontificis maior est, &c. The Authoritie of the Romaine Churche, and of the Bishop of Rome is greater, (then the Authoritie of Goddes woorde).

As for that, is here alleged of Pigghius, it is the very sounde, and sense of the greatest parte of his Common place, De Ecclesia. Of whoes iudgemente herein, M. Caluine writeth thus:* 1.15 Pighius ait, Nullius Scripturae Authoritate, quantum libet Clarae, nostro quidem iudicio, & euidentis, aduersus Claram, consonantem{que} Orthodo∣xorum Patrum Sētentiam, & aduersus communem Ecclesiae Definitionem, aliquid credere cuiquam licere: Pighius saithe, that noman maie lawfully beleeue any thinge, by the Autho∣ritie of any Scripture, be the same, in our iudgement, neuer so plaine, and euidente, againste the cleare, and agreeable iudgemente of the Catholique Fathers, and againste the Common deter∣mination of the Churche: By whiche he meaneth onely the Churche of Rome. There∣fore, M. Hardinge, it maie please you nowe a litle to spare your voice, and to staie your Proclamation.

But, for as mutche as yée séeme, so litle to estéeme these twoo Doctoures, Prie∣riâs, and Pigghius, beinge otherwise, not longe sithence, the chiefe Leaders, and Captaines of al your bandes, ye maie therefore ioine others to them, to better theire credite, and to encrease the Companie. And, for as mutche as wée speake of the Churche of Rome, let vs heare the iudgement of a Cardinal of the Churche of Rome, notwithstandinge otherwise alleged before.

Cardinal Cusanus therefore hereof saithe thus,* 1.16 Haec est omnium sanè intelli∣gentium Sententia, qui Scripturarum Authoritatem, & intellectum in Ecclesiae approbatione fundant: & non è conuerso, Ecclesiae•• Fundamentum in Scriptura∣rum Authoritate locant: Nulla sunt Christi praecepta, nisi quae per Ecclesiam pro ta∣libus accepta sunt: Sequuntur igitur Scripturae Ecclesiā, & non è conuerso: This is the iudgemente of al them, that thinke rightly, that founde the Authoritie, and vnderstan∣dinge of the Scriptures in the allowance of the Churche: and not contrariewise, laie the Fundation of the Churche in the Authoritie of the Scriptures. There be no Commaunde∣mentes of Christe, but sutch onely, as so be taken, and holden by the Churche. Therefore the Scriptures folovve the Churche: but contrarievvile the Churche folovveth not the Scriptures.* 1.17 Likewise saithe Iohannes Maria Verractus, Humiliter confitemur, Ecclesiae Authoritatem esse Supra Euangelium? We doo humbly con∣fesse, that the Authoritie of the Churche is aboue the Authoritie of the Gospel. Likewise Albertus Pigghius saithe, Apostoli quaedam Scripserunt: non vt Scripta illa praeessent Fidei, & Religioni nostrae, sed potiùs, vt subessent. Scripturae sunt Muti Iudices: Scripturae sunt veluti Cereus Na••us: The Apostles haue written cer∣taine thinges: not that theire saide Writinges shoulde rule our Faithe, or Religion: but ra∣ther, that they should be vnder, and be ruled by our Faith. The Scriptures are doumbe Iudges: The Scriptures are like a Nose of vvaxe.

By theise, and other like vnreuerente, and godlesse speaches, they séeke to leade the poore simple deceiued people from the Holy Scriptures, and Voice of God, to the Authoritie of theire Churche: by whiche Churche they vnderstande onely the Pope, and his Cardinalles.

But yée saie, These be the Priestes of the House of Leui: The Pope is the Iudge for the time,* 1.18 in the place, that our Lorde hath Chosen. Somme others of you sale, Papa est tota Ecclesia Virtualiter: The Pope is by Power, and vertue the whole Churche. What so euer these shal happen to saie, wée maie not swarue from theire Iudgemente, neither to y^• Right hand, nor to the Lefte hand. Whereupon the Hebrevve Glose noteth thus,* 1.19 Si dixerint tibi, quòd Dextra sit Sinistra, aut quòd Sinistra sit Dex∣tra, talis Sententia tenenda est: Although they tel thee, y^• thy Right hande is thy Lefte hande: or that thy Lefte hande is thy Right hande, yet sutche a Sentence muste be holden as good.

S. Augustine,* 1.20 ye saie, holdeth harde of your side. He saithe, Non crederem Euangelio, nisi me Ecclesiae Catholicae Authoritas commoueret: I woulde not beleue the Gospel, excepte the Authoritie of the Catholique Churche moued me. These fewe poore woordes haue benne tossed of your parte, and wroonge, and pres∣sed to the vttermoste,* 1.21 to yeelde out that, was neuer in them. For hereby yée would faine proue, that the Authoritie of the Churche, whereby yee euermore vnder∣stande your Churche of Rome, and none other, is aboue the Authoritie of Goddes VVoorde: that is to saie, that the Creature is aboue the Creatoure, that made Heauen, and Earthe.

But what if S. Augustine, as he saithe, I beleue the Gospel bicause of the Churche, haue likewise saide, I beleue the Churche bicause of the Gospel? Then, I trowe, yee muste turne your tale, and saie, The Gospel is aboue the Churche. His woordes be plaine:* 1.22 Ex ore Veritatis Ecclesiam agnosco parti∣cipem Veritatis: By the Mouthe of (God, that is) the Truthe, I knowe the Churche, that is partetaker of the Truthe.* 1.23 Againe he saithe, Nolo, Humanis Documentis, sed Diuinis Oraculis Ecclesiam Sanctam demonstrari: Ecclesiam quaerere debemus in Verbis Christi, qui est Veritas, & optim è nouit Corpus suum: Ecclesiam si∣ne vlla ambiguitate Sancta Scriptura demonstrat:* 1.24 In Scripturis Sanctis Ec∣clesia manifestè cognoscitur: Ecclesiam, sicut ipsum Caput, in Scripturis San∣ctis Canonicis debemus agnoscere: I woulde, the Churche shoulde be shewed, not by the Decrees of Menne,* 1.25 but by the Heauenly Oracles, or VVordes of God: VVee muste seeke the Churche in the VVoordes of Christe, whiche is the Truthe, and beste knoweth his owne Body: The Holy Scripture sheweth vs the Churche without doub∣tinge: In the Holy Scripture the Churche is plainely knowen:* 1.26 VVee muste knowe the Churche by the Holy Canonical Scriptures, as we know (Christe, that is) the Heade.

Likewise saithe Chrysostome,* 1.27 Nullo modo cognoscitur, quae sit Vera Ecclesia, nisi tantummodò per Scripturas: It is not any waies knowen, whiche is the True Churche of Christe, but Onely by the Scriptures.

And thus, for as mutche as wée knowe, bothe Christe by the Churche, and the Churche by Christe, the one geeuinge euidence to the other, by this reckeninge, M. Hardinge, and by your shiftinge of turnes, wee muste sometimes place Christe aboue the Churche, and sommetimes the Churche aboue Christe.

Now be it, S. Augustines minde was not, to commence an Action bitwene Christe and his Churche, in comparison of theire Dignities, or for trial, and kee∣pinge of their boundes: or, to teache vs, that the Truthe of God taketh Authoritie of the Churche: but onely, to shewe vs, that the Churche is a witnesse to Goddes Truthe. And certainely it hath greate weight of persuasion, to moue the Con∣science of any man, to sée so many Kingedomes, & Countries to ioine togeather in y^• profession, and obedience of one Truthe. And I doubte not, but euen this daie, many thousandes are the sooner leadde, to humble them selues vnto the Gospel of Christe, for that they see, the whole worlde, that is to saie, the whole Churche of God, is contented so willingly, & so humbly to embrace the same. Dauid, to testi∣fie the Truthe,* 1.28 and certainetie of the Gospel, saithe thus, The sounde of the Apostles wente oute into al the Barthe, and the VVoordes of them into the endes of al the VVorlde. This is the turninge of the Right hande of God.

Therefore S. Augustine saithe vnto Faustus the Heretique,* 1.29 Cur non potiùs Euangelicae Authoritati, tam Fundatae, tam stabilitae, tanta gloria diffamarae, atque ab A∣postolorum temporibus,* 1.30 vsque ad nostra tempora, per Successiones certissimas commen∣datae, te non subdis? VVhy doest thou not rather submitte thee selfe vnto the Authoritie of the Gospel, beinge so grounded, so stablished, Preached, and published with so greate glorie, commended, and deliuered vnto vs by most certaine Successions from the time of the Arostles, vntil our time?

Likewise in this same place by you alleged, S. Augustine saithe,* 1.31 Ego non crederem Euangelio, nisi me Catholicae Ecclesiae cōmoueret Authoritas. Quibus ergo obtemperaui dicentibus, Credite Euangelio, Cur eis non obtemperem dicenti∣bus, Noli credere Manichaeo? I woulde not beleue the Gospel, onlesse the Authoritie of the Catholique Churche moued me.* 1.32 Seeinge therefore I haue obeied them, saieinge to me, Beleeue the Gospel, why should I not also obeie them saieinge vnto me, Beleeue not Manichee?

Thus the consente of the Churche heareth witnesse to the Gospel: without whiche witnesse notwithstanding, the Gospel neuerthelesse were the Gospel stil. Therefore Chrysostome saithe,* 1.33 Si dixerint, in ipsis Veris Ecclesijs Christum apparu∣isse, nolite eis credere dicentibus ista deme: Quia non est digna Diuinitatis meae notitia haec: If they shal tel you, that Christe hath appeared, yea euen in the very True Churches, yet beleue them not saieinge thus of mee: For this is no meete knowledge for my Godhedde.

To conclude, M. Hardinge, wée wil saie to you, as S. Augustine sommetime saide to the Donatian Heretiques, auancinge their onely Churche in Aphrica, euen as you nowe auance onely your Churche of Rome:* 1.34 Nos post vocem Pasto∣ris nostri, per ora Prophetarum, per os proprium, per ora Euangelistarum nobis aper∣rissimè declaratam, voces vestras non admittimus, non credimus, non accipi∣mus: After the voice of our Shepehearde, vttered moste plainely vnto vs by the mouthes of the Prophetes, by his owne mouthe, and by the mouthes of the Euangelistes, if ye bringe vs your owne voices, wee allowe them not, wee beleeue them not, wee receiue them not.

Notes

• * 1.1

  C. Plinius.
• * 1.2

  So vvas Christe taken of the Phariseies.
• ‡ 1.3

  The fundation of the Churche of God, is not Peter, but Christe.
• * 1.4

  The Churche aboue Goddes VVoord.
• * 1.5

  Vntruthe. Fo•• generally it•••• contrarie to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Faithe of 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.6

  Luc. 22.
• ‡ 1.7

  It is easil•••• founde in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Booke, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lutherum.
• * 1.8

  A comm••••••rie biside 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Texte.
• ‡ 1.9

  A proper Glose.
• * 1.10

  Vanitie of Va∣nities: For the Scriptures vvere knovven, and beleued, before there vvas any Churche in Rome.
• * 1.11

  Contra E∣pist. Funda∣menti. ca. 5.
• ‡ 1.12

  It is no harde mater to finde it, Reade the Ansvveare.
• * 1.13

  Syluester Prieri∣as, contra Lu∣therum.
• * 1.14

  The Churche aboue Goddes VVoord.
• * 1.15

  Alb. Pigghius in locis Commu∣nib. De Ecclesia.
• * 1.16

  Nicol. Cusanus de Authoritate Ecclesiae, & Cō∣cilij supra & contra Scriptur.
• * 1.17

  Iohan. Maria Verractus. Edi∣tus est, Ann. 1561. Alb. Pigghius Hierar. li. 1. a. 2. Alb Pigghius in controuersijs. De Ecclesia.
• * 1.18

  Deuter. Cap. 17. Heruaeus, De po∣testa. Papae. ca. 23
• * 1.19

  Nicol Lyra in Deuter. Cap 17.
• * 1.20

  The Churche aboue Goddes vvoorde.
• * 1.21

  Augustin contra Epistolam Fun∣damen. Cap. 5.
• * 1.22

  August. In Psal∣mum. 57.
• * 1.23

  Augustin. De V∣nitate Ecclesiae, Ca. 2.
• * 1.24

  Augustin. contra Cresconi. Gram∣mat. Li. 1. Ca. 33.
• * 1.25

  Augustin. De V∣nita. Ecclesiae, Ca. 16.
• * 1.26

  Augustin. eodem loco.
• * 1.27

  Chrysostom. in Matth. Hom. 49.
• * 1.28

  Psalm. 18. Roman. 10. Psalm. 76.
• * 1.29

  Augustin. contra Faustum. Lib. 32.
• * 1.30

  Cap. 19.
• * 1.31

  The Churche aboue Goddes vvoor de.
• * 1.32

  Augustin. contra Epist. Fundam. Ca. 5.
• * 1.33

  Chrysostom. in Matth. Hom. 49.
• * 1.34

  August De Vni∣tate Ecclesiae, Ca. 11.