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 B. of Sarisburie.

Your heade was very idle, M. Hardinge, when it coulde so easily yeelde vs sutche idle talke. If yée thinke it in no case to be lawful, to departe from them, what so euer thei be, that beare the shewe, and countenance of the Churche, then muste yée néedes condemne the Apostles, and Prophetes, and moste specially Christe him selfe. But let vs consider, from what companie wée are departed. So maie the causes of our departure the better appeare. For the Pope him selfe saithe not nay, but, vpon iuste considerations, any Churche maie leaue the

Churche of Rome.* 1.1 His owne woordes be these, Nulli agere licet, sine discre∣tione Iustitiae, contra Disciplinam Romanae Ecclesiae: VVithout discretion of Justice, it is lawful for no man, to doo any thinge contrarie to the order of the Churche of Rome. By this the Popes owne Decree,* 1.2 vvith discretion of Iustice, it is lawfull to doo contrarie to the Orders of the Churche of Rome.

But, for a shorte, and general viewe of that whole Churche in this behalfe, S. Bernarde saithe thus,* 1.3 Parum est nostris Pastoribus, quòd non seruant nos, nisi & perdant. Non parcunt suis, qui non parcunt sibi, Perimentes pariter, & Pereuntes: It is not sufficient for our Bishoppes, that they saue vs not, onlesse they al∣so doo destroie vs: Sparinge not them selues, they spare not their people. They doo bothe perishe them selues, and kille others.* 1.4 Againe he saithe, Non custodiunt hoc tem∣pore Sponsam, sed perdunt: Non custodiunt Gregem Domini, sed mactant, & deuorant: They keepe not this daie, the Spouse of God, that is, his Churche, but they destroie her: They keepe not this Flocke, but they kille, and deuoure. He that wri∣teth, Paralipomena Vrspergensis, in the storie of the Councel of Constance, saithe thus,* 1.5 Spiritum extinguebant: Prophetias aspernabantur: Christum in Mem∣bris suis persequebantur: Erat{que} planè Persequutrix Ecclesia: They oppressed the Sprite of God: they defied the Voices of the Prophetes: they persequuted Christe in his Members. And in deede the Churche was geeuen to woorke persequution.

Aeneas Siluius,* 1.6 that afterwarde was Pope Pius. 2. saithe, Refriguit Chari∣tas, & Fides omnis interijt: Charitie is waxen colde, and al Faithe is deade.

In the life of Pope Clemens. 5. it is written thus: Hic fuit Publicus Forni∣cator. Ab eo tempore defecit omnis Disciplina, & Religio in Cardinalibus: & tres Radices vitiorum, Superbia, Auaritia, Luxuria, validissimè dominātur: This Pope was an open VVhoore maister. From that time forewarde, al kinde of Discipline, and Religion decaied in the Cardinalles: and three rootes of vices, Pride, Auarice, and Lecherie, mightily bare the swaie.

Antonius Marinarius,* 1.7 at your late Chapter at Tridente, saithe thus of the Churche of Rome, Si Euangelica Fides nostrae vitae Regula esset, re ipsa Christiani essemus. Nunc Titulo, & Ceremonijs vocamur Christiani: If the Faithe of the Gospel were a Rule vnto our life, then shoulde wee be Christians in very deede. As nowe, by Titles, and Ceremonies, wee beare onely the name of Christians.

At the same Chapter, the Bishop of Bitonto saide thus, as I haue reported before:* 1.8 Quibus turpitudinum Monstris, qua sordium Coll••ute, qua Peste non sunt foedati, non corrupti in Ecclesia Sancta, & populus, & Sacerdos? A Sanctuario Dei incipite: si vllus iam pudor, si vlla pudicitia, si vlla superest bene viuendi vel spes, vel ratio: VVith what Monsters of Filthinesse, with what Vilenesse, with what Pestilence be they not corrupted, and defiled in the Holy Churche (of Rome), as wel the Prieste, as the People? Beginne euen with the Sanctuarie of God: if there be any Shame, if there be any regarde of Honestie, if there be any Hope, or waie to liue wel.

An other saithe,* 1.9 O nos miseros, qui Christiani dicimur. Genres agimus sub no∣mine Christi: Miserable are wee, that are called Christians. VVe liue as Heathens, vnder the name of Christe. An other saithe, O lugenda Roma, quae nostris Maioribus clara Patrum Lumina protulisti: nostris temporibus, monstrosas tenebras,* 1.10 futuro saeculo famosas, offadisti: O miserable Rome, whiche in the time of oure Elders, haste brought foorthe the lightes of woorthy Fathers: but in our daies, haste broughte foorthe Monstrous Darkenesse, shameful, and sclaunderous to the time to comme. Petrarcha calleth Rome, a Schoole of Erroure, and a Temple of Heresie.

Brigitta, whose woordes, and Prophesies yée haue in reuerence, saithe in her Reuelations, Christus sumer Benedictionem à Clero Romano, & dabit eam al∣teri

Genri facienti voluntatem Domini:* 1.11 Christe shal take his blessinge from the Cleregie of Rome: and shal geue the same vnto a people, that shal doo his wil.

By these sewe, wée maie conceiue the whole state of the Churche of Rome: whiche onely Churche,* 1.12 aboue al others, M. Hardinge telleth vs, is so founded in the Truthe, that it can neuer haue power to be deceiued.

Wee haue departed therefore, from Shepeheardes, that spoiled the flocke: From Bishoppes, that destroied the Churche: that oppressed the Sprite of God: that defied the voice of the Prophetes: that persequuted Christe in his members: that bothe perished them selues, and killed others: that walowed in monsters of filthinesse: that liued, as Heathens, vnder the name of Christe: That were voide of Charitie: voide of Faithe: voide of Discipline: voide of Religion: that were Christians onely in Titles, and Ceremonies: From whom Christe had vvithdravven his Blessinge: To be shorte, wée haue departed from the Temple of Heresie, and from the Schoole of Erroure.

This, M. Hardinge, is the bewtie, and face of your Romaine Cleregie: this is that blessed Companie, that wée haue foresaken.

Yet, saie you, It had benne better, to haue died, then to haue broken the Vnitie of sutche a Churche. For your frendes tel you, that without the Obedience of the Bishop of Rome,* 1.13 there is no Hope of Saluation. Notwithstanding, your owne Clemens, whom ye commonly cal the Apostles Felovve, saithe thus, Schisma efficit, non qui ab Impijs secessionem facit, sed qui à Pijs: He maketh no Schisme, or Diuision in the Churche, that departeth from the Wicked: but he, that departeth from the Godly. And therefore he addeth further, Laici, cum ijs qui contraria sententiae Dei dogmata defendunt, nolite societatem habere, neque participes illorum Impietatis fieri. Ait e∣nim Dominus,* 1.14 Recedite de medio horum hominum, ne cum eis pereatis: Yee Laie menne, haue no Felowship with them, nor be you Partetakers of their VVickednesse, that defende Doctrines contrarie to the doctrine of God. For Our Lorde saithe, Departe from the middes of this people, leste yee perishe togeather with them.

Pope Pius.* 1.15 2. saithe, Resistendum est quibuscun{que} in faciem, siue Paulus, siue Petrus sit, qui ad Veritatem non ambulat Euangelij: VVee muste withstande any man vnto the face, be it Peter, be it Paule: if he walke not after the Truthe of the Gospel. S. Augustine saithe, Ne Catholicis quidem Episcopis consentien∣dum est, sicubi fortè falluntur, & contra Canonicas Scripturas aliquid sentiant: VVee maie not agree, no not with the Catholique Bishoppes, if they happen to be deceiued, and thinke any thinge contrarie to the Canonical Scriptures.* 1.16

S. Chrysostome saithe, Ex ipsis Veris Ecclesijs frequenter exeunt sedu∣ctores. Propterea nec ipsis omninò credendum est, nisi ca dicant, vel faciant, quae conuenientia sint Scripturis:* 1.17 Euen oute of the very True Churches oftentimes there comme deceiuers. Therefore wee maie not in any wise beleeue, no not them, (notwith∣standinge they be the True Churches of God) onlesse they speake, or doo sutche thinges, as be agreeable to the Scriptures.

Anselmus,* 1.18 a late VVriter, expoundinge these woordes of S. Paule, Tunc Reuelabitur ille iniquus, saithe thus, Romanus Pontifex, qui tenet nunc Eccle∣sias, teneat illas, donec de medio fiat: id est, donec ab ipsa Romana Ecclesia, quae est Medium, & Cor Ecclesiarum, fiat iniquitas, ob quam ab ea multae dis∣cedant Ecclesiae: Let the Bishop of Rome, that nowe holdeth the Churches, holde them stil, vntil it be taken awaie from the middes: y^t is to saie, vntil Wickednesse be wought of the Churche of Rome, that is the Middest, and harte of Churches: for vvhiche vvickednesse, many Churches shal departe from her.

S. Ambrose saithe,* 1.19 Nullus pudor est, ad meliora transire: It is no shame, to goe to the better.

S. Augustine saithe vnto Faustus the Heretique,* 1.20 Ille me quondam de gremio tuo Error excusserat. Expertus fugi. quod experiri non debui: That Erroure shooke me once out of thy bosome. Beinge taught by proufe, I haue fledde that thinge, that I should not haue proued.* 1.21

Ambrosius Ansbertus, one of your owne Doctoures, saithe, Per Hieremiam Prophetam dicitur, Exite de medio eius populus meus, & saluet vnusquis{que} ani∣mam suam ab ira faroris Domini.* 1.22 Nequaquā enim in hac vita de medio Ciuitatis repro∣bae, id est, de medio malorum quos Babylon illa significat, electorum aliquis valet exire, nisi detestādo, quod ab ipsis agitur, & agēdo, quod ab ipsis detestatur: The Prophete Hiere∣mie saith, O my people, goe foorth frō the middes of them, and saue euery man his owne soule frō the rage of oure Lordes furie. For none of the Electe of God can in this life goe foorthe from the middes of that Wicked Cittie, that is to saie, from the middes of the euil, whiche that Babylon signifieth, but by defieinge, that they doo: and by dooinge, that they defie.

And, whereas yee would so faine daste our eies, and couer your deformities with the name of the Churche,* 1.23 S. Cyprian saithe, Non est Pax, sed Bellum: nec Ecclesiae iungitur, qui ab Euangelio separatur: It is no Peace, but VVarre: neither is he ioined to the Churche, that is diuided from the Gospel.

S. Chrysostome saithe,* 1.24 Mihi Ciuitas, non habens pios ciues, Omni villa vi∣lior est: & quacun{que} Spelunca ignobilior: A Cittie, that hathe not Godly Citizens, is vnto me viler, then any Village: and more lothe some, then any Caue. And this he saithe of the Cittie of Antioche, whiche, by expresse woordes, he more esteemeth, then the Cittie of Rome.

Wee graunte, wée haue departed from you, vpon sutche occasion, and in sutche sor te, as Moses sommetime departed from oute of Aegypte: or, as S. Augustine from the Manichees. How be it, in very deede, you naue rather departed from out of vs.* 1.25 Chrysostome saithe, Sic de ista Noua Hierusalem, id est, de Eccle∣sia, qui Spirituales Christiani fuerunt, relicta Corporali Ecclesia, quam perfidi occupauerant violentia, exierunt ab illis. Magis autem illi exierunt à nobis, sicut Iohannes exponit. Non enim ille de Ecclesia exire videtur, qui corporaliter exit, sed qui Spiritualiter Veritatis Ecclesiasticae Fundamenta reliquit. Nos e∣nim ab illis ex••uimus Corpore: illi à nobis animo. Nos enim ab illis extuimus Loco: Illi à nobis Fide. Nos apud illos reliquimus Fundamenta parietum: Illi apud nos reliquerunt Fundamenta Scripturarum. Nos ab illis egressi su∣mus secundum aspectum Hominum: Illi autem à nobis secundum Iudicium Dei. Relicta est autem deserta, ex quo de illa Corporali Ecclesia Spiritualis exiuit: Id est, de populo suo, qui videbatur Christianus, & non erat, Populus iste exiuit qui non videbatur, & erat. Magis autem, secundumquod diximus, illi à nobis exierunt quàm nos ab illis: Euen so, touchinge this Nevve Hierusalem, whiche is the C••urche, they, that were Spiritu. [Christian menne, lecuinge the Bodily Churche, whiche the wicked by violence had inuaded, departed out from them: Or, as s S. Iohn expoundeth it, they rather departed out from vs. For he seemeth not in deede to departe from the Churche, that Bodily departeth: but he, that Spiritually leaueth the Fundations of the Ecclesiastical Truthe. VVe haue departed from them, in Body: they haue departed from vs, in Minde. VVe from them, by Place: they from vs, by Faithe. VVee haue leafte with them the Fundations of the VValles: They haue leafte with vs the Fundations of the Scriptures. VVee are departed foorthe from them, in the sighte of Man: They are departed from vs, in the Iudgemente of God. But nowe, after that the Spiritual Churche is gonne foorthe, the Bodily Churche is leafte foresaken: That is to saie, from that people, that seemed to be a Christian people, and was not, this people is gonne foorthe, that see∣med not out wardely, but was so in dede. Notwithstandinge, as wee haue saide before, they haue rather departed from vs, then we from them.

Ye saie,* 1.26 your Churche of Rome, that nowe is, and the Primitiue Churche, is al One Churche. Euen so the Moone bothe in the ful, and in the wane, is al One Moone: Euen so Hierusalem, as wel vnder Dauid, as vnder Manass es, was al one Cittie. The Holy place, whether y^e Maiestie of God, or y^e Abomination of Desolation stande in it, is al one place. The Primitiue Churche, saie you, and the Churche of Rome, that novv is, is al one Churche. Therefore wée saie, the Churche of Rome, that now is, in Truthe, and Religion, ought to agrée with the Primitiue Churche.

Whether the Churche maie be brought to a fevve in number, or no, wée had occasion sommewhat to saie before. The Anciente Father Irenaeus saithe, Quemadmodum ibi in plurimis eorum,* 1.27 qui peccauerunt, non bene sensit Deus, Sic & hîc multi sunt vocati: pauci verò electi: As in the Olde Testamente, in ma∣ny of them, that offended, God was not pleased: Euen so now in the Nevve Testamente, many are called, and fewe are Chosen. In Consideration whereof, S. Hierome crieth out in an Agonie within him selfe,* 1.28 Tanta erit Sanctorum paucitas: So smal shalbe the number of holy menne. One of your owne Doctours saithe, as it is alleged once before, Licet in hoc bello Daemonum cadāt Religiosi Principes, & Milites, & Praelati Ec∣clesiastici, & Subditi, semper tamen manent aliqui, in quibus seruatur Veritas Fi∣dei, & Iustificatio bonae Conscientiae. Et, si non nisi duo viri Fideles remanerent in mundo, tamen in illis saluaretur Ecclesia, quae est Vnitas Fidelium: Notwith∣standinge in this warre of Diuelles, bothe the Godly Princes, and Souldiers, and Ecclesiastical Prelates, and Subiectes be ouer throwne, yet euermore there remaine somme, in whome the Truthe of Faithe, and the Righteousnesse of good Conscience is preserued. And, notwith∣standinge there vvere but tv voo Faithful menne remaininge in the worlde, yet euen in them, the Churche of God, whiche is the Vnitie of the Faithful, should be saued.

But, for y^t wée saie, vvee vvere brought vp emonge you in Darkenesse, and Ignorance, Yée enter out of season into a needelesse discourse of cōparison of Lear∣ninge, In the Liberal Sciences, ye saie, we are not comparable to the Learned menne of your side. It was not our meaninge, M. Hardinge, to cal the Bright beames of your Li∣beral Learninge into question. It appeareth, yee woulde faine haue it blased, and magnified to the vttermoste, and no waie to be disgraced. Wee meante onely the knowledge of God, and the open Professiō of his Holy Woorde: In comparison of whiche knowledge, al other knowledge, what so euer, is meere darknesse.

How be it, touchinge any kinde of the Liberal, and Learned Sciences, there was no great cause, why ye shoulde, either so highly rowse your selfe in your owne opinion, or so greately disdeigne others.* 1.29 Ye maie remember, that your Prouincial Constitutions beginne with these woordes, Ignorantia Sacerdotum.

It were no greate Maisterie, to charge the Chiefe Doctoures of your side with somme want of Learning. Ludouicus Viues saith, Vt quid{que} Ius superioribus saeculis minùs tittum fuit studentium manibus,* 1.30 ita purius ad nos peruenit: For the space of cer∣taine hundred yeeres paste, the lesse any Booke came into (your Learned) studentes handes, the purer, and better it came to vs. Meaninge thereby, that euery thinge was the woorse for your Learned handelinge. Of Thomas, Scotus, Hugo, and others, of whom yée seeme to make so greate accoumpte, your owne frende Catharinus saithe, Scholastici multa ineruditè Comminiscuntur:* 1.31 These Schole Doctoures imagine many m••ters vnlearnedly. Erasmus saithe, Portenta, quae nunc passim legimus in Commentarijs Recention Interpretum, tam impudentia, & insulsa sunt, vt videātur suibus ea scripsisse,* 1.32 non Hominibus: The monstrous folies, y^t wee commonly reade in y^e Commentaries of the late Interpreters, (whereby he meaneth the very croppe, and the woorthieste of al your Scholastical Learned Doctoures) are so far without shame, and so peeuishe, as if they had benne vvritten for Svvine, and not for menne. One of

your Doctoures saithe,* 1.33 Apostolus, dicitur ab Apos, quod est Argumentum, vel praee∣minentia, & Stolon, quod est Missio: quasi praeeminenter Missus. An other saithe, A∣pocrisarij, dicuntur Nuntij Domini Papae.* 1.34 Nam crisis dicitur Secretum: & Apos, di∣citur Nuntius. An other saithe, Cathedra, est nomen Graecum, & componitur à Ca∣thos, quod est Fides, & edra, quod est Sponda. An other saithe, Eleemosyna, dicitur ab Eleis, quod est, Misereri, & Mois, quod est Aqua. Peter Crab in his late Scholies vpon the Councelles, saith thus, Mulieres 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, id est, Cohabitantes Sac∣culos: Likewise againe he saithe, Phrygium factum est ex Pénnis Pauonum. Of your Liberal Learned Cleregie one saithe thus: Nec verba Canonis intelligunt, nec,* 1.35 quae sint verba Consecrationis sciunt. They vnderstand not the woordes of theire Canon: neither knowe they, whiche be the Woordes of Consecration. And therefore he, that forged the Rule of Monkes, vnder the name of S. Hierome, chargeth them in any wise to pronounce euery woorde distinctely, and wa••ily, leste by theire foo∣lishe vtterance they shoulde make the Angelles to falle a laughinge.

These fewe maie serue you for a taste. Hereby, M. Hardinge, it maie appeare, your Cleregie hath no greate cause, to make sutche triumphe of theire Learninge. Howe be it, wée vpraide you not herewith: nor was this the cause of oure depar∣ture. Yee holde both Faithe, and Learning, and Churche, and Religion, by enhe∣ritance. Christe hath once praied for Peter: Therefore your Faithe, and Learning can neuer faile. Yet notwithstandinge, your late Bookes, freight with so many vn∣ciuile, and vaine speaches (for of your often Vntruthes I wil saie nothing) sauoure more of Choler,* 1.36 then of Learninge. S. Hierome saithe, Doctrina viri per patientiam noscitur. Quia tantò quis{que} minùs oftenditur doctus, quantòconuincitur minùs patiens: A mannes Learninge is knowen by his patience. For the lesse patiente a manne sheweth him selfe, the lesse he sheweth to be his Learninge.

Woulde God, yee woulde humble your knowledge, and make it obediente to the knowledge of God.* 1.37 Otherwise, that Peter saide vnto Simon Magus, of his moonie, maie likewise be saide vnto you, of your knowledge: Thy knovvledge be vvith thee to thy destruction.* 1.38 Our Learninge is the Crosse of Christe: of other Learninge wée make no vauntes. God is called the God of Truthe, and not of Learninge. S. Paule saithe, Al kinde of Learninge shalbe abolished. God make vs al Learned to the Kingedome of Heauen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Departing from the Churche of Rome.
• * 1.2

  Dist. 12. Non Decit. In Rubric.
• * 1.3

  Bernardus in Synodo Remensi.
• * 1.4

  In eadem Synod.
• * 1.5

  Paralipom. Vr∣spergen. Pa. 396.
• * 1.6

  Aeneas Sylui. in Epist. ad Caspa∣rem Schlickium. Paralipom. Vr∣spergen. in Cle∣men. 5.
• * 1.7

  In Concil. Trid. Antonius Ma∣rinarius.
• * 1.8

  Concil. Trident. Episcopus Bi∣tontinus.
• * 1.9

  Francis. Zephy∣rus in Apologe∣ticum Tertul∣liani.
• * 1.10

  Arnulphus, aut Bernardus in Concil. Remen. Petrar. in Rith∣mis Italicis: Schola di Er∣rori: è Tempio di Eresia.
• * 1.11

  Departing from the Churche of Ro••••
• * 1.12

  Herma•••• Riddus.
• * 1.13

  De Maiorita & Obedient. V∣nam Sanctam. Subesse Romano Pontifici, est de necessitate Sa∣lutis.
• * 1.14

  Clemens, Aposto∣licar. Consti••a. Lib. 6. Cap. 4.
• * 1.15

  Aeneas Syluius ad Rector. & vniuersitatè Co∣lonien. Paralipo∣nena Vrsper∣gens Pag. 435.
• * 1.16

  Augustinus de Vnitate Ecclesi. Ca. 10.
• * 1.17

  Chrysostom. in Matth. Hom. 49.
• * 1.18

  Anselmus in. 2. Thessalon. 2.
• * 1.19

  Ambros. in Epist ad Theodos. & V••sent.
• * 1.20

  Departing from the Churche of Rome.
• * 1.21

  August Contra Faustum. Lib. 15. Cap. 3.
• * 1.22

  Ambros. Ansber. in Apocalyp. Li. 2. Cap. 2.
• * 1.23

  Cyprian. De Lapsis, Sermo. 5.
• * 1.24

  Chrysostom. ad populum vntio∣ch. n. Homi. 17.
• * 1.25

  Chrysostom in Matth. Hom. 46.
• * 1.26

  The Churche in fevve.
• * 1.27

  Irenaeus, Lib. 4. Cap. 46.
• * 1.28

  Hieron in Esai. Lib. 8. Cap. 24. Fortalitium Fi∣dei. Lib. 5.
• * 1.29

  De Summa Tri∣nita. Linwoode.
• * 1.30

  Ludoui Viues de Causis Corrupt. Artium, Lib. 5.
• * 1.31

  Catharinus ad∣uerius Petrum à Sold.
• * 1.32

  Erasm in Scholijs in Hieronym ad Mar••ellam.
• * 1.33

  Compari∣son of Learning.
• * 1.34

  Erasmus ad Ar∣chiepisc. Toleta. Extra de Elect. & Electi Potest. Signifi. in Gloss. Manipul. Curat. Pag. 101.
• * 1.35

  Inter Decreta Felicis pp. Conc. Tomo. 1. Pag. 168 In Donatione Constantini. Herma. Riddus. Hierony. In Reg. Monacho. Ne ad Risum Provo∣centur Angelici Spiritus.
• * 1.36

  Hierony in Pro∣uerb. Li. 2. Ca. 19.
• * 1.37

  Actor. 8.
• * 1.38

  1. Cor in 2. 3. Esdr. 4. 1. Cor. 13. Matth. 13.