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. 14. Diuision. 1.

For if they saie, It is in no wise lawful for one, to leaue the felow∣ship, wherein he hathe benne brought vp, they maie aswel in our names, & vpon our heades, likewise condemne the Prophetes, the A∣postles, and Christe him selfe. For why complaine they not also of this, that Loth went quite his waie out of Sodome: Abraham out

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of Chaldee,* 1.1 the Israelites out of Egypte, Christe from the Ievves, and Paule from the Phariseis? For excepte it be possible, there maie be a lawful cause of Departinge, wee see no reasone, why Loth, A∣braham, the Israelites, Christe, and Paule maie not be accused of Se∣ctes, and Seditions, aswel as others.

M. Hardinge.

Yet bringe ye nothing to the purpose. Your proufes be so weake, and hange so euil togeather, that we maie wel tel you (whiche Irenaeus obiected to Heretikes) that ye make a rope of sande. VVe saie not, it is in no wise lawful for one to leaue the felowship, wherein he hath benne brought vp. But contrary wise,* 1.2 ‡ 1.3 if the felowship be naught and wicked, euery one is bound to eschewe it▪ Depart from Babylon my people, and be not ye partakers of her sinnes, saith the heauenly voice to S. Iohn.* 1.4 Therefore the examples ye bringe, helpe nothinge your cause.

Loth went out of Sodome, Abraham of Chaldea, the Israèlites of Egypte, Paule from the Phari∣seis, by Gods special warninge. VVhere ye saie, Christe went from the Iewes, onlesse ye referre it to his steppinge aside from them for a while: ye shoulde rather haue saide, the Iewes went from Christe. But whereto perteineth this? Though ye were so malicious, as to compare the Catholike Churche to So∣dome, to Chaldea, to Egypte, to the Iewes and Phariseis: yet, I wene, ye are not so proude, as‡ 1.5 to compare your selues to Loth, to Abraham, to Gods peculiar people, to Paule, to Christe himselfe. These depar∣tinges we allowe, and God required them: yours we blame, and God detesteth.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Wée compare not our selues, M. Hardinge, neither with Loth, nor with A∣braham, nor with Paule: leaste of al with Christe him selfe. But wée humbly sub∣mitte our selues both in life, and in Doctrine, to be guided by theire Examples. And thus, I truste, we maie lawfully doo, without iuste note of presumption. S. Chry∣sostome saithe,* 1.6 Data est tibi potestas diuinitùs imitandi Christum, vt possis illi si∣milis fieri. Noli expauescere hoc audiens. Timēdum enim tibi potiùs est, si similis illi fieri negligas: Thou haste power geeuen the from God to folowe Christe, that thou maiste be like vnto him. Be thou not afraide to heare this thinge. Thou haste more cause to feare, if thou refuse to be like vnto him. Likewise saithe the Anciente Father Ori∣gen, Si quem imitati volumus, propositus est nobis Christus ad imitandum:* 1.7 If wee desire to folowe any man, Christe is set before vs, that wee shoulde folowe him.

But if it be so Provvde a parte, in Religion, and Life to folowe Christe, what is he then, that claimeth to him selfe Christes Authoritie, and calleth him selfe euen by the name of Christe? You know, of whom it is written,* 1.8 Papa potest, quic∣quid Christus ipse potest. The Pope can doo, what so euer Christe him selfe can doo. Yee knowe, who is wel contented, to heare him selfe thus saluted: Touchinge Pri∣macie, thou art Abel: touchinge Gouernemente, thou art Noē: touchinge Patriarkship, thou art Abraham: touchinge Order, thou art Melchisedech: touchinge Dignitie, thou art Aaron: touchinge Authoritie, thou art Moses: touchinge Iudgemente, thou art Samuel: touchinge Power, thou art Peter: touchinge Anointinge, thou art Christe. These woordes, I trowe, M. Harding, maie sommewhat séeme to sauoure of Pride.