The B. of Sarisburie.
Wée neuer despised the iudgemente of the Learned, and Holy Fathers: but rather take them, and embrace them, as the Witnesses of Goddes Truthe. And therein wée finde you the more blame woorthy, M. Hardinge, for that, hauinge without cause renounced the iudgemente, and orders of the Primitiue Churche, and Anciente Fathers, as to the wise, and Learned it maie soone appeare, yet ne∣uerthelesse yée euermore make vaunte of your Antiquitie, and fraie the world with a visarde of the Churche, & a shewe of Olde Fathers: as if a poore Sommonere, that had loste his Commission, would serue Citations by the vertue of his emptie bore. And thus haue ye set al your vaine fantasies in place of Goddes Churche: and your Churche, in place of God: as, by the woordes, and witnesse of your owne Fe∣lowes, I haue before shewed more at large.* 1.1 For example, Cardinal Cusanus saith, Nulla sunt Christi Praecepta, nisi quae per Ecclesiam pro talibus accepta sunt: The Commaundementes of Christe are no Commaundementes, Onlesse they be so allowed by the Churche.
Thus yée leaue Iuppiter, and renne to Apollo: or rather, yée foresake God, & séeke to Man: &, as it is written in the Prophete Hieremie, Yee leaue the Fountaine of the Water of Life: and rippe vp broken, and filthy Cesternes, that can holde no Water. Tertullian thus vpbraideth the Heathens,* 1.2 Apud vos de humano arbitratu Di∣uinitas pensitatur: Emonge you the right of God is weighed by the iudgemente of menne. But Clemens Alexandrinus saithe, Quoniam ipsum Verbum ad nos venit de Coe∣lo, nō est nobis ampliùs eundum ad Humanam Doctrinam: For so mutche as the Worde it selfe, (that is, Christe) is comme to vs from Heauen, wee maie not nowe any more seeke vnto the Doctrine of Man. Likewise S. Chrysostome saithe, Fuisset extremae ab∣surditatis, eum, qui edoctus fuerat à Deo, postea cum hominibus communicate: It had benne greate folie for S. Paule, hauing receiued his Doctrine from God him selfe, afterward to conferre thereof with menne, that is to saie, with Peter, or Iames, or with any o∣thers.