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.

The Faithe of the Romaine Churche,* 1.1 saithe M. Hardinge, is the very Ca∣tholique Faithe of Christe: whiche who so foresakethe, bée he Kinge or Empe∣rour, he shalbe Companion with Diuels in euerlasting fire. Thus mutche, I trow, M. Hardinge learned of the Countrefeite Decrée of Anacletus. For thus it pleaseth him to glose,* 1.2 and interlace the woordes of Christe: Super hanc Petram, id est, Super Ecclesiam Romanam, aedificabo Ecclesiam meam: Vpon this Rocke, that is to saye, Vpon the Churche of Rome, I wil build my Churche. And therfore Pope Bonifacius, for a ful resolution of the mater saithe thus:* 1.3 Subesse Romano Pontifici, omni humanae creaturae declaramus, dicimus, definimus, & pronuntiamus, omnino esse de necessitate salutis: Wee declare, saye, determine, and pronounce, that it is of the necessitie of Saluation for euery mortal creature, to be subiecte vnto the Bishop of Rome. And the Glose likewise vpon the same, Quicquid saluatur, est sub Summo Pontifice: What so euer creature is saued, is vn∣der the Highest Bishop. Here is no mention neither of Christe, nor of his Gospel. Sal∣uation, & Damnation hangeth onely of the B. of Rome. This thing once graunted, the case is cleare: The Pope him selfe hathe resolued the doubte. What should wee néede a better trial?* 1.4 Notwithstāding Cornelius the Bishop of Bitonto in the late Chapter at Tridente, of the Bishop, and Holy Sée of Rome saithe thus, Vtinam à Religione ad Superstitionem, à Fide ad Infidelitatem, à Christo ad Antichristum, à Deo ad Epicurum velut prorsus vnanimes non declinassent, dicentes in corde impio, & ore im∣pudico, Non est Deus: O would God (the Pope and his Cardinales) had not fal ••en with common consente, and altogeather, from true Religion to Superstition, from Faithe to Infidelitie, from Christe to Antichriste, from God to Epicure: saieinge with wicked harte, and shamelesse mouthe,* 1.5 There is no God. In like sense, of the same Bishoppes, and See of Rome S. Bernard saithe, Serui Christi seruiunt Antichristo: The Seruauntes of Christe serue Antichriste. Cornelius saithe, the Bishoppes of Rome are fallen to Supersti∣tion, to Infidelitie, to Antichriste, to Epicure: & are not ashamed to saye, There is no God. Yet, saithe M. Hardinge, the Faithe of Rome is the Catholique Faithe: & who so departethe from the same, be he Kinge or Emperour, he shalbe companion with the Diuel in Helle fire. And thus to saye, is no méere madnesse.

That the Princes, and frée Citties of Germanie euer persecuted vs, it is vtterly vntrue, and like the reste of your tales. They reioice in God in our be∣halfe: and beinge there, they receiued vs vnder theire protection, and offered vs sutche fréedome, and courtesie, as they seldome offered the like to any Nation. Certaine of them by your owne Confession, haue already agréed to al the pointes of our Doctrine. But none of them al, no not one would euer suffer the same Doc∣trine of ours to be condemned.

What the Grecians this daye thinke of vs, I cannot telle. Notwith∣standinge it appeareth by their letters written purposely to the Churches of Bo∣hemia, that they allowe wel of our Doctrine, and vtterly condemne yours. For thus they writte vnto them:* 1.6 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: VVherefore, louing Bre∣thren, and Children, if it be so as wee heare, and hope, make haste, that wee maie ioine togea∣ther in Vnitie. And againe, thus it is recorded in the late Councel of Laterane, Graeci in tantum coeperunt abominari Latinos, vt si quando Sacerdotes Latini super eorum altaria celebrassent, ipsi non vellent priùs in illis sacrificare, quàm ea, tanquam per hoc in∣quinata lauissent: The Greekes beganne so mutche to abhorre the Latines, that, if it had happe∣ned the Latine Priestes had Ministred vpon theire aultars, they would not afterwarde make oblation vpon the same, before they had wasshed them: as thinkinge theire Aultars defiled by the Latines handeling. Wherefore, M. Hardinge, what so euer the Grecians thinke of vs, it appeareth hereby, they vtterly refuse your Communion, & condemne you for Heretiques.

But who would haue thought, M. Hardinge had benne so skilful in proporti∣ons? The whole countrie of Germanie, saithe he, beinge diuided in equal por∣tions, twoo of fiue remaine stil in y^• obedience of the See of Rome. Wée geue God thankes, it is, as it is. In déede certaine townes subiecte to the Bishoppes, in outwarde vsage of theire Churches, remaine stil, as they were before. Yet neuer∣thelesse where the Churches are Popishe, the people of al sortes are Protestantes, and loue the Truthe, and are mutche ashamed of your folies. It was Goddes secrete prouidence, that certaine of yours should remaine emongst vs a season, as the Cananites remained emongst the people of Israel. Otherwise within fewe yeres ye would denie, that euer your disorders had benne so greate.

It is very harde, and in manner not possible, to conuert the whole people of so greate a countrie al at once. The Heares of a mans Bearde, or Head neuer waxe white al togeather.* 1.7 Christe compareth the Kingdome of God vnto Leauen, whiche the woman takethe, and laieth in a lumpe of dowgh. It worketh, and laboureth by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and litle,* 1.8 vntil it haue Leauened al the whole. In this sorte Eusebius séeme•••• to compare the twoo partes of the Romaine Empire dissentinge in Iudgement of Religion: the East parte to the Night, and the Weaste to the Daye.* 1.9 But Christe wil drawe al vnto him selfe: and then shal God be al in al.

But here to matche our so many Kinges, and so many Princes, M. Hardinge hath brought vs a manie of newes out of Ignamban, Monopotapa, Cambaia, Giapan, Bisnaga, Ormoz, and other strange, and far Countries. There, he saithe, so many, and so many Kinges, and Princes are lately Conuerted, and brought to the obedience of the See of Rome. I marueile, he saithe not, the Man in the Moone was likewise newly Christened, to make vp the Muster.

Howe be it al these thinges muste néedes be true. For Christes owne Fe∣lowes, or, as M. Hardinge vttereth it in better wise, the Holy Fathers of the So∣cietie of Iesus, haue sente home woorde as wel hereof, as also of sundrie Miracles wrought by the same Holy Fathers. Verily, so the name of Christe be publisshed, whether it be by them, or by vs, by Light, or by Darkenes, Goddes Holy name be blessed. But of many theire Miracles I haue no skil. For thus these Holy Fathers write, as it is saide before, that with Holy Water they haue driuen Mise out of the countrie,* 1.10 and made Barren Women to beare Children, and sutche o∣ther the like marueilous Miracles. Neither are wée bounde of necessitie to be∣leue al sutche Miracles what so euer, without exception. Alexander of Hales saith, In Sacramēto apparet Caro, interdū humana procuratione, interdū operatione Diabolica: In the Sacramente it selfe there appeareth Fleash, sometime by the conuciance of men, some∣time by the woorkinge of the Diuel. Likewise saithe Nicolaus Lyra, Aliquando in Ecclesia fit maxima deceptio Populi in Miraculis fictis à Sacerdotibus, vel eis adhaerenti∣bus, propter lucrum: Sometime euen in the Churche the People is shamefully deceiued with fained Miracles wrought either by the Priestes, or els by theire companions, for lukers, sake. Miracles be not euermore vndoubted proofes of True Doctrine.* 1.11 Therefore S. Au∣gustine saithe vnto Faustus the Manichee: Miracula non facitis: quae si faceretis, ta∣men ipsa in vobis caueremus: Ye woorke no Miracles: and yet if ye wrought any, at your handes wee would take heede of them.* 1.12 The Prophete Hieremie saithe, Seduxerunt Populum meum in mendacijs suis, & in Miraculis suis: They haue deceiued my People by theire Lies, and by theire Miracles.

Touchinge the Conuersion of the Easte India, Vesputius writeth, there were many Godly Bishoppes there,* 1.13 and sundrie whole countries Conuerted, and Christened, longe before that either the Portugales, or the Iesuites came thither: and yet had neuer heard of the name of the Bishop of Rome.

As for the rest of the Weast Spanishe Indies, the People there liued not

onely without al manner knowledge of God, but also wilde, and naked, without any Ciuile gouernmente.* 1.14 offeringe vp mennes bodies in Sacrifice▪ drinkinge mens bloud, and eatinge mennes fleash. Some of them woorshipped the Sonne, and the Moone: some, an ancient olde Trée: some, what so euer they sawe first in the mor∣ninge, they thought the same for that day to be theire God. Some woorshipped certaine familiar Diuels, and vnto them Sacrificed yonge boies, and girles.

Beinge in this miserable state, and naturally by the very sense, and iudge∣ment of common reason abhorringe and lothinge theire owne blindnesse, what marueile is it, if they were easie to be leadde into any Religion, specially carrieing•• sutche a shewe of apparel, and Holy Ceremonies?

So the greate Kinge of Tartarie of late,* 1.15 findinge him selfe and his people without any manner Religion, was contented to borrowe some Religion of the Tu••kes. For men would rather clothe them selues with leaues, and barkes, then to goe quite naked: and rather eate Akecornes, then die for hunger.

And what if God would vse this meane for the time, after warde the better to leade the saide nations to the cleare Light of the Gospel, as ••. Augustine saith, the shoomaker vseth his bristle not to sewe withal, but to drawe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his threede? No doubte, M. Hardinge, if your Doctrine, and ours were laide togeather, the verie Indians them selues, be they neuer so rude, woulde be able to sée. a great difference.

But let the Bishop of Rome winne abroade, and lose at home. You remem∣ber the olde Prouerbe. Dionysius Corinthi. Dionysius when he had lost his King∣dome at home at Syracusae, he gotte him selfe to Corinthe, and there became a Schoolemaister, and so séemed to continue a Kingedome stil.

Wée make no boaste, M. Hardinge, nor g••ate vs to rowste, as ye say, nor ••lappe our winges in the behalfe of theise Princes, and Countries, so many, and so many, as it pleaseth you to sporte, that haue submitted them selues to the Go∣spel of Christ. Neither are the same, so many, and so many, so sewe as you would séeme to make them. The Kingedome of England, the Kingedome of Scotland, the Kingedome of Denmarke, the Kingedome of Sweden: the Dukes of Saxonie, the Duke of Brunswike, the Palsgraue of Rhene, the Duke of Wirtenberg, the Landtgraue of Hessia, the Marques of Brandeburg, the Prince of Russia, al other the Earles, and noble men, and greate Citties throwgh the whole countrie of Germanie, the mighty common weales of Heluetia, Rhetia, Vallis Tellina, with so many hundred thousandes bisides in Fraunce, Italie, Spaine, Hungarie, and in the Kingedome of Poole: Certainely al these wel reckened cannot séeme so ••ewe, as ye would haue it. Yewisse, M. Hardinge, it gréeueth you ful ••ore, they are so many. Yf God of his mercy blesse those thinges. that he hath mercifully begonne. it wilbe high time for you shortly to séeke a newe refuge.

We boaste not our selues of these thinges. There is no cause It is not the woorke of man: it is the onely hand of God. Dauid saith, Let the Heauens reioice: let the Earth be glad:* 1.16 The voice (of the Apostles) is sounded abroade into al the world:* 1.17 The Angels of God sange,* 1.18 Glorie be to God on high:* 1.19 The Angel in the A∣pocalyps crieth amaine, Cecidit, cecidit Babylon illa magna: Down, down is fallen that greate Babylon: Tertullian saithe, Parthi, Medi, Elamitae, &c. The P••rthians, the Medi∣ans, the Elamites, the people of Mesopotamia, of Armenia, of Phrygia, of Cappadocia, of Pontus, of Asia, of Pamphilia, of Aegypte, of Aphrica, of Rome, of H••••rusalem, of Ge∣tusia, of Mauritania, of Spaine, of Fraunce, of Britannie, of Sarmatia, of D••cia, of Germanie, of Scythia and many other nations, and Prouinces, knowen▪ and vnknowen h••ue receiued the Gospel of Christe. Thus saide they, the Angels, & Prophetes of God, & Holy Fathers, and yet without boastinge, or fléeinge to rowste, or clappinge of whinges. Geue vs leaue therefore, M. Hardinge, in the like case to solace our selues with the consi∣tion

of Goddes mighty, and merciful woorkes, and humbly to reioice at the tri∣umphe of the Crosse of Christe.

Arnobius saithe vnto the Heathens: Ne nobis de nostra frequentia blandiamut. Multi nobis uidemur: sed Deo admodùm pauci sumus. Nos gentes nationes{que} distingui∣mus: Deo vna Domus est mundus hic totus: Let vs not flatter our selues of our greate multitudes.* 1.20 Vnto our selues wee seeme many: but vnto God wee are but fewe. VVee put difference bitweene Nation, and Nation: But vnto God this whole worlde is but one house. This counsel, M. Hardinge, is wholesome for either parte to folowe, that who so wil reioice, may reioice in the Lorde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Greekes.
• * 1.2

  Anaclet. Epist. 1.
• * 1.3

  Extra. De Ma∣ior. &. Obedien, Vnam Sanctam. Glossa in eodem. Cap.
• * 1.4

  Cornelius Episc. Bitont. in Conci. Tridentino.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 14. Bernard. in Can∣tic. Canticor.
• * 1.6

  Epist. Ecclesiae Constantinopoli∣tanae ad Ecclesiā Pragensem. In Concil. Late∣ranen. Cap. 4.
• * 1.7

  Luc. 13.
• * 1.8

  Eusebius.
• * 1.9

  Iohan. 12. 1. Corin. 15.
• * 1.10

  Copus Dialo. c. Pa. 18. Alexander de Hales, par. 4. quaes. 53. mem. 4. Ar. 3. solut. 2. Nicola. Lyra in Daniel. Ca. 14.
• * 1.11

  Augusti contra Faust Li. 13.
• * 1.12

  Hieremi. 23.
• * 1.13

  Vesputius.
• * 1.14

  ••etr Martyr Mediolanen.
• * 1.15

  Vesputius in Nouo Orbe, fo. 485.
• * 1.16

  Psal. 19.
• * 1.17

  Luc. 2.
• * 1.18

  Apocalyp. 19.
• * 1.19

  Tertull. contra Iudeos.
• * 1.20

  Arnobius con∣tra Gentes l••. 8.