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.

Ye saie, This is not the right Definition of Heresie. Verily, M. Hardinge, this is but a simple quarrel. It was not my minde in this place to vtter any Definition

Page 46

of Heresie, either right, or wronge. You knowe right wel, that sutche curiositie in this kinde of writinge is not néedeful. It is sufficient, our woordes be true, although they include no Definition.

For iust proufe of Heresie three thinges necessarily are required. First, that it be an errour: Secondly, that it be an errour againste the Truthe of Goddes woorde: For otherwise euery errour maketh not an Heresie. Thirdly, that it be stoutly, and wilfully maineteined. Otherwise an errour in Goddes Truthe with∣out wilful mainteinance, is not an Heresie. S. Augustine saith, Errare possum, Haereticus esse non possum:* 1.1 In an errour I may be: but an Heretique I cannot be.

It was not so necessarie in this mater, so precisely to séeke vp Definitions. I thought it sufficient, onely to declare the horrour of Heresie. For as touchinge the Definition, S. Augustine saithe, Quid sit Haeresis, regulari quadam Definitione com∣prehendi, sicut ego existimo, aut omnino non potest,* 1.2 aut difficillim•• potest: To expresse by orderly Definition, what thinge maketh an Heretique, as I iudge, it is either impossible, or very harde. Therefore you, M. Hardinge, and your felowes are the more blame woorthy, for y^• of euery your fantasies ye haue made an Heresie. Ludouicus Viues one of your owne Schoole thus complaineth thereof:* 1.3 Haeresis nomen rebus leuissimis impingitur:* 1.4 Idem facerent Scotistae de Thomistis, nisi Scholarum consuetudo aures emolliuisses: The name of Heresie is laide vpon euery light mater. So would the Scotistes handle the Thomistes: sauinge that the custome of the Schooles hath brought theire eares in vre. Thus Pope Ni∣colas saithe, Qui Romanae Ecclesiae Priuilegium auferte conatur, hic procul dubio labi∣••ur in Haeresim: Who so euer goeth about to abrogate the priuilege of the Churche of Rome, be no doubte is an Heretique.

That ye speake of stubbernenesse in defence of Heresie, I praye God, M. Har∣dinge, it doo not ouer neare touche your selfe. I praye God, you doo not wilfully defende that thinge, wherein you knowe, and sée manifest, and open errour. Ve∣rily S. Hierome saithe:* 1.5 Quicun{que} aliter Scripturam intelligit, quàm sensus Spiritus San∣cti flagitat, quo scripta est, licet ab Ecclesia non recesserit, tamen Haereticus appellari potest: VVho so euer expoundeth the Scriptures otherwise, then the sense of the Holy Ghoste, by whome they were written, dothe require, although he be not yet departed from the Churche, yet maye he wel be called an Heretique. Likewise the old Father Tertullian saithe: Quicquid contra veritatem sapit, Haeresis est, etiam vetus Consuetudo: VVhat so euer thinge ••••uoureth against the Truthe,* 1.6 it is an Heresie, be it neuer so mutche an old custome.* 1.7

Likewise your Tyrannical and filthy restraininge of Priestes lauful mariage, Vdalricus the Bishop of August a calleth Periculosum Haeresis Decretum: A dangerous Decree of Heresie.

Nowe touchinge simple errour, and wilful defence, S. Hilary saithe, Illis in eo, quod nesciunt, potest adhuc in tuto esse salus, si credant: Tibi verò iam omnia ad salutem clausa sunt, qui negas, quod iam ignorare no•• potes: They, for so mutche as they knowe not the Truthe, maye haue theire saluation in safetie, if afterwarde they beleeue: But al hope of health is shut from thee, for as mutche as thou deniest that thinge, that thou canste not chuse but knowe.

To conclude, vnto you, M. Hardinge, who oftentimes of smal errours, often∣times of vndoubted, & knowen Truthes▪ without regard of Definition haue fansied great,* 1.8 & horrible Heresies, Alphonsus de Castro a Doctour of your owne saith thus: Idcirco sit, vt hi, qui tam leuiter de Haeresi pronunciant, non expendentes de qua re loquā∣tur, saepe sua ipsorū sagitta feriantur, incidant{que} in eam foueam, quam alijs parabant. Nam velle humanas Scripturas in Diuinarum ordinem connumerare, hoc veriùs ego dixerim Haeresim: quod faciunt hi, qui humanis Scriptis diffentire impium autumant, perinde ac Diuinis: There fore it happeneth, that they, that so rashly pronounce, and cal euery thing Heresie, not considering wherof they speake, be often striken with their own dart, and fal into the same pit, y^t them selues haue digged for others. For this would I rather cal Heresie, to accoumpt men••

Page 47

writinges emonges the Scriptures of God. So doo they, that thinke it a wicked mater to dis∣sent from the writinges of man, nolesse, then if it were the Judgement of God.