The Apologie, Cap. 7. Diuision. 3.
But this was euer an olde and solemne propertie with them & their forefathers: if any did complaine of their errours and faultes, and desired to haue true Religion restored, streight waie to condemne sutche for Heretiques, as men new fangled, and factious. Christe for no other cause was called a Samaritane, but onely for that he was thought to haue fallen to a certaine new Religion, and to be the authour of a new secte. And Paule the Apostle of Christe, was called before the Iudges,* 1.1 to make answeare to a mater of Heresie: and there∣fore he saide: Accordinge to this way, whiche they cal Heresie, I doo worship the God of my Fathers, beleeuinge althinges whiche be written in the Lawe, and in the Prophetes.
M. Hardinge.
Yf ye meane Hus, Hierome of Prague, Wickle••, Almaricke, Abailard, the Apostolikes, Pe∣terbrusians, Berengarians,* 1.2 Waldenses, Albingenses, Imagebreakers, or suche like, which euer founde faulte with the Churche in their time, and cried for a restoringe of Religion, as though it had ben quite lost, and would them selues haue the glory of it by bringing in their Heresie in place of the Catholique Doctrine, vnder the name of Goddes woorde, whiche hath alwaies ben the propertie of al Heretikes: if, I say, ye meane these, or any of these: we also cal them Heretikes, and for such wee condemne them.
But Sirs ye forget your selues fouly.* 1.3 How agreeth this with that ye saie hereafter oftentimes, that the Light of the Truthe was quite put out, and that Luther and Zuinglius first brough the Gospel abroade into the worlde?
VVere it true that Christe was called a Samaritane for the cause ye assigne, thereof what con∣clude ye? VVe see where about ye go. Ye woulde seeme to ioine with Christ, with Paule, and with the first Christians. But truely they refuse your companie.
But we tel you,* 1.4 Christ was the true Samaritane in deede,* 1.5 that is to say, the Keeper, as he that is Keeper of mankinde: and therefore he shunned not the name. Yet was he not a Samaritane as the Iewes ment. Paule likewise, (who was not as ye say, to speake properly, called before the Iudges to make ausweare to a mater of Heresie) being accused to Felix by Tertullus that he was of the secte or Heresie of the Nazarens (so were the Christians first called) did not onely not denie,* 1.6 but openly confes∣sed, that according to that way or state of life, which the Iewes called a secte or Heresie, he wor∣shipped God.* 1.7 For it is to be considered that in those times the name of Heresie was not so infamous, as it may be iudged by the place of the Actes, cap. 5. onlesse somewhat be added whereby it may be vnder∣standed to be taken in rate of a vice, as, 1. Cor. 11. Galat. 5. So the woorde was then indifferent, and might be taken in good part, or euil part. Tertullian vseth it in good part, where speaking of the Christi∣ans, he calleth them Sectam,* 1.8 a Secte, into which Latine woord the Greeke woorde Heresis is tur∣ned. Now these examples of Christ, Paule, and the first Christians, serue not your defence. Christ was called of the Iewes a Samaritane vnwoorthely after the sense of their thought: Ye are called He∣retikes, woorthely. Paule burdened with the name of Heresie, for as muche as thereby was signified the kinde of life of those that beleeued in Christ, the woorde being indifferent, was honoured rather then reutled. And Tertullian calleth the Christian people a Secte (as he might) without blemishe or note of any euil, Your case is not like: For ye are charged with Heresie, as it is taken in the worst part.
The B. of Sarisburie.
O howe many waste woordes hath M. Hardinge to spare? Here once againe he comneth in with Hus, Hierome of Prage, Wicklefe, Almarik, Abailard, Apo∣stolikes,