The Apologie, Cap. 8. Diuision. 2.
Sithence then they bringe foorthe none of these for them selues, and cal vs neuerthelesse Heretiques, whiche haue neither fallen from Christe, nor from the Apostles, nor yet from the Prophetes, this is an iniurious and a very spiteful dealinge.
M. Hardinge.
Nay Sirs, ye shal not so carie awaye the conclusion with a lie. But contrarywise, sithens wee bringe foorthe many Scriptures for the Truthe, whiche ye impugne, as your selues shal see, when we come to confute your doctrine, whiche here foloweth: and sithens not withstandinge that ye wil not yeelde to the Scriptures, but peruert the True meaninge of them with Gloses and interpretations of your owne Heades,* 1.1 frame newe opinions contrary to that ye haue receaued, and that the Churche hathe euer taught: the Catholikes wilful cal you Heretikes, and the Churche wil condemne you for Heretikes, and so accompt you, vntil ye recant, and repent.
But ye haue not fallen from Christe,* 1.2 ye saye, nor from the Apostles, nor yet from the Prophetes. As though they that departe from the Romaine Churche, whiche is the Catholike Churche, which diuerse times in the Apologie ye confesse, fell not from Christe, and consequently from the Apostles, and Pro∣phetes.* 1.3 Saithe not Christe in the Gospel: He that heareth not the Churche, let him bee to thee as an Heathen, and a Publicane? Saieth he not also, He that despiseth you, despiseth mee?
The B. of Sarisburie.
Whether parte rightly and reuerently vseth the Scriptures of God, and whe∣ther peruerteth them by shiftes, and Gloses, I truste, it shal in parte appeare by this conference. In déede, M. Hardinge, it is no great maisterie, by your interpre∣tations, and handelinges to haue stoare yenough and plenette of Scriptures. For this is one special grounde of your Diuinitie,a 1.4 Papa potest ex nihilo facere aliquid: & Sententiam, quae nulla est, facere aliquam: The Pope is hable of nothinge to make some thinge: and of no Sentence to make some Sentence. By your Doctrine it is lawful, and good Logique, to reason thus:b 1.5 An gloriabitur serra aduersus eum, qui trahit illam•• Shal the sawe boaste against him, that draweth it?c 1.6 Non est Seruus supra Dominum: There is no Seruant aboue his Lorde: Ergo, Noman maye dare to Iudge the Pope. Or thus,d 1.7 Omnia munda mundis: Coinquinatis autem, & infidelibus mihil est mundum: Al thinges are cleane to the cleane: but vnto the filthy, and Infidelles nothinge is cleane: Ergo, It is not lawful for Priestes to marry.
Or, as you, M. Hardinge, sometimes haue delited to reason:e 1.8 Nolite dare San∣ctum Canibus: Geeue not Holy thinges to Dogges, Ergo, It is not laweful for the Christian vulgare People to Reade the Scriptures.
Thus maye you easily be wel stoared, and ful freight of Scriptures yenough, and, asf 1.9 S. Hierome saithe, maye carrie them captiue to serue your turne. But S. Hierome coulde also haue tolde you,g 1.10 Non in verbis Scripturarum est Euāgelium,* 1.11 sed in sensu: The Gospel standeth not in the bare woordes of the Scriptures, but in the meaninge. Therefore wée maye saye vnto you, as S. Cyprian once saide to the Nouatian