The B. of Sarisburie.
M. Hardinge pretendeth Logique, and endeth in Sophistrie. The argument, wée make, wherewith he playeth so pleasantly, is founded vpon these woordes of Christe:* 1.1 The Scholare is not aboue his Maister, nor the Seruant aboue his Lorde: If they haue persecuted me, they wil persecute you. Al these thinges shal they doo vnto you for my names sake, bicause they knowe neither my Father, nor me. The Minor is this, wée suc∣cede the Apostles, and Martyrs, and are the professours of the Truthe. Whiche Minor, by M. Hardinges iudgement, we can neuer proue. But Goddes holy name be blessed for euer: The greatest parte, of Christendome this daye seeth, this Minor is true, and that bothe we are the professours of Goddes knowen Truthe, and you the professours of manifest salsehed. Touchinge the Donatistes, and Manichees, and al other like condemned Heretiques, and Heresies, we vtterly abhorre them, euen as the gates of Hel. As for Iohn Wicklese, Iohn Husse, Valdo, and the reste, for ought wée knowe, &, I beleue, settinge malice aside, for ought you know, they were godly menne.* 1.2 Theire greatest Heresie was this, that they complained of the dissolute, and vitious liues of the Cleregie, of woorshippinge of Images, of¦feined Miracles, of the tyrānical pride of the Pope, of Monkes, Freeres, Partans, Pilgrimages,* 1.3 and Purgatorie, and other like deceiuinge, and mockinge of the peo∣ple, and that they wisshed a reformation of the Churche. Wée succede not them, nor beare theire names. Wée succede him, whose woorde wée professe: whose woorde, M. Hardinge, they of your side haue so often condemned, and vnder a colour of false Translation haue burnte for Heresie.
Hereof we fourme our argument in this sorte: Christe the Sonne of God was persecuted, & carried as a Lauuye vnto the Slauterhouse for speakyng the Truthe: Therefore it behooueth vs for the same cause sufferinge the like, to take it with pa∣tieuce. So saithe S. Peter,* 1.4 Christe died for vs, leauing vs an example, that we should folowe his steppes. If wee suffer patiently for dooinge wel, this thinge is thankes woorthy before God. So the holy Father and Martyr Ignatius comforted him selfe, when he was in the middes of his tormentes:* 1.5 lā incipio esse Discipulus Christi Now beginne I to be Christes. Disciple. So Tertullian, Quid debeo, nisi sanguinem, quem pro me fudit Filius Dei? What thinge owe I els, but the Bloude, whiche the Sonne of God hath shedde for me? The like comforte in like cases Christe geueth to his Disciples, Reioice ye, (saithe he) and he gladde, for your rewarde is greate in Heauen. For thus haue they persecuted the Prophetes, that were before you.