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.

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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.
Author
Jewel, John, 1522-1571.
Publication
Imprinted at London :: In Fleetestreate, at the signe of the Elephante, by Henry VVykes,
Anno 1567. 27. Octobris.
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Subject terms
Jewel, John, 1522-1571. -- Apologia Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ -- Early works to 1800.
Harding, Thomas, 1516-1572. -- Confutation of a booke intituled An apologie of the Church of England -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800.
Church of England -- Apologetic works -- Early works to 1800.
Church of England -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A04468.0001.001
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"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A04468.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 16, 2024.

Pages

The B. of Sarisburie.

Here hath M. Hardinge taken some paines more then ordinarie. He thought, if he coulde by any coloure make the worlde beléeue, wee haue neither Bi∣shoppes, nor Priestes, nor Deacons this daie in the Churche of Englande, he might the more easily claime the whole right vnto himselfe. And in déede, if it were certaine, that the Religion, and Truthe of God passeth euermore orderly by Succession, and none otherwise, then were Succession, whereof he hath tolde vs so longe a tale, a very good substantial Argumente of the Truthe. But Christe saithe,* 1.1 In Cathedra Mosi sedent Scribae, & Pharisaei: By order of Succession, the Scribes, and Phariseis sitte in Moses Chaire. Annas, and Capas, touchinge Suc∣cession, were as wel Bishoppes, as Aaron, & Eleazar. Of Succession, S. Paule saithe to the Faithful at Ephesus:* 1.2 Scio, qud post discessum meum intrabunt Lupi¦rapaces. Ex Vobis ipsis exurgent viri peruersa loquentes: I knowe that after my de∣parture hence, Rueninge Woulues shal enter, and Succede me. And out of your selues there shal (by Succession) springe vp menne speakinge peruersely. Therefore S. Hierome saithe,* 1.3 Non Sanctorum filij sunt, qui tenent loca Sanctorum: They be not alwaies the Children of Holy Menne, that (by Succession) haue the places of Holy Menne.

Notwithstandinge the Pope him selfe wil saie, as it is before alleged, In Pa∣pa si desint bona acquisita per merirum,* 1.4 sufficiunt, quae à Loci Praedecessore Praestantur: If the Pope wante good thinges gotten by his owne merites: the good thinges, whiche he hath (by Succession) of Peter his Predecessour, are sufficient. And the Glose thereupon,

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Petrus fecit Papas Haeredes bouitatis suae:* 1.5 Peter made the Popes Heires of his goodnesse by Succession.* 1.6 And againe, Papa Sanctitatem recipit à Cathedra: The Pope recei∣ueth his Holinesse (by Succession) of his Chaire.

Sutche affiance sometime had the Scribes, and Phariseis in their Succession. Therefore they saide,* 1.7 VVee are the Children of Abraham: Vnto vs hath God made his promises: Arte thou greatter then our Father Abraham? As for Christe, wee knowe not, from whence he came, or what he can shewe for his Succession. And, when Christe beganne to refourme their Abuses, and Errours, they saide vnto him, By what Power dooest thou these thinges?* 1.8 And who gaue thee this Authoritie? where is thy Suc∣cession? Vpon whiche woordes Beda saithe, Intelligi volunt, Diaboli esse, quod faci: They woulde haue the People vnderstande (for that he had no solemne Succession) that al that he did, was of the Diuel. And Cyrillus frameth their woordes in this sorte: Tu Ortus ex Iuda commissos nobis fasces vsurpas: Thou beinge of the Tribe of Juda, (and therefore hauinge no right by Succession vnto the Priesthoode) takest vpon thee the office, that is committed vnto vs. Likewise Chrysostome imagineth, the Phariseis thus to saie:* 1.9 Tu de Sacerdotali Familia natus non es: Senatus tibi hoc non coucessit: Caesar non donauit: Thou arte not of the house of Priestes: The Councel hath not graunted it thee: The Emperour hath not geeuen it thee. Thus to maineteine them selues in credite, for that they had Succession, and continuance from Aaron, and sate in Moses Chaire, they kepte Christe quite out of possession: and saide vnto him then, euen as M. Hardinge saithe nowe vnto vs: Who euer taught vs these thinges before thee? What ordinarie Succession, and Vocation haste thou? What Bishop admitted thee? Who confirmed thee? Who allowed thee?

Therefore, good Christian Reader, lette not these M. Hardinges greate woordes mutche abasshe thee. The Scribes, and Phariseis in the like cases vsed the like language longe agoe.

Touchinge the Churche of Rome, I wil saie nomore for this presente, but one∣ly, that was spoken openly by Cornelius the Bishop of Bitonto in the late Coun∣cel of Tridente:* 1.10 Vtinam non à Religione ad Superstitionem, à Fide ad Infidelitatem, à Christo ad Antichristum, velut prorsus Vnanimes declinassent: VVoulde God they were not al gonne by consente togeather, from Religion to Superstition: from Faithe to Jufi∣delitie: from Christe to Antichriste. These fewe woordes, consideringe either the speaker, or the place, where they were spoken, maye seeme sufficient. They are gonne from Faithe to Infidelitie: from Christe to Antichriste. And yet al other thinges failinge, they muste holde onely by Succession: and, onely bicause they sitte in Moses Chaire, they muste claime the possession of the whole. This is the right, and vertue of their Succession.

The woordes of Tertullian, M. Hardinge, whiche you haue here alleged, were spoken of certaine your Ancient Fathers, that had raised vp a Newe Reli∣gion of them selues, as you haue also donne, without either Woorde of God, or example of the Apostles, and Holy Fathers. And therefore he saithe, not vnto vs, but vnto you, and sutche, as you be, Edant Origines Ecclesiarum suarum: Lette them shewe foorthe the Originalles of theire Churches. Euen so wée saie vnto you, shewe vs the Originalles of your Doctrine: Shewe vs any one of the Apostles of Christe, or of the Learned Catholique Doctours of the Churche, that euer saide your Priuate Masse: Shewe one at the leaste, either Greeke, or Latine. S. Au∣gustine saithe,* 1.11 of so many Bishoppes of Rome, there coulde not one be founde, that had benne a Donatiste. Euen so in like sorte saie wée to you, of al the same Bishoppes of Rome, there cannot one be founde, that euer agreed with M. Har∣dinge in saieinge Masse. Or if there were any sutche, shewe vs his name, with other Circumstances, when, and where, and who were witnesses of the dooinge.

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Shewe vs your Originalles,* 1.12 M. Hardinge: Confesse the Truthe: Deceiue vs no lenger: It is a newe Diuise: ye haue it onely of your selues: and not by Succes∣sion from the Apostles.

But wherefore telleth vs M. Hardinge this longe tale of Succession? Haue these menne their owne Succession in so safe Recorde? Who was then the Bi∣shop of Rome nexte by Succession vnto Peter? Who was the Seconde? Who the Thirde?* 1.13 Who the Fourthe? Irenaeus reckeneth them togeather in this order: Petrus, Linus, Anacletus, Clemens: Epiphanius thus, Petrus, Linus, Cletus, Clemens: Optatus thus. Petrus, Linus, Clemens, Anacletus. Clemens saithe, that he him selfe was nexte vnto Peter: And then muste the reckeninge goe thus: Petrus, Clemens, Linus, Anacletus. Hereby it is cleare, that of the foure firste Bishoppes of Rome, M. Hardinge cannot certainely telle vs, who in order Succeded other. And thus talkinge so mutche of Succession, they are not wel hable to blase their owne Succession.

I might farther saie, that Peters See Apostolike was ouer the Iewes, and not at Rome ouer the Heathene.* 1.14 For so S. Paule saithe, Mihi concreditum est E∣uangelium Praepuiij, sicut Petro Circumcisionis: Qui potens erat Petro in Apostolatu Circumcisionis, Potens erat in me inter Gentes: The Gospel of the Vncircumcision was committed vnto me, as the Gospel of the Circumcision vnto Peter: God that was mighty in Peter in the Apostleship of the Circumcision, was mighty in me emonge the Heathens. Ther∣fore if the Pope this daie wil claime onely by Peters Title, and require nomore, then Peter had, then muste he séeke his Primacie emongst the Iewes, where Pe∣ter had his Iurisdiction limited, and not at Rome emonge the Heathen Chri∣stians, emonge whome, as S. Paule saithe, he had not mutche to doo.

Where you saie, that accordinge to the Ecclesiastical Canons, euer from the Apostles time, Bishoppes haue euermore benne Consecrate by three other Bi∣shoppes, with the Confirmation of the Bishop of Rome, as if without him noman might be allowed to be a Bishop, ye shoulde not so vnaduisedly reporte so mani∣fest Vntruthe. For, I beseche you, where be these Ecclesiastical Canons? Who diuised them? Who made them? Who gaue the Pope that singulare Priuilege, that no Bishop shoulde be admitted in al the Worlde, but onely by him? I remem∣ber, your Canonistes haue saide,* 1.15 Papa potest Solo Verbo facere Episcopum: The Pope maye make a Bishop onely by his VVoorde, without any farther Consecration. And Abbate Panormitane moueth a doubte, whether the Pope by the Fulnesse of his Power, maye depriue al the Bishoppes in the Worlde at one time. But thus they saie, that care not greatly, what they saie.

Verily,* 1.16 Nilus a Gréeke Writer saithe thus, Constantinopolitanus Caesaiensem Episcopum, alios{que} sibi subiectos ordina: Romanus verò nec Constantinopolitanum, nec alium quenquam Metropolitanum: The Bishop of Constantinople doothe Order the Bishop of Caesaria,* 1.17 and other Bishoppes vnder him: But the Bishop of Rome doothe Or∣der neither the Bishop of Constantinople, nor any other Metropolitane. But hereof I haue spoken more at large in my Former Replie to M. Hardinge. Certainely S. Cyprian willeth,* 1.18 that Sabinus, beinge lawfully elected, and Consecrate Bishop in Spaine, should contine we Bishop stil, yea although Cornelius, beinge then Bi∣shop of Rome, would not Confirme him.

In déede, touchinge euery Metropolitanes seueral Iurisdiction, Gratianus no∣teth thus:* 1.19 Illud generaliter clarum est, qud si quis praeter Sententiam Metropolitani fuerit factus Episcopus, hunc magna Synodus definiuit Episcopum esse non Oportere: This is generally cleare, that if any man be made Bishop without the consente of his Me∣tropolitane, the greate Councel (of Nice) hath decreed, that sutche a one maye not be Bishop.

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So likewise saithe Socrates of the Bishop of Constantinople:* 1.20 Praeter Senten∣tiam Episcopi Constantinopolitani Electio Episcopi ne fiat: VVithout the Consente of the Bishop of Constantinople let noman be chosen Bishop. Here is a right specially re∣serued to the Bishop of Constantinople,* 1.21 and to euery Metropolitane within his owne Prouince: but of the Bishop of Romes Vniuersal right of Confirmation we heare nothinge. Neither doothe M. Hardinges Countrefeite Anacletus claime al the Bishoppes through the worlde, as belonginge to his Admission, but onely a parte. These be his woordes, Omnes Episcopi, qui huius Apostolicae Sedis Or∣dinationi subiacent:* 1.22 Al the Bishoppes, that are vnder the Orderinge, or Confirmation of this Apostolike See. So likewise writeth Damasus to the Bishoppes of Illyri∣cum, Par est, omnes, qui sunt in Orbe Romano, Magistros consentire: It is meete, that al the Teachers within the Romaine Jurisdiction,* 1.23 should agree togeather.

Againe, that you saye, A Bishop hath alwaies benne Consecrate by other thrée Bishoppes, whether it be true, or no, it maye wel be called in question, as beinge of your parte hitherto very weakely affirmed. Surely Petrus de Palude, one of your owne Doctours,* 1.24 woulde haue tolde you thus: In Ecclesia Vnus Episco∣pus suffcit ad alium Consecrandum: nec est, nisi propter Solennitatem ab Ecclesia in∣uentum, vt Tres concurrant: In the Churche One Bishop is sufficient to Consecrate an o∣ther: and it is nothinge els, but for the Solemnitie of the mater, that the Churche hath di∣uised, that Three Bishoppes shoulde ioine togeather. Likewise Ioha••••es Maior an o∣ther of your owne Doctours woulde haue saide vnto you,* 1.25 Quis Ordinauit Pe∣trum? Non dabunt Tres Ordinatores. Dico ergo, esse Constitutionem Humanam, qud Episcopus Ordinetur à Tribus. Paulus enim non quaesiuit Duos pro Ordinatione Titi, & Timothei: Who Ordered Peter, and made him Bishop? They cannot shewe me Three Bishoppes that ordered him. Therefore I saie, that a Bishop be Ordered by other Three Bi∣shoppes, it is an Ordinance made by Man. For Paule, when he Ordered Titus, and Ti∣motheus, he sought not aboute for other Twoo Bishoppes.

Whereas it farther pleaseth you, to calle for my Letters of Orders, and to demaunde of me, as by somme Authoritie, whether I be a Prieste, or no: what handes were laide ouer me: and by what Order I was made: I answeare you, I am a Prieste, made longe sithence, by the same Order, and Ordinance, and, I thinke, also by the same Man, and the same handes, that you, M. Hardinge, were made Prieste by, in the late time of that moste Vertuous Prince Kinge Edward the Sixthe. Therefore ye cannot wel doubte of my Priesthoode, without like doubtinge of your owne.

Farther, as if ye were my Metropolitane, ye demaunde of me, whether I be a Bishoppe, or no. I answeare you, I am a Bishop, and that by the Frée and ac∣customed Canonical Election of the whole Chapter of Sarisburie, assembled so∣lemnely togeather for that purpose. Of whiche companie you, M. Hardinge, were then One, &, as I was enfourmed, beinge presente there in your owne personne emongest your Brethren, gaue free, and open consente vnto the Election. If you deite this, take heede, your owne breathe blowe not against you.

As for the impertinente tales of Ischyras, and Zacchaeus, they touche vs nothinge. They were none of ours: We knowe them not. Our Bishoppes are made in Fourme, and Order, as they haue benne euer, by Frée Election of the Chapter: by Consecration of the Archebishop, and other Three Bishoppes: and by the Admission of the Prince. And in this sorte, not longe sithence, the Pope him selfe was admitted: and,* 1.26 as Platina saithe, without the Emperours let∣ters Patentes was no Pope: as hereafter it shalbe shewed more at large.

Therefore wée neither haue Bishoppes without Churche, nor Churche without Bishoppes. Neither doothe the Churche of Englande this daie depend

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of them,* 1.27 whome you so often calle Apostates, as if our Churche were no Churche without them. They are no Apostates, M. Hardinge: That is rather your owne name, and of good righte belongeth vnto you. They are for a greate parte learned, and graue, and Godly menne, and are mutche ashamed to see your folies. Not∣withstandinge, if there were not one, neither of them, nor of vs leafte aliue, yet woulde not therefore the whole Churche of Englande fice to Louaie. Tertul∣lian saithe, Nonne & Laici Sacerdotes sumus? Scriptum est, Regnum quoque, & Sa∣cerdotes Deo,* 1.28 & Patri suo nos fecit. Differentiam inter Ordinem, & Plebem constituit Ecclesiae Authoritas, & honor per Ordinis Consessum Sanctificatus à Deo. Vbi Eccle∣siastici Ordinis non est Consessus, & Offert, & T••••g•••• Sacerdos, qui est ibi solus. Sed & vbi Tres sunt, Ecclesia est, licet Laici. Vnusquisque enim de sua Fide viuit: And wee beinge Laiemenne are wee not Priestes? It is written, Christe hath made vs bothe a Kinge∣dome, and Priestes vnto God his Father: The Authoritie of the Churche, and the Honour by the Assemblie, or Councel of Order Sanctified of God hath made a difference bitwene the Laie, and the Cleregie. Where as there is no Assemblie of Ecclesiastical Order, the Prieste beinge there alone (without the companie of other Priestes) doothe bothe Minister the Oblation, and also Baptize. Yea, and be there but Three togeather, and, though they be Latemenne, yet is there a Churche. For euery man liueth of his owne Faithe.

Againe, ye demaunde of me, what Bishoppe of Sacisburie euer sithence Au∣gostines time maineteined this Doctrine. I might likewise, and by as good Au∣thoritie demaunde of you, what Bishop of Rome euer before the same Englishe Augustines time maineteined your Doctrine? Or, as I saide before, what Bi∣shop of Rome euer before that time either saide, or knewe your Priuate Masse? Touchinge the Bishoppes of Sarisburie, you your selfe haue already named twoo, Bishop Shaxton, and Bishop Capon, bothe Learned, and graue Fathers, and bothe Preachers, and professours of the Gospel. For the reste of the Bishops, that were before them, what Faithe they helde, and what they either liked, or misliked, by their writinges, or Sermons it dothe not greately appeare. I truste, they helde the Fundation, and liued, and died in the Faithe of Christe. If they had liued in these daies, and seene, that you see, they would not haue benne parta∣kers of your wilfulnesse.

To be shorte, wée succede the Bishoppes, that haue benne before our daies. Wee are Elected, Consecrate, Confirmed, and Admitted, as they were. If they were deceiued in any thinge, wee succede them in place, but not in errour. They were our Predecessours, but not the Rules, and Standardes of our Faithe. Or rather, to sette aparte al comparison of Personnes, the Doctrine of Christe this daie, M. Hardinge, Succedeth your Doctrine: as the Daie Succedeth the Nighte: as the Lighte Succedeth Darkenesse: and as the Truthe Succedeth Errour.

Nowe for as mutche, as ye haue thought it so good, to examine the Petite de∣gree of the Bishoppes of Sarisburie, I truste ye wil not thinke it il, if I altle touche the like in the Bishoppes of Rome: that wée maye thereby be the better hable to sée some of the branches of your Succession. Therefore shortly to saie, you knowe that Pope Marcellinus committed Idolatrie: that Pope Syluester. 2. was a Coniurer, and gaue him selfe whole Body, and Soule vnto the Diuel, and by the Diuels procuremente was made Pope: That Pope Zosimus for ambi∣tion, and claime of gouernmente corrupted the Holy Councel of Nice: That Pope Liberius was an Arian Heretique: That Pope Leo, as appeareth by the Legende, was likewise an Arian: That Pope Coelestinus was a Nestorian He∣retique: Pope Honorius was a Monothelite Heretique: Pope Iohn. 22. was re∣prooued by Gerson, and the Schole of Parise for an Heretique: Petrarcha saithe,

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Rome is a Sanctuarie of al Heresies:* 1.29 Lyra saithe, that many Popes haue fallen into Heresies:* 1.30 you know, that Pope Hildebrande, as he was charged by the Coun∣cel of Brixia, was an Aduouterer, a Churcherobber, a Periured man, a Man∣killer, a Sorcerer, and a Renegate of the Faithe: That Platina calleth the Popes sometimes in scorne,* 1.31 Pontificulos, Litle Petite Popes: sometimes Monstra, & Portenta, Monsters, and Vnnatural, and il shapen Creatures. Pope Adrian the fourthe was woonte to saie, Succedimus, non Petro in pascendo, sed Romulo in Parricidio: VVee Succede, not Peter in Feedinge, but Romulus in Killinge. And to leaue Dame Iohane the woman Pope, with many others moe of like Vertue, and Holinesse, as hauinge no pleasure in this rehersal: And, for as mutche as M. Hardinge began this mater with Sarisburie, to ende it with the same,* 1.32 Iohannes Sarisburiensis saithe, In Romana Ecclesia sedent Scribae, & Pharisaei: In the Churche of Rome (by Succession) sitte the Scribes, and the Phariseis.

This is M. Hardinges holy Succession. Though Faithe faile, yet Succession muste holde. For vnto sutche Succession God hath bounde the Holy Ghoste. For lacke of this Succession, for that in our Sees in the Churches of Englande, wée finde not so many Idolaters, Necromancers, Heretiques, Aduouterours, Church∣robbers, Periured Personnes, Mankillers, Renegates, Monsters, Scribes, and Pharisies, as wée maie easily finde in the Churche of Rome, therefore, I trowe, M. Hardinge saithe, wée haue no Succession: wée are no Bishoppes: wée haue no Churche at al.

But S. Paule saithe, Faithe commeth (not by Succession, but) by hearinge: and hearinge commeth, (not of Legacie, or Enheritance from Bishop to Bishop, but) of the Woorde of God. They are not alwaies Godly, that Succede the Godly. Manasses succeded Ezechias: and Hieroboam succeded Dauid. By Succession the Turke this daie possesseth, and holdeth the foure greate Patriarkal Sées of the Churche, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioche, and Hierusalem. By Succession, Christe saithe,* 1.33 Desolation shal fitte in the Holy place: and Antichriste shal presse into the roume of Christe.

It is not sufficient to claime Succession of place: It behooueth vs rather to haue regarde to the Succession of Doctrine.* 1.34 S. Bernarde saithe, Quid prodest, si Canonice eligantur, & non Canonicè viuant? What auaileth it, if they be chosen in Or∣der, and liue out of Ordere So saithe S. Augustine,* 1.35 Ipsum Characterem multi, & Lu∣pi, & Lupis imprimunt: The outwarde marke, or right of a Bishop manie geue to Woulues, and he Woulues them selues. Therefore the Ancient Father Irenaeus geueth vs this good Councel: Eis, qui sunt in Ecclesia, Presbyteris, obaudire oportet, qui Suc∣cessionem habent ab Apostolis,* 1.36 qui cum Episcopatus Successione, Charisma Ve∣ritatis certum, secundum beneplacitum Patris, acceperunt: It becommeth vs, to obeie those Priestes in the Churche, whiche haue their Succession from y Apostles: and togeather with the Succession of their Bishoprikes, accordinge to y good wil of God the Father, haue receiued the vndoubted gifte of the Truthe. S. Cyprian beinge likewise charged for dissentinge from his predecessours, answeareth thus: Si quis de Antecessoribus meis, non hoc obseruauit, & tenuit, quod nos Dominus exemplo, & Magisterio suo do∣cuit, potest simplicitati eius venia concedi: Nobis ver ignoici non potest, qui nunc à Domino admoniti, & instructi sumus: If any of my Predecessours haue not obserued, and kepte the same, that our Lorde hath taught vs bothe by his example, and also by his Com∣maundemente, his simplicitie maie be pardoned. But wee (if wée doo the like) can hope for no pardonne, beinge nowe admonished, and instructed of our Lorde.

Compare the vse, and order of our Churches, M. Hardinge, with the Primi∣tiue Churche of God, and ye shal easily see the right of our Succession. S. Cyprian

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saithe:* 1.37 Si Canalis aquae, quae copiose prius, & lag••••••r profluba, subit deficiat, nōne ad¦fontē pergitur? &c. Hoc & nūc facere oporte Dei Sacerdotes. Praecepta Diuina seruantes, vt in aliquo si nutauerit,* 1.38 & vacillauerit Veritas, ad originem Dominicam, & Euangelicam at{que} Apostolicam Traditionem reuertamur: & inde surgat actus nostri ratio, vnde & Ordo, & Origo surrexit: If the Pipes of y Conduit, which before ranne with abundance, happen to faile, doo wee not vse to searche to the Head: &c. The Priestes of God keepinge Goddes commaundementes, must do the same: that if the Truthe haue fainted, or failed in any pointe, vvee returne to the very Original of our Lorde, and to the Tradition of the Gospel, and of the Apostles: that therhence wee maie take the discretion of our dooinges, from whence the Order it selfe, and Original firste beganne.

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