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.

Wée Confounde not these Keies, M. Hardinge, but speake plainely, and di∣stinctely of either other. Wée saie, that the Power, as wel of Loosinge, as also of Bindinge standeth in Gods Woorde: and the exercise, or execution of the same standeth either in Preaching, or els in Sentence of Correction, and Ecclesiastical Discipline.

Of the later hereof, there is no question: of the former, M. Harding pronoun∣ceth precisely, although, as it appeareth, not moste aduisedly: Bindinge, saithe he, and Shuttinge standeth not in denouncinge of Goddes Vengeaunce. And hereof he certainely as∣sureth vs, as of a most vndoubted Veritie. How be it, in so saieinge, he séemeth not to consider the Power, and Weight of the Woorde of God.

Christe him selfe saithe,* 1.1 If any man shal heare my Woordes, and shal not Bèleèue, I condemne him not. He that refusethe me, and receiueth not my Woordes, hath one, that condemneth him. The Woorde, that I haue spoken, is it, that shal Iudge him at the last daie. Like wise saithe S. Paule,* 1.2 VVe are the good sauour of Christe in them, that be saued, and in them, that perishe. Vnto them that perishe, wee are the sauoure of Death vnto Deathe: In them that be saued,* 1.3 wee be the sauour of Life vnto Life. And againe, If the Gospel be hidden, it is hidden from them, that perishe. So saith God vnto the Prophete Ezechiel, If thou geue warninge to the wicked,* 1.4 and he wil not be turned from his wickednesse, he shal perishe in the same. Yet haste thou discharged thine owne soule.

To be shorte,* 1.5 The whole Scriptures are ful hereof. And therefore S. Au∣gustine saithe, Praedicatur Euangelium, quibusdam ad praemium, quibusdam ad Iu∣dicium: The Gospel is Preached, to somme vnto rewarde, to somme vnto Iudgemente.

For the rest, M. Hardinge saithe, Suche Priestes bicause ye haue not in your Newe Churche, at leaste after this wise vsinge Priestly Auctoritie, and none will suffer to be made, and suche Auctoritie to be exercised, ye defraude the faitheful people of the great benefite of the Sacra∣mente of Penance, keepinge them fast bounde to theire sinnes after Baptisme committed: And so ye cause theire euerlastinge Damnation, for whom Christe hathe shead his Bloud, the Price of their Redemption.

These great woordes are not very wel seasoned: They are bigge in sounde, and smal in weight: they are ful of terroure, and voide of witte. For the Churche of Englande hath Authoritie this daie by Goddes Woorde to Binde, and Lose, as mutche as euer Christe gaue any to his Apostles: And by the same Authoritie is hable to Binde, not onely M. Hardinge, and his Felowes, as Peter bound Si∣mon

Magus,* 1.6 or as Paule bounde Elymas the False Prophet: but also the Pope himselfe, if he be an Open Offender: and, as S. Paule saithe, to deliuer him ouer vnto Sathan: And vndoubtedly beeinge so Bound in Earthe, he shal also stande Bounde in Heauen.

Our People remaine not Bounde, nor perishe in theire sinnes, as these menne so vncharitably, and fondly haue imagined. They be so certaine of the Re∣mission of theire sinnes in the Bloude of Christe, as if Christe himselfe were pre∣sente, and spake it to them.* 1.7 They are taught, and knowe that The Bloude of Christe, the Sonne of God hath made vs cleane from al our sinnes: and, that there is no name vnder Heauen, whereby wee shalbe saued, but onely the name of Iesus Christe.

As for Priuate Confession, Abuses, and Errours set aparte, as it is saide before, wée condemne it not, but leaue it at libertie. And therein wée maie séeme to folowe the aduise of Charles the Emperoure in his late Interim:* 1.8 For thus he writeth, Confessio, & Peccatorum Enumeratio, vt non nimis laxanda est, ita uicissim non nimis est astringenda.

Touchinge the Priestes of your makinge, M. Hardinge, of whom ye séeme to make so great accoumpte,* 1.9 your owne Peter Lombard saith of them, as it is saide before, Sané dici potest, quòd alteram Clauem, id est, Scientiam discernendi multi Sa∣cerdotes non habent.* 1.10 And in like manner saithe your owne Bonauentura, Omnes ferè ita sunt Simplices, & Idiotae post susceptionem Sacerdotij, ficut antè: Al Priestes for the most parte are as Simple, and Vnlearned after the receiuinge of Orders, as they were before.

But be it graunted, that your Priest be fully furnished with al his Keies. Yet is it not he,* 1.11 that by any his Authoritie forgeueth sinnes. Your owne Gratian saithe, Euidentissime datur intelligi, quòd sine Confessione Oris Peccata possunt deleri: It is euidently geeuen vs to vnderstande, that vvithout Confession of mouthe, Sinnes maie be forgeeuen.* 1.12 And againe, Ore tacente, veniam consequi possumus: Though vvee saie nothinge, yet wee maye haue pardonne. Againe, Luce clariùs constat, Cordis Contritione, non Oris Confessione, Peccata dimitti: It is apparente, and more cleare then the light, that Sinnes be forgeeuen by Contrition of the Harte, and not by Confession of the mouthe. And againe, Dominus ostendit, quòd non Sacerdotali iudicio, sed largitate Diuina Peccator mundatur: Our Lorde hathe taught vs, that the sinner is made cleane, not by the Iudgement of the Prieste, but by the Mercie of God.

Thus, M. Hardinge, it is plaine by the Iudgemente of your owne Doctours, that, were your Auriculare Confession quite abolished, yet might the People not∣withstandinge haue ful Remission of theire Sinnes. But of you it maie he veri∣fied, that Christe saide vnto the Phariseis:* 1.13 Ye haue taken awaye the Keies of the Kingedome of Heauen: And neither doo ye enter your selues, nor wil your suffer others, that would enter.* 1.14 Of your Keies Veselus saide longe sithence, Claues Papae, & Praela∣torum non aperiunt Regnum Dei, sed claudunt potiùs: The Popes, and the Prelates Keies doo not Open the Kingedome of God, but rather Shutte it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iohn. 12.
• * 1.2

  2 Corin. 2.
• * 1.3

  2 Corin. 4.
• * 1.4

  Ezechiel. 3.
• * 1.5

  Augustin. epist 49 ad Deogra∣tias.
• * 1.6

  Sinne forgeuen vvithout Confes∣sion.
• * 1.7

  1. Iohan. 1. Actor. 4.
• * 1.8

  Interim Caroli 5. anno. 1548.
• * 1.9

  4. Senten. dist. 19. Post.
• * 1.10

  Bonauent. 4. Senten. dist. 18. quae. 1. e.
• * 1.11

  De Poeniten. dist. 1. Quis aliquā∣do.
• * 1.12

  De Poenit. dist. 1. Conuertimin••.
• * 1.13

  Luk. 11.
• * 1.14

  Veselus, de Sub∣ditis, & Supe∣riorib.