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 Apologie, Cap. 2. Diuision. 1.

We beleue, that there is one Churche of God, & that the same is not shutte vp (as in times past emong the Iewes) into some One cor∣ner or Kingdome, but that it is Catholique, & Vniuersal, and disper∣sed throughout the whole world. So that there is now no Nation, which may truely complaine, y^• they be shutte foorth, & may not be one of the Churche & people of God: and y^• this Church is the Kingdome, the Body, and the Spouse of Christe: that Christe alone is the Prince of this Kingedome: that Christe alone is the Head of this Body: and that Christe alone is the Bridegroome of this Spouse.

M. Hardinge.

It is a world to see these Defenders: They, whiche haue not kepte Vnitie of Spirite in the band of Charitie,* 1.1 which S. Paule requireth, but haue seuered them selues from the Body of the Church, tel vs now forsooth, they beleeue, that there is one Churche of God. But what maie wee thinke this one Churche to be? Can they seme to meane any other (what so euer they pretend) then this new Church of late yeeres set vp by Sathan, through the ministerie of Martine Luther and those other Apostates his companions, if it maie be named a Churche, and not rather a Babylonical Tower? For as touchinge that Churche, whereof* 1.2 al Christen People hath euer taken the Successour of Peter to be the Heade vnder Christe, whiche is the true Catholike Churche, in theire Apologie they sticke not to saie plainely, that it is clene fallen downe longe agone. And therefore the beginning of Luthers Seditious, and

Heretical preaching they cal Herbam, as muche to saie, as the greene Grasse, or first spring (this in∣terpreter nameth it the very first appearing) of the Gospel,* 1.3 leafe. F. 7. And in the leafe. F. 8. they saie that fortie yeeres agone and vpward, that is at the first setting foorth of Luther and Zuinglius, the Truth was vnknowen and vnheard of, and that they first came to the knowledge and preaching of the Gospel. Likewise in an other place they graunt,* 1.4 that certaine and very strange sectes haue ben stirringe in the worlde euer since the Gospel did spring, meaning the time when Luther first brinced to Germanie the poisoned Cuppe of his Heresies, Blasphemies, and Sathanismer.

Thus hauing condemned the Churche of God, whiche was before Luthers time, and allowinge that for the true Churche, the Gospel whereof first sprang out of Luther: how can they auouche theire belefe, and by what reason and learning can they make good, that there is one Churche of God? VVee would faine knowe, whiche and where it is. Is Luther and his congregation that one Churche of God, or Zuinglius and his rable, or Osiunder and his sort, or Zuenckfeldius and his secte, or Stanca∣rus and his band, or Balthasar Pacimontane and his rancke? For al these, and certaine other sectes haue* 1.5 Luther for their founder, and for their Radix Iesse, as it were, from whence they spring: And in deede euery learned man easely seeth, how the gutters of their Doctrines runne out of Luthers sincke. Of al these there is none, but stoutly claimeth the name of the Churche.

Then how saie ye, Defenders, whiche Churche be ye? name the Childe. Yf ye name one, wee sette the others against you. &c.

How often in his bookes putteth Luther you, and your Captaines in the rolle of those, that he vtter∣ly condemneth, naminge roundly togeather, Infidels, Turkes, Epicures, Heretikes, Papistes, Sacra∣mentaries? And nowe if he should heare you chalenge the name of the one Churche of God to you, and denie him and his folowers that claimed title: would he not (thinke ye) stampe and rage, would he not whetie his dogge eloquence vpon you, and cal you worse then these aboue rekened, yea and if he wist how, worse then some of you be your selues? The like courtesie maieye looke for at those other sectes, of whiche euery one claimeth the name of this one Churche of God.

But ye saie, that this One Churche is not shutte vp into some one corner, or Kingdome, but that it is Catholike, and Vniuersal, and dispersed through out the whole world. True it is, that ye saie,* 1.6 what so euer ye thinke. But the Holy learned and auncien: Fathers, where they cal and be∣leeue the Catholike Churche, they meane (as Vincentius Liriuensis declareth) the Churche to be Ca∣tholike, that is to saie Vniuersal, (for so the word signifieth) in respecte of a threefold Vniuersalitie: of places, whiche this Defender here toucheth: of times, and of menne, whiche he toucheth not. In the Catholike Churche we must haue a great care (saithe he.) that we hold that, whiche hath euery where, euermore, and of al persons ben beleeued. If these Defenders proue not the Churche, they pro∣fesse them selues to be of, to haue this threefold Vntuer salitie, then is their Congregation not this one Churche, nor of this one Churche of God, but the synagog of Antichriste.

And although the Authours of this Apologie crake of the great increase, and spredding abroade of their Gospel, and now glorie in the number of Kingedomes, Dukedomes, Countries, common VVeales, and Free Cities: Yet hath it not gone so farre abroade as the Arians heresie did by three partes of foure: VVhiche was at length vtterly extinguished, as this shal be.

That the Catholike Churche is the Kingedome,* 1.7 the Body and the Spouse of Christe, we acknow∣ledge. Of the same Kingdome we confesse and beleeue Christ to be Prince alone, so as he is Heade of this Body alone, and so as he is Bridegrome of this spouse alone. For Head and Spouse alone he is in one respect, not alone in an other respect. According to the in ward influence of Grace. Christe properly and onely is Head of his Mystical Body the Churche: But as touching the outwarde Gouernment, the being of a Head is common to Christe with others. For in this respect certaine o∣thers maie be called Heads of the Churche, as in Amos the Prophete the* 1.8 great States be called the Heads of the People. So the Scripture speaketh of Kinge Saule, VVhen thou were a litle one in thine owne eies, thou wastinade Head emong the Tribes of Israel. So Dauid saithe of him selfe, he hath made me Head of Nations.

Men be called Heads, in as muche as they be in stede of Christe, and vnder Christe: after which meaning S. Paule saith to the Corinthians, For if I forgaue any thing, to whom I forgaue it, for your sakes forgaue I, it, In persona Christi, In the Person of Christe. And in an other place, VVee

are Ambassadours in the stede of Christe,* 1.9 as though God did exhort you through vs. To conclude in fewe, according to inwarde influence of grace into euery faithful member, Christe onely is Head of the Churche: according to outward gourning the* 1.10 Pope vnde Christ and in sted of Christ is hed of y^• same.

As touching the Bridegromesbip, we saie and beleeue, that if we would speake properly,* 1.11 Christ is the onely Bridegrome of the Church his spouse of whom it is said he that hath a spouse, is a Bride∣grome. For from one of the Churche he begetteth children to himselfe. But others are called Bride∣gromes. Working together with Christe outwardly to the begetting of spiritual children, whom ne∣uerthelesse they begette not to them selues, but to Christe. And suche are called the ministers of the Bridegrome, in as muche as they done his stede. And therefore the Pope, who is instede of Christe the Bridegrome of the whole Churche, is* 1.12 called also the Bridegrome of the vniuersal Churche: a man maie terme him the vicegerent Bridegrome.

The B. of Sarisburie.

I trust, Gentle Reader, thou wilt not looke, I should answeare al M. Har∣dinges ordinarie idle talke. So should I lose good time without cause, and be ouer troublesome to thine eates. O, saithe he, VVhat a world it is, to see these Defenders? They, whiche haue not keapt the vnitie of the Sprite, in the band of Charitie, whiche S. Paule requireth, but haue seuered them selues from the Body of the Churche, tel vs nowe for soothe, that they beleeue, that there is one Churche of God. O, M. Hardinge, if wée haue herein saide il, then beare witnesse of the il: If wée haue saide wel, wherefore make you these vitter outcries? What so euer ye haue conceiued vs to be, yet might ye suffer vs quietly to saie the Truthe, specially sutche Truthe, as you imagine maketh so mutche for your selfe.

Ye say, wée confesse, that our Churche beganne onely about fourtie yeeres sithence, and was neuer before. No, M. Hardinge, wée confesse it not: and you your selfe wel knowe, wée confesse it not. It is your tale: it is not ours. Wée saie, and haue sufficiently proued, and you knowe it right wel, if ye would be knowen of that ye know, y^• our Doctrine is y^• Olde, & yours is y^• Newe, Yf ye wil néedes force your selfe to the denial, it may easily be proued, & that by sutch Authoritie, as your selfe may not wel denie: onlesse ye wil once againe do now, as ye haue twise done before.

Wée saie, that our Doctrine, & the order of our Churches is older then yours by fiue hundred whole yeeres and more. If ye wil not beleeue vs, yet beleeue M. Hardinge:* 1.13 he wil tel you euen the same. Marke wel his woordes: These they be: It standeth not with Christe his promises made to the Churche, that he should suffer his Church to conti∣nue in darkenesse these thousand yeeres past.

And thus by secrete confession, he leaueth vs fiuehundred three score and sixe whole yeeres at the least: that is to saie, the whole time of Christe, of his Apostles, and of al the Godly Learned Doctours, and Fathers of the Primitiue Churche. Whiche time notwithstanding is thought a great deale better, and purer, then al the time, that hath folowed afterwarde. In this Diuision M. hardinge being at∣tente, and eger vpon his cause, and claiming as mutche, as he thought with any modestie he might be hable, hath claimed to him selfe onely a thousand yeeres of the night: and hath leafte vs welneare sixe hundred yeeres of the daie.

This is your owne witnesse, M. Harding: Consider wel of it. It is your owne. Therefore ye doo your selfe great wronge, and mutche deface your owne credite, so suddainely to saie, our Doctrine is Newe. Gods name be blessed, it hath the Testimonie, not onely of Christe, and his Apostles, but also of the olde Learned Catholique Fathers of the Churche. And this is it, that so mutche greeueth you, that wee refourme our Churches nowe according to the paterne, and samplar of Christes, and his Apostles firste Institution. For thereby the disorder, and defor∣mitie of your Churches the more appeareth.

Lirinensis saithe,* 1.14 That thing must be holden for Catholique, that euerywhere, euer∣more, and of al menne hath benne beleeued. These general notes must be limited with

this special restrainte:* 1.15 VVhere as the Churches vvere not corrupted. For o∣therwise there was neuer any Doctrine so Catholique, ne not the Confessed Do∣ctrine of Christe him selfe, that hath benne receiued, Euermore, &, Eueryvvhere, and of al menne without any exception. But, M. Hardinge, these selfe same notes of Lirinests vtterly euerthrowe the greatest part of that whole Doctrine, that you would so saine haue counted Catholique. For neither reacheth to within fiue hundred yeeres of the Apostles time: nor hath it that Antiquitte indeed, that in face, and countenance is pretended, as it is plaine by your owne former Confession: nor was it euer vniuersally receiued, as herafter by Particulares it shal be proued. It had neuer that vniuersalitie, neither of al times, and ages: nor of al places, and countries: nor was it euer vniuersally receiued & allowed of al men. Therefore, what so euer ye cal it, ye cannot by your owne Definition cal it Catholique.

The Catholique Churche of God standeth not in multitude of Persones, but in weight of Truthe. Otherwise Christe him selfe, and his Apostles had not ben Catholique. For his flocke was very litle: & the Catholique, or Vniuersal con∣sent of the World stoode against it. The Churche of God is compared to the Moone: for that she waxethe, and waneth, as the Moone dothe, & sometime is ful, sometime is emptie:* 1.16 and therefore, as S. Augustine saith, is called Catholica, quia Vniuer∣saliter perfecta est, & in nullo claudicat, & per totum Orbem diffusa est: Bicause she is V∣niuersally perfite, and halteth in nothing, and is (not now shut vp in one onely Countrie, as was the Churche of the Iewes, but) powred throughout the whole World. Though the hartes of men haue often changes, yet Gods Truthe is euermore one: and, be it in many, or in fewe, is euer Catholique. Thus, M. Hardinge, it is written by one of your owne side:* 1.17 Etsi non nisi duo Homines remanerent in Mundo, tamen in eis salua∣retur Ecclesia, quae est Vnitas Fidelium: Although there were but two men remaining in the world, yet euen in them two the Churche, whiche is the Vnitie of the Faithful, should be soued.

Luthers dogge eloquence, for so, M. Hardinge, it liketh you of your modestie to cal it, were it neuer so rough, and vehement, the iust zele of Gods glorie, and of his Holy Temple, whiche you so miserably had defaced, so enforcing him, yet was it neuer any thing comparable to your eloquence. For, I beséeche you, if ye maie haue leasure, harken a litle, & heare your selfe talke. Behold your owne woordes, so many, so vaine, so bitter, so firie, so furious, al togeather in one place: This newe Churche, ye saie, set vp by Sathan: Martine Luther, and other Apostates his companions: This Ba∣bylonical Tower: Luthers seditious, and Heretical preaching: Luther brinced to Germanie the poi∣soned Cuppe of his Heresies, Blasphemies, and Sathnismes: Zuing lius, and his rable: The gutters of this Doctrine runne out of Luthers sincke: Luther would stamps, and rage, and whette his dogge eloquence vpon you: You are the Synagog of Antichriste. These be the Figures, and Flowers of your speache. Yet must we thinke, that ye can neither stampe, nor rage: but vse onely Angelles eloquence. How be it. I trust, no wise man wil iudge our cause the worse, for that your tongue can so readily serue you to speake il.

To the mater, ye saie, that, touching the influence of Erace, Christe onely is the Head of the Churche: but touching Direction, & Gouernment, the Pope onely is the Head. Al this is but your owne tale, M. Hardinge: Ye speake it onely of your selfe: Other Authoritie of Scripture, or Doctour ye bringe ve-none.

And yet notwithstanding, ye haue alleged Scriptures too, God wote, euen as ye haue vsed to doo in other places.

Ye saie,* 1.18 S. Paule saithe, Yf I forgaue any thing, for your sakes I forgaue it, in the personne of Christe: Wee are Embassadours in the steede of Christe, euen as though God did exhorte you through vs: Hereof ye conclude, Ergo, The Pope vnder Christe, and in the steede of Christe is Heade of the Churche. Yf ye conclude not thus, ye wander idlely, and speake in vaine, & condlude nothing. These woordes of S. Paule nothing touche y^• Pope, but onely the faithful, & zelous Preacher of the Gospel. For wherein dothe

the Pope resemble S. Paule?* 1.19 Wherein doothe he reprosente the Personne of Christe? What exhorteth he? What teacheth he? What saithe he? What doothe he? And yet if he would do any one part of his whole duetie, how might this Argu∣ment stand for good: S. Paule being at y^• Cittie of Philippi in Maerdonia, exhorted the Corinthians, as in the Personne of Christe: Ergo, the Pope being at Rome in Italie, although he neither exhorte, nor preache, yet is he the Head of the Vniuer∣sal Churche? Although Diuinitie goe harde with you, yet ye shoulde haue seens better to your Logique.

I graunte, Bishoppes may be called the Heades of theire seneral Churches. So Chrysostome calletha 1.20 Elias Caput Prophetarum, The Head of the prophetee: So A∣mos saith,b 1.21 The Princes are the Heades of y^• people: So Saul is calledc 1.22 the Head of the Tribes of Israel: So Dauid was maded 1.23 Caput Gentiū, The Head of Nations: Sondrie sutch other like examples I alleged in my Formere 1.24 Replie to M. Hardinge: As that Cyrillius the Bishop of Alexandria, in the Councel of Ephesus was calledf 1.25 Caput Episcoporum congregatotum, The Head of the Bishoppes, that these were assembled: That S. Gregorie saith,g 1.26 Paulus ad Christum conuersus Caput effectus est Natlonūm Paule being once conuerted to Christe, was made the Head of Nation: That Prudentius saithe, h 1.27 Sancta Bethlem Capur eitorbis: Holy Bethlem is the Head of the World. In this sense Optatus saithe,i 1.28 There be foure sortes of Heades in the Churche, the Bishops, the Priestes, the Deacons, The Faithful: And al this onely in a certaine kinde of phrase, and man∣ner of speache. But in déede and verily S. Augustine saithe,k 1.29 Paulus ipse non po∣terat Caput esse eorum, quos plantauerat: Paule him selfe could not be the Head of them, whom he had planted, Therefore Gregorie saithe,l 1.30 Petrus Apostolus Primum, Membrū Sanctae & Vniuersalis Ecclesiae est. Paulus, Andreas, Iohannes, quid aliud, quam singu∣lariū sunt plebium Capita? Tamen sub Vno Capite omnes Membra sunt Ecclesiae, Arque ve cuncta breui cingulo locutionis astringam, sancti ante Legem, Sacti in Lege, Sancti sub Gratia: Omnes hi perficientes Corpus Domini in Membris sunt Ecclesiae constituti. Et nemo se vnquam Vniueisalem vocari voluit: Peter the Apostle is (not the Head, but) the chiefe Member of the Holy Vniuersal Churche. Paule, Andrewe, and Iohn, what are they els, but the Heades of seueral Nations? Yet notwithstandinge vnder one Head (Christe) they are al Members of the Churche. And to speake shortely, the Sainctes before the Lawe,* 1.31 the Sainctes in the time of Grace, al accomplis∣shing the Lordes Body, are placed emonge the Members of the Churche, And there was ne∣uer yet one, that would haue him selfe called the Vniuersal Bishop, Therfore where as M. Hardinge saithe, Al Christian People haue euer taken the Successour of Peter to be the Heade of the Catholique Churche vnder Christ, he speaketh it onely of him selfe.* 1.32 And though the comparison be odious, yet Christe saithe, Cùm loqui∣tur mendacium, ex proprijs loquitur: when he speakethe Vntruthe, he speaketh it of his owne. S. Gregorie saithe, Peter was the chiefe Member of the Churche of Christe: but not the Head.

But the Bishop of Rome,* 1.33 and his hired Proctours haue taught vs farre otherwise. Panormitane saithe: Christus & Papa faciunt vnum Consistortum: &, excepto peccaio, Papa potest, quicquid Deus ipse potest: Christe, and the Pope make one Consistone, and keepe one Courte: And, sinne onely excepted, the Pope can doo, what so euer God him selfe can doo. This, I trowe, is that Head of Direction, and Gouern∣mente, that M. Hardinge meaneth.

As for the reste, that the Churche is the Kingedome of Christe, and the Pope the Prince thereof,* 1.34 M. Hardinge in special woordes answeareth nothinge. Notwithstandinge some others haue saide, Petro & Coelestis, & Terreni Imperij iu∣ra commissa sunt: Vnto Peter was committed the right both of the Heauenly, and also of the Earthely Empiere.

Last of al he doubteth not,* 1.35 but the Pope maye be called the Spouse, or Bride∣grome of the Vniuersal Churche: and yet the same without the Authoritie of any Doctour. He allegeth onely S. Bernarde: But the same S. Bernarde in the selfe same place saithe, and that by M. Hardinges owne confession, that the Pope is not the Bridegrome of the Churche. And therefore he was faine to expounde his meaninge, and to weigh him downe of the other side with his prety Glose. But S. Bernarde, without Glose saithe plainely: Non sunt omnes amici Spousi, qui hodiè sunt Sponsi Ecclesae:* 1.36 They be not al the Bridegromes frendes, that are this daye the Spouses of the Churche, O miserandain Sponsam ralibus creditam Paranymohis. Non accici Sponsi, sed aemuli sunt: O miserable is that Spouse, that is committed to sutche Lea∣ders. They are not the frendes, they are the enimies of the Bridegrome.

How be it wée néede not greatly to recke, what styles, and titles the Pope can vouchesaue to allowe him selfe. As he may be called the Heade, the Prince, and the Spouse: euen so, and by like authoritie, and truthe, may he be called the Light, the Life, the Saueour, and the God of the Churche.

God geue him an harte to vnderstande, that hée maie be, although not the Heade, yet a Member of that Body although not the Prince, yet a Subiecte in that Kingedome: although not the Bridegrome, yet a Childe of the Churche of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ephes. 4.
• * 1.2

  Vntruth. For the Fa∣thers in the Primitiue Churche neuer toke him so.
• * 1.3

  Looke in the leafe H. 7. b.
• * 1.4

  Leafe E. 2: In Latine they terme it exor∣tam Euangelii.
• * 1.5

  Vntruth, As shal ap∣peare.
• * 1.6

  Catholike Churche. VVhy is the Churche called Catholike. Threefold Vni∣uersalitie an in∣fallible marke to knovve the Churche by.
• * 1.7

  Christe alone Prince, Head, Bridegrome, Spouse of the Churche. In respect of outvvard go∣uernment the name of Head is attributed to o∣thers beside Christe.
• * 1.8

  Amos. 6. ¶ Reg. 17. Psal. 17. & Cor. ••.
• * 1.9

  Catho∣lique in many, or fevve.
• * 1.10

  Vntruthe. vvhat Scrip∣ture, or Doctour euer said so?
• * 1.11

  2. Corin. 5. Christ the true Bridegrome, the Pope vnderbrid∣grome of the Churche, Ioan. 3.
• * 1.12

  Vntruthe: For the Au∣cient Fa∣thers neuer called him so.
• * 1.13

  M. Hardinge Foli. 15. a.
• * 1.14

  Vincentius Lirinensis
• * 1.15

  Catho∣lique in many, or fevve.
• * 1.16

  Augustin. de Gene. ad liter. Cap. 1.
• * 1.17

  Fortalitium Fidei, Li. 5.
• * 1.18

  2. Corin. 2. 2. Corin. 5.
• * 1.19

  Heade
• a 1.20

  Chrysostom in Epist ad Roma. hom. 18.
• b 1.21

  Amos. 6.
• c 1.22

  1. Regum. 15.
• d 1.23

  Psalm. 17.
• e 1.24

  Articul. 4. Diui. 32.
• f 1.25

  Cyrill. tomo. 4. Epist. 5.
• g 1.26

  Gregor. in. 1. Regum. lib. 4. Cap. 4.
• h 1.27

  Prudentius in Enchiridio.
• i 1.28

  Optatus Li. 1. & 2.
• k 1.29

  Augustin con∣tra Liter. Petil. Li. 1. Ca. 5.
• l 1.30

  Gregor. Li. 4. Epist. 38.
• * 1.31

  Peter was a member of the Churche but not the Heade.
• * 1.32

  Iohan. 8.
• * 1.33

  De Election. ca. Licet Abb.
• * 1.34

  Extra. Noult ille, In gloss.
• * 1.35

  Orders.
• * 1.36

  Bernard in Con∣cil. Remensi. Bernard ad Eui∣geni. de Conside∣ra. Li. 3.