M. Hardinge.
Leaste any piece of your Apologie should be without a witnes, for proufe that ye are his chil∣dren, who is the father of lies: ye make vs to affirme, that by our Masses we distribute and applie to men indifferently, how: so euer they be disposed, for so ye meane, as it appeareth partely by that ye saie here, and special by your Doctrine other wheres vttered, al the Merites of Christes Deathe. But tel vs,† who euer taught this Doctrine in the Catholike Churche?
Yea, God is so good, and prone to bestowe his mercie, that, not onely when a man is through faithe prepared for it, he geueth it abundantly vnto him: but also though he of his owne parte haue no faithe presently, yet for others sake, whiche are Gods derely beloued frendes, he farethe the better, and hath that gifte obteigned to him. As, when S. Steuen praied at his deathe for those, that per∣secuted him, for whom prayed he then, but for those, who had no Faithe at al in Christe? And when this grace was geuen vnto them, as that from theire Iewishnes they came to the faith of Christe, who shal exclude that blessed Martyr from this worship and honoure, that throughe his praier, as by one special meane, that grace was applied vnto them?
VVhat effecte his praier tooke, if any man thereof doubte, he maye thinke it to haue wrought mutche for the benefite of others of lesse malice, seinge that it did so mutche in Paule. VVho as the Scripture saithe, yet breathinge out threatninges and slaughter againste Christes Disciples. was so chaunged and conuerted, that of a Persecutour he became an Apostle. For, as S. Augustine writeth, Si Sanctus Stephanus sic non orasset, Ecclesia Paulum non haberet: If S. Steuen had not praied so, the Churche shoulde not haue had Paule. Nowe, if those that be no Priestes, without publike Auctoritie of Consecrating the Body and Bloude of Christe, yet by waie of praier doo obteine, that men be conuerted to the Faithe, whiche is the applyinge of one fruite of Christes merites, mutche more the publike Minister, and Bishop, whiche assumpted from amonge men, is ordeined for men, in matters belonginge to God, that he may offer vp giftes and Sacrifices for sinnes.