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. 15. Diuision. 2.

Bisides, where they saie, and sommetime doo persuade fooles, that they are hable by theire Masses to distribute, and applie vnto mennes commoditie al the Merites of Christes Deathe, yea, al∣though many times the parties thinke nothing of the mater, and vn∣derstande ful litle, what is donne, this is a Mockerie, a Heathenishe fansie, and a very ioie. For it is our Faith, that applieth the Deathe, and Crosse of Christe to our benefite, & not the Acte of the Massinge Prieste. Faithe had in the Sacramentes (saithe Augustine) doth iu∣stifie, and not the Sacramentes.* 1.1 And Origen saithe: Christe is the Prieste, the Propitiation, and Sacrifice: vvhiche Propitiation commeth to euery one by meane of Faithe. And so, by this rec∣keninge, wee saie, that the Sacramentes of Christe, without Faithe, doo not once profite these, that be a liue: a greate deale lesse doo they profite those that be deade.

M. Hardinge.

* 1.2 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,† 1.3 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.* 1.4 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,* 1.5 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.

And nowe if ye liste to learne what kinde of applyinge we vse in our Masses,* 1.6 we doo offer vp vnto God firste,* 1.7† 1.8 his Sonne, representinge his passion, and celebratinge the memorie of the same* 1.9 ac∣cordinge to Christes institution.

But what measure of good we procure them, to God onely is that knowen. If (as the Learned Bishop Prosper saithe) the grace of our Sauiour passe ouer some Persons (as we see it to happen) and if the Praier of the Churche (wherein the Sacrifice is conteined, after S. Augustines Minde) be not admit∣ted for them: it is to be referred to the secrete iudgèmentes of Goddes iustice, and it is to be acknow∣ledged, that the depth of this secrete may not be opened in this life.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Thus ye saie, M. Hardinge: Ye make vs to affirme, that by our Masses wee distribute; and applie to menne indifferently the Merites of Christes Deathe: howe so euer they be disposed in to∣ken, that ye are the Children of him, who is the Father of lies. Therefore ye saie, Tel vs, who euer taught this Doctrine in the Catholike Churche?

If ye be so vnskilful, M. Hardinge, and so far to séeke in your owne Doctours, then it maie please you to vnderstande, that the moste Catholique Pillers of your Catholique Churche haue euen thus taught vs. Thomas de Vio, otherwise cal∣led Caietanus, a Catholique Cardinal of your Catholique Churche of Rome, in the Conference he had at Augusta in Germanie with Doctour Luther, saide thus, Fides non est necessaria accessuro ad Eucharistiam:* 1.10 Faith is not necessarie for him, that wil receiue the Sacramente of thankes geuinge. Notwithstandinge otherwheres he acknowledgeth, this was an errour: and confesseth, it was commonly receiued and beleeued of many, euen in your Catholique Churche of Rome. Thus he wri∣teth. In hoc videtur communis multorum error,* 1.11 quod putant, hoc Sacrificium ex so∣lo Opere Operato habere certum Meritum, vel certam satisfactionem, quae applicatur huic, vel illi: Herein standeth the Common Errour of many, that thei thinke, this Sa∣crifice hath a certaine Mente, or Satisfactiō, whiche is applied to this man, or to y^• man (not by meane of the Faithe of the receiuer, but) by the Onely meane of the Woorke, that is wrought (by the Prieste).* 1.12 Gabriel Biel saith, The Prieste receiueth the Sacramente: and the vertue thereof passeth into al the Members of the Churche. Iacobus de Va∣lentia saithe, The Prieste is the Mouthe of the Body. Therefore, when the Prieste receiueth the Sacramente, al the Members are refreased. Againe he saithe, Nos Communicamus Ore Sacerdotis: Wee, that be of the People, doo Communicate, or receiue the Sacramente, by the Mouthe of the Prieste.* 1.13 Thomas of Aquine youre Angelical Doctour saithe thus, Sicut Corpus Domini semel oblatum est in Cruce pro debito Originali, ita offertur iugiter pro quotidianis delictis in Altari: As the Bo∣dy of our Lorde was once offered vpon the Crosse for the debte of Original Sinne, so it is daily offered vpon the Aultare for the debte of Daily Sinnes.

This Doctrine, not longe sithence, was holden for Catholique, and was strong∣ly mainteined by your Catholique Doctours. Catharinus, one of the woorthies of your Late Chapter of Tridente,* 1.14 saith, Apparet, quòd pro peccatis sub Nouo Te∣stamento, post acceptam Salutaris Hostiae in Baptismo efficaciam commissis, non habe∣mus pro Peccato Hostiam illam, quam Christus obtulit pro Peccato Mundi, & pro delictis Baptismum Praecedentibus: Non enim nisi semel ille Mortuus est: Et ideò semel duntaxat hostia illa ad hunc effectum applicatur: It appeareth, that for the Sinnes committed vnder the Newe Testamente, after that wee haue receiued in Baptisme the Power of the Healthful Sacrifice, vvee haue nomore that sacrifice for Sinne, vvhiche Christe once offered for the Sinne of the VVorlde, and for sinnes com∣mitted before Baptisme. For Christe neuer died but once. And therefore that Sacrifice of Christe Crucified is applied vnto vs once onely to this effecte.

Hereby M. Hardinge, ye maie sée, that this Doctrine lacketh no defence emongest

your Catholiques.* 1.15 The summe, and meaninge hereof is this, That our Sinnes committed after Baptisme, are not foregéeuen by the Death of Christe, but One∣ly by the Sacrifice of the Masse. Whiche thinge, what it séemeth to you, I can∣not tel: But vnto al Godly eares it seemeth an horrible greate blasphemie.

Here, to speake of Praiers, specially in so large a sorte, it was far imperti∣nente to your pourpose, as beinge vtterly no parte of this question.

The Merites of Christes Deathe, whereof wée entreate, are conueied vnto vs by God, and receiued by vs. God conueieth them to vs onely of his Mercie: and wée receiue them Onely by Faithe. But the waies, whereby either to procure Goddes Mercie, or to enkendle our Faithe, are many and sundrie. Goddes Mercie is procured sommetime by Praier, sommetime by other Meanes. But to bréede, or encrease Faith in vs, there are moe waies, then can be reckened. Somme menne are moued Onely by the Hearinge of Goddes Woorde: Somme others by the beholdinge,* 1.16 and weighinge of Goddes Miracles. Iustinus the Martyr was firste alluered to the Faithe by the crueltie of the Tyrannes, and by the Con∣stancie, and Patience of Goddes Sainctes.* 1.17 S. Cyprian saith, Tanta est vis Mar∣tyrij, vt per illam credere etiam cogatur, qui te vult occidere: So greate is the Power of Martyrdome, that thereby euen he is forced to beleeue, that woulde kille thee. S. Augustine saithe,* 1.18 He was sturred vp to comme to Christe, by readinge a Hea∣then Booke written by Cicero, called Hortensius. Thus he saithe, Ille Liber mu∣tauit affectum meum, & ad ••eipsum, Domine, mutauit Preces meas: That (Hea∣then) Booke changed my minde, and turned my praiers, ô Lorde, vnto thee.

Emonge other causes, the Sacramentes serue specially to directe, and to aide our Faithe:* 1.19 For they are, as S. Augustine calleth them, Verba visibilia, Visible VVoordes: and Scales, and Testimonies of the Gospel.

All this notwithstandinge, wee saie, It is neither the Woorke of the Prieste, nor the Nature of the Sacramente, as of it selfe, that maketh vs partetakers of Christes Deathe,* 1.20 but onely the Faithe of the Receiuer. S. Augustine saithe, Vnde est ista tanta Virtus Aquae, vt Corpus tangat, & Cor abluat, nisi faciente Ver∣bo? Non quia dicitur, sed quia creditur: From whence hathe the Water this greate power, that it toucheth the Body, and wassheth the Harte, sauinge by the VVoor∣kinge of the VVoorde? Not for that it is pronounced, but for that it is be∣leeued.

So saithe Hesychius,* 1.21 Gratia Dei comprehenditur Sola Fide: The Grace of God (of our parte) is receiued by Onely Faithe. So saithe Cyrillus, Siclus Fidei nostrae Formam habet. Si enim Fidem obtuleris, tāquam Pretium, à Christo, velut A∣riete immaculato in hostiam dato, accipies Remissionem Peccatorum: The Sicle hath the Fourme of our Faithe. For if thou offer vp thy Faithe, as the Price, thou shalt receiue Remission of thy Sinnes, from Christe that vnspotted Ramme, that was geeuen for a Sa∣crifice.

Where ye saie, ye offer vp Christe, the Sonne of Godde, Really, and Substan∣tially vnto God the Father, If ye speake in your dreame, it is a very pleasante phantasie: but if ye be awake, and knowe, what ye saie, then is it a greate blasphe∣mie: as in my Former Replie it maie appeare more at large.* 1.22

Notes

• * 1.1

  Origen. ad Ro∣ma. Li. 3. Cap. 3.
• * 1.2

  Vntruthe en∣closed. For this is your Catho∣lique Doctrine, as shal appeare.
• † 1.3

  Your ovvne Scholastical Ca∣tholique Do∣ctoures, M. Harding. Reade the Ansvveare.
• * 1.4

  A {pro}per shifte. VVee speake of Sacramentes: M. Hardinge ansvveareth vs of Praier.
• * 1.5

  The effecte of S. Steuēs Praier. Act 9. Serm. 1. de Sanctis. Cō∣tra duas E∣pist. Pela∣gian Ad Bo¦nifacium, Lib. 1. Ca. 19 Heb. 5.
• * 1.6

  The Ap∣plieing of Christes Deathe
• * 1.7

  VVhat kinde of applying is in the Sa∣crifice of the Masse. Lib. 1. de vocat. Gen∣tium, Ca. 4.
• † 1.8

  Vntruthe, P••as∣phemous, and horrible
• * 1.9

  Vntruthe. For Christe ••eu 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bade you to of∣fer him vp vnto his Father.
• * 1.10

  Paralip. Vrsper. Anno. 1518.
• * 1.11

  Cardinal Caie∣••anus, De Vsis Spiritualium, Quae. 3.
• * 1.12

  Biel. Lection 81. Iacob. De Valen∣tia, Sermo. 2. De Epiphania.
• * 1.13

  Thom. De venerabil. sacramet. Aliar. Cap. 1
• * 1.14

  Catharinus, De Incruento Sa∣crificio Noui, & Aeterni Te∣stamentes.
• * 1.15

  The Ap∣plieing of Christes Deathe.
• * 1.16

  Euseb. Li. 4. Ca. 8
• * 1.17

  Cyprian. De Laude Martyrij.
• * 1.18

  August. Confes. Lib 3. Cap. 4.
• * 1.19

  August. Contra Faustum. Lib. 19. Cap. 16.
• * 1.20

  Augu. in Iohan. Tracta. 80.
• * 1.21

  Helych. in Leuit. Lib. 4. Cap. 14. Cyrill. in Leuit. Lib. 3.
• * 1.22

  Art••••eul. 17.