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.

M. Hardinge.

VVee haue but onely one Mediatour to Saluation Iesus Christe, by whose merites God is reconciled vnto vs. But where ye saie, that besides the same one Mediatour▪ ye haue none other, that* 1.1 may Prai or make Intercession for you, that pointe of false beleefe ye may keepe for your selues. VVe had ra∣ther holde with‡ 1.2 S. Paule, who as he praied for al Christen menne, so he doubted not to saie to the Corinthians, that he hoped to escape danger, A diuuantibus vobis in Oratione pro nobis, by the helpe of you in Praier for vs. If one good man maye helpe an other in this life by Praier, whiles he hath yet some what of his owne to be careful for: muche more the Sainctes, whiche are dissolued, and raigne with Christe, can healpe vs with their perfite Praier. Ye can tell (I trowe) that S. Hierome

made this argumente within litle of twelue hundred yeeres paste.* 1.3 Neither make we them Gods, as ye woulde seeme to saie by the place (whiche beinge spoken by the Prophete Hieremie of very Idolles) ye applie to the frendes of Christe.* 1.4 VVhome Dauid saithe to be vnto him moste honorable, and their dominion to be moste stronge. There is no cause why yee shoulde wonder, if diuerse Ci∣ties doo gladly acknowledge some one Holy Angel,* 1.5 Apostle, Martyr, or Confessour, as their chiefe Pa∣trone and Frende. For if (as it is written) Michael the Archangell was once Prince of the Iewes: and stoode alwaies for the children of Gods people: it is not to be doubted but that Christen people haue nowe also their* 1.6 Patrones. To this purpose‡ 1.7 some apply that whiche is written, Fulgebunt iusti, & tanquam scintillae in arundineto discurrent, iudicabunt nationes, & dominabuntur po∣pulis, & regnabit dominus illorum in perpetuum: The iuste men shal shine, and like sparkes of fire in drie kickes shal runne abroade: they shal iudge nations, and beare rule ouer peoples, and our Lorde shal reigne ouer them for euer. S. Ambrose is of that opinion plainely, where he saithe, writinge vpon S. Luke,* 1.8 Sicut Angeli praesunt, ita & ij qui vitam meruerint Angelorum. As the Angels be ouer Nations, so they also whiche deserue the Life of Angels.

Concerninge the offices that, ye saie, wee appointe vnto the Sainctes, ye muste vnderstande, that as God hath shewed by any Miracle, what good woorke he hath wrought by this Saincte, ra∣ther then by that: so the people desire to obteigne of God by the same Sainctes Praier that thinge, wherein they maie‡ 1.9 coniecture, that God hath geuen him moste grace. And because our Lady the blessed Virgine Mary hath more grace geuen to her,* 1.10 then any other Creature (excepte ye can name* 1.11 a greater grace then to be the Mother of God): therefore all Christen Nations are moste bolde to desire in Praier to be reliued by her Intercession, and Mediation of her Praier made to her Sonne Iesus Christe, who (we doubte not) heareth her moste, gladly, as nolesse intendinge to doo good by her continually to vs, then we are sure, that by her he hath done for vs those greate bene∣fites, whiche continually we doo receiue, for so muche as he tooke Fleashe of her. And seinge that Christe is the firste begotten amonge many Brothers,* 1.12 wee that are called into one Heretage with him and by him, maie take harte to accompt Christes Mother, for our Mother, specially whereas he saide vnto Iohn his Disciple, and in him to all the Children of Grace, beholde thy Mother.

If nowe any spirituall man suche as S. Bernarde was, deepely consideringe the greate honour and dignitie of Christes Mother, doo in excesse of minde‡ 1.13 spiritually sporte and dally (as it were) with her, biddinge her to remember, that she is a Mother, and that thereby she hath a certaine right to commaunde her Sonne, and require in a moste sweete manner, that shee vse her righte: is this either impiously, or impudently spoken? Is not he rather moste impious and impudent, that fin∣deth faulte there with? If euer any of you had practised in contemplation any of that swetenes, whiche is in Canticis Canticorum, ye shoulde haue founde, that there the spiritual Soule is bol∣der with God her Creator and, spouse, then S. Bernarde euer was with our Lady, beinge but a Crea∣ture, and a member of the same Churche with him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This is M. Hardings legier∣dumaine. For vvee speake one∣ly of sutche Me∣diatours, as vvee ought to praie vnto.
• ‡ 1.2

  As if S. Paule had euer vvilled vs to Praie to Sainctes.
• * 1.3

  Mediatour of Salua∣tion.
• * 1.4

  Psalm. 138.
• * 1.5

  Sainctes be peculiar pa∣trones of certaine places. Sapien. 3.
• * 1.6

  Vntruthe, pro∣cedinge of vaine dotage.
• ‡ 1.7

  A graue Au∣thoritie, taken oute of the very Portuise.
• * 1.8

  In fine Lib. S. commēt. in Lucam.
• ‡ 1.9

  This is the certainetie of M. Hardinges Praier. It han∣geth of a blinde coniecture.
• * 1.10

  Intercession of the bles∣sed Virgin Mary.
• * 1.11

  It is a greatter Grace to be the Childe of God.
• * 1.12

  Roman. 8. Marie Mo∣ther to al that loue Christe. Iohan. 19. Spiritual familiaritie vvith the mother of God, in ex∣cesse of minde and soueraine Deuotion.
• ‡ 1.13

  Open Blasphe∣mie, is Spiritual dalliance: O vvheu vvil M. Hardinge con∣fesse a faulte?