The B. of Sarisburie.
Hitherto M. Hardinge hath alleged neither Ancient Doctoure, nor Olde Coun∣cel, to serue his purpose. The first, that he canne finde, is Doctour Bucer, that died in Cambridge the fourth yeere of Kinge Edwarde the Sixth, in the yeere of Our Lorde .1551. Of his iudgement herein I wil saie nothinge. What reasons leadde him to yeelde to the other side for quietnes sake, I remitte it wholy vnto God. But thus muche I maie wel, and iustly saie, If M. Hardinge coulde haue founde any other Doctoure, he woulde not thus haue made his entrie with M. Bucer.
Touchinge that brotherly, and sobre Conference, that was bytweene D. Lu∣ther, and D. Bucer, Philip Melan••thon, and other Godly learned men of Germa∣nie in the Uniuersitie of Wittenberge, I see no greate cause, why M. Hardinge shoulde thus sporte him self with it, and calle it a Councel. He might rather, and more iustly haue scofte at the vaine Councel of the Eight Special Chosen Cardi∣nalles holden in Rome vnder Pope Paulus the thirde, Anno D. 1538. two yéeres after that Conference at Wittenberge. For if he wil compare voices, they of Wittenberge were moe in number: If knowledge, they were better learned: if Purposes, they sought Peace in Trueth, and the Glorie of God: if Issue, God hath blissed theire dooinges, and geuen force, and increase vnto his Woorde, as it appeareth this daie. His holy name be praised therefore for euer. But these Eight piked Cardinalles, after greate studie, and longe debatinge of the mater, espied out onely suche faultes, as euery Childe might haue soone founde without studie: and yet neuer redressed any of the same. If M. Hardinge had beene in the Apostles times, perhaps he woulde haue made some sporte at theire Coun∣celles. For where, or in what house assembled they togeather? What Bishop, or Pharisie was emonge them? Certainely S. Augustine had Conference, and Disputation with Pascentius the Arian at Hippo in the Priuate house of one A••••tius: and yet was neuer scoft at for his dooinge. Thus there be euer some, that laugh, & storne at the repairinge of Hierusalem. Origen saith, Inimici Veritatis, vidē∣tes, sine Philosophia cōsurgere muros Euangelij, cū irrisione dicūt, Hoc facilè posse destrui calliditate Sermonum, & per astutas fallacias. The enimies of the Trueth seeinge the walles of the Gospel rise w••thout worldly Policie, saie scornefully emonge them selues, Al this by our craftie speache, and falseheade, wil soone be ouerthrowen. But he that sitteth in Heauen, wil laugh them to scorne.