A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare by perusinge whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weake, and vnstable groundes of the Romaine religion, whiche of late hath beene accompted Catholique. By Iohn Iewel Bishoppe of Sarisburie.

The B. of Sarisburie.

M. Hardinge hoapeth to winne the Uictorie by vntru•• reportes. For, with

what Trueth, or Modestie can he say, That we measure al thinges by the Lawes of Nature, and beléeue nothinge aboue the iudgement of our senses? He know∣eth wel,* 1.1 Our Doctrine is, accordinge to the Doctrine of S. Cyprian, S. Au∣gustine, and other Olde Fathers, that Christes Bodie is meate for our mindes, and not for our Bellies: and that the same cannot be eaten with our Mouthe, or Teethe, or by any other Natural, or Material meanes, but onely Spiritually by Faithe, whiche is the mouthe of the Inner Man. He knoweth, we teache the people,* 1.2 to lifte vp their hartes, and, as S. Chrysostome saithe, To become Eagles in this life, and to mounte vp vnto the Gates of Heauen, euen vnto the Heauens of Heauens, and so to drawe neare to Christes Bodie. He knoweth, we say, Christe is Presente by his Godheade, by his Sprite, and by his Grace, and worketh Miraculousely in the Sa∣crament of his Bodie, as he doothe in the Sacrament of Baptisme. Al this it pleaseth M. Hardinge to cal the Lawe of Nature, and the iudgement of our senses. Uerily we yeelde no more vnto Nature, then it is méete we shoulde. Neither doo we abbridge Goddes Omnipotent power. But al vaine fantasies of mannes head may not be measured by the power of God. This argument y^e Heretique Praxeas vsed against Tertullian. For thus he saide, God is Omnipotente, and can doo it: Therefore we must beléeue, that he doeth it. But Tertullian answeareth him, Si tam abruptè in praesumptionibus nostris hac sententia vtamur,* 1.3 quiduis de Deo confin∣gere poterimus: quasi fecerit, quia facere potuerit. Non autem, quia omnia•• potest facere, ideo credendum est illum fecisse: Sed an fecerit, requirendum. If we vse this saieynge so rashely in our presumptions, we maye imagine of God what we liste: as though, bicause God can doo it, that therefore in deede he hath doone it. But we maye not beleue, that God hath donne euery thinge, bicause he is hable to doo it: but rather we muste searche out, whether he haue donne it, or no: Thus M. Hardinges Newe Catholike Faith is called of Ter∣tullian a vaine Presumption.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cyprian. De Coena Domini. Cibus mentis non ventris.
• * 1.2

  Chrysost. 1. Co∣rinth. homi. 24.
• * 1.3

  Tertullian. ad∣uersus Praxeā.