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.

I trowe, This good Olde Monumente of Antiquitie hath laine longe in the dust at Uerona, with M. Hardinges Amphilochius. The Churche piteously be∣moaneth her selfe vnto Christe, that she is soare persecuted, and vexed for his I∣mage. Christe to comforte her with al, saith, Who so denieth mine Image, shal be denied before my Father. In the ende he confirmeth the vse of suche Images by the Example of the Cherubines.

Here M. Hardinge, to increase some credite to his new Doctour, shoulde haue shewed vs, when the Churche was thus vexed, for hauinge the Image of Christe, and whoo vexed her, and what kinde of vexation it was, and how longe it conti∣newed, and in what countrie, and when it ceassed. The Churche is builte vpon a Mounte: her Persequutions cannot be hidden. If she euer were thus vexed, for hauinge of Images, I meane before the time of Athanasius, it must néedes ap∣peare: If neuer, then was she a very Wanton, thus to complaine without cause.

If these threates be true, that who so denieth the grauen, or painted Image of Christe, shalbe denied before God the Father, then must Epiphanius the Bishop of Cyprus, and Serenus the Bishop of Massilia, both Godly, and Zelous Bishops, and a greate number of other godly Learned Fathers, that rente, & brake downe, and defaced Christes Images, be vtterly denied before God. To be shorte, to say, that God commaunded Moyses, to make the golden Cherubines, purposely to be Figures of these Images of Wood, or Stoane, it is a very Fabulous, and a Chil∣dish fantasie, without any grounde: how be it, good yenough to mainteine, and colour a Childishe Doctrine.

Notwithstanding, if there be any weight either in this hidden Athanasius, or in his sayeinges, then may wee wel coniecture, that he vseth this Worde Image in this place, not for any suche material forme painted, or grauen by mans hande, but for the whole Conuersation of the Sonne of God in this mortal life, whiche is as muche as, Verbum Caro factum est: The woorde became Fleashe: and is expres∣sed, and set foorthe, as an Image before our eies, in the whole Doctrine, and Poli∣cie of the Churche, as the déepest grounde, and very fundation of the Christian Faithe.* 1.1 And thus S. Paule saithe, Christus est Imago patris, Christe is the Image of the Father. Otherwise God is Inuisible. S. Iohn saithe, Noman euer saw God: But the Sonne, that is in the Fathers bosome, he hath reueled the Fathers wil. In his con∣uersation in the Fleashe,* 1.2 as in an Image, wee beholde God the Father. So in the booke of the Apocalyps, Imago bestiae, The Image of the Beast, is called, not any mate∣rial Image Painted, or Grauen, but the Doctrine, the Seduction, the Errours, the Lies, the Blasphemies, the Idolatrie, and the whole Conuersation of Antichriste.

So S. Basile saith, Christe called his Fleashe, and Bloud the whole Mystical Doctrine of his Gospel,* 1.3 whiche he published in his dispensation in the Fleashe. So S. Augustine sée∣meth to saye, Eius Passionis Imaginem in Ecclesia Celebrandam dedit: He gaue the Image of his Passion to be frequented in the Churche.* 1.4 And Pachymeres the Gréeke Paraphrast expoundeth this woorde Imago thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: He calleth Pictures, the Images, or inwarde and deepe considerations of our Mysteries. For this Image of Christe the Churche of God was often persecuted. This Image, as some of the Olde Fathers saye, was represented, and figured by the Cherubines: and vndoubtedly, who so euer denieth this Image, Christe shal denie him before God his Father.* 1.5 This Exposition is agréeable bothe to the te∣nour of Goddes Woorde, and also to the storie of the Time: and therefore wée may safely iudge,* 1.6 if this were Athanasius in déede, that this was his very meaninge. Otherwise the common, and knowen Athanasius, that is extant, and abroade, writeth thus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The inuētion of Images is of il, and not of good. And the thinge, that hath an il beginning, can neuer be iudged good in any thinge, as beinge in al respectes, and altogeather il. This is this holy Fathers moste cleare iudgement, not cast vp in corners, and hidden in the dust, but open to the eies, and sight of al the Worlde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 Corin. 4. Iohan. 1.
• * 1.2

  Apocalyp. 13.
• * 1.3

  Basilij episto. ad Caesarien.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  Aug. 80. quaestio. Quaest. 61.
• * 1.6

  Pachymeres in tertium caput Eccl. Hierarch. Athanasius Ad∣uersus ••entes.