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.

M. Hardinge. The .4. Diuision.

Concerninge the Images of Christe and of his Sa••••ctes,* 1.1 that they haue beene greatly esteemed and vsed in houses,* 1.2 Churches, and places of praier from the Apostles time forwarde, it is so euident, that it can not be denied. Athanasius writeth that Nicodeme, who came to Iesus by night, made an I∣mage of Christe with his owne handes, and that, when he laye in his death•• bedde, he deliuered it to Gamaliel, who was S. Paules Schoolemaster. Gamaliel when he sawe he shoulde dye, leaf••e it to Iames:* 1.3 Iames lefte it to Simon and Zachaeus. This Image came from hande to hande by succession, and continued a longe time in Hierusalem•• From Hierusalem it was caried into Syria, and at lengthe it was brought to the Citie Berytus, not farre from Tyre and Sydon. VVhere howe despitefully it was vsed of the Iewes,* 1.4 and what woonders ensued thereupon, who list to knowe, he maye reade it large∣ly declared in a litle booke written by Athanasius of that ma••tier.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Images frō th•• Apo∣stles time.
• * 1.2

  Prudentius con∣tra Symmach. lib. 1.
• * 1.3

  The Gen••alo∣gie, and pere∣g••ination of a Fable.
• * 1.4

  It is a fabulou•• tale, neuer ••rit∣ten by Athana∣sius.