The B. of Sarisburie.
It gréeueth M. Hardinge that we should say, the Councel of Constance decréed against Christe him selfe, and therefore he sendeth vs to Luther him selfe, that, se∣inge his inconstancie, we may be ashamed of our selfe. And thus with one poore syl∣lable, he thought it good merily to refreashe him selfe: & yet touchinge inconstancie, wherein he so triumpheth against D. Luther, he séemeth vtterly to haue forgotten him selfe. For it is knowen to the worlde, that D. Luther in al his life, neuer changed but once; & that from manifest errour to the open confessed trueth. But M. Hardinge, vpon how good occasions I wil not say, hath changed his doctrine, and whole faithe, twise within the space of two yeeres. And so muche woulde I not now haue toutched, sauinge onely to put him in remembrance of him selfe.
That the determination of ye Councel of Constance was against Christe,* 1.1 bisides Gerardus Lorichius, a Doctour of M. Hardinges owne Schoole, who affirmeth it in vehement woordes, what canne there be so plaine, as that S. Paule writeth vn∣to the Corinthians? That I receiued of the Lorde, the same haue I deliuered vnto you. Af∣ter he mentioneth eche kinde aparte, & sheweth, that as Christe tooke the breade, so he also tooke the Cuppe: & that the Apostles receiued both at Christes handes, not onely for them selues, but also to the vse, & behoufe of the people. Therefore, where as M. Hardinge crieth so often against vs, that the deliuerie of the Cuppe vnto the people, is no parte of Christes Institution, if he had considered these thinges wel, or had conferred herein with the olde Catholike Fathers, he woulde haue better ad∣uised him selfe.* 1.2 For in stéede of many, for shortnes sake, to allege but one, S. Cy∣prians woordes in this mater be very plaine. Quidam vel ignorāter, vel simpliciter, in Calice Dominico sanctificando, & plebi ministrando, non hoc faciunt, quod Iesus Chri∣stus Dominus & Deus noster huius Sacrificij Author, & Doctor fecit, & docuit. Some there be, that in sanctifieyng the Cuppe, and deliuering it vnto the people, doo not that thing, that Iesus Christe our Lorde and God, the authour and teacher of this Sacrifice, both did, and taught.* 1.3 And addeth further, If any man be in this errour, seeinge the light of the trueth, let him returne againe vnto the roote, and vnto the original of the Lordes Tradition. And after in the same Epistle, we keepe not the thing that is cōmaunded vs, onlesse we doo the same, that the Lorde did. In these few woordes S. Cyprian saith, The Lorde both did it, and taught it to be donne: He calleth it The Lordes Tradition: he calleth it The Lordes com∣maundement. And here cannot M. Hardinge steale away in the miste, & say, S. Cyprian meante al this of the Cuppe, that the Priest consecrateth for him selfe: for his very woordes be plaine to the contrary. In Calice Dominico sanctificando, & plebi ministrando, that is, in sanctifieinge the Lordes Cuppe, and ministringe it vnto the people. And if S. Cyprian might wel write thus against the Heretiques called Aquarij, which in the holy Ministration would vse no wine, but in steede thereof did Conse∣crate water, & ministred it vnto the people, muche more may we say ye same against our aduersaries, which Consecrate and Minister vnto the people, no Cuppe at al. Wherfore at thende of the same Epistle he concludeth with these woordes: Not to doo that thinge, that the Lorde did, what is it els, then to cast of his Woorde, and to despise his Discipline, and to cōmitte not worldly, but spiritual robberie, and adulterie, while as a man from the trueth of the Gospel, stealeth away both the sayinges, and dooinges of the Lorde, and corrupteth and defileth Gods cōmaundementes? So it is writen in the prophete Hieremie, vvhat is Chaffe in comparison of Corne?* 1.4 Therefore vvil I vpon these prophetes, saieth the Lord, that steale my vvoordes eche one of them from his neighbour, and deceiue my people in their lies, and in their errours.
The woordes that Luther wrote to them of Bohemia, and the others here re∣ported,