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.

S. Gregorie writinge to Mauritius the Emperour against Iohn the Bishop of Constantinople, am∣bitiousely claiminge, and vsurpinge the name of an vniuersal Bishop, prooueth the Bishop of Rome succeedinge in Peters Chaier, to be Primate, and to haue charge ouer al the Churche of Christe, by Scriptures, thus: Cunctis Euangelium scientibus liquer &c. It is euident to al that know the Gospel, that the Cure, and charge of the whole Churche, hath beene committed by the woorde of our Lorde to the Holy Apostle Peter,* 1.1 prince of al the Apostles. For to him it is saide, Peter, louest thou mee?* 1.2 Feede my sheepe. To him it is saide: Beholde Sathan hath desired to sifte you as it were wheate, and I haue praied for thee, Peter, that thy faith faile not. And thou beinge once conuerted, strengthen thy brethren. To him it is saide, Thou arte Peter, and vpon this Rocke wil I builde my Churche: and the Gates of Hel shal not preuaile against it.* 1.3 And vnto thee I wil geue the Keies of the kinge∣dome

of Heauen. And what so euer thou bindest vpon earth, shalbe bounde also in Heauen, and what so euer thou lowsest on earth, shalbe lowsed also in Heauen. Beholde he receiueth the keyes of the hea∣uenly Kingdome:* 1.4 the power of bindinge and lowsing is geuen to him: the charge of the whole Church and principalitie is cōmitted to him. Thus farre Gregorie.* 1.5 But bi••ause our adu••rsaries though with∣out iust cause, refuse the witnesse of the Bishoppes of Rome in this Article, as vnlawful witnesses in their owne cause, vvere they neuer so holy Martyrs, or learned Confess••urs: they may vnderstande vvee are hable to allege sundrie other authorities to the confirmation hereof, that be aboue al ex∣ception.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ioan. 2••.
• * 1.2

  Luc. 22.
• * 1.3

  Matth.16.
• * 1.4

  Cura ei totius Ecclesiae & prin¦cipatus com∣mittitur.
• * 1.5

  M. Harding cutteth of, and corrup¦teth the vvordes of S. Gregorie, For it folo∣vveth im∣mediately, Tamen P••∣trus Vni∣uersalis A∣postolus nō¦vocatur.