A detection of sundrie foule errours, lies, sclaunders, corruptions, and other false dealinges, touching doctrine, and other matters vttered and practized by M.Iewel, in a booke lately by him set foorth entituled, a defence of the apologie. &c. By Thomas Harding doctor of diuinitie.

Iewel. pag. 127.

Annas and Caiphas touching Succession, vvere as vvel Bishops, as Aaron, and Eleazar.

Harding.

Not fully so wel: bicause perhaps they came to it by Simonie; and yet bicause they were Bishops, and sate in that Chaier, God honoured them, I wisse not for any vertue of theirs, but only for theire Chaiers sake. The ho∣nour which God gaue them, was the gift of Prophecie, as it appeareth by that which he gaue euidently to Caiphas, who was the Bishop of that yere.* 1.1 Which thing S. Iohn wit∣nesseth in these wordes. Vnus ex Pontificibus Caiphas no∣mine, cùm esset Pontifex anni illius, prophetauit, quia Iesus moriturus erat pro gente. One of the chief Priestes Cai∣phas by name, whereas he was Bishop of that yere, pro∣phecied, that Iesus should die for the people. Vpon which place S. Chrysostom saith:* 1.2 Vides quanta sit pontificalis pote∣statis virtus? Cum enim pontifex esset, licet indignus, prophe∣tauit, nescius tamen quid diceret, & ostantùm Gratia, non au¦tem foelestum cor attigit. Doest thou see, how great the vertue of bishopply power is? For whereas he was a Bishop, albeit vnworthy, he prophecied, yet not know∣ing, what he said. And the Grace touched his mouth only, but not his wicked hart. And afterward againe.

Quid signat▪ quum esset pontifex anni illius? What meane thes•• wordes, whereas he was Bishoppe of that yere? Among other this custom was corrupted. For now the hye priesthood was not during life, but made a yerely dignitie, and was geuen yere by yere, from the time that the chieftie was to be solde for monie. Veruntamen etiam

sic aderat spiritus. Yet that notwithstanding the holie Ghost (or gift of God) was yet present. Postquàm autem in Christum manus extenderunt, tunc eos dereliquit, & ab∣ijt ad Apostolos. But after they extended their handes vpon Christe, then the holy Ghost forsooke them, and went from them to the Apostles.

S. Augustine likewise writeth thus.* 1.3 Hîc docemur etiā homines malos prophetiae spiritu futura praedicere: quod ta∣men Euangelista diuino tribuit sacramento, quia Pontifex fuit, id est, summus sacerdos. Here we are taught, that euen euil men foretel thinges to comme by the spirite of prophecie, the which thing yet the Euangelist ascri∣beth to the diuine Sacrament, bicause he was the Bis∣shop, that is to saie, the high Priest.

If then Caiphas being one of the vilest menne that euer was, and committing the most horrible sinne that can be deuised in murdering Christ, yet for his successi∣ons sake, had the gift of prophecie: shal we now geue eare to M. Iewels itching humour, wherein he so reioy∣seth to recken vp the faultes of the Popes of Rome?

Be it some of them were proude, and some coniurers,* 1.4 or neuer se great sinners besides: yet so long as they sit in Peters chaier (which doubtlesse hath no lesse priui∣lege, thē Moyses chaier had) we saie, they haue the ho∣ly ghost to this effect, that they keeping them selues in the faith of their Predecessours, shal not be suffered to teach vs false doctrine out of the Chaier of Vnitie, whiche Chaier of Vnitie Optatus more then eleuen hundred yeres past, affirmed Peters Chaier to be,* 1.5 and reckened vp the Bishops thereof in order til his owne time. Therefore as from Moyses time til Christes Com∣ming,

God of his mercie prouided, that a Bishop, and high Prieste, with other Priestes and Leuites about him, should not faile in Moyses Chaier, whom al men vn∣der paine of death (as it is said in the booke of Deu∣teronomie* 1.6) were bounde to heare, and obeye: so muche more in the time of Grace, God hath proui∣ded, that in the Chaier of S. Peter (to whom louing Christe more then the other Apostles,* 1.7 he consequent∣ly gaue Authoritie to feede his sheepe, in suche superi∣oritie aboue the other Apostles, as he loued aboue them): muche more I saie now God hath prouided, that there shal not lacke til Christes second comming a Bishop, or high Prieste in Peters Chaier, with other Bisshops, and Priestes not onely about him in that one Citie of Rome, but also ioyned with him in the same faith and doctrine in manie Countries and Nations to∣gether, whose final sentence in matters of faith, and of good manners, who so euer heareth, and obeieth, heareth, and obeieth Christe, but who so euer despi∣seth the same, he despiseth Christe him selfe. Now I saie to you M. Iewel, what Bishop had your faith with preachers, Ministers, or Deacons about him from age to age, who mighte wittnesse in al generations the Doctrine of Christe, and the ordinarie Succession of the Churche?

Notes

• * 1.1

  August. tract. in Iohan. 11.
• * 1.2

  Chrysost. In Iohan. homil. 64
• * 1.3

  August. in Iohannē. tract. 49.
• * 1.4

  The Po∣pes teach truth not vvithstā∣ding their euil life.
• * 1.5

  Optat. lib. 2. contra Parmen.
• * 1.6

  Deut. 17.
• * 1.7

  Iohan. 21.