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. 128.

Such affiance sometyme had the Scribes, and Pharisees in their suc∣cession. Therefore they said, vve are the children of Abrahā. Vnto vs hath God made his promises: art thou greater, then our father Abraham?

Harding.

If the Iewes vsed these wordes in such sense, that how so euer they liued, they should be saued, as being the children of Abraham: it was a naughty sense. But if they had vsed the same wordes against the schismatical places of praier, either of Ieroboam, or of the mount Garizim, or of Onias temple in Egipte: they had vsed them right wel. For as Christe said, Salus ex Iudaeis est, Saluation is of the Iewes, and not from the Samaritans, or any other Schismatikes. And so concerning successiō of dignitie, and not of life, they might wel say, vnto vs God hath made his promises. For so in deede he had, but yet with such condition, if they dishonoured not God, and despised not Christe their Sauiour. For in doing so, al the promises made to them were at an ende, bicause God would seeke a newe people to him selfe, in case they woulde forsake him, and seeke to them selues a newe God.

But now the Scribes and Pharisees vsed not these woordes against Schismatikes, but against Christe him selfe, whom bothe the olde Prophecies, and his owne marueilous workes witnessed to be the true Messias. And yet Christe came euery yere to the Temple, and kepte al the Lawe, and honoured the Scribes, and Phari¦sees, for that they sate in Moyses Chaier, so that there was now no cause why they should talke of their Suc∣cession, and of Gods promises against him, who denied none of them bothe, but mainteined them bothe. For S. Paule said euen after Christes death vnto the Iewes, To you we ought first to preache the woorde of God, But bi∣cause

ye refuse it, and iudge your selues vnworthy of euer∣lasting life, beholde we are turned vnto the Gentiles. For so our Lorde commaunded vs. The Iewes then abused them selues against Christ in pretending Succession, and pro∣mises, where obedience and faith should haue ben vsed. Euen so if the Pope, or any other Bishop now at the se∣cond comming of Christ, would make claime to heauen by his Succession of S. Peter, or S. Iames, he should but deceiue him selfe. But in the meane time any catholike Bishop may lawfully vse the argument of Succession a∣gainst heretikes, and schismatikes, who runne out from the true Succession of Bishops, as Ieroboam did from the high Priestes of Moyses. It skilleth much M. Iewel how euery place of scripture be applied. For that which ser∣ueth very wel against Heretikes, wil not serue at al a∣gainst Christe.

Notes

• Iohan. 8. Iohan. 9.
• Iohan. 4.
• 1. Reg. 1.2
• Deuter. 32
• Iohan. 5.
• Actor. 13.
• 3. Reg. 12.