A04468:1037
A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…
A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to a certain book lately set forth by M. Harding, and entitled, A confutation of &c. By John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury.A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.
Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the sign of the Elephant, by Henry Wykes, Anno 1567. 27. OctobrisImprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the signe of the Elephante, by Henry VVykes, Anno 1567. 27. Octobris
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
M. Harding.
M. Hardinge.
Concerning the ministers of the Church, we say that they open and shut by dispensing the Sacraments, who have their virtue of the merits of Christ. For where as the Sacraments have issued and flowed out of the side of our saviour Christ sleeping on the Cross, (as by allusion we may use the words of the old figure) wherewith the Church is builded, therefore in the Sacraments of the Church the efficacy of the Passion remaineth. And for that cause to the Ministers also of the Church,1 who be dispensers of the Sacraments, a certain power is given to remove the bar, that excludeth us from God's favour, not through their own, but through God's virtue and power, and merit of Christs Passion. And this power is called by a metaphor the Key of the Church, which is the Key of Ministry: whereof we shall speak hereafter. This power, so much as concerneth release of sins, is exercised in the Sacrament of Penance to the benefit of them,2 that after Baptism be relapsed, and fallen into sin again. Of which power no Christen man doubteth, onlesse he hold the Heresy of the Novatians, who were condemned for Heretics by the Church, because they denied that Priests in the Church had authority to remit sins,* and so denied the Sacrament of Penance.
Concerninge the ministers of the Churche, wee saie that they open and shutte by dispensinge the Sacramentes, who haue theire vertue of the merites of Christe. For where as the Sacramentes haue issued and flowed out of the side of our sauiour Christe sleepinge on the Crosse, (as by allusion wee maie vse the woordes of the olde figure) wherewith the Churche is buylded, therefore in the Sacramentes of the Churche the efficacie of the Passion remaineth. And for that cause to the Ministers also of the Churche,