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…

Now tell us, M. Harding, must we hereof conclude, as you do, y• these Holy Fathers, S. Cyprian, S. Augustine, S. Hierome, S. Chrysostom, held false, & perilous Doctrines, & with wicked temerity would abandon both Scriptures, and Sacraments, as things not Necessary? Certainly for full resolution hereof, M. Calvin him self saith thus, ¹Facilè patior, ut, quae Christus nobis dedit, Salutis adiumenta, eorum usus Necessarius dicatur: quando, scilicet, datur facultas. Quanquam Semper admonendi sunt Fideles, non aliam esse cuiusuis Sacramenti Necessitatem, quàm Instrumentalis Causae, cui nequaquam alliganda est Dei vittus. Vocem sanè illam nemo pius est, qui non toto pectore exhorreat, Sacramenta res esse Superfluas: I can well suffer, that what so ever helps of Salvation Christ hath given us, the use thereof be counted Necessary: I mean, when we may have opportunity, and time to use them. How be it thus much the faithful must be warned, that the Necessity of any Sacrament is none otherwise, but as of a Cause Instrumental: unto which Cause we may not in any wise bind the Power of God. But that the Sacraments be things Superfluous, no Godly man can abide to hear it.

Nowe tel vs, M. Hardinge, muste wee hereof conclude, as you doo, y• these Holy Fathers, S. Cyprian, S. Augustine, S. Hierome, S. Chrysostome, helde false, & perillous Doctrines, & with wicked temeritie woulde abandonne bothe Scriptures, and Sacramentes, as thinges not Necessarie? Certainely for ful resolution hereof, M. Caluine him selfe saithe thus, ¹Facilè patior, vt, quae Christus nobis dedit, Salutis adiumenta, eorum vsus Necessarius dicatur: quando, scilicet, datur facultas. Quanquam Semper admonendi sunt Fideles, non aliam esse cuiusuis Sacramenti Necessitatem, quàm Instrumentalis Causae, cui nequaquam alliganda est Dei vittus. Vocem sanè illam nemo pius est, qui non toto pectore exhorreat, Sacramenta res esse Superfluas: I can wel suffer, that what so euer healpes of Saluation Christe hath geuen vs, the vse thereof be coumpted Necessarie: I meane, when we maye haue oportunitie, and time to vse them. How be it thus mutche the faitheful muste be warned, that the Necessitie of any Sacramente is none otherwise, but as of a Cause Instrumental: vnto whiche Cause wee maye not in any wise binde the Power of God. But that the Sacramentes be thinges Superfluous, no Godly man can abide to heare it.