Whereas these defenders take upon them the name of the Church of England,1 setting forth thereby a face of authority, they do much like the Ass that Aesop telleth of, which, to make the beasts afraid, had put on him a Lions skin, and therewith jetted abroad terribly. For as the Lions skin was but lapped about him,2 and grew not to his body: so they being in deed no lively members nor part of the Church, cover them selves under the title and name of the Church, the rather to beguile the simple. And verily herein they follow the wont of all Heretics. For never was there any sect of Heretics hitherto, which hath not claimed to be accounted and called the Church. For which cause of certain ancient Fathers they have been likened to Apes, whose property is, though they be Apes, yet to counterfeit men, and to court to seem men. Novatianus, at saith S. Cyprian, after the manner of Apes, would challenge to him self the authority of the Catholic Church. And where as himself was not in the Church, but contrariwise a rebel against the Church,3 took upon him to affirm, that all other were Heretics, and presumed to uphold, the Church was on his side. Irenaeus and Tertullian, who were before him, write, that Heretics made so much ado to persuade,4 that the Church was among them selves only, that they feared not to call the right believing and Catholic Church, Heretical and Schismatical. S. Hilary declaring how patiently he demeaned himself towards the Arians his enemies,5 by whom he was banished, writeth, that in five years space, whiles he lived in banishment, he never spake nor wrote evil word against them,6 which falsely said them selves to be the Church of Christ, and were the Synagogue of Antichrist. The Donatists, against whom S. Augustine wrote much, said, that the Christianity was quite lost and gone out of so many nations that be in the world, and remained only in Aphrike, and that the Church was only there.7 In S. Bernard's time also the Heretics who would be called Apostolics, as they of our time call themselves Gospellers, said that they were the Church.
Whereas these defenders take vpon them the name of the Churche of Englande,1 settinge forth thereby a face of auctoritie, they do muche like the Asse that Esope telleth of, whiche, to make the beastes afrayed, had put on him a Lions skinne, and therewith ietted abroade terribly. For as the Lions skinne was but lapped about him,2 and grewe not to his bodie: so they beinge in deede no liuely members nor parte of the Churche, couer them selues vnder the title and name of the Churche, the rather to begyle the simple. And verely herein they folowe the wonte of all Heretikes. For neuer was there any secte of Heretikes hitherto, whiche hath not claimed to be accōpted and called the Church. For whiche cause of certaine auncient Fathers they haue bene likened to Apes, whose propertie is, though they be Apes, yet to counterfeit men, and to court to seeme men. Nouatianus, at saithe S. Cyprian, after the manner of Apes, woulde chalenge to him selfe the auctoritie of the Catholike Churche. And where as himselfe was not in the Churche, but contrariwise a rebell against the Churche,3 tooke vpon him to affirme, that al other were Heretikes, and presumed tovpholde, the Churche was on his side. Irenaeus and Tertullian, who were before him, write, that Heretikes made so much adoo to perswade,4 that the Churche was amonge them selues onely, that they feared not to call the right beleuinge and Catholike Churche, Hereticall and Schismaticall. S. Hilary declaringe how patiently he demeaned himselfe towardes the Arians his enemies,5 by whome he was bannisshed, writeth, that in fiue yeares space, whiles he liued in bannishment, he neuer spake nor wrote euill woorde against them,6 whiche falsely said them selues to be the Churche of Christe, and were the Synagoge of Antichrist. The Donatisles, against whome S. Augustine wrote muche, saide, that the Christianitie was quite loste and gone out of so many nations that be in the worlde, and remained onely in Aphrike, and that the Churche was onely there.7 In S. Bernardes time also the Heretikes who would be called Apostolikes, as they of our time call themselues Gospellers, saide that they were the Churche.
- 1The defenders likened to Esopes Ass.The de•enders likened to Esopes Asse.
- 2The wont of all Herctiques. Heretics likened to Apes. The name and reputation of the Church challenged by Heretics.The vvonte of all Herctiques. Heretiques likened to Apes. The name and reputation of the Churche chalenged by Heretiques.
- 3In epist, ad Jubainū de Haereticis baptizandis.In epist, ad Iubainū de Haereticis baptizādis.
- 4De praescript. haeret.
- 5Contra Constantium.
- 6August. contra epist. Parmen. lib. 2. cap. 1.
- 7Bernard. in cant. Sermo. 66.Bernard. in cāt. Sermo. 66.
