A04468:1572
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.
As ye acknowledge few Sacraments, so ye speak of them very slenderly. Baptism (ye say) is a Sacrament of the remission of sins, and of that washing which we have in the Blood of Christ. Now whereas ye mean, as within few lines ye declare, by the name of a Sacrament, *no more but a Token or Sign, specially sith ye teach in your articles that Baptism at the best, is but a Sign, and Seal of our new birth: ye seem not to attribute to Baptism so much, as the Scripture doth. Neither is Baptism only a Sign or Token, that sins be remitted, but, we believe, as the Catholic Church, according to the Scriptures teacheth, that in, and by Baptism sins be fully, and ⟨p. 215⟩truly remitted,2 and put away: and that not through the Faith* only of the giver, or receiver, or of any other, though hereunto it be necessary in th•se, that be come to age of discretion: but through the power, and virtue of the Sacrament, and Gods promise. And therefore to whom it is given, of them it is rightly said, that, they be Baptized for remission of their sins. The scriptures be plain. First Ezekiel speaking of this Holy Sacrament, saith in the person of God: I will shed upon you clean water, and ye shall be made clean from all your defilings, and from your Idols will I cleanse you. Next S. Paul saith, That God hath saved us by the washing of Regeneration, and of the renewing of the Holy Ghost, whom he hath poured upon us abundantly by Jesus Christ our Saviour. That I may add to these manifest Scriptures the Authority of a Learned Father, not whereby to strengthen the truth of them, but to witness our right understanding of them: S. Augustine, Lib. 3. contra duas epist. Pelagian. Cap. 3. showing the slander of the Pelagians against the Catholics, saith thus in their Person: Again they (that is, after their meaning, the Catholics) avouch, that Baptism maketh not in deed new men again, that is to wit, that it giveth not full remission of sins, &c. Thereto eftsoons answering S. Augustine saith,