A04468:2584
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.
What meant Christ, say you, to break his promise? Nay, what meant you, M. Harding, so shamefully to break Christs Commandment, and yet to charge him with his Promise? God is true in all his promises, and shall prevail, when he is so lewdly judged. There is no fault in God, or his Christ: The fault is in you, that have made of the House of God, a Cave of Thieves. Christ never made any such special Promise unto the Pope, that what so ever it should please him to say, or do, he should never err, or do amiss. Ye presume over much of God's Promises. Nay, though Antichrist should be Pope, yet should Christs promises be true still.
VVhat meant Christe, saie you, to breake his promisse? Nay, what meante you, M. Hardinge, so shamefully to breake Christes Commaundemente, and yet to charge him with his Promisse? God is true in al his promisses, and shal preuaile, when he is so lewdely iudged. There is no faulte in God, or his Christe: The faulte is in you, that haue made of the House of God, a Caue of Theeues. Christe neuer made any sutche special Promisse vnto the Pope, that what so euer it should please him to saie, or doo, hée shoulde neuer erre, or doo amisse. Yee presume ouer mutche of Goddes Promisses. Nay, though Antichriste should be Pope, yet should Christes promisses be true stil.
It is true, that God hath always a Church Invisible, and a number of Elect, known only to him self alone. Neither is this our only saying. S. Paul also saith the same:1 Firmum stat Fundamentum Dei, habens hoc sigillum, Novit Dominus, qui sint sui: This Foundation standeth sound, and firm, having this Seal, The Lord knoweth, who be his own. Elijah thought, all the Godly in Israel had been slain: and not one left alive. But God said unto him, I have soved unto me self seven thousand men, 2that never bowed their knee before Baal.3