Here, M. Harding, it hath pleased you, to bestow large liveries, of your False Liars: Devilish Slanderers: Impudent Faces: Common Harlots: with Fies, and shames, &c. Wherein no man may justly grudge you, to be so liberal of your own. First, that by your Doctrine Ignorance highly pleaseth God, & is sufficient to Salvation, besides the general practise of your whole Church, ye may soon call to mind, that one of your dearest friends, in most honourable Audience, not long sithence, openly published the same, in the name, and behoof of all his Brethren, as a Secrete Mystery, and the very bottom of your Divinity: Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion. You know, M. Harding, that a great many both worthy, and honourable, are able to witness, that this is, neither false Lie, nor Devilish Slander. Concerning Superstition, and Idolatry, what need we many words? The thing it self is too well able to prove it self. Who so but looketh into your Churches, may easily, not only see it with his eyes, but also feel it with his fingers. That God's Holy Word, by your Learning, is mutable, and serveth only for a time, your own Doctor Cardinalis Cusanus would soon have taught you: Notwithstanding, it may scarcely seem lawful for you, being so learned a man, in the Substance of your own Doctrine,1 to plead Ignorance. Cardinal Cusanus words be these: Scripturae adaptatae sunt ad tempus, & variè intelliguntur: Ita ut uno tempore secundum currentem universalem ritum exponantur: mutato ritu, iterùm Sententia mutetur: The Scriptures are applied unto the time, and may have sundry understandings: So that at one time they may be expounded (one way) according to the universal current order (of the church): and that, the same order being broken, the meaning of the Scriptures may be changed. Look better on your books, M. Harding: and ye shall see, that herein is neither Lie, nor Slander. That the Holy Scriptures of God, by your Divinity, be not Authentical, farther then they be ratified by the Pope, ye might have learned of your Sylvester Prierias, 2Master of the Popes Palace. Thus he writeth: A Doctrina Romanae Ecclesiae, & Romani Pontificis, Sacra Scriptura robur trahit, & authoritatem. The Holy Scripture taketh strength, and Authority of the Doctrine of the Romaine Church, and of the Bishop of Rome.
Here, M. Hardinge, it hath pleased you, to bestowe large liueries, of youre False Liers: Diuelishe Sclaunderers: Impudent Faces: Common Harlots: with Fies, and shames, &c. Wherein no man may iustly grudge you, to be so liberal of youre owne. First, that by youre Doctrine Ignorance highly pleaseth God, & is sufficient to Saluation, bisides the general practise of youre whole Churche, yee maie soone cal to minde, that one of youre dearest frendes, in most honourable Audience, not long sithence, openly published the same, in the name, and behoufe of al his Brethren, as a Secrete Mysterie, and the very bottome of youre Diuinitie: Ignorance is the Mother of Deuotion. You knowe, M. Harding, that a greate many bothe worthy, and honourable, are hable to witnesse, that this is, neither false Lie, nor Diuelishe Sclaunder. Concerninge Superstition, and Idolatrie, what neede we many wordes? The thinge it selfe is too wel hable to proue it selfe. Who so but looketh into youre Churches, maie easily, not onely see it with his eies, but also feele it with his fingers. That Goddes Holy VVorde, by youre Learning, is mutable, and serueth onely for a time, youre owne Doctoure Cardinalis Cusanus woulde soone haue taught you: Notwithstandinge, it maie scarcely seeme lawful for you, beinge so learned a man, in the Substance of youre owne Doctrine,1 to pleade Ignorance. Cardinal Cusanus woordes be these: Scripturae adaptatae sunt ad tempus, & variè intelliguntur: Ita vt vno tempore secundum currentem vniuersalem ritum exponantur: mutato ritu, iterùm Sententia mutetur: The Scriptures are applied vnto the time, and maie haue sundrie vnderstandinges: So that at one time they maie be expoūded (one waie) accordinge to the vniuersal current order (of the churche): and that, the same order being broken, the meaning of the Scriptures maie be chaunged. Looke better on your bookes, M. Hardinge: and ye shal see, that herein is neither Lie, nor Sclaunder. That the Holy Scriptures of God, by youre Diuinitie, be not Authentical, farther then they be ratified by the Pope, ye might haue learned of your Syluester Prierias, 2Maister of the Popes Palaice. Thus he writeth: A Doctrina Romanae Ecclesiae, & Romani Pontificis, Sacra Scriptura robur trahit, & authoritatem. The Holy Scripture taketh strengthe, and Authoritie of the Doctrine of the Romaine Churche, and of the Bishop of Rome.
- 1Cardinal. Cusanus, De Authoritate Eccle. & Concilij Supra, & Contra Scripturam.Cardinal. Cusanus, De Authoritate Eccle. & Concilij Supra, & Cōtra Scripturam.
- 2Sylvester Prieria•, contra Lutherum.Syluester Prieria•, contra Lutherum.
