So likewise saith he, 1that wrote the Forte of Faithe, Et si in hoc Daemonum bello cadant Religiosi Principes, & Milites, & Praelati Ecclesiastici, & Subditi, tamen semper manent aliqui, in quibus saluatur Veritas Fidei, & Justificatio bonae Conscientiae. Et si non nisi duo homines remanerent in mundo, in eis saluaretur Ecclesia, quae est Unitas Fidelium: In this battle of Devils, notwithstanding the Godly Princes, the Soldiers, the Ecclesiastical Prelates, and Subjects be overthrown, yet evermore some remain, in whom the Trueth of Faith, and the Righteousness of a good Conscience is preserved. And although there remained but two men in the uVorlde, yet in the same two the Church of God should be saved: uVhiche Church is the Unity of the Faithful. The Church of God is often compared to the Moon,2 which sometimes is full, & round, & bright, & glorious: sometimes is wholly shadowed & drowned in darkness: and yet notwithstanding is not consumed, but in Substance remaineth still. S. Augustine saith, Aliquando in Solo Abel Ecclesia erat: et expugnatus est à fratre malo, & perdito Cain.3 Aliquando in Solo Enoch Ecclesia erat: & translatus est ab iniquis: Sommetime the Church was in only Abel: and he was destroyed by his brother wicked Cain. Sometime the Church was only in Enoch: and he was translated from the wicked. Your own Panormitane saithe: 4Possibile est, quòd Vera Fides Christi remaneret in Uno Solo: Atque ita verum est dicete, quòd Fides non deficit in Ecclesia. Hoc patuit post Passionem Christi. Nam Fides remansit tantùm in Beata Virgine. Quia omnes alij scandalizati sunt. Tamen Christus ante Passionem oraverat pro Petro, ut non deficeret Fides sua. Ergo, Ecclesia non dicitur deficere, nec etiam errare, si remanet Vera Fides in Uno Solo, It is possible, the true Faith of Christ may remain in one alone: And so it is true to say, that Faith faileth not in the Church. This thing appeared after Christs Passion. For then the Faith remained only in the Blessed Virgin. For all the rest (both the Apostles, and others) were offended. Yet had Christ prayed for Peter before his Passion, that his Faith should not fail. Therefore we may not say, the Church faileth, or erreth, if the Faith remain but in one alone.
So likewise saithe he, 1that wrote the Forte of Faithe, Et si in hoc Daemonum bello cadant Religiosi Principes, & Milites, & Praelati Ecclesiastici, & Subditi, tamen semper manent aliqui, in quibus saluatur Veritas Fidei, & Iustificatio bonae Conscientiae. Et si non nisi duo homines remanerent in mundo, in eis saluaretur Ecclesia, quae est Vnitas Fidelium: In this battel of Diuelles, notwithstandinge the Godly Princes, the Souldiers, the Ecclesiastical Prelates, and Subiectes be ouerthrowen, yet euermore somme remaine, in whome the Truethe of Faithe, and the Righteousnesse of a good Conscience is preserued. And although there remained but tvvo menne in the vVorlde, yet in the same twoo the Churche of God shoulde be saued: vVhiche Churche is the Vnitie of the Faitheful. The Churche of God is often compared to the Moone,2 which sometimes is ful, & round, & bright, & glorious: sommetimes is wholy shadowed & drowned in darkenesse: and yet notwithstanding is not consumed, but in Substance remaineth stil. S. Augustine saith, Aliquando in Solo Abel Ecclesia erat: et expugnatus est à fratre malo, & perdito Caim.3 Aliquando in Solo Enoch Ecclesia erat: & translatus est ab iniquis: Sommetime the Churche was in onely Abel: and he was destroied by his brother vvicked Caim. Sommetime the Churche was onely in •noch: and he was translated from the wicked. Your owne Panormitane saithe: 4Possibile est, quòd Vera Fides Christi remaneret in Vno Solo: Atque ita verum est dicete, quòd Fides non deficit in Ecclesia. Hoc patuit post Passionem Christi. Nam Fides remansit tantùm in Beata Virgine. Quia omnes alij scandalizati sunt. Tamen Christus ante Passionem orauerat pro Petro, vt non deficeret Fides sua. Ergo, Ecclesia non dicitur deficere, nec etiam errare, si remanet Vera Fides in Vno Solo, It is possible, the trewe Faithe of Christe maie remaine in one alone: And so it is true to saie, that Faithe faileth not in the Churche. This thinge appeared after Christes Passion. For then the Faithe remained onely in the Blessed Virgin. For al the reste (bothe the Apostles, and others) were offended. Yet had Christe praied for Peter before his Passion, that his Faithe shoulde not faile. Therefore vve maie not saie, the Churche faileth, or erreth, if the Faithe remaine but in one alone.
- 1Fortalitium Fidei, lib. 5.
- 2August. Epist. 48.
- 3August. in Psal. 128.
- 4Extra de Electione. Significas•i. Abb.
