A04468:4271
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.
If a man should ask you, where that word of God is, that maketh a temporal Prince Supreme head of that part of the Church, which he hath government of in all civil matters, I am sure you can bring forth* no other word of God. then that, wherein S. Peter,2 and S. Paul willeth all men to obey the Superior powers, especially Kings. Which thing was written to all Christian men, whiles they lived under Heathen Princes, and Infidels, as Claudius Cesar, and Nero were, whom, I suppose, ye will not say to have been heads of the whole Church, as they were Monarchs and ⟨p. 643⟩Princes of the whole world.3 If then by those Scriptures which cannot prove Nero (being a* persecutor of Christs Church) to have ben head of the same, you will now prove, that other Princes are supreme heads of the Church: it seemeth that either you make Nero head of the Church with them, or give more unto them, then the word of God will bear. And as for examples of good common weals, show us but one since Christs ascension, wherein before Luther's time, any Emperor Christian, or other Prince did attribute that title unto him self: and we will say, that, when you speak of common weals in the plural number, you make but one lye: but in case you show us no one common weal that hath so done, then you lie in the plural number. Yea further, if at this day the common weals in Christendom, not only that are Catholic, but the best also of those, that are Lutherishe, and newfangled, do abhor from that strange, and unheard title of