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…

Yet ye say, the True Supreme Head of the Church shall have to do with him, that sinneth only secretly in his heart: For that malicious, and sinful thought, say you, shall never be forgiven, except the party come to be Absolved of their Successors, to whom Christ said, Whose sins ye forgive, &c. This, M. Harding, is the Supreme Folly of all others Follies. For first, where ever heard you, that the Pope would lonce vouchsafe to Hear Confessions? And, if he would, yet by yours own Doctors Judgement, the Pope hath no more Power to Bind, and to Loose, then any other Poor Simple Priest. As I have showed you before, Alphonsus de Castro saithe, ¹Quando Absoluit Simplex Sacerdos, tantum Absoluit de Culpa, sicut Papa: When a Simple Priest Absolveth, he Absolveth as much, touching the fault, as if it were the Pope him self. Origen saithe, Quae sequuntur, velut ad Petrum dicta, sunt omnium communia, &c. Quod si nos idem loquimur, quod Petrus loquutus est, efficimur Petrus: The words, that follow, as spoken unto Peter, are common unto all. If we speak the same, that Peter spake, then are we made Peter. Even in the Popes own Gloss upon his Decretals it is noted thus, In necessitate Laicus potest & Audire Confessiones, & Absoluere: In case of necessity a Layman may both hear Confessions, ²and also give Absolution. Yet will ye not say, that every Layman is Peters Successor.

Yet yée saie, the True Supreme Heade of the Churche shal haue to doo with him, that sinneth onely secretely in his harte: For that malitious, and sinful thought, saie you, shal neuer be foregeuen, excepte the partie comme to be Absolued of theire Successours, to whom Christe said, VVhoes sinnes yee foregeue, &c. This, M. Hardinge, is the Supreme Folie of al others Folies. For firste, where euer hearde you, that the Pope would lonce vouchesaue to Heare Confessions? And, if he woulde, yet by yours owne Doctoures Iudgemente, the Pope hath nomore Power to Binde, and to Loose, then any other Poore Simple Prieste. As I haue shewed you before, Alphonsus de Castro saithe, ¹Quando Absoluit Simplex Sacerdos, tantum Absoluit de Culpa, sicut Papa: When a Simple Prieste Absolueth, he Absolueth as mutche, touchinge the faulte, as if it were the Pope him selfe. Origen saithe, Quae sequuntur, velut ad Petrum dicta, sunt omnium communia, &c. Quod si nos idem loquimur, quod Petrus loquutus est, efficimur Petrus: The woordes, that folowe, as spoken vnto Peter, are common vnto al. If wee speake the saine, that Peter spake, then are wee made Peter. Euen in the Popes owne Glose vpon his Decretalles it is noted thus, In necessitate Laicus potest & Audire Confessiones, & Absoluere: In case of necessitie a Laieman maie bothe heare Confessions,