A04468:4405
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.
The calling or summoning of Councils may be done* either by way of authority, which the caller himself hath: or by way of authority, which he taketh of an nother. If Constantine, the two Theodosians, and Marcian called the four first general Councils by their Authority only, then were they no general Councils. Neither could their decrees bind the whole world. For although they were great Emperors, yet was not the whole Christian world under them. And therefore those Christian Bishops, who lived in Persia, in Ethiopia, in Scotland, in Scythia, or in any other land not subject to the Emperor, were neither bound to come, nor bound to obey the Laws made by them, who were not their Superiors. But if it be far from reason, that a general Council should not bind all Bishops and all Christians, it is also far reason, to say, that Emperors called general Councils by their own only authority. In deed they called them by the assent of the Bishop of Rome‡ Who being the general Shepherd of Christs stock, and therefore also of all Bishops, might command* all his Sheep to come together, except they were reasonably to be excused: and they were bound to be hear his voice, and to obey his decree. So that, although ⟨p. 661⟩ye proved the Emperors to have summoned and called the four first Councils, yet were ye not able to prove, they did it‡ without the assent of the Bishops of Rome, which for the time sate in Peters chair. And by the force of that assent the deed must take effect. And this much generally.