A04468:773
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.
This is your own witness, M. Harding: Consider well of it. It is your own. Therefore ye do your self great wrong, and much deface your own credit, so suddenly to say, our Doctrine is New. Gods name be blessed, it hath the Testimony, not only of Christ, and his Apostles, but also of the old Learned Catholic Fathers of the Church. And this is it, that so much grieveth you, that we reform our Churches now according to the pattern, and sampler of Christs, and his Apostles first Institution. For thereby the disorder, and deformity of your Churches the more appeareth.
This is your owne witnesse, M. Harding: Consider wel of it. It is your owne. Therefore ye doo your selfe great wronge, and mutche deface your owne credite, so suddainely to saie, our Doctrine is Newe. Gods name be blessed, it hath the Testimonie, not onely of Christe, and his Apostles, but also of the olde Learned Catholique Fathers of the Churche. And this is it, that so mutche greeueth you, that wee refourme our Churches nowe according to the paterne, and samplar of Christes, and his Apostles firste Institution. For thereby the disorder, and deformitie of your Churches the more appeareth.
Lirinensis saith,1 That thing must be holden for Catholic, that everywhere, evermore, and of all men hath been believed. These general notes must be limited with ⟨p. 94⟩this special restraint:2 Where as the Churches were not corrupted. For otherwise there was never any Doctrine so Catholic, no not the Confessed Doctrine of Christ him self, that hath been received, Evermore, &, Everywhere, and of all men without any exception. But, M. Harding, these self same notes of Lirinests utterly overthrow the greatest part of that whole Doctrine, that you would so same have counted Catholic. For neither reacheth to within five hundred years of the Apostles time: nor hath it that Antiquity indeed, that in face, and countenance is pretended, as it is plain by your own former Confession: nor was it ever universally received, as hereafter by Particulars it shall be proved. It had never that universality, neither of all times, and ages: nor of all places, and countries: nor was it ever universally received & allowed of all men. Therefore, what so ever ye call it, ye cannot by your own Definition call it Catholic.