A reply unto M. Hardinges answerA replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare

The B. of Salisbury.

The B. of Sarisburie.

You know, that we serve God according to his holy word, and the order of his Primitive Church.¹ For (As Tertullian saith, the Christian people did in his time) Coimus ad divinarum Scripturarum commemorationem, si quid praesentium temporum qualitas aut praemonere cogit, aut recognoscere. Certè fidem sanctis vo••bus pascimus, spem erigimus, fiduciam figimus. We meet together to hear the rehearsal of the holy Scriptures, if the state of the present time do force us either to forewarn any thing, or else to call any thing to remembrance. Verily we feed our Faith with those holy words, we confirm our hope, we assure our trust. We minister the holy Sacraments in pure, and reverent sort: we Baptize in the name of God the Father, the Son, & the Holy Ghost: we receive the Sacrament of Christs Body and Blood from the Holy Table: we make our humble Confession, and fall to the ground, and pray ⟨p. 218⟩all together, with one heart, and one voice, in sprite, and trueth: and specially we pray for you, and for such others, that ye may consider from whence ye are fallen, and repent your selves, and return to God: we Excommunicate open offenders: we receive again them that show them selves penitent: we instruct our youth in the Faith of Christ: we make collections, and provide charitably for the poor. Of all these things, what one thing is contrary to the Catholic faith?² O M. Harding, it is written, The mouth that lieth, destroyeth the soul: ³And Christ saith, The Blasphemy against the holy Ghost, shall never be forgiven, neither in this life, nor in the life to come.

You knowe, that we serue God accordinge to his holy woorde, and the order of his Primitiue Churche.¹ For (As Tertullian saithe, the Christian people did in his time) Coimus ad diuinarum Scripturarum commemorationem, si quid praesentium temporum qualitas aut praemonere cogit, aut recognoscere. Certè fidem sanctis vo••bus pascimus, spem erigimus, fiduciam figimus. Wee meete togeather to heare the rehearshal of the holy Scriptures, if the state of the present time doo force vs either to forewarne any thinge, or els to cal any thinge to remēbrance. Verily we feede our Faithe with those holy woordes, we confirme our hope, we assure our trust. Wée minister the holy Sacramentes in pure, and reuerent sorte: we Baptize in the name of God the Father, the Sonne, & the Holie Ghost: we receiue the Sacrament of Christes Bodie and Bloude from the Holy Table: we make our humble Confession, and fal to the grounde, and praie ⟨p. 218⟩al togeather, with one harte, and one voice, in sprite, and trueth: and specially wée pray for you, and for suche others, that ye may consider from whence ye are fallen, and repent your selues, and returne to God: wée Excommunicate open offenders: wée receiue againe them that shew them selues penitent: wée instructe our youthe in the Faithe of Christe: wée make collections, and prouide charitably for the poore. Of al these thinges, what one thinge is contrary to the Catholique faithe?² O M. Hardinge, it is written, The mouthe that lieth, destroieth the soule: ³And Christe saithe, The Blasphemie against the holy Ghost, shal neuer be forgeuen, neither in this life, nor in the life to come.

1. 1Tertull. in Apologetico.
2. 2Sapien. 1.
3. 3Mathaei. 12.

Now, good Christian Reader, for the better contenting of thy mind, I beseech thee to look back, and to consider the whole substance of all, that M. Harding hath laid in for proof of this Article, what weight it beareth, and how well it serveth to his purpose. He hath entreated largely of singing in the Quier, at what time, and where it first began: and likewise hath proved by a great long discourse of situation of countries, and diversity of tongues, that neither all the east part of the world understood the Greek, nor all the people of Africa, Mauritania, Spain, and France understood the Latin: which labour in this case was nothing needful. But that all the Nations of the East part had their Service in the Greek tongue, and that all the people of Africa, Mauritania, Spain, and France had their Service in the Latin tongue, which thing only stood in Question, and therefore was only to be proved, he hath hitherto utterly left unproved. Touching the Public Service within this Island, the story of Augustine of Rome, and Edda, and Putta, and other Poets, and singing men, as I have showed, standeth him in small stead. Contrary to his own knowledge he saith, that the fourteenth Chapter of S. Paul to the Corinthians cannot necessarily be applied to this purpose: And further he saith, that even from the Apostles time, the Priest evermore made his Prayers in the Quier, far of from the hearing of the people: That the ignorant people understandeth the Latin Tongue, although not in most exact wise, or perfectly: That they are now better instructed in the Articles of the Faith, then they were in the time of the Apostles: That it is sufficient for them now to be taught by Gestures, and Ceremonies: and that they have great profit by hearing their Service, although they know not what they hear. Again he saith, that the Greek, and Latin be learned tongues, and therefore all the Service of the Church throughout the whole world, ought to be ministered in one of them: That all the Psalms, and all other Scriptures are hard, and far pass the capacity of the people: That understanding of the matter causeth the mind to wander: and to be short, that prayer in the Common tongue, that evermore bred Schisms, and Divisions in the Church.

Now, good Christian Reader, for the better contenting of thy minde, I beséeche thée to looke backe, and to consider the whole substance of al, that M. Hardinge hath laide in for proufe of this Article, what weight it beareth, and how wel it serueth to his purpose. He hath intreated largely of singinge in the Quier, at what time, and where it first beganne: and likewise hath prooued by a greate longe discourse of situation of countries, and diuersitie of tongues, that neither al the east parte of the worlde vnderstoode the Gréeke, nor al the people of Aphrica, Mauritania, Spaine, and Fraunce vnderstoode the Latine: whiche labour in this case was nothinge needeful. But that al the Nations of the East parte had their Seruice in the Greeke tongue, and that al the people of Aphrica, Mauritania, Spaine, and Fraunce had their Seruice in the Latine tongue, whiche thinge onely stoode in Question, and therefore was onely to be prooued, he hath hitherto vtterly leaft vnprooued. Touchinge the Publique Seruice within this Ilelande, the storie of Augustine of Rome, and Edda, and Putta, and other Poetes, and singinge men, as I haue shewed, standeth him in smal stéede. Contrary to his owne knowlege he saith, that the fouretéenth Chapter of S. Paule to the Corinthians cannot necessarily be applied to this purpose: And further he saith, that euen from the Apostles time, the Priest euermore made his Praiers in the Quier, farre of from the hearinge of the people: That the ignorant people vnderstandeth the Latine Tongue, although not in most exacte wise, or perfitely: That they are now better instructed in the Articles of the Faith, then they were in the time of the Apostles: That it is sufficient for them now to be taught by Gestures, and Ceremonies: and that they haue greate profit by hearinge their Seruice, although they know not what they heare. Againe he saith, that the Gréeke, and Latine be learned tongues, and therefore al the Seruice of the Churche throughout the whole worlde, ought to be ministred in one of them: That al the Psalmes, and al other Scriptures are harde, and farre passe the capacitie of the people: That vnderstandinge of the mater causeth the minde to wander: and to be shorte, that praier in the Common tongue, that euermore bredde Schismes, and Diuisions in the Churche.

He hath openly falsified Strabo, Justinian, Origen, Chrysostom, and others, and hath forced them to say the thing, they never meant.

He hath openly falsified Strabo, Iustinian, Origen, Chrysostome, and others, and hath forced them to say the thinge, they neuer meante.

This is the whole Summary of all that he had to say. Hereof he would seem to conclude, that within the first six hundred years after Christ, the Common Service was ministered openly in a tongue unknown unto the people: Albeit he hath hitherto alleged neither Scripture, nor Council, nor Decree, nor Doctor, nor Example, or Practise of the Primitive Church to prove the same.

This is the whole Summarie of al that he had to say. Hereof he woulde séeme to conclude, that within the first sixe hundred yeeres after Christe, the Common Seruice was ministred openly in a tongue vnknowen vnto the people: Albeit he hath hitherto alleged neitheir Scripture, nor Councel, nor Decrée, nor Doctour, nor Example, or Practise of the Primitiue Churche to prooue the same.

Of the other side,¹ it is sufficiently proved of our part, that the fourteenth Chapter to the Corinthians must of necessity belong to the use of Common prayers: and that in the Primitive Church, the Service was every where Ministered in the Vulgar Tongue, and that the Priest and the people prayed all together: I have proved, not only that the Nations, that understood Greek, or Latin, had their Service in the Greek, or Latin tongue, but by Theodoretus, ⟨p. 219⟩Sozomenus, S. Ambrose, and S. Hierome, that the Syrians had their Service in the Syrian tongue: by S. Ba••le, that the Egyptians had their Service in the Egyptian tongue: The Libyans, the Thebans, the Palestines, the Arabians, & the Phoenicians, each of them in their own tongue: by Origen, that all Barbarous people had their Service in their several Barbarous tongues: by Sulpitius, that the people of France, then called Gallia, had their Service in the French tongue. S. Hierome saith, Vox quidem dissona, sed una Religio. Tot penè psallentium chori, quot gentium diversitates. The voice is divers, but the Religion is alone. There be wellnigh so many companies of people singing, ²as there be diversities of Nations. To be short, I have proved by S. Chrysostom, and by Lyra, and others, that there can no manner profit redound unto the people, of prayers made in a strange tongue.

Of the other side,¹ it is sufficiently prooued of our parte, that the fouretienth Chapter to the Corinthians must of necessitie belonge to the vse of Common praiers: and that in the Primitiue Churche, the Seruice was euery where Ministred in the Uulgare Tongue, and that the Priest and the people praied al togeather: I haue prooued, not onely that the Nations, that vnderstoode Greeke, or Latine, had their Seruice in the Greeke, or Latine tongue, but by Theodoretus, ⟨p. 219⟩Sozomenus, S. Ambrose, and S. Hierome, that the Syrians had their Seruice in the Syrian tongue: by S. Ba••le, that the Egyptians had their Seruice in the Egyptian tongue: The Lybians, the Th•banes, the Palestines, the Arabians, & the Phenicians, eche of them in their owne tongue: by Origen, that al Barbarous people had their Seruice in their seueral Barbarous tongues: by Sulpitius, that the people of France, then called Gallia, had their Seruice in the Frenche tongue. S. Hierome saithe, Vox quidem dissona, sed vna Religio. Tot penè psallentium chori, quot gentium diuersitates. The voice is diuers, but the Religion is alone. There be welneare so many companies of people singinge, ²as there be diuersities of Nations. To be shorte, I haue prooued by S. Chrysostome, and by Lyra, and others, that there can no manner profit redounde vnto the people, of praiers made in a strange tongue.

1. 1Justinian. Lyra. & Thom.Iustinian. Lyra. & Thom.
2. 2H•eronym ad Marcellam.

Seeing therefore M. Hardinges Doctrine standeth upon so simple grounds, as I have showed, and serveth only to maintain ignorance, and the kingdom of darkness, it is now thy part, gentle Reader, to judge indifferently between us, both how justly he hath coloured the same with such a face of antiquity, and also how truly, and substantially he hath answered my assertion.

Séeinge therefore M. Hardinges Doctrine standeth vpon so simple groundes, as I haue shewed, and serueth onely to mainteine ignorance, and the kingedome of darkenesse, it is now thy parte, gentle Reader, to iudge indifferently betwéene vs, bothe how iustly he hath coloured the same with suche a face of antiquitie, and also how truely, and substantially he hath answeared my assertion.

FINIS.

THE FOURTH ARTICLE,¹ OF THE SUPREMACY.

THE FOVRTH ARTICLE,¹ OF THE SVPREMACIE.

1. 1Universal Bishop.Vniuersal Bishop.

The B. of Salisbury.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Or that the Bishop of Rome was then called an universal Bishop, or the head of the universal Church.

Or that the Bishop of Rome was then called an vniuersal Bishop, or the head of the vniuersal Churche.

M. Harding. The .1. Division.

M. Hardinge. The .1. Diuision.

BY what name so ever the Bishop of Rome was called within six hundred years after Christs Ascension, this is clear, that his Primacy, that is to say, Supreme power, and authority over and above all Bishops, and chief government of all Christs flock, in matters pertaining to Faith, and Christen Religion, was then 93¹ acknowledged and confessed. Which thing being so, whether then he were called by either of those names that you deny, or no: it is not of great importance. And yet for the one of them somewhat, and for the other, an infinite number of good authorities may be alleged. But thereof hereafter.

BY what name so euer the Bishop of Rome was called within sixe hundred yeres after Christes Ascension, this is cleare, that his Primacie, that is to say, Supreme power, and auctoritie ouer and aboue al Bishoppes, and chiefe gouernement of al Christes flocke, in maters perteininge to Faithe, and Christen Religion, was then 93¹ acknowleged and confessed. VVhiche thinge beinge so, whether then he were called by either of those names that you denie, or no: it is not of greate importance. And yet for the one of them somwhat, and for the other, an infinite number of good auctorities may be alleged. But thereof hereafter.

1. 1The .93. Untruth, for there was no such power confessed. Not one at all.The .93. Vntruthe, for there vvas no suche povver confessed. Not one at al.