A04474:1735
A reply unto M. Hardinges answerA replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare
A reply unto M. Hardinges answer by perusing whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weak, and unstable grounds of the Romaine religion, which of late hath been accounted Catholic. By John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury.A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare by perusinge whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weake, and vnstable groundes of the Romaine religion, whiche of late hath beene accompted Catholique. By Iohn Iewel Bishoppe of Sarisburie.
Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the sign of the Black Oliphant, by Henry Wykes, Anno. 1565Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the signe of the Blacke Oliphante, by Henry VVykes, Anno. 1565
Article 4 › M. Harding. The .19. Division.Article 4 › M. Hardinge. The .19. Diuision.
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. The .19. Division.
M. Hardinge. The .19. Diuision.
Wherefore to conclude, except we would wickedly grant, that God's providence hath lacked, or doth lack to his Church, for love of which he hath given his only begotten Son, and which he hath promised never to forget, so as the woman can not forget the Child, she bare in her womb:1 reason may soon induce us to believe, that to one man, one Bishop, the chief and highest of all Bishops, the successor of Peter, the rule and government of the Church by God hath been deferred. For else if God had ordained, that in the Church should be sundry heads and rulers, and none constituted to be over other, but all of equal power, each one among their people: then he should seem to have set up so many Churches, as he hath appointed governors. And so he shall appear to have brought in among his faithful people, that unruly confusion, the destruction of all common weals, so much abhorred of Princes, which the Greeks call Anarchian, which is a state, for lack of order in governors, without any government at all. Which thing, sith that the wise, and politic men of this world do shun and detest in the government of these earthly Kingdoms, as most pernicious and hurtful, to attribute to the high wisdom of God, and to our Lord Christ, who is the author of the most ordinate disposition of all things in earth, and in Heaven: it were heinous, and profane impiety. Wherefore if the state of a Kingdom, can not continue safe, onlesse one have power to rule, how shall not the Church spread so far abroad, be ⟨p. 258⟩in danger of great disorders, corruption, and utter destruction, if, as occasion shall be given, among so great strifes and debates of men, among so many fire brands of discord, tossed to and fro by the Devils, enemies of unity: there be not one head and ruler, of all to be consulted, of all to be heard, of all to be followed, and obeyed? If strife and contention be stirred about matters of Faith, if controversy happen to arise about the sense of the Scriptures, shall it not be necessary, there be one supreme judge, to whose sentence the parties may stand? If need require (as it hath been often seen) that General Councils be kept, how can the Bishops, to whom that matter belongeth, be brought together, but by the commandment of one head governor, whom they owe their obedience unto?