A04474:28
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
Preface: ¶AN ANSWER TO M. Hardinges Preface.Preface: ¶AN ANSVVEARE TO M. Hardinges Preface.
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.
Not long sithence ye made the Pulpits ring, that your Mass, and all other your whole Doctrine, was assured unto you by Christ, and his Apostles, and that for the same ye had the undoubted continuance, and succession of fifteen hundred years, the consent of all the old Councils, Doctors, and Fathers, and all Antiquity, and the Universal allowance of all the world. Thus ye doubted not then to say, without fear of controlment of God, or man. Many thousands thought ye dealt simply, and would not deceive them: and therefore were easily lead to believe you.
Not longe sithence ye made the Pulpites ringe, that your Masse, and• al other your whole Doctrine, was assured vnto you by Christe, and his Apostles, and that for the same ye had the vndoubted continuance, and succession of fiftéene hundred yéeres, the consent of al the olde Councels, Doctours, and Fathers, and al Antiquitie, and the Uniuersal allowance of al the worlde. Thus ye doubted not then to saie, without feare of controlment of God, or man. Many thousandes thought ye dealte simply, and woulde not deceiue them: and therefore were easily leadde to beleeue you.
In this case Christian duty, and Charity required, that the trueth, and certainty of your tales should be opened, that the simple might understand, ye had deceived them, and that of all that your so large talk, and countenance of Antiquity you were, as you well know, utterly able to avouch nothing. Where as it so much offendeth you, that I should so precisely avouch the Negative, and require you to prove your Affirmative, whereof ye would seem so well assured, it may please you to consider, that S. Gregory writing against John the Bishop of Constantinople, that had entitled him self the Universal Bishop of the whole world, resteth him self likewise upon the Negative. His words be these: Nemo de•essorum meorum hoc superbo vocabulo uti consensit: 1Nemo Romanorum Po•tificum hoc Singularitatis nomen assumpsit. None of my Predecessors ever consented to use this arrogant name: No Bishop of Rome ever took upon him this name of Singularity. S. Augustine, when he had reckoned up all the Bishops of Rome, before his time,