A04474:3296
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 15 › The B. of Salisbury.Article 15 › The B. of Sarisburie.
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.
But being admitted, and granted for true, If prescription of want may make good proof, then may we say, This Island stood, and continued four thousand whole years, not only without the English Bible, but also without any knowledge of Christ, or God. Likewise we may truly say, The Gospel, and the Trueth of God stood, and continued in this Island for the space of many hundred years, without either the Supremacy of Rome, or Transubstantiation, or Private Masses, or any other like fantasies.
But beinge admitted, and graunted for true, If prescription of wante maye make good proufe, then maye wee saye, This Ilande stoode, and continued foure thousande whole yéeres, not onely without the Englishe Bible, but also without any knowledge of Christe, or God. Likewise wée may truely say, The Gospel, and the Truethe of God stoode, and continued in this Iland for the space of many hundred yeeres, without either the Supremacie of Rome, or Transubstantiation, or Priuate Masses, or any other like fantasies.
True it is, our Fathers of late years have been lead in ignorance, & have been violently forced from the Scriptures. But the examples, and wants of our Fathers, are not always sufficient Rules of Faith. The Heretic Eutyches said, Sic a progenitoribus meis accipiens credidi: In hac Fide genitus sum, & consecratus Deo: & in ea opto mori.1 This Faith have I received from mine Ancestors: In this Faith I was borne, and Baptized: and in the same I desire to die. And yet the same Faith was an Error, and no Faith. So said the Arian Heretic Auxentius,2 Quemadmodum ab infantia edoctus sum, ita credidi, & credo: As I have been taught from my Childhood, so I have believed, and so I believe still. So likewise the Idolatrous Jews said unto the Prophet Jeremiah,3 Sic fecimus nos, & Patres nostri: Reges nostri, & Principes nostri: Et saturati sumus panibus, & bene nobis erat. Thus have we done, and our Fathers before us: and our Kings, and our Princes. And we had store, and plenty of all things, and a merry world, and did full well. But God saith unto them, In statutis patrum vestrorum nolite ambulare &c.