The true copies of the letters between the reverend father in God John Bishop…The true copies of the letters betwene the reuerend father in God Iohn Bisshop…
The true copies of the letters between the reverend father in God John Bishop of Sarum and D. Cole upon occasion of a sermon that the said Bishop preached before the Queens Majesty, and her most honourable Counsel. 1560. Set forth and allowed, according to the order appointed in the Queens Maiesties iniunctions. Cum gratia & privilegio Regiæ Maiestatis per septennium.The true copies of the letters betwene the reuerend father in God Iohn Bisshop of Sarum and D. Cole vpon occasion of a sermon that the said Bishop preached before the Quenes Maiestie, and hir most honorable Counsel. 1560. Set forthe and allowed, according to the order appointed in the Quenes Maiesties iniunctions. Cum gratia & priuilegio Regiæ Maiestatis per septennium.
John Jewel 1522–1571London: printed by John Day, 1560
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.
When ye shall bring me any such authority as I have required of you, wherefore ye should dissent from us in these points, then will I grant ye dissent not only for affection. If ye be able to bring nothing, I trust ye will pardon me to say, as I say. This argument, ye say, would serve me in rhetoric, & no where else. Thus ye writ to make your reader bel•e (as ye have reported in places) that the ground of my Sermons is rhetoric, and not divinity. Wherein ye were somewhat to blame for your so light credit. For if ye had heard me your self, as ye never did, I think ye ⟨image 106⟩
might have hard somewhat else than rhetoric. But it appeareth ye hunt very narrowly for faults that account learning for a fault. If I were skill full in rhetoric, as ye would have me appear, only to discredit me with the people, yet can I not understand wherefore that thing should be so faulty in me, that was sometimes commendable in S. Augustin, in saint Chrysostom, in saint Hierom, in Arnobius, in Lactantius, in Cyprian, in Tertullian, and in many other old godly fathers: for all these, as ye know, were great rhetoricians. But as in the book of the kings, the Assyrians, when they were overthrown by the Jews, cried out, Dii montium sunt dii illorum, the gods of the hills, be their gods as though Silvanus, or Pan, or
⟨p. 104⟩
Faunus, had conquered them, and not the true living God of Israel, Even so ye at this time after the see your self scattered, and put to flight, cry out, it is rhetoric and eloquence, that hath overthrown you, and not the force of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
WHen ye shal bring me any such authority as I haue required of you, wherfore ye should dissent from vs in these pointes, then wil I graunt ye dissent not only for affection. If ye be able to bring norhing, I truste ye will pardon me to saye, as I saye. This argument, ye saye, woulde serue me in rethorike, & no where els. Thus ye wryt to make youre reader bel•e (as ye haue reported in places) that the grounde of my Sermons is rhethorike, and not diuinitye. Wherein ye were sumwhat to blame for your so light cre dit. For if ye had heard me youre selfe, as ye neuer did, I thynke ye ⟨image 106⟩might haue hard sumwhat els thē rhetorike. But it appeareth ye hūt very narowly for faultes yt accōpt learning for a fault. If I wer skil full in rhetorike, as ye woulde haue me appeare, onelye to discredite me with the people, yet can I not vnderstande wherefore that thing shoulde be so faultye in me, that was sumtymes commendable in S. Augustin, in saint Chrisostome, in saint Hierom, in Arnobius, in Lactantius, in Cypryane, in Tertullian, and in many other olde godly fathers: for all these, as ye know, were great rhetoriciās. But as in the boke of the kinges, the Assyrians, when they were ouerthrowen by the Iewes, cried out, Dii mōtium sunt dii illorum, the gods of the hils, be theyr gods as though Siluanus, or Pan, or ⟨p. 104⟩Faunus, had conquered them, and not the true lyuing God of Israell, Euen so ye at this tyme after ye see your selfe scattered, and put to flight, cry out, it is rhetorik and eloquence, that hath ouerthrowen you, and not the force of the gospel of Iesus Christ,
Likewise was Porphyry wont to say that S. Paul persuaded so far, and won so many to the faith of Christ, not for that he had any trueth of his side, but only for that with his eloquence, and other subtlety, he was able to abuse the simplicity of the people. But, alas, small rhetoric would suffice to show how little ye have of your side to allege for your self.
Likwise was Porphirius wōt to say that S. Paule perswaded so farre, and won so many to the faith of Christ, not for that he had any trueth of his side, but only for that with his eloquence, and other subtility, he was able to abuse the simplicity of the people. But, alas, smal rhetorike wold suffice to shew how little ye haue of your syde to alledg for your self.
Here I leave, putting you eftsoons in remembrance, that being so oft, & so open •⟨image 107⟩desired to show forth one Scripture, or one allowed example of the Primitive church, or one old doctor, or one ancient council, in the matters before named, yet hitherto ye have kept back and brought nothing. And that if ye stand so still, it may well be thought ye do it, conscientia imbecillitatis. For that there was nothing to be brought.
HEre I leue, putting you e•tsones in remēbraūce, yt being so oft, & so opē •⟨image 107⟩desired to shew forth one Scripture, or one allowed example of the Primatiue church, or one olde doctour, or one auncient councel, in the matters before named, yet hetherto ye haue kept back and brought nothing. And that if ye stande so still, it maye well be thought ye do it, conscientia imbecillitatis. For that ther was nothing to be brought.
NO we forasmuch as ye make this a great foundation against us, that we vary from the Primitive church. and therefore Make simple souls ween that we were in the wrong side, here, I pray you, show me your opinion, whether we are bound to do all things which we f•nde, by sufficient authority, were in […] in the Primitive Church?
NO we forasinuche as ye make this a great foundation against vs, that we varye from the Primitiue church. and therfore Make simple soules wene that we were in the wronge syde, here, I praye you, shew̄e me youre opinion, whether we are bounde to do all thinges whyche we f•nde, by sufficient authority, were in 〈…〉 in the Primitiue Church?
John Jewel 1522–1571
ReformersEngland
Bishop of Salisbury; author of the Apology of the Church of England.
