A04482:671
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.
London: 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.
O master doctor, let us lay aside all self will and contention and have recourse only unto the trueth, that God hath revealed to us in his holy word. For thereby shall ye be able to know whether y• church do right, or no. And thereby shall ye be able to reform her▪ if she happen to do amiss▪ For it is possible the church may err but it is not possible the Scriptures may err. And the Scriptures of God, have authority to reform y• church, but I never heard y• the church hath authority to reform the Scriptures.
O master doctour, let vs laye asyde all selfe will and contention and haue recourse onely vnto the trueth, that God hath reueyled to vs in his holy worde. For therby shall ye be able to knowe whether y• church do right, or no. And therby shall ye be able to reforme her▪ if she happen to do amisse▪ For it is possible the church may erre but it is not possible the Scriptures may erre. And the Scriptures of God, haue authority to reforme y• churche, but I neuer hearde y• the church hath authority to reforme the Scriptures.
Thus Christ reformed the errors ⟨p. 116⟩of the church in his time brought in by the Scribes & Pharisees, and said unto them, Scriptū est. Thus S. Paul reformed y• Corinthians for misusing the holy communion in his time, and tolde them. Quod accepi à Domino, hoc tradidi vobis, I delivered you that thing, that I received of the lord. Thus the old father Ireneus, to stay the errors of his time, bad the parties have a recourse to the most ancient churches, from whence religion sprang first. Thus saith Tertullian, to redress he errors of his tyme. Hoc contra omnes Haereticos praeiudicat, id esse veum, quodcunque primum id esse adulterum, quodcunque posterius.