A discourse, of the true and visible marks of the Catholic Church writtenA discourse, of the true and visible markes of the Catholique Churche vvritten

For it is one thing, to dispute of those marks, which they are, and another to dispute, who have them. Notwithstanding, because I have in few words declared, that they have not those marks, this thing also I may now speak, that we have at least, two very weighty conjectures, which make for us against them: to wit, that in discerning and trying of opinions, we stay our selves, upon the only written word of God, that is, the writings of the Prophets and Apostles? and that we require the interpretation of it, by the only conference of places, and proportion of the articles of faith. Neither do we refuse the writings of any, either old or new author, so that they may be examined, by the rules afore said: by Gods word, and the proportion of faith. But what these men object against these upright requests, it sufficiently appeareth.

For it is one thing, to dispute of those markes, which they are, and another to dispute, who haue them. Notwithstanding, because I haue in few wordes declared, that they haue not those marks, this thing also I may now speake, that we haue at least, two very waighty coniectures, which make for vs agaynste them: to wit, that in discerning and triyng of opinions, we stay our selues, vppon the only written word of God, that is, the writings of the Prophets and Apostles? and that we require the interpretation of it, by the onely conference of places, and proportion of the articles of fayth. Neither do we refuse the writinges of any, either old or new author, so yt they may be examined, by the rules afore sayd: by Gods worde, and the proportion of faith. But what these mē obiect against these vpright requestes, it sufficiently appeareth.

Now in the question of succession and ⟨image 57⟩ordination, they have thought that not many years ago, they have found out,¹ a more certain reason to dispute against us. For they demand even with great loftiness and pride, that we should show them, whom they have succeeded, which in our times have established our Churches, as though we were no better able, to show our original, than the Donatists could theirs. We answer that the doctrine which we defend, hath (even from the time of the Apostles, although heresies have assaulted it, & the Romish false bishops, and others, made drunk by the harlot, have by all the means they could, and that for the space of certain years polluted it) continued notwt standing, even until our times, & shall continue, even to the end of the world: and that about 200 years since this light of the Gospel began again, (and that through the singular goodness of God) in the west to appear, out of the filth of popery, & those hidden places, into which these men had thrust it, until the candlesticks, which were taken away, were set again in their places, & by that means the elect people