A10345:1569
The sum of the conference between John Rainoldes and John Hart touching the head…The summe of the conference betwene Iohn Rainoldes and Iohn Hart touching the head…
The sum of the conference between John Rainoldes and John Hart touching the head and the faith of the Church. Wherein by the way are handled sundry points, of the sufficiency and right expounding of the Scriptures, the ministry of the Church, the function of priesthood, the sacrifice of the mass, with other controversies of religion: but chiefly and purposely the point of Church-government ... Penned by John Rainoldes, according to the notes set down in writing by them both: perused by John Hart, and (after things supplied, & altered, as he thought good) allowed for the faithful report of that which past in conference between them. Whereunto is annexed a treatise entitled, Six conclusions touching the Holy Scripture and the Church, written by John Rainoldes. With a defence of such things as Thomas Stapleton and Gregory Martin have carped at therein.The summe of the conference betwene Iohn Rainoldes and Iohn Hart touching the head and the faith of the Church. Wherein by the way are handled sundrie points, of the sufficiencie and right expounding of the Scriptures, the ministerie of the Church, the function of priesthood, the sacrifice of the masse, with other controuerises of religion: but chiefly and purposely the point of Church-gouernment ... Penned by Iohn Rainoldes, according to the notes set downe in writing by them both: perused by Iohn Hart, and (after things supplied, & altered, as he thought good) allowed for the faithfull report of that which past in conference betwene them. Whereunto is annexed a treatise intitled, Six conclusions touching the Holie Scripture and the Church, writen by Iohn Rainoldes. With a defence of such thinges as Thomas Stapleton and Gregorie Martin haue carped at therein.
Londini: printed by John Wolfe, 1584Londini: printed by Iohn Wolfe, 1584
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.
Rainoldes. Not a cloud of witnesses such as tthe Apostle spake off to the Hebrews. But such a cloud rather as uAthanasius meant: who when Julian the Emperor had sent men of arms to spoil him of his life, and the faithful about him were sorry for it, and wept, Be not dismayed (saith he) my children; it is b•t a small cloud, and will pass over quickly. For this host of Popes which you have armed against us, may be sorted out into three companies. Whereof the first front, is, the names of them who lived three hundred years and upward after Christ: but the names only. For the writings savour as much of those Bishops, as scarecrows do resemble the strength of valiant men. The second front, are they who lived the next three hundred years, or there about. And the weapons (though not all) which they bear, are their own: but those which are their own, are not long enough to reach the supremacy; and that which they do reach they are to weak to win it. The third, is as it were the forlorn hope: the Popes which do follow the first and second front, in the vaward, as you would say. And they have best will, but can do least. For they are troubled so with care of the carriage, and their whole artillery of decrees, and decretals, and extravagants is so dull, that, if the former be discomfited, they have not power to strike a stroke. So that you see, the witnesses, which you have brought yet, are of no valour: have you any better?
Rainoldes. Not a clowde of witnesses such as tthe Apostle spake off to the Hebrewes. But such a clowde rather as uAthanasius meant: who when Iulian the Emperour had sent men of armes to spoile him of his life, and the faithfull about him were sorie for it, and wept, Be not dismayed (saith he) my children; it is b•t a small cloude, and will passe ouer quickly. For this host of Popes which you haue armed against vs, may be sorted out into thrée companies. Whereof the first front, is, the names of them who liued three hundred yeares and vpwarde after Christ: but the names onely. For the writings sauour as much of those Bishops, as scarcrowes do resemble the strength of valiant men. The second front, are they who liued the next three hundred yeares, or there about. And the weapons (though not all) which they beare, are their owne: but those which are theire owne, are not long enough to reach the supremacie; and that which they doo reach they are to weake to winne it. The third, is as it were the forlorne hope: the Popes which doo folow the first and second front, in the vawarde, as you would say. And they haue best will, but can doo least. For they are troubled so with care of the cariage, and their whole artillerie of decrees, and decretals, and extrauagants is so dull, that, if the former be discomfited, they haue not power to strike a stroake. So that you sée, the witnesses, which you haue brought yet, are of no valure: haue you any better?