A10345:195
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.
Hart. I grant, it neither can, nor ought to be denied, that ⟨p. 83⟩every one of those things, and specially, if they be joined all together, do help very much to understand the scriptures rightly. But *yet they are not so sure and certain means as some other are, which we prefer before them. Neither do they help always; nay, sometimes they do hurt rather, and deceive greatly such as expound the Scripture after them. This is not only said, but also proved at large out of the Doctors and Fathers, by that worthy man of great wit and judgement, our countryman M. Stapleton Doctor of Divinity, the Kings Professor of controversies in the university of Douai. Of whose most wholesome work, entitled, A methodical demonstration of doctrinal principles of the faith: one book is wholly spent to show the means, way and order, how to make authentical interpretation of the Scriptures. In the which he layeth this for a ground, that rthe Scripture cannot be rightly understood but by the rule of faith. Whereupon she condemneth the Protestants opinion, that the sense of Scriptures must be fetched out of the Scriptures. Which error of yours to overthrow the more fully: he delivereth four means of expounding the Scriptures; tthe first, very certain and sure, the rule of faith; uthe next, no less certain, the practise of the church; xthe third, at least probable, the consent of the Fathers; ythe last, most infallible, the councels interpretation. And zthese means, he saith, are the only certain sure infallible means, of understanding and expounding the Scripture aright. As for other means, which learned men do use, such as you observed out of S. Austin: he granteth they are profitable, but deceitful many ways, if each of them be severally taken by it self. Which he proveth in particular by the chiefest of them: first, the weighing of circumstances, what goeth before, what cometh after; next, the words and kind of speeches used in the Scriptures; thirdly,