A10345:2205
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.
To begin therefore with the first Conclusion, 1and so run over the rest briefly: the holy scripture teacheth the Church all things necessary to salvation. God the father of eternal goodness and mercy did choose of his free and singular favour (before the foundations of the world were laid) a great number of men, whom he would indue with everlasting life, and make them heirs of heavenly glory. Now, that the chosen might come to this inheritance: they were to be made the children of God by adoption through Jesus Christ. For this hath ever been the only way to salvation. In consideration whereof, the holy ghost, speaking of the company of such as God hath chosen, termeth them dsometime the children of God, by adoption, not by nature, yet cfellow heirs with Christ; sometime fthe wife of the Lamb, which is endowed with all the wealth of her husband; some time gthe body of Christ, by the power and virtue of whom as of a head they are governed, and moved; sometime hthe citizens of heaven, appointed to be inhabitants of the new Jerusalem; finally, Christ him self (to omit the rest) doth call them his Church, iwhich the gates of hell shall not prevail against. This Church then, even the company of the elect and chosen, the children of God, the wife of the Lamb, the body of Christ, the citizens of heaven, that is to say, the holy Catholic Church; as it is chosen and ordained by God to life everlasting: so hath it been always taught by his word the way of salvation, whereby it might come to the possession of that life. His word being uttered in old time sundry ways, was published at ⟨p. 684⟩length in writing. And so it came to pass that the holy writings of God did teach the Church such things as must be known for the obtaining of salvation. For who could reveal the way to obtain the inheritance of the kingdom of God, but God alone? And he revealed it to his Church, as first without writing, in such sort as seemed best to his wisdom; so afterward in writing, by the hand of his servants inspired with the holy Ghost: without writing, to Adam, and from Adams time till Moses; in writing, to Moses and from Moses forward till the end of the world. Wherefore in these writings given out by the holy Ghost, and penned by the servants of God, which writings S.