A10345:2269
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.
Wherefore, being persuaded that the handling hereof would avail much to ease the ignorance of the ⟨p. 708⟩unskilful, and quail the stubbornness of our adversaries, and further (which is the chief point) the salvation of the elect: I, for the duty, or rather more then duty which I owe to the church of Christ, resolved with my self (having such opportunity of disputation offered) to treat of the state of the Catholic, of the Roman, and of our own Church. The rather, for that the foundations of this work are already laid in our former disputation: wherein it was showed out of the word of truth, that the scripture teacheth all things needful to salvation; that the church may err while it is militant on the earth; that the authority of the church is subject to the scripture. Which things being settled, it will be the easier to build thereupon that which I have purposed: I mean, to lay open the nature and condition of the catholic church, the corruption of the Roman, and the soundness of ours. But before I enter into the opening of these points, which I will do (by Gods grace) briefly, as the time; sincerely, as the charge requireth: first I must desire and crave of you all, my hearers, most earnestly, not that you will give me an attentive ear, which of your own accord ye do: but that with your ear you will bring a mind desirous to embrace the truth. In Athens there were judges called Areopagites, whose order was such (as 1the Heathens write, and commend them for it) that they bid the pleader plead without preambles, and made him to be sworn that he should tell them no untruth: them selves did hear the cause with great silence while it was pleading, and judged of it with great uprightness when they had heard it. Such Areopagites would I have you, brethren, in this our Christian Athens, show your selves to me ward. I will declare the matter (as a pleader ought) simply, and sincerely, without preambles, though unbidden: and without untruths, though unsworn. Give you (as judges should do) favourable audience, without a partial prejudice of foreconceived errors: and sentence with the truth, without corrupt affections, according unto right and reason. And I would to God you would hear me, in such sort as gDenis the Areopagite heard Paul the Apostle: