A10345:532
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. You may not carry so the words of Vincentius away in a cloud. For, though he may seem to have meant in general by [the tradition of the Church] the expounding of scriptures according to the rule of their right and Catholic sense, which the Pastors of the Church deliver: yet coming to particulars he frameth that rule, not out of the scriptures, but out of the opinions which the Church holdeth in matters of religion. For, ihe asketh him self, when heretics pretend scriptures, what shall the Catholics do? How shall they discern the truth from falsehood in the scriptures? Whereto he maketh answer, that they must take the scriptures in the sense of the Church: and therein they must follow, universality, antiquity, consent. By the which kthreefold means to try the truth, he instructeth us that we must hold that, which the church of our time doth hold through all the world universally. If a part of Christendom divide and cut it self from the faith of the whole: then are we bound to follow the whole, and not the part. If the whole in our time be stained with any error: then must we have respect to the former time, and cleave to antiquity. If all in antiquity agreed not about it: then look too consent; as, what a general Council did decree thereof; or, if no such decree be, what all the Fathers thought, or if not all, what the most, even they who continued in the faith and fellowship of the Catholic Church. And whatsoever we find that not one, or two, but all with one consent have held, written, taught, plainly, commonly, continually: let us be assured that we must hold also that without all doubt. Thus Vincentius showeth how he would have the truth to be tried by the church: if the church be sound, by the universality of our own time: if that be corrupt, by the antiquity of the former time; if that be at variance, by the consent of all, or most of the Fathers. Wherefore if you will stand unto his judgement, to which you give countenance as though you liked it: you must not call the trial of truth in religion to the scriptures only, but to the consent of the Fathers rather.
Hart. You may not cary so the wordes of Vincentius away in a cloude. For, though he may séeme to haue meant in generall by [the tradition of the Church] the expounding of scriptures according to the rule of their right and Catholike sense, which the Pastors of the Church deliuer: yet comming to particulars he frameth that rule, not out of the scriptures, but out of the opinions which the Church holdeth in matters of religion. For,