A10345:539
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. Yet you see by the way (though you make hast away from it) what rotten posts they be, whereon, as principal pillars, your church and faith is built, universality, antiquity, consent. Of which it is showed by Vincentius himself, that heresies may justly claim the two former, universality and antiquity: and make a fair challenge to the third, consent, in process of time; so cunningly can they file the Fathers to their purposes. But you may not be touched with any such suspicion. Why? Because the doctrines which you profess, are not old and ample heresies, you say, no not heresies; ours are so, not yours. Whether in opinions of faith and religion, which are in controversy between us, you or we do hold heresies: that is the point in question. Your, or mine; yea, or nay; is no sufficient proof of either. But of which soever it shall appear by conference that they are repugnant to the holy scriptures: let them be judged heresies; and the men, heretics, who stubbornly maintain them. Thus much you can not choose but grant, that your opinions are old, and spread abroad: for uyou claim antiquity, & universality; whereof you say that our opinions have ⟨p. 196⟩neither. It is more likely therefore, by Vincentius, that you, who *by long continuance of time, have had long occasion to steal away the truth, should corrupt the Fathers, then we who have not had it. And in very truth, as the worship of Images, (the greatest abomination that first prevailed in Popery) was confirmed by 1writings very uncertain and fabulous, yea by 2dreams of women, and 3visions of Devils in the xsecond Nicene Council; (as the thing it self, and ygreat Clerks of your own testify:) so the rest of your errors, which overflowed Christendom in darkness of superstition, have been most authorised by forged deeds, and bastard writings, begotten by some varlets, and fathered on the Doctors. The Schoolmen and Canonists, whose hands were chief in this iniquity, did bear the whole sway for many years together in Universities and Churches. The Doctors & Fathers were pretended much, but more pretended, then regarded: and their books corrupted, what through ignorance of scriveners, who copied them out before the use of printing, what through impudence of forgers, who coined counterfeits in their names.