Ye would seem to be fain, that we followed the advise of Irenaeus. We are content with all our hearts. And with Irenaeus we appeal to that tradition, which is from the Apostles, which (as he sayeth) is kept in the Churches by Priests,1 that succeeded them. With Irenaeus leaving other Churches, whose successions of Bishops it were a long work to rehearse, we require to have recourse for trial of our Faith to the Tradition of doctrine of the Romaine Church, which he termeth,2 Greatest, Oldest, best known to all, founded, and set up by the two most glorious Apostles, Peter, and Paul. We appeal to the Faith of that Church, taught abroad in the world, and by successions of Bishops brought down unto us. For to this Church,‡ saith Irenaeus, must all the Church of Christ repair, where so ever it be: for that it is the chief of all, and for that the tradition of the true doctrine, which the Apostles left behind them,* is there faithfully kept. Wherefore if ye would after the counsel of Irenaeus resort to Rome for decision of the controversies, that be bet wixte you and us, and would them to be tried by that sense of doctrine,‡ which hath continued by successions of Bishops even from Peter to Pius the fourth, now Pope, and would stand to the authority of that See Apostolic: all strife were ended, we should be at accord. But we have little hope ye will follow this godly counsel of S. Irenaeus that blessed Martyr, whose body your brethren the Huguenots of France, villainously burned at Lions, Anno Dom. 1562. after it had rested there thirteen hundred years and more.
Ye woulde seeme to be faine, that we folowed the aduise of Irenaeus. VVe are contente with all our hartes. And with Irenaeus we appeale to that tradition, whiche is from the Apostles, whiche (as he saieth) is kepte in the Churches by Priestes,1 that succeded them. VVith Irenaeus leauinge other Churches, whose successions of Bishoppes it were a longe woorke to rehearse, we require to haue recourse for triall of our Faithe to the Tradition of doctrine of the Romaine Churche, whiche he termeth,2 Greatest, Oldest, best knowen to al, founded, and set vp by the twoo moste glorious Apostles, Peter, and Paule. VVe appeale to the Faithe of that Churche, taught abrode in the world, and by successions of Bishoppes brought downe vnto vs. For to this Churche,‡ saithe Irenaeus, must all the Churche of Christe repaire, where so euer it be: for that it is the chiefe of all, and for that the tradition of the true doctrine, which the Apostles leaft behinde them,* is there faithfully kepte. VVherefore if ye would after the councell of Irenaeus resorte to Rome for decision of the controuersies, that be bet wixte you and vs, and would them to be tried by that sense of doctrine,‡ which hath continewed by successions of Bishops euen from Peter to Pius the fourth, now Pope, and would stande to the auctoritie of that See Apostolike: al strife were ended, we should be at accorde. But we haue litle hope ye will folowe this godly counsel of S. Irenaeus that blessed Martyr, whose body your brethren the Huguenotes of Fraūce, vilanously burned at Lions, Anno Dom. 1562. after it had rested there thirten hundred yeeres and more.
- 1Lib. 3. ca. 2.
- 2Lib. 3. ca. 3.
- ‡Irenaeus never knew the disorders, and deformities, that now are in the Church of Rome.Irenaeus neuer knevve the disorders, and deformities, that novve are in the Churche of Rome.
- *Untruth. For, as now, it is all unfaithefully perverted.Vntruth. For, as novve, it is al vnfaithefully peruerted.
- ‡Untruth manifest, and apparent to all the world.Vntruthe manifeste, and apparente to al the vvorlde.
