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A reply unto M. Hardinges answerA replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveareJohn Jewel, 1565

The B. of Salisbury.The B. of Sarisburie.

pp. 228–23122 passages

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.

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The B. of Salisbury.

The B. of Sarisburie.

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I• M. Hardinges cause were true, he would not avouch it with such untruth, and so often corruption of the holy fathers. If S. Cyprian writing this Epistle to Cornelius the Bishop of Rome, once name him either the High Priest: Or Christs Vicar General in earth: Or Universal Bishop: Or Head of the Universal Church: Or say, that the whole Brotherhood of all Christian people ought to be obedient unto him, As M. Harding untruly, and contrary to his own• knowledge expoundeth it: or if either his words, or his purpose of writing, may seem any way to lead to that end, then may M. Harding seem to have some honest colour for his defence. Otherwise we may justly say, He racketh the Doctors, and forceth them to speak, what him listeth, to s•rue his t•rne.

I• M. Hardinges cause were true, he woulde not auouche it with suche vntrueth, and so often corruption of the holy fathers. If S. Cyprian writing this Epistle to Cornelius the Bishop of Rome, once name him either the Highe Pri•ste: Or Christes Vicar General in earth: Or Vniuersal Bishop: Or Head of the Vniuersal Churche: Or say, that the vvhole Brotherhoode of al Christian people ought to be obedient vnto him, As M. Hardinge vntruely, and contrary to his own• knowledge expoundeth it: or if either his woordes, or his purpose of writinge, may seeme any way to leade to that ende, then may M. Hardinge séeme to haue some honest colour for his defence. Otherwise wée may iustly say, He racketh the Doctours, and forceth them to speake, what him listeth, to s•rue his t•rne.

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But he will reply,¹ S. Cyprian saith, Universa fraterni•as, That is, The whole Brotherhood ought to be obedient to that one Bishop. And that whole brotherhood must needs be the whole company of all Christian people. Notwithstanding this exposition seem very large, yet if S. Cyprian him self had not opened his own meaning otherwise,² perhaps some man either of simplicity, or of ignorance might so take it. But S. Cyprian, that doubtless best knew his own mind, understandeth these words, Fraternitas universa, not of all the universal company of all Christian people, throughout all the world, as M. Harding doth, but of the whole brotherhood within every Several, and Particular Diocese. For thus he writeth in the next Epistle following.³ Ferè per provincias universas tenetur, ut ad ordinationes ritè celebrandas, ad eam plebem cui praepositus ordinatur, Episcopi⁴ •iusdem provinciae proximi quique conueniant, & Episcopus deligatur plebe praesente, &c. Quod & apud nos factum vidimus in Sabini Collegae nostri ordinatione: ut de universae fraterni•atis suffragio Episcopatus ei deferretur. This order is in manner kept in all Provinces, that unto the dew ordering, or installing of a Bishop, the Bishops of the same province that dwell nearest come together to the people of that City, unto which a new Bishop is appointed: and that the Bishop be chosen in the presence of the people. Which thing we saw done in the Election and ordering of our fellow Bishop Sabinus, that the Bishopric was bestowed upon him by the consent, and voices of the whole brotherhood. Here, universa fraternitas, undoubtedly is used for the whole faithful company of one City. In like manner he writeth unto Cornelius of certain, that were returned from Schisms,⁵ and Errors unto the unity of the Church. Meritò illos rever•entes, summo gaudio & Clerus,⁶ & plebis fraternitas omnis excepit. When they came again, both the Clergy, and the whole brotherhood of the people, worthily received them with great joy. ⁷So likewise the Emperor Honorius writeth unto Bonifacius, If two Bishops through ambition and contention happen to be chosen,⁸ we will, that neither of them be allowed as Bishop. But that he only remain in the Apostolic See, whom out of the number of the Clergy, godly discretion, and the consent of the whole brotherhood shall choose by a new Election.

But he wil replie,¹ S. Cyprian saith, Vniuersa fraterni•as, That is, The whole Brotherhoode ought to be obedient to that one Bishop. And that whole brotherhoode must needes be the whole companie of al Christian people. Notwithstanding this exposition seeme very large, yet if S. Cyprian him selfe had not opened his owne meaninge otherwise,² perhaps some man either of simplicitie, or of ignorance might so take it. But S. Cyprian, that doubtles best knewe his owne minde, vnderstandeth these woordes, Fraternitas vniuersa, not of al the vniuersal companie of al Christian people, throughtout al the world, as M. Harding doothe, but of the vvhole brotherhoode within euery Seueral, and Particular Diocese. For thus he writeth in the nexte Epistle folowinge.³ Ferè per prouincias vniuersas tenetur, vt ad ordinationes ritè celebrandas, ad eam plebem cui praepositus ordinatur, Episcopi⁴ •iusdem prouinciae proximi quique conueniant, & Episcopus deligatur plebe praesente, &c. Quod & apud nos factum vidimus in Sabini Collegae nostri ordinatione: vt de vniuersae fraterni•atis suffragio Episcopatus ei deferretur. This order is in māner keapte in al Prouinces, that vnto the dewe orderinge, or installinge of a Bishop, the Bishoppes of the same prouince that dwel nearest come togeather to the people of that Citie, vnto whiche a newe Bishop is appointed: and that the Bishop be chosen in the presence of the people. Whiche thinge we sawe donne in the Election and orderinge of our felow Bishop Sabinus, that the Bishoprike was bestowed vpon him by the consent, and voices of the vvhole brotherhoode. Here, vniuersa fraternitas, vndoubtedly is vsed for the whole faithful companie of one Citie. In like manner he writeth vnto Cornelius of certaine, that were returned from Schismes,⁵ and Errours vnto the vnitie of the Churche. Meritò illos reuer•entes, summo gaudio & Clerus,⁶ & plebis fraternitas omnis excepit. When they came againe, bothe the Clergie, and the vvhole brotherhoode of the people, woorthily receiued them with great ioye. ⁷

1The universal Brotherhood.The vniuersal Brotherhoode.
2Fraternitas univers••.Fraternitas vniuers••.
3Cyprian. lib. 1.
4Episc. 4.
5Cyprian. lib. 2.
6Epis. 12.
7Rescriptum Honorij ad Bonifacium.
8Quem universitatis consensus elegerit.Quem vniuersitatis consensus elegerit.

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Al this notwithstanding, if M. Harding will say, S. Cyprian's words must needs import one Universal Bishop, & the same of necessity must be the Bishop of Rome, let him then vouchsafe to read the Epistle, that the same S. Cyprian wrote unto Florentius Pupianus: There shall he find, that S. Cyprian even in like form and order, speaketh these self same words of him self, being, as M. Harding knoweth, the Bishop of Carthage in Africa, and not the Bishop of Rome.¹ His words be these: Unde Schisma•a, & haereses obortae sunt, & oriuntur, nisi dum Episcopus,² qui unus est, & Ecclesiae praeest, superba quorundam presumption contemnitur, & homo dignatione Dei honora•us, ab hominibus indignis judicatur? Wherehence have Schisms and Heresies sprung heretofore, and whereof spring they now, but that the Bishop, which is one, and governeth the Church, by the presumptuous disdain of certain, is despised, and a man preferred by God's allowance, is examined, and judged by unworthy men. Al this S. Cyprian speaketh plainly, and namely of him self, being B. of Carthage. Therefore it is great oversight, to force the same only to the B. of Rome, and stoutly to say, It can be applied unto none other.

Al this notwithstandinge, if M. Hardinge wil saie, S. Cyprians woordes must néedes importe one Uniuersal Bishop, & the same of necessitie muste be the Bishop of Rome, let him then voutchesafe to reade the Epistle, that the same S. Cyprian wrote vnto Florentius Pupianus: There shal he finde, that S. Cyprian euen in like forme and order, speaketh these selfe same woordes of him selfe, beinge, as M. Hardinge knoweth, the Bishop of Carthage in Aphrica, and not the Bishop of Rome.¹ His woordes be these: Vnde Schisma•a, & haereses obortae sunt, & oriuntur, nisi dum Episcopus,² qui vnus est, & Ecclesiae praeest, superba quorundam praesumptione contemnitur, & homo dignatione Dei honora•us, ab hominibus indignis iudicatur? Wherehence haue Schismes and Heresies spronge heretofore, and whereof springe they nowe, but that the Bishop, vvhiche is one, and gouerneth the Churche, by the presumptuous disdaine of certaine, is despised, and a man prefe•red by Goddes allowance, is examined, and iudged by vnwoorthy menne. Al this S. Cyprian speaketh plainely, and namely of him selfe, beinge B. of Carthage. Therefore it is greate ouersight, to force the same onely to the B. of Rome, and stoutely to say, It can be applied vnto none other.

1Cyprian. lib. 4.
2Epist. 9.