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.
M. Harding useth a strange kind of Logic:1 He pretendeth private Mass, and concludeth single Communion. And why might he not aswell plainly and without colour conclude his private Mass? Doubtless the wise reader may soon gather thus, if he could find it, he would not conceal it.
M. Hardinge vseth a straunge kinde of Logique:1 He pretendeth priuate Masse, and concludeth single Communion. And why mighte he not aswel plainely and without colour conclude his priuate Masse? Doubtles the wise reader may soone geather thus, if he coulde finde it, he woulde not concele it.
1M. Harding pretendeth private Mass, and concludeth Single Communion.M. Hardinge pretendeth priuate Masse, and concludeth Single Communiō.
This talk of the Church of Rome in this place, was needless, as nothing serving to private Mass. Yet is it generally confessed by all men, that Rome is the eldest Church that we know founded in this West part of the world, and that the Churches of France and other countries at the beginning, had both the confirmation of Doctrine, and also other great conference & comfort from thence: like as also the Church of Rome had from Jerusalem, and Antioch, and other great Churches in the East. But that the first that ever preached the Gospel in France, were sent from Rome, I reckon it not so easy to be proved. For some say,1
that Nathanael, whom Christ commendeth to be the true Israelite, preached at Trier, and Bituriges: Lazarus whom Christ raised, at Marseilles: Saturninus at Toulouse, long before Peter came to Rome. S. Paul as it is thought after his delivery under Nero,
went into Spain, sent Titus into Dalmatia, and Crescens into Galatia, or as Epiphanius readeth it, into Gallia: Joseph of Arimathea came into England. And yet it appeareth not that any of these were sent by Commission from Rome. But why doth M. Harding thus out of season rush into the commendation of the Church of Rome that was so long ago? It had been more to purpose to have viewed the state of the same Church, as it standeth now. But as one once said, ye shall not now find Samnium in Samnio, because the City of Samnium was sacked, and razed up, and utterly overthrown: even so I heard M. Harding sometime say, He had sought for the Church of Rome in Rome it self, and yet could not find the Church of Rome. The Bishops, Cardinals, and Priests, do neither teach, nor exhort, nor comfort, nor any other part of their duties: The people, as it is already confessed, is careless, and void of devotion. S. Bernard saith, O Domine, sacerdotes tui facti sunt •onsores: Praelati, Pilati: Doctores, Seductores: O Lord, thy Priests are become shearers: thy Prelates, Pilates: thy Doctors, Deceivers. If such a Church cannot err, then may we say of it, as Euripides sometime said of the City of Athens, [Greek or Hebrew]. O City, City, thy luck is far better then thy wit.
This talke of the Churche of Rome in this place, was néedlesse, as nothinge seruinge to priuate Masse. Yet is it generally confessed by al menne, that Rome is the eldest Churche that we know founded in this Weast parte of the worlde, and that the Churches of Fraunce and other countries at the beginninge, had both the confirmation of Doctrine, and also other great conference & conforte from thence: like as also the Churche of Rome had from Hierusalem, and Antioche, and other great Churches in the Easte. But that the first that euer preached the Ghospel in Fraunce, were sente from Rome, I recken it not so easy to be proued. For some say,1 that Nathanael, whome Christe cōmendeth to be the true Israelite, preached at Trire, and Bituriges: Lazarus whome Christe raysed, at Marsiles: Saturninus at Tolouse, longe before Peter came to Rome. S. Paule as it is thought after his deliuerie vnder Nero,2 went into Spaine, sente Titus into Dalmatia, and Crescens into Galatia, or as Epiphanius readeth it, into Gallia: Ioseph of Arimathaea came into Englande. And yet it appeareth not that any of these were sente by Commission from Rome. But why dothe M. Hardinge thus out of season rushe into the commendation of the Churche of Rome that was so longe agoe? It had bene more to purpose to haue vewed the state of the same Churche, as it standeth nowe. But as one once saide, ye shal not now finde Samnium in Samnio, bicause the Citie of Samnium was sackte, and rased vp, and vtterly ouerthrowen: euen so I hearde M. Harding sometime say, He had sought for the Church of Rome in Rome it selfe, and yet coulde not finde the Churche of Rome. The Bishoppes, Cardinalles, and Priestes, doo neither teache, nor exhorte, nor conforte, nor any other parte of their duties: The people, as it is alreadie confessed, is carelesse, and voyde of deuotion. S. Bernarde saithe, O Domine, sacerdotes tui facti sunt •onsores: Praelati, Pilati: Doctores, Seductores: O Lorde, thy Priestes are become shearers: thy Prelates, Pilates: thy Doctours, Deceiuers. If such a Churche cannot erre, then may we say of it, as Eurypides sometime saide of the Citie of Athens, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. O Citie, Citie, thy lucke is farre better then thy witte.
