ορθοδοξίας προσχήματι, * Ebion, though of the same opinion as the Samaritans, was still, according to Epiphanius, desirous of being called a Christian; and the Mahometans in our time, although it is evident from all Histories, that they derive their origin from Hagar the Bond woman, (which indeed their own writers have not attempted to deny,) still, for the sake of the Name and Race, prefer the appellation of Saracens as if they were descendents of Sarah the free woman, and wife of Abraham.

Such was also the practice of the false Prophets who opposed themselves to the Prophets of God; to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Christ, and the Apostles: their chief boast was the Name of the Church; and on this account alone they fiercely persecuted and branded as Renegades and Apostates all who withdrew themselves from their society, and refused obedience to the or

* Epiphanius, lib. 1. Hære. 30. and Sozomen, lib. vi. cap. 38. When Christe mourned over the citie, and temple of Jerusalem, or when he saide, "Ye have made my Father's howse a denne of theeves:" and when Esaie saide, "O howe is this bewtiful Citie (that then was the Churche of God) become an harlot?" Or, when the Prophete Hieremie saide, "who wil geve an abundance of water unto myne eies, that I maie

dinances of the Elders. But if we are inclined to place implicit confidence in the judgment of those men who at that time presided over the Church, and regard neither God, nor his word, in that case; inasmuch as they departed from the Chief Priests and the whole Sacerdotal Order, to wit, from the Catholic Church as then existing; and introduced various innovations in Religion against the manifest disapprobation, and direct opposition of the Priesthood; it must be confessed that the Apostles lawfully and justly suffered death.

Wherefore, as it is reported of Hercules, that he was compelled to raise Antæus from his Mother Earth before he could overcome him; in like manner must our adversaries be torn from this Mother of theirs, namely the vain Pretence and Shadow of the Church, under whose protec

moourne daie and night for the sinnes of my people," wee maie not thinke, that Christe, Esaie, and Hieremie were defacers of the Churche. He hindereth not healthe, that sheweth the disease: He despiseth not the Churche, that setteth Christe before the Churche. The Churche is our Mother: but Christe saithe, whosoever loveth his Father and Mother, more than mee, is not meete to be my disciple.

Bishop Jewell's Answeare to Hardinge's Preface.

tion they shelter themselves; otherwise they will never be induced to yield even to the Word of God. Do not then, as saith the Prophet Jeremiah, boast that you have the Temple of God with you; your assurance is vain; for these are lying words: and the Angel in the Revelations says, they affirm that they are Jews, but they are the Synagogue of Satan:† and when the Pharisees boasted that they were of the family and blood of Abraham, Christ exclaimed, Ye are of your Father the Devil, for ye resemble not your Father Abraham as if he had said, "Ye are not that which ye are so anxious to appear;" you impose upon the people with Vain Titles, and abuse the name of the Church for its destruction. Our opponents ought in the first place therefore, clearly and indisputably to have proved that the Church of Rome is the True and Orthodox Church of God; and that it agrees under its present form of government with the Primitive Church of Christ, the Apostles, and the Holy Fathers: which Primitive Church we have no doubt was the Catholic Church. We indeed are ready to acknowledge that there would have

*Jeremiah vii. 4.

+ Revel. ii. 9. ‡ John viii. 44.

been no just grounds for separating from them if we could once have persuaded ourselves that Ignorance, Error, Superstition, Idolatry, the Vain Conceits of men, which moreover are frequently at complete variance with the Holy Scriptures, were either acceptable in the sight of God, or in any way conducive to our Salvation: or if we could, for a moment, have believed that the Word of God was merely intended to prevail for a few years, and then become a "thing of nought:" or in a word, that the Commandments and Laws of God were subjected to the caprice of human authority; and that unless HIS precepts and decrees met the approbation of the Pope they were to be considered as null and void.

We affirm then, that in withdrawing ourselves from that Church whose errors were so glaring as to attract universal attention, and which had already publicly disclaimed the Authority of the Word of God, we have done nothing contrary to Christ or his Apostles; for in fact we have not so much departed from her as from her Errors; and this too in the most sober and quiet manner; having made no attempts whatever to excite a feeling of disrespect or hostility against our ad

versaries. But neither is the Church of God so pure that no error can ever possibly creep into her doctrines, as never to require Reformation: for if that were the case, of what utility were all those general Councils and Assemblies without which, according to * Ægidius, the Christian Religion could not stand? for, he observes, as often as Councils are discontinued, so often is the Church destitute of Christ. Or, again, if no fears could reasonably be entertained for the welfare of the Church, why retain the useless name of Bishop, which at this time prevails so much with them? For why are they called Shepherds, if there are no Sheep to go astray? Why Watchmen, if there is no City which can be betrayed? Why Pillars, if there is nothing which requires their Support to prevent its sinking into Ruin? But to the point. The Church of God from the very foundation of the world was spread abroad, and instructed by the Heavenly Word, which God uttered with his own mouth. It was also furnished with divine Ceremonies; taught by the Spirit of God; by the

* Quoties enim inquit, Concilia intermittuntur, toties Ecclesia a Christo derelinquitur.

Egidius in Lateran Concil. sub Julio ii.