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blindest that this day do live, may well see and perceive, if they will not purposely wink and shut their eyes.

Answer to Richard Smith concerning the "Catholic

Doctrine of the Body and Blood of our SAVIOUR
CHRIST." Fol. 1551. pp. 445, 446.

thority of

All the rest of his preface containeth nothing else but of the Authe authority of the Church, which (Smith saith) cannot the Church. wholly err: and he so setteth forth and extolleth the same, that he preferreth it above God's Word, affirming not only that it is the pillar of truth and no less to be believed than holy Scripture, but also that we should not believe holy Scripture but for it. So that he maketh the word of men equal or above the Word of GOD.

And truth it is, indeed, that the Church doth never wholly err, for ever, in most darkness, GoD shineth unto His elect, and in the midst of all iniquity, He governeth them so with His holy Word and SPIRIT, that the gates of hell prevail not against them.

But this holy Church is so unknown to the world, that no man can discern it, but God alone, who only searcheth the hearts of all men, and knoweth his true children from other that be but bastards.

This Church is the pillar of the truth, because it resteth upon God's Word, which is the true and sure foundation, and will not suffer it to err and fall. But as for the open known Church and the outward face thereof, it is not the pillar of truth, otherwise than that it is (as it were) a register or treasury to keep the books of God's holy will and testament, and to rest only thereupon.

And as the register keepeth all men's wills, and yet hath none authority to add, change, or take away any thing, nor yet to expound the wills farther than the very words of the will extend unto (so that he hath no power over the will but by the will), even so hath the Church no further power over the holy Scripture (which containeth the will and testament of GOD), but only to keep it, and to see it observed and kept. For if the Church proceed further, to make any new articles of faith, besides the Scripture, or

Which

Church is to

contrary to the Scripture, or direct not the form of life according to the same, then it is not the pillar of truth, nor the Church of Christ, but the Synagogue of Sathan, and the Temple of Antichrist, which both erreth itself, and bringeth into error as many that do follow it.

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And although the Papists have led innumerable people out of the right way, yet the Church is to be followed; but the Church of CHRIST, not of Antichrist, the Church that concerning the faith containeth itself with God's Word, not that deviseth daily new articles contrary to God's Word. The Church that by the true interpretation of Scripture, and good example, gathereth people unto CHRIST, not that by wresting of the Scripture and evil example of corrupt living, draweth them away from CHRIST. And now forasmuch as the wicked Church of Rome (counterfeiting the Church of CHRIST) hath, in this matter of the Sacrament of the blessed body and blood of our SAVIOUR CHRIST, varied from the pure and holy Church in the Apostles' time, and many hundred years after, it is easy to discern which church is to be followed. And I cannot but · marvel that Smith allegeth for him Vincentius Lirinensis, who (contrary to Doctor Smith) teacheth plainly, that the Canon of the Bible is perfect and sufficient of itself for the truth of the catholic faith: and that the whole Church cannot make one article of faith, although it may be taken as a NECESSARY WITNESS for the receiving and establishing of the same with these three conditions, that the thing which we would establish thereby, hath been believed in all places, ever, and of all men, which the papistical doctrine in this matter hath not been.-Ibid. pp. 456–459.

All these foolish and devilish superstitions the Papists, be followed. of their own idle brain, have devised of late years, which devices were never known in the old Church. And yet they cry out against them that profess the Gospel, and say that they dissent from the Church, and would have them to follow the example of their church. And so would they gladly do, if the Papists would follow the first Church of the Apostles, which was most pure and uncorrupt; but the

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Papists have clearly varied from the usage and example of that church, and have invented new devices of their own brains, and will in no wise consent to follow the primitive Church; and yet they would have others to follow their church, utterly varying and dissenting from the first most godly Church. But, thanks be to the eternal GOD, the manner of the holy Communion, which is now set forth within this realm, is agreeable with the institution of CHRIST, with St. Paul, and the old primitive and Apostolic Church.-Defence of the true and catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament, &c. Works, Oxf. 1833. Vol. II. pp. 462, 463.

mous inter

the Fathers

When all the Fathers agreed in the exposition of any The unaniplace in Scripture, he acknowledged he looked on that as pretation of flowing from the SPIRIT of GOD; and it was a most dan- infallible. gerous thing to be wise in our own conceit: therefore, he thought Councils ought to found their decisions on the Word of GOD, and those expositions which had been agreed on by the Doctors of the Church.-Speech on General Councils. Works, Vol. II. p. 14.

ration of

in all mat

to the judg

Catholic

Touching my doctrine of the Sacrament, and other my A decladoctrine, of what kind soever it be, I protest that it was submission never my mind to write, speak, or understand any thing ters of Faith contrary to the most holy Word of God, or else against ment of the the holy Catholic Church of CHRIST, but purely and simply Church. to imitate and teach those things only, which I had learned of the sacred Scripture, and of the holy Catholic Church of CHRIST from the beginning, and also according to the exposition of the most holy and learned Fathers and Martyrs of the Church.

And if any thing hath peradventure chanced otherwise than I thought, I may err: but heretic I cannot be, forasmuch as I am ready in all things to follow the judgment of the most sacred Word of GOD, and of the holy Catholic Church, desiring none other thing, than meekly and gently to be taught, if anywhere (which God forbid) I have swerved from the truth.

And I profess and openly confess, that in all my doctrine

The sufficiency of

and preaching, both of the Sacrament, and of other my doctrine whatsoever it be, not only I mean and judge those things, as the Catholic Church and the most holy Fathers of old with one accord have meant and judged, but also I would gladly use the same words that they used, and not use any other words, but to set my hand to all and singular their speeches, phrases, ways, and forms of speech, which they do use in their treatises upon the Sacrament, and to keep still their interpretation. But in this thing I only am accused for a heretic, because I allow not the doctrine lately brought in, of the Sacrament, and because I consent not to words not accustomed in Scripture and unknown to the ancient Fathers, but newly invented and brought in by men, and belonging to the destruction of souls, and overthrow of the old and pure religion.-Appeal from the Pope, to the next General Council. Works, Vol. IV. pp. 126, 127.

HOOPER, BISHOP AND MARTYR.

D. 1555.

I believe that the Word of GOD (contained within the holy Scrip- canonical books of the Old and New Testament) is of a far

ture.

Of the true

Church, and

greater authority than the Church, the which word only
doth sufficiently show and teach us all those things that in
anywise concern our salvation, both what we ought to do,
and what to leave undone. The same Word of God is the
true pattern and perfect rule, after the which all faithful
people ought to govern and order their lives, without turn-
ing either to the right hand or to the left hand, without
changing any thing thereof, without putting to it, or taking
from it, knowing that all the works of God are perfect, but
most chiefly His Word.-Articles upon the Creed.
LIV.

Edit. 1583.

RIDLEY, DOCTOR, BISHOP AND MARTYR.
B. 1500. D. 1555.

Art.

I acknowledge an unspotted Church of CHRIST, in the Vincentius which no man can err, without which no man can be saved, Lirinensis. which is spread throughout all the world, that is, the

congregation of the faithful; neither do I alligate or bind the
same to any one place.
.. but confess
the same to be spread throughout all the world; and where
CHRIST'S Sacraments are duly administered, His Gospel
truly preached and followed, there doth CHRIST's candle
shine as a city upon a hill, and as a candle in the candle-
stick. And in that the Church of GOD is in doubt, I use
herein the wise counsel of Vincentius Lirinensis, whom
I am sure you will allow, who, giving precepts how the
Catholic Church may be in all schisms and heresies known,
writeth in this manner: When," saith he, "one part is
corrupted with heresies, then prefer the whole world before
that one part; but if the greatest part be infected, then
prefer antiquity." In like sort now, when I perceive the
greatest part of Christianity to be infected with the poison
of the see of Rome, I repair to the usage of the primitive
Church.-See Life, by Gloucester Ridley, 4to. 1763, pp.
613, 614.

66

libility of

Councils.

Of the Universal Church, which is mingled of good and of the infal bad, thus I think. Whensoever they which be chief in it, General which rule and govern the same, and to whom the rest of the whole mystical body of CHRIST doth obey, are the lively members of CHRIST, and walk after the guiding and rule of His Word, and go before the flock towards everlasting life; then undoubtedly Councils gathered together of such guides and pastors of the Christian flock, do indeed represent the Universal Church; and being so gathered in the name of CHRIST, they have a promise of the gift and guiding of His SPIRIT into all truth.

LATIMER, BISHOP AND MARTYR.

B. 1470. D. 1555.

As touching General Councils, at this present I have no Ibid. more to say than you have said." Certain godly, learned, and comfortable Conferences" between Dr. Nicholas Ridley and M. Hugh Latimer. Edit. 1556, p. 23.

C

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