Transubstantiation Exploded, Part 1 · Paragraph 6
PAR. 6.
Of the novelty of Popery, and the true occasion of the Author his conference with D. Smith at Paris.
AFter I have repelled his darts, I will encounter your relation, in both which the Greeke proverbe is verified, foreign, never a barrell better herring. In his Eras. Adag.introduction, from p. 3. to the 11. hee relates the occasion of this conference, partly defectively, partly injuriously and falsly.
1. His narration is defective, in that he relates, pa 8. That M. Knevet was put in minde that he was mistaken in the matter of Religion, and that before Luther, all knowne Churches did beleeve that which he saw there in France openly professed, but he omitteth what was replied thereunto, that this was a stale allegation confuted a 1000. times by Protestants, he omitteth also what was retorted (viz.) that no knowne Church in the world before the late Councell at Trent, which began in the yeare of our Lord, 1545. and ended in the yeare 1563. beleeved those 12. now articles added to the Apostles Creed, a…lla Pij 4 Pontif. anno, 5. A. D. 1564. Haee est catholica fides extra quā nemo saluua essa potest quam in prasenti pr… or, &c p. 441.by Pius 4. to be de fide and to be assented unto by all men under paine of damnation. That the Primitive Church worshipped no Images, knew no private masses, or halfe communions, or prayers in an unknowne tongue nor Church treasurie of superabundant satisfactions, nor Popes indulgences for the release of soules out of Purgatory, nor any of that drosse which he saw in your Church mingled with the gold of the Sanctuary: that a man would have beene laughed out of his skin, who would in those daies have given any credit to that which he & I both saw in Paris openly professed, and painted too, viz. Saint Denys holding his head in his hand, and our Ladie saying over the Rosarie with a great paire of beades about her necke, Saint Genoviefue Patronesse of Paris, carried in solemne procession about the streets, and publicke supplications made to her for raine, or the host carried in state in the streete under a Canopie, and the people kneeling before it in the dirt, or Christ eating the Paschall Lambe larded after the French fashion, or an Asse kneeling downe to the Sacrament, or Bees building a Chappell and the like legendarie fopperies.
2. It is false and injurious in that he saith, p. 8. that I thought my selfe alone hard enough for the whole Church of Rome, and p. 10. that I presuming of victory made the matter knowne both to the English and to the French. Me thinkes you should have taught your Chaplaine better then to put his dreames in print for my thoughts, and to presume what were my presumptions, neither had I any such thought, …either presumed upon any such thing; for although I know my selfe to be ignorant of many things which I ought to know: yet I dare boldly professe with Origen, Ignorantiam meam non ignoro, I am not ignorant of my ignorance, neither have I beene shie to make so much knowne to all men, in most of my disputations, using this premonition, that if the auditory should not be satisfied in my arguments or answers, that they ought to impute it to the weakenesse of the advocate, not of the cause, and this or the like conclusion, that if they heard any thing that gave them contentment, they were to ascribe it to the goodnesse of the cause which I maintained, which will bee able to defend it selfe not onelyonly against the Popes chaire but also against hell gates.
But I need not wipe off the aspersion of selfe confidence cast upon me, p. 10. he himselfe doth it, p. 12. saying that I called M. Moulines a famous French Preacher to the Conference, whereas it was appointed, that the Conference should bee betwixt us two onelyonly. If I thought my selfe hard enough for the whole Church of Rome, what need I call in Peter Moulines to assist me, against one Doctor onelyonly of the Church of Rome? Here certainely your Lordships Chaplaine was forgetfull of speciall precept in his art, oportet mendacem esse memorem, he that will v… lies, and desireth not to be taken in them ought to have a good memory, least … contradict himselfe, for lies are contrarie, not onelyonly to the truth, but oftentimes to themselves also.