A Confutation of a Popish and Slanderous Libel, Treatise · Papist opinion 7
The Papiste.
The sixte, and laste consideration, that I come not to their churche, is, because I am not of their Churche. S. Augustine in putting difference of churches saieth, how vntounto them whiche hauehave not all one Sacramē tes, there can not be one religion, nor consequently one Churche. And the cause why I am not of their Churche, but refuse to communicate with theym in religion, besides this saiyng of S. Augustine, that we should not Communicate in sacramentes with those men whose doctrine we can not aproue and allow: I do refuse to be of their church, because I cannot learne nor vnderstande, of what church they are of. For thei beyng first Baptized in the catholike churche, and in the very self faieth and religion, wherin I do at this present time, beleue and remaine: thei are departed therefro, some to the Lutheranes Church, some to the Zwinglians, and comyng last of al to the church Geneua, they are in maner fled from that church also, and by attributing the chief & supreme gouernment of this their English churche vntounto the Quenes highnes, thei are in doctrine directly against their old maister Caluine, being the chief Apostle of the Church of Geneua, whiche Caluine in the eight Chapter of the boke of his institutions, doth directlie reason against Kynges, and Princes, for takyng vponupon theim spirituall gouernment in the Church of Christ, and in the same Chapiter he doeth muche commende the holy Bishop S. Ambrose, and the noble Emperour Theodosius, Ambrose for his greate stoutnes and resistance made against the Emperour: And Theodosius for his greate submission, and obediens shewed vntounto the Bishop. The history whereof is at large expressed in Ecclesiastica historia. And the saide Caluine in hys exposition vppon the fowerth Chapiter of the prophete Amos, doth taxe King Henry the eight by name, because he alone, of all other Princes was the first that toke vponupon hym in the Church of Christ spirituall gouernmēt, whose example in that poinct, there was neuer one Prince in all Germanie, nor yet in any place els where, of the whole world, that woulde followe the same, but his owne naturall sonne Kyng Edward the sixte, beyng then in his minoritie, and againe the Queenes highnes that nowe is, If therfore I shall departe from the comon knowen catholike Church wherin I stand, I would gladly knowe of theim vntounto what Church I shoulde repaire, to be instructed with out errours, wherin vnitie, charitie, and veritie doe dwel, what forme of a churche are thei able to shew, wherupon a christian man may be bolde to assure himselfe? And if peraduenture they cease not ro pretende, that the Primitiue Churche is that plat forme of the Churche wherunto they would reduce vsus: I answere, that there be so many poinctes wherein they doe dissent from the Primitiue Churche (like as I shall make sufficient proofe thereof) that it can not be so, it is onelyonly pretended, but it shall neuer be proued: The Anabaptistes, the Libertines and the Arians doe pretende gods worde, and the Primitiue Churche as well as thei: And because they are so bolde to name the primitiue church, I aske of theim but this one questiō, whether that this daie 50. or, 60. yeres laste paste, was their Church here in this realme, or in any other parte of christendome? VVhat particuler Church either here in Englande, in the laste yere of Kyng Henry the eight his raigne, or any other realme els, can thei name that taught or receiued vniuersally throughout, in all poinctes the doctrine, that this presente Churche of Englande doeth now teache, or from that daie, a thousande yeres before that, or from thence, vntounto the tyme of Christe, and his Apostles. If thei can not shewe any one suche Churche (as I am well assured, thei shall neuer be able to doe) then it muste nedes followe, that either Christe had no Church in the worlde al that tyme till now their commyng, or elles it muste needes follow that their Churche, is a new inuented and vpstert Church, whiche with christes Primitiue church hath no agreans, like as it shall moste plainly appeare vntounto you by these profes followyng.