Conference Between Rainolds and Hart, Title page – Dedication
THE SVMME OF THE CONFERENCE BETWENE IOHN RAINOLDES AND IOHN HART: TOVCHING THE HEAD AND THE FAITH OF THE CHVRCH.
Wherein by the way are handled sundrie points, of the sufficiencie and right expounding of the Scriptures, the ministerie of the Church, the function of Priesthood, the sacrifice of the Masse, with other controuersies of religion: but chiefly and purposely the point of Church-gouerment, opened in the branches of Christes supreme soueraintie, of Peters pretended, the Popes vsurped, the Princes lawfull Supremacie.
Penned by Iohn Rainoldes, according to the notes set downe in writing by them both: perused by Iohn Hart, and (after things supplied, & altered, as he thought good) allowed for the faithfull report of that which past in conference betwene them.
Whereto is annexed a Treatise intitled, SIX CONCLVSIONS TOVCHING THE HOLIE SCRIPTVRE AND THE CHVRCH, writen by Iohn Rainoldes.
With a defense of such thinges as Thomas Stapleton and Gregorie Martin hauehave carped at therein.
1. Ioh. 4.1.
Deerely beloued, beleeue not eueryevery spirit, but trie the spirits whether they be of God: for many false Prophets are gone out into the world.
Londini, impensis Geor. Bishop. 1584
TO THE RIGHT Honorable, the Lord Robert Dudley, Earle of Leicester, one of her Maiesties priuie Councell, and Chauncellour of the Vniuersitie of Oxford, grace and peace be multiplied.
THe beginning of Schooles and Vniuersities (right Honorable) in the Church of God, doth shew that they were planted to bee a1. Sam. 19.2… ▪ 2. King. 2.5. & 4.8.nurseries of Prophets: who, being instructed in the truth of his word, might deliuer it to men; and lighten, as starres, the darkenesse of the world with the beames of it. But it hath come to passe by deuises of the dragon, bReue. 1….….whose taile drew the third part of the starres of heauen, & cast them to the earth, that they hauehave bene turned into seminaries of false Prophets: to maintaine errours and the power of darkenesse, against the light and truth of Christ. The primitiue Church had experience hereof in them cAct. 6. ver. 9.of the Synagogue of Libertines, and Cyrenians, who disputed with Steuen. A lesson for the faithfull in the ages to folow, that they should not thinke it strange, or be dismayed, if Schooles & Vniuersities of men professing wisedome were possessed of folie, and sought to peruert the straight wayes of the Lord. The consideration whereof, as it was needefull for our predecessours, when Rabbines of the Iewes, Philosophers of the Heathēs, Sorbonists amōg Christians, being seduced themselues, seduced others: so hauehave the Seminaries of our English students (erected by the Pope of late at Rome and Rhemes) made it needeful also for vsus at this day. The more: how much the nerer their dealings do come to those of the Synagogue of Libertines & Cyrenians. For as they defended dver. 14.the Iewish opinions receiued by tradition from their Fathers: so do the Seminaries the Popish superstitions. As they did pretend the care of religion, ever. 11.of Moses, and God, the law, & the Temple: so do the Seminaries, of the Catholike faith, the Scriptures, and the Church. As the meanes they vsed were sclanders of Steuen, fver. 13.that he spake blasphemous wordes against the holy place, and the law: so do the Seminaries charge vsus with reuolting from the holy Church, and corrupting the Scriptures. I am not worthie to be compared with the least ofthe seruants of God, who liued at that time, in which he powred the giftes of his holy spirit from heauen so aboundantly. Howbeit, as it pleased him to rayse Steuen to dispute with some of the Iewish Synagogue: so hath he vouchsafed me of this fauour, that I should be called to conferre with certaine ofthe Popish Seminaries. Of whom, one, contented to proceede farther therin then the rest; by writing, not by word onelyonly: hath giuen occasion ofthis, which here I publish. Wherein how indifferently he hath bene dealt with: himselfe hath declared. My conscience, for mine owne part, beareth me witnesse that I hauehave endeuored to defend the cause of the same truth, with the same purpose, by the same principles, & groūds, that gAct. 7.2.Steuē did. Wishing from my hart, (if so it please God,) that it may preuaile more with English Papists, then Steuens speech did with the Iewish Priests. But ready (by his grace) to endure their spite, ifthey hate me for telling them the truth, as the Iewes did him. Now, sith Luke, who penned the story of Steuen, sent it to hAct. 1.1.Theophilus, iLuk. 1.3.most noble Theophilus: I hauehave bene the bolder to present my conference vntounto you, right Honorable; aduanced, in state, to be of the most noble; in minde, a Theophilus, and louer ofthe truth. Your benefites both publikely to our Vniuersitie, in maintenance of our priuileges; & priuately to me ward, a member thereof: hauehave bound me to offer this testificat…on of a thankefull minde. And sith it hath bene (I know) a greefe vntounto you, that the Popish Synagogue hath drawne …. 23.1….proselytes thence: I thought it most meete that the labours spent with one so withdrawne, and printed to reclaime them who are gon, if may bee, or at least to stay them who are not gon, should bring him the salue whom the sore had touched neerest. Which moueth me withall to beseech your Honour, that, as you hauehave begoon, so you will go forward in being carefull for our nurserie: that they, who hauehave the charge of husbanding it, may fense it and dresse it faithfully and wisely; that neither the wild boare of the forest, nor other vermin may anoy it; that lEzek. 47.12.the fruites of the trees therof may serue for meate, & the leaues for medicine, through waters running out of the sanctuarie; and mGen. 3.9.the tree of life may grow in the middest of it, as in the garden of Eden planted by the Lord. So shall you leaue a most worthie monument of a noble Theophilus: the reward whereof shall folow from God, nPsal. 6… ▪ ….who will render to eueryevery man according to his workes; the remēbrance shall rest in the Christian Church and common wealth ofEngland, to your eternall praise throughout all posteritie. The Lord of his merciemercy blesse you with continuall increase of the graces of his holy spirite: specially of that, o1. Ti…. … ▪which hath the promise of this life, and of the life to come, to your endlesse comfort, through Iesu Christ the Lord of life. At London, the eighteenth of Iuly. 1584.
Your Honours in Christ at commaundement, Iohn Rainoldes.