shielded but by untruth. Error cannot be defended but by error. mouth that speaketh untruth killeth the soul." "And the God direct our hearts, that we be not ashamed of his gospel, but that we may see it, and be seen to see it! God make us the vessels of his mercy, that we may have pity of Sion, and build up again the broken walls of his Hierusalem, to the honour and glory of his holy name! Amen. Vigilius contra Eutychem, Lib. 1. Hæc est fides et professio catholica, quam apostoli tradiderunt, martyres "This is the faith and catholic profession, which the apostles have delivered, the martyrs have confirmed, and the faithful keep until this day." FINIS. [ Vigil. adv. Eutych. in Cassandr. Op. Par. 1616. Lib. iv. p. 547; where confessio, and nunc usque.] THE CORRECTOR TO THE READER. If thou wilt know, gentle reader, for what causes and by whom this book is now set forth in print again, here mayest thou see both the same declared and his name subscribed. First, the book being good, and containing true wholesome and catholic doctrine, the more it is made common, the more good thereby is done. Again, whereas many be desirous of the same, as well in Scotland, Ireland, as in England; in so easy and so profitable a thing not to answer their desires, it were beside all humanity. Thirdly, forasmuch as it is often and constantly reported that an answer to this book hath this long time been and is yet in hand, that, when the same shall come forth, men may the better see by conference of books where true dealing is, and where falsehead is used; it may to any man appear reasonable that for so honest and so good a purpose the copies by mean of a new print be multiplied. That thou findest here sundry quotations, and also certain brief additions, which the copies of the first print had not; to the intent I make thee privy to all, thus it hath been done. About half a year past coming into M. D. Harding's chamber (which to his friends is never shut), and there finding a book newly quoted and with some annotations augmented with his own hand, upon affiance of his friendship, I was so bold in his absence as for a time to take it with me, and according to the same to note mine own boon book, not minding as then ever to set it in print, but to use it to my private instruction. And the same now hath served the printer for his copy. Whereas I have adventured thus to do without the author's knowledge, whereto himself by sundry persons moved could never yet be induced; as I know not why I should be blamed of any other, so I trust the greatness of the profit, that hereof is like to follow, shall procure me easy pardon of him whose slackness I have supplied. If faults be found in the print, they are mine and the printer's; the author therewith is not touched; who doubtless, had he taken the oversight of it himself, would have done better; as the mother's eye tendereth the child more than another body's. Yet I promise the best of mine endeavour. Howsoever it be, I wish our loving countrymen to consider how hard it is for aliens to print English truly, who neither understand nor can pronounce the tongue rightly. As for the corrector, where the faults of the printers be infinite for the unskill of the language, were he as full of eyes as Argus, or as sharp-sighted as Lynx, yet should he pass over no small number unespied. Were there here an Englishman who had skill in setting a print, and knew the right orthography of our speech, then mightest thou, reader, look for books more correctly set forth: for lack whereof we do as we may. I pray thee, in this distress bear with my little oversight, and accept my great good-will. Farewell, at Antwerp, 12 Januarii, 1565. JOHN MARTIALL. [This piece is the advertisement prefixed to the revised edition of Harding's Answer, printed at Antwerp, 1565.] ΑΝ EXPOSITION VPON THE TWO EPISTLES OF THE Thessalonians: By the reuerend Father Iohn Iewel, late Bishop of Sarisburie. LONDON, Printer to the Kings most ex- 1611. RIGHT HON. SIR FRANCIS WALSINGHAM, KNIGHT, PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN'S MAJESTY, AND ONE OF HER HIGHNESS' MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL'. It is now some long time sithence2 that learned reverend father bishop Jewel delivered unto the people of his charge the exposition upon the epistles of St Paul to the Thessalonians; when many his hearers thought it worthy to be made common, and besought him earnestly (even as since his blessed departure out of this life they have often required me) to publish the same. It is very likely that he would, if he had lived, have perused these his travails, and some others, and have drawn them to the use and benefit of the church, and rather have spent his time in setting forth matters profitable for all men to understand towards3 the attainment of salvation, than in following their humour any longer, whom neither the weakness of their own cause, nor the force of the truth, nor the defence thereof by so weighty authorities of the holy scriptures, of the ancient catholic fathers, and of general councils, could content, or persuade them to forsake the way of contention whereunto they were entered, and of troubling the church of God with their writings against the truth. This his purpose he partly declared in giving his last answer to a book written by Master Harding, intituled, "A detection of sundry foul errors," &c. For answer whereof he thought not good to charge with number of books, or to encumber the world with needless labours; but only by a short augmentation of his former defence of the Apology of the Church of England to discharge Master Harding's quarrels. For reason whereof he saith: "I cannot imagine that any my poor labours shall be able to end these quarrels. For a contentious man will never lack words... I have endeavoured for my simple part to say so much as to a reasonable man may seem sufficient... If any thing be left unanswered, either it was nothing, or nothing worth." Wherein he was of like mind unto that famous learned man, Master Bucer, who, speaking of the new and fresh supply that is made among the adversaries of our christian religion, said thus: Veteribus respondimus, novos quotidie legimus: nihil adferunt novi; quid ergo faciemus? "Answer hath been made by us to their old writers: we read their new writers which come forth daily, which yet bring no new matter or proofs with them. What then shall we do?" What else, but (as he giveth counsel) lay down all affection and favour of parties, and peruse that hath been said in matter of controversy on both sides, and judge justly of that is alleged, and with fear and reverence be careful of our own salvation? For, after the truth is once found out, whosoever seeketh farther seeketh not for the truth, but for error. The apostle willeth 5 Titus to "stay foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and brawlings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain:" and also to "reject him that is an heretic after once or twice admonition." In like case he said unto Timothy: "If any man teach otherwise, and consenteth not to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is puffed up, and knoweth nothing, but doateth about questions and strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, froward disputations of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, which think that gain is godliness: from such separate thyself." Now, because he himself had some good liking to publish this exposition, and |