to sing any made coÌ„moÌ„ly vsed soÌ„gs in the church nor read ani boke beside the canoÌ„ but only the canonical bokes of the new old testameÌ„t those bokes which oughte to be red and receued for authoritie those bokes whiche be deuided froÌ„ the bokes called apocrypha in the gret bible Vnto the which S. CipriaÌ„ HieroÌ„ AusteÌ„ with all the old writers agre ¶ But the .3 couÌ„cell of carthage added to these the bokes of wisdom Ecclesiasticus Tobie Iudith Hester the bokes of the Machabees vnto which latter couÌ„sel the papistes cleaue with toth nayle and ther vpoÌ„ stay their purgatory prayiÌ„ge to sainctes with diuerse other errors and heresies coÌ„trary to the elder better couÌ„sels Herby you may most easely perceiue how shamefully their general couÌ„sels haue erred as wel in the iudgemeÌ„t of the scriptures as also in necessary articles of our fayth good maners Yea the chefest and oldeste couÌ„sels be as Anacharsis said of the lawes made by Solon for the Atheniens like to cobwebbes wherin smal flies gnattes and Miges be takeÌ„ and deuoured of the spiders but greate hornettes and hoÌ„bellbees flie through and breake them without any daunger or hurt And generally there is no lawes regarded kepte or maintained amonge them but suche as make as they turne theÌ„ pro pane lucraÌ„do that is for their dignities immunites or libertes and prophetes Wherefore the words of our sauiour Christ maye be rightly veryfied of theÌ„ they laye heuy importable burtheÌ„s on other mens shoulders but wil not once moue theÌ„ with their fiÌ„ger For all their lawes be but nettes to take kyll the poore fishes and to fyl their own pauÌ„ches ¶ That nothyng can be proued by oracles of Angels touchynge relygyon ¶ The. iiii Chapter GEnesis .3 Sathan beyng chauÌ„ged into a serpeÌ„t disceaued our first parentes in them cast al mankynde hedlynge into damnacion REgum .3 Vlti I wil go furth and bee a lyinge spirite in the mouth of all his Prophetes ¶ Reade the whole Chapter GAlat .1 Thoughe an angel from heauen preache any other gospell c. THe .2 to the. Cor. ca. 11. SathaÌ„ himselfe is chaunged into an Angell of lyghte COlossi .2 Let no man make you hote at a wronge marke by the humblenes and holynes of Angels THe same .4 Cap. The spirite speaketh euidently that in the latter tymes some shal depart from the fayth and shall geue hede vnto spirites of error and deuyllyshe doctrine IOhn .4 Beleue not euery spirite but proue the spirites whether they are of god or not ACtes .16 A certayne damsel possessed with a sprite that prophesied met vs which brought her master and mistres much vauÌ„tage wyth prophesieng The same folowed Paule and vs and cried saying these are the seruauntes of the moste high god whiche shewe vnto vs the waye of saluacyon And thys dyd she many dayes but Paul not content turned about and sayd to the spirite I commaunde thee in the name of Iesu Chryste that thou come out of her And he came out the same houre CIprian of the simplenes of prelates The enemye after the woordes of the Apostle chaungeth hymselfe into an Angell of lyght and setteth forth his seruauntes as ministers of righteousnes affirminge nyghte for daye death for health desperacion vnder the cooler of hope false fayth vnder the preteÌ„ce of faith Antichrist vnder the name of Chryst so that whyles they counterfete the like things thei make voide the truth with subtiltie Thys dearly beloued brethren commeth to passe by thys meanes that we resorte not to the original of the trueth nor seke the head Chryst nor kepe the doctrine of oure heauenly master CIprianus in his .4 treatesse of the vanite of Idols Filthie spirites wanderyng abroade beeiÌ„g drowned in worldly vicesâ— after they haue shronken from heauenly vertue through worldly corrupcyon beeynge them selfs destroyed cease not to destroye other and beyng infecte wyth euill infecte other wyth the same These inspire the hartes of the Prophetes euer lappyng vp lyes with the truth they trouble mens lyues dysquiet their slepes drawyng their meÌ„bers awry hurt their health prouoke diseases to force meÌ„ to worshipping of theÌ„ this is the remedy of them whaÌ„ they cease to hurt neither haue they any other study but to cal meÌ„ backe froÌ„ god and turne theÌ„ froÌ„ the perceauiÌ„g of true religioÌ„ to their superstitioÌ„ seyng they be in paine theÌ„ selfe to seke those to be companioÌ„s of their paine whom they haue made through their error partakers of their synne LActaÌ„tiê° institucionuÌ„ li. 2. ca. 15. corrupt daÌ„ned spirits strey ouer al the world seke for ease of their destruction thorough the destructyon of men They therefore fill al the worlde wyth snares fraudes and errours the whiche because they be fine spirits and can not be perceaued conueye themselues into mens bodyes and beyng secretlye hyd wythin the bodyâ— trouble health bryng sickenes fraie men with dreames vexe mens myndes with sweate that thorow these harmes they may force meÌ„ to runne to them for helpe The cause of all whych disceaâ—es is darke to theÌ„ that be ignoraunte in the trueth for they thynke they profyte whan they cease from hurtynge which can doe nothyng but hurt But they whych haue shrunken backe from godes seruice because they be enemyes and traÌ„sgressours of the trueth goe about to chalenge to themselues the name and honour of god not because they desier any honorâ— for what honour can the damned haue nor that they shold hurt god who cannot be hurt but to hurte men whom they goe aboute to draw away from the worshyppe and knowledge of gods true maiesty least they shoulde attayne immortalytye whyche they haue lost thorowe theyr own malice So they couer all wyth darknes and compasse the truth with claudes so that they can not knowe their lord nor their father And that they maye easely allure menne they hide themselues in the churches and are at hande in al sacrifices Yea many tims they work miracles through whiche men beyng astonyed do geue to Images the fayth of the godheade Here of it commeth that a stone was cut in sander with a rasure by a sorcerer and that Iuno of Veâ—a answered that she woulde goe to Rome that a shyppe folowed the hande of Claudia and that Iuno beyng robbed and Proserpina of LocreÌ„se and Ceres of Milet toke vengeaunce of those that had commytted sacriledge and Hercules of Appius and Iupiter of Atimus and Minerua of Cesar. Hereof also it commeth that a serpente delyuered the Citie of Rome from the pestileÌ„ce beyng brought from Epidaure But chefely they deceaue men in their oracles and answers whose Iuglynges vngodly men cannot discerne froÌ„ the trueth Therefore they thynke that Empiers and victories ryches and lucky chaunces of thinges are geuen of them and to bee shorte oft tymes common welthes to be deliuered froÌ„ present daungers at their beck which
because ye know not the scriptures not because ye beleue not the churche He also promyseth his elect that they shal heare his voice and not a straungers voice If ye be doubtful therfore in any poynte resorte to the Scryptures geuen from GOD and oute of them searche for the thing wherof thou arte ignoraunte and aboue all thinges be not to rashe in iudgement neyther truste to muche in thine own witte Aske also counsell of suche menne whom thou knoweste to bee wel learned and exercised in the same Scryptures and whose conuersacion thou seeste to bee agreable to their wordes and yet beleue them no farther then they canne proue theyr doctrines and exhortacyons to aunswere and agree wyth GODDES mosre holye woorde Seke aske crye cal knock faste and praye wyth a constaunte fayth ioynynge therto a Chrystyan sober and a charitable â—iuing and thâ— he that hath the keye of Dauid who openeth and no man shutteth shal accordyng to his promyse geue vnto you al that you aske of his father in hys name and shall sende his holy spirite into your hartes who shall leade you into al trueth and put you in remembraunce of all those thynges whyche Christ hath commaunded nedeful necessarie for your saluacion What so euer therefore the churche teacheth you out of the canonical bokes of the Bible beleue that but if they teache any thing beside that I meane which is not agreinge with the same beleue neyther that nor them For then they ar not the Church of Chryst but the Synagog of Satan and Antichriste For the Churche of God as Saincte Paul witnesseth â—s builded vpon the foundacion of the Apostles and Prephetes not vpon the Apostles but vpoÌ„ the same foundacion which they laid that is Christe Iesus and his holyâ— worde And all such vnwritten veryties as the Papistes haue in theyr mouthes though they seme neuer so glorious a churche to the face of the world if they be not agreinge as they are not in dede to the verye worde of god suspect them yea rather I bidde you vtterly to abhorre and reiecte theÌ„ For their vtwarde and sene churche may and doth as is before proued coÌ„monly erre in great and waighty matters Stande fast therfore to sounde good doctrine and wauer not And if any man come vnto you and brynge not this doctrine with him receyue hym not into your house bid him not god spede nor haue aught to do with him but counte hym as an abiecte from god and Christ. But cleaue ye fast to the souÌ„de certaine doctrine of gods infallible word writteÌ„ in the canonical bokes of the new olde testament which is able sufficiently to instructe you to eternal saluacioÌ„ throgh Iesus Christ our lord To whom with the father and the holy goste be al honor and praise for euer euer Amen The boke to the Reader IVdge not before Thou knowe mine intent But reade me throughout And then say thy fyll As thou in opinion Art minded and bent Vhether it be either good orill I care not for prayse Nor slaunder vntrue Of man nor of childe What euer he be Trueth nede not to feare Who doth it pursue With prayse or disprayse In any degree For trueth is not bettered By prayses at al Nor harmed by disprayse Of any wyght But goodnes or hurt Most surely come shal To him that doth iudge Either wrong or right Reade me then iudge me Therfore I thee praye Nothyng for my cause But only thyne own For I shall indure Who soeuer say naye When vnwritten truethes Shalbe ouer throwne ⧠A ConfutacioÌ„ of vnwritteÌ„ verities by diuerse auctorities diligently and truly gathered together out of the holy scryptures and auncient fathers ¶ That the worde of god wrytten contained within the Canon of the Bible is a true sounde perfecte and whole doctrine contayning in it selfe fully all thynges nedeful for oure saluacion ¶ The .i. Chapter YE shal put nothyng to the word which I commaunde you neyther take aughte therefroÌ„ that ye maye kepe the commaundementes of the Lorde your god whiche I commaunde you You shall not doe any thynge that we do here this daye euery maÌ„ what semeth him good in his own eyes What soeuer I commaunde you that take â—eade you doe onelye to the Lorde and put nothynge thereto nor take aughte therefrom The Prophet which shall presume to speake a worde in my name which I haue not coÌ„mauÌ„ded him to speake or that speakth in the name of strauÌ„ge gods that prophete shall dye Al the wordes of god are pure and cleane for he is a 〈◊〉 vnto all them that putte these truste in him Putte thou nothyng vnto hys wordes leaste he reproue the and thou bee found a lyar Heare not the wordes of the Prophâ—tes that preache vnto you and beleaue you for they speake the meâ—nyng of their own hartes and not oute of the mouth of the lorde Whosoeuer teacheth and kepeth the same speaking of his commaun dementes shall be called greate in the kyngdom of heauen Whosoeuer heareth these my wordes and doth the same shalbee likened vnto a wise man that buildeth hys house vpon a rocke and aboundauÌ„ce of raine fel the fluddes came the wiÌ„de blew and bet vpon the same house and it fel not because it was grouÌ„ded an the suer rocke This people draweth nye vnto me with their mouth and honoureth me with lyppes howbeit their harts be farre from me but in vayne do thei serue me teachyng the doctrynes and preceptes of men Goe ye and teacheÌ„ all 〈◊〉 baptysing them in the name of 〈…〉 c teachyng them to 〈…〉 what so euer I haue 〈…〉 Goe ye into all the 〈◊〉 and preache my gospell to all creatures He that heareth mi word beleueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting lyfe and shal not come into damnacion but is escaped from death to life Searche the scriptures for in them ye thinke ye haue eternal life and thei art they which testifie of me These are written that you might beleue that Iesus is Christ the sonne of god and that in beleuing ye might haue life thorow hys name I haue spared no labor but I haue shewed al the counsell of god I haue obtained helpe of God and continew vnto this day witnessynge both to the small and to the great sayinge none other thynges then those which the prophetes and Moses did say should come Fayth commeth by hearynge hearynge commeth by the worde of god What soeuer is not of fayth the same is sinne We be not lordes ouer your fayth but helpers of your ioye Though we our selues or an aungell from heauen preache any other gospell vnto you then that whyche we haue preached let him be accursed Continewe thou in the thynges whyche thou hast learned whiche also were committed vnto the knowiÌ„g of whoÌ„ thou hast learned them and for as muche
bedell cryeth openly to al theÌ„ that be in the court so due we preache openly but on that condicion that we adde nothynge but preache only that thing that we haue hearde For the office of a cryar is to speake out those thynges that be committed to him and not to adde chauÌ„ge or take away any thyng THe same vpon the latter Epistle to Timothe the. 3. cap. Therefore neither ought ther to be beleued at all excepte they speake those thyngs which be agreable to the scriptures THe same vpon the. 20. cap. of Iohn Homilia 89. But why did not the Apostles wryte all thyngs Chefely because of the multytude of them More ouer they dyd coÌ„syder that he which would not beleue these woulde not beeleue more but he that beseueth these nede no more to attayne fayth THe same vpon Genesis the. 12. Homilie The holye scripture expoundeth it selfe and suffereth not the hearer to erre THe same in the same boke the 21. Homilie Neither hath the scripture of God any nede of mans wisdome that it may be vnderstande but the reuelacion of the holy gost that the true meaning beyng sucked thereout great aduantage maye growe to vs therby HIeronymus in the prologe of the bible to Paulme After he had recited the bookes of the new testament and the olde he saith I pray thee dere brother among these lyue muse vpon these know nothing els seke for none other thyng AGayne vpon the bokes of the olde and new testament These writiÌ„ges be holye these bokes be souÌ„de both in nomber and aucthoritie ther is none other to be compared to these whatsoeuer is besides these may in no wise be receued amoÌ„g these holy thiÌ„gs AGayne vpon the firste Cap. of Agge All other thynges which they seke oute and inuente at their own pleasure without the aucthorite testimonie of the scriptures as thoughe they were the tradicions of the Apostles the sweord of god cutteth of AGayne in his litell commentaryes to the Galathians vpon this place condescend to no maÌ„ this perswasion is not of god which hath called you thus he iÌ„terpreteth it ye ought neither to consente to them nor to me without the worde of god AGaine vpoÌ„ Math. the. 13. cap. vpoÌ„ thys place euery learned scribe What so euer the Apostles preached they coÌ„firmed it by the Oracles of the lawe and prophetes THe same to Minerius Alexander Not accordinge to Pithagoras disciples the opinion geuen sentence vpoÌ„ afore hand by the doctours but the reason of the doctrine is to be wayed but if any man that is of a coÌ„trary secte doe murmure why I read their exposicioÌ„s vnto whose doctriÌ„es I doe not coÌ„sente let hym know that I willingly heare this of the Apostle proue all thinges but cleane to that which is good and the wordes of our sauyour saieng be ye tryed bankers and if any mony be counterfayted haue not the Emporours staÌ„pe nor be currante mony refuse it but that that sheweth the face of Chryst in the cleare lyghte bestowe it in the purse of your hart THe same vpon Math. 23 cap. That whiche hath none aucthoritie of the scriptures may as easely be reiected as proued THe same in the Psalme 98. All â—hat euer we speake we ought to proue it by the scriptures THe same in the Psalme 86. The lord shal speak in the scriptures of the people c. howe shal he speake not wyth words but wyth scriptures of those princes that wer in it that is of the Apostles and Euangelistes And marke what he saieth of those princes that were in it not whiche are So that the Apostles except what soeuer shalbe spoken afterward let it be cut of and haue none aucthorite Be a maÌ„ threfore neuer so holy be he neuer so wel learned after the Apostles he hath none aucthorite for the Lord speaketh in the scriptures of those princes that were in it AMbrosius of virgins lib. 3. ca. 1 We iustly do condemne al new thynges whiche Chryste hath not taught for Chryste is the waye to the faythfull If therefore we oure selues preache any thyng that Chryst hath not taught iudge that abominable THe same in the psalme 118. The worde of god is the liuely meat of our soules with the which it is norished fedde and gouerned neyther is there any thynge els that maketh a reasonable soule to liue but the worde of god THe same in his boke of Paradise Cap. 12. By that whych Eua added to the word of god thou shalt not touche c we do learn how much this present lesson putteth vs in rememberaunce that we ought to adde nothyng to the worde of god yea though it bee for a good purpose For if thou put to or take awaye any thing it appeareth to bee a traÌ„sgressioÌ„ of the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t for there ought nothiÌ„g to be added although it seÌ„e good THe same in the Epistle to the Galathians Capit. i. Neyther sayth the Apostle if thei preach contrary but if thei preach any thing besides that that we haue preached that is if they adde any thing to it at al â—olde them accursed Neyther doe I except my selfe if I put to any thiÌ„g besyde that which was preched afore THe same in the same place He doth affirme the gospel whiche he had preached vnto them to be so firme and true that althoughe it should chaunce themselues that is to say the Apostles beeinge chaunged to preache any other thinge he teacheth that they oughte not to be heard AVgustine of the coÌ„seÌ„t of the EuaÌ„gelistes He that seÌ„t the Prophets before his incarnacioÌ„ the same seÌ„t also his Apostles after his asceÌ„sioÌ„ yea by that maÌ„hod whych he toke vpoÌ„ him he is the head of all his discipls which ar meÌ„bers of his bodi therfore forasmuch as thei wrot those thiÌ„gs which he shewed taught theÌ„ it ought not to be sayed that he wrote them not seynge that hys members wrote that which they knew by their head teaching them For what so euer he would haue vs to read both of his dedes and wordes that commaunded he them to write as his handes of his body Whoso euer doth perceaue this felowship of vnite and agremente of members ministering vnder one head in diuerse offices he shall none other waies take that that he readeth in the gospel the disciples declaryng it then if he had sene the very haÌ„d of the lord which he bare in his own body wryting it THe same to VinceÌ„t against the Donatistes the .6 tom pag. 116. Epistola 48. We therefore for this cause are certayne and suer that no man ought to wythdraw himselfe froÌ„ the communion of al meÌ„ And let none of vs seke the churche in our own righteousnes but in the holy scripture THe same to the Mandarens Epistle 42. Al that euer oure elders made mencion of to be doÌ„e towardes mankinde in times past
and delyuered to vs all thynges also which we see and delyuer to our posterite whiche dooe appertayne to getting and maintaining of true relygion the scripture of god did not passe with silence AGayne to the brethren in the wildernes Reade the holy scripture wherin ye shal finde fulli what is to be folowed and what to be auoyded THe same of nature and grace lib. 1. Cap. 61. I owe my consente to the Canonicall scryptures wythout any refusal THe same vpon Iohn .49 treatyse Cap. 11. Not all thynges that the Lorde Iesus dyd are writteÌ„ as the same Euangelist witnesseth for the lord both did and saied many thinges that are not wrytten but thynges were chosen oute to bee written whiche semed sufficiente for the saluacion of the beleuers THe same againste Faustus the 23. lib. ca. 9. That whych Faustê° putteth forth vpoÌ„ the byrth of mary that she had a certayne priest to her father of the tribe of Leuye named Ioachim because it is not canonicall it doeth not binde me THe same of Baptisme againste the Anabaptistes li. 2. cap. 6. Let vs not bryng deceytfull balances wherin we may weighe what we wil after our owne pleasure saying this is heuy this is light but lette vs bring the diuine balances of the holy scriptures as of the treasurs of the lord and in it let vs weigh what is heuy yea let vs not weigh but rather acknowledge the things that arâ— weighed of the lord AGayne vpon Iohn the .46 treates Sitting vpoÌ„ the chaier of Moses they teache the lawe of god therfore god teacheth by them But if they wil teach their own hear theÌ„ not do not after theÌ„ for truli such men searche their own but not these thinges which are of Iesus Chryste AGayne in the .3 lib of the Christen doctrine Cap. Vlt. Howe much lesse the aboundaunce of golde siluer and clothynge whyche that people brought with them for the of Egipt is in comparison of the riches whiche afterwarde they had at Hierusalem whiche aboue all other was shewed in kyng Salomon so let al knowledge which is in dede profytably gathered out of the bokes of the Gentils be such if it be compared to the knowledge of gods scripturs For what soeuer man learneth without them if it bee euil there it is condemned if it be profitable there it is fouÌ„d And seinge then euerye manne shall fynde all thynges there whiche he hath profytably learned other where much more aboundantly shal he find those thinges there whiche canne no where at all els be learned but onely in the meruelous depâ—es and wonderfull humilite of those scriptures THe same in his boke of nature and Grace the 61. Cap. We may lawefully sometyme dissente from other learnynge but to the Catholyke learnyng euery man must geue place euery man must subscribe whether he be laye mannne Priest King or Emperour THe same in his .2 lib. of the Christian doctriÌ„e the .9 Cap. After that he hath nombered the Canonicall bookes he sayeth thus In al these bokes they that feare god and are tamed through godlynes do search the wil of god The first note of which laboure and trauayle as we sayd is to knowe these bokes and if as yet we caÌ„ not vnderstande them yet lette vs by readyng get them in memory or not to bee altogether ignoraunt in them Further more those thinges whiche be plainly contayned therein whether they be preceptes of lyuyng or els of beleuinge are earnestly and diligentely to be searched whiche howe many the more euery man fyndeth so much the more is he apte in his vnderstandyng In these therfore whych are euydently contayned in the scripture are founde all thynges whyche contayne fayth maners of liuinge hope and loue THe same of the vnite of the church .3 cap. Let vs not hear I say thou sayest but lette vs heare thus sayeth the Lorde There are out of doubte the Lordes bokes to the aucthoritie whereof we both consent we both beleue we both serue Let vs search the church there let vs discusse our cause there AGaine in his seconde booke of Baptisme againste the Donatists the .3 Ca. Who is he that knoweth not that the scripture canonical is so contayned within his certaine bondes of the newe and olde testament and is so to bee preferred aboue al latter wrytynges of Byshops that a man mai not at al either doubt or dispute of it whether any thynge be true or right that he is suer is written in it but the leters of al other Bishops whiche are or shalbe hereafter written besides the Canonicall scryptures already confirmed may be reproued eyther by more graue aucthoritie of other Bishops or learned meÌ„ and by the wordes of euery man that is better sene in the matter AGaine in his seconde booke of the merites and forgeuenesse of synnes ca. Vlt. tom 7. Where disputacion is had of a doubtful matter if the certayne and cleare doctriÌ„e of the scriptures of god do not help iâ— mans reason ought to staye it selfe no thing leaniÌ„g to eyther part For thogh I know not how to expresse eueri one of these thiÌ„gs yet I beleue suerli that the scriptures of god should be moste plaine herein if a man mighte not be ignoraunt herof wythout the losse of that saluacion that is promised hym AGaine in his boke of pastors He apoiÌ„ted the hilles of Israell the authors of the scrypturs of god fede there that you maye fede safely What so euer you hear out of that lette it sauoure well to you what so euer is besyds that refuse it leste you wander into cloudes Get you to the hilles of the Scriptures there bee the pleasures of your hartes there is no noysoÌ„e hurtful or venemous thinges no inconuenyente thynges there be most plentifull pastures AGaine of Christian doctryne 2. lib. Cap. 9. In these thyngs that be plainly set furth in the scriptures are founde all thynges that contayne fayth and maners of liuing that is to wit hope and charite Then after a certaine familiarite had wyth the speche of the scripture of god we must goe to expounde and discus those thinges that be darke that to geue lyghte to darke speaches examples may be taken out of the more playne places and some testymonies of places beyng certayne maye take a way the doute of the vncertayne sentences AGaine of the Christian doctriÌ„e the .3 lib. Cap. 26. Dark places are to be expounded by plainer places That is the surest way to expound one scripture by another AGayne to Vincente the Donatist Epistola .48 This kinde of learning speakynge of the olde wryters doinges is not to bee redde with necessitie of beliefe but with libertye of iudgemeÌ„t And after There that is in the holy scrypturs it is not lawfull to saye the author of this boke perceaued not the truth but eyther that the boke is false or the interpreter hath erred or thou vnderstaÌ„dest it
also as thou haste knowen the holy scriptures of a chylde which are able to make the learned vnto saluacion throughe the fayth which is in Chryste Iesu. For al scripture geuen by inspiracion of God is profitable to teache to improue to amende to instructe in righteousnesse that the man of god may be perfecte prepared to all good workes If any man speake let hym speake as the wordes of god If any man come vnto you and bryng not thys learning receaue hym not into your house neither bid him God spede For he that byddeth hym God spede is partaker of hys euyll dedes If any man shall adde vnto these thynges god shall adde vnto hym the plages that are wrytten in this booke And if any man shall minishe of the wordes of thys prophesye God shall take awaye his part out of the boke of lyfe and out of the holy citie and froÌ„ those thynges whiche are written in thys boke ¶ That the writinges of the olde fathers without the written woorde of god are not able to proue anye doctryne in religion ¶ The .ii. Chapter IReneus libro .ii. Cap. 46. To leâ—Ì„e to the scriptures of god whych is the certayne and vndouted trueth is to buylde a mans house vpoÌ„ a suer and stronge rock But to leaue that and leaue to ani other doctrins what so euer they be is to builde a curious house vpon the â—hatteringe grauell whereof the ouerthrowe is easye IDem in Epistola .72 Happy is he that soweth vpon the watâ—râ— where the Oxe and the Asse treadeth that is vpon that people whych onely foloweth the doctrine of both the testamentes and not vpon the vayne tradycions of men TErtulliane in the prescryptioÌ„s of heretykes pa. 95. It is not lawfull for vs to fauoure any doctryne at oure pleasure nor yet to chose what any manne hath brought in of his owne mynde We haue the Apostles of the Lorde for oure authors whyche dyd not electe anye thynge that they woulde brynge in of their owne heades but taught faythfullye to all nacyons that doctryne that they had receaued of Chryste Therefore althoughe an Aungell from heauen shoulde preache any other thynge lette vs holde hym accursed ANd a litle after he sayeth We nede to vse no curiositie after Iesus Chryste nor make further searche after the gospell for wheÌ„ we beleue we desier to beleue no more For first we beleue this that there is nothyng els that we ought to beleue IDem of the fleshe of Chryst pa. 20. agaynst Apelles whyche saied that the Angels had a bodely substancâ— which thei toke of the â—â—â—tres Tertallian answereth that there is no certenty in thys matter because the scripture declareth it not THe sae to Praxeas Let thys be a generall rule indifferently determyned before hande agaynst all heresyes that that is true what so euer is first that to bee forged what soeuer coÌ„meth after pa. 418. ORigen in his first homily vpon Ieremy Vle must nedes cal the holye scriptures to wytnes for our iudgements and exposicious with out these witnesses are worthye no credite IDem vpon Leuiticus in his fyfte homilye If the holy scripture doe not determine any thing we ought not to admitte any other wrytyng for the stablyshinge of our doctryne but as for the rest let vs leaue it to god THe same vpon the thirde chapter to the Romanes After these as his custome is meanynge by sainct Paul he doth confirme that he had sayd by the scriptures geuing also an example to the preachers of the churche that those thynges whyche they speake to the people should be armed and mayntained by the holi scriptures and not spoken oute of theyr own iudgements For if he being such and so great an Apostle thoughte not the aucthorite of hys owne wordes to be sufficiente excepte be teache those thynges which he saieth to be wrytten in the law and the prophets hoâ— much more ought we litle ones to take heade that when we teache we vtter not our own mindes but the sentences of the holy gost THe same vpon Mathew in his 26. homily no man ought for the stablyshing of doctryne to vse any bokes that be withoute the canonicall scriptures CIprian in the exposicion of the Crede after that he hath rehearsed the canonical bokes of the Bible he sayeth These be they whiche oure fathers haue included within the Canon out of the whyche our fathers woulde the doctryne of our fayth to be certaine neuertheles there be other bokes which of our elders were not called canonycall but Ecclesiastical as the boke of wisdoÌ„e the bokes of Sirach Tobie Iudyth Machabees and other All whyche bokes they would haue to be redde in thâ— churche but not alleged as of aucthoritie to confirme any article of our fayth Al other writinges thei called Apâ—crypha whiche they would in no wyse to be redde in the churche AThanasius against the gentyles The holy Scriptures being in spired from god are sufficiente to all instruction of the trueth BAsilius in his boke of Ethikes of his short definitions the. 26. Euery worde and dede that maketh for the certentye and suertye of good men and the confusion of them that be euill must be confirmed by the testimony of Goddes scriptures And those thinges which either in our nature or in the custome and maner of our life are manifestly knowen must we vse to confirme those thynges which we doe and say THe same in his short definitioÌ„s the first questioÌ„ Whether it bee lawful or expedient for a man to permit himselfe to do what he thinketh good without the testimonie of the holy scriptures â–ª 〈◊〉 aunswere Seyng that our sauiour sayth of the holy gost he shall not speake of hymselfe but what soeuer he hath heard that shall he speake And of himself he sayeth the sonne can dooe nothynge of himselfe And agayne I haue not spoken of my selfe but he whiche sent me gaue me commaundemente what I shoulde say and what I shold speake and I knowe that hys commaundemente is eternall lyfe therefore those thynges that I speake I speake as the father sayd vnto me who is he then that wil runne into suche madnesse that he dare once thynke onelye anye thyng of himselfe seeing that he hath nede of the holy ghoste for his ayde so that both in mynde word and worke he may be gided in the way of trueth and that he must nedes walke in darknes excepte he bee lightened with the sonne of righteousnes oure lorde Iesus Chryste whiche shineth vpon vs with hys coÌ„maundementes as with bright beames For the commaundement of the lorde is cleare and geueth lyght to the eyes For of those thinges that are done and commonly vsed among vs some are by gods commauÌ„dement determined and playnlye set forth in the holyscriptures and some not expressed Of those that be expressed by the scriptures there is vtterlye no power geuen to any man what so euer
Prophetes are gone out into the world Herby is the spirite of god knowen sayeth he euerye spirite whiche confesseth that Iesus Chryst is come in the fleshe is of god c. Whoso euer therfore sayeth that there is anye thyng that pacifieth the wrath of god or obtaineth his fauour and forgeuenes of synnes but onelye Christes death and passioÌ„ he denieth Christ to be coÌ„e a sauiour in the flesh Wherfore these Angels saincts souls of the dead and miracles thaâ— alowe worshipping of sainctes by inuocacioÌ„ and prayinge to them the sacrifice of the masse for the quicke and the dead worshipping of images pilgrimages offeryngs to holy reliques to forgeue synnes or to delyuer the deade oute of purgatory denye Christe to be come an only sauiour by hys fleshe For theiÌ„ make all these to be sauiours froÌ„ purgatory or at the least coadiutores to helpe him in that office of saluacyon and deliuering those soules froÌ„ sinne and the paynes due for the same and so they cannot be of God but of Antichrist Thus I haue plainly fully and truly without fraud of cloking or coloure of rhetorike and darke speache to blind the eies of the siÌ„ple people answered to al that I remember which the Papistes doe or can alledge either by writing preaching or reasoning for the defence of their vnwritteÌ„ verites wherevpon they builde so many detestable idolatries and heresies and the same answers if they be aptly applied and placed by a discret and witty reader wil suffâ—ce for the answere to all that euer they haue or can bryng furth for the maintaining of their vnwrytten and vncertayne verites And yet I wyll not be so much wedded to myne owne witte or will but that if they be able to answer so plainly and trulye to the Scriptures authors and reasons rehersed by me as I haue done to theirs and to proue their doctrine of vnwrytten veryâ—es by as playne coÌ„seÌ„t both of scriptures aunciente doctours and as pithy argumentes as I haue done myne and sette it forth in prynte to the iudgemente of the whole worlde as myne iâ— I shal not onely acknowledge mine ignoraunce and erroure but I shall gladlye returne into Englande recaÌ„t myne heresyes openlye submyttynge myselfe to such discipline correctioÌ„ as they shall thynke mete fo myne offences But if thei refuse to answer my boke by writing vâ—ing their olde trade burne both my boke and the readers therof let them knowe thei shal doe nothyng but cut of the head of hibra For for euery heretike as you cal them which you shal burn wil arise many faythful and coÌ„staÌ„t ChristiaÌ„s For except the grayn or corne of wheat dye it remaineth alone but if it dye it bringeth forth much fruite Wherefore I most hartely beseche the father of heaueÌ„ of his infinite mercye if you be not indurat in your heartes wyth that synne which is irremissible and shal neuer be forgeuen in this worlde nor in the worlde to come and resyste the holy gost impugning the trueth of god of you knowen and defendynge maintaining wicked doctrines which your consciences beare recorde to be idolatries and heresies that he wyll mollifie your stony heartes and geue you fleshy heartes yea rather spirituall and godly hartes to worshyp him truly in spirite accordyng to his godly wil expressed in his holy word written And I exhort al you which feare god be desierous to saue your owne soules to flee from this whore of Babilon and from al her detestable idolatries and heresies not builded vpon the sure rocke of gods infallible word written but vpon the qualinâ—re of vnwritteÌ„ verites whervpon whatsoeuer is builded furthwith eyther sinketh or quite ouerthroweth And staÌ„de thou fast and stay thy fayth whervpoÌ„ thou shalt builde al thy workes vpon the strong rocke of gods word writteÌ„ and conteined within the old testameÌ„t and the newe which is able sufficieÌ„tly to instruct thee in al thinges nedeful to thy saluacion and to the attaiÌ„meÌ„t of the kyngdome of heauen To the whiche I beseche the almightie father of heauen of his infinite mercy and goodnesse and by the merytes of his only sonne oure sauiour redemer Iesê° Christ throgh his holy sprite in vs bring vs all Amen ¶ Faultes escaped in the pryntynge A. 2. pag. 1. line 19. That apparicions of the dead A. 2. pa. 2. li. 6. ca. 11. the papistes C. 1. pa. 1. li. 15. were cccc C. 1. pa. 2. li. 18. martyrs and al the people sayd amen C. 7. pag. 1. li. 4. are there opened D. 4. pa. 2. li. 6. I haue shewed you D. 5. pa. 2. li. 14. ruinus house F 1. pa. i. li. 18. scriptures only F. 1. pa. 2. li. 15. Donatystes G. 4. pa. 2. li. laste The couÌ„sel woulde be a capitall T. G. 5. pa. 1. li. 22. before note put a ¶ which noteth my saying and not the doctors G. 8. pa. 2. li. 1. but now wold folowe the. 6. canon of â—ice H. 1. pa. 2. li. 15. be those bokes H. 2. pa. 1. li. 11. midges li. 18. terme I. 1. pa. 1. li. 16. soule I. 5. pa. 1. li. 7. put a ¶ before By this â— 1. pa. 1. li. 24. blot out of K. 3. pa. 1. li. 1. wherby you may K. 3. pa. 2. li. 11. Christâ— saith The deuil K. 5. pa. 2. li. 2. PoÌ„pey N. 2. p. 2. li. 2. spiritual N. 3. pag. 2. li. 8. Dcc. or Dccc. yeares N. 5 pa. 1. li. 17. ouer li. lâ—st of late N. 6. pa 〈…〉 10. be gods elect churche Esaie v. â— KiÌ„ges rulers oughte to be aiders and not inuaders helpers and not hurters defences and not offeÌ„ces to gods people Psal lxxx Gods vvord is a svvete pleasaunt grape and comforteth the harte of man to euerlasting saluacion psa ciiii b 〈◊〉 â—â—tes of the most parte vvere naked bare emptie as the profe novv alas to vvell declareth Sinne is the cause vvhâ— god taketh his vvorde from ani people Esai xxix Math. vii a. Psalm xxii The Pope geueth lies for trueth poison for norishinge sustenauÌ„ce and ministreth death for life Iohn vi c Iohn iiii b. psal cxv Hierm. x. Exo. xx a. Gods vvord is sufficieÌ„te to instructe al men in the true vvorship of god vvithout images priestes thâ—â— them selueâ— vviser the god The Pepe maintaineth his doctrine by fyer and fagot and not by the holie scriptures A vveake refuge if thei vvere not obstinate and shamelesse If vnvvritten verites vver necessarie to saluacion then gods vvord vvere not sufficiente therevnto â—herâ— vii a. yea this is their strong tovvre and bulvvarke of defence and ieat vveake inough not being vvalled about vvith gods vvord gods true churche because it is grounded vpon the vvorde of grace can not erre in maters of saluacion The church that vvandereth from gods vvord vvritten mai doth erre in matters of faith and saluacion galathi i. b. The papists feare not gods curse Ierem. xvii â–ª Psal. cxvi â–ª â— The general couÌ„sels haue erred