the_o least_o and_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n itself_o as_o to_o the_o ground_n and_o foundation_n of_o it_o be_v chief_o deduce_v from_o the_o gospel_n nay_o the_o very_a institution_n power_n and_o edification_n of_o the_o church_n can_v no_o way_n so_o express_o and_o certain_o be_v know_v as_o from_o the_o gospel_n but_o as_o i_o imagine_v it_o can_v by_o no_o method_n be_v so_o certain_o determine_v whether_o the_o church_n or_o the_o gospel_n be_v of_o great_a authority_n as_o by_o suppose_v this_o case_n when_o the_o church_n define_v any_o thing_n contrary_a to_o the_o gospel_n i_o know_v indeed_o that_o this_o can_v be_v this_o be_v to_o be_v understand_v of_o the_o belief_n and_o receive_v doctrine_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n not_o of_o the_o decree_n of_o the_o representative_a church_n otherwise_o clemangis_n will_v most_o foolish_o contradict_v himself_o however_o that_o we_o may_v the_o better_o find_v out_o the_o truth_n let_v we_o put_v this_o case_n 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attain_v he_o say_v ibid._n it_o may_v be_v obtain_v best_a of_o all_o and_o most_o certain_o from_o the_o canonical_a scripture_n he_o proceed_v to_o prove_v this_o from_o the_o authority_n of_o s._n augustin_n and_o then_o conclude_v see_v four_o way_n of_o come_v to_o the_o undoubted_a truth_n but_o more_o or_o less_o certain_a of_o which_o the_o first_o and_o most_o certain_a be_v by_o the_o holy_a scripture_n the_o rest_n beget_v only_o a_o historical_a and_o uncertain_a knowledge_n of_o the_o article_n of_o religion_n however_o these_o doctor_n already_o mention_v be_v of_o great_a authority_n and_o sufficient_o declare_v the_o common_a doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n in_o their_o time_n yet_o the_o practice_n and_o judgement_n of_o general_n council_n will_v give_v we_o great_a assurance_n of_o it_o two_o general_n council_n be_v hold_v at_o the_o same_o time_n in_o this_o age_n the_o one_o at_o basil_n the_o other_o at_o florence_n in_o both_o together_o the_o whole_a western_a 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school_n divinity_n be_v at_o that_o time_n universal_o receive_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n teach_v in_o all_o university_n and_o school_n and_o by_o long_o use_v become_v in_o great_a measure_n the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n the_o most_o famous_a and_o celebrate_a author_n of_o this_o divinity_n be_v s._n thomas_n aquinas_n who_o write_n be_v then_o in_o all_o man_n hand_n universal_o applaud_v and_o religious_o embrace_v some_o few_o divine_n indeed_o dissent_v from_o he_o and_o follow_v the_o system_fw-la of_o scotus_n but_o this_o disagreement_n respect_v not_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n nor_o indeed_o any_o material_a point_n of_o divinity_n but_o only_o some_o abstract_a notion_n and_o scholastic_a nicety_n of_o divinity_n the_o doctrine_n therefore_o of_o aquinas_n be_v to_o be_v esteem_v the_o general_a opinion_n of_o the_o divine_n and_o writer_n of_o those_o time_n it_o can_v be_v here_o object_v against_o the_o force_n of_o our_o argument_n that_o the_o same_o 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more_o intelligent_a and_o inquisitive_a some_o other_o artifice_n be_v to_o be_v find_v out_o which_o may_v preserve_v the_o credit_n of_o ancient_a error_n and_o defend_v they_o from_o the_o silence_n and_o opposition_n of_o scripture_n to_o this_o end_n no_o stratagem_n can_v conduce_v more_o than_o the_o constant_a artifice_n of_o all_o innovator_n in_o religion_n the_o plea_n of_o tradition_n before_o that_o lesser_a artifices_fw-la can_v hide_v the_o deformity_n of_o their_o error_n and_o while_o ignorant_a christian_n can_v be_v secure_o mislead_v with_o false_a and_o sometime_o foolish_a interpretation_n of_o scripture_n while_o ecce_fw-la duos_fw-la gladios_fw-la be_v think_v sufficient_a to_o evince_v the_o coercive_a power_n of_o the_o pope_n over_o temporal_a prince_n and_o arabant_fw-la boves_fw-la juxta_fw-la comedebant_fw-la asini_fw-la can_v effectual_o persuade_v the_o laity_n entire_o to_o resign_v up_o their_o judgement_n to_o the_o direction_n of_o the_o clergy_n 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but_o the_o authority_n of_o holy_a scripture_n as_o proper_o belong_v to_o she_o and_o conclude_v necessary_o or_o infallible_o but_o the_o authority_n of_o other_o doctor_n of_o the_o church_n as_o proper_o indeed_o belong_v to_o she_o but_o conclude_v only_o probable_o for_o our_o faith_n be_v found_v upon_o the_o revelation_n make_v to_o the_o apostle_n and_o prophet_n who_o write_v the_o canonical_a book_n of_o scripture_n and_o not_o upon_o any_o revelation_n make_v to_o other_o doctor_n if_o any_o such_o there_o be_v whence_o s._n augustin_n say_v in_o his_o epistle_n to_o s._n hierom_n to_o the_o book_n of_o scripture_n only_o which_o be_v call_v canonical_a have_v i_o learned_a to_o pay_v this_o honour_n that_o i_o shall_v most_o firm_o believe_v none_o of_o their_o author_n to_o have_v err_v in_o any_o thing_n in_o compose_v they_o in_o the_o two_o next_o article_n it_o be_v inquire_v whether_o holy_a scripture_n may_v use_v metaphor_n and_o contain_v diverse_a sense_n under_o one_o and_o the_o same_o letter_n in_o both_o place_n the_o objection_n be_v thus_o form_v these_o quality_n will_v be_v incongruous_a to_o a_o rule_n of_o faith_n but_o the_o scripture_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith._n this_o last_o proposition_n be_v no_o where_o reinforce_v in_o the_o objection_n but_o lay_v down_o as_o a_o uncontroverted_a principle_n aquinas_n in_o answer_v they_o no_o where_o deny_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n but_o endeavour_n to_o take_v off_o the_o incongruity_n of_o a_o metaphorical_a and_o ambiguous_a style_n to_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o in_o answer_n to_o both_o objection_n have_v these_o word_n 10._o although_o metaphor_n and_o allegory_n be_v find_v in_o scripture_n yet_o do_v holy_a scripture_n suffer_v no_o detriment_n or_o imperfection_n thereby_o for_o nothing_o necessary_a to_o faith_n be_v contain_v under_o the_o hide_a sense_n which_o scripture_n do_v not_o somewhere_o manifest_o deliver_v in_o the_o literal_a sense_n afterward_o be_v about_o to_o dispute_v of_o god_n and_o the_o mystery_n of_o the_o trinity_n and_o incarnation_n he_o propose_v this_o as_o a_o most_o certain_a and_o undoubted_a principle_n that_o 2._o we_o ought_v to_o affirm_v nothing_o of_o god_n which_o be_v not_o find_v in_o holy_a scripture_n either_o in_o word_n or_o in_o sense_n conformable_o to_o what_o the_o master_n of_o sentence_n and_o founder_n of_o the_o school_n divinity_n have_v before_o teach_v who_o inquire_v what_o method_n be_v to_o be_v observe_v in_o treat_v of_o the_o trinity_n answer_n that_o 3._o it_o must_v in_o the_o first_o place_n be_v demonstrate_v according_a to_o the_o authority_n of_o holy_a scripture_n whether_o the_o christian_a faith_n teach_v it_o or_o not_o and_o in_o what_o manner_n but_o to_o return_v to_o aquinas_n he_o assert_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n in_o many_o other_o place_n of_o his_o summ._n thus_o dispute_v 2._o of_o the_o nature_n and_o property_n of_o the_o new_a law_n or_o covenant_n he_o inquire_v whether_o it_o be_v a_o write_a law._n in_o resolve_v of_o this_o question_n he_o oppose_v not_o the_o write_a law_n to_o tradition_n but_o to_o the_o law_n write_v in_o the_o heart_n of_o man_n by_o the_o virtue_n and_o operation_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o at_o last_o conclude_v thus_o ibid._n the_o new_a law_n be_v principal_o that_o very_a grace_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n which_o be_v write_v in_o the_o heart_n of_o the_o faithful_a but_o secondary_o it_o be_v the_o write_a law_n in_o as_o much_o as_o those_o thing_n be_v deliver_v in_o it_o which_o either_o dispose_n to_o grace_n or_o respect_v the_o use_n of_o that_o grace_n here_o the_o very_a nature_n of_o this_o question_n and_o comparison_n of_o the_o write_a with_o the_o new_a law_n suppose_v that_o the_o whole_a system_n of_o reveal_v truth_n be_v contain_v in_o the_o write_a law_n and_o lest_o we_o shall_v doubt_v of_o this_o supposition_n the_o latter_a part_n of_o the_o passage_n now_o cite_v plain_o determine_v it_o but_o to_o proceed_v aquinas_n often_o renew_v this_o supposition_n and_o at_o last_o compare_v the_o old_a with_o the_o new_a testament_n he_o determine_v thus_o 3._o all_o thing_n which_o be_v plain_o and_o explicit_o deliver_v to_o be_v believe_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n be_v deliver_v also_o to_o be_v believe_v in_o the_o old_a testament_n but_o implicit_o and_o obscure_o and_o in_o this_o respect_n also_o as_o to_o matter_n of_o belief_n the_o new_a law_n be_v contain_v in_o the_o old_a but_o if_o all_o matter_n of_o belief_n in_o the_o new_a law_n be_v contain_v in_o the_o old_a testament_n and_o whatsoever_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o old_a testament_n be_v plain_o and_o explicit_o teach_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n then_o the_o new_a testament_n do_v not_o only_o contain_v all_o matter_n of_o belief_n in_o the_o new_a law_n but_o also_o which_o be_v more_o considerable_a propose_v they_o clear_o and_o explicit_o he_o intimate_v
all_o point_n in_o controversy_n between_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n and_o the_o lollard_n and_o large_o endeavour_v to_o confute_v the_o latter_a but_o as_o his_o zeal_n induce_v he_o to_o plead_v the_o cause_n of_o the_o church_n so_o copious_o so_o his_o learning_n enable_v he_o to_o discover_v the_o folly_n and_o gross_a superstition_n practise_v in_o that_o age_n which_o when_o once_o discover_v his_o piety_n inforce_v he_o to_o detest_v religion_n have_v now_o pass_v through_o so_o many_o ignorant_a and_o barbarous_a age_n the_o mean_n of_o greaterknowledge_n have_v be_v so_o studious_o hide_v from_o the_o people_n and_o the_o ignorance_n of_o the_o laity_n be_v so_o advantageous_a to_o the_o interest_n of_o the_o clergy_n that_o the_o true_a spirit_n of_o christianity_n seem_v to_o be_v whole_o lose_v and_o have_v degenerate_v into_o show_n and_o ceremony_n many_o of_o which_o be_v unlawful_a but_o almost_o all_o unuseful_a and_o not_o only_o this_o fatal_a stupidity_n and_o idle_a superstition_n have_v general_o possess_v the_o mind_n of_o man_n but_o all_o remedy_n be_v detest_v and_o all_o artifices_fw-la make_v use_v of_o to_o continue_v the_o disease_n many_o good_a and_o learned_a man_n endeavour_v the_o reformation_n of_o these_o abuse_n without_o depart_v from_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n but_o be_v attend_v herein_o with_o the_o usual_a fate_n of_o the_o opposer_n of_o inveterate_a evil_n who_o seldom_o escape_v the_o persecution_n but_o never_o the_o hatred_n of_o those_o who_o be_v engage_v both_o by_o zeal_n and_o interest_n in_o the_o continuance_n of_o those_o evil_n our_o learned_a bishop_n be_v of_o the_o number_n of_o those_o brave_a and_o generous_a person_n who_o while_o he_o earnest_o invite_v the_o lollard_n into_o the_o communion_n of_o his_o church_n no_o less_o vehement_o oppose_v the_o superstition_n of_o his_o own_o party_n some_o footstep_n and_o mark_n of_o this_o disposition_n may_v be_v find_v in_o this_o treatise_n which_o prove_v his_o integrity_n to_o have_v be_v equal_a to_o his_o zeal_n and_o neither_o inferior_a to_o his_o learning_n the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o infallibility_n of_o her_o definition_n have_v of_o late_o be_v set_v up_o as_o the_o most_o successful_a engine_n against_o the_o prevail_a growth_n of_o suppose_a heretic_n to_o refute_v the_o argument_n of_o wicleff_n and_o convince_v his_o follower_n with_o solid_a reason_n neither_o the_o ignorance_n of_o the_o clergy_n nor_o the_o badness_n of_o their_o cause_n do_v then_o permit_v it_o be_v account_v too_o great_a a_o condescension_n in_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n to_o confute_v the_o mistake_v and_o inform_v the_o judgement_n of_o their_o seduce_a people_n yet_o somewhat_o at_o least_o be_v necessary_a to_o dazzle_v the_o eye_n of_o the_o unthinking_a multitude_n and_o at_o once_o convict_v all_o their_o adversary_n of_o the_o charge_n of_o heresy_n nothing_o can_v be_v more_o effectual_a to_o this_o end_n than_o the_o pretence_n of_o infallibility_n which_o alone_o may_v satisfy_v the_o scruple_n and_o command_v the_o assent_n of_o credulous_a person_n for_o this_o reason_n ever_o since_o heresy_n begin_v to_o be_v punish_v with_o death_n it_o be_v think_v sufficient_a to_o oppose_v the_o infallibility_n of_o the_o church_n to_o the_o argument_n and_o reason_n of_o condemn_a heretic_n and_o the_o maintenance_n of_o this_o pretence_n be_v esteem_v the_o great_a bulwark_n of_o the_o church_n however_o our_o bishop_n easy_o discover_v the_o vanity_n of_o these_o pretence_n and_o in_o this_o follow_v the_o opinion_n of_o the_o most_o learned_a writer_n of_o his_o age_n that_o the_o representative_a church_n or_o general_a council_n be_v not_o only_o fallible_a but_o have_v sometime_o actual_o err_v that_o the_o decree_n and_o definition_n of_o the_o church_n ought_v to_o be_v submit_v to_o the_o examination_n of_o every_o private_a person_n that_o no_o article_n of_o faith_n be_v to_o be_v receive_v which_o be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o principle_n of_o reason_n and_o that_o not_o the_o belief_n and_o acceptation_n of_o the_o church_n cause_v any_o doctrine_n to_o be_v account_v true_a and_o a_o article_n of_o faith_n but_o the_o presuppose_a truth_n of_o the_o doctrine_n render_v the_o belief_n of_o it_o rational_a and_o justifiable_a indeed_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n infallibility_n have_v by_o some_o man_n in_o this_o age_n be_v advance_v so_o far_o that_o nothing_o less_o than_o a_o fatal_a credulity_n or_o no_o less_o fatal_a ignorance_n can_v excuse_v the_o admission_n of_o it_o our_o author_n assure_v we_o in_o the_o first_o part_n of_o this_o book_n of_o faith_n that_o many_o divine_n in_o his_o time_n argue_v from_o those_o word_n of_o s._n paul_n if_o we_o or_o a_o angel_n from_o heaven_n shall_v teach_v any_o other_o doctrine_n than_o that_o which_o you_o have_v receive_v let_v he_o be_v anathema_n that_o if_o it_o shall_v happen_v that_o the_o church_n militant_a and_o the_o church_n triumphant_a disagree_v in_o a_o article_n of_o faith_n the_o determination_n of_o the_o church_n militant_a be_v rather_o to_o be_v follow_v such_o crude_a position_n may_v raise_v the_o admiration_n of_o fool_n but_o deserve_v the_o indignation_n of_o wise_a men._n our_o author_n choose_v to_o do_v justice_n unto_o truth_n in_o own_v and_o assert_v the_o fallibility_n of_o church_n and_o council_n and_o yet_o not_o to_o quit_v the_o specious_a pretence_n of_o the_o church_n authority_n in_o plead_v her_o cause_n and_o confute_v the_o lollard_n this_o therefore_o he_o propose_v in_o a_o more_o plausible_a way_n confess_v the_o church_n may_v err_v and_o that_o even_o in_o matter_n of_o the_o great_a moment_n however_o that_o it_o will_v be_v most_o safe_a and_o rational_a for_o ignorant_a layman_n entire_o to_o submit_v their_o judgement_n to_o the_o direction_n of_o the_o clergy_n that_o by_o this_o submission_n indeed_o they_o may_v 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condemn_v her_o practice_n of_o burn_a heretic_n he_o desire_v rather_o to_o win_v they_o to_o her_o obedience_n by_o gentle_a method_n and_o think_v it_o more_o noble_a to_o convince_v they_o by_o reason_n and_o argument_n than_o by_o rack_n and_o fire_n this_o moderation_n can_v not_o but_o displease_v his_o fellow_n bishop_n who_o choose_v rather_o at_o that_o time_n to_o satisfy_v their_o malice_n by_o the_o punishment_n than_o serve_v the_o church_n by_o the_o conviction_n of_o suppose_a heretic_n but_o our_o author_n be_v act_v with_o more_o noble_a and_o generous_a principle_n he_o endeavour_v to_o remove_v their_o error_n but_o refuse_v to_o practice_v upon_o their_o life_n and_o which_o perhaps_o be_v no_o small_a part_n of_o his_o crime_n neglect_v to_o thunder_n out_o his_o curse_n against_o they_o and_o scorn_v to_o treat_v they_o with_o opprobrious_a title_n rather_o in_o the_o first_o part_n of_o this_o work_n he_o give_v to_o they_o a_o honourable_a character_n and_o 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proclaim_v their_o falseness_n and_o