for Apocrifa were expelled from the number of the bookes of the bible the catalogue of which is as followeth Bookes censured for Apocrifa in the councel of Roome THe iourney of S. Petter the Apostle in 8. bookes said to be written by S. Clement Apocrifa The acs of S. Andrew the Apostle Apocrifa The acs written in the name of S. Thomas Apocrifa The acs written in the name of S. Peeter Apocrifa The acs written in the name of S. Philip. Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of Taddeus the Apostle Apoc. The gospel written in the name of S. Peter Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of S Matthias Apocrifa The gospel writt in the name of Barnabas Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of Iames the less Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of S. Andrew Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of S. Thomas which the Manicheans vse Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of S. Bartholomew the Apostle Apocrifa The gospel which Lucian falsified Apocrifa The infancie of our Sauiour Apocrifa The gospel which Hesychius falsified Apocrifa The booke entitled Pastor Apocrifa The booke of the birth of our Sauiour of his mother her midwife Apocrifa All those bookes which were sett out by Leucius the disciple of the diuell Apocrifa The booke caled the foundation an other caled the treasure both Apocrifa The booke of the Genesis of the daughters of Adam an other named the nephew both Apocrifa The centimetrum of Christ compiled of Virgill verses Apocri The Booke of Prouerbs written by hereticks sett out vnder the name of S. Sixtus Apocrifa The acs of S. Paul the Apostle Tecla Apocrifa The reuelation named of S. Paul Apocrifa An other reuelation vnder the name of S. Thomas à third vnder the name of S. Steuen à booke named the Assumption of our Ladie an other caled the Testament al. Apocrifa The booke named the pennance of Adam an other caled the pennance of Origin a third caled the pennance of S. Cyprian Apocrifa The booke vnder the name ogia the giant whome the heretiks faine to haue fought with a dragon after the flood Apocr The booke caled the Apostles lotts Apocrifa The booke caled the pennance of Iannes Mambres Apocri The booke caled the praise of the Apostles Apocrifa And this decree about the canon of the holy scriptures was not only receiued by perticular men but euen all subsequent generall councells did approue accept the same all which if they could err in matter of faith could also err in this their decree about canonicall scripture so it were to be doubted whether they condemned for Apocrifa any ghospel that were sacred or admitted those that were false for bookes of God which reason if the biblists did wel weigh they Would find themselues marueloussie pussed about their rule of faith in doubt whether that those scriptures Which they now at this present haue be true or false sacred or prophane canonicall or Apocrifa The fift consequence THe fathers councels could err in their decree about canonicall scriptures as the biblists will haue it Therfore no biblist can certainlie knoW whether that those bookes conteined in their bibles be made by the holy ghost or not except they first consult the holy ghost out of the bible touching this question so ech one determine by his priuate spirit which bookes in the scripture were made by God and which were not Proofe BEcause for as much as this question is about the word of God it doth most of all apperteine to faith therfore can not be decided except by à preuial praire the holie ghost be first consulted out of the bible about the same Nor is it enough to answere as many bibilsts doe That some bookes of scripture are held to haue beene dictated by the holy ghost in the opinion of all men for all men may err as biblists say besides all christians doe not consent in one opinion about canonicall scriptures for the catholiques receiue many bookes of scripture for canonicall which the protestans repute for Apocrifa many also the protestants receiue which Luther his compannions improue rase denie to be sacred scripture the like is of other christians moreouer the versions editions of bibles are diuers haue diffrent senses whereon great difficulties contentions doe arise euen in matter of faith The sixt consequence NO Biblists can certainly know whether that those bookes conteined in their bibles be dictated by the holy ghost except by a preuiall praire he first consult the holie ghost touching this question which consulting must be fetched from the bible wherfore according to their owne rule each biblist is obliged vnder the paine of eternall damnation to determine this greate difficile question by prayâ—ng consulting the holy ghost and not relie on their ministers or their churches Proofe FOr they admitting no other rule of beleefe saue this of consulting the holy ghost out of the written word of God seing that faith is necessary to shunn eternall damnation it most euidently followeth that ech biblist is bound vnder paine of eternall damnation to consult the holy ghost out of the bible to know whether those bookes conteined in the same were dictated by the holy ghost or not els he cannot vnder stand out of the said scriptures what he is bound to beleeue if he doubt whether those bookes conteined in the bible be canonical or not The seuenth consequence ECh biblist is bound vnder the paine of eternall damnation to consult the holy ghost out of scripture by à preuiall praire whether all ech of those bookes conteined in the bible be dictated by the holy ghost Therfore ech biblist is bound vnder paine of eternall damnation to reede ouer all the bookes of the bible to throughly examin them together with the diuers editions of the said bibles manifold versions out of the hebrew greeke latine english to conferr them together with great diligence paines after all this to giue sentence their vpon which are canonicall bookes which are Apocrifa which versions be true which corrupt to the end he may gather there out all the true articles of his faith without error he who among the bests of Biblists omitteth to doe all this is in a continuall state of damnation Proofe FOr all these be necessary to determine this great question except the holy ghost doe teach them by some other meanes then out of the bible in what and how manie bookes the written word of God is conteined which versions editions be true authenticall which not But we haue already seene that the sentence of the Biblists is That the holy ghost is so farr forth the iudg of the controuersies of faith that he doth not iudg of the same nor teach the Biblists otherwise then out of the written word of God which according to the doctrine of the
what impossibilities they be bound by the beleefe of their sect for as touching the Catholique rule of beleefe I will make no mention of the same it beeing held of no valuation by the biblists But to the end the consequences I am to deduce out of the antecedents of the biblists may be more euident I will sett downe those antecedents deuided into these subsequent propositions that it may manifestly appeare to the vew of euery biblists eie how sincearlie purely I treate the question Propositions 1. ALl Christians in generall particular may err in faith 2. All councells yea the pastors of the whole church of Christ assembled in a generall councell approued by the bishop of Roome may err in their decrees about faith 3. Ech Christian if he call vpon the holy ghost as he ought to doe mâ—â— examin the doctrine of all men whom soeuer without error confronteing the same with the scriptures so censure of himself whether the said doctrine of what soeuer men euen of generall councells doe agree with the bible or disagre from it then accept or reiect the faine 4. There is no other way to know for certain which is the truth in matter of faith then by the meanes of praire to consult the holie ghost out of the bible But in all the subsequent consequences which are to be deduced out of these propositions of the biblists we require that they graunt vs this one assertion to witt 5. That Christian faith excludeth all doubts and is certaine infallible But wee are heere to note by the way that the biblists are wont to moderate the first propositions for they affirme that none cann err in faith if he agree with the sacred scripture also that none can disagree from the sacred scripture if the holy ghost doe assist him they auerr moreouer that none can be forsaken by the holy ghost if he call vpon him as he ought to doe but for as much as they auouch that it may fall out that some one may not cal vpon the holy ghost as he ought to doe consequently it may follow that all ech one may be abandoned of the holy ghost so also consequently disagree from the bible err in faith THE THIRD CHAPTER Necessarie consequences deduced out of the precedent propositions out of which it is euident what à taske ech biblist is tied vnto SEing then that this is a biblist taske to consult the holy ghost out of the scriptures for censuring of doctrines which apperteine to faith yt makes much to the purpose to set doune how greate a charge this is which they take vpon them how farr it extendeth lest in so waightie a busines as is this of eternall saluation inconsideration plunge them into perdition The first consequence ALl Christians generall councels may err in faith Therfore no Christian ought in matter of faith to beleeue any man or councell Proofe THe consequence I proue thus Because true certaine faith ought to leaue it self on an infallible authoritie but the authoritie of all men councells is supposed by the biblists to be subiect to errors Therfore in this case no men ought to be beleeued Nor doth it cutt the sinewes of the consequence to reply That men generalls councel bee to be beleeued so far as their doctrine doth concord to the scriptures for seing that they may also disagree from the same the case becommeth doubtfull then the holy ghost is to be consulted out of the Bible to the ende we may certainlie know whether they agree to the word of God or disagre from the same for that this doctrine consenteth to the bible or dissenteth from it apperteineth not to the credence of men bur to the holy ghost inwardly teaching vs out of the bible what wee are to beleeue The Second consequence THere is no other meanes for certainlie to know which is the truth in matter of faith then by way of deuout prayres to consult the holy ghost out of the bible Therfore no Christian can beleeue the articles of faith except by a special praire he first consult the holie ghost out of the bible whether those articles of faith be conforme to the same or no Proofe THe consequence is cleere because the doctrine of all Christians about matters of faith be they considered seuerall or assembled can not be iudiged to be either true or false if praire be not first made to consult the holy ghost out of the bible neither doth the holie ghost otherwise teach Christians the truth saue out of the bible therfore it is to be concluded according to this biblist rule that no Christian can beleeue the articles of faith if he doe not first consult the holy ghost about the same out of the scripture by à preuiall praire made to that effect Nor doth it in ualidate the consequence to reply that they credit their ministers propounding vnto them the word of God or doctrine glossed out of the bible for that minister may err in faith ther fore he that heareth his doctrine is bound in conscience ere he beleeue the same to consult the holy ghost by praire out of the scripture to know wether it agree with the word of God or not The Third consequence NO Christian can beleeue the articles of faith except by à preuial praire he councell the holie ghost out of the scripture Therfore those Biblists who be vnder age or want leisure or meanes to reede the bible or can not reade at all or can gett no bible to reede consult the holie ghost ther out can not haue anie true faith Proofe THis consequence can not be improued because a biblist admitteth no other rule of beleefe saue this of consulting the holy ghost out of his bible Nor is it to the purpose to reply that they haue their parsons whose charge is to expound them the word of God for these may be deceiued deceiue wherfore there doctrine is first to be examined by euere Christian whether it agree to the word of God or not ere he consent to the same which is to be done in consulting the holy ghost out of the bible by prayres first made as biblists say The Fourth consequence ALl Christian generall councells may err in faith Say the Biblists Therfore all Christians generall councels might also haue erred in there decrees about the Canon of the sacred bookes of the Bible which graunted it may be doubted whether that the biblist haue the true scriptures or no. Proofe THe consequence is aparant for the decree about the Canon of sacred bookes concerneth matter of faith yea the waightiest among al the matters of faith Therfore the church might haue erred when in the yeare of our lord 494. she made à decree in the councell held at Roome of 70 Bishops vnder Pope Gelasius the first touching the canon of canonical bookes of both testaments those that the said councell censured
that ech biblist hath witt learning leisure bookes sufficient for this purpose only noW I intend to inquire what certaine infallible foundation of faith the Biblists may haue out of this their rule of beleefe The first consequence NO Biblist hath any other rule of beleefe saue his priuate spirit consultinge the holy ghost out of the scripture what he is bound to beleeue in matter of faith Therfore the faith of the Biblists leaneth on three foundations to witt on praire on the holy ghost on the sacred text of the bible In so much that the holie ghost is the iudg of all the controuersies of faith The bible is the rule with out which that iudg doth not teach vs in matter of faith And praire is the condition with out which the holy ghost doth not certainlie instruct vs out of the bible This consequence needeth no proofe being euident of it self by graunt of the verie Protestants themselues al other Biblists Lutherans Puritans Anabaptists c. The Second consequence THe rule of beleefe is no other say the Biblists then by praire to consult the holie ghost out of the bible Therfore those supernaturall motions which the holy ghost stirreth vp in the mindes of the Biblists consultinge him by praire out of the scriptures are a sure argument whence they certainlie gather that they be taught by the holie ghost the true sense of the bible Proofe FOr albeit the certaintie of faith be founded on the authoritie of God reuealing the same neuerttheles that this bible conteines the pure word of God that this be the pure true interpretation of the said bible no man can certainlie infallibly know except that the holy ghost giue testimonie vnto him out of the said bible concerning the same which testimonie as biblists will is either a supernaturall illumination or some such like diuine motion of our mindes by which ech one may certainlie infallibly know that the holy ghost doth inwardly teach him out of the holie scripture Neither doth it infringe this consequence what some Biblists say That the text is cleere enough of it self needeth no gloss nor interpretation or that one text doth interprett the other for if this were so then the presupposed graunted necessitie of an inward annointement of the holy ghost in the mindes of the biblists which doth necessarilie include a supernaturall diuine motion in their soules wherby the spirit of God doth witnes vnto their spirit that such a sence of the text which their spirit so conceaueth is most true certaine infallible is quite taken away annulled It is moreouer most ridiculous senceles to say the holy scriptures haue a sence so cleere that ech biblist may of himself conceiue vnderstand the same when as more then these 1500. yeares the whole world hath beene busied about nothing so much as in disputing about debating which is the true sence of the sacred scriptures euen yet the same is in dispute among Christians will be disputed of till the day of doome yea euen amoung the Biblists themselues there be deepe deadly debates about the sence of the scripture which haue minced them into many sects ech contradicting the other that they resemble the foxes of Sampson who tyed all by the talles of their priuat spirit haue their heades of opinions in matters of faith looking contrary wayes which Surely could not happen to them if the text of the bible were so cleere that it needed no interpretation or that the holy ghost taught them out of the scripture which is the true sence of the same in regard that the holy ghost is not à spirit of dissention but of concord peace so that this is but a vaine excuse to say that the scripture is so easie that ech idiott may vnderstand the meaning of it neither doth it further the Biblists cause The Third consequence THat supernaturall motion of the holy ghost enlightning the mindes of the Biblists consultinge by praire the holie ghost out of the scripture is an argument whence they doe certainly infallibly draw that the holy ghost doth inwardly teach them the true sence of the sacred scriptures Therfore those motions ought to be certaine doubtles altogether diuine so free from error that ech idiott woman or man may dare yea is bound in conscience to beleeue vnder paine of eternall damnation that he is more certainely taught out of sacred writt by the holy ghost to discerne true doctrine from that which is false then were all the Pastors of the whole church of Christ the space of a 1500. yeares though gathered together in a generall councell approued by the Bishop of Roome Proofe BEcause ech Biblist as I said of what age sex or condition soeuer saue those that are not come to the vse of discretion or Want iudgment is bound vnder paine of eternall damnation to consult the holy ghost out of the bible whether the decrees of the whole church gathered together in so many generall councels doe agree to the written word of God or disagree from the same Neither is it enough to answer as many biblists doe that à generall councel can not err if it agree with the written word of God for the Biblists say that it may also disagree from the same therfore ech Christian ought to consult the holy ghost out of the bible whether that doctrine of councell or church doth agree therto or disagree there from ere he beleeue the same Nor maketh it to the purpose that many Biblists approue the first 4. generall councells though many doe not approue them as Puritans Anabaptists c. For the reason why they approue these councells is because they as they say haueing consulted the holy ghost out of the bible censure them not to disagree from the written word of God neither is it of less authoritie to approue councells out of the word of God then to reprooue reiect the same For the cause why Biblists approue the first 4. generall councels is not for any respect which they haue to the said generall councells as if they could not err in faith but for the testimonie of the holy ghost whose wonder full diuine motions ech biblist doth so feele in his soule that he doth infallibly confess himself to be taught by the holy ghost when out of the booke of the bible he iudgeth that the said 4. generall councells concord with the scriptures The Fourth consequence THe motion which God maketh in the harts of the biblists consultinge the holie ghost out of the scriptures is certainlie vndoubtedly diuine say they so that ech biblist is bound vnder paine of eternall damnation to beleeue most constantly that he is more surely truly taught by the holy ghost then al the pastors of the whole church assembled together in a generall councell approued by the Bishop of Roome Therfore the Biblists doe ouer much presume on the