true_a church_n if_o the_o first_o way_n than_o it_o must_v first_o be_v know_v what_o be_v the_o true_a and_o genuine_a doctrine_n of_o christianity_n the_o steadfast_a belief_n of_o which_o cause_v this_o society_n to_o become_v the_o true_a church_n but_o if_o the_o true_a church_n be_v know_v only_o from_o some_o external_a note_n these_o note_n be_v either_o teach_v by_o scripture_n or_o find_v out_o by_o the_o light_n of_o reason_n if_o teach_v by_o scripture_n than_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o divine_a authority_n of_o scripture_n be_v antecedent_n to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o true_a church_n and_o consequent_o independent_a on_o it_o for_o otherwise_o scripture_n will_v be_v believe_v for_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o church_n for_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n which_o be_v a_o manifest_a circle_n beside_o in_o this_o case_n that_o grand_a article_n of_o belief_n in_o the_o holy_a catholic_n church_n will_v be_v receive_v not_o from_o 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the_o most_o absurd_a and_o contrary_a opinion_n since_o to_o effect_v that_o design_n no_o more_o be_v require_v than_o the_o confidence_n or_o mistake_n of_o heretic_n pretend_v to_o have_v receive_v their_o own_o dream_n and_o error_n as_o necessary_a article_n of_o faith_n from_o their_o forefather_n thus_o all_o the_o heretic_n of_o the_o three_o first_o century_n when_o the_o true_a and_o genuine_a tradition_n of_o the_o church_n may_v much_o more_o easy_o be_v know_v than_o it_o can_v be_v at_o this_o day_n propose_v their_o heresy_n under_o the_o venerable_a name_n of_o apostolic_a tradition_n which_o pretence_n they_o carry_v on_o so_o far_o that_o they_o publish_v the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o tradition_n of_o almost_o every_o apostle_n and_o apostolic_a man_n wherein_o they_o commit_v to_o write_v those_o reveal_v truth_n which_o they_o believe_v the_o apostle_n to_o have_v preach_v and_o have_v leave_v unwritten_a in_o vain_a shall_v the_o father_n and_o writer_n 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clemens_n alexandrinus_n passim_fw-la complain_v of_o the_o heretic_n of_o their_o time_n tertullian_n haeres_fw-la assure_v we_o it_o be_v the_o usual_a evasion_n of_o heretic_n to_o decline_v the_o scripture_n and_o flee_v to_o tradition_n pretend_v that_o the_o apostle_n publish_v not_o the_o gospel_n to_o all_o people_n nor_o commit_v all_o reveal_v truth_n to_o write_v but_o deliver_v many_o article_n of_o faith_n secret_o to_o approve_a man_n which_o article_n be_v no_o other_o than_o their_o own_o heresy_n in_o the_o same_o manner_n the_o heretic_n oppose_v by_o s._n irenaeus_n 3._o be_v wont_a when_o urge_v with_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n and_o their_o perfect_a silence_n as_o to_o those_o article_n which_o they_o obtrude_v upon_o the_o world_n to_o plead_v the_o imperfection_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n that_o they_o be_v not_o intend_v by_o god_n as_o a_o rule_n of_o faith_n ibid._n because_o the_o truth_n can_v not_o be_v learn_v from_o they_o by_o those_o who_o be_v ignorant_a of_o tradition_n for_o that_o the_o christian_a faith_n be_v not_o deliver_v by_o write_v but_o by_o word_n of_o mouth_n or_o by_o oral_a tradition_n to_o produce_v but_o one_o example_n more_o eunomius_n the_o heretic_n in_o his_o apology_n extant_a in_o manuscript_n in_o s._n martin_n library_n every_o where_o plead_v the_o tradition_n of_o precedent_a age_n and_o profess_v to_o follow_v that_o as_o his_o only_a rule_n of_o faith._n it_o be_v necessary_a say_v he_o medium_n for_o those_o who_o treat_v of_o matter_n of_o faith_n set_v before_o they_o the_o holy_a tradition_n which_o have_v all_o along_o obtain_v from_o the_o time_n of_o the_o father_n as_o a_o rule_n and_o canon_n to_o make_v use_n of_o this_o accurate_a rule_n to_o judge_v of_o those_o thing_n which_o shall_v be_v say_v afterward_o propose_v his_o blasphemous_a opinion_n about_o the_o holy_a ghost_n he_o introduce_v it_o with_o this_o preface_n exact_o follow_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o holy_a father_n and_o receive_v it_o from_o they_o we_o believe_v etc._n etc._n this_o than_o be_v the_o artifice_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o ancient_a heretic_n what_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o catholic_n father_n be_v in_o oppose_v these_o heretic_n or_o establish_v any_o necessary_a article_n of_o faith_n that_o they_o account_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o only_a adequate_a rule_n of_o faith_n and_o to_o contain_v in_o express_a and_o plain_a word_n all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o be_v believe_v that_o they_o reject_v all_o article_n which_o can_v not_o be_v thence_o deduce_v as_o spurious_a and_o false_a or_o at_o least_o uncertain_a and_o unnecessary_a and_o always_o assert_v the_o sufficiency_n of_o scripture_n i_o will_v not_o here_o insist_v to_o prove_v since_o that_o point_n have_v be_v so_o often_o handle_v and_o clear_v by_o the_o writer_n of_o our_o church_n more_o particular_o by_o bishop_n taylor_n 2._o to_o who_o i_o remit_v the_o reader_n my_o design_n and_o the_o age_n of_o that_o
treatise_n which_o i_o now_o publish_v require_v i_o to_o descend_v low_a and_o demonstrate_v that_o even_o in_o latter_a age_n it_o be_v the_o common_o receive_v opinion_n of_o the_o church_n that_o scripture_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith._n and_o this_o alone_a will_n as_o evident_o overthrow_v the_o plea_n of_o tradition_n as_o if_o the_o consent_n of_o all_o age_n herein_o be_v demonstrate_v for_o since_o tradition_n be_v the_o perpetual_a succession_n of_o any_o doctrine_n convey_v down_o in_o the_o church_n by_o word_n of_o mouth_n from_o the_o apostle_n to_o this_o present_a time_n if_o this_o succession_n be_v in_o any_o age_n whatsoever_o interrupt_v it_o can_v no_o more_o claim_v the_o title_n of_o tradition_n than_o if_o it_o have_v never_o be_v believe_v so_o that_o if_o it_o can_v be_v prove_v the_o doctrine_n of_o tradition_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n be_v in_o any_o age_n of_o the_o church_n disbelieved_a not_o only_o the_o proof_n of_o this_o article_n from_o 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the_o church_n tradition_n must_v necessary_o ever_o since_o have_v cease_v to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n since_o otherwise_o all_o definition_n of_o the_o church_n must_v indifferent_o be_v admit_v make_v by_o she_o both_o when_o she_o follow_v and_o when_o she_o deviate_v from_o the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o consequent_o the_o faith_n of_o all_o private_a christian_n must_v be_v subject_v to_o infinite_a uncertainty_n now_o to_o prove_v that_o the_o tradition_n of_o this_o article_n be_v in_o any_o age_n of_o the_o church_n interrupt_v and_o discontinue_v it_o be_v not_o necessary_a that_o all_o member_n of_o the_o church_n shall_v then_o agree_v in_o the_o disbelief_n of_o it_o that_o no_o doctor_n shall_v believe_v tradition_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n or_o none_o maintain_v the_o insufficiency_n of_o scripture_n it_o be_v sufficient_a that_o some_o divine_n of_o great_a name_n who_o live_v and_o die_v in_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o church_n be_v ever_o hold_v in_o great_a esteem_n both_o for_o piety_n and_o learning_n and_o never_o censure_v by_o the_o church_n for_o any_o erroneous_a opinion_n much_o less_o for_o heretic_n that_o some_o such_o i_o say_v disbelieved_a this_o article_n and_o maintain_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith._n for_o if_o any_o such_o be_v than_o the_o contrary_a opinion_n can_v not_o be_v the_o belief_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n much_o less_o a_o article_n of_o faith._n that_o there_o be_v such_o doctor_n i_o shall_v immediate_o prove_v by_o produce_v their_o own_o word_n and_o thereby_o demonstrate_v my_o intend_a purpose_n and_o not_o only_o so_o but_o far_o shall_v therewith_o render_v it_o high_o probable_a that_o it_o be_v the_o general_o receive_v opinion_n of_o the_o church_n at_o that_o time_n that_o scripture_n not_o tradition_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n by_o all_o those_o argument_n which_o a_o question_n of_o this_o nature_n will_v admit_v i_o mean_v by_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o most_o eminent_a writer_n and_o public_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n in_o council_n for_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v that_o so_o many_o learned_a person_n esteem_v as_o it_o be_v the_o oracle_n of_o their_o time_n and_o pillar_n of_o the_o church_n shall_v either_o be_v ignorant_a of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n touch_v the_o fundamental_a principle_n of_o faith_n or_o if_o wilful_o oppose_v it_o shall_v obtain_v or_o conserve_v to_o themselves_o so_o great_a a_o reputation_n or_o that_o the_o general_a council_n of_o that_o time_n shall_v in_o their_o session_n and_o disputation_n permit_v the_o sufficiency_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v lay_v down_o as_o a_o uncontroverted_a principle_n without_o give_v some_o check_n to_o so_o grand_a a_o error_n that_o the_o church_n therefore_o in_o the_o fifteen_o age_n do_v general_o believe_v the_o scripture_n to_o be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n and_o contain_v all_o thing_n necessary_a to_o salvation_n may_v be_v evident_o demonstrate_v from_o this_o treatise_n which_o i_o now_o publish_v the_o author_n of_o which_o be_v far_o the_o most_o eminent_a and_o learned_a bishop_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n in_o his_o time_n a_o person_n who_o as_o himself_o assure_v we_o have_v spend_v more_o than_o twenty_o year_n in_o write_v controversial_a book_n against_o the_o lollard_n when_o he_o compose_v this_o treatise_n and_o who_o every_o where_o give_v manifest_a proof_n of_o his_o great_a learning_n so_o eminent_a a_o person_n can_v be_v suppose_v to_o have_v be_v ignorant_a of_o the_o general_a belief_n of_o the_o church_n in_o his_o time_n concern_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n nor_o will_v his_o apparent_a zeal_n for_o the_o interest_n of_o the_o church_n permit_v we_o to_o believe_v that_o he_o wilful_o oppose_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n in_o who_o service_n he_o employ_v the_o great_a part_n of_o his_o life_n or_o that_o when_o he_o so_o zealous_o plead_v the_o cause_n of_o the_o church_n against_o the_o lollard_n he_o shall_v himself_o depart_v from_o the_o church_n in_o her_o principal_a article_n and_o therein_o become_v a_o lollard_n since_o therefore_o he_o plain_o assert_n and_o teach_v that_o scripture_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o faith_n this_o undeniable_o prove_v that_o the_o belief_n of_o this_o proposition_n be_v not_o in_o the_o time_n of_o our_o author_n account_v any_o part_n of_o lollardism_n or_o suppose_a heresy_n but_o rather_o esteem_v a_o article_n of_o catholic_n belief_n at_o least_o a_o article_n which_o may_v be_v free_o dispute_v without_o violate_v the_o definition_n or_o dissent_v from_o the_o universal_a belief_n of_o the_o church_n and_o indeed_o our_o author_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o this_o discourse_n assure_v we_o that_o the_o doctor_n of_o his_o time_n disagree_v in_o determine_v whether_o the_o church_n or_o scripture_n be_v chief_o to_o be_v respect_v in_o the_o resolution_n of_o faith._n one_o thing_n may_v be_v object_v against_o the_o authority_n of_o our_o author_n that_o he_o be_v force_v by_o the_o roll_a clergy_n to_o recant_v several_a opinion_n and_o doctrine_n teach_v by_o he_o as_o erroneous_a and_o consequent_o that_o he_o can_v be_v esteem_v a_o doctor_n of_o the_o church_n but_o here_o not_o to_o say_v that_o the_o sentence_n of_o two_o or_o three_o partial_a bishop_n for_o no_o more_o condemn_v he_o be_v not_o to_o be_v account_v the_o judgement_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n this_o very_a recantation_n add_v no_o small_a strength_n to_o our_o argument_n for_o when_o the_o malice_n of_o his_o enemy_n oblige_v he_o to_o recant_v all_o those_o doctrine_n which_o they_o esteem_v to_o be_v erroneous_a they_o take_v no_o notice_n of_o his_o have_v assert_v scripture_n to_o be_v the_o only_a rule_n of_o faith_n nor_o oblige_v he_o to_o recant_v that_o proposition_n a_o manifest_a argument_n that_o it_o be_v not_o then_o account_v either_o heretical_a or_o erroneous_a or_o contrary_a to_o the_o receive_a doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n since_o otherwise_o they_o will_v not_o have_v fail_v to_o place_v it_o in_o the_o front_n of_o his_o recantation_n as_o a_o error_n of_o a_o high_a degree_n and_o great_a contagion_n than_o any_o of_o those_o for_o which_o he_o stand_v condemn_v which_o in_o truth_n be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v heresy_n that_o they_o be_v all_o at_o that_o time_n maintain_v by_o many_o eminent_a divine_n who_o never_o be_v censure_v by_o the_o church_n and_o some_o of_o they_o so_o far_o true_a that_o no_o learned_a man_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n will_v at_o this_o day_n deny_v they_o and_o this_o also_o full_o clear_v our_o author_n from_o any_o suspicion_n of_o lollardism_n or_o secret_a inclination_n to_o it_o that_o he_o be_v not_o singular_a herein_o defend_v no_o paradox_n nor_o oppose_v any_o doctrine_n of_o the_o church_n i_o come_v next_o to_o prove_v the_o
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 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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 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proclaim_v their_o falseness_n and_o