maid vpon god scripturis beand coÌ„ferrit ye wickit heresie of Eutices wes iustlie coÌ„dempnit ¶ Beneuolent redare geue we walde call to remeÌ„berance al the generale coÌ„nsalis quhilkis hes bene fra the tyme of the Apostolis tyll our dayis quhairin ye wickit hereseis quhilkis rais aganis the trew faith wer iustlie coÌ„dempuit oure sobir lytle tractiue sulde exceid ye boundis grow vnto ane gret werk Oure pretence is as it wyll pleis the lorde GOD to supporte oure imperfectioun ignorance to bestow oure laubouris as may be to the glore of God the quietnes of the ê¯gregatioun and efter the maist compedious maner to the eais and contente meÌ„t of the redare Thairfore wyll we cease fra ferther citatioÌ„u ordourlie of the gnÌ„rale counsales bot as the occasioun sall serue Nocht bot equale credit is to be geuin to the rest of the generale counsales dewlie ê¯uenit as to the coÌ„nsalis aboue rehersit ¶ Heir haue we hard diuers exemplis of the ordour that wes had in the kirk of God efter the tyme of the apostolis for the quietnes of ye coÌ„gregatioun and suppressioun of errouris swa that be this ordour aboue rehersit and be the generall ê¯salis dewlie coÌ„uenit quhilkê succedit thairefter weral errourê iustlie ê¯dempuit quhilkê rais of yâ— wrang vnderstanding of goddis word fra the time of the Apostolis to thir dayis the rycht vnderstanding of the samyn maid patent to the rest of the Congregatioun ¶ It is nocht vnknawin to me how that thair is mony in thir dayis doutsum specialie sic as the apostolis spekis of quhilkis ar inconstaÌ„t Ephe. 4. â—aueryng careit about with euery wynd of doctryne geue the generale coÌ„nsalis representis the heale kirk of God as I wald say geue it that is done be the generale coÌ„nsalis dewlie coÌ„uenit hes and sulde be the ordinance of God haue ye denominatioÌ„n strenth effect as it had bene done be al the meÌ„bris of the coÌ„gregatioÌ„n and gyf thay occupy the place of the Apostolis to wart the interpretatioun of scripturis Ouha wyl diligentlie mark our ê“cedyngis aboue rehersit I beleue he sall fynd ane grer part of thir doutis al reddy declarit notheles efter the forme of disputatioun we sall do diligence to moue ye questiounis quhilkis we haue hard or red in the coÌ„trar of our purpose and appelis the coÌ„science of the ineffectionat redare to considder geue we do the samyn trewlie or nocht Thairefter God wylling we sall schaw gude wyll to declare the foresaidis doutis as salbe fundin aggreable to goddis worde and to ye coÌ„tentemeÌ„t of al meÌ„ quhilkê ar of godlie and teÌ„perat iugement Efter this maner wyll we mone the first questioun Albeit that it apperteneth to the apostolis be the ê“uisioun of God to tak ordour in all materis off debait coÌ„cernyng ye faith specialie to iÌ„terprete ye scripturis as þai quhilkis had the spreit of god wer the trew kirk It argumeÌ„tis not yat vtheris quha hes ê¯uenit sensyâ—e in generale ê¯â—â—les had the spreit of GOD or wer the trew kirk because that mony of thair deliberationis ar aganis the word of God and trew kirk for thair awin singulare comoditie proffeit vaine glore quhay vuder the pretence of goddis glore seikis euir ane way to sett forwart superstition and tradioun off men as did the Scribes Phariseis And al 's the Apostolis leuit ane Godlie lyfe precheande techeand trewlie the worde of God wylling to suffer all torment and distres for Christis saik Be the contrar thay in thir dayis quha vendicatis takis to thaim selfis that iniustlie ye place of the Apostolis trew kirk quha ar of veri tie the kirk malingnant nolder leuis anegodlie lyfe nor Èit precheis nor techeis the trew ward of God Ouharefor sen thay do na thing lyke to the apostolis bot be the plane contrar thair deliberationis and iÌ„terpretationis of scriptures ar not to be ressauit as the interpretatioun of the apostolis and trew kirk of God bot as the interpretatioun of the kirk malignant Scribes phariseis ¶ To cum to ane resolute perfect answeir off this questioun argument aboue rehersit þair is foure poyntis of the samyn specialie to be markit First to coÌ„sidder geue the gâ—Ì„rale coÌ„nsalis had the spreit of God to do that thing quhik ryndit to the weill of the rest of the coÌ„gregatioÌ„un as had ye Apostolis ¶ Secundlie it is to be markit gif the generale counsalis representis the trew vniuersale kirk of God hauand authoritie as had the Apostolis to interprete scripturis to be as iuge to discerne the rycht vnderstandyng of the samyn fra the wrang Thridlie geue thay quhilkis coÌ„ uenit in generale counsalis sen ye tyme of the apostolis leuit ane godlie lyfe coÌ„forme to the Apostlis Ferdlie geue thair ê¯stitutionis wer aggreabyll with ye word of GOD or nocht Thir four partis beyng weil declarit soluit ye questionn aboue mouit for the maist part wyl be maid patent ¶ As to the first part to ê¯sidder geue the generale ê¯salis had ye spreit of God as had the apostolis or not thou mon ê¯sidder gude redare yat the gyft ê“meis of the haly gaist was not ê“misit and geuin to the apostolis onelie in respect off thaim quhay wer callit to be Apostlis bot specialie insafer as thay wer sterit vp be God to be ministeris instructaris of ye rest of ye meÌ„bris of ye coÌ„gregatioun Al 's thow mon diligeÌ„tlie mark that lyke as it is necessare that the kirk of GOD callit the christiane coÌ„gregatioun vnit togidder in ane faith be Baptime indure to the end of the warld swa it is necessare that thay quhilkê occupyis the place of the Apostlis haue the gyft of ye haly gaist coÌ„forme to the Mat. 28. ê“meis of oure Salueour to do in all sortis that ryndis to thair office vtherwayis it wer nocht possible that the kirk coÌ„gregatioÌ„n mycht be ordourit gydit in faith religcoun to ye hououre and glore of almyhetie God Aggreable to this purpose thow sal mark the wordis of our Sasueour in S. Mathew spe kand tyll his Apostolis on this maner behald I am with Èow at all tymes to the end of the warld And al 's in sanct Iohane Ioh. 14. I sal pray the father he sall geue Èow ane vther coÌ„fortar yat may byde with Èow for euir the spirite of veritie ☞ Mark gude redare that our salueour spekis heir to the Apostolis in the personage place of all vtheris cheif ministeris rewlaris quhilkis wer to succeid in thair place be authoritie and office to the end of the warld For quhy the apostolis wer nocht to remaine to ye ende of ye warlde as wes the ê“meis Nochtheles the office geuin to the apostolis authoritie wes to indure
to the end off the warlde because the christiane congregatioÌ„n quhilk is now presentlie in the warld is al 's deirlie bocht be the blude deith of Iesu Christe our salueour as wes the coÌ„gregatioun in the apostolis dayis Thairfore we may be sure that ye ê“meis of the halie gaist quhilk wes maid to ye Aâ—ostlis sal indure with ye ministeris rewlaris of the kirk of GOD in doyng that thyng quhilk ryndit to thair office in al aiges tymes and Èeris vnto to the end of the warld as propirlie may be persauit be thewordis of our Salueour aboue rehersit THE SEXT CHAPITRE ⧠sen We ar certifeit be Scripturis and ressoun the ê“mess of thee haly Gaist nocht only geuin ê“meist to ye apostlis bot al 's to the cheif ministeris rewlaris of the kirk of god quhilkis bel re succeid in thair authoritie to the ende of the warlde Now followis ordourlie to answeir to the secund part of ye argumeÌ„t quhare question is geue thay quhilkis ê¯uenit in generale counsalis representit the vniuersale trewkirk of God Trewlie gude redare not wtstanding that thair is na thing mair sure than that the generale counsalis dewlie coÌ„uenit representis the vniuersale kirk off GOD hauand authoritie as hade the Apostolis the gyft of the haly gaist quhilk wes ê“meist be our salueour to his apostlis all vther cheif ministeris in his kirk Èit it is verray difficile to expresse declair ye samyn planelie ordourlie as ye mater requiris is of worthynes specialie in our language at the leist to ane man of my sobir vnderstanding quharefore I praye GOD geue eucry christiane man wald be satifeit in all materis doutsuÌ„ ê¯cernyng the rycht vnderstanding of the scripture ê¯forme to the iÌ„terpretation of the gnÌ„rale coÌ„ salis as thay aucht sulde be of ressoun wtout disputatioun or argumeÌ„t Bot sen we see that the warlde is growin to that wickitnes curiositie that few or nane wylbe satifeit in materis doutsuÌ„ coÌ„cernyng the faith wtout curius ressonyng Èe in diuers materis necessare to be beleuit quhilks can nocht weill be declarit ressonit bot be faith onlie quhat remedy bot euerilk faithfull minis ter in the kirk of god to bestowe the grace quhilk god hes geuin hym as may be to the plesour off god and ye support of the imperfectioun of the rest of the meÌ„bris of the coÌ„gregatioun And not withstaÌ„ding that this purpose is fer abufe my habilitie to expres declare the samyn I sal do my deuore to do the eais I may to sic as ar of sobir knawlege as it wyll pleis the geuar of all grace to supporte my ignorance nocht doutyng bot the gentyll redare wyl tak my gude wyl iÌ„ fauour yis be yÌ„ grace of god hauand the beneuoleÌ„ce of the redare wyll we proceid on this maner To cum to ane resolute answeir of this questioÌ„n quhether geue thay quhilkis coÌ„uenit in generale coÌ„salis representit the vinuersale kirk and hade authoritie as had the Apostolis we mon vnderstand quhat is the kirk quhilk I beleue is suffe entlie declarit in the beginnyng of this buke swa that heir plixtlie to rehers wer superfluus nochtyeles as salbe necessare for ye present we sal do ¶ The kirk Math. 13.1 Cor. 5. suÌ„tyme is tane gnÌ„ralie in ye scripture for the vniuersale coÌ„gregatioun quhairin ar coÌ„tenit all christin meÌ„ and efter that maner ye generale counsalis ar not the heale kirk for quhy euery maÌ„ quhilk is of the kirk generalie tane is not requirit nor caÌ„ be coÌ„uenit to do that thyng quhilk appertenis to ye generale counsalis tyme the kirk is tane mair specialie for the Act. 15. SuÌ„ cheif pastores Deut. 17. of the vniuersal ê¯gregatioÌ„n efter this speciall maner the generale counsalis ar ye trew kirk of GOD and representis the vniuersale coÌ„gregatioun hauand authoritie to interprete the scripturis as may stand to the weil and quietnes of the hale congregation We preue thir foresaidis on this maner ¶ It is sure thatt lyke as almychtie GOD hes appoyntit his kirk and coÌ„gregation necessarelie to be vnit togidder in ane faith be baptime hauand his word law Swa it is necessare that ê“uisioun be hade to discerne the rycht vnderstanding of the scripture fra the wrang specialie quhensumeuir questioÌ„n or debait rysis for the samyn vtherwayis ye hauyng of the scripture without the rycht vnderstaÌ„ding of the samyn wer lytle or na thing ê“ffitabyl to ye ê¯gregatioÌ„n bot swa it is that all hereseis wer suppressit and the rycht vnderstanding of ye scripture fra the wrang wes diseernit in all aigis Èeris and tymes sen the tyme of the apostoles be the generale counsalis tharefore it followis weill that the generale counsalis wer the special member of the congregatioun aponytit be GOD representyng the heale kirk to tak ordour in al materis of debait coÌ„cernyng faith Geue thare be suÌ„ as I thynk þair be mony quhilkê ar stifneckit berand perpetuale disdane aganis the generale counsalis specialie sick as wald haue libertie to thraw the scripture to thair appetyte desyrus of vaine glore and to be thocht singulare in thair awin opinioun I wyll aske thame of ane questioun quhilk is verray easie to answeir to that is gyf euir thare wes onye heresyis sen the tyme off christe or nocht I aÌ„ sure þair is na maÌ„ sua schameles he wer neuir sua drownit in heresie bot he wyll grant thair hes bene mony gret heresyis for quhy thair is nocht ane article of oure faith bot it hes bene impugnit brocht in dout be heretikis affirmand thare heresyis for the maist part al be the scripturis falsite allegit and interpretit Than wyl I speir geue thair wes ane ordour tane to suppresse the heresyis or nocht I am sure thair is na man wyll thynk that GOD neclectit ye ê¯gregatioun swa that it sulde leue in perpetuale debait for the faith and na ordour to be tane Than wyll I inqyre quhat wes the ordoure geue it wes nocht be the generale coÌ„nsalis quhilk wes tane tre wlie I beleue þair wyl na maÌ„ schaw ane vther meyn quhareby heresy wes suppressit bot be the generale counsalis specialie quhilkis rais of the wrang vnderstanding of the scripture of GOD as all heresyis coÌ„mounlye dois Than sen we ar assurit that þair hes bene mony abhominabyll heresyis incontrar our faith and the ordour quhilk wes tane for the samyn wes euir onelie be the generale counsalis dewlie conuenit it may be iustlie inferrit that the generale counsalis wer ye member of the congregatioun sterit vp be GOD representyngye vniuersale kirk of God hauand the denominatioun strenth and effect of all the memberis of the congregatroun I beleue thair is namaÌ„ of
wickit minister mai minister the sacrameÌ„tis hauand al 's gret effect to the ressauar as he wer neuir sua godlie Because the sacrameÌ„tis takis not effect of the minister bot of god Suadeclaratioun off materis doutsuÌ„ coÌ„cerning the faith quhilk we haue euir had of ye generale coÌ„nsalis takis not effect onelie of the ministeris of the new lawe nor Èit authoritie bot of God that specialie in respect of ye coÌ„gregation coÌ„mittit to thair cure and to declare the power of hym quha is heid tyll all authoritie that cumis be ane ordour as efterwart mair largelie salbe declarit ¶ To perswade this purpose tyl all meÌ„ of naturall iugemeÌ„t but learnyng gyf sua wer that vice did hynder and dirogatioun tyl authoritie þair sulde neuir maÌ„ be assurit of ony thing done be maÌ„ in authoritie For quhy quha can be sure gyf ony man in authoritie is but syn or not Eccle. 9. 1. Cor. 4 Geue thou wald haue respect to hym quha is author tyl al authoritie quhilk is almychtie God ê¯forme to the saying of yÌ„ postole spek and on this maner al po wer is of god and nocht to man quhilk beris authoritie thou sal think it na thyng strainge albeit a wick it minister do yat thig quhilk ryndis to his office as may stand to the weil of yÌ„ ê¯gregatioÌ„n coÌ„mittit tyll his cure For quhy albeit man be ye iustrumeÌ„t GOD is the principall wyrkar and it quhilk is done be man in authoritie takis nocht effect of maÌ„ onelie bot of God principalie 2. Cor. 3. v. 5 wirk-and be maÌ„ Thairfore sayis the apostole Rom. 13. v. 2 he that resystis to the hiear power he resystis vnto God and wirk is the thing quhilk is his awin damynatioun Treuth it is to do that thing quhilk aptenis to his awin singulare weill it may be that he quha is in authoritie want the grace of god to ye tyme that he knaw his offence and cum to repen tance as albeit Cayphas had the spreit of GOD to speik prophesie quhilk wes to the veritie and weill of the coÌ„gregatioun coÌ„mittit tyll his cure Nochtheles he had not the gyft of the haly gaist to do that thyng quhilk ryndit to his awin saluatioun because of his induritnes but repentance refusand the grace of God wylfullie quhilk wes reddye to hym and all man ¶ For conclutioun to geue the superfluus persuasioun that vice dois nocht hynder nor dirogatioun tyll authoritie chow sall mark the wordis of our Salueour spekyng on this maner In the Mat. 23. Chyir of Moyses sittis Scribes and Phariseis quhatsumeuir thyng thay bid Èow do do it bot do nocht as thay do Because thay bid do dois nocht Off this text it may weill be persauit that god wyll obedience tyl man in authoritie in doyng yat thyng quhilk ryndis tyl his office albeit his lyfe wer neuir sua vicius THE ALEVINT CHAPITRE ⧠IT IS not vnknawin to me yâ— barbour coÌ„moÌ„n sayingis of meÌ„ vnlearnit spekand on this maner Quhat and ye hiear poweris comand ws ye thing quhilk may not stand with ye worde of GOD we aucht rather Actu 5. obey God nor man for coÌ„sideratioun off thir sayngis the Authoritie that we principallic speik of for this present purpose is of ye authoritie of the generall counsalis quha assuritlic hes euir declarit all materis doutsuÌ„ ê¯cernyng the faith trewlie ê¯forme to go dis word as efterwart mair cleitlie save persauit And as to materis plane I beleif surelie thair wes neuir authoritie quhilk come be ane ordour beand christin men that ê¯maÌ„dit ony thing ê¯trare the commande of GOD. And geue thay had sua done thay wet na wayis to be obeyit As be exempyll gyf ony man in authoritie walde coÌ„mand the thyng quhilk wer expresse aganis the ten coÌ„mande meÌ„tis or ony artycle off our beleue we aucht suld na wayis obey þaim because it wer agais god manifestlie knawin tyl all christin meÌ„ Bot as to materis doutsuÌ„ hauing apperance for baith the partis quhilkê ar aboue thy knawlege thow aucht to ressaue the ingenieÌ„t of the kirk without questioun or ressonyng specialie anent the sacramentis and all vther misteryis necessare to be knawin for ane Christin mannis Saluatioun Eeue thow wyll say quhat and ye generale ê¯salis hatre gettin ws ane other declaratioÌ„n of yÌ„ sarrameÌ„tis nor may stand with the word of GOD ☞ Mark gude redare the proude ignorance and gret arrogance of yis saying for quhy may it not iustlie be inferrit that he quhilk fyndis falt with it that is done be the generale coÌ„nsalis reknis hym self of gretar knawlege and to haue gretar gyft of the haly gaist takand gretare authoritie on hym self nor the hale kirk of God quhilk is repugnant to the word of god expreslie tyll al ordour For wyl thow luke the scripture all throw thow sall neuir fyud yat euir it wes lesum to the rest of ye meÌ„bris of ye coÌ„gregatioun to fynd falt or argoun in the coÌ„trar of that thyng quhilk was done be the speciale meÌ„ber of ye coÌ„gregatioun appoyntit be God to interpreit or decerne vpon materis doutsum coÌ„cernyng the law Thairfore it wes expreflie coÌ„mandit vnder the pane of deith Deu 17. that the chosin peple of God sulde ressaue ye vnderstanding of ye law quheÌ„suÌ„euir questioun rais for the samyn conforme to the iugemeÌ„t of the preistis of the Trybe of Leui hym quhilk wes cheif preist wtout resso nyng in the coÌ„trar Treuth it is the preistis of the trybe of Leui and al 's the ministeris of the newe law quha hes coÌ„uenit in generale counsalis wer bounde tyll Interpreit the Scripture conforme to the worde of God quhilk thay euir did assuritlie nocht of thame self bot of god quhaeuir wirk is with authorite as said is And alwayis god iuge to the hiear poweris in doiyng yâ— thing that tyndis to thair office and na priuate noumer of meÌ„ how godlie or weill lernit yâ— euir thay be ye subiectis moÌ„ euir staÌ„d at it quhilk is done be the hiear poweris beyng christin meÌ„ cuÌ„and to authoritie be ane ordour aye quhill the samyn be reducit be sufficient ordour speciallie in sic thyngis as ar aboue thair knawlegs because in the menetyme ye hiear poweris beris thair burding it is â—a way is the burding of ye subiectis to cearse out ye secretis of goddis word Heb 1.17 bot to tak instructioÌ„n of sic as god hes apoyntit aboÌ„e þaim as I schew ye of before Geue thow or ony priuat noumer of meÌ„ wyll say that Èe haue the plane scripture for Èow thay quha coÌ„uenit in generale coÌ„nsalis wyll saye yat trewlie that ye scripture is mekle mair plane for yame And al 's thay haue authoritie of god
to decerne on materis doutsum coÌ„cernyng the law quhilk na priuat noumer of meÌ„ hes as ye experience hes euir techeit ws coÌ„forme to goddis word Attour quhat sais thou in that part bot that al meÌ„ quhilk eâ—â— hes bene geuiÌ„ tyl errour said afore ye For wyl thou coÌ„siâ—der al ye gnÌ„rale ê¯salis quhilkê euir hes bene fra ye first to the last thou sall euir fynd suÌ„ seditius meÌ„ that wes excellentlie learnit beand of ye ê¯trar opinioun quhilk said thay had ye plane scripture for thame takand ye scripture euir to be thair iuge that ye ê¯salts errit Be thir meanis thou sall bryng renew alye errourê that euir hes bene coÌ„dempnit sen the time of ye Apost lis to thir dayis in disputatioÌ„ ê¯strane new ordout to be tane of the samyn quhilk wer euirlastyng confusioun to be in the kirk of GOD. ¶ Tharefore wyll we conclude coÌ„forme to ye wordis of ye Euangell sen thay quha coÌ„uenis in generale counsalis occupyis ye place and Chyir of Moyses be office and authoritie specialite to declare the rycht ordour in ministratioun of ye sa crameÌ„tis and to discerne the rycht vnderstanding of goddis worde fra ye wrang for quietnes of ye coÌ„gregatioun coÌ„mittit to thair cure it is ye dewitie of all the rest of the meÌ„bris to obey that thyng quhilk meÌ„ in authoritie coÌ„mandis as plesis god to steir vp thair hartis to geue declaratioÌ„n on materis doutsum coÌ„cernyng ye vnderstanding of ye law to the quhilkê god is the onelie iuge And is nocht lesum to the subiectis vnder ye pretence of the auancemeÌ„t of goddis worde allegeand ye seripture to be iuge to serk ane libertie to thair lustis and heresyis makand plane rebellioun tyll authoritie For I dar baldlye say luke the scripturis althrow thow sall neuirfynd that it hes bene lesuÌ„ to the subiectis to fynd falt or correct it quhilk wes done be the hiear poweris cuÌ„and tyll authoritie be ane ordour specially in doyng that thing quhilk ryndit to thair office Now sall thow coÌ„sidder how impropitlie and falslie meÌ„ geuin tyll opinioun in thir day is thrawis ye scripture contrar the godlie menyng of the samyn agams the kirk Actu 5. As be exempyll It is wryttin in ye actis of the Apostoles in this maner ¶ We aucht tyll obey God rather than man Thow sall marke gude redare quha spak thit wordis first Secundlie to quhame þai wer spokin Thridlie for quhat cause And it salve easy tyl ê‘saue geue thay be ê“pirlie allegit or nocht The first quhilk said thir wordis wes ye cheif Apostole Peter with the rest of the Apostlis Thapwer spokin to the hie preist the rest of his cumpanye The cause wes that the hie preiste with the rest coÌ„mandit that in na way the Apostolis sulde teche in the name of Iesu Christ Thus sall thou coÌ„syder that thay quha gaue ye coÌ„mand beleuit nocht in Iesus Christ nor his EuaÌ„gell nor hade authoritie to coÌ„mand the Apostolis at that tyme. Atrour it quhilk thay coÌ„mandit wes expresse ag nus the Euangell manifestlie knawin to the apoitolis Tharefore iustlic ê“pirlie said the Apostoics Acts. â—â— God suld be rather obey it than maÌ„ Be the contrar thay quha coÌ„uems in generale counsalis coÌ„fessis the Euangell to be the trew word of God and ar christiane men hauand authoritie of Iesu Christ quha is Ephe. 1. Coloss 1. heid to his kirk And al 's althe scripturis quhilkis euir thay haue declarit orexponit hes diuers vtheris places of scripturis geuand thaim iuste occasioÌ„n conforme to goddis worde tyll interpreit the secretis of the samyn as thay haue done Ouharfore it may weill be ê‘sauit how im ê“pirlie falstie vngodlie me geuiÌ„ tyl opinioÌ„ i thir dayis applyis thrawis yÌ„ scripture ê¯trar yÌ„ kirk of god quhilk wes propirlie allegit and applyit be ye Apostolis contrar ye Iowis Wald God meÌ„ vnlearnit ê‘sauit how wyckit meÌ„ in thir dayis apply is mony diuers places of scrip turis as thou may cleirlye ê‘saue be this scripture abone rehersit geuand thaim occasioun of alkynd of wickitnes specialie of dissobedieÌ„ce to thair htear poweris Off all ye vices that euir thou sall reid punischeit be God thou sall fynd twa in speciale Ane is the dissobedience of the subiectis the vther ye necligence of þaim quha ar in authoritie quhilk is do is not thair dett dewtie to þair subiectis ê¯forme to thair vocatioÌ„n Throw the quhilk thay ar punissit diuers maner of wayis Ane n speciale is that oftymes because the hiear poweris and magistratis dissimulis ouir mekle with ye faltis of the subiectis 1. Reg. 4 al 's geuis yame nocht sufficient instructioun first to knaw thair det dewtie to almychtie god thairefter to þair magistratis god ê‘mittis sufferis the subiectis to rebell be dissobedient to the lawis coÌ„mand imeÌ„tis off of the hiear poweris takand the place of authoritie mysordourlie on thame selfis quhilk is ane of ye creuell punischemeÌ„tis that may cuÌ„ to all quhilkis ar in authoritie The exempyll is sua familiar in diuers partis of the warld that we mister not to tak paine nor be curius in seikyng of ye samyn And because the subiectis seikis not reformatioun of ye magistratis ê¯forme to ye wyl mynd of ye lord quhilk wer efter my iugemeÌ„t to cal vpoÌ„ god ve ê¯tineuall prayer be ressoÌ„n þai ar not certane bot wickitnes desitis sic vnworthy heidis to regne abone thaim almychtie God wyl prouide sic rewlaris as wyl bryng thame to ye knawlege of god Tob. 34 and thame self perchance fer by thare appetyte Osee 13 albeit it may be to thare gret weill at lenth Off this we haue diuers exemplis in scripture ane in speciale wyll we call to rememberance quhare almychtie God tuke creuell vengeance punischemeÌ„t for vsurpatioÌ„n of authoritie dissobedience We reid of three men ane wes callit Chore Num. 10 the vther Dathan the thrid Abyron and for thair dsurpyng of authoritie and dissobedièce to Moyses and Aaron beyng cheif rewlaris to ye chosin peple of God the erth oppiunit and thay wer swellytt body and saule perperualie to the hell ¶ Thairfore as all gude christiane men wald auoide ye euerlasting wraith of almychtie God obey the hiear poweris in all thyng done be thaim quhilk is done be ane ordour coÌ„forme to thair vs catioÌ„n Roma 15â— And lat na subiectis mak partie be ê‘swasioun of priuat men cuÌ„and but authoritie quhilk wes neuir vnpunischeit be almychtie God specialie to mel iÌ„ curius ressoning of materis obscure concernyng the faith sick as the kirk alreddy hes tane ordour in to quhilk is the onelie iuge and to be iugeit be na man in erth bot be god allanerlie
quhilk our Salueour spekis of quhare now be tyrrannie and Auarice for the maiste part as it wer theuis or brygantis we creip in at wyndois or bak durris And this blyndit in Auarice gret meÌ„ trowis to mak vp þair housis be abusioun of yâ— patrimony and rentis of the kirk quhilk but dout salbe vtter rewyne albeit it be plesand for the present to mony gret housis besydis the gret pertel dainger on ye latter day ☞ The day the day that terrible day sall cum quhen the vnhappy Auaricius man sall wary the tyme that euer he had the brother or sone to quhame he bure sic fleschelie and vngodlie fauour as to steir hym vp to be ane gydare rewlar of Christis floke quhilk culde not gyde hym self The malheurius prince sall warie ye tyme yat euir he wes sua mischeantlie subiect to the vnressonable desyre of his subiectis The miserable ignoraÌ„t sierit vp in authoritie sall curs yâ— tyme that euir he tuke on hym yâ— charge quhilk wes na wayis coÌ„uenient for hym in ye menetyme the pure simple peple sua deirlie bocht be ye blude deith off Iesu Christ our salueour miserablie perischeis the kirk is sclanderit God is dishonorit all heresyis wickitnes and vice regnis As to me I wyl say na thyng bot humelie beseik the Lord God tyl Illuminat ye hartis of the Magistratis specialie quhilkis hes the authoritie to be the vpsteraris of faithfull ministeris in the kirk of God to prouide sick qualifeit Pastouris as wyll do conforme to thair vocatioun as may be to ye glore of God exoneratioun of thair awin coÌ„sciences thairis quha ê“uidis thaim to haue authoritie aÌ„d gouernment of Christis flok And al 's I beseiâ— yâ— leuyng god that thay quha ar all reddy ministeris in the kirk of God specialie quha occupyis thee place of the Apostoles be office authoritie call to remeÌ„brance the Seueir rigorus sentence off the Apostole saying 1. Cor. 9. wa be vnto me and I preche not Ezec. 34. And al 's the wordis of the Propheit sayaÌ„d wa be vnto Èow Pastores of I sraell quhilkê feidis Èour seifis nocht my flok Quharethrow the Pastores doyng thair dett and deuore to the simpyll peple coÌ„mittit to thair cure all Hereseis wyckitnes and vice sulde be suppressit the kirk vnsclanderit and GOD honourit to quhame be glore for euir ¶ Beneuoleut redare as it hes plesit God to geue ws grace we haue answerit tyl al ye partis of the argumeÌ„t aboÌ„e rehersit obiectit aganis our purpose First quhare questioun wes gyf thay quha coÌ„uenit dewlie in generale consalis had the spreit of god as had the Apostolis or nocht We schew the that lyke as it wes necessare yat the kirk of GOD suld indure and be gouernit iÌ„ faith and religioun to the glore of god on to the end of the warld Swa wes it necessare that the gyft of the haly gaist suld indure remane with the cheif ministeris of the coÌ„gregatioun in doyng yat thing quhilk ryndit to þair office to ye end of the warld coÌ„forme to the wordis of our Salueour spekyng vnto his Apostolis in the personage of the rest of the ministeris of the kirk of god quhilkis wer to succeid in the apostolis place say and Ioh. 14. I sall pray the father and he sall geue Èow ane vther coÌ„forter quhilk may byde with Èow for euir the spreit of veritie Quhare questioÌ„n wes gyf thay quhilkê coÌ„uenit dewlie in generall coÌ„salis representit the vniuersale kirk of god or not I schew ye diuers ressonis ê‘swadyng the samyn coÌ„firmand thame be plane testimony of scripture insafer as thay occupyit the place of ye Apostoles be office authoritie to quhame it appertenith as the speciale meÌ„ber of the coÌ„gregatioun appoyntit be God to tak ourdour in al materis doutsuÌ„ concernyng ye faith al 's thair authoritie geuin thaim of god wes and is al 's sufficient in all sortis as wes yâ— authoritie of the preistis of ye Trybe of Leui It followis weil quhatsumeuir thing was done be the saidis ministeris for ye weill and quietnes of the coÌ„gregatioun coÌ„mittit to thare â—ure hade the samyn strenth and effect that it had quhilk wes done be the Apostolis or the ministeris of ye auld law for the quietnes of ye congregation coÌ„mittit to thare cure I gaue the lykewyse iuste occasion to be oute of doute of that thyng quhilk wes done be thame quha coÌ„uenit n generale counsalis wtout respect of thare lyues be ressoÌ„n yat albeit thay had bene viâ—ius as thay wer nocht Èit þair vice did na dirogationn nor hynder to thair authoritie Off this I gaue the diuers ressonis coÌ„firmand the samyn be plane testimonie off scripture sick as wes of Ioha 14. Cayphas and the Maâ— 2. pretstis in the auld law quhilkis coÌ„uenit at the desyre of ye wickit kyng Herode quha nocht wtstanding yat thay wer al 's wickit ministeris as euir wer in the kirk of God Èit thair vice did na hynder nor dirogatioÌ„n to thair authoritie bot thay had the grace of god to do that thyng quhilk ryndit to thair office As towart the lawis coÌ„stitutionis maid be the kirk confer thame with the scripture quha plesis treulie vnderstand conforme to the interpretatioÌ„ of the ancient Fatheris hauand coÌ„sideratioÌ„ of the occasionis circuÌ„stances of ye tyme I dar baldlie saye coÌ„forme to the doctryne of meÌ„ of godlie learnyng thay salbe fundin aggreabyll with goddis worde disponand euery christiane man to be the mair habyll to keip the law of God Thus hes thou iuste occasioun conforme to the scripture of almychtie GOD ressoun and authoritie to be satifeit assuritlie in al poyntis of ye argumeÌ„t aboue rehersit nocht doutyng bot ye gentyl redare wyl tak in fauounrê albeit we haue bene prolirt in doyng the samyn be ressoun that nocht onelye we answerit formalie to the four principall heidis of the argument bot al 's to diuers vtheris doutis coÌ„moun sayngis and opinionis quhair with meÌ„ vnlearnit for ye maist part ar abusit in yir vnhappy dayis And now conforme to our promeis be the grace of God wyll we praceid on vtheris questionis mouit in the contrar of our purpose THE FYFTENT CHAPITRE HEIR Efter followis ane argumeÌ„t mouit incontrar oure purpose on yis manÌ„ QuhairsuÌ„euir ye spreit of God is thair is treuth verytie wtout repugnaÌ„ce or ê¯trarietie Thair hes bene diuers generale coÌ„salis repugnant ane vnto ane vther sua that ane hes ê¯deÌ„pnit yat quhilk ane vther hes approuin Tharefore it followis that ye gnÌ„rale ê¯salis hes nott had the spreit of god nor ar ye speciale member off the ê¯gregatioÌ„ appoyntit be god to tas ordour iÌ„ materis of debait ê¯retniÌ„g faith For vnderstaÌ„diÌ„g of yis purpose thou salesidder
we haue plane in scripture that ye apostlis wes iugis to discerne gyf CircuÌ„cisioun wes necessare with Baptime Act. 1â— and al 's thay wer partie tyl al quhilkis did affirme cir cuÌ„cisioun to be necessare Thairfore said ye apostole S. Paule gyf Gala 5. Èe be circuÌ„cidit Christe aualis Èow nocht Attour we ar certifut that the godlie Byschope Athanasius in speciale ganestude the wick it heresie of Arrius Hist cee Lib. 10. capi 14. with diuers vtheris godlie fatheris Èit he the rest wer iuges quha decernit on the samyn Sua it makis na dirogatioÌ„ to ye authoritie of the kirk that the faithful ministeris of ye samyn be partie tyll all vngodlie doctryne and al 's iuge thairupon be ye quhilk ye veritie may be maid patent to the hale ê¯gregation ¶ Sum wyll obiect and be the menis seik ane colour to defende the gret variance off opinioun quhilk is amangis seditius meÌ„ in thir dayis saying that thair wes diuersitie in opinioun amangis the ald doctores approuiÌ„ be ye kirk al 's amangis sum scolastick meÌ„ laitlie sen the doctores tyme. This argumeÌ„t seruis of nocht for twa ressonis First ye doctores gaif thair iugemeÌ„t in the beginnyng afore that misteriis of the scripture wer maid pa teÌ„t be the kirk Epist. ad eccle argentor Thairfor as sais Erasme þair imê‘fectioun wes to be borne with all al 's quharesumeuir thay varie it is of materis for the maist part of opinioÌ„ quhilkis ar not expÌ„slie ê¯tenit in the scripture bot as hes plesit god with the tyme to steir vp his kirk to tak ordour thairinto sua that all questioun debait schysme may be pacifyit in ye coÌ„gte gatioÌ„ Bot be the coÌ„trar meÌ„ geuin tyll opinion in thir dayis varyis for ye vnderstanding of the scripturis necessare to be vnderstaÌ„d for all christiane meÌ„nis saluation specialie in sick purposis as the kirk alreddy hes tane sufficient ordour in to contempnand alluterlie the iugemeÌ„t of the kirk preferrand þair awin priuate iugemeÌ„tê to ye samyn quhilk was neuir done be ye ancient fatheris nor nane vthetis scolastick wrytaris eft the deliberatioÌ„ of the kirk Quharcfor the similitude argumeÌ„t in defence of thair euriositie variaÌ„ce seruis off nocht as the diligent redare may persaue Sum thair is geuin tyll opinioun thay wyl admit ye iugemeÌ„t deliberatioun of part of the generale counsalis and vther part thay wyll all uterlie cry out on as Melanchton Bucere Bullinger SuÌ„ tyme thay clame to the authoritie of the kirk off the quhilk schortlie thow sall haue exempyll SuÌ„ tyme þai ê¯tempne the authoritie of the kirk For coÌ„syderation of this purpose ye redare sal ê¯sidder that all sick coÌ„salis as hes condempnit ony heresyis quhilkis thir factius men ar not wylling to mantayne all sick thay wyll admit authorize All coÌ„nsalis quhilkê hes ê¯dempnit sick wickit heresyis as thay ar wylling to renew fortifie albeit thay wer neuir sua godlie alwayis wyll þai coÌ„tempne Nocht wtstanding that ye authoritie of al ye generale consalis dewlie ê¯uenit is alyke spe cialie to take ordour in materis coÌ„cernyng faith religioun for the quietnes of the coÌ„gregatioun coÌ„mittit to thair cure Quha doutis bot Artius Macedonius Nestorius Eutices coÌ„tempnit the first four generale coÌ„salis quhairin þair heresyis wer repellit iustlie coÌ„dempnit allegeaÌ„d diuers pretendit seripturis ressonis and authoriteis for thame lyke as meÌ„ in thir dayis iniustlie coÌ„tempnis ye deliberatioun of diuers godlie gnÌ„rale coÌ„salis quhilkis hes ê“eedit incontrar ye wickit heresyis quhilkis thay ar wylling to renew fortyfie Thus do thay detract repell the authoritie of the kirk to quhame it appertenis to discerne the trew vnderstandyng of ye scripture fra ye wraÌ„g as thay do repell ye scripturis self Dois not Luther repel S. Iamesepistole al 's ye Apocalipse of S. Iohane because þair is diuers testimoniis of scripture ê¯tenit in thame direct coÌ„trar to his opinioun And inlykewayis sumtyme thay repell ye doctryne of the ancient fatheris callit the doctores of the kirk Sumtyme thay ê‘suert thraw ye sayingis of the doctores ê‘suadyng to meÌ„ vnlermt that þair doctryne and the doctores doctryne ar alwayis agreabyll of the quhilk I wyll mak ye redare quhilk is vnlernit to knaw ane mÌ„ueloê° dissaitful craft ☞ mark aue secreit of heretykis quhilk is na lytle secreit amaÌ„gis heretikis It is familiar to the ancient fatheris of the kirk quheÌ„suÌ„euir thay wryte aganis ony heresie quhilk wes in þair tyme to ressoun for baith the partis thairefter þai coÌ„clude trewlie ê¯forme to the scripture and as ye kirk hes approuin That part of the argument maÌ„teanit be heretikis of laÌ„g tyme bypast quhilk factius meÌ„ ar wylling to renew in thir dayis for þair is few hereseis now in yir dayis bot thay haue bene ê¯dempnit of auld fra hande apply thay to foriifie þair purpose yus meÌ„ vnlernit ê‘suadit that part of the argumeÌ„t quhilk seruis for the opinioun of heretikis to be the propir sayingis of the Doctores not wtstanding that it is bot the opinioun of heretikis rehersit be the doctores nocht knawaÌ„d that maner for quhat purpose tha saying is wer rehersit be the doctores nor Èit the ê¯trar part of the argumeÌ„t nor ê¯clusioun miserablie ar dissauit beleuand that râ—hers to be maid be the doctores as affirmyng that opinioun and tha simple meÌ„ ar nocht hable to ê¯fer the doctores to se geue that be trew or not Attour thou sall vnderstand that the ancient fatheris makaÌ„d meÌ„tioun of diuers misteryis of ye scripture sumtymes spak with swa gret reuereÌ„ce feare that it is not easie to ê‘saue þair iugemeÌ„tê towart the vnderstaÌ„ding of ye samyn SuÌ„tyme thay declare þair mynd mair planelie The cause of yis wes efter ye iugemeÌ„t of learnit meÌ„ that the fatheris wald not diffyne on the profund misteryis of the scripture vnto ye tyme the generale coÌ„salis hade tane ordour thairinto And al 's thair ar diuers misteryis quhilkis wer neuir brocht in dout in tha doctores dayis lyk as the misterye of the blyssit SacrameÌ„t of ye altare quhilk wes first brocht in disputatioun be ane callit Beringarius Anno domini 1051. quhilk wes sax hundreth Èeir and mair after ye tyme of Hierome Ambrose Augustyne and mony of the rest of ye ancient fatheris Now sall thow vnderstand that all sick places quhairinto the doctores spak not planelie thay places applyis the heretykis for thair awin purpose swa affirmes the doctores to be for thame all the way All sick places quhairinto the doctores mair planelie declaris thair mynd thay dissimule wynkis at thame And be thir meanis diâ—â—aitfullie meÌ„ geuin tyll opinioun dissauis yâ— simpyl peple quha is not hable to
quhilkis wald say the coÌ„trar This may we ê‘saue gude redare how necessare it is to beleue leyn to the iug emÄ—t of ye kirk in mony diuers thingis necessare to be beleuit ar nocht expreslie coÌ„tenit iÌ„ scripture nor hable to be collectit of scriptures Thair for said the ancient father S. augustine De prescr ip Heret that he walde nocht beleue the EuaÌ„gell except ye authoritie of the kirk hade mouit hym sua to do as he wald say he wes nocht habyll to knawe quhilk is the Euangell bot gyf the kirk had techeit hym Hauand coÌ„sideration beneuolent redare of yis daingerus tyme quhairinto meÌ„ ar swa ê“cliue to fals wickit iugemeÌ„tis heir wyll we schortlie declare our mynd towart ye authoritie of the scripture the kirk as we haue learnit of meÌ„ of godlie doctryne gude lyfe Because ê‘chance suÌ„ maÌ„ wyll falslie collect of our sayingis aboue rehersit that we auance the authoritie of ye kirk sua hichlie that it extenuatis obscuris the glore of goddis worde and trewlie we mene na thing les For ê¯sideration of this purpose thow sal vnderstand that thair ar diuers opinionis heirinto Sum meÌ„ raschelie ascryuis to ye scripture it quhilk is not to be ascryuit thairto Sick as to mak the scripture iuge quhensuÌ„euir questioun or debait rysis for the vnderstanding of the samyn Sum superstitius meÌ„ ascriues that to the kirk quhilk is aganis all veritie affirmand the scripture to tak authoritie of the kirk quhilk but dout takis authoritie of the haly gaist onelie Treuth it is the kirk testifeis to the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ certifiis quhilk is autentik scripture quhilk is nocht quhilk argumeÌ„tis nocht that the scripture takis authoritie of the kirk Tharefore the scrpture is nocht trewe because the kirk hes approuin it bot because the scripture in the self is trew it wes and is necessare to ye kirk to appreue ye samyn As be exemple sanct Ihone Baptiste testifiit that Iesus Christe our Salueour is the Sone of God redemare of the warld quhilk he did be the inspiration of the haly gaist Notheles our salueour tuke to authoritie of S. Ihone bot the father of heuin onelie Sua sall thow coÌ„sidder that the kirk off god geuis nocht authoritie to the scripture bot be inspiratioun of ye haly gaist testifyis and makis manifest to the coÌ„gregatioun quhilk is autentik scripture quhilk is nocht and sua the kirk of god and the scripture ar neuir coÌ„trarius Treuth it is ye kirk of God extendis to mair nor is expreslie coÌ„tenit in scripture quhilk al christiane meÌ„ behufis to beleue as I haue schawiÌ„ yâ— alreddy PerchaÌ„ce thow wyll say that the kirk hes na power forther nor is contenit expressie in the scripture Because ye scripture Apoc. 22. cursis hym quhilk â—kis or paris to the word of God First thou sal vnderstaÌ„d that yir wordis ar mankitlie allegeit falslie applyit becaus thair is nocht in al the scripture sick ane worde as eking and paryng to the word of God And al 's thou sall vnderstand that it is nocht eking nor paring to the worde of God trewlie tyll expone interpreit the samyn nor Èit to mak lawis agreable with ye law of God as the kirk dois For we haue that the Apostolis Actu 15. 1 Cor. 7. n. maid lawis quhilkis wer nocht expreslie coÌ„mandit be God Thairfore thow redis neuir that our Salueour forbad to belcue or vse ony lawis bot thame quhilkis wer to be coÌ„tenit in the Euangell or wrytin scripture This thou maye persaue yat the authoritie of the kirk extendis to mair nor is expreslie coÌ„tenit in scripture quhilk argumentis nocht repugnance For quhy ye kirk wes lang or euir thair wes ony wryttin scripture bot it quhilk wes wrytin in the hartis of godlie meÌ„ ¶ Forther thow sall considder that albeit the authoritie of the kirke extendis to mair nor is expreslie contenit in the scripture because thai ar diuers thingis quhilkis we suld beleue and ar nocht contenit in scripture nochtheles the scripture kirk ar baith alyke trew equale of sirenth power and dignitie gouernit euir with thee samyn spirite of God To veufie thee samyn it is manifest that the apostolis ressauit þair authoritie of Iesu Christe lang or euir thair wes ony wryttin scripture of the new testament Ioha 20. Mat. 15. Tharefore ye Apostolis in the sentence quhilk thay send away with Paulus and Barnabas to the gentyles declaryng thair determination towart circuÌ„cisioun sais planelie Act. 15. It hes plesit the haly gaist and ws Quhareby thow may persaue that thee Apostolis had authoritie of the haly gaist onelye and all vtheris quhilkis succedit in thair place Nochtwithstanding that thaye wer sterit vp tyll authoritie be man For conclusion lyke as it appertenis to the kirk of God to discerne quhilk is the trew and autentik scripture of God quhilk is nocht Swâ— it appertenis to the kirk to discerne quhilk is the trew vnderstanding of ye scripture quhilk is nocht according to the doctryne of all men of godlie learnyng ¶ Tharefore we neuir say in all our lytle tractiue that the kirk is iuge to the scripture bot yat the kirk is iuge to discene quhilk is ye trew scripture of God and to mak manifest to the congregatioun ye trew vnderstandyng of the samyn quhensumeuir questioun or debait rysis for the trew Scripture or vnderstandyng thair of and swa the kirk hes and euir hade this authoritie off our Salue our and thair into is gouernit be thee inspiratioun of the halye Gaist conforme to thee instructioun hade be the scripture as the trew euident and faithful wytnes berar of ye wyll and mynd of the Lorde this to my iugemeÌ„t is ye rycht vnderstandyng of the authoritie baith of ye scripture and of the kirk of God coÌ„forme to goddis worde and all ressoun AS IT HES plesit God to geue ws grace we half schawiÌ„ gud wyl beneuoleÌ„t redar accordyng tyll our promeis sobir knawlege geuand iust occasion tyl euery christiane maÌ„ quhilk is of godly and temperat iugement to be satifeit assuritlie in al the poyntis coÌ„tenit in the tytle of our tractiue be ressoun þat we haue declarit conforme to the scripture of almychtie God auld testameÌ„t new and al 's ê¯forme to the experience of the tyme euir sen the tyme of the apostolis to thir dayis to gidder with sufficient ressonis and authoriteis of the maist excellent men of godlie learnyng gude lyfe quhilkis euir wer ministeris in Christis kirk and coÌ„gregatioun the nerrest and onelie way to establieshe the conscience of all christiane meÌ„ in al materis of debait concernyng faith and religioÌ„n The meanis and way we schew the lykewyse quhilk wes because that all questioun and debait for ye maist part quhilk is or euir hes bene mouit in the congregatioun for materis doutsum coÌ„cernyng thee faith rais for the vnderstandyng of ye scripture and nocht for ye scripturis self Thairfore necessare it wes to haue and knaw the iuge appoyntit be God to discerne ye trew vnderstanding of the Scripture fra the wrang As towart the iuge we schew the conforme to Goddis worde trewlie allegeit al gude ressoun that we ar constraynit assuritlie to beleue the generale counsalis dewlie conuenit to represent the vniuersale congregatioun and kirk of God quhairby all the rest of the membris sulde be pacifeit and satifeit in conscience in all the secretis of ye scripture necessare to be knawin for ane christiane mannis saluatioun and all vther doutis concernyng faith and religioun as the onelie iuge prouidit be God takand virtew power authoritie of almychtie God vtherwayis tyl oppin ane plane port tyl al the errouris quhilkis euir hes bene sen the tyme of ye Apostolis to þir dayis and euery man to tak quhat opinioun he plesis leuand in perpetuale contrauersie debait for the faith Now sen we ar certifiit assuritlie quha is the iuge lat all christiane maÌ„ quhilk is in dout haue refuge to the iuge wtout curius or forther ressonyng to be satifiit iÌ„ his doute be this meane and way quhilk is ê¯forme to goddis worde and al ressoun It salbe easie tyl all men to be satifiit assuritlie in all materis doutsum concernyng the faith and religioun of all christiane men quhilk hes bene prouidit fra thee begynning for the gret weil and quietnes of ye hale congregatioun be our heuinlie Father To quhame with the Sonne and halye Gaist be prayse honour and glore for euir and euir ☞ †☜ ☞ FINIS ☜
aboue thair wittis as we may se now in our dayis in all partis infynit dissaitfull prechearis seand the miserable peple for laik of gude doctryne punilchement brocht in sic debait bout of the faith vnder the coloure of godlines disagyse thame selfis as sais 2 Coâ— 1â— the Apostole to be Angellis of lycht ê“mittyng al libertic to that peple blyndit with gnoraÌ„ce drownit iÌ„ lustis desyrus of noueltie And to the effect that it salbe thocht that thai cuÌ„ be ane ordour thay wil say sweir thai ar send be god not be meÌ„â—as said Galâ—t 1. S. Paul Thir pestileÌ„t pÌ„charis ar to be eryit out oÌ„ be al meÌ„ of godlie lerniÌ„g iugemeÌ„t because yÌ„ authorissing of sic is aganis the law of God maÌ„ and al gude ressoÌ„n Is it nocht expreslie coÌ„mandit be 1 Cor. 14 S. Paule that all thing sulde be done be ane ordour and al 's expreslie forbiddin that ony man sulde Hebre. 5 vsurpe authoritie at his awin hand say and How sall thaye preche bot geue thay Rom. 10. be send as he wald say be God or maÌ„ To be assurit that thay come not off god thair is na maÌ„ that estemis hym self to be send be GOD allanerlie bot he mon geue testification of the samyn and coÌ„firme his doctryne be miracle for thair is na vther sure way that meÌ„ sal discerne fals Prophetis precheouris quha allegis thame self to be send of God fra godlie Prophetis precheouris Reid ye scripture al throw I dar baldlie say thow sall neuir fynd onye man send be god allanerlie nocht be maÌ„ bot he confirmit his doctyne be miracles or ellis the scripture makis plane mentioÌ„n that he wes send be God To geue all gude christiane maÌ„ ferther and iuste occasioun to crye out on all sick pÌ„cheouris quha priuatlie but authoritie wyll mell thame with materis doutsum coÌ„cernyng the faith thow sal vnder stand it may be that ane maÌ„ haue the gift of the haly gaist assuritlie and Èit nocht vnderstand all the secretis and misteriis of ye heale Scripture To preue the samyn thow sall haue plane testimony of scripturis and na Sophistrie nor vaine inuentioun of maÌ„ It is wryttin that the Apostlis ressauit Act. 2. the gift of the haly gaist the fyft day callit in our language wytsounday Amangis the rest Peter resauit the gyft of the haly gaist Nochtheles we reid yat Peter beyng in Act. 10. Ioppe quahair he wes at ludgeyng he past vp to ane secreit place to pray in ye menety me he grew hungrie þair apperit to hym to cum out of the heuin diuers kyndis of meatis amaÌ„gê vtheris þair come suÌ„ quhilkis wer forbiddin of the law thair come ane voce sayng Peter ryse slay and eait he wes astonissit of the reuelatioÌ„n and grudgeit in his ê¯science to eait the meatis forbiddin of ye law Quhairby thow may cleirlie persaue that albeit lange tyme of before he had ressauit the gyft of ye halie gaist Èit this secreit quhether geue it wes leifiuÌ„ to eait meatis forbiddin be the lawe or nocht vnto that tyme wes hyd and obscure fta hym Likewyse schortlie thairefter he Baptizate Cornelius 〈◊〉 his houshaulde Act. 10. â— withoute Circumcisioun qu hirs wes misknawin to hym of before be the quhilk efterwart he affermit in the coÌ„nsale quhare the laâ—f of the Apostolis wer conuenit in Hierusaiem yat Baptime wes sufficient wtout Act. 1â— CircuÌ„cisioun Be thir plane testimomeis of scripture we ar instructit how vaine is the opinioun of mony in thir dayis quhilkis assuritlie leanis to the opinioun of meÌ„ cumand but authoritie in declaratioun of ye misteriis of Goddis word hauand na maner of lernyng nor solide iugement ymaginand and dremyng yam selfis to be send be GOD hauaÌ„d the gift of the haly gaist lyke as it wer necessare quhilk is nocht that GOD sulde wirke be miracle now geuand thame that cuÌ„and but ony maner of authoritie the gyft of the haly gaist to interprete ye secretis of our faith it beyng all reddy perswadit be the kirk of god fra tyme to tyme as he did to his apostolis in the begynning of the kirk quhilk wes necessare Math. 10 as I schew the off before because þai wer send hauiÌ„g authoritie of god to be the first furthsettaris of our faith And al 's it plesit GOD that ye faith suld be set furth in the begyuning be Ideotis hauand the gyft of the haly gaist Actu 4. quhairby it mycht be kend that our faith come not be ingyne of maÌ„ bot be god allanerlie quhilk is nocht necessare now Thairfore wyll thou coÌ„sidder ye scrip ture all throw thou sall ê‘saue that it is requirit yat thay quha succedis in the place of the apostlis be weill â— Timo. 3 learnit that thay may be habyll TituÌ„ 1. to teche the faith to vtherê trewlie as the kirk of god hes euir techeit thaim ê¯forme to his word not to think that god sal geue instructioun to ony priuat man older in authoritie or out of authoritie as he did to his apostolis be miracle Lord god may we not now weil ê‘saue quhat blin dnes quhat ignoraÌ„ce quhat furie aÌ„d wodnes is croppin in the hartis of christin men in yir dayis quhilkê leanis to the iugemeÌ„t of sic Ioh. 21. vagabundis in materis doutsuÌ„ coÌ„cernyng our faith RefusaÌ„d the iugemeÌ„t of the kirk Haue we not had the plane testimonye of scripture aboue rehersit how Peter quha wes the cheif apostole of Iesu Christ to quhaÌ„ in speciale thrise eft vther he coÌ„meÌ„dit his flok and gregatioÌ„n sua deirly bocht Èit efter yat he had resaure ye gyft of the haly gaist Act. 2. assurnly be ane visibyllsigne he knew not all the miuÌ„ereis sectetis of godis word now eueri haue wyl gif deter minatioÌ„n on the gretast secreit in al ye seripturis geuand na authoritie to the kirk lyke as the ê“meis of the halye gaist had bene maid equalye to hym as to the haly kirk ¶ Is it not ane gretar secreit to ony wynde fallin prechear Èe or to ony priuat maÌ„ on lyue he wer neuir sua werll learnit of gude lyfe Act. 10. to decerne onye ineffable misterie of the blyssit sacrameÌ„t of ye altare nor it wes to Peter to decerne vpon meatis forbiddin be the law to Paul Barnabas to discerne quha had baith assuritlye the gyft actis 13. of the haly 1. Cor. 7. gaist gyf Baptime wes sufficient wout circuÌ„cisioun quhilk thay on na wayis wald do priuatlie Act. 15. quhill thay come to HierusaleÌ„ quhare ye laif of the apostlis wer thay beand all coÌ„uenit togidder the mistirie wes declarit ¶ For Christis saik alÈe quhilkis ar blyndit with
secretis of the sacramentis wes bâ— the gnÌ„rale coÌ„salis Trew it is to coÌ„fer scripturis with scripturis and al 's to mark the iugemeÌ„t of the ancient doctouris of that kirk as thay quha coÌ„uenit in generale counsalis euir ordourlie and trewlie did it helpis mekle for the vnderstaÌ„ding of goddis worde bot that is nocht sufficient For quhy I beleue thair is not ane doctor quhilk euir wes in the kirk as thair hes bene mony baith godlie weil learnit quhilk had greter knawlege of the scripture nor had the Apostlis Èit thay differrit the sentence and iugement to ye tyme thay coÌ„uenit in ane generale counsale as scripture planelie techeis vs. This ar we assurit that it is nocht euery priuat maÌ„nis burdyng to cearse the secretis of the scripture al 's constraynit fermelie to beleue the generale counsalis dewlie coÌ„uenit to represent the vniuersale kirk off GOD quhairby all the rest of the membris of the coÌ„gregatioun salbe satifeit and pacifeit in coÌ„science in all secretis of ye scripture necessare to be knawin for ane christiane maÌ„nis saluatioun and al vther doutis coÌ„cernyng faith and religioun vtherwayis to oppin ane plane port tyl al errouris quhilkis euir hes bene sen the incarnatioÌ„n of Iesu christ euery maÌ„ to tak quhat opinioÌ„n he plesis leuaÌ„d in perpetual debait coÌ„trauersie for the faith THE TENT CHAPITRE TO Geue the redare ferther perswasion off this coÌ„clusioÌ„n aboue rehersit be the quhilk is maid manifest the secund part of ye argumeÌ„t quhilk wes Gyf the generale Counsalis representis the vniuersale kirk of god or not Now wyll we answeir to the thrid part of the argumeÌ„t quhare questioun is gyf þair lyfe wes godlie quhilkis coÌ„uenit in gnÌ„ral ê¯salis as wer the lyues of the apostlis or not Trewly wil we ê¯sidder all the gnÌ„rall ê¯salis quhilkis hes bene fra ye first to ye last we sal euir fynd that thay wer the maist godlie best learnit meÌ„ in the warld for yâ— tyme It is not vnknawin to me how the sum obiectis to this murmuryng vniustlie that thair deliberationis interpretationis of scripturis declaris the coÌ„trar To the quhilk god wylling we sall answeir in the awin place Nochtheles for coÌ„sidderation of this present purpose albeit that thays quha coÌ„uenit in generale coÌ„salis had bene dicius as þai wer not it argumeÌ„tis not that þair vice did dirogatioun to thair authoritie because the almychtie GOD wirkis not with man in authoritie in respect of his persoun quhilk beris authoritie bot rather to declare his awin infinite power gudnes in respect of the coÌ„gregatioun coÌ„mittit to maÌ„ in authoritie Ioha 11. As be exempyl we reid that Cayphas quha wes al 's wick it ane minister as hes bene in the kirk of GOD sen his tyme or of before spak trew prophefie and as ye text sayis not of him self bot because he wes cheif preist of that Èeir ☞ Mark gude redare how woÌ„nderfullie GOD wirkis with authoritie in maner foresaid The text sayis planelie that he spak ê“phesie quhilk is the gyft of GOD nocht of hym self 1 Cor. 12 as the scripture wald say nocht in respect of ony gudnes that wes in hym bot because he wes cheif preist of yat Èeir as the scripture wald saye Ioha 11. in respect of his authoritie quhilk he had of god quhareby it may be persauit how wounderfullie god wirkis oftymes be ane wickit istrumeÌ„t being in authoritie as may stand to the weill of ye coÌ„gregatioun coÌ„mittit to his cure to the gret magnificence prayse and glore off hym quha is omnipotent ¶ Al 's it is wryttin of the thre wyse meÌ„ yat come fra ye orient say and Math. 2. quha it is he quhilk is borne kyng of Iowis off the quhilk Herod quha wes kyng being afrayit and al the Cietie of Hieiusalem with hym coÌ„uenit ye pricipalis of the preistis sperit at thame quhare Christ suld be borne that aÌ„swerit said iÌ„ Bethleem Iude. ☞ Mark gude redare how that this infidele prince Herod paste be ane ordour coÌ„uenit the principalis of ye prestis to cearse knaw quhare Christ sulde be borne thay beand coÌ„uenit how GOD wrocht with thame in authoritie sua yat thay trewlie interpretit ye scripture of God answerit Herod accordiÌ„g to the scripturis Nocht with standing that the intentioun of him quhilk sperit ye questioÌ„n wes vngodlie as the proces of the Euangell planelie declaris thay mekle mair vngodlie quhilkis wer in authoritie quhame at he sperit his questioun and doute Lorde God ar thay not mekle mair ignorant and imperfect nor wes this wickit Prince quhilkis wylfullie coÌ„tempnis to speir and ressaue the knawlege of goddis wourd at the ministeris of the new law conforme to the doctryne of ye kirk bot with gret misordour imperfection seikis ye knawlege of goddis wourd at men cumand but Authoritie Ioha 10. nocht knawande quharefra thay cuÌ„ nor be quhat ordour To geue ye sufficrent ê‘suasioun that vice dois not dirogat to authoritic thow sall coÌ„sidder the wordis of our saiueour spekand to his Apostlis oÌ„ this maner Èow twelf haue I chosin Ioha 6. ane of Èow is ane deuyll ☞ Mark gude redare yâ— Iudas wes ane apostole ane deuyll as the scripture wald say nocht with standing that the deuyll possessit ye hart of Iudas to betrais his Lorde maister Èit the authoritie and office remanit with hym sua that nane wes chosin to be in his place quhil he wes deid as thou may persaue be the actis Act. 1. of the Apostlis I beleue thair is na man wyll thynk that euir þair wes ane minister in the kirk of God sen the tyme of the apostlis quhais vicious lyfe did dirogatioÌ„n to his authoritie mair nor Iudas Al 's I trow suirlie thair is na christiane maÌ„ wyll thynk that yÌ„ ministeris in the new law quha coÌ„uenit in generale counsalis wes sua vicius or ignorant that thaye wernocht havyll to do that thynge quhilk ryndit to thair office as wes Cayphas and the principales of the preistis quha coÌ„uenit at ye desyre of Herod the wickit kyng Than may it iustlie be persuadit and inferrit be sic testimonyes of scripturis as ar aboue rehersit that albeit ye ministeris of the new law quha coÌ„uenit in generale counsalis hade bene vicious as thay wer not Èit thair lyfe did na dirogatioun to thair authoritie bot thay mycht do in all sortis quhilk ryndit to thair office specialic to discerne yerycht vnder standing of goddis worde fra the wrang to the rest of the meÌ„bris of ye coÌ„gregatioÌ„n coÌ„mittit to þair cure takand vertew power authoritie of almychtie god not of thann selfis As be exemple quha doutis bot ane
dois in yit dayis bot the blyssit spretis off thame that ar departit knawis perfectlie the prayer and inâ—ocatioun of me in erth as thou may haboundantlie persaue be his werk aboue rehersit Al 's for ferther knawlege of this purpose thou sall reid the excellent father of godly lernyng and gude lyfe Aâ—gu Trace 84 Psai 88. Crbyâ—ige re Hom. 44 in Math Ho. 5. orig Hom. 16. in Iesu naue Lib. 2. in Epis ad Roma Câ—p Lib. 1. Epist 1. as Câ—rntliam Augustine wryting vpon the Euangell of sanct Iohane in mony vther places Thow sal lykewyse reid Chrysostome Origene not pretermittyng the godlie Byschop and martyre Cypriane Schortlie luke all the ancient fatheris quha piesis thair is na purpoe thay treait of quhilk yat ar mair plane in to aggreand all in ane opinioÌ„ nor inuocatioun to be maid to sanctis fasting accordyng to the godlie ordinance of the kirk chastitie to be obseruit and kepit specialy be preistis Geue thair be ony man as I thynk þair be mony specialie of yir vagabund prechearis cumand but authoritie quhilkê beris disdane aganis yir sayingis lat hym try the contrar be the word of God propirlie allegit conforme to the interpretation of ye ancient fatheris quhilk thay can neuir do and lat nocht euery maÌ„ cry out iniustlie on the godlie ordinances of the kirk quhilkis euir hes bene obseruit sen the tyme of the apostlis to thir dayis at his appetite thrawand goddis word by the godlie menyng of the samyn to be ye scherld and buklare to his lustes and heresiis Walde GOD meÌ„ vnlearnit quhilkis ar growin sua proude and curious that thay wyll na wayis obey the kirk wer habyll to reid the scriptures allegit be seditiê° dayis aganis the ordinances of ye kirk thairefter had iugemeÌ„t to coÌ„fer the ancient fatheris in declaratioun of ye samyn quhareby thay mycht ê‘saue how wounderfullie thay ar abusit ¶ O gude Lorde quhat ignorance quhat wycketnes quhat myscheiff quhat abhominatioÌ„n quhat hereseis ar croppin regnis now in the hartis of the fleschelie ignorant miserabyll peple Sua that thay quha wyl maist vylie swage þair fowle appetite be farsing of þair belleis in tymes forbiddin proudelie dissobeying authoritie geuand oppin sklander with plane iniuryis incontrar the coÌ„moun weil ar reknit to be maist godlie best besene in scripturis doctores antiquiteis Èœe to be the verray mynÈeons of Christ Is he nocht estimit to be ane verray bulwerk for ye defence of godis glore quhilk wyl pertlie say coÌ„trar the kirk of GOD all ye ancient fatheris of the samyn that it is Ydolatrie to mak inuocatioun of Sanctis Is it nocht thocht that ye preist monk or fleschelye forloppin freir followis treulie ye verray doctryne of S. Paule quhilk is rynnegat fra his religioun makis ane monsterous mariage and it wer with ane Non and Èit he wyll sweir and saye that all that he dois is for the glore of God the libertie of the EuaÌ„gell ☞ O intollerabyl blasphematioun fury wodnes Now ar the wordis off ye cheiff apostole 2. Pet. 3. Peter cuÌ„ to in effect sayaÌ„d y ar his deirly beluffit brother Paule had wryttiÌ„ mony thyngis in ye quhilkê ar suÌ„ harde to be vnderstand quhilk meÌ„ vnlernit incoÌ„stant ê‘uertis as vtheris scripturis to thair awin dampnatioun Now may the wordis of the Propheit ê“pirlie be applyit saying wa be vnto Èow quhilk callis Esay 5. the euyll gude the gude euyll estimeing lycht to be myrknes and myrknes to be lycht THE FOVRTENT CHAPITRE PERCHANCE Sum zelus maÌ„ hauynge pietie of ye pur miserabyl pepyll wyl say quhat woÌ„nder is it albeit ye simple peple in yir vnhappy dayis be abusit with errourê blyndit in ignoraÌ„ce drounit in vice Is not heresie precheit planelie but punischemeÌ„t be meÌ„ cuÌ„and but authoritie thay quha sulde preche ye trew worde of god ê¯foÌ„rme to thair vocatioÌ„n leuyng quhilk thay haue thairfore ar as sayis ye Propheit lyke dum doggis Esay 36. quhilkis can nocht bark noder precheis thair selfis nor causis precheyng sufficient to be maid to resyste errouris ar nocht thaye quha sulde gyde the peple mair ignorante nor the simple pepyll self quhate can cuÌ„ of yat bot as sayis our Salueour quheÌ„ ye blynde ledis the blynd baith fallis in the fowsie Mat. 15. Ar thay nott oppin sclanderaris of the coÌ„gregatioun for thee maist part quhilkis sulde be myrrouris of gude lyfe ar nocht all estatis Psal 52. derlynit fra the way and wyll of the Lorde Se we nocht daylie be experience gyf ane Benefice vaick the gret men of the realme wyll haue it for temporale rewarde sua the prince is maid to be subiect to the vnressonable desyre of thame quha suld be subiectis to þair prince or ellis þai wyl steir vp seditioÌ„ be diss bedient contrar godis coÌ„mand serue as thay think gude with ê‘petuale grudge disdane quheÌ„ þai haue gottin the benefice gyf thay haue ane brother or ane sone Èe suppose he caÌ„ nolder sing nor say norischeit in vice al his dayis fra hand he sal be montit on ane Mule with ane syde gown ane round bonett than it is questioun quhether he or his Mule knawis best to do his office Per chance Balaames 〈◊〉 22 Asse knew mair nor þai baith Quhat wounder is it quhen sick disagysit personages ar chosin to haue Christis flok iÌ„ gyding that ye simpyll peple be wickit as thay ar in deid estimaÌ„d vice to be virtew virtew to be vice nocht all anerlie sick meÌ„ ar croppin in ye kirk be meanis of sum wickit gret ê‘sonages bot thou maye se daylie lykewyse be experience ane bairne and ane babe to quhame scarcelie wald thou geue ane fait apill to keip get perchance fyue thousand saules to gyde And all for Auarice 1. Tim. 6. ye rute of all vice that þair parentis may get ye proffect of ye benefice to thare awin singulare ê¯moditie the pure simpyll bairne scarslie gett to bryng hym vp vertuuslie the coÌ„uent and place quhare GOD suld be daylie honourit and seruit gais clene to rewyne end Èit thay quha ar the proeuraris disponaris vpsteraris of sick monsterus farssis to be in thee kirk of GOD ar ye maist principalis cryaris out on the vices of kirk men Geue the kirk had the auld ancient libertie as perchance suin tyme it had that ane Byschop wer frelie chosin be his chapitre yâ— abbot prior be the ê¯uent of the ê¯uent thaÌ„ sulde be qualifeit men in all the estatis of ye kirk than sulde all hereseis be flemit the peple weill techeit This wer the way to cuÌ„ iÌ„ at Ioh 2 10. the dur to be ane minister in the kirk of god
explore espy yis þair wyckit craft slycht Ane exemple wyl I geue ye in speciall S. Augustine quha is ane of the maist excelleÌ„t fatheris of the kirk sumtyme spekand of ye SacrameÌ„t of the altare makis meÌ„tioun onelie of the spirituale maÌ„ducatioun Sumtyme planelye he makis mentioun baith of spirituale reale maÌ„ducatioun of the samyn quhairinto is the verray naturale blude body of our salueour to the quhilk ê“pirlie adoratioun is to be geuin Psal 98. specialie wrytyng on the psalmes and diuers vtheris places All sic places quhairinto Augustine spekis of the spirituale maÌ„ducation onelie diligentlie do thay marke ê‘uerstlie apply for thair awin purpose All sic places quhairiÌ„to he plainly spekis baith of spirituale reale maÌ„ducation meÌ„ geuin tyll opinion in thir dayis clenelie dois outrluke and be thir meanis abuse thai meÌ„ vnlearnit quha ar nocht hable to seik ye fundameÌ„t ê‘suading falslie aÌ„d dissaitfullie Augustine the rest of the fatheris to be for thair wickit opinioun ¶ Lorde God gude redare is not this ane mÌ„uellus dissaitfull craft quhilk al ye warld may se to be fals For gyf the doctores sayngis specialie in declaration of ye sacramentis quhilkis ar sua necessare to the hale ê¯gregation had bene coÌ„ trarius to the doctryne of the kirk how fortunat it yat Hierome Augustine Ambrose wer euir reknit to be the maist excellent doctores approuiÌ„ be the kirk aggreand with the doctryne of ye samyn speciallie in declaration of the blyssit sacrameÌ„t of the altare Wer all the fatheris quhilkis coÌ„uenit in gnÌ„rale ê¯salis sen the tyme of thir doctores quhilk is aleuiÌ„ hundreth Èeris syne mair sua ignoraÌ„t that thay culde not ê‘saue gyf the doctryne of thir doctores ye rest wes aggreabyll with the doctrine of the haly kirk or not Quha is desirus to knaw ferther how factius meÌ„ iÌ„ yir dayis thrawis the godlie doctryne of ye doctores falslie to fortifye thair hereseis speciallie incontrar the godlye doctryne of the kirk in declaratioun of ye misterye of the blyssit sacrameÌ„t lat hym reid the Bischope of rochestaris excellent werk iÌ„contrar Oecolampadius and thair sall he aboundantlie ê‘saue this intollerably dissaitfulnes propirlie discouerit Now may thow gude redare persaue the gudnes of almychtie God quha foresawe that wickit men wald peruerit baith doctores and scriptures by the godlie meanyng of the samyn to þair awin appetit quharethrow meÌ„ vnlearnit quhilkis ar nocht hable to confer the scripturis and ye doctores ar miserablie diseeauit quhilk hes apoyntit euir his kirk quhilk trewlie is representit be the generale counsalis dewlie conuenit to be ane assurit way for al meÌ„ to be satifeit in al materis concernyng faith and religioun THE AVCHTENT CHAPITRE TO GEVE ye redare iuste ê‘suasioun to considder how necessare it is to lein to the iugement of ye kirk iÌ„ al materis ê¯cernyng baith faith religioun thou sall vnderstand yat þair is diuers thyngis quhilk we mon beleif geue we be faithfull christiane men albeit thay can nocht be prouin be expresse testimonyes of Scripture bot techeit ws euir fra tyme to tyme sen the tyme of the apostlis to yir dayis be the kirk As be exemple Baptising of barnis as sais S. Augustine likewyse Origene Contra do natist lib. 4. Orige in capi 6. ad Roma is ane traditioÌ„n of ye apostolis is not expreslie ê¯tenit iÌ„ ye scripture I beleue gyf it had bene in the scripture thir ancient fatheris quha bestowit al þair tyme in coÌ„tineuale redyng of ye samyn wald haue ê‘sauit it al 's sone as ony vtheris quhilk sayis ye ê¯trar in thir dayis Melanchton in his coÌ„moun places lykewyse ascriues the samyn to the tradition of ye apostlis ye vse of ye kirk sua dois Bullinger iÌ„ his wickit werk dedicat to ye kyng of Ingland Ad Eduar dum 6. Reg. ang Attour is he to be estimate as ane christiane maÌ„ quhilk walde deny as did Nestorius ye blyssit virgine Marie to be ye mader of God maÌ„ Trip. hist Liber 12. Cap. 4. And Èit it can not be ê“uin be erpres testimony of scripture Is he not to be â—imit as ane heretike quha walde denye the blyssit mother of Iesu Christ our salueour to be ane per petuale vgine as did Heluidius And Èit we half na plane scripture for it But doute S. Hieronâ— quha wes ane godlie doctor euir approuin be ye kirk estimes hym ane heretike for that errous in speciale of his vngodly iniuris aganis that elect chosin spous of the halie gaist Attour is he to be estunit ane christiane man quha walde denye ane word of yir ê“positionis followand The father the sone ye haly gaist ar thre distinct personis in ane godhed The sone secund ê‘sone in diuinitie is generate wtout begyaniÌ„g wtout endiÌ„g equale with the father in diuine nature The haly gaist pcedis of baith thride ê‘sone in diuinitie equale with the father ye sone and Èit euery thride worde thairof is nocht expresiie centenit in ye scripture bot as the kirk hes techeit ws conforme to ye scripture Ferther is it not ane article of our beleue that our Salueour passit to the hell And Èit it is nocht easie to be prouin be plane testimonyis off Scripturis ¶ For conclusioun geue ony wickit maÌ„ walde deny the Euangell of sanct Iohane to be autentik scripture as we reid of ane wickit heretyke callit Marcion quha denyit diuers of ye Euangellis Manacheus refusit al ye auld testament Luther now in our dayis repellis the Epistole of sanct Iames and ye Apocalipse of S. Iohane be quhat meanis wald thow ê‘suade to the coÌ„gregatioÌ„n sick-sedicius meÌ„ to be heretikis and thair opinioun to be coÌ„dampnable Trewlie thow can nocht preue the Euangell of S. Ihone to be autentyke scripture be vther scripturis For quhy thair is na vther scripture quhilk makis mentioÌ„ of it Hist eccl Libro 3. Capi. 25. because it wes wryttin lang efter all the rest of the scriptures Attour thair is contenit in the said EuaÌ„gell of sanct Iohane quhilk is nocht coÌ„tenit in the rest Sick as towart ye deuine nature of our Salueour The rasyng of Lazarus fra deith to lyue and that out Saiue our thryse ester vther coÌ„mendit his floke to S. Peter with vtheris diuers not able purposis Wyll thow say that it is godlie in the self and thairfore sulde be reknit as autentik scripture thy argumeÌ„t seruis of nocht because nocht euery godlie thyng quhilk is wryttin sulde be reknit as autentik scripture Wyll thou say that the spirite of God techeis the inwartlye to beleue that the EuaÌ„gell of S. Ihone is autentik scripture the trew worde of God I wyll speir at the gyf that be sufficient argumeÌ„t to ê‘suade ye hale coÌ„gregation coÌ„founde heretykis