rrror then did it not rely vpon the truth of God and then it were no diuine Faith Againe if in that Faith by which we are saued we might be seduced to falshood See William Perkins pro. de fide n. 6. then by falshood we might be saued and by vntruth attaine to truth which parradoxe is both blasphemous hnd ridiculous Authorities of holy Scriptures consent of venerable antiquity and the vnanimous approbation of the vniuersall Church I could produce for the truth of these properties but I holde them needlesse for that in themselues they doe appeare most perspicuous and by no Protestants which I can reade of are they denyed as by all Catholicks is confessed I hauing thus farre waded at the length I began to obserue where this rule and direction is to be found that by consent therof I might be conuayed to that knowledge which so much importeth me and therefore I doe here inquire of the Protestant and he telleth me readily that true it is such a rule must guide all Christians and is to be found in their Church contained in their Bible and by them tearmed the word of the Lord and diuine Scriptures this they say is easie plaine and an infallible direction to all who seeke after Heauen and heauenly knowledge 5 But heere I am intangled with so many difficulties so that I am rather pusled clouded and encombred then any way freed cleared or ascertained of any truth First how can it appeare vnto mee that I may be assured that this Booke is the word of God and of that continuance and authority whereof I speake Wee see many workes beare Saint Augustines name and others of other Fathers which Protestants stoutly deny to bee theirs yet not so auncient as their Booke of Scripture must be if it be true Scripture indeed Heere I inquire so certaine knowledge of the Truth that in it selfe it be plaine for all men to perceiue it and so certaine that it should be impossible how it could be otherwise else as I haue before said it cannot guide or warrantise Diuine and infallible Faith But I haue euer found Protestants so extreamely pusled in this point that they know not how to extricate themselues their Answers were so weake different disjoynted and vncertaine that at the last they haue no refuge but to depend vpon the tradition of the Roman Church from whence they haue their Scriptures yea and those traditions also they must grant to be of infallible truth and Faith otherwise their Scriptures will not carry credite sufficient whereupon to build an infallible Faith and yet if they graunt this they suffocate and choake their owne cause in many essentiall and important points of difference twixt them and Catholicks so as this Rule ought to be cleare easie and infallible is no sooner looked vpon but it is presently lost in ambiguities doubts and vncertainties 6 And admit that they were able in the grounds of their Doctrine to produce any one infallible plaine certaine rule assuring me that the Booke they shew me is the word of God or written by such sacred Authors as they tell of which they are neuer able to doe See Iohn Cal in Praesat in no test Zanch. lib. de Sanctis fol. 412. tom 2. Beza in resp ad defen Cast Ite Beza in praefat no. test 1556. Car. moli in transla no. cest par 11. fol. 110. Ite parte 64. 65. 66. 74. 99. See confe at Hampton Court pag. 46. yet are they presently encumbred with another difficulty which maketh all vncertaine which is contained in it For in former times of a great part of this volume the Greeke translations were many the Latine more of late since Luther began from him his complices and Of-spring the translations haue bin diuers and so different that one condemneth another to Hell for corrupting falsifying and abusing of holy Scriptures yea Luther himselfe differeth in aboue 30. places as I can easily shew from himselfe in seuerall translations of St. Mathewes Gospell out of these into English we haue at the least 7. or eight seuarall versions of all which his Maiesty pronounceth there is neuer a good and the Geneua be the worst of all Heere I would see how the ignorant or learned amid such diuersity of opinions in men of knowledge in all sacred languages can with assurance and certainty select the true Translations from the false that it be impossible to erre herein for if in this case there can be no infallible rule and direction plaine and easie for all men to vnderstand as I haue before deliuered it is impossible that any man can be able to settle an infallible and neuer erring Faith vpon any thing contained in it when as he is not certaine what is the true word of God and what by Ignorance Error or wilfulnes is thrust in by humaine inuention and subiect to falshood 7 Heere not onely the Ignorant is so intangled with the Brackes and Toyles of vncertainty and instability so as he knoweth not which way to get out yea findeth impossibility by his owne industry euer whilest he shall liue to cleare himselfe But the Learned also are no lesse clouded with endlesse variety and difference among such as are no lesse yea more learned then themselues hauing no reason whereupon to relye their owne Iudgements before others and bee so assured thereof as that it is impossible they should be deceiued and consequently to frame an Article of Diuine Faith vpon the assurance thereof So as out of this head this rule of onely Scriptures hath lost not onely certainety but perspicuity also both which are very much behoofefull in the direction whereof I speake 8 And heere in my vnderstanding it cannot be answered as in the Proeme of the new Bible See Calu. vbi supra those Translations say to wit that this diuersity is not in matters appertaining vnto Faith Iosias Symlerus in vita Bullinger but in other pointes of lesse consequence First that is not true as by the inuectiues some of the Translations make against the rest doth appeare Againe in most pointes of Controuersies betwixt them and Catholicks they translate places concerning those points differently from the olde Latine receiued aboue 1000. yeares agoe in Gods Church onely in fauour of their owne herisies and opinions being matters of Faith As for example they translate for Priests Elders for Idols Images c. I say yet further that in so much as all matters there is the true Word of God and I partly finde that some part thereof is mistranslated and that is proued by the diuersities of those Translations dissonant each to other Therefore cannot all bee true in regard hereof I say I must require a sure certaine and infallible Rule by the which it may remaine vndoubted that those errors or mistakings were in matters of Faith as well as lesse matters sithence I could neuer heare of any Warranty out of Heauen assuring these translations
so difficill that I can assure my selfe of nothing which by mine owne industry I am able to attaine vnto much lesse find it so easie and plaine as to haue infallible assurance of what I conceiue wherefore I must of necessity seeke that assurance else where and take direction froÌ„ surer knowledge then mine owne or any my selfe can gather out of holy Scriptures otherwise I shall fashion molde out a very feeble and fickle Faith voide of all certainty Putasne intelligis quae legis saith St. Philip to the Eunuch Act. 8. Thinkest thou that thou vnderstandest what thou readest hauing the olde Testament in his hands Quomodo possum si non aliquis ostenderit mihi How can I saith the Eunuch In Apoc 2.5 vnlesse some body shall shew me Ego saith St. Hierome nec saÌ„ctior sum hoc Eunucho nec studiosior c. I am not holyer nor better studyed then this Eunuch and concludeth in these wordes These things I haue briefly mentioned to the end you may vnderstand that you caÌ„not enter the holy Scriptures without a guide and one who shall shew thee the way This I finding to be most true by all reason and experience in my selfe and diligent obseruation in others I bent my labours and study to finde out this happy guide which infallibly and without danger of erring would instruct me with the true meaning of holy Scriptures Perceiuing plainly therefore that the Protestants rule of Scriptures could not serue for this purpose I begin to examine what assuraÌ„ce Catholicks had for their beliefe or expositions whereupon they relyed 14 They confesse a plaine easie and infallible rule must guide in matters of Faith they say moreouer that cannot be any dead or dumbe writing be it neuer so Sacred for nothing can be written so plaine but in many clawses or passages it will beare seuerall constructions where seuerall constructions are there is ambiguity and doubt and consequently no such plainnesse and certainty as our Faith requireth neither can that writing when it is wrested against true meaning expound it selfe or determine any controuersie that about the Letter or sence thereof shall fortune to arise 15 This rule then must be a liuing rule able to expound it selfe and vnfold such doubts which in matters of Faith shall fall out And this I easily beleeued for my owne reason doth dictate that Almighty God would not vnder paine of Hell binde all men to beleeue aright and with a Diuine infallible beliefe and leaue no rule no meane no ground open to euery one and in it selfe infallible to establish his beliefe vpon and resolue the doubts thereto appertaining 16 This liuing Iudge can be no priuate man for warranty in such we haue none neither is there cause to expect more in one then in another moreouer that must needes dye and faile and so the rule of saluation perish and then the world to be left without meanes of accesse vnto Almighty God 17 A temporall or ciuill Common-wealth it cannot be for no one CoÌ„mon-wealth or temporall Congregation hath any colour of Authority out of Heauen to chalenge that priuiledge Againe no one Common-wealth hath continued since Christ but hath sufferd Change in the whole forme yea Religion and all and there is no cause to ascribe this security more to one CoÌ„mon-wealth then to another There remaineth only an Ecclesiasticall coÌ„munity to wit the Church of Christ whereupon Catholicks doe rely and assigne for this rule wherein as I doe confidently beleeue they are not deceiued whereunto I am induced by euident reason by manifest and apparant authority continuance of experience For the infallible Authority left in this Community we haue the expresse Promise of Almighty God in many places of holy Scripture for of this Church our most Blessed Sauiour saith St. Math. 16 Portae inferi non praeualebunt aduersus eam The Gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it Vitia saith St. Hierome peccatum c. In St. Math 16. St. Amb. lib. de bono mortis cap. 12. Epiâ—h in An. He meant by these Gates the vices sinnes and Doctrine of heretiques and the same in effect say the rest of the holy Fathers And St. Paul saith that Ecclesia Dei viui est columna firmamentuÌ„ veritatis quod manifestum est in Carne iustificatum est in spiritu apparuit Angelis predicatuÌ„ est gentibus creditum est in mundo assumptuÌ„ est in Gloria 1. Tim. 3. The Church of the liuing God the piller and ground of Truth and manifestly it is a great Sacrament of piety which was manifested in Flesh was iustified in Spirit appeared to Angels hath bin preached to Gentiles is beleeued in the world is assumed in Glory Quia ab illa In 1. Ti. 3. saith St. Ambrose firmantur in veritate omnes credentes For asmuch as from the Church all true Beleeuers are established in the Truth Ego vobiscum sum saith our Sauiour S. Math. 28. vlt. omnibus diebus vsque ad consummationeÌ„ seculi I am with you all dayes euen to the consummation of the world Qui In Mat. 28. saith St. Hierome vsque ad consummationem mundi suam praesentia pollicetur illos ostendit semper esse victuros se nunquaÌ„ a credentibus esse recessurum Who promiseth his presence vnto the end of the world sheweth that they shall euer liue that himselfe will neuer depart from the faithfull St. Ioh. 14. And in another place he saith I meane Christ our most blessed Sauiour S. Chris hom 74. in Ioh. Ego rogabo PatreÌ„ c. I will aske the Father and he will giue you another Paraclete the spirit of Truth that he may remaine with you for euer which could not be meant of the Apostles only to whom it was spokeÌ„ St. Ciprian lib. 9. in Ioh. but of the succeeding Church whose person they beare and was to indure to the worlds end Non pro eis rogo tantum saith our Sauiour St. Ioh. 17. I doe not onely pray for them meaning his Disciples but for them also that by their word shall beleeue in mee that they all may be one as the Father in mee and I in thee that they also in vs may bee one as wee also are one And herein all holy Fathers doe assent and plainely thus vnderstand it 18 This promise of the holy Ghost St. Paul doth plainely testifie to be fulfilled when he saith thus Ephes 4. Christus ascendens in altum captiuaÌ„ duxit captiuitate dedit dona hominibus Christ ascending on high hee led captiuity captiue he gaue guifts vnto men where after a few wordes he addeth Ipse dedit quosdam quidem Apostolos c. he gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and other some Euangelists and other some Pastors and Doctors to the consummation of the Saints vnto the worke of the Ministry vnto the edifying of the body of Christ vntill wee meete all into
in matters of Faith more than in smaller matters 9 But admit againe that Protestants had some sure infallible rule or meanes to ascertaine vs that this which they propose or any of these is the sincere translation of Gods word yet are we as deeply incombred as euer for insomuch as Gods word consisteth not in bare characters or sillables but in the spirit and meaning of that writing where I pray is that plaine and infallible Rule which Protestants can assigne the conduct whereof who so followeth cannot possibly erre in the true meaning of holy Scripture For without this all the rest is nothing auaileable to sustaine an infallible Faith and an error or mistaking herein is so pernicious and damnable that whosoeuer is possessed therewith cannot possibly enter Heauen Qui non St. Ioh. 3. credit iam iudicatus est who beleeueth not aright is already iudged And Heb. 11. sine fide impossibile est placere Deo without Faith it is impossible to please God And our Faith is not grounded vpon letters Characters or sillables but of the signification true meaning of the holy Ghost vttered in them 10 Heere againe I finde Protestants so masked or hoodwinckt that they know not which way to take or what to say as may easily appeare by the poore shifts they are put vnto when in this matter they are by Catholickes called to accompt And first it is a vsuall refuge of theirs to say that the Scripture is easie and plaine of it selfe to be vnderstood of euery one without difficulty or ambiguity But this is so apparantly controwlde with the forme and matter of Scripture and euery mans particuler experience that it plainely discouereth the weakenes and insufficiency thereof As for the forme stile it is repleate with Maiesty and depth it containeth many Hebraicismes and Grecismes which the ignorant and vnlearned doe not vnderstand yea many times the most Learned doe make doubt differ about for that it doth containe so profound matter aboue ordinary capacity As the Trinity and Vnity in God the Incarnation Resurrection and Ascention of Christ our most B. Sauiour together with his Priesthood and presence in the most Blessed Eucharist with the like which doe inuolue great hidden misteries and profound difficulties containing many seeming contradictions which to reconcile great Clerks holy Fathers haue much trauailed writing whole Bookes large tomes therof against Iuliā the Apostata other enemies of Christianity Lib. 3. conf cap. 5. Iustitui animam saith St. Augustine intendere in Scripturas sacras c. I intended to bend my minde to holy Scriptures to see the quality of them and beholde I see a thing vnknowne to the proude not open to Children but in gate lowly in effect lofty and couered with mysteries neither was I such as I could enter into it or bowe my necke to the entrance of it So he Thus did this holy Father and great Doctor finde the holy Scriptures which Protestants make so easie plaine and thus doth euery mans experience teach not only in the endles diuersity of expositions betweene Catholicks Sectaries but especially between Sectaries themselues Protestants with Protestants who haue filled the world with their ianglings and giuen testimony that they speake against their Consciences and knowledge when they say that the Scriptures are easie for euery one to vnderstand else why should they spend so much time in making so many Expositions and Commentaries and in filling Bookes to make that vnderstood which euery man with so much ease doth conceiue or why should they after all their Commentaries leaue all controuersies of Scriptures more ambiguous then before yea in stead of clearing all doubts beget infinite new controuersies before vnheard of 11 And from hence doth appeare how poore and weake an Answer that other is which many brought into straights flie vnto saying that Scriptures are made plaine by conferring one place with another for this both Catholickes and their opposites with all diligence doe affirme yet agree neuer the more by this neither are they conuinced of one Truth St. Paul saith Rom. 1. Abacuc 2. Gal. 3. Heb. 10. Act. 15. Iustus ex fide viuit The Iust man liueth by his Faith and againe Fide purificans corda hominum God by Faith purifying the hearts of men And St. Iames saith St. Iam. 2. Sicut corpus sine Spiritu mortuum est ita fides sine operibus mortua est like as the body without the Spirit is dead euen so also Faith without workes is dead and nothing auaileable Protestants explicate St. Iames by St. Paul but Catholicks explaine St. Paul by St. Iames This diuersity hath wel nigh cōtinued 100. yeares tossed discussed with all diligence yet not to this day agreed vpon between them so the like in all other points of cōtrouersies we doe find 12 Moreouer I demaund whether after conference of places such as doe infallibly finde Truth thereby that it be impossible hauing so done to be decciued if you say they doe then you will be controwled by dayly experience as well in Protestants as in Catholicks who after all differ as before which could not be if by this meanes they did infallibly finde the Truth For Ephes 4. that is but one as God is one and Faith one But if you graunt all that conference of places notwithstanding the true meaning of holy Scriptures and consequently cannot serue for the purpose we treate of 13 Others confesse that conference of places cannot be sufficient in this case but avow that Almighty God will enlightē the hart of euery one in particular that seeketh the knowledge of his Truth But this seemeth vnto me the most absurd desperate and vnlikely shift of all vnlikelihoods for as I haue said notwithstanding this priuate Spirit we see the diuersity dayly encreased rather then any way diminished which could not be if God particularly and infallibly guided euery one that heartily desired the truth then must you shew a meane how euery one shall know or be infallibly assured that this priuate exposition is true and all contrary to it false and then must he shew how he commeth by that speciall guift denyed to all that differ from him or how we can be assured therof or how is this rule generall to all which so many so earnestly trauailing for truth seeke after yet attaine not vnto this therefore so repugnant to euery mans reason experience seemeth only a rendeuous which men are driuen to retire vnto hauing no better to succor or help themselues with for mine owne part thus much I say and know that in sincere desire of truth I yeeld to none I know it the life of my soule I preferre before all worldly treasures and as I rancke not my selfe among the Learned so am I not the most vnlearned among the ignorant and vnlearned yet when I peruse the holy Scriptures I doe find them so deep so profound