Biblists is the sole rule of the iudg of controuersies about faith religion The eight consequence NO Biblists can beleeue the articles of faith except he doe first by praire consult the holy ghost out of the bible Therfore euery protestant is obliged vnder the paine of eternall death to consult the holy ghost by prair out of the bible concerning all those things which appertaine to the in integritie of faith Proofe BEcause Biblists will haue no other rule of beleefe then this To consult the holie hhost out of the bible in regard they hould that all men generall councells may err wherfore seing that true faith is absolutlie necessarie to obteine eternall life shunn eternall death it euidently followeth that all Biblists according to their owne rule are oblidged vnder the paine of eternall death to consult the holy ghost out of the scripture touching all things which appertein to the integritie of their faith els they can not be saued The Ninth consequence EVery Biblists according to his rule of faith is obliged vnder the paine of eternall damnation to councell the holy ghost out of the bible touching all those articles which apperteine to the integritie of faith Therfore ech Biblist is bound vnder the paine of eternall damnation haueing first praied councelled the holy ghost out of his Bible to decide all controuersies of religion which be in dispute as touching the notes of the true church ecclesisticall iurisdiction The primacie of the Roman Bishop traditions the number of sacraments The possibilitie of Keeping the law iustification innumerable others which were ouer long to reherse Proofe FOr all these as is euident doe apperteine to the integritie of faith Neither doth it helpe the Biblists cause to say That they be taught the same by their ministers or reede them in their Cathechismies or learne them out of the doctrine of their churches or haue them sett doune in the institutions of Caluin or in the treatises of Luther his compannions For Luther Caluin doctors ministers churches may disagree from the sacred scriptures err in faith therfore are not certainlie to be beleeued but only so farr forth to be credited as their doctrine agreeth with the scriptures And therfore ech Biblist is bound to councell the holy ghost out of the scriptures to know whether or no such doctrine as they heere to be preached taught or read in Cathechismies or is deliuered them by their churches be agreeable to the writtē word of God or disagreable the-reto so decide the same by their priuate spirit ere they beleeue els it is impossible for à biblist to haue any true faith The tenth consequence ALl Biblists be bound vnder the paine of eternall damnation hauing first praied to consult the holy ghost out of their bible about the number version edition of the sacred bookes of both testaments Also about all controuersies which concerne the integritie of faith Therfore all in generall men weomen doctors idiots of what condition soeuer they bee if they be come to the adg of discretion haue sufficient sense reason are bound conforme to this Biblists doctrine vnder the paine of eternall damnation To consult the holy ghost out of their bible touching the number versions editions integritie of the sacred bookes of either testament as also touching all controuersies which apperteine to the integritie of faith all which how impossible it is to performe ech iudicious biblist may perceiue by consequenc what an absurd rule they haue chosen for to prooue true faith by Proofe BEcause both men woemen of what condition soeuer if they be come to the yeares of discretion are bound vnder the paine of eternal damnation to haue true faith which true faith for to haue their is no other rule as Biblists say then by a preuial praire to consult the holy ghost out of the Bible Neither doth it helpe the Biblists to say that euery Christian may conceiue true faith by hearing of a minister preach or in reeding of their catechisme for these may err as biblists say therfore the holy ghost is to be consulted out of the scripture to the end they may vndoubtedlie know whether that the doctrine of their ministers cathecismies churches doe agree to the written word of God or disagree from the same The eleuenth consequence ALl Biblists of What sex and condition soeuer if they be ariued to the vse of discretion or haue their witts are bound vnder the paine of eternall damnation to councell the holy ghost out of the bible touching the nūber integritie version edition of the sacred bookes of both testamēts as also concerning all controuersies which apperteine to the integritie of faith Therfore all Christians of what sex and condition soeuer they be if come to the vse of discretion are sound in their witts are bound conforme to this biblists rule vnder the paine of eternall damnation to decide no less a list of controuersies apperteining to religion then the whole church of Christ hath decided in so many generall councels these 1500. yeares from the Apostes tyme till this age of ours Proofe FOr it hath hethertoe beene disputed vpon controuersies of religion more then these 1500. yeares decided in generall councell which articles were catholike which hereticall what doctrine apperteined to faith what not All which the Biblists auouching that the church can err generall councels can err doe manifestly call into doubt therfore all ech of them are oblidged to peruse the said doctrine conferr it with their bibles that they may by the consultation of the holy ghost in the scriptures seuer truth from falsitie to embrace that and reiect this as their priuate spirit suggesteth vnto them And out of these consequences ech Biblist may perceaue what à burhen he laieth on his back to what impossibilities he windeth himself in leauing the authoritie of the church reliing on his owne priuat spirit in expounding of the scriptures though the scripture contrariewise doth tell vs in the epistle of S. Peeter that no scripture is to be declared by priuate interpretation THE FOVRTH CHAPTER Other consequences be deduced vvhere by it may euidently appeare vvhat meanes helpes ech Biblist may haue to ease him of this burthen dischardge his dueties I Will heere omitt to consider what witt iudgment learning laisure other humane helpes ech Biblist may haue to dischardge this taske taken vpon him of what sex age or condition soeuer he may be without which helpes it is not possible to consult the holy ghost out of the bible nor decide all those controuersies which apperteine to the integritie of faith which haue beene disputed vpon these 1500. yeares decided by the church Let ech of them iudg a part by himself what witt iudgment laisure learning c. he may haue to fulfill this taske and dischardge his dutie in the meane tyme I will suppose
A CENSVRE ABOVT THE RVLE OF BELEEFE PRACTISED BY THE PROTESTANTS VVritten in Latine by the most Reuerend Father VALERIAN MAGNI OF MILAN of the order of the Minors of the Seraphical S. Francis named Capucins And translated into English by R. Q. Gentleman Mathew cap. 18. If he heare not the Church as let him be to thee as the heathen and the Publican Printed at Doway By LAVRENCE KELLAM at the signe of the holie Lambe 1634. THE PREFACE TO THE READER ALBEIT that all Christians who now inhabite the world beleeue in God beleeue in Iesus Christ beleeue the holy scriptures yet they be seuered into two parts The one doubteth not to receiue the sence of the sacred text as the Church doth propound teach heereto they conforme their faith And these be calde Catholiques The other part supposing the authoritie of the Church to be fallible obnoxious to errors teacheth that ech Christian may yea ought in matter concerning faith censure the doctrine of the whole church by the sacred scriptures so either receiue or refuse the same these euer were are now at this present branded with the name of hereticks which error in regard that many learned diuines haue clearlie confuted and confounded both by the authoritie of sacred Scriptures as also by that of councels fathers other arguments tending to the purpose I intend not in such a sence to debate this question but only to note sett doune what absurdities doe necessarilie ensew the said rule of beleefe which misbeleeuing Christiās as Lutherans Protestants Puritans c. haue forged to them selues in the shopp of their self conceite to found their faith there-vpon which howbeit many haue performed before mee yet if I be not mistaken no one hath on sett purpose treated of the same Therefore I deeme not my labour ill spent though otherwise busied in affaires of imporrance to imparte tyme to this worke which I will doe in as few words as may be And this as all things els for the honour glorie of our Sauiour Christ his most holie mother to whom not vnmindfull of their benefitts I haue vowed whatsoeuer I sett downe in writinge though neare someane small Fare well freindly reader recommend mee in thy prayres to God APPROBATIO TRactatus iste de regula fidei scriptus primo Latinè à venerabili viro P. Valeriano Magni Mediolanensi Ordinis Sancti Capucinorum in idioma Anglicanum fideliter translatus nihil habet à fide bonisque moribus dissonum sed dignissimus est qui typis edatur ad institutionem eorum qui diligunt viam veritatis Ita saluo semper superiorum iudicio censebam 10. Iunij 1634. F. Leander de S. Martino Sacrae Theologiae Doctor Congregationis Angliae Benedictinorum Prases Generalis linguae Sanctae in Academia Duacena Regius Professor THE FIRST CHAPTER The question is propounded about the rule of beleefe A RVLE is an instrument according to which those that draw lines doe necessarilie draw thē straighte which translated to Religion yt is termed the rule of beleefe which christians following can not err in Matters of beleefe And from this controuersie about the rule of beleefe all other controuersies concerning matter of faith which are betwene catholiques not catholiques seeme to be deriuede which if it were but once welle agreed vpō all christians might be reconciled togeather vnited in one true faith for all Christians as well catholiques as not Catholiques though in many pointes they disagree frō ech other yet in some they also agree euen in this matter it self about the rule of beleefe which I will by order sett doune First all doe iointly affirme that the written word of God is true infallible 2. That who so propoundeth any doctrine contrary to the sacred scriptures is in no wise to be credited be he man or Angell S. Paul or S. Gabriel 3. That all and ech one is vndoubtedly to bee beleeued in matter of faith if his doctrine disagree not from the word of God 4. That no man be he who he will can attaine to the true sence of sacred writt except he be inwardly enlightned taught by the holy ghost 5. No man can disagree from the word of God if he be inwardly enlightned taught by the holy Ghost Seeing then that not only Catholiques but also all sortes of Christians of those that be no Catholiques conspire in the veritie of these 5. propositions nor is there any one of so self an opinion that can call the same in doubt It resteth we discuss whome among all these the holy gost doth certainlie infallibly assist that they err not in the expounding of the true sence of the sacred scripture There be two opinions of Christians now adayes that striue about this question The one is of those who certainly without doubt doe beleeue that the church doth propound vnto the Christian world the true sence of the sacred scripture these that doe thus beleeue be caled Catholiques The other is of those sects of Christians ech one of which doth à part separatly by himself consult the holy ghost out of the scriptures so censure what doctrine doth in matter of faith consent to the word of God and what doth dissent from it these are and euer were termed held of Catholiques for hereticks And of these sorts of Christians there are at this present sundry sorts wherof the chiefe are Lutherans Caluenists Protestants Anabaptists c. All which be againe subdiuided minced into many pettie sects whose names for breuitie sake I omitt But for as much as all these forenamed Christians consent in this opinion that they make it the rule of their faith to consult the holy ghost out of the bible consisting of the old the new testament wee will hereafter to include them all grace them with the title of Biblists The Catholiques distinguish the church into two parts wherof the one conteineth pastors the other sheepe They be termed Bishops these al other faithfull beleeuers The iurisdictions of Bishops in the Catholique church are subordinated for manie Bishops be vnder one Archbishop many Archbishops vnder one patriarch among whome the Bishop of Roome beareth the primacie al these may be considered either ech one apart or altogether as they be lawfully assembled in à generall councell But à generall councell is considered as confirmed or not confirmed by the Bishop of Roome This then is the sentence of al Catholiques That the Bishop of Roome together with à generall councell or a generall councell confirmed by the Bishop of Roome hath two prerogatiues The first is that the holy ghost doth infallibly assist the same in somuch that it is impossible that it dissent from the sacred scriptures in deciding propounding doctrine of beleefe The other is that the said generall councell haue receiued à supreme authoritie from Iesus Christ to teach in his church consequently to
excommunicate anathematize as hereticks all and ech of those who in matters aperteining to faith shall dare to denie or call in doubt any of the decrees of the said generall councell which concerne faith But is it to be noted that when à generall councell consulteth the holy ghost about the true sence of sacred scripture it doth not only cite to the said councell all Bishops Archbishops Patriarcks but also the Embassadores of Christian Princes many tymes euen kings Emperors themselues also they call thertoe the learnedst Diuines that be extant at that tyme in the Christian world yf any masters of heresie bee liuing they haue free permission to come And When al these be thus assembled in the name of Christ they proclame publique fasts praires to be held not only in the generall councell it self but also throughout all the Christian world to the end that the whole church ioyntly together may implore the assistance of the holie ghost in a matter so important Then they begin to propound the difficulties which be in debate about the sence of the sacred text ech one hath free libertie to speake dispute not only Bishops but also diuines of inferior qualitie not only Catholiques but also hereticks may propound their opinion freely controuert the same All which diuersitie of sentences be throughly discussed not in à confused manner but at leisure in many sessions no smale space of time while all the whole senate of Christian princes or their legats be present behoulding all consenting to what passeth Lastly after a long inquisition made when the fathers of the councell the Bishop of Roome doe vniformely consent subscribe to such and such articles in matter of faith the said decrees be presently intimated to the vniuersall church the whole Christian world all ech of those who dare to denie or call in doubt the same be anathematized bee they kings or Emperors which being once done euen those fathers of the councell be obliged vnder the paine of an anatheme to admitt those decrees concerning faith neither is it lawfull for any man to call in question the same no not the pope himself And this authoritie of the church as it is sett doune all Catholiques doe certainlie beleeue to be infallible the true rule of beleefe whence it commeth that this is à common proposition among Catholiques beleeue al that which the holy mother church beleeueth But now let vs see how Biblists square their rule of beleefe They graunt indeed that there were neuer wanting in any age of the church some few among Christians who by the assistance of the holy ghost did gather out of the scriptures the true sinceare doctrine of Christ these made the church say they in euery age hence they deduce acknowledg that the true church of Christ cannot err in faith neuertheles it neuer was or will be that this true church of the biblists euer made or will make any decree concerning matter of faith therfore the church was neuer assembled in any generall councell to which it apperteined to discerne infalliby decide without error which is the true doctrine of Christ which all other Christians are vndoubtedly to hould profess without any farther inquisition And vpon this maxime of theirs they doe most constantly auouch that all Christians whether considered asunder or as assembled in a generall councell may be forsaken of the holy ghost disagree from the scripture in doctrine of faith so consequently err in faith yet this withall they aledg that none can be abandoned of the holy ghost in examining iudging of doctrines of faith out of their Bible if he as he ought to doe deuoutly inuoke the grace of the holy ghost Now they say the Biblists who be inwardly enlightned taught by the holy ghost doe certainly infallibly gather know the same by certaine inward peculiar motions by which their mindes be stirred vp by the holy ghost in respect that he witnesseth to their spirit that they be the children of God whose annointment doth teach them all truth yet herein the Biblists doe deale somewhat modestlie in that though illuminate taught by God they thinke themselues to haue no right nor iurisdiction to oblige other Christians to accept that there doctrine which out of the bible ech one of them iudgeth to be true by inspiration of the holie ghost albeit in his hart he damneth condemneth al other doctrines which doth disagree from that doctrine of his which he surmiseth to be only conforme to holie writt The reason he assigneth is this That no man is to be trusted in matter of faith seing that euery man may err but if some one chance not to err this procedeth of an inward assistance of the holie ghost is not conspicuous to any one saue to him that hath it neither can any man certainly affirme this or that man to be inwardly illuminated taught by the holie ghost saue he only who receiueth that grace Therfore if à Biblist be demaunded wherfore he beleeueth that IHESVS OF NAZARETH is the sonne of God He will answer Because that God hath reuealed it Whence hast thou this He will answer out of the bible How knowest thow that this is the sence of the bible He will answer The holy ghost taught me so How knowest thow that he who taught the was the holy ghost He will answer My conscience witnesseth so much I know verie wel that the annointmens illustration which I inwardly perceiue in my mind is à supernaturall operation of the holie ghost Thus reply those biblists who as yet reteine some glimps shadow of faith Yet there be verie many especialy Lutherans Protestants that dare condemne no beleefe though they constantly beleeue that there is no Purgatorie that saints be not to be prayed vnto c. And know the same by the holy ghost witnessing it vnto their consciences out of the bible yet they dare not attach those of error who certainlie affirme that their is a Purgatory that saints be to be praid vnto c. These the sounder sort of biblists repute as woodcocks block-heddish asses so I passe them The question then which wee are to discuss is in this manner to be propounded whether the holie ghost doth rather infallibly decide the true doctrine of faith from that which is false by generall councells lawfully assembled expounding the scriptures or els by eche Christian a part caling vpon consultinge the holy ghost out of his bible THE SECOND CHAPTER The opinion of the Biblists is propounded and seuered into certaine propositions MY meaning is not in this treatise to define this question about the rule of beleefe but only to deduce certaine consequences necessarilie ensewing on the opinion of the Biblists whose absurditie and insufficiencie being perceiued we may iudg what manner of religion they haue so weakely founded to
that ech biblist hath witt learning leisure bookes sufficient for this purpose only noW I intend to inquire what certaine infallible foundation of faith the Biblists may haue out of this their rule of beleefe The first consequence NO Biblist hath any other rule of beleefe saue his priuate spirit consultinge the holy ghost out of the scripture what he is bound to beleeue in matter of faith Therfore the faith of the Biblists leaneth on three foundations to witt on praire on the holy ghost on the sacred text of the bible In so much that the holie ghost is the iudg of all the controuersies of faith The bible is the rule with out which that iudg doth not teach vs in matter of faith And praire is the condition with out which the holy ghost doth not certainlie instruct vs out of the bible This consequence needeth no proofe being euident of it self by graunt of the verie Protestants themselues al other Biblists Lutherans Puritans Anabaptists c. The Second consequence THe rule of beleefe is no other say the Biblists then by praire to consult the holie ghost out of the bible Therfore those supernaturall motions which the holy ghost stirreth vp in the mindes of the Biblists consultinge him by praire out of the scriptures are a sure argument whence they certainlie gather that they be taught by the holie ghost the true sense of the bible Proofe FOr albeit the certaintie of faith be founded on the authoritie of God reuealing the same neuerttheles that this bible conteines the pure word of God that this be the pure true interpretation of the said bible no man can certainlie infallibly know except that the holy ghost giue testimonie vnto him out of the said bible concerning the same which testimonie as biblists will is either a supernaturall illumination or some such like diuine motion of our mindes by which ech one may certainlie infallibly know that the holy ghost doth inwardly teach him out of the holie scripture Neither doth it infringe this consequence what some Biblists say That the text is cleere enough of it self needeth no gloss nor interpretation or that one text doth interprett the other for if this were so then the presupposed graunted necessitie of an inward annointement of the holy ghost in the mindes of the biblists which doth necessarilie include a supernaturall diuine motion in their soules wherby the spirit of God doth witnes vnto their spirit that such a sence of the text which their spirit so conceaueth is most true certaine infallible is quite taken away annulled It is moreouer most ridiculous senceles to say the holy scriptures haue a sence so cleere that ech biblist may of himself conceiue vnderstand the same when as more then these 1500. yeares the whole world hath beene busied about nothing so much as in disputing about debating which is the true sence of the sacred scriptures euen yet the same is in dispute among Christians will be disputed of till the day of doome yea euen amoung the Biblists themselues there be deepe deadly debates about the sence of the scripture which haue minced them into many sects ech contradicting the other that they resemble the foxes of Sampson who tyed all by the talles of their priuat spirit haue their heades of opinions in matters of faith looking contrary wayes which Surely could not happen to them if the text of the bible were so cleere that it needed no interpretation or that the holy ghost taught them out of the scripture which is the true sence of the same in regard that the holy ghost is not à spirit of dissention but of concord peace so that this is but a vaine excuse to say that the scripture is so easie that ech idiott may vnderstand the meaning of it neither doth it further the Biblists cause The Third consequence THat supernaturall motion of the holy ghost enlightning the mindes of the Biblists consultinge by praire the holie ghost out of the scripture is an argument whence they doe certainly infallibly draw that the holy ghost doth inwardly teach them the true sence of the sacred scriptures Therfore those motions ought to be certaine doubtles altogether diuine so free from error that ech idiott woman or man may dare yea is bound in conscience to beleeue vnder paine of eternall damnation that he is more certainely taught out of sacred writt by the holy ghost to discerne true doctrine from that which is false then were all the Pastors of the whole church of Christ the space of a 1500. yeares though gathered together in a generall councell approued by the Bishop of Roome Proofe BEcause ech Biblist as I said of what age sex or condition soeuer saue those that are not come to the vse of discretion or Want iudgment is bound vnder paine of eternall damnation to consult the holy ghost out of the bible whether the decrees of the whole church gathered together in so many generall councels doe agree to the written word of God or disagree from the same Neither is it enough to answer as many biblists doe that à generall councel can not err if it agree with the written word of God for the Biblists say that it may also disagree from the same therfore ech Christian ought to consult the holy ghost out of the bible whether that doctrine of councell or church doth agree therto or disagree there from ere he beleeue the same Nor maketh it to the purpose that many Biblists approue the first 4. generall councells though many doe not approue them as Puritans Anabaptists c. For the reason why they approue these councells is because they as they say haueing consulted the holy ghost out of the bible censure them not to disagree from the written word of God neither is it of less authoritie to approue councells out of the word of God then to reprooue reiect the same For the cause why Biblists approue the first 4. generall councels is not for any respect which they haue to the said generall councells as if they could not err in faith but for the testimonie of the holy ghost whose wonder full diuine motions ech biblist doth so feele in his soule that he doth infallibly confess himself to be taught by the holy ghost when out of the booke of the bible he iudgeth that the said 4. generall councells concord with the scriptures The Fourth consequence THe motion which God maketh in the harts of the biblists consultinge the holie ghost out of the scriptures is certainlie vndoubtedly diuine say they so that ech biblist is bound vnder paine of eternall damnation to beleeue most constantly that he is more surely truly taught by the holy ghost then al the pastors of the whole church assembled together in a generall councell approued by the Bishop of Roome Therfore the Biblists doe ouer much presume on the
bound in conscience to beleeue what they teach conforme there faith to their decrees Therfore there is no ecclesiasticall iurisdiction at all extant in the world to witt iurisdiction of preaching the word of God of administring Sacraments of publishing ecclesiasticall lawes of exercising ecclesiasticall iudgments of inflicting punishments vpoÌ„ transgressors of ecclesiasticall lawes ctc. which ech Christian ere he submitt himself to such a iurisdiction is not first bound to pray consult the holie ghost out of scripture to know censure iudg whether such a iurisdiction be iust or vniust conforme to the word of God or not so either submitt himself to the same if he like if or shake of that yoake as vniustly imposed if his priuate spirit repine iudg it not to agree to the text of his bible Proofe BEcause iurisdiction to preach to administer Sacraments to make ecclesiastical lawes c. doth manifestly concerne faith to practise ecclesiasticall iudgments do the suppose that the iudg be not an heretick But according to the Biblists rule al questions concerning faith ought to be decided of ech Christian out of his Bible he hauing first prayed consulted the holy ghost consequentlie if any one preach administer Sacraments enacst ecclesiasticall lawes or be an ecclesiasticall iudg ech Biblist is to consult the holy ghost out of the Bible so iudg of these mens doctrine of their Sacraments of theire lawes of theire iudgments if his priuate spitit find them to disagree from his texts of Bible then he is bound in conscience not to obey nor beleeue them yea rather to burne them then gyue his consent vnto them The Sixt consequence THere is no ecclesiasticall iurisdiction extant in the world neither of preaching administring of Sacraments making of ecclesiasticall lawes practising of ecclesiasticall iudgments c. which ech Christian ere he submitt himself to that iurisdiction is not first bound hauing consulted the holie ghost out of the bible to iudg whether it be iust or vniust so either accept or reiect the same Therfore conforme to this maxime of the Biblists all ecclesiasticall iurisdiction yea the whole church of Christ becommeth subiect to the boysterous bridles lust ignorance of all Christians how wicked soeuer they be who vnder pretence of an inward annointment wherby ech one boasteth himself to be taught by the holy ghost out of the scriptures haue libertie to sow the world with heresies distemper all realmes common wealths with debates strifes factions ciuil warrs Proofe FIrst because there is no Biblist in the world which doth not attach of heresie innumerable other Biblists who varie from him So one Lutheran auoucheth al PuritaÌ„s Hussites Anobaptists Arrians Protestants to err in faith detesteth them for hereticks neither doe the Lutherans consent amoung themselues in matters of faith but these differ froÌ„ those so that there is welnigh as many opinioÌ„s of faith amoung them as their be braines to conceiue them and yet ech Biblist be he Hussite Lutheran Puritan Anabaptist Protestant Arrian c. doth verilie perswade himself that the is taught by the holie ghost out of the Bible Secondlie because it many tymes faleth out that many of these Biblists who ofteÌ„ doe call vpon consult the holy ghost out of the scripture at diuers tymes gather contradictorie articles of faith out of the said scripture sweare that they were so taught by the holy ghost How many Biblist ministers haue they who a yeare before praying consulting the holy ghost out of the scripture haue publiquely taught aÌ„d writ that Bishops were the limms of Antichrist but this yeare hauing a fatt bishop-prick offred them they praing consulting the holy ghost out of the scripture find that the holy ghost inspireth them to accept that dignitie with the reuenewes that Bishops are conforme to the texts of his bible Others praying consulting the holy ghost out of his Bible haue dared to preach write that to weare a syrpliss were to conforme one selfe to the beast put on a remnant of Antichrist as also to receaue the communion kneeling were to committ idolatry this as froÌ„ the holy ghost but some months or a yeare after frighted either with the law or aluted with reward consultinge the said holie ghost out of his Bible he maketh no scruple both to weare a syrpliss receiue the communion kneeling this by inspiration of the holy ghost whome he auowed a while a goe to haue forbidden the same as monstrous idolatrie Therfore he who subiecteth all ecclesiasticall iurisdiction to this annointment inspiration of the spirit wherwith ech Biblist doth boast himself that he is taught by the holy ghost doth expose the said eeclesiasticall iurisdiction also the whole church of Christ to the boysterous lust ignorance of all leude miscreant Christians to staine the same with heresies as they please The like may be aledged of Politicall iurisdiction which by this principal of Biblists doctrine is exposed to all the ieopardie of tumultuous broyles ciuill warrs The Seuenth consequence ALl ecclesiasticall iurisdiction yea the whole church of Christ becommeth subiect to the rageing lust ignorance of all miscreant Christians who vnder the pretext of an inward annointment wherwith ech one boasteth himself to be taught by the holy ghost out of the scripture may introduce into the church of God what peruerse heresies broyles hee pleaseth Therfore by such a rule of beleefe as the Biblists haue deuised the whole church of Christ assembled together is necessarilie a confused route of mad bedlame fellowes amoung whome there is no order at all but an euerlasting horror inhabiteth Proofe THe effect prooueth what is said for that companie of Christians which is only thronged together compacted into one boddie through this inward annointment of the holy ghost only which ech Bâ—blist presumeth of himself to haue hath no vnitie of faith in it self no constancie of faith in his members no iurisdiction nor vocation nor succession of ecclesiastical ministers but only in all ech of them this inward annointment domineereth by which euery one vaunteth himself to haue the holy ghost for his tutor CoÌ„sidere well the true spiritt of all the Biblists thou will find theÌ„ minced into many differente iarring sects of Lutherans Caluinists Anabaptists c ech of which are againe shreded into more sects theÌ„ there be dayes in the yeares yea welnigh they haue amoung them as manie belefes as men as the tymes seasons change so they change their faiths as if religion were but a sport pastime See if they can spie out amoung theÌ„ a supreme iurisdiction of teaching the word of God of administring Sacraments of ordering ecclesiasticall ministers of iudging ecclesiasticall causes you will scarse find any shadow there of but all things amoung them are exposed to this internall annointment of the holy ghost which ech of them boasteth for to
haue Nor doth it preiudice this consequence that in manie places we behold the companies of these Biblists verie quiet in some order amoung themselues as Lutherans in Saxonie Protestants in England for this proceedeth because that the promiscuous multitude of Biblists in these places giue credit to theire ministers or bee constrained to keepe quarter by the Augustane Confession or by the statutes of a parliament which none for feare of punishment dare openly call in doubt for this cause there be verie few who consulting the holy ghost out of the scripture haue courage to censure whether the doctrines propounded them to beleeue by ministers or by the Augustane Confession or by the statutes of a parliament doe cohere with the word of God or disagree from the same They had rather incurr guiltienes of conscience then a proemunire But indeed to bee plaine while these Biblists not first consulting the holy ghost out of their Bible doe out of negligence or feare giue credit to theire parsons or to parliament edicts or such like statutes concerning matters of faithtt is impossible for them to haue any true faith in regard they found their faith vpon them who may err in faith for ministers Bishops Parliaments congregations generall councels all may err in faith all be deceiued deceiue according to the Biblists rule yet in those place where this inward annointment hath free vttrance and the priuate spirit domineereth all things in religion be turned vpside downe all disquieted quite put out of order so much the more as the witts of those Biblists which consult the holy ghost out of the scripture are more subtile eminent which is so apparant by daylie practise that to god about to prooue the same were to light a candell at mid day THE SIXT CHAPTER Other necessarie consequences be deduced vvhence vve may gather vvhat a manner of church the church of Christ vvas from the Apostles tymes to our dayes if it bee censured as the Biblists rule of beleefe doth sett doune SVCH certes as I haue deciplered must the congregation of Christians be who make one body of a church as the Biblists rule of beleefe doth sett doune Now it resteth to deduce other consequences out of the same rule of beleefe werby it may appeare what a fasshioned church according to their rule was the church of Christ from the Apostles age downwards euen to Luthers reuolt for if following the rule of succession so many ages euen to our dayes are spred al the world ouer surely we must be compelled to deduce therout most horrible fearfull consequenees such as would fright a man to reade them The first consequence ALl councells as well generale as nationall yea approued confirmed by the Bishop of Roome may err in faith ech Christian is bound vnder the paine of eternall damnation before such tyme as he giue credit to any of those generall councels to consult the holy ghost out of the scriptures so to iudg whether that they doe agree to the word of God or disagree from the same Therfore all generall councels in what manner soeuer they haue beene celebrated in the church of God haue vsurped practised most detestable tyranie ouer the whole church of Christ contrary to the word of God Because these generall councels did not only excommunicate but also by the helpe of secular power did condemne put to death those Biblists who consulting the holie ghost out of the scriptures dared to denie or call in doubt the decrees of the said councel which concerned matters of faith Also they mooued cruell bloodie wars against those princes kings Emperors who dared to gaine say the doctrine of those councels in matters of faith See the cuncell of Nice ann 325. in which Arrius was condemned who out of the holie scriptures as hee sayd denied the diuinitie of Christ See the councel of Constantinople an 383 in which Macedonius was condemned who out of the Bible denied the diuinitie of the holy ghost See the first councel of Ephesus an 434. in which Nestorius of Constantinople was condemned who out of the Bible did affirme that there was 2. persons in Christ See the first councell of Calcedon an 454. in which Eutyches the Archimandrite was condemned of heresie who out of the scriptures sayd that the images of Christ his Saints were not to be honored Neither did they cōdemne one or two but an innumerable number of Christians who followed those heresiarchs nor were they of the vulgar sort but a manie of them were Bishops Archbishops Patriarchs yea Princes kings Emperors all which those fathers of the councel did without any dread condemne for hereticks in the name of Christ and pronouncing an Anathema vpon them cutt them quite of from the church of Christ Both tyme leisure would faile mee if I should goe about to reckne vp all generall counsels to shew yt a perpetuall practise rule of the church of Christ that Generall counsels should decide matters of faith declare to all Christians what they were bound to beleeue what not to beleeue condemning all ech that durst be so bould as to gaine-say them or with stand their decrees Now if those fathers of generall counsels had non such right to doe this first at generall counsels hether to celebrated in the church of Christ erred in faith then they alwayes practised a most violent exectable tyrannie euer all the flock of Christ in vsurping an vniust iurisdiction by force might in condemning scoffing at this annointment of the spirit of God which ech Biblist presumeth for to haue to be inwardly taught by the said spirit out of the scriptures The Second consequence ALl generall councels in what manner soeuer they were celebrated in the church of God exercised a detestable tyranie ouer all the whole church of God contrary to the Bible according to the Biblists rule Therfore all heresies that euer were condemned by generall councels be heerby caled into doubt whether that they were iustly condemned or not Proofe BEcause that those generall councels had no right to cōdemne any doctrine but that office apparteined to ech Christian as also consulting the holy ghost out of the bible to examin euen the decrees of generall councels themselues And therfore the sentence of those councels which condemned hereticks in this respect was vniust because it was vtred by those who had no right nor iurisdiction to doe it for that sentence did by diuine right apperteine to the censure of the holy ghost who resyding in the mind of ech Biblists as a iudg sitting on a bench doth by meanes of the Bible giue sentence out of there mouths about the doctrines of men But to the end that the Biblists may by some smal coniecture perceiue how many monstrous heresies would reuiue againe in this church if this there rule of beleefe were auaylable I will only mention at this