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
for Apocrifa were expelled from the number of the bookes of the bible the catalogue of which is as followeth Bookes censured for Apocrifa in the councel of Roome THe iourney of S. Petter the Apostle in 8. bookes said to be written by S. Clement Apocrifa The acs of S. Andrew the Apostle Apocrifa The acs written in the name of S. Thomas Apocrifa The acs written in the name of S. Peeter Apocrifa The acs written in the name of S. Philip. Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of Taddeus the Apostle Apoc. The gospel written in the name of S. Peter Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of S Matthias Apocrifa The gospel writt in the name of Barnabas Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of Iames the less Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of S. Andrew Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of S. Thomas which the Manicheans vse Apocrifa The gospel written in the name of S. Bartholomew the Apostle Apocrifa The gospel which Lucian falsified Apocrifa The infancie of our Sauiour Apocrifa The gospel which Hesychius falsified Apocrifa The booke entitled Pastor Apocrifa The booke of the birth of our Sauiour of his mother her midwife Apocrifa All those bookes which were sett out by Leucius the disciple of the diuell Apocrifa The booke caled the foundation an other caled the treasure both Apocrifa The booke of the Genesis of the daughters of Adam an other named the nephew both Apocrifa The centimetrum of Christ compiled of Virgill verses Apocri The Booke of Prouerbs written by hereticks sett out vnder the name of S. Sixtus Apocrifa The acs of S. Paul the Apostle Tecla Apocrifa The reuelation named of S. Paul Apocrifa An other reuelation vnder the name of S. Thomas à third vnder the name of S. Steuen à booke named the Assumption of our Ladie an other caled the Testament al. Apocrifa The booke named the pennance of Adam an other caled the pennance of Origin a third caled the pennance of S. Cyprian Apocrifa The booke vnder the name ogia the giant whome the heretiks faine to haue fought with a dragon after the flood Apocr The booke caled the Apostles lotts Apocrifa The booke caled the pennance of Iannes Mambres Apocri The booke caled the praise of the Apostles Apocrifa And this decree about the canon of the holy scriptures was not only receiued by perticular men but euen all subsequent generall councells did approue accept the same all which if they could err in matter of faith could also err in this their decree about canonicall scripture so it were to be doubted whether they condemned for Apocrifa any ghospel that were sacred or admitted those that were false for bookes of God which reason if the biblists did wel weigh they Would find themselues marueloussie pussed about their rule of faith in doubt whether that those scriptures Which they now at this present haue be true or false sacred or prophane canonicall or Apocrifa The fift consequence THe fathers councels could err in their decree about canonicall scriptures as the biblists will haue it Therfore no biblist can certainlie knoW whether that those bookes conteined in their bibles be made by the holy ghost or not except they first consult the holy ghost out of the bible touching this question so ech one determine by his priuate spirit which bookes in the scripture were made by God and which were not Proofe BEcause for as much as this question is about the word of God it doth most of all apperteine to faith therfore can not be decided except by à preuial praire the holie ghost be first consulted out of the bible about the same Nor is it enough to answere as many bibilsts doe That some bookes of scripture are held to haue beene dictated by the holy ghost in the opinion of all men for all men may err as biblists say besides all christians doe not consent in one opinion about canonicall scriptures for the catholiques receiue many bookes of scripture for canonicall which the protestans repute for Apocrifa many also the protestants receiue which Luther his compannions improue rase denie to be sacred scripture the like is of other christians moreouer the versions editions of bibles are diuers haue diffrent senses whereon great difficulties contentions doe arise euen in matter of faith The sixt consequence NO Biblists can certainly know whether that those bookes conteined in their bibles be dictated by the holy ghost except by a preuiall praire he first consult the holie ghost touching this question which consulting must be fetched from the bible wherfore according to their owne rule each biblist is obliged vnder the paine of eternall damnation to determine this greate difficile question by prayâ—ng consulting the holy ghost and not relie on their ministers or their churches Proofe FOr they admitting no other rule of beleefe saue this of consulting the holy ghost out of the written word of God seing that faith is necessary to shunn eternall damnation it most euidently followeth that ech biblist is bound vnder paine of eternall damnation to consult the holy ghost out of the bible to know whether those bookes conteined in the same were dictated by the holy ghost or not els he cannot vnder stand out of the said scriptures what he is bound to beleeue if he doubt whether those bookes conteined in the bible be canonical or not The seuenth consequence ECh biblist is bound vnder the paine of eternall damnation to consult the holy ghost out of scripture by à preuiall praire whether all ech of those bookes conteined in the bible be dictated by the holy ghost Therfore ech biblist is bound vnder paine of eternall damnation to reede ouer all the bookes of the bible to throughly examin them together with the diuers editions of the said bibles manifold versions out of the hebrew greeke latine english to conferr them together with great diligence paines after all this to giue sentence their vpon which are canonicall bookes which are Apocrifa which versions be true which corrupt to the end he may gather there out all the true articles of his faith without error he who among the bests of Biblists omitteth to doe all this is in a continuall state of damnation Proofe FOr all these be necessary to determine this great question except the holy ghost doe teach them by some other meanes then out of the bible in what and how manie bookes the written word of God is conteined which versions editions be true authenticall which not But we haue already seene that the sentence of the Biblists is That the holy ghost is so farr forth the iudg of the controuersies of faith that he doth not iudg of the same nor teach the Biblists otherwise then out of the written word of God which according to the doctrine of the
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
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
tyme a certaine decree made in the yeare 494. In the first Roman councell vnder Pope Gelaâ—asius the first These all such like heresies we condemne which were taught by Symon Magus Nicolaus Gerinthus Marcion Basilides Ebion Paulus Samosatenus Protinus Bonosus with others who infected with such like errors fell froÌ„ the church we also condemne Montanus with his impure followers Apolinard Valentinus or Manicheus Faustus Africanus Sabellius Arrius Macedonius Eunominus Nouatus Sabbatius Caelestiê° Donatus Eustakius Iouinianus Iulianus GelaneÌ„sis Celestinus Maximê° Priscilianus of Spaine Nestorius of Constantinople Lampetius Dioscorus Eutyches Both the Peeters wherof one defiled the church of Antioch with heresies the other the church of Alexandria Acatius of Constantinople with his consorts and all other hereticks there disciples together with scismaticks with whatsoeuer they haue taught writt as also those hereticks whose names be not registred which we command to be not only reiected but also rased out for euer by euery Catholique Apostolique Roman church whom with all their followers we acknowledg to be euerlastingly coÌ„demned vnder the band of an anatheme neuer to be loosed Thus Pope Gelasius with the fathers of that councell The Third consequence NO ecclesiasticall iurisdiction is extant weither of Preaching the word of God nor of administring Sacraments which ech Christian ere he submitt himself to that iurisdiction is not bound in conscience first to consult the holy ghost out of the scripture so iudg whether the said iurisdiction be iust to which they may submitt themselues or els vniust whose yoacke they may shake of Therfore euen from the Apostles tymes to our dayes no true publique worship of God was extant practised in the church of God Proofe FOr that worship of God which hath hetherto beene publiquely practised in the church of God as wel concerning the preaching of the word as the administration of SacrameÌ„ts other publique ecclesiasticall rites apperteining to religion or the pietie of the faithfull towards God was alwayes decided gouerned by the Bishops Pastors of the church but especialy principaly by the fathers that were assembled in generall coÌ„cels with an vsurpation of a supreme power ouer all Christian beleeuers which if conforme to the rule of the Biblists it be a most detestable tyrannie contrarie to the word of God no doubt also but such a manner of worshipp wherwith God was serued was execrable detestable Nor is it enough to oppose this consequence to auerr that many Biblists liued in euery age who detested that tyrannicall dominion for I graunt this These men I say were they whome as I aboue mentioned so many generall councells condemned for hereticks which if the Biblists would haue to apperteine to there church lett them looke with what conscience or colour they can approoue theire heresies when as it is most certaine that in doctrine of faith they did extreamely disagree from the beleefes which the Biblists that be now a dayes doe hold profess The Fourth consequence ALl generall councels in what manner soeuer they were celebrated in the church of Christ exercised a tyrannicall dominioÌ„ ouer the whole church of Christ coÌ„trary to the word of God neither was there euer extaÌ„t in the world since the Apostles dayes any true publique worship seruice of God Therfore the true church of Christ euen from the Apostles tymes to these of ours lay hid lurking in inuisiblenes being vnknowen both to herself the world Proofe FOr that assembly of Christians which from the Apostles dayes downwards to our tyme was most conspicuous to the world worshiped serued God either deceiued or compelled to doe so with a detestable tyrannye of Bishops that theÌ„ ouerswaied the church as Biblists say and those only which refused this their tyrannie were diuided into innumerable sects dissenting from ech others in essentiall matters of faith which by lilte lilte were reduced to nothing Therfore lest we be compelled to say That Chist for so long time had no church at all in the world either wee must be forced to say that the same was the church of Christ or els for want of better reason auouch an absurditie say that the church was all that while vnknoweÌ„ both to it self the world lay hid lurking in inuisiblenes as many Biblists doe not stick to auouch impudently blabber THE SEVENTH CHAPTER The conclusion of the Author ANd thus far Biblist my freind I haue goe on to sett doune those absurdities which spring out of thy rule of beleefe which each one may with ease deduce at leisure albeit I haue past by many more difficile but no less true Now I would haue thee for thy credit conscience sake to free this thy rule froÌ„ that frightfull impietie phrensie with which it seemeth to be braÌ„ded this by a more learned aunswer if thou canst Which I thinke will be no smal paines to doe which I doe deeme can be done by no other meanes then either by a flatt denial of thine owne antecedents or of my consequences both which will be fowle enough But lest thou deteine thy selfe in thine answer It is not a miss I admonish thee that I haue laboured whole 26. yeares about the studie of the bible haue euer sought to finde spie out the truth with a most sinceare spotles intention of mind to this end euen from my childhood forsooke my father my mother all the snares and allurements of my temporall commodities which I might haue enioyed in the world loading on my shoulders a sore heauie cross haue thus followed Christ yet neuerheles I haue hetherto esteemed iudged out of holy writt that the authoritie of the holy church concerning matters of faith is infallible But now shoulde I admitt a diffrent rule of beleefe to witt that of thine I perceiue full well what difficulties Would ensew ther vpon which are the same mentioned by me to which I demaund of thee a satisfactorie reply though I scarse can imagine what meanes thow hast to performe the same except thow wilt perswade me to turne about like a mil-hors from the spirit to the Bible from the Bible to the spirit in a perpetuall circle for if thou remitt me to praire the inward annointment of the holy ghost or to some sacred scriptures or glosses which thou or thy compannions make vpon the Bibles text freind Biblist I would haue thee not to forget that thow beleeuest both thy self and al thy comarades to be prone to errors in matters of faith may flatly err therfore in this important busines of faith I neither ought nor can in conscience giue credit vnto thee or thine Nor canst thow gather if after that I haue examined cyfted thy sentence about matters of faith euer out of the bible that the eies of my mind bee dimmed can not see so cleere as thine because I haue not prayed implored the assistance of the holy ghost for I would haue thee know that for the space of these 26. yeares the 36. part more of ech naturall day hath beene by mee spent in watchings prayres seruinge God night day But should I giue which can not be graunted that the church may faile defile it self with errors therfore the authoritie of the same were to be renounced neuertheles I see no reason wherfore I should presently submit to your opinion subscribe to that priuat spirit by which you boast your selues to be inwardly inspired taught yea rather in this case I should doubt whether that the seripture you follow were sacred or not for hetherto with S. Augustin I had not beleeued the scriptures had not the authoritie of the church mooued mee But to faine that the holy ghost forsooke the whole church of Christ so many ages is only assistant to me a vile sinner that I only may not stray from the truth where all cuncels fathers and Churches erred not rashlie as you surmise fredne Biblist but prudently abhorre denyt esteeme it à more then Luciferian arrogaÌ„ce in à maÌ„ to sou aunt him self yet should I lett this pass as thow wouldest haue it that is that thy rule of beleefe is both coÌ„sonaÌ„t to the scriptured the inward annoinmen of the spirit what thinkest thow may bee vrged in this case This at least that vnless thow freest the same froÌ„ the infamie which it hath incurred for the aboue deduced coÌ„sequences I must be forced to affirme that the Bible is not sacred but profane your spirit not holie but hollow your Christ not à Sauiour but à seducer nor any man of à sound iudgement can censure otherwise Wherfore except you in such sort stint my consequences that they can not be able to follow the antecedents at the heeles etther freind Biblist you must againe retourne to the authoritie of the Church whence you are departed or quod ahsit quite turne from Christ Fare you wel and see wherto this your spirit aimeth with you Consult so carefully FINIS