no miracles for signes are geuen to vnbeleuers and not to the faythfull AVgustyne agaynst faustus the Manachee lib. 15. Cap. 5. The Scriptures that be stablyshed and sette forth by so greate authorite ye despice miracles you work none which though you did yet we woulde beware of you by the Lorde instructing and teachinge vs saying there shal aryse false Chrystes c. THe same of the citie of god li. 20. Cap. 19. The presence of Antichrist shalbe after the workynge of Sathan with all lyinge powers as a fore For then shall SathaÌ„ be let lose and by him Antichrist with all his power shal worke meruelously but lyingly of the which miracles it was wonte to be doubted whether they be called lyinge signes and wonders for thys cause that he shall deceaue mans senses with visions so that he semeth to do the thyng that he doeth not in dede or els beecause thesame although they be true miracles and not counterfet yet they draw meÌ„ to beleue that thei can not be done but by the power of god whereas meâ—ne knowe not the power of the deuyll chefely seing that how greate soeuer power he hath he hath receued it For when fier fel down from heauen and with one dashe destroyed sâ— greate a-familie wyth so many heardes of cattayll of holy Iob a sodayne whirle winde ouerthrowing his house slew his children these were no disceauable visions but for euery one of these it is sayed they shall be beegiled with signes and wonders that shall deserue to be begiled for so much as thei haue not receyued the loue of the trueth that thei might be saued Neither did the Apostle feare to saye and adde god shal sende them strong delusyons that they should beleue lies For god doth sende these thynges because he suffereth the deuyll to dooe them he in dede bi his iust iudgemeÌ„t although the deuill doeth it of a wycked and malicious purpose THe same of the vnite of the churche Cap. 16. Let theÌ„ shewe their church if they can not in the sayinges and in the fame of the Affricanes not in the determinacioÌ„s of their bishoppes not in any mans reasonynges not in false sygnes and wonders for agaynst all thys we bee warned and armed by gods word but in the thynges appoynted in the law spoken afore by the Prophetes in the songes of the Psalmes in the voyce of the shepeharde himselfe and the prea thynges and paynefulnes of the EuaÌ„gelysâ—s that is in the authorite of the bokes Canenical but not so that thei may gather and rehearse those thiÌ„gs that be spoken daâ—kely and doubtfully and figuratiuely whych euery man may vnderstande as he lyst after hys own mynd For suche thynges cannot be vnderstanded and expounded rightly except those thynges that be verye playnlye spoken bee perceaued before wyth a constante fayth Let him not saye thys is true beecause I saye it or because my companyon saith thus or these my companions or these our Byshoppes Clarkes or laye menne or els it is true because such miracles did Donatus Pontius or what soeuer other or els because men praye at the tombes of our dead menne and be heard or because these and these thiÌ„gs chaunced there or that thys brother of ours or thys syster of ours sawe suche a vision ether wakyng or slepynge in hys dreame sawe suche a vysyon or syght away with these Either they be faynyngs of lying men or the wonders of deceytfull deuyls For eyther they are not true that are spoken or if any miracles bee done amonge Heretykes we ought the more to take hede of them beecause that when the Lorde had sayed there shold come some that by workyng diuerse myracles shoulde deceyue if it were possyble the verye electe he added and earnestlye settynge foorth the thyng sayed behold I haue tolde you before Whereof the Apostle admonishing them speaketh playnlye that in the latter tymes menne shoulde departe from the faythe geuynge hede to spirites of errour and doctrynes of deuyls Further more if any man bee heard praying at the toÌ„bes of heretiâ—â— he receueth whether it be good or euil not for the merite of the place but for the merite of his desyer For the sprite of the lord as it is wrytten filleth the whole world and the earnest eare heareth all thynges and many be heard of god when he is angry of whoÌ„ the Apostle sayth he had geuen them vp to their hartes desier And god to many whom he fauoureth geueth not what they woulde that he maye geue them that whiche is profytable wherfore saith the same Apostle of the stiÌ„ge of his flesh the messenger of Sathan which he said was geuen hym to buffet him lest he should be exalted aboue measure by the greatnes of reuelacions for the whiche I prayed the lorde thrise that he would take it away froÌ„ me and he sayed vnto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect through weaknes Doe we not reade that many meÌ„ wer hard of god himselfe in the hyghe places of Iurye which highe places neuertheles so displeased god that kings which destroyed them not were blamed and kynges that destroyed them wer praysed But thys ought to be vnderstaÌ„de that the desyer of him that praieth is more worthy or of more strength theÌ„ the place of prayer but of false vysioÌ„s let them reade what is written both that Sathan doth chaunge himselfe into an Angell of light and that their dreames haue deceyued many meÌ„ let them also heare what the heathen tel of their temples and godes wonderfully eyther done or sene and yet neuertheles the gods of the heathen be deuils but the Lorde made the heaueÌ„s Therfore many meÌ„ be heard and after many diuerse sorts not only catholyke Christians but also panimes and Iewes and heretikes geuen to diuerse errours supersticions doubtles they ar heard eyther of deceitfull spirits which neuertheles do nothing except they be permitted of god hyghly and vnspeakeably iudging what is mete to be geuen to euery man or els of god hiÌ„self either for the punishmeÌ„t of malice or the coÌ„fort of miseri or for the admonishmeÌ„t of eternal saluacioÌ„ But to that eternall saluacioÌ„ coÌ„meth no maÌ„ but he that hath the head christ Yea no maÌ„ caÌ„ haue the head Christ which is not in his body the churche which church lyke as the head it self we must know in the canonical scripturs not to seke it in diuers rumors â—pâ—nioÌ„s of meÌ„ not in factes sayiÌ„ges sights c. Let al this sort of them be chaffe not geue seÌ„teÌ„ce afore hande agaiÌ„st the wheate if thei be the church â–ª but whether thei be the church let theÌ„ shew none other wais but bi the caÌ„onical bokes of the holi scripturs For neither doe we saye that men oughte to beleue vs because we are in the catholyke church of Christ or because Optaiê° bishop of Miliuet or Ambrose bishop of Miliane or
because ye know not the scriptures not because ye beleue not the churche He also promyseth his elect that they shal heare his voice and not a straungers voice If ye be doubtful therfore in any poynte resorte to the Scryptures geuen from GOD and oute of them searche for the thing wherof thou arte ignoraunte and aboue all thinges be not to rashe in iudgement neyther truste to muche in thine own witte Aske also counsell of suche menne whom thou knoweste to bee wel learned and exercised in the same Scryptures and whose conuersacion thou seeste to bee agreable to their wordes and yet beleue them no farther then they canne proue theyr doctrines and exhortacyons to aunswere and agree wyth GODDES mosre holye woorde Seke aske crye cal knock faste and praye wyth a constaunte fayth ioynynge therto a Chrystyan sober and a charitable â—iuing and thâ— he that hath the keye of Dauid who openeth and no man shutteth shal accordyng to his promyse geue vnto you al that you aske of his father in hys name and shall sende his holy spirite into your hartes who shall leade you into al trueth and put you in remembraunce of all those thynges whyche Christ hath commaunded nedeful necessarie for your saluacion What so euer therefore the churche teacheth you out of the canonical bokes of the Bible beleue that but if they teache any thing beside that I meane which is not agreinge with the same beleue neyther that nor them For then they ar not the Church of Chryst but the Synagog of Satan and Antichriste For the Churche of God as Saincte Paul witnesseth â—s builded vpon the foundacion of the Apostles and Prephetes not vpon the Apostles but vpoÌ„ the same foundacion which they laid that is Christe Iesus and his holyâ— worde And all such vnwritten veryties as the Papistes haue in theyr mouthes though they seme neuer so glorious a churche to the face of the world if they be not agreinge as they are not in dede to the verye worde of god suspect them yea rather I bidde you vtterly to abhorre and reiecte theÌ„ For their vtwarde and sene churche may and doth as is before proued coÌ„monly erre in great and waighty matters Stande fast therfore to sounde good doctrine and wauer not And if any man come vnto you and brynge not this doctrine with him receyue hym not into your house bid him not god spede nor haue aught to do with him but counte hym as an abiecte from god and Christ. But cleaue ye fast to the souÌ„de certaine doctrine of gods infallible word writteÌ„ in the canonical bokes of the new olde testament which is able sufficiently to instructe you to eternal saluacioÌ„ throgh Iesus Christ our lord To whom with the father and the holy goste be al honor and praise for euer euer Amen The boke to the Reader IVdge not before Thou knowe mine intent But reade me throughout And then say thy fyll As thou in opinion Art minded and bent Vhether it be either good orill I care not for prayse Nor slaunder vntrue Of man nor of childe What euer he be Trueth nede not to feare Who doth it pursue With prayse or disprayse In any degree For trueth is not bettered By prayses at al Nor harmed by disprayse Of any wyght But goodnes or hurt Most surely come shal To him that doth iudge Either wrong or right Reade me then iudge me Therfore I thee praye Nothyng for my cause But only thyne own For I shall indure Who soeuer say naye When vnwritten truethes Shalbe ouer throwne ⧠A ConfutacioÌ„ of vnwritteÌ„ verities by diuerse auctorities diligently and truly gathered together out of the holy scryptures and auncient fathers ¶ That the worde of god wrytten contained within the Canon of the Bible is a true sounde perfecte and whole doctrine contayning in it selfe fully all thynges nedeful for oure saluacion ¶ The .i. Chapter YE shal put nothyng to the word which I commaunde you neyther take aughte therefroÌ„ that ye maye kepe the commaundementes of the Lorde your god whiche I commaunde you You shall not doe any thynge that we do here this daye euery maÌ„ what semeth him good in his own eyes What soeuer I commaunde you that take â—eade you doe onelye to the Lorde and put nothynge thereto nor take aughte therefrom The Prophet which shall presume to speake a worde in my name which I haue not coÌ„mauÌ„ded him to speake or that speakth in the name of strauÌ„ge gods that prophete shall dye Al the wordes of god are pure and cleane for he is a 〈◊〉 vnto all them that putte these truste in him Putte thou nothyng vnto hys wordes leaste he reproue the and thou bee found a lyar Heare not the wordes of the Prophâ—tes that preache vnto you and beleaue you for they speake the meâ—nyng of their own hartes and not oute of the mouth of the lorde Whosoeuer teacheth and kepeth the same speaking of his commaun dementes shall be called greate in the kyngdom of heauen Whosoeuer heareth these my wordes and doth the same shalbee likened vnto a wise man that buildeth hys house vpon a rocke and aboundauÌ„ce of raine fel the fluddes came the wiÌ„de blew and bet vpon the same house and it fel not because it was grouÌ„ded an the suer rocke This people draweth nye vnto me with their mouth and honoureth me with lyppes howbeit their harts be farre from me but in vayne do thei serue me teachyng the doctrynes and preceptes of men Goe ye and teacheÌ„ all 〈◊〉 baptysing them in the name of 〈…〉 c teachyng them to 〈…〉 what so euer I haue 〈…〉 Goe ye into all the 〈◊〉 and preache my gospell to all creatures He that heareth mi word beleueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting lyfe and shal not come into damnacion but is escaped from death to life Searche the scriptures for in them ye thinke ye haue eternal life and thei art they which testifie of me These are written that you might beleue that Iesus is Christ the sonne of god and that in beleuing ye might haue life thorow hys name I haue spared no labor but I haue shewed al the counsell of god I haue obtained helpe of God and continew vnto this day witnessynge both to the small and to the great sayinge none other thynges then those which the prophetes and Moses did say should come Fayth commeth by hearynge hearynge commeth by the worde of god What soeuer is not of fayth the same is sinne We be not lordes ouer your fayth but helpers of your ioye Though we our selues or an aungell from heauen preache any other gospell vnto you then that whyche we haue preached let him be accursed Continewe thou in the thynges whyche thou hast learned whiche also were committed vnto the knowiÌ„g of whoÌ„ thou hast learned them and for as muche
to sing any made coÌ„moÌ„ly vsed soÌ„gs in the church nor read ani boke beside the canoÌ„ but only the canonical bokes of the new old testameÌ„t those bokes which oughte to be red and receued for authoritie those bokes whiche be deuided froÌ„ the bokes called apocrypha in the gret bible Vnto the which S. CipriaÌ„ HieroÌ„ AusteÌ„ with all the old writers agre ¶ But the .3 couÌ„cell of carthage added to these the bokes of wisdom Ecclesiasticus Tobie Iudith Hester the bokes of the Machabees vnto which latter couÌ„sel the papistes cleaue with toth nayle and ther vpoÌ„ stay their purgatory prayiÌ„ge to sainctes with diuerse other errors and heresies coÌ„trary to the elder better couÌ„sels Herby you may most easely perceiue how shamefully their general couÌ„sels haue erred as wel in the iudgemeÌ„t of the scriptures as also in necessary articles of our fayth good maners Yea the chefest and oldeste couÌ„sels be as Anacharsis said of the lawes made by Solon for the Atheniens like to cobwebbes wherin smal flies gnattes and Miges be takeÌ„ and deuoured of the spiders but greate hornettes and hoÌ„bellbees flie through and breake them without any daunger or hurt And generally there is no lawes regarded kepte or maintained amonge them but suche as make as they turne theÌ„ pro pane lucraÌ„do that is for their dignities immunites or libertes and prophetes Wherefore the words of our sauiour Christ maye be rightly veryfied of theÌ„ they laye heuy importable burtheÌ„s on other mens shoulders but wil not once moue theÌ„ with their fiÌ„ger For all their lawes be but nettes to take kyll the poore fishes and to fyl their own pauÌ„ches ¶ That nothyng can be proued by oracles of Angels touchynge relygyon ¶ The. iiii Chapter GEnesis .3 Sathan beyng chauÌ„ged into a serpeÌ„t disceaued our first parentes in them cast al mankynde hedlynge into damnacion REgum .3 Vlti I wil go furth and bee a lyinge spirite in the mouth of all his Prophetes ¶ Reade the whole Chapter GAlat .1 Thoughe an angel from heauen preache any other gospell c. THe .2 to the. Cor. ca. 11. SathaÌ„ himselfe is chaunged into an Angell of lyghte COlossi .2 Let no man make you hote at a wronge marke by the humblenes and holynes of Angels THe same .4 Cap. The spirite speaketh euidently that in the latter tymes some shal depart from the fayth and shall geue hede vnto spirites of error and deuyllyshe doctrine IOhn .4 Beleue not euery spirite but proue the spirites whether they are of god or not ACtes .16 A certayne damsel possessed with a sprite that prophesied met vs which brought her master and mistres much vauÌ„tage wyth prophesieng The same folowed Paule and vs and cried saying these are the seruauntes of the moste high god whiche shewe vnto vs the waye of saluacyon And thys dyd she many dayes but Paul not content turned about and sayd to the spirite I commaunde thee in the name of Iesu Chryste that thou come out of her And he came out the same houre CIprian of the simplenes of prelates The enemye after the woordes of the Apostle chaungeth hymselfe into an Angell of lyght and setteth forth his seruauntes as ministers of righteousnes affirminge nyghte for daye death for health desperacion vnder the cooler of hope false fayth vnder the preteÌ„ce of faith Antichrist vnder the name of Chryst so that whyles they counterfete the like things thei make voide the truth with subtiltie Thys dearly beloued brethren commeth to passe by thys meanes that we resorte not to the original of the trueth nor seke the head Chryst nor kepe the doctrine of oure heauenly master CIprianus in his .4 treatesse of the vanite of Idols Filthie spirites wanderyng abroade beeiÌ„g drowned in worldly vicesâ— after they haue shronken from heauenly vertue through worldly corrupcyon beeynge them selfs destroyed cease not to destroye other and beyng infecte wyth euill infecte other wyth the same These inspire the hartes of the Prophetes euer lappyng vp lyes with the truth they trouble mens lyues dysquiet their slepes drawyng their meÌ„bers awry hurt their health prouoke diseases to force meÌ„ to worshipping of theÌ„ this is the remedy of them whaÌ„ they cease to hurt neither haue they any other study but to cal meÌ„ backe froÌ„ god and turne theÌ„ froÌ„ the perceauiÌ„g of true religioÌ„ to their superstitioÌ„ seyng they be in paine theÌ„ selfe to seke those to be companioÌ„s of their paine whom they haue made through their error partakers of their synne LActaÌ„tiê° institucionuÌ„ li. 2. ca. 15. corrupt daÌ„ned spirits strey ouer al the world seke for ease of their destruction thorough the destructyon of men They therefore fill al the worlde wyth snares fraudes and errours the whiche because they be fine spirits and can not be perceaued conueye themselues into mens bodyes and beyng secretlye hyd wythin the bodyâ— trouble health bryng sickenes fraie men with dreames vexe mens myndes with sweate that thorow these harmes they may force meÌ„ to runne to them for helpe The cause of all whych disceaâ—es is darke to theÌ„ that be ignoraunte in the trueth for they thynke they profyte whan they cease from hurtynge which can doe nothyng but hurt But they whych haue shrunken backe from godes seruice because they be enemyes and traÌ„sgressours of the trueth goe about to chalenge to themselues the name and honour of god not because they desier any honorâ— for what honour can the damned haue nor that they shold hurt god who cannot be hurt but to hurte men whom they goe aboute to draw away from the worshyppe and knowledge of gods true maiesty least they shoulde attayne immortalytye whyche they haue lost thorowe theyr own malice So they couer all wyth darknes and compasse the truth with claudes so that they can not knowe their lord nor their father And that they maye easely allure menne they hide themselues in the churches and are at hande in al sacrifices Yea many tims they work miracles through whiche men beyng astonyed do geue to Images the fayth of the godheade Here of it commeth that a stone was cut in sander with a rasure by a sorcerer and that Iuno of Veâ—a answered that she woulde goe to Rome that a shyppe folowed the hande of Claudia and that Iuno beyng robbed and Proserpina of LocreÌ„se and Ceres of Milet toke vengeaunce of those that had commytted sacriledge and Hercules of Appius and Iupiter of Atimus and Minerua of Cesar. Hereof also it commeth that a serpente delyuered the Citie of Rome from the pestileÌ„ce beyng brought from Epidaure But chefely they deceaue men in their oracles and answers whose Iuglynges vngodly men cannot discerne froÌ„ the trueth Therefore they thynke that Empiers and victories ryches and lucky chaunces of thinges are geuen of them and to bee shorte oft tymes common welthes to be deliuered froÌ„ present daungers at their beck which
daungers they both declared by their answeres and beeyng pacyfyed wyth sacrifice turned away But all these be but deceites for seyng they knowe before the disposicion of god because they were his ministers they thruste them selues into these businesses so that what so euer thynges eyther be done or haue bene done of God they mighte seme cheflye to dooe or haue done it And so ofte as any goodnesse is coÌ„mynge at hande to any people or Citie accordynge to Gods appointmeÌ„t they promyse that they wyll doe it eyther by miracles dreames or reuelacions if churches if honours if sacryfices be geuen to them The whyche thynges beeyng geuen whan that chaunceth that nedes muste bee they get to themselues greate worshyppe For this cause bee temples vowed for thys cause be newe Images halowed And so ofte as perilles be at hande for some foolyshe and lyghte cause they fayne themselues angrye as Iuno towarde Varre But these be the deceites of them that lurkynge vnder the names of the deade intende to plague them that be aliue Wherfore wheras that dauÌ„ger that is at hand maye bee auoyded they woulde seme that they beeynge pacified haue turned it awaye And if it cannot be eschewed thys they doe that it myghte appeare to chaunce for the contempte of them and so they purchase to theÌ„selfes great authorite feare amoÌ„g meÌ„ that know them not Some men wil saye why doth god then suffer these thynges neyther doeth he succoure so euill errours That euil thynges may fighte wyth good that vices may be contrari to vertues that he may haue some whom he may punish and some whoÌ„ he may honour STapulensis vpon the .2 Epystle to the Thessa. 2. Ca. Maruayle not of counterfayte Aungels and of the subtilty of Sathan resemblyng hymselfe to Christ seing we read a like thiÌ„g in the historye of Heraclides of a MooÌ„ke called ValeÌ„t The deuil saith he chaunging himselfe into the lykenes of our sauiour came to hym by night with a company as he fayned of a. M. Angels holdynge burnynge lampes in their haÌ„des and with a frery charet in the which he fayned oure sauiour to sit Then one of them stept forth and sayed thus vnto hym come forth out of thy â—ell now and doe nothyng els but when thou seest him coÌ„e a farre of make hast to bowe downe thy selfe and worshyppe hym and so strayght way returne againe to thine own house Then he went forth oute of his house and beleuing that he had sene that godly offices of heauenly ministers and all shininge with fierie lampes and Chryste as he thought hymselfe not past a furlong of fel flat vpon the grounde and worshypped him whom he beleued to be the lord See here howe this fearfull and folyshe Moonke ValeÌ„t leauynge very Chryst worshipped Chrystes enemy and in steade of the trueth a counterfet Antichryste and Sathan ¶ That apparitions of the deade be vnsuffycyente to proue trueth ¶ The .v. Chapter DEuteronomyum .18 When thou art come into the lande whiche the lorde thy god geueth thee see that thou folowe not the abominacions of those nacions let ther not be found among you any one that maketh his sonne or daughter to gooe through the fier or that vseth witchecraft or a chuser of dayes and that regardeth the flying of foules or a sorcerer or a charmer or that couÌ„selleth with spirites or a sothesayer or that asketh the trueth at theÌ„ that be dead For the lord abhorreth al these for suche abominacions the lord thy god doth cast them out before thee But the lord thy god hath not suffered the so to doe ESai. 8. And if they saye to you axe counsell at the sothesayers witches charmers coniuratâ— then make them thys aunswere is there a people any where that asketh not counsell at his God shoulde men roonne vnto the deade for the liuing If any manne wante lyght lette him loke vpon the lawe and the testymonye whether they speake after thys meanyng LVke .16 If they heare not Moses and the Prophetes neyther wyl they beleue if one arise froÌ„ death LActancius in his institucions lib. 2. Cap. 2. The rude sort thiÌ„k that mens soules walke aboute the graues and reliques of their bodyes CHrysostome in his .4 Homilie of Lazarus That thou mayest knowe that the doctrynes of the scriptures and Prophetes are of more force then if they that be raysed froÌ„ death shold tel any thiÌ„g consider this that whosoeuer is dead is a seruauÌ„t But what the scripturs speak the lorde himselfe speaketh therfore though a dead maÌ„ arise yea although an angel coÌ„e down froÌ„ heaueÌ„ yet chiefly we ought to beleue the scryptures For he that is master of Aungels and lord of the quicke and the dead made them If dead men should come again from thence vnto vs the deuil might haue brought to vs false doctrines and that very easely For he myghte haue shewed of ten tymes gostes and haue subornated men that shold couÌ„terfet death and burial and within a whyle after shew theÌ„selues as thogh they were raysed agayne from death and through them to perswade the people so begiled what so euer hym lyst For if nowâ— when no suche thyng is done in dede yet dreames sene of many men in their slepe as thoughe it wer of them that are departed heÌ„ce haue deceyued destroyed and ouer throwen many menne muche more it should haue chaunced if the thynge had bene done in dede and gotten credite in mens mindes that is to say if many of the dead had returned againe to lyfe that wycked deuil wold haue wroughte innumerable deceits and brought muche fraude into the life of men And for that cause God hath shut vp that waye neyther doth he suffer any of the dead to come againe hether to tel what is done ther lest he by that meanes should brynge in al his wiles and subtilties For wheÌ„ ther were Prophetes he styrred vp false Prophetes when the Apostles wer false Apostles when Christ appeared he raysed false Chrystes whaÌ„â—ounde doctryne was broughte in he brought in corrupte doctrine sowing â—ockle euery where But God from whom nothing is hidde hath â—ropped his way to those snares and he fauouring vs hath not suffered that any soÌ„e at any tyme should come from theÌ„ce hether to tel what is there done to any men lyuing teachyng vs that we shold rather beleue the scrypturs theÌ„ all other thinges THe same in Math. Cap. 8. Homilie .2.9 I wil not denye but that men haue bene kylled of cursed charmers and sorcerers but that dead mennes soules worke wyth them how shal they make me beleue that because thou haste heard dead mens soules many times crye I am the soule of such a one Yea but these wordes procede out of the fraude and deceit of the deuil For it is not the dead mans soule that sayth this but the deuill that sayneth thys that he maye deceaue the hearers For these ought to
that innumerable other bishops of our coÌ„gregacioÌ„ doe a lowe this doctrine that we kepe or be cause in churches of our coÌ„panioÌ„s it is preached or els because that throughe the whole world in those holy places wher our coÌ„gregacioÌ„s resorte so many woÌ„ders ether of hearings or of healynges be done so that bodyes of martirs being hid so many years whyche if they wil aske thei may learne of many were shewed to Ambroser or that at those bodyes a certaine maÌ„ beeing many yeres blynd wel knowen to the whole citie of Miliane receiued hys eyes his sight or because he beyng in a dreame dyd â—ee or he beeyng rapt in spirite did heare eyther that he â—old not goe to the part of the Donatistes or that he should depart from theyr opinion What so euer suche thynges be done in the catholike churche the church is not therfore proued catholik because these be doÌ„e in it The lord Iesê° himself wheÌ„ he was riseÌ„ froÌ„ death offred his own body to be see with the eies haÌ„dled with the haÌ„ds of his Apostles lest thei shold theÌ„ thiÌ„ke theÌ„selfes to be deceiued he rather iudged that thei ought to be stablyshed by the witnesses of the law prophets psalmes shewiÌ„ng those thinges to be fulfilled in him that wer spokeÌ„ so loÌ„g before so he set forth his churche biddinge repentaunce and forgeuenes of synnes to be preached in his name through al nacions beginniÌ„g at IerusaleÌ„ That these thynges bee wrytten in the lawe and Prophetes himselfe witnesseth thys is set out by worde of mouth These are the doctrines these are the stayes of our cause we reade wrytten in the Actes of the Apostles of soÌ„e faithfull men that they searched the scripturs whether they were so What Scryptures I pray you but the Canonicall of the lawe the Prophetes to these are ioined the gospels the Apostles Epistles the Actes of the Apostles and the Apocalypsis of Sayncte Iohn Searche all these bryng foorth some plaine thing wherbi you may declare that the churche hath remayned only in Affricke or that thys whyche the Lorde sayeth shall come to passe This gospell shalbe preached to al the world for a testimonye to all nacyons shalbe verified of Affricke But brynge out some what that nedeth none interpreter you may not be conuinced that the thynges which is spoken of another matter you goe about to wreste to your purpose CHrysostome of the contricion of the hart Christ promised not that he woulde rewarde at the latter day them that worke sygnes wonders but them that kepe his coÌ„maundementes saieng come you blessed childreÌ„ of my father receaue that kingdome whyche was prepared for you from the beginning of the world He said not because you did miracles but because I was hongrye c. he shal also cal them blessed not that wroght miracles but the humble and meke in hart LIril in Iohn lib. 7. Cap. 13. To worke miracles maketh not a man one whit more holy sâ—iÌ„ge that it is also common to euyll men abiectes as the Lorde hymselfe also witnesseth mani shal sai to me in that day c. And contrary wyse workyng of no miracles hindereth not a mans holynes For Iohn wrought neyther signe nor miracle and yet was thys no derogacion to his holines For among the children of wemen ther was none greater then he SAbellic vpon the lyfe of Celestine Almost fiue hundreth yeares after Chryst the deuil taking vpon him the person of Moyses shewed himself visibly in the sight of the Iewes that dwelt at Candie promisinge that he woulde brynge them agayne into the land of promyse where Ierusalem staÌ„deth dry foted the waters standyng on eyther syde in maner of a wall as when the children of Israell were brought out of the land of Egipt Many of the Iewes rashli geuing credite to these IugliÌ„gs and enterynge into the sea were ouerwhelmed with the waues thereof excepte a fewe the whyche at laste beeynge warned of their vanite became Christians ¶ Custome also is of no streÌ„gth in thys case of prouing a religion ¶ The .vii. Chapter EXodi .23 Folowe not the multitude to doe euill LEuiticus .18 The Lorde coÌ„mmauÌ„deth the Israelytes not to folowe the custome of the Egipcyans nor the Cananites Reade the chapter EZechyell .20 Walke not in the statutes of youre forefathers and keepe not their ordinaunces and defyle not youre selues wyth their Idols REguÌ„ .4 ca. 17. Vnto thys day they kepe their olde customes they feare not God nor do after hys customes ordynaunces and lawes THe same They dyd not hearken vnto the Lorde but dyd after their olde custome I Eremye .9 They folowed theÌ„ wickednes of their owne heartes and serued straunge godes as their fathers taught them TErtullian of virginite or prayses Custome for the most part taking his beginning eyther of ignoraunce or simplicite in processe of tyme waxeth strong by vse and so it is alledged agaynst the truth Whatsoeuer smelleth agaynste the trueth that is heresye yea though it be olde custome CIprian vnto Cicilie lib. 2. Epistola .3 There is no cause why deare brother that any manne should thynke the custome of some men oughte to be folowed If any maÌ„ haue thought that only water ought to be offered in the chalyce we muste fyrste aske whom they folowed and that Chryste only ought to bee hearde the father witnesseth from heauen saieng this is my wel beloued sonne heare hym Wherfore if only Chryste ought to be heard we ought not to regarde what any maÌ„ afore vs thought to be done but what Christ which is before did first neyther oughte we to folowe the custome of man but the trueth of god THe same to Iulian. of the baptising of heretykes in vaine do some men when they be ouercome with the truth alledge custome agaynste vs as though custome wer greater then the trueth Sainct Augustine hath the same THe same to Pompus agaynste Steuens epistle CustoÌ„e with out truth is an olde errour for the whiche cause lette vs leue custome and folowe the trueth CHrisostome vpon Genesis .29 Homilie .59 For if the couÌ„sell be good and profitable yea though it be not custome kepe it but if it bee hurtful and noysome caste it awaye For if we wil be wise and care for our saluacion we may leaue of an euyll custome and bryng in a good custome and so shall we geue no small occasyoÌ„ to theÌ„ that come after vs to chaunge the same haue the rewarde of those thyngs that be done of them IErome in his preface to Iob. Olde custome is of such force that vices whiche many men them selues coÌ„fesse please them through it THe same the .9 Cap. Neither ar the errours of our fathers nor out elders to be folowed but the authorite of the Scriptures and the coÌ„maundementes of god that teacheth vs. AVgustine of one only Baptime lib. 2. Distinc .8 Cap. Vhen the trueth is once knowen let custome geue place to the trueth For
and that in no smal trifles Exodus xxxii a. 2. Tim. 2. 3. Reg. 22. Hiere 20 This and such like is the rewarde of al true preachers and faithful seruauntes of god 1. 〈◊〉 vii et ii Machabeorum iiii Math. iii. b. xii c. xxiii d. Act. iiii d Actes vii g. Euse. ecc his lib. ii cap. xxii Acte ix Actes xxiii Ruffini lib. i. cap xvii Socratis Lib. 6. cap. 18. Marke well the fruites of this outwarde churche and by them ye shal knowe what they be the Pope maketh him selfe equall to God yea rather aboue him in this his promise This is one of the practises of prelates The spiritual man neuer persecuteth the carnal man but forgeueth him Hier. ad Gala. iiii Exo. xii i. Pet. ii d Eph. 1. d. Collos. 1. Iohn 10. Iohn 5. 2. Tim. 3. Psa. 116. c Goddes word only certifyeth a man whether his fayth be good or no. Trie euery spirite but alow none further then thei agree with the written scriptures Goddes word trieth all thynges whether they be good or badde Their coÌ„sciences shal therfore cnodeÌ„ne theÌ„ for so doing if they repent not in tyme. Math. 16 the witte and vertue of delicate gospellers is in their tongues Math. 23. ii Mach. vi b. Ebru xii â— Para. 13 The wil of a womaÌ„ must be folowed or els al the 〈◊〉 is in the fierâ— 3 Re. 19. c 3. Re. 18. 4 Re. 18. 4. Re. 21. 4. Re. 23. 4. Re. 24. As princes wold so all thinges were done Math. 26 Math. 27 Theodoriti lib. 2 cap. 18. The priestes for the most part wer double faced turne tippettes and flatteres â–ª These be the Popes thunder bolts wherewith he feareth the people and maketh them to incline to his waies It was a smal matter at that tyme to be displesed with such meÌ„ and so much the more for that thei withstod priuate commodite Priuate commodite and Popishe sutte Itie ouercaÌ„e good publike policie and brought in tirannye Thei are al periured so many as gaue their consent to the bringing in of the Byshop of rome The Byshoppes I warraÌ„te you were none of those for they can not erre these are wauerÌ„ig redes ct perfecte wether cockes that turne with euery winde By their dedes ye shall knowe theÌ„ what they be In his .3 boke of ChristiaÌ„ doctryne cap 28. In hys â— boke of ChristiaÌ„ doâ—trine cap 9. In his â— â–ª boke of mâ—â—â—es and forgeuenes of sinnes tom 7. cap. vâ—â—i Vpon Genesis cap 14. hom 35. In his vnperfecte worke cap. 23. Iacob 1. â— Math. 22. Mark 12. Ioan. 10. â— Apo. 3. b Iohn 15. Ephe. 2. d 2. Iohn epistle c. Deu. 4. Deu. 12. Ibidâ— in fine Deu. 18. Pro. 30. lere 23. Math. 5. Math. 7. Math. 15. Math. 28 Mark 16. Iohn 5. Iohn 5. Iohn 20. Actes 20. Acte 26. Rom. 10. Rom. 14. 2. Cor. 1. Gala. 1. 2. Tim. 3. 1. Pete 4. 2. Iohn epistle Apo. 22. Doctrine in religion must be grouÌ„ded vpoÌ„ the scriptures only we maye not build our faith vpoÌ„ meÌ„s tradicioÌ„s The Apostles taught nothing but that whyche they learned of Christe The first point of belefe is that after the gospell none other thiÌ„g is to be beleued There is no certeÌ„ty in that the scripture defineth not The law the Prophetes and the gospell are the first doctrines ct therfore true Our wordes with out gods wordes are not to be beleued That which caÌ„ not be proued by the scripture leaue to god If Paul thought his aucthorite Al bokes which be not in the Canon of the Bible are called Apocrypha and are not sufficient to proue any Articles of our sayth No man can dispence with goddes law Things that be not commauÌ„ded be indifferent to be vsed or not vsed but yet as charite requireth Searche no further then the gospell In time of hereâ—ie there is no meanes to trye the truth and the true church of Christe from Antichrists churche but only by the scripturs An heauy sayiÌ„g but alaâ— to true Prechers most neyther adde nor take 〈◊〉 froÌ„ gods lawe They that host theÌ„selues of the holy goste with out scripture be voide of the holy goste Heretiks oughte first to be coÌ„uinced by the scripturs and after by reasoÌ„ To prech ani thing besydes goddes worde is to sow sedicioÌ„ and heresie Al things may be determined by the scripture The holi scripture coÌ„teineth all thinges nedefull for our saluacioÌ„ A preacher must speake nothyng but out of gods mouthe Beleue him not that speaketh without the scripture He that beleueth the gospel written nedeth beleue nomore Not maÌ„s wisdome but the holi gost is the true expositor of the scripture nothing is of lyke aucthoritie wyth the holy scripture Goddes word cutteth of al tradicioÌ„s apostolik as they cal them which be beside the same worde we ought not to alowe ani mans doctryne wythout gods worde the Apostles grouÌ„ded all their doctrine vpoÌ„ the law and Prophetes To build vpon any doctours saying without scripture or reason agreing to scripture were to folow Pithagoras rather then Christe Be a maÌ„ neuer so holy and neuer so learned after the apostles yet his wordes without gods word are of none aucthorite To teach that as nedefull to saluacion which Câ—â—yst â—ath not taught is daÌ„nâ—â—le the soule liueth only by the worde of god nothing is to be added to the word of god althoughe it be for a good purpose As well who precheth beside the gospel as against it is accursed Euen the Apostles preching besides the gospel ar not to be beleued Christe made all to be written that he wold we should reade we are as wel bouÌ„d to beleue that which the Apostles wrote as thoughe Chryst had written it with hys own haÌ„d The church is knowen by the scripture Al that concerneth true relygion is contained in the scripture The worde written is inoughe for oure saluacion No man is bound to beleue farther then the holi scriptures teache The balance to trye the trueth is the holy scripture Thei that sit on moses seate and teach their own doctrine are not to be beleued Al euil is condemned by the scripture and all good thynges are there founde We may lawefulli disseÌ„t froÌ„ all doctrine except the scryptures onlye al things that concerne fayth hope loue and good maners are coÌ„tained in the scripture not what we say but what the lord that must be heard The church is knowen by the scriptures We may doubt of all mens doctrine but not of holye scripturs If gods scripturs can not discusse a matter in doubt let man neuer go about to discusse it Who fedeth with the scriptures fedeth safely Other therfore with vnwritten verites fede vntrulye In the scripture are all thinges necessary for faith and good lyfe which two suffice for saluacion If any mans saying or writinge cannot be proued by plaine scripture or good reason gathered of the saÌ„e a maÌ„ mai alowe or refuse it as him liketh The olde writers are not of suche aucthoritie but
that we may deni them if they dissent froÌ„ the holy scripturs We may not think al that the old fathers did write to be true Al mens writings ought to be weyghed by the canonical scriptures He confesseth many errours in his owne bokes 〈◊〉 others also Beleue not his writings except thou be suer of them by the scriptures we ought not to esteme mans writinges further then thei agree with the scripturs but may refuse theÌ„ at our pleasures Vnderstande the word written for they that learn of it learne of god al things perteining to doctrine and good maners are in the worde written which is sufficieÌ„te Note this holy fathers wordes and print them in your hartes for euer If preachers ought so then so ought all others for they al are prepared to come to one ende by one ordinary rule The scriptures only are sufficieÌ„t for matter of saluacioÌ„ If any maÌ„ speak let him speake accordinge to the worde of god excepte he wil be called by these names here expressed We may not beleue the generall faith excepte the same agre with goddes worde the truth of our fayth is conteyned in the worde written Thei wer gathered in the spirite of pride and enuy and not in the spirit of mekenes and loue Note these words diligentlye and forget them not Counsails are not of such authorite that what so euer thei decree must be holdeÌ„ for truth The scripture must trie all Marke thys Reade ye Papistes and be no longer ignoraÌ„te CouÌ„sails may and doe erre oftimes Read the Psalme O what a court is this that in suspicion of heresye acquiteth no man and in cause of adultery condeÌ„neth no priest be his crime neuer so openlye knowen Cano. 7. Cano. 9. CanÌ„o 10. The counsel of nice Cano. 6. The couÌ„cel of nice cano 20. The couÌ„cell of Nice 6. The couÌ„cell of GaÌ„greÌ„se IbideÌ„ 7. The couÌ„sel of Neocesario The couÌ„cel of Laodicia Ibidem Ibidem Mat. 23. The deuill deceueth man because he waÌ„dereth from the word written and is not coÌ„teÌ„t therewith Spirites worke no good but euill The deuils miracles arâ— to worke mischief Thei hurt most of all when thei cease from hurtyng The deuils vexe both bodye ct soule to cause meÌ„ to seke to them for help and so to be worshipped as god Sathan worketh miracles by Images and hereof springeth the worshipping of Images The deuils speke in Imags as thogh thei wer gods thoughe deuils prophesi truly of thynges to come yet all is but dysceite to make meÌ„ to worship theÌ„ Sathan vnder pretence of dead meÌ„s soules de ceaueth theÌ„ that lyue and leadeth them into Idolatrye Subtil Sathan sayneth himself to be Christ ct worshipped as god How shal we then knowe any certayne trueth by apparicions Thei that beleue visions often worship Sathan for Christ. Read the place Read the Chapter He laugheth theyr foolishnes to scorne the scripture ought to be beleued rather theÌ„ the testimonye of the dead for it is gods owne word and the other oft times the deuils The dead neuer returne after the death to tel their state that be dead The scripture is to â—e beleued aboue all thinges It is not the soule of the dead that saith I am such a mans soule but the devyl counterfeteth the dead to deceue the liuing for soules departed the bodie can not walke her on earth Mar. 13. By this example ye maye iudge of the popishe miracles True ChristiaÌ„s work miracls profitable to the seers but the wicked without profit at all God sufferth wicked men to worke miracles for the tryall of the faythfull The faithfull nede no miracles for signes are gyven to the vnbelevers .1 Corin .14 Al doctrine ought to be tryed by the canonicall in plaine sense and not by wordes that be darke doubtful or figuratyue Miracles shewed at the tombes of saintes proue no doctrine Visions seen eyther in dreameâ— or being awake caÌ„not make any doctryne Men be heard at the tombes of heretikes and yet is not their doctrine true The deuill worketh miracles in the temples and Idols of the geÌ„tils although their religion be false an detestable Menne ought to prouâ— theÌ„selfes to be the true churche by none other meâ—nes but by the scripturs only Neyther miracles nor agrement of Bishops in doctryne proue any thing in religion Not miracle workers but the commaundemente kepers ar called blessed of Chryste To work miracles maketh no man holy nor to worke no miracles hindereth his holynes Thys would be put amoÌ„g the apparicioÌ„s of the dead Sathan counterfetteth Moses Math. 18. Argumente Answere Math. 7. Acres 19. Math. 7. A replicacion Answere Math. 23. The. 2. argumeÌ„t The first answere The second answere the forth argumeÌ„t Math. 28 Answere The. 5. argumeÌ„t Iohn 16. Answere Iohn 14. Iohn 15. Luke 18. Math. 20 Math. 16 The. 6. argumeÌ„t Iohn 20. Answere 2. Thess. 2 argumeÌ„t Answer 2. Cor. 10 Actes 1â— Argumente Ansâ—ere Vnderstande here as necessary to saluacion Argumente Answere Argumente Answere Argumente argumeÌ„t â—rgumeÌ„t Answere Answere argumeÌ„t Answere argumeÌ„t argumeÌ„t Answere Answere argumeÌ„t Answere Gene. 17 Math. 19. Luke 19. 1. Cor. 7. argumeÌ„t Esai 56. Esai 58. To lanuarye epist. 119. The bodely rest on the sabboth day is figuratiuely to be kepte To the perfite GhristiaÌ„ al dayes be lyke and eueri day is good friday eueri day is Easter day and we eatâ— hys fleshe alwayes argumeÌ„t Answere Christes bage Dani. 7. The mark to knowe antichrist by is to preuaill by persecucion againste gods elect saints Daniel 8. And the marke of the true churche is to be persecuted of Antichriste Read the places Read the Chapters argumeÌ„t Answere Iohn sleidane Elzabeth Barton O diuilishe illusion Reade more of herin her boke set forth in print and in Halles cronicle A letter forged as thoughe it had come froÌ„ heauen Bishops euer haue been bolsterers of idolatry A notable miracle Christe prouedre alli in the hoste by 2. horses the deuil spâ—aking in one of them Which is Rome