Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	apostle_n	church_n	whole_a	2,196	5	5.5864	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14430	The golden treatise of the auncient and learned father Vincentius Lirinensis. For the antiquitie, and vniuersalitie, of the Catholicke religion: against the prophane nouelties of all heresies: newly translated into English by A.P. Verie profitable for all such as desire in these dangerous times, to imbrace the true Gospell of Iesus Christ, and to remaine free from all infectio[n] of false doctrine as in the preface more at large is declared; Pro catholicae fidei antiquitate libellus. English	Vincent, of Lérins, Saint, d. ca. 450.; A. P., fl. 1596.	1596 (1596)	STC 24748; ESTC S119131	43,517	126

Apostles censure deterreth For all men know how grauely how seuerely how seriously the blessed Apostle S. PAVL inueigheth against certaine which with Gal. 8 great leuitie Were so soone transferred from him that called them into the grace of Christ vnto another Gospell which is not an other That had heaped vp to thē 2. Tim. 4 selues masters according to their owne desires auerting their eares from truth being conuerted to fables Hauing damnation because they haue made voide their 1. Tim. 5. first faith Whom those men had deceaued of whom the same Apostle in his epistle to the Romanes thus writeth I beseech you brethren to marke thē that make dissentions and scandalls contrarie Ram. 16. to the doctrine which you haue learned and auoide them for such doe not serue Christ our Lorde but theire owne bellie And by sweet speaches and benedictions seduce the hartes of Innocents That enter into houses and lead captiue seelie women 2 Tim. 3 loaden with sinnes which are lead away with diuers desires alwaies learning and neuer attaining to the knowledge of trewth Vaine speakers and seducers who subuert wholle houses teaching Tit. 1 the thinges they ought not for filthy lucre Men corrupt in their minde reprobates concerning the faith Proud 2. Tim. 3 and knowing nothing but languishing about questions and strife of wordes that are depriued of the truth that esteeme a 1. Tim. 6. 1. Tim. 5. gaine to be pietie And with all idle they learne to go from house to house not only idle but also full of wordes and curious speaking thinges which they ought not 1. Tim. 1. Which repelling a good conscience haue made shipwracke about the faith Whose prophane speaches do much grow to impietie and their speach spreadeth as a cancre But that is also worth the noting which is written of them But they shall 2 Tim. 2. 2. Tim. 3. prosper no further for their follie shall be manifest to all as theirs also was When therfore such kind of men wandering vp and downe through Prouinces and cities to set their errors to sale came also vnto the Galathians who after they had heard thē and were delighted with the filthie druges of heretiall Nouelty casting vp againe the heauenly Manna of the Apostolicke and Catholicke doctrine The Apostle vsed his authoritie decreeing very seuerely in this sort But although we quoth he or an Angel from heauen euangelize vnto you beside Gal. 1. Euangelize signifieth such preaching of good tidings as cōcerneth the gospell Anathema signifieth accursed be he that which we haue enangelized be he Anathema What meaneth this that he sayeth But although we why did he not rather say But although I That is to say although Peter although Andrew although Iohn yea finally al though the wholle companie of the Apostles euangelize vnto you otherwise then we haue enangelized be he accur sed A terrible censure for maintaining the possession of the first faith not to haue spared him selfe nor any other of the Apostles But this is a small matter Although an Angell from heauē quoth he Euangelize vnto you beside that which I haue Euangelized be he Anathema he was not contented for keeping the faith once planted to make mention of mans weake nature vnlesse also he included those excellent creatures of Angells Although we qhoth he or an Angell from heauen not because the holy Angells of Heauen can now sinne but this is the meaning of that he saith Although quoth he that might be which cannot be whosoeuer he be that goeth about to change the faith which was once planted be he accursed But peraduenture he vttered those words slightly and cast thē forth rather of humane affection then decreed them by any reason grounded in Gods word God forbid For it followeth and that very earnestly vrged very often repeated As I haue foretold you quoth he now againe I tell you If any body euangelize vnto you beside that which you haue receaued be he Anathema He said not if any man preach vnto you beside that which you haue receaued let him be blessed let him be commended let him be receaued but Anathema that is separated thrust out excommunicated least the cruell infection of one sheepe with his poisoned company corrupt the sound flocke of Christ But peraduenture this was giuen in commaundement only to the Galathians then likewise were these precepts folowing commaunded only to the Galathians to weete If vve liue Gal. 5. in the spirite in the spirite also lett vs vvalke lett vs not be made desirouse of vaine glorie prouoking one an other enuying one an other and such like which if it be absurd to say no man doubteth but that they were indifferently commaunded to all then certaine it is that as these precepts touching maners include all so likewise those concerning faith and doctrine exclude none And therfore as it is not lawfull for any to prouoke one another to enuie one another euen so it is vnlawfull for any to admitt or to receaue any other faith or religion then that which the Catholicke Church euery where teacheth or haply shal we be so mad to say that thē it was commaunded to curse and anathematize him that preached any otherwise then before had beene preached that now it is not cōmaunded then was that likewise which is there saide But I say walke in the spirite and you shall not fulfill the desires of the flesh then only cōmaunded but now is not which if it be impious and dangerous so to beleeue then of necessitie it followeth that as these precepts of life manners are to be kept of all ages so likewise those set downe against innouating of religion changing of faith are cōmaunded to all posteritie wherfore to preach vnto Christian Catholicke men besids that which they haue receaued neuer was lawfull no where is lawfull at no time shall be lawfull And on the contrarie to say Anathema and curse those which teach otherwise then once hath bene receaued was at all times needful is euery where conuenient euer shall be requisite Which being so is there any man either so bold that dare teach that which in the Church hath not bene taught or of such leuitie that will receaue ought besides that which he hath receiued of the Church Let that vessell of election that maister of the Gentiles that trumpe of the Apostles that preacher of the world he that was acquainted with heauenly affaires crie out and againe crie out in his epistles to all men to all times to all places that whosoeuer preacheth a new doctrine is to be accursed And on the contrarie parte let certaine frogges corruptible gnates and flies such as the Pelagians be reclaime and that to Catholickes Wee being your authors quoth they we being your leaders we being your interpreters condemne that which before you did hold hold that which before you condemned Cast away your olde faith your forefathers lawes your elders constitutions

as it were with the sweete powder of Gods worde that he which quicklie would haue cōtemned mans erronious inuention dare not so readilie reiecte Gods diuine scripture wherin they are like to those which minding to minister bitter potions to yonge childrē do first annoint the brimmes of the cuppe with honie that ther by vnwarie youth feeling the swetnes may nothing feare the bitter confection This deuise also practise they which vpon noughtie herbes and hurtfull ioyces writte the names of good wholsome medicines wherby almost no man reading the good superscription anything suspecteth the lurking poysō The selfe same thing likewise our Sauiour crieth out to all Christiās Take ye heed of false prophets Mat. 7 which come to you in sheepes cloathing but inwardly are rauening wolues What is ment else by sheepes clothing but the sayings of the Prophetes and Apostles which they with sheepelike sinceritie did weare like certain fleeces for that immaculate Lambe which taketh away the sinnes of the world And what is to be vnderstood by rauening wolues but the cruell dogged opinions of hereticks which alwaies trouble the sheepfoldes of the Church and by all meanes possible teare in peeces the flocke of Christ But to th end they may more craftely set vpon the sheepe of Christ mistrusting nothing remaining still cruell beastes they putt of their woluish weed and shroude them selues with the wordes of scripture as it were with certaine fleeces whereby it hapneth that when the feelie sheepe feele the soft woll they litle feare their sharpe teeth But what saieth our Sauiour By their fruites you shall knowe them That is when then beginne not only to vtter those wordes but also to expound them not only to cast them forth but also to interpret them then doth that bitternes breake forth then is that sharpenes espied then is that madnes perceaued then is that fresh and new poison belched out then are prophane nouelties sett abroch then may you see straight way the hedge cut in two the olde fathers bounds remoued the Cotholicke doctrine shaken and the Churches faith torne in peeces Such were they whome the Apostle sharplie reprehendeth in the 2. epistle to the Corinthians For such false Apostles quoth he are crafty workers 2. Cor. 11 transfiguring them selues into the Apostles of Christ What is transfiguring them selues into the Apostles of Christ But this The Apostles alleadged the examples of scripture they likewise cited them The Apostles cited the authoritie of the Psalmes and they likewise vsed it The Apostles vsed the sayinges of the Prophetes and they in like maner brought them forth But whē that scripture which was alike alleadged alike cited alike brought forth was not alike and in one sence expounded then were discerned the simple from the craftie the sincere frō the counterfeit the right good from the froward and peruerse and to conclude true Apostles from those false Apostataes And no maruell quoth Saint PAVL For Sathan him selfe transfigureth him selfe into an Angell of light it is no great matter therfore if his ministers be transfigured as the ministers of Iustice Wherfore according to Saint PAVL whensoeuer either false Apostles or false Prophets or false Doctors do bring forth the words of holy scripture by which they would according to their noughtie interpretation confirme their error there is no doubt but that they folow the craftie sleight of their maister which surely he would neuer haue inuented but that he knoweth verie well that there is no readier way to deceaue the people then where the bringing in of wicked error is intended that there the authoritie of the word of God should be pretēded But some will say how proue you that the Deuill vseth to alledge scripture Such as doubt therof let them read the Gospell where it is written Then the Deuill tooke him vp that is our Lord and Sauiour and set him vpon the pinnacle of the Temple and said vnto him if thou be the sonne of God cast thy selfe downe for it is written that he will geue his Angels Mat. 4 charge of thee that they may keepe theee in all thy waies in their hands shall they hold the vp least perhaps thou knock thy foote against a stone How will he thinke you handle seely poore soules which so setteth vpon the Lord of maiestie with the authoritie of scripture If thou be quoth he the sonne of god cast thy selfe downe Why so For it is writtē quoth he we haue diligētly to waigh the doctrine of this place to keepe it in mind that by so notable an example of the scripture we make no scruple or doubt when we see any alleadge some place of the Apostles or Prophetes against the Catholike faith but that by his mouth the deuil himself doth speak For as at that time the head spake vnto the head so now the mēbers do talke vnto the members that is the mēbers of the Deuill to the members of Christ the faithlesse to the faithfull the irreligious to the religious to conclude Heretickes to Catholickes But what I pray saieth the Deuill If thou be the sonne of God quoth he cast thy selfe downe That is to say Desirest thou to be the sonne of God and to enioy the inheritance of the Kingdome of Heauen Cast thy selfe downe that is Cast thy selfe downe from this doctrine tradition of this high and loftie Church which is reputed to be the Temple of God And if any one demaund of these hereticks perswading thē such things how do you proue and conuince me that I ought to forsake the olde and vniuersall faith of the Catholike Church Straight waies is ready at hand For it is written forthwith he will alledge you a thousand testimonies a thousand examples a thousand authorities out of the law out of the Psalmes out of the Apostles out of the Prophetes by which expounded after a new wicked fashion he would throw headlong the vnfortunate soules from the tower of the Catholike Church into the deep dungeon of wicked heresie Now with these sweete promises which followe Heretickes doe wonderfully deceaue simple men For they dare promise and teach that in their Church that is in the conuenticle of their communion is to be found a great and speciall yea a certaine personall grace of God So that whosoeuer be one of their crew they shall straight waies without any labour without any study without any industrie yea although they neuer seek nor craue nor knocke haue such speciall dispensation that they shall be caried vp with the handes of Angells that is preserued by Angelicall protection that they neuer hurt their foote against a stone that is that they neuer can be scandilized But some man wil say if the Deuill his disciples wherof some be false Apostles false Prophetes and false teachers and all perfecte Heretickes do vse the scriptures cite their sayings bring forth their promises what shall Catholicke men do How shall the children of the Church behaue

them selues How shall they in the holy scriptures discerne truth frō falsehoode To which I answere that they must haue great care as in the beginning of this Treatise I said holy and learned men taught me that they interpret the diuine and canonicall scripture according to tradition of the vniuersall Church according to the rules of the Catholike doctrine in which like wise they must of necessitie folow vniniuersalitie antiquitie and consent of the Catholicke Apostolike Church And therefore if at anye time a parte rebell against the wholle noueltie against antiquitie the dissention of one or a few caried away with error against the consent of all or the farre greater parte of Catholickes In that case let them preferre the integritie of vniuersalitie before the corruption of a parte And in vniuersalitie let them also preferr the religion of antiquitie before prophane noueltie and againe in antiquitie let them preferre before the temeritie of one or a few the decrees of a generall Councell if any be or if no such be founde let them take that which is next hand that is to followe the opinions of many and great learned Doctors agreeing togither which faithfully soberly diligentlye obserued and kept By Gods grace we shall without any great difficultie finde out the errors of new vpstarte Heretickes CHAP. XIIII HERE I perceaue by order it foloweth to shew by exāples how the prophane nouelties of heretickes are by bringing forth and conferring togither the olde Doctors opinions agreeing togither to be found out and condemned which auncient consent of holy fathers is not so carefullie and diligently to be sought for folowed in euery small question of the scripture but only and especially in the rule of faith neither yet alwaies nor all heresies are after this sorte to be impugned but only such as be new and vpstart to wit at their first springing vp before they haue lette with lacke of time falsified the rules of the auncient faith before the poison spreding far a broad goeth about to corrupte the Fathers workes But those heresies which haue alreadie gott ground and be of some contiunance are not this way to be delt with all because by long tracte of time they haue had oportunity to steal truth And therfore such kinde of prophane schismes and heresies which be of longer standing we must not otherwise conuince but either only if need be by the authoritie of the scriptures or else to auoide and detest them being already conuicted and condemned in olde time by generall Councels of Catholicke Preistes Therfore so soon as any infectious error begineth to break forth and for her defence to steale certain words of holy scripture craftely fradulently to expound thē straight waies for the right vnderstanding therof the Fathers opinions are to be gathered togither by which let any whatsoeuer new and therfore prophane doctrine growing vp with out all delay be deiected and speedely condemned But those Fathers opinions only are to be conferred togither which with holines wisdome and constancie liued taught and continued in the faith and communion of the Catholicke Church and finally deserued to die in Christ or happily for Christ to be martired whō notwithstāding we are to beleeue with this condition that whatsoeuer either all or the greater parte with one mind plainly commonlye constantly as it were a Councell of Doctors agreeing togither haue decreed and set downe receauing it from their auncestors holding it for their time and deliuering it to their posteritie let that be had and accounted for vndoubted for certaine and firme truth And whatsoeuer any although holy and learned although a Bishop although a Confessour and Martir hath holden otherwise then all or against all let that be put aside from the authoritie of the common publicke and generall faith reputed amongst his owne proper priuate and secrete opinions least with greate daunger of eternall saluation we do according to the custome of sacriligious Heretickes and Schismatickes forsake the trueth of the vniuersall faith and follow the nouell error of one man the holy and and Catholicke mind of which blessed Fathers least any man thinke that he may rashly cōtemne The Apostle saieth 1. Cor. 12. in his first epistle to the Corinthians And some verely hath God set in his Church first Apostles of which him self was one Secondly Prophetes as Agabas was of whom we read in the Actes Thirdly Doctors which now are called Cap. 11. Tractators whō also this Apostle some time nameth Prophetes because their office was to expound declare to the people the misteries of the Prophetes these therfore disposed and placed by God at diuers times and sundry places agreeing consenting all in one mind in Christ touching the vnderstanding of the Catholicke faith whosoeuer cōtemneth doth not contemne man but God and that we disagree not by any meanes from the perfect and true vnitie of those Fathers the same Apostle doth earnestly beseech all Christians saying I beseech you brethren that you say all one thing and that there bee no schismes among you but that you be perfecte 1. Cor. 1 in one sence and in one knowledge And if any man separate him selfe from the communion of theire opinion let him heare that saying of the same Apostle He is not the God of dissention but 1. Cor. 14 of peace that is not of him that leaueth consent and vnitie but of them that remaine in peace and agreement As I do quoth he teach in all the Churches of the Saintes that is of Catholickes which therfore be holy because they continue in the cōmunion of the faith and least happily any one should contemne others and proudly require only to be heard only to be beleeued strait after he saieth What hath the word of God quoth he proceeded from you or haue it only come to you And least this might be taken as spoken slightlye he addeth If any quoth he seemeh a Prophet or spirituall that is a master in spirituall matters let him be a zealous louer of vnitie and peace in such wise that he neither preferre his owne opinion before the iudgement of others neither leaue or forsake the sence and common consent of all men The commaundementes of which thinges he that is quoth he ignorant of that is he that learneth not those thinges which he yet knoweth not or contemneth those which he knoweth he shal not be knowē that is he shall be thought vnworthie whom amongest such as be vnited in faith equall in humilitie God should regard and looke vpon a greater euill then which I doubt whether any man can inuēt or deuise which yet notwithstanding accordinge to the Apostles commination wee see to haue fallen vpon Iultan the Pelagian who either contēned to be ioined in opinion with his felowes or else presumed to separate him selfe from theire societie and communion But now it is time to bring forth the example which we promised how and after what sort