A CENSVRE ABOVT THE RVLE OF BELEEFE PRACTISED BY THE PROTESTANTS VVritten in Latine by the most Reuerend Father VALERIAN MAGNI OF MILAN of the order of the Minors of the Seraphical S. Francis named Capucins And translated into English by R. Q. Gentleman Mathew cap. 18. If he heare not the Church as let him be to thee as the heathen and the Publican Printed at Doway By LAVRENCE KELLAM at the signe of the holie Lambe 1634. THE PREFACE TO THE READER ALBEIT that all Christians who now inhabite the world beleeue in God beleeue in Iesus Christ beleeue the holy scriptures yet they be seuered into two parts The one doubteth not to receiue the sence of the sacred text as the Church doth propound teach heereto they conforme their faith And these be calde Catholiques The other part supposing the authoritie of the Church to be fallible obnoxious to errors teacheth that ech Christian may yea ought in matter concerning faith censure the doctrine of the whole church by the sacred scriptures so either receiue or refuse the same these euer were are now at this present branded with the name of hereticks which error in regard that many learned diuines haue clearlie confuted and confounded both by the authoritie of sacred Scriptures as also by that of councels fathers other arguments tending to the purpose I intend not in such a sence to debate this question but only to note sett doune what absurdities doe necessarilie ensew the said rule of beleefe which misbeleeuing Christiās as Lutherans Protestants Puritans c. haue forged to them selues in the shopp of their self conceite to found their faith there-vpon which howbeit many haue performed before mee yet if I be not mistaken no one hath on sett purpose treated of the same Therefore I deeme not my labour ill spent though otherwise busied in affaires of imporrance to imparte tyme to this worke which I will doe in as few words as may be And this as all things els for the honour glorie of our Sauiour Christ his most holie mother to whom not vnmindfull of their benefitts I haue vowed whatsoeuer I sett downe in writinge though neare someane small Fare well freindly reader recommend mee in thy prayres to God APPROBATIO TRactatus iste de regula fidei scriptus primo Latinè à venerabili viro P. Valeriano Magni Mediolanensi Ordinis Sancti Capucinorum in idioma Anglicanum fideliter translatus nihil habet à fide bonisque moribus dissonum sed dignissimus est qui typis edatur ad institutionem eorum qui diligunt viam veritatis Ita saluo semper superiorum iudicio censebam 10. Iunij 1634. F. Leander de S. Martino Sacrae Theologiae Doctor Congregationis Angliae Benedictinorum Prases Generalis linguae Sanctae in Academia Duacena Regius Professor THE FIRST CHAPTER The question is propounded about the rule of beleefe A RVLE is an instrument according to which those that draw lines doe necessarilie draw thē straighte which translated to Religion yt is termed the rule of beleefe which christians following can not err in Matters of beleefe And from this controuersie about the rule of beleefe all other controuersies concerning matter of faith which are betwene catholiques not catholiques seeme to be deriuede which if it were but once welle agreed vpō all christians might be reconciled togeather vnited in one true faith for all Christians as well catholiques as not Catholiques though in many pointes they disagree frō ech other yet in some they also agree euen in this matter it self about the rule of beleefe which I will by order sett doune First all doe iointly affirme that the written word of God is true infallible 2. That who so propoundeth any doctrine contrary to the sacred scriptures is in no wise to be credited be he man or Angell S. Paul or S. Gabriel 3. That all and ech one is vndoubtedly to bee beleeued in matter of faith if his doctrine disagree not from the word of God 4. That no man be he who he will can attaine to the true sence of sacred writt except he be inwardly enlightned taught by the holy ghost 5. No man can disagree from the word of God if he be inwardly enlightned taught by the holy Ghost Seeing then that not only Catholiques but also all sortes of Christians of those that be no Catholiques conspire in the veritie of these 5. propositions nor is there any one of so self an opinion that can call the same in doubt It resteth we discuss whome among all these the holy gost doth certainlie infallibly assist that they err not in the expounding of the true sence of the sacred scripture There be two opinions of Christians now adayes that striue about this question The one is of those who certainly without doubt doe beleeue that the church doth propound vnto the Christian world the true sence of the sacred scripture these that doe thus beleeue be caled Catholiques The other is of those sects of Christians ech one of which doth à part separatly by himself consult the holy ghost out of the scriptures so censure what doctrine doth in matter of faith consent to the word of God and what doth dissent from it these are and euer were termed held of Catholiques for hereticks And of these sorts of Christians there are at this present sundry sorts wherof the chiefe are Lutherans Caluenists Protestants Anabaptists c. All which be againe subdiuided minced into many pettie sects whose names for breuitie sake I omitt But for as much as all these forenamed Christians consent in this opinion that they make it the rule of their faith to consult the holy ghost out of the bible consisting of the old the new testament wee will hereafter to include them all grace them with the title of Biblists The Catholiques distinguish the church into two parts wherof the one conteineth pastors the other sheepe They be termed Bishops these al other faithfull beleeuers The iurisdictions of Bishops in the Catholique church are subordinated for manie Bishops be vnder one Archbishop many Archbishops vnder one patriarch among whome the Bishop of Roome beareth the primacie al these may be considered either ech one apart or altogether as they be lawfully assembled in à generall councell But à generall councell is considered as confirmed or not confirmed by the Bishop of Roome This then is the sentence of al Catholiques That the Bishop of Roome together with à generall councell or a generall councell confirmed by the Bishop of Roome hath two prerogatiues The first is that the holy ghost doth infallibly assist the same in somuch that it is impossible that it dissent from the sacred scriptures in deciding propounding doctrine of beleefe The other is that the said generall councell haue receiued à supreme authoritie from Iesus Christ to teach in his church consequently to
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
holy ghost Proofe I Prooue my consequence by a comparison antithesis which may be made betwene a Biblist a generall councell which I suppose to be celebrated in the manner before rehersed by me When a controuersie is moued amoung Catholiques about any weightie matter concerning faith that they perilously begin to diuide themselues into sects forth-with a generall councell is caled of all bishops archbishops patriarches of the whole church princes also doe send thether the most learned diuines that be in all their dominions Princes kings Emperors doe either come in person or send their Embassadors all these be gathered together in the name of Christ Moreouer ech Bishop in his diocess the Pope throughout the Christian world-doe giue order that publique prayres supplications together with fasts be made to the end that the holy ghost thus consulted would assist the fathers thus assembled in a generall councell that they may certainlie infallibly decide the truth The fathers also of the councell doe labour all they cann by prayres fasts holy conuersation to obtein the same assistance of the holy ghost And so did the fathers of the holy Synod of Trente as appeareth in their decree made to be read in the second section of that councell And all that great preparation wherein the whole Christian world was then busied tendes to no other end then that the Catholique faith might be keept pure spotles sure that no error might creepe in about the exposition of any sacred text of scripture in these examinations of doctrines the said councel of Trente did not spend an howre a day so end but they prolonged the same manie monthes this by most ordinated sessions disputations conferences continuall inuocation of the holy ghost by which meanes the fathers of the councell did at length obtaine their wisshed desire happilie concluding ech one sett his hand subscribed to the decrees made in matter of faith pronouncing an anatheme against all those who were so bould to gaine say their decrees established by them confirmed by the authoritie of the Bishop of Roome Now then hauing well considered the manner in which generall councels doe proceede in deciding controuersies of faith let vs compare a Biblist poring vpon his Bible to a generall councell of the church to discerne the difference This Biblist is one single man but the fathers of the councell be manie in number This Biblist is a sheepe that is not a Bishop the fathers of the councell Bishops Pastors This Biblist prayeth all alone al that be at the councell yea the whole Christian world pray for it This Biblist prayeth priuatlie for the fathers of the councell the whole Christian world make publique prayers fasts supplications This Biblist may be some idiott clowne oysterwife or coster mongers maid they of the councell are the most learned diuines that be in al the Christian world This Biblist turneth ouer his bible conferreth some one or two texts of scripture together with other text of scripture These fathers of the councell after a long exercise in studie of the holie scriptures after a number of publique and priuate disputatiōs about religion wher in they haue beene busied after manie sessions held concerning matters of faith after many deuout prayres made to obteyne the grace of the holie ghost may seeme to haue vsed al diligence possible to obteine the true sence meaning of the holy ghost in the scripture Lastly this biblist doth only decide out of the bible what he ought to beleeue but the fathers of the councell as iudges pronounce an anatheme against all those who beleeue otherwise then they haue decreed And this comparison is only made betweene one Biblist one generall councell but what might be deemed if we should oppose one Biblist to wit a cobler or country fellow to omitt ministers to all the generall councells that haue beene celebrated in the church of Christ or to those only which haue beene held from the yeare 456. after the councell of Calcedon which was the forth oecumenicall councell this in behalf of those Biblists that receiued the first 4. councells when I say we shal haue compared one sillie Biblist to all these councells who dareth to condemne them all of errors auouche withall that the holie ghost hath giuen him more light then to al those multitudes of holy fathers that he more truly conceiueth the mind of the holy ghost in the Bible then all those generall councells did may we not say to speake most modestlie that this Biblist is impudent arrogant proud that he doth toe much presume on the assistance of the holy ghost Nor doth it weaken the conscquence that not one alone but an innumerable manie of Biblist doe reiect all generall councells as contrary to the sacred scripture for no Biblist foundeth his faith on any mans auouchment They indeed heare what they teach but beleeue not till they haue consulted the holie ghost out of the scripture whether that doctrine agree with the same or not And ther fore ech Biblist conforme to his rule of faith doth not iudg of doctrine for the authotitie number of his companions but of the presumption he hath that the holie ghost doth infallibly assist him for this reason is moued to condemne all generall councells held since the yeare of our Lord 456. euen to this day yea the purer sort of Biblists improoue reiect cōdemne all councels celebrated in the Catholique church since the Apostles age ech of them is not asshamed euery moment to iudg condemne the whole Christian world in all ages of errors in matter of doctrine apperteining to faith because it squareth not to their fantasie can a greater presumption then this be imagined To conclude then wee may perceiue out of these consequences that the sole fundation wher vpon the Biblists ground the certaintie of their faith to be certaine motions which they say the holy ghost maketh in their mindes which causeth them infallibly to beleeue that they be taught by the holy ghost out of the scripture But what a manner of motion or annointment this is which the Biblists presume ro proceede of the holie ghost we may in some sort haue coniectured out of the foregoing consequences Seing then that ech Biblist hath taken vpon him such a heauie burthen weightie charge as to be bound vpon paine of eternall damnation to decide all controuersies apperteining to the integritie of faith They haue only two helpes for the discharging of their duties to witt the Bible praire whence they faine to fetch the holy ghost who sitting in ech Biblists mind as on à bench doth iudg of all doctrines Bibles whose sentence the Biblists doe most certainely infallibly feele in their soules so cleerely pronounced that they had rather beleeue that the holy ghost forsooke al councells fathers all doctors
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