for beside that it is a new and groundles distinction it is contrarie to the end of Christs promise For no assistance in matters of â—nfallible faith is fitting but that which is infallible But out of the aforesaid sayings of Protestants it is euident First that some times they grant and indeed must grant that the Church is infallible in more points then are absolutly fundamental to al men 2. that in what points she is infallible she is in them diuinitus or diuinely infallible becaus she is such by Christs foresaid promise and the Holie Ghosts special assistance 3. That in saying the Church is infallible onely in necessaries they should not dissent from Catholiks if by necessaries they would mean necessaries to alsortes of men and both for the being and better being of faith as no doubt the Apostle meant Ephes 4. by consummation of Saints and edification of the bodie of Christ For Catholiks do not think that that the Church is infallible in things altogether vnnecessarie as manie scholastical subtiltiesare 2. Their second answer is that though the Holie Ghost teach the Laude sect 25. n. 5. Chilling c. 3. §. 71. Church al truth anie way necessarie to Saluation yet it followeth not that she learneth al such truth becaus God complaineth of some that they had eyes and would not see had eares and stopped them This answer also is new and not grounded in anie word of Christ but voluntarie and irrational and iniurious to the Apostles as if they had not learnt al truth which the Holie Ghost taught them and also to the Holie Church as if she would not learne al the truth which the Holie Ghost teacheth her but were like to those reprobats who would not see nor heare Gods voice and blasphemous against Christ as if he would not promise and against the Holie Ghost as if he wold not more effectually teach the Apostles and Church then he doth teach Reprobates But before we haue proued that the Holie Ghost teacheth the Church efficaciously 3. Their third answer is that this Vvhitaker l. 1. de Script p. 77. Laud. sec 16. p. 97. Chilling c. 3. §. 72. Moulins Buâ—ler p. 51. promise was made to the Apostles onely whome indeed the Holie Ghost taught al truth of faith and who also learnt it but not to the Church or Successors of the Apostles This answer is new nor sufficiently grounded in the text as shal by and by appeare but contrarie to Christs express words of his Promise for euer For the Apostles were not to abide here for euer Contrarie to the end of his Promise which was for the good of the Church and therfore was to continue so long as the Church continueth For it was cheifly for the good of the Church that the Holie Ghost was to teach al truth Contrarie to the Fathers as we shal see in the next Chapter And finally contrarie to Protestants For thus Laude sec 16. p. 93. 96. It was made to the Apostles and their suecessors sec 25. p. 161. A large promise to the Church of knowing al points of truth And sec 33 p. 231 for necessarie truth the Apostles receaued this promise for themselues and the whole Church P. 232. The Fathers refer their speech to the Church vniuersal And Potter sec 5. p. 18. That promise was made to the Apostles in behoof of the Church and is verified in the vniuersal Church And t â—tem Cont. 2. q. 1. c. 1. Laudesect 16 p. 96. Whitaker controu 3. q. 6. c. 2. saieth that those words For euer conuince it as in truth they doe becaus the Apostles were not to be here for euer Neuertheles Chillingworth c. 3. § 74. answereth that by for euer here is not meant eternally but continually for the time of the Apostles liues becaus for euer is sometimes so taken in Scripture But fondly for in those places the v Tertul. de â—estor â—3 matter sheweth that for euer signifieth til death But the like is not here for the reasons already giuen and al words are to be vnderstood properly vnles the contrarie be manifest as the x Tertul de Carne â—hriâ— c. 13. 15. 24. de restor c. 18. Cont. Praxec 13. Augustin l. 3. dâ— Doctrin c 10. 11. Hâ—larius l. 1. 2. 4. 5. 7. Fathers teach and reason sheweth For els al vnderstanding of words should become voluntarie as men would haue it And yet Chillingworth § 75. saieth I presume I haue shewed sufficiently that this For euer hinders not but that the promise may be appropriated to the Apostles when he hath out of a few places and those vnlike as being of a quite different matter wrested a word from its proper and vsual signification to an improper and vnusual merely for to defend his heresie For the matter is quite different becaus in the places brought by Chillingworth speech is of some particuler persons who nether in themselues nor in their successors could continue eternally and therfore for euer in them must needs be mant For their life wheras the Apostles continue in their successors eternally and therfore For euer spoken to them them for the good of the Church is to be vnderstood eternally as properly and vsually it signifieth But it is the common sophistical manner of arguing among Protestaut writers to argue from some few particular improper vse of words in some matter against the proper and vsual sense of them euen in a different and dislike matter which is a verie Sophistical kinde of arguing and wel to be noted For by that nothing can be assuredly proued out of scripture Besids Christ here so promiseth the assistance of the Holie Ghost for euer as Math. 28. he promiseth his own assistance for euer but that he promiseth Laude sect 16. p. 29. eternally For he saieth Going teach al nations baptizing c. And I am with you al daies til the end of the world to wit with you teaching and baptizing Which sheweth Christs assistance for euer with his Pastors in their teaching Chillingworths proofs that this promise was made to the Apostles alone be caus in them some words pertein to them alone proue no more then that the promise was in words made to them alone but not meant to them alone As Christs promise to S. Peter Math. 16. that the Church should be built on him and that he should haue the keyes of heauen was made to him alone yet not meant to him alone but to his successors also and commandment was giuen to him alone Ioan. 21. to feed Christs sheep and yet not meant to him alone but to his successors also Math. 18. that what the Apostles should Promises are to be measured by their end loose on earth should be loosed in heauen was made onely to them but meant also to their successors and the like is of manie others such And the reason of al is one and the same becaus al these promises were made to the Apostles for
OF THE AL-SVFFICIENT EXTERNAL PROPOSER OF MATTERS OF FAITH DEVIDED INTO TVVO BOOKES IN THE FIRST Is proued that the true Church of God is the Al-sufficient external Proposer of matters of Faith IN THE SECOND Is shewed the manifold vncertanities of Protestants concerning the scripture and how scripture is or is not an entire Rule of Faith By C. R. Doctor of Diuinitie 1. Timothe 4. The Church of the liuing God the pillar and ground of truthe At PARIS M. DC LIII THE PREFACE to the Reader 1. NAtural reason gentle Twoe waies to learn truthe Reader teacheth vs that what we can not know by ourselues we should learne by authoritie of others and according as their authoritie is vndoubted or probable toyeeld assured or probable assent therto and the same reason teacheth vs also that as the See infra l. 2. c. 8. sect 1. clear sight of God in heauen is supernatural to vs and far aboue the reach of our reason so is also the right way therto Wherfore as S. Devâ—â—l â—redendi 〈◊〉 16. 8. 17. Augustin rightly sayeth if God wil haue men come to him in heauen he must needs haue instituted some authoritie on earth for to direct them assuredlie in the right way becaus by reason we cannot finde way to heauen known by authoritie out that way Which authoritie must be infallible because otherwise it could not assuredlie direct vs as also becaus it is to direct vs by diuine faith which is altogether infallible And herein is Gods goodnes to be admired that he would bring men to heauen rather by authoritie and faith then by knowledg and reason becaus euerie one can beleeue but not euerie one konw hard matters And in al that is hitherto saied Catholiks and Protestants generally agree The controuersie between them is in whome God hath setled this assured authoritie for to direct and guide vs infallibly in our way to heauen 2. For Catholiks say that as God Authoritie setled in men at the first set this authoritie in his Prophets and Apostles so becaus they were not to liue with vs for euer he continueth it in his Church which he hath made his spouse the mother and mistres of the faithful the pillar and ground of truth his mistical body wherof Christ is head and the Holy Ghost the Soule who is to teach her all truth and in whose heart is alwaies Gods Word beleued in her mouth his word preached and in her hands his word written But Protestants becaus they can shew no Church before Luther who taught in substance the same waie to heauen which they doe as I haue otherwere Lib. 2. de Authore Protestâ— Ecclesia shewed by their own plaine and manifold confessions are forced to denie that God hath setled this infallible authoritie in his Church for to direct vs and guide vs infalliblie to heauen and doe grant her no more authoritie in matters of faith then a whâ—tat Cont. 1. q. 5. c. 20. l. 1. dâ— script 144. l. 2. p. 254. â—71 l 3. p. 435. mere humane enen in the b Laude sec 16. n. 26. 61. most fundamental points of al. Naie some of them saïe she hath c whitat Cont. 1. q. 3 c. 3. l. 1. de script p. 153. l. 2. p. 235. Caluin Actor 15 v. 28. See infra l. 2. c. 10. sec 2. and l. 1. c. 2. §. 8. no authoritie at al in matters of faith So they abase the authoritie or rather take awaie al authoritie in matters of faith from their Mother and Mistres in faith from the spouse of Christ from the pillar and ground of truth from her whose head Christ is and whose soule is the Holie Ghost who teacheth her al truth And this The roote of al heresie is the true roote of al heresies not to beleue that the true Church of God the pillar an t ground of truth whome the Holie Ghost teacheth al truth is an infaillible guide apointed by God to direct vs assuredly to heauen For euerie one would follow her none would oppose her whome they confess to be an infallible Guide 3. Protestants grant euerie one of the Prophets or Apostles to haue been infallible in matters of faith and yet cannot shew so mainie nor so plaine testimonies of Scripture for their infallibilitie as we can shew for the infallibilitie of the Church But al infallibilitie in matter of faith they wil put in the scripture as vsually al d Tâ—rtul dâ— prâ—wr c 15. Hilar l. ad Constant. August epâ—s 222. Hâ—eron in Galat. 〈◊〉 Sed infrâ— l. 2. c. 14. seq heretiks did because they wil vnderstand that as thy please and so indeed put al infallibilitie in themselues though nether scripture saith that itselfe is infallible nor was it written for aboue 2000. yeares before Moyses nor was it in al places or times when and where infallible faith was nor itself can shew the way to heauen to them that cannot read it nor sheweth that which Protestants account the most fundamental point of faith or al other points so clearly as it neede no interpreter See infra l. 2. c. 4. see 2. as we shal hear Protestants themselues confess 4. And can any reasonable man perswade himself that God hath setled al infallible authoritie forto direct men assuredly to heauen in that which he conffessth God neuer saied is infallible nor it was in al times or places where and when men were infallibly guided in their way to heauen which cannot by it self guide the greatest part of men which teacheth them not the most necessaire point of al nor al points so clearly as it need not some interpreter and yet say they withal God hath not giuen vs any infallible interpreter I add also that who follow it for their onlie guide in matters of faith haue no constancie nor vnitie in faith nor yet any hope of vnitie Is such â e See infra l. 1. c. 8. n. 6. one mens onelie assured guide to heauen 5. We produce the express word of God that his true Church is the pillar and ground of truthe and that the holie Ghost teacheth her al truth let Protestants produce the like express word of God that the book called scripture is the pillar and ground of truth and that it teacheth al truth You must saieth f Cont. Pra. â—eam l. 11. Tertullian proue as clearly as I doe Bring á proof like to mine And S. Augustin Read as plaine words as these are which we read to you Doe l. de vnis c. 6. 14. not bring vs your consequences or inferences of which we may â—ay with S. Augustin g Serm. 14. de verb. Apost This is a humane argument not diuine authoritie h See iâ—fra l. 25. 3. sâ—c 1. Protestants vse to say that al things necessarie to be beleued are expresly in scripture and need no inference and that faith relieth not on argument but on authoritie let
If anie obey not our word note him And 1. Ioan. 4. v. 6. who knoweth God heareth vs who is not of God heareth not vs In this we know the spirit of truth and spirit of error Where doubtles he speaketh of infallible knowledg of God by hearing him and infallible knowledg could not haue been by hearing him if he had not been infallible in teaching Gods truth And these testimonies of scripture doe not only proue that God can giue to men diuine and infallible authoritie or veracitie but also that he hath giuen it to some 4. That the holie Fathers thought that God can giue diuine or infallible authoritie or veracitie to men wil be euident out of their testimonies a Infra c. 7. hereafter brought to proue that he hath giuen such to the Church And Reason conuinceth that he can giue such authoritie or veracitie to men because it implieth not contradiction For what contradiction can be pretended that God can if he please effectually assist some so that they teach nothing in matters of faith but truth as he efficaciously assisteth the elect that they cannot be led into error Math. 24. And his effectual assistance maketh their authoritie or veracitie to be so diuine Infallible as we desire and is sufficient to be an external ministerial or subordinat cause of diuine and infallible faith For it implieth contradiction that who is efficaciously assisted by God to say but truth should lie And I take it to be so euident that God can giue such authoritie or veracitie to his Church or to men as I think scarce anie Protestant wil haue the face â—o denie it For this is not to make men or the Church Primam veritatem prime veritie as Whitaker fondly argueth l. 2. de scrip p. 230. but only a secondarie veritie or veracitie subordinat and depending vpon Gods prime veritie or veracitie If God can giue to men endles eternitie and yet not make them Gods why can he not also giue them infallible veritie or veracitie and yet not make them Gods or Prime veritie If he can make weakmen not to fall why can he not make the Church not to err in points of faith If he can make that the elect who are the principal part of the Church shal not be led into error Matth. 24 why can he not make the Church it self § 45. Naye so manifest it is See infra c. 15. and Cal uin in Luc. 10. v. 16. that God can giue to men this kinde of diuine veracitie or infallibilitie as Protestants themselues sometimes confess that he hath giuen it to men For thus Whitaker l. 3. de scripturâ p. 395. The testimonie of the holie Diuine Ghost is internal of the Apostles external both in their kindâ—s diuine Sufficient l. 2. p. 310. the authoritie alone of the Apostles sufficed to cause faith l. 1. p. 46. The Apostles authoritie was so great that you might safely beleue their preaching for it self P. 49. though the Apostles were men yâ—t they were so extraordinarily gouerned of the holie Ghost Râ—lied on their testimonie that most certaine faith relied on their testimonie P. 51. The Apostles for their fulnes of the holie Ghost by certaine Marks deserued assured authoritie so as we beleue them alone Controu 2 q. 3. c. 5. the Apostles did consigne the canon as most certaine organs of the holie Ghost endued with diuine authoritie l. 1. de Scrip. c. 8. p. 86. it was safe to Diuine beleue Paul but speaking Laude Relat of the Controu sec 16. p. 81. If the speech be of the prime Christian Church the Apostles disciples and such as had immediat reuelation from heauen no question but the voice and tradition of this Church is diuine not Simply dâ—uine aliquo modo in a sort but simply P. 84. In the voice of the primitiue and Apostolical Church there was simply diuine authoritie P. 85. we resolue only into Resolue into Apostolical tradition prime tradition Apostolical and scripture it self P. 91. Euerie assistance of Christ and the blessed Spirit is not enough to make the authoritie of anie companie of men diuine and infallible but such and so great an assistance only as is purposely giuen to that effect Such an assistance the Prophets vnder the old testament and the Apostles vnder the New had P. 102. we haue a double diuine Diuine testimonie altogeither infallible to confirme to vs that scripture is the word of God The first is the tradition of the Apostles themselues The other the Scripture it self And into these we doe and may safely resolue our faith Sec. Safely resolue into Tradition 18. p. 123. The Prophets testimonie was diuine Sec. 33. p. 239. Al the places Diuine ether speak of the Church including the Apostles as al of them doe and then al grant the voice of the Church is Gods voice diuine and Infallible Potter sec 5. p. 5. The prime Church I call that which included Christ and the Apostles who had immediat reuelation Simply diuine from heauen the voice and testimonie of their Church is simply diuine and Infallible Ibid. p. 30. Their general Councels authoritie is immediatly deriued and delegated from Christ sec 1. p. 25. The high preist in cases of moment had a certaine priuiledg from error if he consulted the diuine oracle by the iudgement of Vrim or by the breast plate of iudgment wherin were Vrim and Thummim wherby he had an absolutly infallible direction If anie such Absolutely infallible promise of God to assist the Pope could be produced his decisions might then iustly pass for oracles without examination Behold the high Priest in cases of moment had a priuiledg from error had an absolutly infallible direction and if the Pope had such his decisions might pass for oracles Humfrey ad Rat. 3. Camp p. 214. Rock of faith we confess the Apostolik Church to be the rock of our faith Chillingworth c. 2. paragrapho 138. we saie that Infallibilitie continued in the Church euen togeither with the scripture so long as Christ and his Apostles were liuing And parag 155. As the Apostles persons whiles they were liuing were the only iudges of controuersies so their writings now they are dead are the onlie Rule to iudg them by Feild lib. 4. of the Greater then scripture Church c 11. If the comparison be made between the Church including the Euangelists we denie not but the Church is of greater authoritie antiquitie and excellencie then the scripture of the new testament White in his waie p. 74. The Apostles teaching was infallible Behold the authoritie the testimonie the voice the tradition of the Prophets Apostles Euangelists and of the Primitiue Church is altogeither infallible is diuine not in a sorte but simply as Gods voice is a sufficient cause of faith is to be beleued for it self for which alone we may beleue into which we maie resolue our faith the rock of faith
direct places of Scripture as Catholiks bring for the infallibilitie of the Church onely prudential motiues To say nothing of the testimonie of Fathers conuincent reasons and plain confession of Protestants which hereafter we shal bring for the same purpose 6. To al the former proofes of the infallibilitie of the Church taken out of holie Scripture I wil add one taken from the Apostles Creed or Symbol which c Caluin 2. Instit. c. 16. §. 8. Vvhitaker l. 3. de script c. 3 sect 1. Protestants say is an Epitome of the Scripture ad conteineth al fundamental points of faith For in that we profess to beleue the holie Catholik Church And holie she cannot be if she sinfully err in anie point of faith becaus euerie sinful error in faith is heresie and euerie heresie a sin which excludeth out of heauen Nor Catholik she could be if she err sinfully or not sinfully in anie matter of faith becaus Catholik includeth orthodoxie that is right beleef as is euident becaus Catholik is opposit to heretik as also becaus the Fathers affirme it as d L. 1. in Gen. Epist. 48. S. Austin S. e Catâ—chesi â—8 Cyril S. f Epist 5. Pation and g Optatus l. 1. others And namely S. h L. de vniâ—ate Austin sayeth that though Christians were spred ouer the world and yet did not beleue aright they were not Catholiks Which sheueth that Catholik doth not include onely diffusion but also Orthodoxie And if the Church be euermore orthodox she is euermore vnerring in matters of faith and we professing in our Creed that she is euer Catholik profess that she iâ— euer vnerring in matters of faith which is to be as infallible as we mean and as Laude sec 21. § 5. saieth wel If we wil keep vp our Creed the whole militant Church must be holie And holie she cannot be if she sinfully err anie waie against faith which is the foundation of al holines SEAVENT CHAPTER That the true Church of God is a sufficient and infallible Proposer â—f al points of faith proued by the holie Fathers 1. S. Ireney l. 3. c. 4. It is easie to receaue the truth from the Church seing the Apostles haue most fully deposited in her as in a rich store-house al things belonging to truth Whitaker Contr. 1. q. 6. c. 12. p. 389. saieth we grant this But indeed they are far from granting it as shal presently appeare Chillingworth c. 2. n 148. answereth that though S. Ireney say The Apostles deposited al truth in the Church yet he saieth not that she shal alwaies keep al truth For the Apostles deposited al truth in particular persons and Churches and yet these kept it not alwaies But S. Ireney not onely saieth that the Apostles deposited al truth in the Church but as in a riche store-house and that it is easie to receaue Vincent Ecclesia sedula cauta dâ—positorum apud se dogmatum custos it from her which he nether saied nor could saie of anie particular persons or Churches And for to be a rich store house of al truth from which is easie to receaue it is to be a sufficient and infallible keeper and Proposer of al truth And Whitaker c. citato p. 388. confesseth that S. Ireney did appeale from scripture to Church and to Apostolical tradition and saieth that heretiks are to be refuted by tradition Which is to confess that S. Ireney thouht the Churches tradition infallible for els he had betraied the Christiâ—n cause in appealing from an infallible Proposer to a fallible and had taught that heretiks were to be refuted by fallible meanes 2. S. Athanasius epist ad Epictetum disputing against Arians saieth we must answer onely which alone sufficeth these things are not of the Church nor our Ancestors thought so Behold the authoritie i Contrà Vvhitaker l. 2. de script p. 239. alone of the Church accounted sufficient to refure heretiks and if sufficient surely infallible 3. S. Chrysostom in 2. Thessal c. 2. It is a tradition of the Church ask no more which words are so plain for the sufficiencie and infallibilitie of the Churchestradition as it made Whitaker c. cit p. 391 to crie It is au inconsiderate speech and vnworthie Church infallible in vniuersal traditions of so greata Father and Chillingworth c. 3. n. 45. to confess that the Church is â—nfallible in her vniuersal traditions but not saieth he in al her decrees or definitions of controuersie But what word of God warranteth the Churches Infallibilitie in her traditions and not in her definitions of faith Besids Chillingworth c. 2. n. 25. and els where often and Protestants generally denie anie tradition of the Church to be infallible becaus nothing is infallible wiâ—h them but the written word of God and tradition is not written I add also that S. Chrysostom saieth not it is an vniuersal tradition but simply It is a tradition 4. Basil l. de Spiritu sancto c. 27. What things are obserued and preached of vs we haue receaued partly by written doctrin partly by the Apostles deliuered to vs in misterie and both these haue equal vertue to pietie Behold traditions of the Apostles not written and they of equal vertue to pietie with their written doctrin and he addeth that the Ghospel without tradition of the Church would haue no force but be a smal or bare letter To Which Whitaker c. cit p. 390. saieth If k So Keâ—â—nitiu part 1. §. 148. Basil were aliue he would without doubt not acknowledg this sentence which deserueth to be cast out and condemned of al pious men Which is plainly to confess that S. Basil thought the Churches tradition to be a sufficient proposal of points of faith and without it the Scripture would be to no purpose 5. Tertullian l. Praescrip c. 16. teacheth that we ought not to dispute against Heretiks out of Scripture but out of tradition Whitaker c. cit p. 392 answereth that he spake of such heretiks as denied the Scripture and therfore as Ireney did appealed from Scripture to the Church But first it is fals that Tertullian spake onely of such heretiks as denied Tertul. appealed from scripture to the Church the Scripture For he plainly speaketh of al such as denie ether the scripture or corrupted the true sense of it as al heretiks doe Secondly I ask when Tertullian appealed from Scripture to Church did he appeale to some sufficient and infallible proof of faith or no If he did we haue what we desire if not he betraied the Christian cause and taught vs to leaue the onely infallible means of refuting heretiks and to take a fallible 6. S. Cyprian l. de Vnitate The spouse of Christ cannot be made an adulteress and if she cannot be made an Adulteress she is infallible in faith 7. Hierom. l. contra Vigilantium I reiect al Doctrins contrarie to the Church and with open mouth condemn them And dialogo contra Lucifer I
Whitaker contro 1. q. 3. c. 11. and l. 1. de Script c. 3. p. 44. and l. 2. c. 10. sec 4. Pareus l. 3. de Iustif c. 3. and 8. to which I ad that Beza in colloquio Montisbelg p. 407. saieth of extraordinarie means by which faith is infused we haue no testimonie in Scripture Wherfore they can haue no faith that Luther had his faith by anie extraordinarie means or otherwise then Suencfeldius Anabaptists and Enthusiasts pretend that they had theirs And hence also appeareth that Protestants nether take the right way which God hath apointed and the Scripture plainly declareth for to learn true faith and diuine truth by Protestants take noâ— the right way to get right faith nor wil learn them of those whome God hath apointed to teach and shew them For the onely way which God in ordinarie course hath apointed and the Scripture declareth to learn true faith by is by hearing Rom. 10. and the persons whome they are to hear are lawfully sent Preachers ibidem the Successors of those of whome Christ saied Who heareth yee heareth me Luke 10. and whome he hath put in his Church for consummation of Saints Ephes 4. and whome he hath made the pillar and ground of truth 1. Timoth. 3. But Protestants seek truth by their reading or by their discoursing or inference and not of Pastors or of the pillar or ground of truth and therfore no meruel if they neuer finde truth whiles they wil not seek it how and where it is to be found For where should truth be sought or found but at the pillar and grouÌ„d of truth And who seek it not there are neuer like to finde diuine faith but at most humane beleef And Chillingworih therfore often times L 36. 37. 62. 73. 112. 117. professeth that Protestants haue onely humane and moral certaintie such as they haue of profane stories no infallible or certainly vnerring beleef and that they haue as great reason to beleue there was a Heurie eight as that Iesus Christ suffered vnder Pontius Pilat To such prophane credulitie or rather incredulitie are they fallen who seek not truth at the pillar and ground of truth which is the Church Vvhitaker l. 1. descrip p. p. 8. 43. Chilâ—ng c. 2. n. 12. but profess that they wil first seek truth and then the Church which is as much as if they said they wil seek first the end and afterwards the onely means to come to it But now let vs proue that Protestants doe some times grant that the authoritie of the Church is euen diuine or diuinely infallible FIFTEENTH CHAPTER That Protestants doe diuers vvaies confess that the authoritie of the Church in matters â—f faith is diuine or diuinely infallible 1. IN the former Tenth Chapter we shewed that Protestants doe often times confess that the Church is infallible at lest in fundamental points of faith now we wil shew that some times they confess that she is also diuinely infallible that is infallible by Gods diuine efficacious assistance And indeed it cannot be conceaued how she can be infallible in anie kinde of supernatural and diuine matters and not be diuinely infallible in them that is infallible by Gods diuine efficacious assistance For by herself or her natural power she cannot so much as know them much less be infallible in them 2. Caluin in Luc. 10. The testimonie of our Saluation giuen by men sent of God is no less then if he spoke from heauen The same saieth confessio Bohemica c. 14. Apologia Confess Augustanae c. de Poenitentia perkins in Reformed Catholik cont 3. c 3. and others Whitaker l. 3 de Script p. 4â—6 when the Church giueth testimonie to the Scriptures surely this testimonie is diuine because God is the author Testimonie of the Church diuine of this testimonie Behold the testimonie of the Church is diuine and that becaus God is Author of it Nether can he by the testimonie of the Church mean the truth testified by her becaus that were to equiuocate and also to grant no more her testimonie to be diuine then is the testimonie of anie priuat man of the Scriptures Wherfore by the Churches testimonie he must needs mean The Churches testification of the Scriptures or her act of testifying them to be diuine and so is no priuat mans testification diuine though he testifie the same which the Church testifieth And contr 1. q. 3. c. 11. Stapleton saieth the iudgment Iudgement of the Church diuine of the Church is diuine be it so let the iudgment of the Church be diuine We enquire not now whether the iudgment of the Church be diuine in it self but how we know that it is diuine Which supposeth that the Iudgment of the Church is diuine for we cannot know that it is diuine if it be not such indeed And ibid. we confess that the iudgment of the Chuch is in some sorte diuine not simply but in some parte when the testimonie of the Church conspireth with the testimonie of the holie Ghost then we confess it is diuine Where by Iudgment he cannot mean the truth iudged by the Church but her act of iudging both for what we said of testimonie of the Church as also becaus he saieth her iudgment is not simply diuine wheras Gods truth iudged by the Church is simply diuine and not onely in parte And the same Whitaker l. 2. de Script c. 7. p. 246. Ministers of the Church are instruments of the holie Ghost and endued with diuine Ministers endued with diuine authoritie authoritie to gouern the Church committed to them Where is plainly granted to Ministers diuine authoritie to gouern the Church and if to gouern why not also diuine authoritie to testifie that to be diuine truth which they teach Is it not as necessarie to the Church to be rightly taught as to be rightly gouerned And if as necessarie why not diuine authoritie granted as wel for the one as for the other And Authoritie of sâ—ripture equal to Christ contro 1. q. 3. c. 11. p. 328. The authoritie of the Scripture is no less then the authoritie of Christ himself And yet the Scripture is a create thing as wel as the Church is Powel l. de Adiaphoris p. 7. Such indifferent things as by the Church haue been lawfully and orderly instituted are so far humane as they are also diuine therfore haue more then humane authoritie yea plainly diuine And if things instituted by the Things instituted by the Church plainely diuine Church haue plainly diuine authoritie surely she hath diuine authoritie to institute them For humane authoritie can institute nothing which is plainly diuine Nether do I think that anie iudicious Protestant wil denie that the Authoritie of the Church to preach Gods word and administer his Sacraments is truly diuine becaus our Sauiour Mathew the last saieth Al power in heauen and earth is giuen to me wherfore going teach al nations baptizing them c. And what