that be yet rude and siÌ„ple to instruct I say in righteousnes that they maye be made righteous by puttyng awaye their former instructions of infidelite I say that he may be so taught that as muche as in the teacher lyeth he that is taught maye be the perfect man of god so perfecte that he maye be instruct to doe euerye good worke BEda in the. 1. Epistle of Peter Cap. 5. If any man speake lette him speake as the words of god fearyng least he say or commaunde any thing besides the wil of god or besides that whiche is manifestly commaunded in the holye scriptures and be founde as a false witnes of god or acommitter of sacriledge or a bringer in of any straunge thynge from the Lordes doctrine or els leaue oute or passe ouer anye thynge that pleaseth god seeing that Chryste most playnly commaundeth the preachers of the trueth concernyng them whom they had taughte sayinge teache them to kepe all thyngs that I haue commauÌ„ded you Yea euen the same whych he had commaunded and none other and he commaunded hys preachers to coÌ„maunde their hearers to kepe not soÌ„e of these but all ANselmus Bishop in his booke of virginitie 24. Cap. Goddes lawe forbyddeth to folowe the steppes of the Catholyke or vniuersal faith any more then the iudgemente of the canonicall trueth coÌ„maundeth to beleue And all other Apocryphall lies the good policies of the best learned fathers haue stablished in their decrees vtterly to reiecte and to banishe them cleane as horrible thoundriÌ„ges of wordes LYraâ—e vpon the laste Ca. of the Prouerbes Like as in a marchauntes shyppe are caryed dyuerse thynges necessarye for mannes lyfe so in the scripture are conteined all thynges nedefull to saluacyon THomas of Aquine The holye Scripture is the rule of oure fayth wherevnto it is neyther lawfull to adde nor take any thyng away But the trueth of oure fayth is contayned in the holy scryptures diffusely and diuerse wayes in some places darklye and to trye oute the trueth of oure fayth by the scryptures is required long study and exercise to the which al they cannot come that nede to knowe the trueth of the fayth the more part wherof beeynge occupyed wyth other busines cannot attende to study And therfore it was nedefull out of the sentences of holy scripture to gather some thyng into a shorte some which should be set forth for all men to beleue whiche is not added to the scriptures but rather takeÌ„ out of the scriptures SCotus in the prologe of sentences que 2. Question Whether knowledge about nature sufficient for a man in this lyfe be sufficientlye sette forth in the holy scripture The Question is not whether any thynges bee true that are not written or whether god sence the creacion and redemption of the worlde hath done or sayd any thyng that is not wrytten and receyued of the Churche for the holye scripture but thys is the questyon whether the worde of god wrytten be sufficient for our saluacioÌ„ or whether a Christen man be bounde to beleue any thyng that cannot he proued bi the holy scripture And thys grauÌ„ted that all thynges that may be gathered out of the scripture and euery thyng that vpon any trueth graunted maye bâ— proued by a good argumeÌ„t of the scripture doth pertayne to the holy scripture this graunted I say he concludeth that all thynges necessarye for our saluacion are fully conteyned in the holy scripture ¶ The schole authors call the staye of our faith the trueth shewed of God and conteyned in the Canon of the Bible ¶ That the general counsels withoute the worde of god are not sufficiente to make articles of oure fayth ¶ The .iii. Chapter EVsebius in his ecclesiastical historie lib. 1. Cap. 8. The head rulers of the churche forgettynge gods commaundementes were inflamed one againste another wyth contencyon zeale enuy pride malice and hatred so that they thoughte rather that they occupied the rome of tiraÌ„nes then of priestes And also forgettinge Christian humilite and sincerite they did celebrate the holy misteries wyth vnholy handes GRegorye Nazianzen to Procopius Vndoubtedli I thiÌ„k thus if I must nedes wryt the truth that al assembles of Byshoppes are to be eschued For I neuer sawe good end of any synode that did not rather bryng in euils then put them awaye for the lustes of stryfe and desyer and of lordshyp reigne there AVgustine in his lib. 2. Capit. 3. agaynst the Donatists The couÌ„sels which are kept through euery region or prouince wythout all clokinges ought to geue place to the generall counselles whiche are made of all Christendome yea and the former generall counsels oughte ofttimes to be reformed by the latter counsels if any thynge in them dooe chaunce to erre from the trueth AVgustine against Maximinum the bishop of the Arrians lib. 3 Ca. 4. But now neither ought I to alledge the counsel of Nice nor thou the couÌ„sel of Arimine to tak aduauÌ„tage therby for neyther am I bounde nor helde by the authorite of this nor thou of that Lette matter with matter cause wyth cause or reason with reasoÌ„ trye the matter by the aucthorite of scriptures not proper witnesses to any of vs but indifferent witnesses for vs both GErson We ought rather beleue the sayiÌ„g of any teacher armed with the Canonycall scripture then the Popes determynacyon THe same More tredite is to be geuen to a maÌ„ that is singularlye learned in the Scripture bryngying forth catholyke aucthorite then to the generall counsel PAnormitan in cap. Significasti A simple laye man bryngynge forth the scriptures is to be beleued rather then an hole counsel For a counsell may erre as it hath afore tymes erred as did the counsell of Melchildense and Aquisgranum of contracting of Matrimonie The councel of CoÌ„stance among other articles of Iohn Husband Hierome of Prage vniustly condemned condemned also this article for heresye that the two natures that is the diuinite and humanitie be one Chryst whych is a necessarye article of our fayth expressed in the Crede of Athanasius called qui cunque vult where it is red the right fayth is that we beleue and confesse that our Lorde Iesus Chryst the soÌ„ne of god is god and maÌ„ and a litle after lyke as the reasonable soule and the flesh is one man so god and maÌ„ is one Christ the same is also decreed by the counsell of Nice and dyuerse other catholike counsels and it is the doctrine of the churche at thys tyme. Finally it may be proued by the expresse word of god and yet these malycyous cleargy were not ashamed to condemne the same for an heresy Note here ieÌ„tle reader vnto what shameles and detestable heresyes theyr Popishe yea Antichristian general counsels haue falleÌ„ of the which they boast so much that they cannot erre and wherevpon cheÌ„fely they builde al their errours and heresyes Moreouer the most part of the good lawes and Canons be in
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
in dede as it is now daily sene THe Scribes the Pharisees sit vpoÌ„ Moses seate what soeuer thei bid you do that do but after their workes doe not for thei say and doe not Here they saye it appeareth playnly that Chryste commaundeth vs to obeye the heades of the church how euill soeuer theyr lyues be FIrst let them loke well what maner menne they make them selues that is Scribes and Pharises the greatest enmys of god persecutors and murtherers of hys Prophetes of the Apostles and of Christ himselfe and so Antichristes Secondly Moses seate is not hys offyce or authorite but his doctryne therfore saith S. Augustine that seat which is his doctrine suffereth them not to erre and in another place they sitting in Moses scate teache the law of god therfore god teacheth by theÌ„ But if they wyl teache their own doctryne beleue them not for suche seeke their own and not Iesus Chrystes Chryst hiddeth vs beware of the leueÌ„ of the Pharises and then the disciples knew that the spake not of the leuen of bread but of their doctrynes althoughe they sat in Moses seate if they wyll nedes contende the dignite or office of Moses to be Moses seate and yet erred shamfully in their doctryne BEholde I am wyth you al the dayes vnto the worldes ende thys promyse was not made to the Apostles only for they dyed shortly after Chryste but to the churche Ergo the churche cannot erre I Beseche theÌ„ to beginne a litell afore and they shall playnely heare Chryst hymself vnlose this knotte The words before ar these in Marke goe and preache my gospell to euerye creature and in Mathewe goe and teache all people baptysinge them in the name of the father of the soÌ„ne c. teachynge them to obserue all thyngs what soeuer I haue coÌ„maunded you and lo I wyll be wyth you vnto the worldes ende Here you may see this promyse of Chryst I wilbe wyth you c. is not absolute or vniuersall but geuen vnder a condicioÌ„ that is if you preache my gospel truly if you baptise rightly if you teach the baptised to do all thynges that I haue commaunded you lo then I wyll be wyth you vnto the worldes ende But if you teache any other gospel or baptise otherwise or bydde them doe any other thynge aboue that whiche I haue coÌ„maunded you you haue no promyse of god but the curse that Paule threatneth thoughe we or an Angell from heauen preache c. I Haue yet many mooe thynges to say vnto you but you caÌ„not beare them away nowe howbeit wheÌ„ he is come which is the sprite of trueth he wil leade you into all trueth Here you may see saye the enmies of gods trueth that Chryste taughte not all thyngs himself but left many things to be taught to the disciples by the holy gost after his death CHriste saied not I haue many thyngs to say which I wil not tel you now but which you can not beare now That is you can not perceiue or vnderstande them nowe and thus Christ himselfe expoundeth these words the coÌ„forter which is the holi gost whoÌ„ my father wil seÌ„d in my name he shal teache you al thinges put you in rememberaunce of all things that I haue sayd vnto you no newe or other thynges For chryst sayeth playnly that he hymselfe had taughte them all before sayinge all thyngs that I haue hearde of my father haue I opened vnto you Moreouer our Sauiour in plaine wordes sheweth what thynges those were that his disciples coulde not vnderstande although he manye tymes tolde them the same before Beholde sayeth he we gooe vp to Ierusalem and all shalbe fulfilled that are wryt teâ— by the Prophetes of the sonne of maÌ„ For he shalbe delyuered to the geÌ„tyls and shalbe mocked and despitefully entreated and spitted on wheÌ„ they haue scorged him they wyl put hym to death and the thirde daye he wil rise againe and they vnderstode none of these thynges For these sayinges wee hid from them so that thei perceaued none of the thynges that were spoken although he spake to theÌ„ in most playne teruis And the cause why they perceaued not his so playne speache was thys They were yet carnal and vnderstode the prophesies of Chrysts kyngdome carnally thinkiÌ„g that Chryst shoulde reigne at Ierusalem like a mightie conqueroure and subdewe all the Gentyles vnder the yoke of bondage to the Iewes so that the Iewes shoulde be Lordes and rulers ouer all the world for euer And therfore Iames and Iohn asked a peticioÌ„ of Iesê° by theyr mother that they her two sonnes myght sit the one on his right hande and the other on hys left hand in his kingdome and when he spake of his death Peter toke him aside and rebuked him saying Master fauour thy selfe thys shall not happeÌ„ vnto the to whom Chryst sayd go after me SathaÌ„ These be the thynges that the disciples could not then beare or vnderstande but thought that he had spokeÌ„ some allegorie ridle or dark speache vnto theÌ„ but after his resurrection he opened their wittes that they mighte vnderstande the Scryptures and sayd vnto them thus it is wrytteÌ„ and thus it behoued Chryst to suffer And to the two discipls goyng to Emaus he expounded Moses the Prophetes and all the scripturs that were wrytten of hym And after the ascensioÌ„ the holy gost appeared to theÌ„ in fierie tonges and fylled them with all knowledge they began to speake with sondrye tonges as the holy goste gaue them vtteraunce and then they vnderstode the Scryptures perfectlye MAnye other tokens did Iesus which are not written in thys boke Agayne there are many other thyngs that Iesus did whych if thei were written I suppose the worlde should not be able to conteyne the bokes that should be wrytten SAinct Iohn speaketh not here of faith and charite but of miracles the knowledge wherof is not necessary for our saluacion as his wordes folowing doe declare these ar writteÌ„ that you mighte beleue that Iesus is Chryst the sonne of God and in beleuing may haue lyfe in his name And what is more required or desiered of a Christian then to enioye euerlasting lyfe that ought to be our whole study and endeuour to that ende ought we to applye all our myndes wordes and workes and prayers STande fast brethren and kepe the ordinaunces that ye haue learned either by our preachiÌ„g or by our Epistle Of these words thei gather that Paule taughte diuerse things to the Thessalonians by word of mouth without writing which neuerthelesse he commaunded them to obserue and doe I Graunte that Paule taughte many thiÌ„gs by word of mouth which he wrought not in his Epistles to the ThessaloniaÌ„s But how that they proue that the same thinges be neyther writteÌ„ by him in ani other of his Epistles nor in any other place of the hole Bible For what argumeÌ„t is
also as thou haste knowen the holy scriptures of a chylde which are able to make the learned vnto saluacion throughe the fayth which is in Chryste Iesu. For al scripture geuen by inspiracion of God is profitable to teache to improue to amende to instructe in righteousnesse that the man of god may be perfecte prepared to all good workes If any man speake let hym speake as the wordes of god If any man come vnto you and bryng not thys learning receaue hym not into your house neither bid him God spede For he that byddeth hym God spede is partaker of hys euyll dedes If any man shall adde vnto these thynges god shall adde vnto hym the plages that are wrytten in this booke And if any man shall minishe of the wordes of thys prophesye God shall take awaye his part out of the boke of lyfe and out of the holy citie and froÌ„ those thynges whiche are written in thys boke ¶ That the writinges of the olde fathers without the written woorde of god are not able to proue anye doctryne in religion ¶ The .ii. Chapter IReneus libro .ii. Cap. 46. To leâ—Ì„e to the scriptures of god whych is the certayne and vndouted trueth is to buylde a mans house vpoÌ„ a suer and stronge rock But to leaue that and leaue to ani other doctrins what so euer they be is to builde a curious house vpon the â—hatteringe grauell whereof the ouerthrowe is easye IDem in Epistola .72 Happy is he that soweth vpon the watâ—râ— where the Oxe and the Asse treadeth that is vpon that people whych onely foloweth the doctrine of both the testamentes and not vpon the vayne tradycions of men TErtulliane in the prescryptioÌ„s of heretykes pa. 95. It is not lawfull for vs to fauoure any doctryne at oure pleasure nor yet to chose what any manne hath brought in of his owne mynde We haue the Apostles of the Lorde for oure authors whyche dyd not electe anye thynge that they woulde brynge in of their owne heades but taught faythfullye to all nacyons that doctryne that they had receaued of Chryste Therefore althoughe an Aungell from heauen shoulde preache any other thynge lette vs holde hym accursed ANd a litle after he sayeth We nede to vse no curiositie after Iesus Chryste nor make further searche after the gospell for wheÌ„ we beleue we desier to beleue no more For first we beleue this that there is nothyng els that we ought to beleue IDem of the fleshe of Chryst pa. 20. agaynst Apelles whyche saied that the Angels had a bodely substancâ— which thei toke of the â—â—â—tres Tertallian answereth that there is no certenty in thys matter because the scripture declareth it not THe sae to Praxeas Let thys be a generall rule indifferently determyned before hande agaynst all heresyes that that is true what so euer is first that to bee forged what soeuer coÌ„meth after pa. 418. ORigen in his first homily vpon Ieremy Vle must nedes cal the holye scriptures to wytnes for our iudgements and exposicious with out these witnesses are worthye no credite IDem vpon Leuiticus in his fyfte homilye If the holy scripture doe not determine any thing we ought not to admitte any other wrytyng for the stablyshinge of our doctryne but as for the rest let vs leaue it to god THe same vpon the thirde chapter to the Romanes After these as his custome is meanynge by sainct Paul he doth confirme that he had sayd by the scriptures geuing also an example to the preachers of the churche that those thynges whyche they speake to the people should be armed and mayntained by the holi scriptures and not spoken oute of theyr own iudgements For if he being such and so great an Apostle thoughte not the aucthorite of hys owne wordes to be sufficiente excepte be teache those thynges which he saieth to be wrytten in the law and the prophets hoâ— much more ought we litle ones to take heade that when we teache we vtter not our own mindes but the sentences of the holy gost THe same vpon Mathew in his 26. homily no man ought for the stablyshing of doctryne to vse any bokes that be withoute the canonicall scriptures CIprian in the exposicion of the Crede after that he hath rehearsed the canonical bokes of the Bible he sayeth These be they whiche oure fathers haue included within the Canon out of the whyche our fathers woulde the doctryne of our fayth to be certaine neuertheles there be other bokes which of our elders were not called canonycall but Ecclesiastical as the boke of wisdoÌ„e the bokes of Sirach Tobie Iudyth Machabees and other All whyche bokes they would haue to be redde in thâ— churche but not alleged as of aucthoritie to confirme any article of our fayth Al other writinges thei called Apâ—crypha whiche they would in no wyse to be redde in the churche AThanasius against the gentyles The holy Scriptures being in spired from god are sufficiente to all instruction of the trueth BAsilius in his boke of Ethikes of his short definitions the. 26. Euery worde and dede that maketh for the certentye and suertye of good men and the confusion of them that be euill must be confirmed by the testimony of Goddes scriptures And those thinges which either in our nature or in the custome and maner of our life are manifestly knowen must we vse to confirme those thynges which we doe and say THe same in his short definitioÌ„s the first questioÌ„ Whether it bee lawful or expedient for a man to permit himselfe to do what he thinketh good without the testimonie of the holy scriptures â–ª 〈◊〉 aunswere Seyng that our sauiour sayth of the holy gost he shall not speake of hymselfe but what soeuer he hath heard that shall he speake And of himself he sayeth the sonne can dooe nothynge of himselfe And agayne I haue not spoken of my selfe but he whiche sent me gaue me commaundemente what I shoulde say and what I shold speake and I knowe that hys commaundemente is eternall lyfe therefore those thynges that I speake I speake as the father sayd vnto me who is he then that wil runne into suche madnesse that he dare once thynke onelye anye thyng of himselfe seeing that he hath nede of the holy ghoste for his ayde so that both in mynde word and worke he may be gided in the way of trueth and that he must nedes walke in darknes excepte he bee lightened with the sonne of righteousnes oure lorde Iesus Chryste whiche shineth vpon vs with hys coÌ„maundementes as with bright beames For the commaundement of the lorde is cleare and geueth lyght to the eyes For of those thinges that are done and commonly vsed among vs some are by gods commauÌ„dement determined and playnlye set forth in the holyscriptures and some not expressed Of those that be expressed by the scriptures there is vtterlye no power geuen to any man what so euer
he be in the hole worlde either to doe any thyng of those that be forbidden or els to leaue vndone any thyng of them that be commaunded seeynge that the lord hath once commaunded sayd whatsoeuer I coÌ„maunde you that take heade ye doe c. But of those thinges that are not expressed the Apostle Paul hath geuen vs a rule sayinge I maye dooe all thinges but all thynges are not expedient I may doe all thinges but all thynges edyfye not ISychius vpon Leuiticus lib. 5. cap. 16. Let vs which woulde haue any thyng obserued of god searche no more but that whiche the gospell doth geue vnto vs. CHrysostome vpon the. 24. cap. of Math. Homilia 49. When you shall set the abominable desolacion stande in the holye place that is when you shall see vngodlye heresye which is the armye of Antichrist stande in the holy places of the churche in that tyme let thâ— whiche are in Iury â—â—ye vnto the hilles that is let them that be in Christendome resort vnto the scriptures For like as the true Iewe iâ— a Christian as the Apostle sayth he is not a Iewe which is outward c. in lyke maner the very Iurie is Christianitie the hilles ar the scriptures of the Apostles and prophetes And why doth he commaunde all Chrystians at that tyme to resortâ— to the scriptures for in thys time siÌ„ce heresy hath preuayled in the churche there can be none other profe of true Christianite neyther can there be any other refuge for Christen men wyllyng to know the truth of the ryghte fayth but onely vnto the holye scriptures Beefore tyme it was shewed by many other meanes whiche was the true church of Chryste whiche Gentilite but now there is no waye to knowe it And why for all those thynges which pertayne to Chryst in dede haue the heretiks in their Schisme likewise churches likewise the scriptures of god likewise Bishops and other orders of clarkes and lykewyse Baptisme and the Sacrament of thankes geuinge and to conclude Chryst hym selfe Wherfore he that will knowe whiche is the true church of Chryste in thys so great a confusioÌ„ of thinges beyng so lyke how shal he know it but only by the scriptures It was also knowen which was the true churche of Chryste by their maners when the conuersacion of Chrysten men either of all or many was holy whyche was not amonge the heathen But nowe CHRISTEN menne are beecome lyke or worse then the gentiles or heretâ—kes yea and there is more continencye founde amongest them then amongest Chrystyans Therefore he that wil knowe whiche is the true church of Chryst wherby shal he knowe it but onelye by the scriptures The lord therfore knowyng that so great a confusion of thyngs shold come in the later tyme commaundeth that Chrysten men that be willinge to knowe the ryghte fayth shold flie to none other thiÌ„ges but onely to the scriptures For if theâ— loke vpon any other thyng but onely the scriptures they shalbe offended perishe not perceauing whych is the true churche and so fall into the abominable desolacyon whiche standeth in the holy places of the churche THe same in the vnperfect worke â–ª Hath cap. 7. Euerye preacher is a seruaunte of the lawe which may neyther adde any thynge abouâ— the law of hys own mynd nor wythdrawe any thyng after his owâ—e vnderstanding but preache that thing only that is had in the law as Salomon sateth thou shalt adde nothyâ—ge to the worde of god nor take aughte therefrom THe same of the holy gost tom 3 If you see any man saying that I haue the holy gost and not spekyng the gospel but his own that maÌ„ speaketh of himselfe and the holi gost is not in hym And after If any of theÌ„ therfore which sayeth he hath the holy gost and speaketh any thyng of him selfe and not forth of the gospel say folowe my counsell beleue hym not THe same in the. 7. of Math. Homily 19. Vpon this texte by their fruites ye shal knowe them The fruites of man is the confession of his fayth and the workes of his conuersacion If thou therefore â–ª shalt see a Christen man forth wyth consider if his confession agree wyth the scriptures he is a true Christian but if not he is as Chryste sayd false For so Iohn whan he wrote his Epistell of the heretikes sayd not if anye come vnto you not hauing the name of Chryst bydde him not God spede but if any bryng not thys doctryne THe same in the same place the. 22. Cap. and â–ª 42. Homilie Let vs first alledge the aucthorite of the scriptures to the false forgers afterwarde let vs shewe them reasons and to them that aske for any maner of purpose fyrste let vs declare vnto them the reason and afterwarde the aucthorite that we maye pacifie them with reason and stablish them with aucthorite For we oughte to confute false interpreters and instruct them that searche THe same vpon the last of the Romanes vpon thys texte I beseche you brethren He saith that dissensions and slaunders that is to saye heresyes are broughte in of those whiche brynge any thyng beâ—sydes the doctrine and learnyng of the Apostles THe same vpon the latter Epistle to Timothe the. 3. Cap. There is nothyng that can not be determined by the scriptures to reproue if it be to bee reproued that is to saye lyes to correcte and to teache in righteousnes If it be nedeful saith he that any thyng should be corrected or instructed that is to be made contynent and sober vnto righteousnesse to execute those thinges that be iuste al that shall be geuen by the scripture that the man of god maye be perfecte the amendment sayeth he is prepared by the scriptures that nothyng maye be lacking to that man that walketh after god THe same vpoÌ„ math 22. Cap. Homilie 4. Whatso euer is required for our saluacioÌ„ is already coÌ„tamed in the holi scriptures He that is ignoraÌ„t shal find ther what he may learne He that is stubburne a siÌ„ner may finde there scourges of the iudgementes to come the whiche he maye feare he that is troubled maye fynde there the ioyes and promyses of euerlastynge lyfe through the beholdynge of the whyche he maye bee styrred to good workes THe same vpoÌ„ the. 2. of the Thessalo 2. cap. Al things be plaine and cleare in the scriptures what things so euer be nedeful be manyfest there THe same vpon the. 2. to Timoâ—the 3. ch If there be any thiÌ„g nedefull to be knowen or not to be knowen we shal learne it by the holy scriptures if we shal nede to reproue a falsed we shal fetche it from theÌ„ce if to be corrected to be chastned to be exhorted or coÌ„forted to be short if aught lacke that ought to be taught or learned we shall also learne it out of the same scriptures The same Homily 1. Titum Like as the
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