The Roman Catechism teacheth,1 that we believe the holy Church, not in the Church: by which divers form of spe•king, say they, God the Creator is distinguished from things created.2 But the Rhemists in defence of their Saint-invocation, are driven to say, that we are to trust in the Saints departed, and that the Scripture useth also this speech, to believe in men,3 as They believed in the Lord, and in his servant Moses; Believe in the Lord, and ye shall be established, &c. This is their first pretence, whereby they seek to cover their Idolatry, whereas they might easily have known, that the vulgar and the Seventy both translate these places,4 They believed Moses, and believe his Prophets: and not, they believed in Moses, Believe in his Prophets. And it is certain, the preposition here added in Hebrew, doth not ever answer to In, in our language. What, that it is no less then blasphemy to say, that the Israelites were commanded to put their confidence in Moses and the Prophets, either as the principal authors and parents of any good, or as Mediators betwixt God and them, by and through whose mediation they should obtain all good things spiritual and temporal. For so they should have made them their arm, who were but flesh. What is alleged out of Exodus, Moses speaketh in reproach of the Israelites, 5who believed neither the Lord, nor Moses touching the ⟨p. 134⟩promise of their delivery out of Egypt, until such time as they having quite passed the Red Sea, did see their enemies dead in the Sea. And though they believed the truth of the Lord,6 and the word of his servant when they had the accomplishment of his promise; yet they did not confidently betake themselves to the Lord, as their only refuge, and rest under the shadow of his wings. For the Lord complaineth often of their infidelity towards him;7 and the history makes mention of their distrust, murmuring, and rebellion against the Lord. In the other place the people are praised, as those who rested in the word of the Prophet, before that the promise was effected: But they leaned not upon the Prophets, as authors of their help, neither had that been praise-worthy in them, nay, it had been detestable Idolatry. If they will have the Hebrew preposition to be of force in those places, by Moses and the Prophets we are to understand the word taught by Moses, and the Prophets from God;
The Romane Catechisme teacheth,1 that wee belieue the holy Church, not in the Church: by which diuers forme of spe•king, say they, God the Creatour is distinguished from things created.2 But the Rhemists in defence of their Saint-inuocation, are driuen to say, that wee are to trust in the Saints departed, and that the Scripture vseth also this speech, to belieue in men,3 as They belieued in the Lord, and in his seruant Moses; Belieue in the Lord, and yee shall bee established, &c. This is their first pretence, whereby they seeke to couer their Idolatrie, whereas they might easily haue knowne, that the vulgar and the Seuentie both translate these places,4 They belieued Moses, and belieue his Prophets: and not, they belieued in Moses, Belieue in his Prophets. And it is certaine, the preposition here added in Hebrew, doth not euer answere to In, in our language. What, that it is no lesse then blasphemie to say, that the Israelites were commanded to put their confidence in Moses and the Prophets, either as the principall authours and parents of any good, or as Mediators betwixt God and them, by and through whose mediation they should obtaine all good things spirituall and temporall. For so they should haue made them their arme, who were but flesh. What is alledged out of Exodus, Moses speaketh in reproach of the Israelites, 5who belieued neither the Lord, nor Moses touching the ⟨p. 134⟩promise of their deliuery out of Egypt, vntill such time as they hauing quite passed the Red Sea, did see their enemies dead in the Sea. And though they belieued the truth of the Lord,6 and the word of his seruant when they had the accomplishment of his promise; yet they did not confidently betake themselues to the Lord, as their onely refuge, and rest vnder the shadow of his wings. For the Lord complaineth often of their infidelitie towards him;7 and the historie makes mention of their distrust, murmur•ng, and rebellion against the Lord. In the other place the people are praysed, as those who rested in the word of the Prophet, before that the promise was effected: But they leaned not vpon the Prophets, as authours of their helpe, neither had that beene prayse-worthy in them, nay, it had beene detestable Idolatrie. If they will haue the Hebrew preposition to bee of force in those places, by Moses and the Prophets we are to vnderstand the word taught by Moses, and the Prophets from God;
- 1Catech. Rom. part. 1. cap. 11. q. 19.
- 2Rhem. annot. in Rom. 10.14.
- 3Exod. 14.31. 2. Chron. 20.21.
- 4Deut. 28.66. Job 24.22. Isaiah 33.15. 1. Sam 27.12. John 3.5.Deut. 28.66. Iob 24.22. Esay 33.15. 1. Sam 27.12. Iohn 3.5.
- 5Jer. 17.5.Ier. 17.5.
- 6Psal. 106.12.
- 7Psal. 78 22. Heb. 3.1•.
