As for the true sense and interpretation of the Scriptures, where shall we find it, but, as before we said,1 in the Catholic Church? The Church having Christ remaining with it all days to the end of the world, having by promise of Christ the Sprite of trueth, remaining in it for ever, having by God's own ancient promise both the words, which the Father hath put in the mouth of Christ, and the Sprite which he put in him, whereby it may understand the meaning of God's words: we may not now seek for the true sense, understanding, and interpretation of the Scriptures any where, but in the Church. Your own Doctor John Calvin him self▪ 2whom ye follow and esteem so much, admonisheth very well, and saith, it is specially to be noted, that out of the Church there is no light of the sound understanding of the Scriptures. This ground being laid, on which each part must stand and be tried in, crow no more against us, boast your selves no more:3 We fear not the judgement of the Holy Scriptures. Nay it is your selves, that fear this judgment. For your own conscience telleth you that on this ground ye are the weaker side. If ye stand with us on this ground, ye shall never be able to defend your Master John Calvins doctrine touching Baptism,4 which h•••aketh to be of so little force, against the manifest Scripture: Let every one of you (saith S. Peter) be Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, to Remission of Sins. Keeping this ground* ye shall be borne from your Doctrine touching Absolution, denying the Priest to have power to absolve penitents by his Priestly Authority, but by Preaching the Gospel to them, contrary to the plain Scripture: Whose Sins ye forgive, they are forgiven to them: Whose ye retain, they are retained. If ye refuse not this ground, ye shall be forced to restore the Sacrament of extreme Unction▪ and the use of Holy Oil again, which ye have abandoned.
As for the true sense and interpretation of the Scriptures, where shal wee finde it, but, as before wee saide,1 in the Catholike Churche? The Churche hauinge Christe remaininge with it al daies to the ende of the worlde, hauinge by promise of Christe the Sprite of truethe, remaininge in it for euer, hauing by Goddes owne ancient promise bothe the woordes, whiche the Father hath put in the mouthe of Christe, and the Sprite whiche he putte in him, whereby it may vnderstand the meaninge of Goddes woordes: wee maie not now seeke for the true sense, vnderstanding, and interpretation of the Scriptures any where, but in the Churche. Your owne Doctour Iohn Caluine him selfe▪ 2whom ye folowe and esteeme so mutche, admonisheth very wel, and saithe, it is specially to be noted, that out of the Churche there is no light of the sounde vnderstandinge of the Scriptures. This ground beinge laide, on whiche eche parte must stande and be tried in, crowe no more againste vs, boast your selues no more:3 VVe feare not the iudgement of the Holy Scriptures. Nay it is your selues, that feare this iudgment. For your owne conscience telleth you that on this ground ye are the weaker side. Yf ye stande with vs on this grounde, ye shal neuer be able to defende your Maister Iohn Caluines doctrine touchinge Baptisme,4 whiche h•••aketh to be of so litle force, against the manifest Scripture: Let euery one of you (saithe S. Peter) be Baptized in the name of Iesus Christe, to Remission of Sinnes. Keepinge this grounde* ye shal be borne from your Doctrine touchinge Absolution, denyinge the Prieste to haue power to absolue penitentes by his Priestly Auctoritie, but by Preachinge the Gospel to them, contrarie to the plaine Scripture: VVhose Sinnes ye •orgeue, they are forgeuen to them: VVhose ye retaine, they are reteined. Yf ye refuse not this grounde, ye shal be forced to restore the Sacrament of extreme Vnction▪ and the vse of Holy Oyle againe, whiche ye haue abandoned.
- 1Matthae 7. Johan. 4. Isaiah. 59.Matthae 7. Iohan. 4. Esai. 59.
- 2In Epist. ad H• braeos.
- 3Untruth.Vntruthe.
- 4Untruth. For he debaseth not the Sacrament of BaptismVntruthe. For he debaseth not the Sacrament of Baptisme
- *Untruth.Vntruth.
