Therefore saith Paul, that all they might be damned, which believed not the truth. Al shall be damned, which believed not. Then let no man say, I will follow the example of my fathers, I will do as the greater part doth. So many and so many, for so many years, in so many places have bin on this side. The judgement of God standeth not in the multitude, but in the truth. Whosoever shall set themselves against his holy will, be they never so many, they shall be damned. Let such mark well what Ignatius who lived in the time of the Apostles hath said. Audivi quosdam dicentes, si non invenero Evangelium in antiquis, non credam. Talibus autem ego dico: quia mihi antiquit as Jesus Christus est, cui non obeaire, manifestus & irremissibilis interitus est. Ignaty epist. 5. ad Philadel, I have heard some which say, unless I find the Gospel in them of old time, I will not believe it. But unto such I say, that Jesus Christ is, unto me antiquity. Whom to disobey is manifest and unpardonable destruction. Let no man say, I hope I do well, my meaning ⟨p. 360⟩is good, I have a desire to please GOD: I believe well, I do my conscience: If I do a•isse God will regard my simplicity. Let no man so say. Saint Augustine saith, It is certain 1that a foolish faith, not only doeth no good, but also hurteth. If thou believe not the truth, thou dwellest in lying: thou art the child of the Devil, which is a liar, and the father thereof. The mouth which speaketh lies slayeth the 2soul. Thy faith is no faith, it is but a wilful opinion, it is but an error, for it is not according to the truth, it is not built upon the rock, it is not grounded on the word of God. Change thine error. Faith is by hearing, and 3hearing by the word of GOD: receive the truth, believe the truth, and love the truth. Otherwise, if thou refuse the bread of life, and feed on poison: if thou forsake the water of life, and dig unto thy self a Cistern that will hold no water: thou shalt lead thy days in wilfulness and shalt die in sin: thy blood shall be upon thine own head. Thou shalt not s•e the glory of God, death and damnation shall be thy meed, because thou hadst pleasure in wickedness, and diddest not give thy heart to receive, and love, and believe the truth.
Therefore saith Paul, that al they might be damned, which beleeued not the truth. Al shal be damned, which beléeued not. Then let no man saie, I will follow the example of my fathers, I wil doe as the greater part doth. So manie and so manie, for so manie yeares, in so manie places haue bin on this side. The iudgement of God standeth not in the multitude, but in the truth. Whosoeuer shall set themselues against his holie will, be they neuer so manie, they shal be damned. Let such marke wel what Ignatius who liued in the time of the Apostles hath saide. Audivi quosdam dicentes, si non invenero Evangelium in antiquis, non credam. Talibus autem ego dico: quia mihi antiquit as Iesus Christus est, cui non obeaire, manifestus & irremissibilis interitus est. Ignaty epist. 5. ad Philadel, I haue heard some which saie, vnlesse I find the Gospell in them of olde time, I wil not beleeue it. But vnto such I saie, that Iesus Christ is, vnto me antiquitie. Whome to disobey is manifest and vnpardonable destruction. Let no man saie, I hope I doe well, my meaning ⟨p. 360⟩is good, I haue a desire to please GOD: I beléeue well, I doe my conscience: If I doe a•isse God will regard my simplicitie. Let no man so saie. Saint Augustine saith, It is certain 1that a foolish faith, not onelie doeth no good, but also hurteth. If thou beléeue not the truth, thou dwellest in lying: thou art the child of the Diuel, which is a liar, and the father thereof. The mouth which speaketh lies slaieth the 2soule. Thy faith is no faith, it is but a wilful opinion, it is but an errour, for it is not according to the truth, it is not built vppon the rocke, it is not grounded on the word of God. Change thine errour. Faith is by hearing, and 3hearing by the worde of GOD: receiue the truth, beléeue the truth, and loue the truth. Otherwise, if thou refuse the breade of life, and féede on poison: if thou forsake the water of life, and digge vnto thy selfe a Cesterne that wil holde no water: thou shalt leade thy daies in wilfulnesse and shalt die in sinne: thy bloud shall be vpon thine owne head. Thou shalt not s•e the glorie of God, death and damnation shall be thy méede, bycause thau hadst pleasure in wickednesse, and diddest not giue thy heart to receiue, and loue, and beléeue the truth.
- 1Aug. quae 43 in quaestion. v•ter. & no vitestam.
- 2Wisd. 1.
- 3Rom. 10.
