We demand then what if they had lived in the days of the Apostles,1 when y• preaching ⟨image 25⟩of Christ Jesus was no less odious to the visible Kirk: To wit, to the posterity of Aaron and Levi, who then ruled in Jerusalem, then hes the light of the Evangel been, of late years, to that Roman Antichrist, and unto such as live be his Merchandise. Would Master Tyrie (we ask) and his faction, have refused the Evan gel, because that in the bosom of y• Kirk there arose great controversy, and that in the especial heads of Religion? For did not some boldly affirm in the Kirk of Antiochia,2 that onles the Gentiles were circumcised, according to the law of Moses, they could not be saved. Which doctrine and affirmation was more, dangerous and more slanderous in those days, then all the controversies that yet are risen amongst such, as have refused the damnable ways of the Papistry: for it concerneth the chief head of Justification. And will any yet say that therefore the Evangel was not the glade tidings of Salvation? And they that embraced it truly were not the true members of Jesus Christ? We look that men will be more moderate, than some show them selves to be: who for certain controversies of far less importance ⟨image 25⟩then that was, dare boldly damn y• truth and the professors of the same, because say they, Proprium est hereticorum a se inuicem dissentire. That is, it is proper to Heretics to disagree amongst them selves which sentence how ancient that ever it be, if it should be so understand as the Papist doeth: that is, whosoever disagrees amongst them selves in matters of Religion they are Heretics. If the former sentence (we say) should be so understand, then shall we accuse mo of Heresy then can be excused in any on• age from Christ Jesus to this day. For did not Paul disagree from Peter? Yea,3 he did so disagree from him, y• he did resist him plainly to his face, because that he walked not according to the right way of the truth of the Gospel. These were two principal pillars: the one appointed to the Jews and the other to the Gē tiles:4 what shall we say of the hot contention which fell betwixt Barnabas & Paul, which separated them that before were joined, in as strait conjunction, as ever were two mortal men upon the earth.
We demand then what if they had leued in the dayis of the Apostles,1 when y• preaching ⟨image 25⟩of Christ Iesus was no les odious to the visi•le Kirk: To wit, to the posteritie of Arahon and Leui, who then rewled in Ierusalem, then hes the light of the Euangell bene, of late yeares, to that Romane Antechrist, and vnto suche as liue be his Merchandice. Wold Maister Tyrie (we ask) and his factiō, haue refused the Euā gell, bec•us that in the bosome of y• Kirk there arose great controuersie, and that in the especiall heades of Religion? For did not some boldely affirme in the Kirk of Antiochia,2 that onles the Gentiles wer circumcised, according to the law of Moses, they culd not be saued. Which doctrine and affirmation was moir, dangerous and moir sclanderous in those dayes, then all the controuersies that yet ar rissen amonges such, as haue refused the dampnable wayes of the Papistrie: for it concerneth the cheaf head of Iustification. And will any yet say that therefore the Euangell was not the glade tydinges of Saluatioun? And they that imbrased it •rewly wer not the trew members of Iesus Christ? We looke that men will be moir moderat, thē some shaw them selues to be: who for certane controuersies of far les importance ⟨image 25⟩then that was, dare boldly dāpne y• treuth and the professoures of the same, becaus say they, Proprium est hereticorum a se inuicem dissentire. That is, it is proper to Heretykes to disagre amonges thē selues whiche sentence how ancient that euer it be, if it should be so vnderstand as the Papist doeth: that is, whosoeuer disagreis amonges them selues in materis of Religiō they are Heretykes. If the former sentēce (we say) should be so vnderstand, then shall we accuse mo of Heresie then cā be excused in any on• age from Christ Iesus to this day. For did not Paule disagre frō Peter? Yea,3 he did so disagre from him, y• he did resist him planly to his face, becaus that he walked not according to the right way of the treuth of the Gospell. These wer two prēcipall pillers: the one appointed to the Iewes and the other to the Gē tiles:
- 1Not•.
- 2[…].〈…〉.
- 3Gal. •.
- 4A••. 15.
