A07146:59
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times…The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times…
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times past been brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherents: faithfully gathered out of the most faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and now newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singular profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times past bene brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherentes: faithfully gathered out of the moste faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and nowe newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singuler profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.
London: printed by John Day, 1563London: printed by Iohn Day, 1563
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
All councils. whether they be private or public, national or general, ought to give place to the word of God, which is a lantern to our feet, and a light to our pathways.1 We ought to believe no man, saith, Saint Hierome, without the word of God. Gersō feareth not to say, that we ought more to believe a man that is well learned in the holy scripture,2 & bringeth forth the Catholic authority, than a general council. The council hath no authority for to stablish any thing contrary to the word of God. For it is not truth, but error, whatsoever is determined against the scripture. And we ought not to take heed unto the trifles & fond imaginations of men, but to the doctrine of the holy ghost.3 Abbot Panormi•anus that great Lawyer saith also: More faith is to be given even to a lay man, that allegeth & bringeth forth the scripture, than to an whole council. Again, In matters concerning faith: the saying of one private person ought to be preferred before the Popes saying, if he can bring forth better authority of the new & old Testament, than the pope can. That is the doctrine of the holy ghost,4 saith, s. Hierome, which is set forth in the Canonical scriptures: against the which doctrine if the councils enact any thing judge it wicked & unlawful. All good men even from the beginning have attributed such & so great authority to the word of God, that they have preferred that before the writings & counsels of all men without exception, although ⟨image 17⟩never so wise, never so Godly. The councils therefore of men ought to be unto the adversaries no cloak or shadow of their disobedient obstinacy, & obstinate disobedience, to pluck them away from the truth of Gods word.
All councels. whether they be priuate or publique, nationall or generall, ought to geue place to the word of God, which is a lanterne to our feete, and a light to our pathwayes.1