Satan's sophistry answered by our Saviour Christ and in divers sermons further manifested /…Satans sophistrie ansuuered by our Sauiour Christ and in diuers sermons further manifested /…

But the Papists cannot by any means yield to this doctrine, for they hold, that that which must interpret the scriptures, must have judicial power and authority to judge of the sense of the scriptures; but they hold the scriptures are but a dumb letter, and therefore are not able to judge of the sense and meaning of the scriptures. Yet for all that▪ ⟨p. 77⟩we see (by the example of our saviour Christ) that the scriptures are of sufficient power to give the sense of the scriptures, to interpret themselves, and to show what is the true sense of the scriptures, though they be dumb. And as we see, that a man may aswell show his mind to his friend by letters and writing, as by word of mouth: even so the Lord God speaks now to his people by the scriptures, as well as he did in old time by his own lively voice from heaven.

But the Papists cannot by any meanes yeeld to this doctrin, for they hold, that that which must interprete the scriptures, must haue iudiciall power and authoritie to iudge of the sense of the scriptures; but they hold the scriptures are but a dumbe letter, and therefore are not able to iudge of the sense ād meaning of the scriptures. Yet for all that▪ ⟨p. 77⟩we see (by the example of our sauior Christ) that the scriptures are of sufficient power to giue the sense of the scriptures, to interprete thēselues, and to shew what is the true sense of the scriptures, though they be dumbe. And as we see, that a mā may aswel shew his mind to his friend by letters and writing, as by word of mouth: euen so the Lord God speakes now to his people by the scriptures, as well as he did in olde time by his owne liuely voice from heauen.

But if the Papists will yet deny the scriptures to have power to judge and determine of the sense of the Scriptures; then would I know, who hath this power given unto him? They answer, the church must give judgement, and determine of the sense of the scriptures: but that is false, for the Lord hath not given any such power to the Church, to determine of the sense of the scriptures at her pleasure, but only he hath given to the ministry of the word, to open and expound the scriptures by the scriptures themselves. As a Lawyer hath not that power to judge of the law of his Prince, and to give what sense he listeth, but only to expound the law, and to give the sense of it by the words of the law, and other circumstances concerning the same.