The combat between Christ and the Devil displayedThe combat betvveene Christ and the Diuell displayed

The Church of Rome cannot away with this, that Scripture should be sufficient to expound it self. And therefore against it they reason thus: That which must expound Scripture, must have judicial power to determine of the sense thereof: but the scriptures have no such ludiciall power; for they are but a dumb letter, and therefore no sufficient judge to determine of their own sense and meaning. Answ. The Scriptures have judicial power to determine of their own true sense and meaning, for they speak evidently, to all that are enlightened by Gods spirit, and thereby made able to know what the Scripture saith: we know a man may speak to his friend not only by word of mouth but also by letter, and thereby express his meaning sufficiently; even so, though God speak not now unto his Church by created voice, yet by his written word he speaks sufficiently for the clear manifestation of his will and pleasure concerning them; and therefore it is a shameful slander and blasphemy against the Scriptures to call them an inky letter and dumb judge. And let them show, if the Scripture be not, where is that speaking judge who hath power judicial to expound the scripture. Indeed their answer is, that the Church is this Judge, and that we must consult at her mouth for the true meaning of the Scripture. Answ. The church hath a ministry and dispensation committed unto her, in the execution whereof she delivereth the meaning of the Scripture unto Gods people, but that is not from any judicial authority committed unto her, to determine of the sense of Scripture of her self; but only by comparing scripture with scripture, and expounding one place out of another; even as the Lawyer gives the sense of the law, not from any judicial power given unto him above the law, but by observing the words with the scope and circumstances of the law. But here I would know, if the Church must needs be judge, by what means must she determine? They answer, by the rule of faith; the consent of Councils and Fathers; and if these fail, then by the Pope; Answ. By their rule ⟨p. 33⟩of faith, they understand, unwritten traditions, that is, such truth beside Scripture, as hath been kept by tradition from hand to hand since the primitive Church. But these are mere forgeries, and shame it were to subject the truth of God to the device of man;

The Church of Rome cannot away with this, that Scripture should be sufficient to expound it selfe. And therefore against it they reason thus: That which must expound Scripture, must haue iudiciall power to determine of the sense thereof: but the scriptures haue no such ludiciall power; for they are but a dumb letter, and therfore no sufficient iudge to determine of their owne sense and meaning. Answ. The Scriptures haue iudiciall power to determine of their owne true sense and meaning, for they speake euidently, to all that are inlightned by Gods spirit, and therby made able to know what the Scripture saith: wee know a man may speake to his friend not only by word of mouth but also by letter, and thereby expresse his meaning sufficiently; euen so, though God speake not now vnto his Church by created voice, yet by his written word he speakes sufficiently for the cleare manifestation of his will and pleasure concerning them; and therefore it is a shamefull slander and blasphemy against the Scriptures to call them an inkie letter and dumbe iudge. And let them shew, if the Scripture be not, where is that speaking iudge who hath power iudiciall to expound the scripture. Indeed their answer is, that the Church is this Iudge, and that we must consult at her mouth for the true meaning of the Scripture. Answ. The church hath a ministery and dispensation committed vnto her, in the execution whereof she deliuereth the meaning of the Scripture vnto Gods people, but that is not from any iudiciall authority committed vnto her, to determine of the sense of Scripture of her selfe; but onely by comparing scripture with scripture, and expounding one place out of another; euen as the Lawyer giues the sense of the law, not from any iudicial power giuen vnto him aboue the law, but by obseruing the words with the scope and circumstances of the law. But heere I would know, if the Church must needs bee iudge, by what meanes must she determine? They answer, by the rule of faith; the consent of Councels and Fathers; and if these faile, then by the Pope; Answ. By their rule