A defence of the judgment of the Reformed churches. That a man may lawfully…A defence of the iudgment of the Reformed churches. That a man may lawfullie…

This wholesome and judicious Counsel of S, Augustin if our adversaries had been as careful to follow, as they are willing to show they follow him in these things which he hath written less advisedly: they would not have alleged and urged the places of Scripture, which they do against the point of doctrine hitherto proved out of the nineteenth chapter of S. Matthew. For Christ in that place doth open the matter and decide the question most plainly and fully: of purpose answering the Pharisees. In others, either it is not handled of purpose, incidentally touched; or in generality set down more briefly, and soe more darkly and obscurely. Wherefore if any of the other places had seemed unto them to raise up a scruple, and show of some repugnancy: they should have taken pains to explain and level it by that in S. Matthew the darker by the clearer, the briefer by the larger, the uncertain and ambiguous by the undoubted and certain. But seeing they have chosen to follow S. Austins oversights rather than his best advises in like sort as^b Furius, an orator of Rome did imitate Fimbria whose force of speech and arguments he attained not to, but pronounced ⟨p. 20⟩broadly and set his mouth awry like him: we must say of them as Christ of the Pharisees^c Let them alone, they are blind leaders of the blind: and ourselves endeavour to follow S. Augustin in that he followed Christ, who cleared^d the darker place of Moses by^e the plainer word and ordinance of God. The which if we do, we shall (by Gods grace) easily perceive, that none of all the places alleged by our adversaries, doth make against the doctrine already proved and concluded.

This wholsome and iudicious Counsaile of S, Augustin if our adversaries had bene as carefull to follow, as they are willing to shew they follow him in these things which he hath written lesse advisedly: they would not have alleaged and vrged the places of Scripture, which they doe agaynst the poynt of doctrine hith•rto prooved out of the niententh chapter of S. Mathew. For Christ in that place doth open the matter and decide the question most plainly and fully: of purpose answering the Pharises. In others, either it is not handled of purpose, incidently touchd; or in genrallity sett downe more briefly, and soe more darkly and obsurely. Wherefore if any of the other places had seemed vnto them to rayse vp a scruple, and shew of some repugnancie: they should have taken paynes to explayne and levell it by that in S. Mathew the darker by the clearer, the brieffer by the largr, the vncertaine and ambiguous by the vndoubted and certayne. But seeing they have chosen to follow S. Austins oversights rather thē his best advises in like sorte as