Gods arrow against atheists. By Henry SmithGods arrovve against atheists. By Henrie Smith

Secondly, Another erroneous position, whereby they are miserably deceived is this: They hold the Church cannot err:¹ And therefore suppose because ⟨image 41⟩the Church of Rome was once the true Church of God, therefore it is so now and evermore. As though there might not be an Apostasy in the Church, which Saint Paul affirmeth there should. Or as though a particular Church (for the Church of Rome is but a particular Church) could not err? Yea, as though general Counsels (which represent the whole Church) could not err? for so they affirm, but how truly let the world judge. And if it may be showed that general Counsels have erred, or may err, then they yield their cause in this behalf. I wish they would for their own sakes: for false Jesuits & Seminaries do but deceive themselves & others to their own confusion in this world, and except they repent in the world to come. That general Counsels may err, is manifest by Augustine, who plainly teacheth that only the Scriptures cannot err, all other writers may err, Provincial Counsels may err, lastly, he saith, Concilia quae fiunt ex universo orbe Christiano, ²priora posterioribus sape emendari; cum aliquo experimento rerum aperitur quod clausum erat, & cognoscitur quod latebat: That general Councils which are gathered of all the Christian world, are often corrected, the former by the latter, when by any trial of things, that is opened which was shut, and that is known which was hidden. A general Council may be corrected (saith Augustine) Ergo, it may err. And therefore Augustine speaketh plainly to Maximinian the Bishop of the Arians,³ Neither ought I to allege the Council of Nice, nor thou the Council of Arrimine, to take advantage thereby; for neither am I bound, nor held by the authority of this, nor thou of that; Set matter with matter, cause with cause, or reason with reason, try the matter by ⟨image 42⟩the authority of Scriptures, not proper witnesses to any of us, but indifferent witnesses to us both.

Secondly, Another erronious position, whereby they are miserably deceaued is this: They hold the Church cannot erre: