Yet do I not dispraise the writings 1of the Doctors and their interpretations, seeing that he that hath ordained pastors and doctors to the edification of the body, hath Authorised them both by word and by writings to interpret the same: but I declare how far we must stick unto them, even so far as they do bring nothing of their own, no not at that time when as the controversy is of the sense and interpretation of any place of Scripture, but that they by the Scriptures do interpret the Scriptures, according to the proportion of Faith: the which who so doth, whether he be new or old, a Private person or Public officer in the Church, whether he come alone or with many, whether he be an old man or a young man, ⟨image 33⟩let him be heard. For though order 2must needs be kept in the Church of God, yet are no men so far deceived, as they that do bind the grace of the holy ghost, to certain places and persons. For who murdered the Prophets? Who crucified Christ? They undoubtedly, that should have been the chief pillars of true religion. Therefore doeth not the Prophet, send the people of God, to those godless Priests, but to the Law and the Prophets. Neither assuredly hath the condition of the Church, a long while been any otherwise, whiles the corner stone hath been reproved, by the very chief builders, and Antichrist hath sitten in the temple and place of God him self. What shall we now conclude? Verily, that by the word of God, all controversies must be ended: and that it is necessary, that the false and forged 3word, be judged from the true, like as also the true church, from the false and adulterous: and the Synods and councils, governed by the holy ghost, from those wherein Satan was president: ⟨image 34⟩Finally, the truth from lies and errors, by Gods holy word. For we must believe, that in things concerning our salvation, we have no 4where else the truth revealed. The which things being true, if followeth that that thing is most certain, which I said in the beginning, most noble Prince, to be the original, whence all these evils did flow, wherewith in our fathers days, the church was almost oppressed, and therefore that this only is the way and mean, to raise it up again, if by the pure word of God, these controversies may be decided.
Yet doo I not disprayse the writings 1of the Doctors and their interpretations, seinge that he that hath ordeined pastors and doctors to the edificatiō of the bodie, hath Authorised them bothe by woorde and by writinges to interpretate the same: but I declare howe farre we must sticke vnto them, euen so farre as they doo bringe nothinge of their owne, no not at yt time when as the controuersie is of the sence and interpretatiō of any place of Scripture, but that they by the Scriptures doo interpretate the Scriptures, accordinge to the proportion of Faithe: the whiche who so dothe, whether he be newe or olde, a Priuate person or Publike officer in the Churche, whether he come alone or with many, whether he be an olde man or a yong man, ⟨image 33⟩let hym bee heard. For though order 2must nedes be kepte in the Churche of God, yet are no men so farre deceiued, as thei that dooe binde the grace of the holie ghost, to certaine places and persones. For who murdered the Prophetes? Who crucified Christe? Thei vndoubtedlie, that should haue been the chief pillers of true religion. Therfore doeth not the Prophete, sende the people of God, to those godlesse Priestes, but to the Lawe and the Prophettes. Neither assuredlie hath the condicion of the Churche, a long while béen any otherwaies, whiles the corner stone hath been reproued, by the verie chiefe builders, and Antichrist hath sitten in the temple and place of God hym self. What shall we now conclude? Verelie, that by the woorde of God, all controuersies muste bee ended: and that it is necessarie, that the false and forged 3woorde, bee iudged from the true, like as also the true churche, from the false and adulterous: and the Synodes and coūcelles, gouerned by the holie ghost, from those wherein Sathan was presidente: ⟨image 34⟩Finallie, the truthe from lyes and errours, by Gods holie woorde. For we muste beleue, that in thynges concernyng our saluaciō, we haue no 4where els the truthe reueiled. The whiche thynges beyng true, if followeth that that thyng is moste certain, whiche I said in the beginning, moste noble Prince, to bee the originalle, whence all these euils did flowe, wherwith in our fathers daies, the churche was almoste oppressed, and therefore that this onelie is the waie and mean, to raise it vp again, if by the pure word of God, these controuersies maie bee decided.
- 1Doctors allowed of God.Doctors allovved of God.
- 2Order is necessary, but not so that we bind Gods grace to person & place, but measure all by the rule of gods wordOrder is necessary, but not so that we binde Gods grace to persone & place, but measure all by the rule of gods word
- 3The word of God end of all controversies.The worde of God ende of all controuersies.
- 4The want of the word the original of all errors.The want of the word the original of all errours.
