Wherefore when this word of God 1is preached in the Church by preachers lawfully thereto called, we believe, that the very true word of God is taught and received of the faithful, and that we ought not to imagine or to look for from heaven for any other word of God, nor consider the preacher so much, as the word it self, which is preached: For albeit the preacher be evil & sinful, 2yet the word of God remaineth still true and good. Neither do we think, that the outward preaching is therefore to be counted unprofitable, because the true Religion dependeth of the inward lightning of the holy Ghost, or because, it is written, no man shall teach his neighbour. for all men shall know me: he is nothing, which watereth or planteth, but God which giveth the sucrease. For albeit no man come to Christ, except he be drawn of his heavenly father, and illuminated with the holy Ghost, yet we know that God will have his word preached by some outward means also. For he could have fought Cornelius ⟨image 48⟩by his holy spirit or by an Angel, without Peters ministry, yet not withstanding he sent him to Peter, of whom the Angel speaking, sayeth: He shall tell thee what thou must do. For he which inwardly illuminateth by giving his holy spirit to men, commandeth also his Disciples: saying, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, as Paul preached the outward word to Lydia a cellar of purple at Philippi, but inwardly the Lord opened the woman's heart. And the said Paul speaking elegantly by degrees, as it were, Rom. 10. at the length inferreth: Then faith is by hearing, & hearing by the word of God. Howbeit we acknowledge that God can illuminate, whom, & when he will, even without the outward ministry, (such is his omnipotent power) but we speak of the ordinary way showed to us by Gods commandment, and declared by examples. We detest therefore the Heresies of Artemon, of the Manichees, of 3the Valentinians, of Cerdo, and the ⟨p. 6⟩Marcionites, who either denied the Scriptures to be of the holy Ghost, or else disallowed some part thereof, or man gled and corrupted them. Not withstanding we plainly affirm, that certain books of the old Testament are called of some ancient writers, Apocrypha, 4of other Ecclesiastical, because they would have them Read in the Church:
Wherfore when this woorde of God 1is preached in the Church by preachers lawfully therto called, we beleue, that the very true woorde of God is taught and receaued of the faithfull, and that we ought not to imagine or to looke for frō heauē for any other woorde of God, nor consider the preacher so muche, as the woorde it selfe, whiche is preached: For albeit the preacher be euell & sinfull, 2yet the woorde of God remayneth still true and good. Neither doo we thinke, that the outwarde preachinge is therefore to be compted vnprofitable, because the true Religion dependeth of the inwarde lightninge of the holy Ghost, or bicause, it is written, no man shall teache his neighbour. for all men shall knowe me: he is nothinge, whiche watereth or planteth, but God which geueth the sucrease. For albeit no man come to Christe, excepte he be drawen of his heauenly father, and illuminated with the holy Ghoste, yet we know that God wil haue his woord preached by some outwarde meanes also. For he could haue faught Cornelius ⟨image 48⟩by his holy spirite or by an Angel, without Peters ministerie, yet not withstanding he sent him to Peter, of whome the Angell speakinge, sayeth: He shall tell thée what thou muste doo. For he whiche inwardly illuminateth by geuinge his holy spirite to men, cō maundeth also his Disciples: sayinge, Goe ye into all the world and preache the Gospel to euery creature, as Paule preached the outward woorde to Lydia a sellar of purple at Philipie, but inwardly the Lorde opened the womans harte. And the saide Paule speakinge elegantly by degreese, as it were, Rom. 10. at the length inferreth: Then faith is by hearinge, & hearinge by the woorde of God. Howbeit we acknowledge that God can illuminate, whom, & when he will, euen without the outwarde ministerie, (suche is his omnipotent power) but we speake of the ordinary waye showed to vs by Gods commaundement, and declared by examples. We detest therefore the Heresies of Artemon, of the Maniches, of 3the Valentinians, of Cerdo, and the ⟨p. 6⟩Marcyonites, who eyther denied the Scriptures to be of the holy Ghoste, or els disalowed some part therof, or mā gled and corrupted them. Not withstanding we plainely affirme, that certaine bookes of the old Testament are called of some anncient writers, Apocrypha, 4
- 1The preach ing of Goddes voorde, is the word of God.The preach ynge of Goddes voorde, is the vvorde of God.
- 2The preachers sin maketh not Gods word the worse. The inward working of the holy ghost disannulleth not the outward preaching. Jer. 31. 1. Cor. 3. Joan. 6.The preachers sinne maketh not Gods vvorde the vvorse. The invvard vvorkinge of the holye ghost disanulleth not the outvvarde preachyng. Ier. 31. 1. Cor. 3. Ioan. 6.
- 3Heresies.
- 4Apocrypha.
