For these causes therefore doth the whole ancient Church with great consent submit it self unto the rule of ⟨p. 32⟩the sacred Scriptures: whose authority yet ought of right to be somewhat greater than these men, who both in words and deeds fight against this opinion. Basil in his Sermon of the confession of saith, sayeth: that it is a falling from the faith, and a fault of pride, either not to admit those things which are written in the holy Scriptures, or to add any thing to them. And August. in his third Epistle: For neither ought we to account of every ones discourses, though they be catholic and worthy men, as of the canonical scriptures, that it may not be lawful for us, without impairing the reverence, which we owe to those men, to dislike and refuse any thing in their writings, if peradventure we shall find that they have thought otherwise than the Scripture hath, as it is by Gods assistance understood either of others, or of our selves. And Epist. 112. If ought be confirmed by the plain authority of the divine Scriptures, of those, which are called in the Church canonical, we must without any doubting believe it: as for other testimonies, by which any thing is moved to be believed, thou mayest choose whether thou wilt believe them or no. But against these testimonies of the Scriptures & the ancient church the adversaries of the truth contend, that besides the doctrine, which is comprised in the holy Bible, other decrees also, made by the authority of the Church, are no less unchangeable, and necessary to salvation, then the oracles Prophetical and Apostolic.1 And that they may not without some show and pretence take upon them this authority of decreeing what Objection. 1 they list, besides and contrary unto the Scripture: they allege places of Scripture,2 in which some writings of the Prophets and Apostles are mentioned: which are not come to our hands: as Num. 21. is named the Book of the wars of the Lord. Jos. 10. The Book of the just. And often in the books of Kings, The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. In the Epistle catholic of Jude, are alleged, the prophecy of Enoch, and the story of the body of Moses: And lastly the Apostle Paul, 1. Cor. 5. and Eph. 3. maketh mention of his Epistles, which now the Church hath not.
For these causes therefore doth the whole auncient Church with great consent submit it selfe vnto the rule of ⟨p. 32⟩the sacred Scriptures: whose autoritie yet ought of right to bee somewhat greater than these men, who both in woords and deedes fight against this opinion. Basil in his Sermon of the confession of saith, saieth: that it is a falling from the faith, and a fault of pride, either not to admit those thinges which are writtē in the holie Scriptures, or to add any thing to them. And August. in his third Epistle: For neither ought wee to account of euery ones discourses, though they bee catholick and woorthy men, as of the canonical scriptures, that it may not bee lawfull for vs, without impairing the reuerence, which wee owe to those men, to dislike and refuse any thing in their writinges, if peraduenture we shal find that they haue thought otherwise thē the Scripture hath, as it is by Gods assistāce vnderstood either of others, or of our selues. And Epist. 112. If ought be confirmed by the plain autoritie of the diuine Scriptures, of those, which are called in the Church canonical, wee must without any doubting beleeue it: as for other testimonies, by which any thing is mooued to bee beleeued, thou maist chuse whether thou wilt beleeue thē or no. But against these testimonies of the Scriptures & the auncient church the aduersaries of the truth contend, that besides the doctrine, which is comprised in the holy Bible, other decrees also, made by the autoritie of the Church, are no lesse vnchangeable, and necessarie to saluation, then the oracles Propheticall and Apostolick.1 And that they may not without some shew and pretence take vpon them this autority of decreeing what Obiection. 1 they list, besides and contrary vnto the Scripture: they alleage places of Scripture,2 in which some writinges of the Prophets and Apostles are mentioned: which are not come to our handes: as Num. 21. is named the Book of the warres of the Lord. Ios. 10. The Booke of the iust. And often in the books of Kings, The Booke of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iuda. In the Epistle catholicke of Iude, are alleaged, the prophecie of Enoch, and the storie of the bodie of Moses: And lastly the Apostle Paul, 1. Cor. 5. and Eph. 3. maketh mention of his Epistles, which now the Church hath not.
- 1Objections of the Papists.Obiections of the Papistes.
- 2The scripture doth not remain perfect.The scripture doth not remaine perfect.
