Theophilus. Thou hast said it, by other words. Whereby thou doest not perceive thy self. For when 1thou saidest, that the holy Scripture taketh his authority of the church, thou sayest that men do give light and clearness unto the Sun. For as David doth witness, the word of the Lord is pure & clear, that is the light which giveth 2light unto the eyes, & giveth wisdom unto babes. It is then certain and true, not because the Church judgeth it such, but it judgeth it such because that it is so, and cannot judge of it otherwise, no more then he which hath clear eyes can judge of the light of the Sun, of which the blind person is not capable. Wherefore he cannot judge, no more then the Infidels and reprobate can judge of the word of God, nor allow it. Then thou mayst by this understand, that the certainty, verity and firmness doth not depend upon mans opinion and judgement, but upon the holy Ghost, and of the proper force virtue and effects by which it doth verify it self, and compelleth the faithful hearts to allow and receive it as the light of the Sun doth the eyes. ⟨image 224⟩For the sheep do hear and understand the shepeartes voice, but not that of the strangers. And all that that the Prophets have foreshowed and taught, the Apostles in like manner, have been verified and authorised by the virtue of him which hath spoken in them, insomuch that all the world cannot resist it. Now we cannot say she like of the books of the Maccabees, chiefly of the second. First, for that it is not found in the Hebrew, and that the stile of the same witnesseth 3clearly, that it was first made in Greek, and was not translated from the Hebrew tongue into the Greek tongue. We may take it for a certain rule, that it hath not belfe written by any Prophet, or man worthy to be accounted for such a one. For the Prophets have written in their proper language, to wit, Hebrew, or in the language of the 4Chaldees, sithence the time of the captivity of Babylon. Furthermore, it is easy to know, that that book hath been written long time after the return of the people of Israel into Jerusalem, and the age of Esdras, Nehemiah, 5Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi, sithence which, we do not read, that the people of God have had any Prophet that hath written any thing: nor other books, of a certain and authentic author. Wherefore by.
Theophilus. Thou hast sayd it, by other wordes. Whereby thou doest not perceiue thy selfe. For when 1thou saydest, that the holy Scripture taketh hys authoritie of the church, thou sayest that men do giue lyght and cléerenesse vnto the Sun. For as Dauid doth wytnesse, the word of the Lord is pure & cléere, that is ye light which giueth 2light vnto the eyes, & giueth wisdome vnto babes. It is then certeyne and true, not bycause the Church iudgeth it such, but it iudgeth it such bicause that it is so, and cannot iudge of it otherwyse, no more then he which hath cléere eyes can iudge of the lyght of the Sunne, of whiche the blinde person is not capable. Wherefore hée cannot iudge, no more then the Infidells and reprohate can iudge of the woorde of God, nor allowe it. Then thou mayst by this vnderstand, that the certeynetye, veritie and firmenesse doth not depende vppon mans opinion and iudgement, but vppon the holy Ghost, and of the proper force vertue and effectes by which it doth verifie it selfe, and compelleth the faythfull heartes to allow and receiue it as the lyght of the Sunne doth the eies. ⟨image 224⟩For the sheepe doe heare and vnderstand the shepeartes voyce, but not that of the straungers. And all that that the Prophetes haue forshewed and taught, the Apostles in lyke manner, haue bene verified and authorysed by the vertue of him which hath spoken in them, insomuch that all the worlde cannot resist it. Nowe wée cannot saye she lyke of the bookes of the Machabees, chiefely of the seconde. First, for that it is not founde in the Hebrewe, and that the stile of the same witnesseth 3cléerely, that it was first made in Greeke, and was not translated frō the Hebrew tongue into the Greeke tongue. We may take it for a certeyne rule, that it hath not belfe written by any Prophet, or man worthy to bee accompted for such a one. For the Prophets haue wrytten in their proper language, to wit, Hebrew, or in the language of the 4Chaldees, sithence the time of the captinite of Babilon. Furthermore, it is easye to knowe, that that booke hath bene written longe time after the retourne of the people of Israell into Hierusalem, and the age of Esdras, Nehemias, 5Aggeus, Zachary & Malachy, sithence which, wée do not read, that the people of God haue had any Prophet that hath written any thing: nor other bookes, of a certeyne and autenticke authour. Wherefore by.
- 1The authority of the scriptureThe authoritie of the scripture
- 2Psa. 19 c 9
- 3The second books of the Maccabees.The seconde bookes of the Machabees.
- 4The sangnage of the Prophets
- 5The last Prophets.
