Hillarius. A man may easily reply thereon. For according to their doctrine, Purgatory is in the earth. Wherefore, sith hat he is God in earth, he may well have some power. There should be an other reason, if Purgatory were 1between the Moon and the earth, where Plutarch putteth it: except they will say that with the earth they do also compare the air and all the other elements, making the Pope aswell God in the air, water and fire, as in the earth: at the least thou wilt not deny, but that he may well have the keys of hell, for to lead thither the souls: and 2that he is the God of the same, if it be in the centre of the earth, according to the common opinion of his Doctors. But for to come unto the matter, thou which art a Theologian knowest, that there be two manner of ways to 3see and know God. There is a manner to see him before: a•• a manner to see him behind. To see him before, that is to say in his being, glory, and majesty, it is not given unto mortal man. For he shall not be capable of such vision ⟨image 289⟩and knowledge. And therefore he answered unto Moses, who desired to see his glory, that he should not see 4it before, but he would show unto him only his hinder and back parts. I do understand and mean according to that which I have learned of some Theologians, that to see and know the back parts of God, that is to see and know him by his works, by his effects, and in his creatures. For sith that he is incomprehensible unto man in his substance, glory and majesty, the way and manner that he hath given unto man for to know him, is this: to wit, by his word: by his works: by his effects: and his creatures: with which man ought to content himself without enquiring curiously of the nature and essence of God, the which we cannot comprehend. 5For we have no need to enquire what •e is in himself: but what he is towards us: the which he hath manifested unto us chiefly by Jesus Christ his son: by the works that he hath done and made in him & by him, and that he doth always. And the manner of knowledge, after the manner of the speaking 6of the dialecticians & Logicians, may be called A posteriori. I will then prove A posteriori, the deity of the Pope: that is to say, by his works and by his effects.
Hillarius. A man may easely reply thereon. For according to their doctrine, Purgatory is in the earth. Wherefore, sith hat he is God in earth, he may well haue some power. There should be an other reason, if Purgatory were 1betweee the Moone and the earth, where Plutarch putteth it: except they will say that with the earth they doe also compare the ayre and all the other elements, making the Pope aswell God in the ayre, water and fire, as in the earth: at the least thou wilt not deny, but that he may wel haue the keyes of hell, for to leade thether the soules: and 2that he is the God of the same, if it be in the center of the earth, according to the common opinion of his Doctors. But for to come vnto the matter, thou which art a Theologian knowest, that there be two manner of wayes to 3see and know God. There is a manner to sée him before: a•• a manner to see him behinde. To see him before, that is to say in his beeing, glory, and maiestie, it is not giuen vnto mortall man. For he shall not be capable of such vision ⟨image 289⟩and knowledge. And therefore hée aunswered vnto Moses, who desired to see his glory, that he should not sée 4it before, but he would shew vnto him onely his hinder and backe parts. I doe vnderstand and meane according to that which I haue learned of some Theologians, that to see and know the backe partes of God, that is to see and know him by his workes, by his effects, and in his creatures. For sith that he is incomprehensible vnto man in his substaunce, glory and maiestie, the way and manner that he hath giuen vnto man for to know him, is this: to witte, by his word: by his workes: by his effects: and his creatures: with which man ought to content himselfe without enquiring curiously of the nature and essence of God, the which we cannot comprehende. 5For we haue no neede to enquire what •e is in himselfe: but what he is towards vs: the which he hath manifested vnto vs chiefely by Iesus Christ his sonne: by the workes that hée hath done and made in him & by him, and that he doth alwaies. And ye maner of knowledge, after the maner of ye speaking 6
- 1The place of Purgatory. Plut. l•. de fa••• qu• v•situr in Luna•.
- 2The keys of hell.The keyes of hell.
- 3The manners to know God exod. ••. • 23 To see God before & […]The maners to knovv God •xod. ••. • 23 To see God bef•re & 〈…〉
- 4• •o. ••. •. 20
- 5what knowledge of god is necessary for usvvhat knovvledge of god is necessary for vs
- 6Argument A posteriori
