Theophilus. Jesus Christ hath not fore spoken without 1cause, that if it were possible, the very elect should boo seduced and deceived by the false Prophets & false Christs. Wherefore we ought not to marvel although Saint August•n, and such as he was, have sometime been overcome. ⟨image 204⟩But for us we ought rather to be more confirmed in the doctrine of the Gospel, seeing it fulfilled before ou• eyes, & we ought well to learn by the example of others, to walk in the fear of God, without straying or wandering any thing after our opinions and fantasies. For if already from the time of the Apostles, Antichrist did begin his reign and work his secret of iniquity, we must […] doubt, but that he was much advanced in the time of Saint Augustin. And the Apostle calleth not without cause, his work and business the mystery of iniquity. For 2he hath proceeded and gone forward so secretly, craftily and subtly, that the most holyest and best learned, have been overcome. use hath of a long time hatched his Cockatrice, and Basilisk's eggs, before he could be perceived, and hath practised his matters so subtly under the earth, that scant one could know, to what end he tendeth, until such time as he hath ended and finished his work, and that Jesus Christ, by his Gospel, hath opened and revealed it to his elect: as we do see by experience, at this 3present time: And as I trust, shall do yet more hereafter. Wherefore we knowing into what inconveniences our fathers are fallen into, yea the wisest and most perfect in attributing to much to the authority of men and to their opinions and traditions. Let us take heed, to affirm and 4propound unto the christians, as an article of faith, and doctrine necessary to salvation, any thing, of which we have no certain witness by the holy scripture, & of which by them we are not clearly resolved. For that cometh through to great temerity and presumption, the which God will not leave unpunished. But which is more, although the thing should be very true, and so as it hath been preached unto us, yet nevertheless, sith that the word of God doth not make any express mention of it nor doth clearly show forth, of which we can draw any certain consequence, and of which we have no commandment of GOD, we may safely be ignorant of it, without danger of our salvation.
Theophilus. Iesus Christ hath not fore spoken without 1cause, that if it were possible, the very elect shoulde boe seduced and deceiued by the false Prophets & false Christs. Wherefore wee ought not to meruaile although Sainct August•n, and such as he was, haue sometime bene ouercome. ⟨image 204⟩But for vs we ought rather to be more confirmed in the doctrine of the Gospell, seeing it fulfilled before ou• eyes, & we ought well to learne by the example of others, to walke in the feare of God, without straying or wandring any thing after our opinions and fantasies. For if already from the time of the Apesties, Antechrist did bée•in his raigne and worke his secret of iniquitie, we muste 〈…〉 doubt, but that he was muche aduanced in the time of Sainct Augustin. And the Apostle calleth not without cause, his worke and busines the mistery of iniquity. For 2he hath proceeded and gone forwarde so secretly, craftely and subtilly, that the most holyest and best learned, haue bene ouercome. vse hath of a long time hatched his Cockatrice, and Basilikes eggs, before hee could bee perceiued, and hath practised his matters so subtilly vnder the earth, that scant one could know, to what ende he tendeth, vntill such time as he hath ended and finished his worke, and that Iesus Christ, by his Gospel, hath opened and reuealed it to his electe: as wée doe sée by experience, at this 3present time: And as I trust, shal doe yet more hereafter. Wherefore we knowing into what inconueniences our fathers are fallen into, yea the wisest and moste persect in attributing to much to the authoritie of men and to their opinions and traditions. Let vs take heede, to affirme and 4propound vnto the christians, as an article of faith, and doctrine necessary to saluation, any thing, of whiche wee haue no certeine witnes by the holy scripture, & of which by them wee are not cleerely resolued. For that commeth thorow to greate temeritie and presumption, the which God will not leaue vnpunished. But whiche is more, although the thing shoulde be very true, and so as it hath bene preached vnto vs, yet neuerthelesse, sith that the worde of God doth not make anye expresse mention of it nor doth cléerely shew forth, of whiche wee can drawe anye certeine consequence, and of whiche wée haue no commaundement of GOD, wee maye safelye bée ignoraunt of it, without daunger of our saluation.
- 1Mat. 24. b 24. The elect in dańger to b. seduced.
- 2The reign of […] and he working of […] •••. 59. a. 5.The reigne of 〈…〉 and he vvorking of 〈…〉 •••. 59. a. 5.
- 32. Thess. 2. b. 5
- 4Rash determinations & •••• nations.
