A15061:472
An answer to a certain book, writtenAn answere to a certeine booke, written
An answer to a certain book, written by Master William Rainolds student of divinity in the English college at Rhemes, and entitled, A refutation of sundry reprehensions, cavils, etc. by William Whitaker ...An answere to a certeine booke, written by Maister William Rainolds student of diuinitie in the English colledge at Rhemes, and entituled, A refutation of sundrie reprehensions, cauils, etc. by William Whitaker ...
Printed at London : For Thomas Chard, 1585
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Saint Lukes preface before his gospel cannot by any means excuse the second book of Maccabees from being Apocryphal, ⟨p. 393⟩wherein the Author craveth pardon for his so slender writing of that history. There is no likeness of comparison at all between the Evangelists endeavour to learn and write the certain truth, and that authors confession of his infirmity and imperfection in writing his book. One thing it is to enquire the truth with all diligence, and so having found the same to set it forth in writing most exactly: an other having written a book, to desire the readers favour and forgiveness, in respect of the writers simplicity and unskilfulness. The first detracteth nothing from the wisdom & majesty of Gods spirit, to search the truth by all such means, as by which the same may be learned: the other argueth a conscience & acknowledgement of wants in writing, which cannot be applied to the holy Ghost, who whatsoever he taketh in hand, most wisely and excellently performeth the same. Doth Saint Luke any where excuse his want of utterance, his rude, slender, and unlearned manner of writing? Nothing less: nay he protesteth in the same preface that he hath attained to the exact knowledge of every thing, and that he writeth a most ⟨p. 394⟩certain and undoubted trueth: so far of is he from craving pardon of any man, which the simple writer of that book of Maccabees, in regard of his own weakness and unhabilitie, thought it expedient for him to do. Your places out of the Apostle are frivolous, bewraying your gross ignorance. S. Paul saith, that in some part he had written boldly to the Romans. 1What then? did he therefore crave pardon for his so bold writing unto them? Doth he not show immediately the cause of this boldness to be, for that he was a minister of Jesus Christ among the gentiles? That he faith he was conversant among the Corinthians in weakness, in fear, and trembling, 2what concerneth this the writings that he published to the Church? The greatness of the Lords work in hand made him to tremble, but for his writings he feared not the judgement of man, nor ever submitted them to mans discretion. That he desireth them to bear with his folly, &c.