An answer to a certain book, writtenAn answere to a certeine booke, written

But what speak I of Caietane disallowing certain books, and parcels of divine scripture, whereas Hosius another Cardinal, and one chief founder of all your late sophistications, hath written most dishonourably, and vilely of the whole scripture? for thus he saith: Scriptura quomodo profertur á Catholicis, est verbum Dei: quomodo profertur ab haereticis, ¹est verbum diaboli: that is, The scripture, as it is brought forth by the Catholics, is the word of god: as it is brought forth by the Heretics, is the word of the devil. So that by this notable Cardinals judgement, if a Protestant, that is in their language ⟨p. 15⟩and meaning, an heretic, shall allege for proof of Christs eternal divinity the beginning of the Gospel written by Saint John, this scripture shall now become of Gods word, as it is, and always shall be, the word of the devil, because it is used by such as they account and call heretics. O blasphemous hand and tongue! And can you prove this Master Rainolds? can the word of God be made the word of Satan? It will not stand with your honesty to maintain it. Gods word, by whom-soever it be uttered, though by the devil him-self, is not the word of the devil. God is immutable, so is his word. Then hath Hosius blasphemed, in calling Gods word the devils word: which you ought to consider, who think you have found somewhat against the Protestants, when you show what Luther hath written in some disgrace of Saint James Epistle. I can further put you in remembrance, what others of your side have taught and maintained to the great slander and derogation of the Scriptures, and that not in one word or two, but in earnest and long discourses.² What doth Pighius labour to persuade in one whole Chapter, & often ⟨p. 16⟩in other places by occasion, but only that the Scriptures have all their credit & authority from the Church, as though they had not any of them selves, & from the lord, by whose spirit they were written. For thus he saith, All authority of Scripture among us dependeth necessarily upon the authority of the Church: ³for we could not otherwise believe them, but because we believe the Church giving testimony unto them. And again, The primitive Church hath made certain proof unto us, that the writings of all the Evangelists are of canonical trueth, and not the Evangelists themselves, that were the writers. And against SS.