Joiada. To the words of Paul I answer thus: That Paul speaketh there of the law, which ⟨image 34⟩killeth us, as he doeth declare more apertly in the .vii. chap. to the Romans. And by the spirit, he understandeth faith, and the consolation or comfort of the gospel. That, it is so, the text of the whole chapter doeth testify. Therefore this place helpeth nothing your error. For when we speak of the word of god we do not understand the bare and dead letter, or void sound of it. but the word well and truly understood, and as it is, in very deed.
And as, for that, that Christ doeth promise a spirit unto his disciples, teaching them all things, we do admit and believe it. But that spirit can not be contrary to Christ, nor teacheth any other ⟨image 35⟩thing, than Christ hath taught Therefore doeth he add, by and by: teaching you, what so ever, I have said unto you. What do, these things pertain, to the spirit of the Anabaptists, which teacheth contrary things to the spirit of Christ.
The prophecies of Joel, and Hieremye, are understood of that same spirit, that Christ doeth both promise and give to his disciples, as it is evidently seen, in the second chapter of the Acts, and the eight, to the Hebrews. John, in his epistle, when he speaketh of the unction, doeth plainly expound him self, saying: I have written unto you, that ye be not deceived (or that, ye do not suffer your selves to be brought in to error) which ⟨image 35⟩thing, will then come to pass, if ye do steadfastly abide, in the doctrine of the spirit, which ye have hard at the beginning, and swerve not at all, from it. The holy ghost is the spirit of truth, which can neither lye, nor repugn against him self, being all ways constant, unchangeable, every where, like unto him self.
Now, no man can deny, but that the same everlasting, unchangeable, and holy spirit, hath inspired the holy scriptures in to holy mens hearts and minds. Whereby it followeth necessarily, that the same spirit, which speaketh against the meaning of the spirit, that doeth speak and express him self in the divine scriptures, is not of god, but rather an human ⟨image 36⟩main affection, which, if it be stiff, may be deservingly called, a devilish spirit, as Christ doeth prove against the Ives. John. viii.
Ioiada. To the woordes of Paule I aunsweare thus: That Paul speaketh there of the lawe, whyche ⟨image 34⟩kylleth vs, as he dooeth declare more apertly in the .vii. chap. to the Romains. And by the spirit, he vnderstondeth faith, and the consolacion or comforte of the gospell. That, it is so, the texte of the whole chapter dooeth testifie. Therefore this place helpeth nothyng your errour. For whan we speake of the woorde of god we dooe not vnderstonde the bare and deade letter, or voyde sonnde of it. but the word well and truely vnderstonded, and as it is, in veary dede.
And as, for that, that Chryste dooeth promesse a spyrite vnto his dysciples, teachynge them all thynges, wee dooe admytte and beleue it. But that spyrite can not bee contrarye to Chryste, nor teacheth any other ⟨image 35⟩thyng, than Chryst hath taught Therfore doeth he adde, by and by: teachyng you, what so euer, I haue saied vnto you. What dooe, these thynges perteyne, to the spirite of the Anababtistes, whiche teacheth contrary thynges to the spirite of Christe.
The prophecies of Ioel, and Hieremye, are vnderstonded of that same spirite, that Christe dooeth bothe promesse and geue to his disciples, as it is euidently sene, in the seconde chapiter of the Actes, and the eyght, to the Hebrues. Iohn, in his epistell, whan he speaketh of the vnctyon, dooeth playnely expounde hym selfe, saiynge: I haue written vnto you, that ye bee not deceyued (or that, ye dooe not suffer your selues to be brought in to errour) whyche ⟨image 35⟩thyng, will then come to passe, if ye dooe stedfastely abyde, in the doctrine of the spirite, whiche ye haue harde at the begynnynge, and swarue not at all, from it. The holy ghoste is the spirite of truthe, which canne neither lye, nor repugne against hym selfe, beyng all waies constaunte, vnchaungeable, euery where, lyke vnto hym selfe.
Now, no man can denaye, but that the same euerlastyng, vnchaungeable, and holy spirite, hath inspyred the holy scriptures in to holy mens hertes and myndes. Whereby it foloweth necessarily, that the same spirite, which speaketh agaynste the meanyng of the spirite, that dooeth speake and expresse hym selfe in the diuine scriptures, is not of god, but rather an humaine ⟨image 36⟩mayne affection, whyche, if it bee styffe, maie bee deseruyngly called, a deauelysshe spyryte, as Chryste dooeth proue agaynste the Iues. Iohn. viii.
