Joiada. Seeing therefore, that it is all one, and both the same spirit, that Paul speaketh of here, and that which speaketh in the ⟨image 41⟩scriptures, have I not proved, that Paul, by a spiritual man did not understand him, which boasteth, I can not tell, what spirit, despising in the mean season the scriptures, but such a spiritual man, as is and will be ruled and governed by the holy ghost, that way, that he showeth and expresseth him self, in the holy scriptures? He therefore that striveth against the holy scripture and inspiration of the holy ghost, can not be that spiritual man, whom Paul doeth speak of. Now, if he be not spiritual, he can not judge, but he must be judged. The Anabaptists therefore can judge nothing, but ought to be judged and tried, by the word of god. Hath not here the spirit of the Anabaptists lost both his win ⟨image 41⟩ges? But I do remember other ii. places, which do utterly stop the mouths of the Catababtistes. The first is, in the .x. chapter of the Acts, touching Cornelius the centurion, which although he was elected by god, yet not withstanding, being so taught by the angel, did send messengers, to fetch Peter, that he might hear by him, the preaching of our saviour Jesus christ. If that, the spirit should disannul and abolish the scriptures, it should follow, that this outward preaching and such like things, were done in vain. The other is in the .xvi. chapter, concerning the Thessalonians, which after that they had hard the preaching of Paul, did daily seek and search the scriptures, to know, whether Paul did ⟨image 42⟩teach true or not. Which thing, they would not have done, if the spirits should not be tried by the scriptures wherefore what so ever the Anabaptists do teach concerning this thing, is false and erroneous, and not unlike unto the error of Montanus.
Ioiada. Seyng therfore, that it is all one, and bothe the same spirite, that Paule speaketh of here, and that whiche speaketh in the ⟨image 41⟩scriptures, haue I not proued, that Paule, by a spirituall man did not vnderstond hym, which boasteth, I can not tell, what spirite, despisyng in the meane season the scriptures, but suche a spirituall man, as is and will be ruled and gouerned by the holy ghost, that waie, that he sheweth and expresseth hym selfe, in the holy scriptures? He therfore that striueth againste the holy scripture and inspiracyon of the holy ghost, can not bee that spirituall man, whome Paule doeth speke of. Now, if he be not spirituall, he can not iudge, but he muste be iudged. The Anababtistes therfore can iudge nothyng, but ought to bee iudged and tryed, by the worde of god. Hathe not here the spirite of the Anababtistes lost bothe his win ⟨image 41⟩ges? But I do remembre other ii. places, whiche dooe vtterly stoppe the mouthes of the Catababtistes. The first is, in the .x. chapiter of the Actes, touchyng Cornelius the centurion, which although he was elected by god, yet not withstandyng, beyng so tawght by the angell, did sende messangers, to fetche Peter, yt he migh heare by hym, the preachīg of our sauiour Iesu christ. If that, the spirite should disanulle and abolisshe the scriptures, it shulde folow, yt this outwarde preachyng and such like thinges, wer done in vaine. The other is in the .xvi. chapiter, concernyng the Thessaloniens, whiche after that thei had harde the preachyng of Paule, dyd daily seke and serche the scriptures, to knowe, wheather Paule dyd ⟨image 42⟩teache true or not. Which thing, thei wolde not haue done, if the spirites shoulde not be tried by the scriptures wherefore what so euer the Anababtistes dooe teache concernyng this thynge, is false and erroneous, and not vnlike vnto the errour of Montanus.
