God hath always even1 from the beginning of the world been present with his people and church, governing the same by the ministry of the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, and that through the holy Ghost. For oftentimes God speaketh in the old Testament, saying: Behold I am always with you, I vvill guide and defend you. &c. And in the new Testament our Lord Christ saith: Behold I am with you for ever, until2 the end of the world: And again, I vvill give my spirit unto you, that he may abide with you for ever: And again, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middest of them. But the purpose of3 this Question is to bring the godly and simple into perplexity and doubt. For when they confess, that god governeth his church by his holy spirit, forthwith the popish bishops conclude thereof, that the church neither hath, nor can err: and hereby they suppose, that all other ⟨image 18⟩things are sufficiently proved: to wit, that what soever they under the title and name of the Church shall thrust upon men, are both good and inspired by the holy Ghost. But unto these mates we answer: First, that we do not acknowledge that church whereof they brag, to be the true primitive apostolic church, as hereafter we shall prove. Secondly we d•• not confess, that the4 Church can not altogether, or in all points err. For so long as she is governed by the holy ghost, and only harkeneth unto him, doing nothing but by his motion and word, she neither doth nor can err. But if she swerve at any time from the government of the same spirit, and governeth after her own lust, then truly she not only may, but also doth err. But if any will ask whether the Church may swerve from the direction of Gods spirit? I answer, that it is evident, and may in no wise be denied, that the Church of God here upon this earth often times under Moses, the Judges and the Kings of Israel and Judah hath erred. Yea, and ⟨p. 7⟩that the Disciples of Christ (who yet nevertheless were the church of christ) did err, and had their falls. For who is ignorant what happened to David, Aaron, Peter, and other the holy Saints and Disciples of Christ? Yea, we must note, that the Church is gathered not of Angels, but of men. Wherefore although it be inspired and governed by the spirit, yet it is not thereby turned into the spirit:
GOd hathe alwayes euen1 frō the beginning of the world bene present with his people and churche, gouerning the same by the ministerie of the Patriarkes, Prophetes, and Apostles, and that throughe the holy Ghoste. For oftentimes God speaketh in the old Testament, saying: Beholde I am alvvayes vvith you, I vvill guide and defende you. &c. And in the new Testament our Lord Christ saith: Beholde I am vvith you for euer, vntill2 the ende of the vvorlde: And againe, I vvill giue my spirite vnto you, that he may abide vvith you for euer: And againe, vvhere tvvo or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middest of them. But the purpose of3 this Question is to bring the godly and simple into perplexitie and doubte. For when they confesse, that god gouerneth his church by his holy spirite, forthwith the popish bishops conclude therof, that the churche neither hathe, nor can erre: and héereby they suppose, that all other ⟨image 18⟩things are sufficiently proued: to wit, that what soeuer they vnder the tytle and name of the Church shal thrust vppon men, are bothe good and enspired by the holy Ghost. But vnto these mates we answere: Firste, that we doo not acknowledge that church whereof they bragge, to be the true primatiue apostolike church, as hereafter we shal proue. Secondely we d•• not confesse, that the4 Churche can not altogither, or in all points erre. For so long as she is gouerned by the holy ghost, and onely harkeneth vnto him, dooing nothing but by his motion and worde, she neither doth nor can erre. But if she swarue at any time from the gouernement of the same spirite, and gouerneth after hir owne luste, then truely shée not onely may, but also dothe erre. But if any wyll aske whether the Church may swarue from the direction of Gods spirite? I answere, that it is euident, and may in no wyse be denied, that the Churche of God héere vpon this earthe often times vnder Moses, the Iudges and the Kings of Israell and Iuda hath erred. Yea, and ⟨p. 7⟩that the Disciples of Chryst (who yet neuerthelesse were the church of christ) did erre, and had their falles. For who is ignoraunt what happened to Dauid, Aaron, Peter, and other the holy Sainctes and Disciples of Chryst? Yea, wée must note, that the Church is gathered not of Angels, but of men. Wherefore although it be inspired and gouerned by the spirite, yet it is not thereby turned into the spirite:
- 1God governeth his church by his holy spirit.God gouerneth hys churche by his holy spirite.
- 2Math. 28. 18 John. 14Math. 28. 18 Iohn. 14
- 3The end of this Question.The ende of this Question.
- 4Howe the Church either erreth or doth not err.Howe the Church eyther erreth or doth not erre.
