Touching the decrees of1 the Church, we have answered in the former question. But concerning the Canons and ordinances which the fathers have ordained, thus much of them: God our most faithful father gave unto his Church his holy word contained in both the Testaments, to be as a certain direction or touchstone by the which all that in stead of gold, that is to say, for the ordinance of god, & undoubted truth, was offered unto us, might be tried & proved whether they were pure or corrupted. Now the Canons and ordinances of the fathers are ⟨image 43⟩offered unto us for Gold, and as the true Oracles of God. But sith them selves were men, and might err, and did also command their ordinances and decrees to be no further believed, but as they were proved and allowed by the touchstone of the holy Scriptures: they ought therefore to be tried and proved by the same, as Paul teacheth. 1. Thessa. 5. and John. 1. Epist. 4. Wherefore if they agree with the scriptures, then are they of the holy Ghost, and not contrary to Christ and his word: but if they agree not with them, then are they not of the holy ghost, but contrary to Christ and his word, and therefore ought not to be believed nor kept. But how many Decrees of the fathers do apparently show themselves contrary to the Scriptures, it would be too tedious to recite, and therefore as much as is needful to be known, may easily by these questions be perceived. For almost all that these men strive for, are nothing else but the ordinances and decrees of the fathers, or of other men. And to say the truth, the ⟨p. 33⟩decrees of the fathers are many times clean contrary one to an other. For some of their decrees forbid the marriage of the Ministers of the Church, and on the contrary part, it is evident what the Council of Gangra•• did teach concerning the same, excommunicating all those which forsake or despise those Priests that he married. And many such like shall ye find, yea even in the very Popes decrees. But why I beseech you, do not they see men strive as earnestly for the Laws and ordinances of God, to commend them as the wholesome knowledge of our salvation unto the world? But truly in all their Questions there is not one word spoken hereof.
TOuching the decrées of1 the Churche, wée haue answered in the former question. But concerning the Canones and ordinances which the fathers haue ordeyned, thus muche of them: God our moste saythfull father gaue vnto his Churche his holy worde conteyned in both the Testamentes, to be as a certayn direction or touchstone by the which all that in stéede of golde, that is to say, for the ordinaunce of god, & vndoubted truth, was offered vnto vs, mighte be tried & proued whether they were pure or corrupted. Now the Canons and ordinances of the fathers are ⟨image 43⟩offered vnto vs for Golde, and as the true Oracles of God. But sithe them selues were men, and might erre, and did also commaunde their ordinaunces and decrées to be no further beléeued, but as they were proued and allowed by the touchestone of the holy Scriptures: they ought therefore to be tryed and proued by the same, as Paule teacheth. 1. Thessa. 5. and John. 1. Epist. 4. Wherfore if they agrée with the scriptures, then are they of the holy Ghost, and not contrary to Chryste and hys worde: but if they agrée not with them, then are they not of the holy ghost, but contrary to Chryst and his worde, and therefore ought not to be beléeued nor kepte. But howe many Decrées of the fathers do apparantly shew themselues contrary to the Scriptures, it would be too tedious to recite, and therefore as muche as is néedefull to be knowen, may easily by these questions be perceiued. For almoste all that these men striue for, are nothing else but the ordinances and decrées of the fathers, or of other men. And to say the truthe, the ⟨p. 33⟩decrées of the fathers are many tymes cleane contrary one to an other. For some of their decrées forbidde the mariage of the Ministers of the Churche, and on the contrarie parte, it is euident what the Counsell of Gangra•• dyd teache concerning the same, excommunicating all those whiche forsake or despise those Priestes that hée maried. And many suche like shal yée finde, yea euen in the very Popes decrées. But why I beséech you, doo not they sée men striue as earnestly for the Lawes and ordinances of God, to commende them as the holsome knowledge of our saluation vnto the worlde? But truely in all their Questions there is not one word spoken hereof.
- 1How far the decrees of the fathers are to be believed.How far the decrees of the fathers are to be beleued.
