A17219:96
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the same: and answered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into English by John Cox. 1572Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572
London: printed by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572London: printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Answer.
The Answere.
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.