Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

First, we may use them in case of application, though the rule it self is to be proved, and confirmed by Scripture, yet when we come to apply it to the manners of men, if for proof, that they are guilty of such a fault, we produce an Author, we shall rightly do it. So Paul, Tit. 1. 12• One of your own Prophets have said, the Grecians are liars, evil beasts, slow-bellies. Mark the manner of speech; he proveth not thereby, that they ought to be such (for that he takes as proved otherwise) but when he comes to apply it, he tells them that one of their own Prophets said so, so 1 Cor. 1. 11. It hath been declared to me by them of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions amongst you; he doth not prove by any of the house of Chloe, that there ought to be contentions amongst them; but when he came to apply it, he tells them that some of the house of Chloe told him so. If we were to show the gross Idolatry that was in the wisest of the Heathen, and produce Homer or Plato to show it, we should use them right. So if we were to show the Atheism and wickedness of the Popes; if we use Platina, or any other of their Prophets, to show it, we use them right.

First, we may use them in case of application, though the rule it self is to be proved, and confirmed by Scripture, yet when we come to apply it to the manners of men, if for proof, that they are guilty of such a fault, we produce an Author, we shall rightly do it. So Paul, Tit. 1. 12• One of your own Prophets have said, the Grecians are lyars, evil beasts, slow-bellies. Mark the manner of speech; he proveth not thereby, that they ought to be such (for that he takes as proved otherwise) but when he comes to apply it, he tells them that one of their own Prophets said so, so 1 Cor. 1. 11. It hath been declared to me by them of the house of Cloe, that there are contentions amongst you; he doth not prove by any of the house of Cloe, that there ought to be contentions amongst them; but when he came to apply it, he tells them that some of the house of Cloe told him so. If we were to shew the gross Idolatry that was in the wisest of the Heathen, and produce Homer or Plato to shew it, we should use them right. So if we were to shew the Atheism and wickednsse of the Popes; if we use Platina, or any other of their Prophets, to shew it, we use them right.