For such order and fashion may be holden in one place, which can nor may in no wise be used in another place. Such thing also is good in one place, or in one time, which should be unprofitable or damageable in another. And for this cause there is often times contrariety among the Canons, as it was needful to have respect to those which were expedient. For as much then as such ordinances be mutable, and made by man, it followeth that they concern not the conscience, but in cases of slander and disorder which should be a let or stop of the purpose for the which they were set up, that is to say, the edification and quietness of the Church, as for example. It was agreed upon ⟨image 116⟩in Jerusalem by the Council where the Apostles were, that the only grace of God justifieth us by faith: against those which would join the Ceremonies of the law, with the Sacrifices of Jesus Christ. And moreover, fornication is forbiddena. Behold a doctrine which was not newly set up by the authority of the Council, but with good right approved by this assemble. For as much as it is the true doctrine revealed to the world from the beginning, and confirmed by all the preachings and writings of the Prophets. Finally, it is ordained that the Gentiles should abstain from eating the Sacrifices of Idols, from blood and beasts that be suffocate or strangled, I say that this is an ordinance distinct from the other going before, the which pertaineth not to the conscience, nor to salvation simply, but only to the exterior and outward life, for to attain an end more excellent and perfect, that is to say, that the doctrine of salvation ⟨p. 95⟩might take place among the Jewsb. For if it had been otherwise, the Apostles had been contrary to them selves. For in the beginning they agreed and stayed upon this, that grace only justifieth by faith, without the works of the lawc, and also they had been contrary to the doctrine of Jesus Christ, which witnesseth and saith, that which entereth into the mouth, defileth not the mand: and Saint Paul which was in this Counsel, should be contrary to him self eFor shortly after he wrote, that the kingdom of God was not in meat nor drink, and that one might eat of all things, without making any difficulty for conscience sake. Such prohibitions be devilish doctrinesf:
For such order and fashion maye be holden in one place, which can nor maye in no wyse bee vsed in another place. Such thing also is good in one place, or in one time, which shoulde be vnprofitable or domageable in another. And for this cause there is often tymes contrariety among ye Canons, as it was néedefull to haue respect to those which were expedient. For as much then as such ordinaunces be mutable, and made by man, it followeth that they concerne not the conscience, but in cases of slaunder and dysorder which shoulde bee a let or stoppe of the purpose for the whiche they were set vp, that is to saye, the edification and quietnes of the Church, as for example. It was agreed vpon ⟨image 116⟩in Ierusalem by the Counsell where the Apostles were, that the onelye grace of God iustifieth vs by faith: against those which woulde ioyne the Ceremonies of the lawe, with the Sacrifices of Iesus Christe. And moreouer, fornication is forbiddena. Beholde a doctrine which was not newly set vp by the authoritie of the Counsell, but with good ryght approued by this assemble. For as much as it is the true doctrine reuealed to the worlde from the begynning, and confyrmed by all the preachynges and writinges of the Prophetes. Finally, it is ordained that the Gentiles shoulde abstayne from eating the Sacrifices of Idolles, from bloud and beastes that bée suffocate or strangled, I saye that this is an ordynaunce dystiucte from the other going before, the whiche partayneth not to the conscience, nor to saluation simplye, but onelye to the exterior and outwarde lyfe, for to attayne an ende more excellent and perfecte, that is to saye, that the doctrine of saluation ⟨p. 95⟩myght take place among the Iewesb. For if it had béene otherwyse, the Apostles had béene contrary to them selues. For in the begynning they agréede and stayed vpon this, that grace onely iustifieth by fayth, without the woorkes of the lawec, and also they had béene contrarye to the doctrine of Iesus Christ, which wytnesseth and sayth, that which entreth into the mouth, defileth not the mand: and Saint Paule which was in this Counsel, should be contrary to him selfe eFor shortly after he wrote, that the kingdome of God was not in meate nor drinke, and that one mighte eate of al things, without making any difficultie for conscience sake. Such prohibitions be diuelishe doctrines
- aActs. 15.Actes. 15.
- bActs. 15.
- cActs. 15.
- dMark. 15.
- eRoma. 14. 1. Cor. 8. Colos. 3.
- f1. Tim. 4.
