Then in the end of the Chapter M. More cometh unto his wise conclusion and proveth nothing save showeth his ignorance, as in all thing. He saith we believe the doctrine of the Scripture without Scripture, as for an example, the Popes pardons, because only that the Church so teacheth, though no Scripture confirmeth it. Why so? because saith he the holy ghost by inspiration, if I do my endeavour and captivate mine understanding, teacheth me to believe the Church concerning Gods word taught by the Church and graven in mens hearts with out Scripture, as well as he teacheth us to believe words written in the Scripture. Mark where he is now. Afore he saith, the Scripture causeth us not to believe the Scripture, for a man may 1read it & believe it not. And much more the preacher maketh us not to believe the preacher, for a man may hear him and believe him not also. As we see the Apostles could not cause all men to believe them. For though the Scripture be an outward instrument and the preacher also to move men to believe, yet the chief and principal cause why a man believeth or believeth not is within. That is the spirit of God teacheth his children 2to believe and the devil blindeth his children and keepeth them in unbelief and maketh them to consent unto lies & think good evil & evil good. As the Acts of the Apostles say in many 3places there believed as many as were ordained unto everlasting life. ⟨p. 306⟩And Christ saith John. viij. they that 4be of God hear Gods word. And unto the wicked Jews he saith ye can not believe because ye be not of God. And in the same place saith he, ye be of your father the devil and his will ye will do, and he bode not in the truth, & therefore will not suffer his children to consent to the truth. And John in the x. saith 5Christ, all that came before me, be thieves & murderers, but my sheep heard not their voices. That is, all that preach any salvation save in Christ murder the souls. Howbeit Christs sheep could not consent to their lies, as the rest can not but believe lies, so that there is ever a remnant kept by grace. And of this I have seen divers examples. I have known as holy men as might be, as the world counteth holiness, which at the hour of death had no trust in God at all, but cried cast holy water, light the holy candle, and so forth, sore lamenting that they must dye.
Then in the end of the Chapter M. More cōmeth vnto his wise conclusion and proueth nothing saue sheweth his ignoraunce, as in all thyng. He sayth we beleue the doctrine of the Scripture without Scripture, as for an example, the Popes pardons, because onely that the Church so teacheth, though no Scripture confirmeth it. Why so? because sayth he the holy ghost by inspiration, if I doe my endeuour and captiuate mine vnderstandyng, teacheth me to beleue the Church concernyng Gods worde taught by the Churche and grauen in mens hartes with out Scripture, as well as he teacheth vs to beleue wordes written in the Scripture. Marke where hee is now. Afore hee saith, the Scripture causeth vs not to beleue the Scripture, for a man may 1read it & beleue it not. And much more the preacher maketh vs not to beleue ye preacher, for a man may heare him and beleue him not also. As we see the Apostles could not cause all men to beleue them. For though the Scripture be an outward instrument and the preacher also to moue mē to beleue, yet the chief and principall cause why a man beleueth or beleueth not is within. That is the spirite of God teacheth his children 2to beleue and the deuill blyndeth his children and kepeth them in vnbeleffe and maketh them to consent vnto lyes & thinke good euill & euill good. As the Actes of the Apostles say in many 3places there beleued as many as were ordeyned vnto euerlastyng lyfe. ⟨p. 306⟩And Christ sayth Iohn. viij. they that 4be of God heare Gods word. And vnto the wicked Iewes he saith ye cā not beleue because ye be not of God. And in the same place sayth he, ye be of your father the deuill and his will ye will do, and he bode not in the truth, & therfore will not suffer his children to consent to the truth. And Iohn in ye x. saith 5Christ, all that came before me, be theeues & murtherers, but my shepe heard not theyr voyces. That is, all that preach any saluatiō saue in Christ murther ye soules. Howbeit Christes shepe could not consent to their lyes, as the rest cā not but beleue lyes, so that there is euer a remanaunt kepte by grace. And of this I haue sene diuers examples. I haue knowen as holy men as might be, as the world counteth holynesse, which at the houre of death had no trust in God at all, but cryed cast holy water, light the holy candell, and so forth, sore lamentyng that they must dye.
- 1M. More reasoneth against himself.M. More reasoneth agaynst himselfe.
- 2☜
- 3Acts. 13.Actes. 13.
- 4John. 8.Iohn. 8.
- 5They that preach not Christ truty are murderers.They that preach not Christ truty are murtherers.
