The B. of Salisbury.The B. of Sarisburie.

The B. of Salisbury.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Whether ye call the Scriptures of God a Dumb thing,¹ or no, I report me to that, is said before. One of you calleth it Mortuum Atramentum, Dead Ink: An other saith, Scriptura est res inanimis, & muta: The Scripture is a dead and a dumb thing: An other calleth the Scriptures, Nigrum Evangelium, The black Gospel. Now if the Scriptures be Dead, and Dumb, and can not speak, then must it needs follow, they are unprofitable. Neither do we despise the Authority of Councils. Good Councils be grave, and reverend. But thus we say, Councils are often against Councils: And, if we make reckoning of number, the Arian Heretics have had moe Councils, then the Christians. S. Hierome ⟨p. 487⟩saithe,² Spiritus Sancti Doctrina est, quae Canonicis literis prodita est: Contra quam si quid statuant Concilia, nefas duco: That is the Doctrine of the Holy Ghost, that is set abroad in the Canonical Scriptures:³ Against which Doctrine if Councils determine any thing, I think it wicked.

Whether ye cal the Scriptures of God a Dumbe thing,¹ or no, I reporte me to that, is saide before. One of you calleth it Mortuum Atramentum, Dead Inke: An other saith, Scriptura est res inanimis, & muta: The Scripture is a dead and a dumbe thinge: An other calleth the Scriptures, Nigrum Euangelium, The blacke Gospel. Nowe if the Scriptures be Dead, and Doumbe, and can not speake, then must it needes folowe, they are vnprofitable. Neither doo we despise the Authoritie of Councelles. Good Councelles be graue, and reuerende. But thus we saie, Councelles are often against Councelles: And, if wee make rekening of number, the Arian Heretiques haue had moe Councelles, then the Christians. S. Hierome