The Bee Hive of the Romish Church, Part 2 · Preface
The Preface, wherein this treatie is diuided in two partes.
NOw followeth in order the second part of this epistle which Master Gentianus doth … be a fastidious s…rup…se, that is to say, A morse… which he can not wel swallowe without chewing, as specially, that the Heretikes will mainteine, That we ought not to receiue any doctrine besides the worde of God, set foorth in the holie Scriptures. But nowe there resteth no more difficultie in this matter: for wee hauehave prepared for him in the former article such a pill, that he will lightly slappe it vp, considering what a wide throte he hath. For wee hauehave substantially and stedfastly herevpon concluded, and also pronounced sentence irreuocable, That the Scripture cannot ouerrule our deare mother the holie Church, nor bring her vnderunder subiection. And therefore we wil not breake our heads about this matter, but will referre & leaue it to the iudgement of our Maisters of Louen: intending now to intreate of the vnderstanding and meaning of the scripture: wherein we hauehave two principall pointes to set forth and determine vponupon.
The first, that we declare what is the power & authoritie of the holie church, in setting forth the Scripture, and to applie it to her aduantage. The seconde, That we by plaine examples declare, and proue, that she hath finely set foorth this power and authoritie, in the establishing of all the commaundements of her doctrine, ceremonies, and all manner of deuotions: so that she doeth not enioy in her seruice anie one thing great or small, but she knoweth finely to fetch the foundation of them out of the plaine texte of the holy scripture, & out of that to make the matter so cleare & manifest, that you may see it euen as well in the darke, as with a candle. These two pointes wee will set forth plainly before the eyes of all men, with the helpe and assistance of the sweet deare Ladie of Halle, & al the sweete hee Saints & shee Saintes at Antwerpe, being there placed vponupon the hie altar: and thereto we will call for the helpe of the holie Ghost, deuoutly saying an Aue Maria. Oremus. Aue Maria, &c.