In Defense of the True Church of God, Treatise · Section 1 – Section 2
Of the Churche, and of the Auctority of the woorde of God.
IT was accuſtomed oftentymes, to be diſputed vponupon, how much credit might be giuē vntounto the opiniōs of the Churche, decrees of Synodes, and ſayings of wryters. For, although wee holde it for a rule, that wee embrace and hauehave the worde of God in reuerence, yet notwithſtandinge, when there ſeeme doubtfull places in the wrytinges of the apoſtles, as it were to occurre,What the aduerſaries do argue. or come in the way, ſome men doo diſpute, that the opinions of the churche rather are too bee followed, than the wrytinges of the apoſtles.
Moreouer they pretende that the Autority of the church,A wrong opinion touching the auctority of the church alleged by the aduerſaries. is to be preferred before the word of God: and that the Churche hath power to change or alter ſuche thinges as are delyuered in the worde of God. VntoUnto theſe opinions, doo they cite the ſaying of S. Auguſtyne, which is this: I woulde giuegive no credit vntounto the Goſpel, were it not but that the auctority of the Catholike Church mooued me therevntoo. And therfore vnderunder a falſe colour of the name of the Church,What the aduerſaries do vnderunder a falſe collour of the name of the Churche. do the Pope and Biſhops decree and commaunde many thinges for their ſenſuality contrary vntounto the word of God, yea they confirme and ſtabliſh wicked doctrine, & Idolatry: And alſo by this meanes the very name only of the Churche terrifieth very many nowadaies from the true doctrine of the Goſpel which we profeſſe. Therefore needful it is that men bee admoniſhed rightly as touching the autority of the Church.
Againe, alſo certaine more malaparte buſiheades, when they imagine newe opinions out of ſayings of the ſcriptures which are lewdely wreſted, doo vtterly deſpyſe the conſent of the true Churche, and all Synodes without difference.Pantaleon teſtifieth that this Michael Seruetus for holding a new erronious opinion of the Trinity, and of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, was afterwards put to death at Geneua, Anno 1553. As when Seruetus wrangleth with the Churche of al ages, and dooth depraue the ſayings of the word of god, in the firſt Chapter of S. Iohns Goſpel, and ſeeketh after a more fitte interpretation, as hee thinketh. To the ende therefore that ſuch a malaparte buſibraine ſhoulde bee reſtrained and brydeled, the Church had need of her boūds by al meanes, (if I may ſo ſay) as the olde ſynodes and wryters doo alleadge their firſt teſtimonies, which they hauehave taken from the Apoſtles, and other Authors.
Tertullian wryting againſt Praxeas, Examples of the fathers alledging the Church. Tertullian his teſtimony.ſayeth thus, wee muſt holde this for a rule againſt al Heretykes: Rectum eſſe, quodcunque primum, quodcunque verò poſterius adulterinum. That whatſoeuer was firſte, was good, but whatſoeuer was laſt, is coūterfait. And ſurely he calleth that firſt, which the Apoſtles for certaine did deliuer, for ſo he doth interprete himſelfe.
Irenaeus wryting againſt Florinus, Ireneus.allegeth the autority of them which were in the firſte age, and namely the autority of Policarpus, who was the diſciple of S. Iohn the Apoſtle: for hee ſaith that he woulde hauehave deteſted the opinions of Florinus, if hee had hearde them, & woulde hauehave ſhunned the place (wherin they were declared) as lothſome and polluted.
Baſilius alledgeth his nurſe whoſe godlineſſe,Baſilius allegeth his nurſe, for her godlyneſſe. hee ſayeth, was then ſpecially commended: and he addeth that ſhee receaued her doctrine of Gregory Neocaeſarienſis, which at that time for his learning & miracles was famous: alſo refuted Samoſatenus, and left his poſterity a briefe confeſſion of the faith, which conteineth an excellent teſtimony of the Trinity. And it is apparant in the 7. booke of the eccleſiaſtical hiſtory.
Origen alledgeth the Apoſtles,Origen allegeth the Apoſtles. as touching baptiſing of infantes. For he ſaith, that in the 6. Chapter of S. Paule too the Romanes, it appeareth that the Churches receaued their tradition from the Apoſtles, that infants might be baptiſed.
Theſe do rightly alledge the auctority of the churche.Phil. Melancthons purpoſe in diffinition of the true Church of God. Wherfore I wil orderly declare what the church is, & what Churche is too bee heard, & that wee muſt vſe approoued teſtimonies. And yet notwithſtāding that the doctrin is to be iudged out of the woorde of God, that the chief autority of Gods word may remain, according to that ſaying, If any man ſhal teach any other doctrine, Galat. 1.let him be holdē as accurſed.
But firſt, when I ſpeake of the Churche, I do not meane Popes, Biſhoppes, and others which do allow their opinions in this behalf: For theſe are the enimies of the true church,Hee ſheweth, who be the enimies of the true Chu…e. ſome of them being Epicures, and otherſome of them manifeſtly giuen to Idolatry: But, I call the Churche, the ſociety of them which truely beleeue,What, & who bee the true Churche, and where. which hauehave the Goſpel and Sacramentes and are ſanctified by the holy Ghoſt, as (in the 5. Chapt. of S. Paule too the Epheſ.) the Church is there deſcribed and as in Iohn. 10. Where it is ſaide, My ſheepe heare my voyce.
And although it bee needful, that this true church ſhould be euerlaſting, bicauſe the kingdom of Chriſt endureth for euer, & it is writtē. I will remaine with you vntil the ende of the world: Mat. 28. Yet wee muſt vnderſtand and know that this true church, doth not alwaies floriſh togither in one place, but oftentymes becommeth a very ſmall Churche, and afterwardes againe is reſtored by God when true teachers are ſent therevntoo:The Church … the firſt age of the world before the deluge. As in tyme of Noah; the church was in a narrowe rowme & a congregation of a fewe perſons.
So after the deluge, Melchiſedech, wc was the ſonne of Sem, The Church i… the ſame age after the deluge▪the ſonne of Noah, reteined the true doctrine: And whan Idolatry increaſed amongeſt the Chaldees, & that the true doctrine of God was almoſt extinguiſhed eueryevery where, God, by calling Abraham, renewed his Churche. Afterwardes the family of Abraham and a fewe of his …earers became the Church, when as in meane tyme the Chaldees and Egyptians boaſted themſelues too bee the poſterity of the fathers, that they reteined the examples of the fathers, and manner of woorſhipping God,The Chaldea…s and the Egipt…ans vainly bo… ſted themſelue… to be the chur… and were not. & openly declared themſelues to bee the people of God, when they retained not Gods word amongſt them, although they had reteined ceremonies, whervnto notwithſtanding they deuiſed peruerſe opinions, and moreouer added Idolatry.
In the time of Achaz, was the church extinguiſht in Iſrael, afterwards againe by Elias & Eliſeus it was encreaſed, and yet after that did it decay againe.
When Chriſte was borne, there was a very ſmall Churche in Iury:Anno Mundi 3970. Luc. 2. …roſ. …. cap. 22. Regnante Octaui… Auguſto. namely, Mary, Ioſeph, the family of Zacharias, Symeon, Anna, the ſheepeheardes and a fewe others. In the meane time Eccleſiaſtical iuriſdiction was in the dealing of the Phariſees and Saducees which were notoriouſly knowne a wicked people. Alſo the Saducees were Epicures, and yet notwithſtanding challenged they the title and name of the people of God, vntounto themſelues eſpecially.
And ſo in time of the Prophetes the true church was but ſlēder as in Eſay. 1. Where it is teſtified,The churche in tyme of the prophetes. Except that the Lord had left vntoo vsus ſeede, we ſhoulde hauehave beene made like vntounto Sodom & Gomorrha.
Theſe wordes moſt grauely do admoniſh vsus that we ſhold not think or iudge of the church as of a worldly gouernment,Howe the church is to bee reputed, accep…ed, & beleeued. neither that wee meaſure the ſame by ſucceſſion of Biſhops, or by degree, or ſeate of the Biſhops of Rome: but that we do acknowledge, the church to bee amongſt thē which retain the true doctrine of the goſpel. In this ſociety there muſt needs be ſome true beleuers: For vntounto this ſociety doo the promiſes pertain.Enimies of the church of Eſayas tyme. Therfore Eſaias bereaueth the princes & chief biſhops in his time of that ſtately title, & ſaith, That there was a ſmall offſpring in that ſelfſame people, left, which was called the people of God.
And in the time of Ieremy, whē the kings, & Prieſts ſet thēſelues againſt him, the churche conſiſted not in the multitude of thoſe prieſts,Enimies of the churche in Hieremyes tyme. but of them which beleeued the preaching of Ieremy, Amoz. 3. So and in ſuch manner ſhal Iſrael bee deliuered, That if the Sheepheards do take twoo legges, or a peece of an eare out of the Lyons mouth, &c.
And finally at the length there was a very ſmal church,Al Nations except Iuda onelyonly had vtterly loſt the knowledge of God. in reſpect of the multitude of the wicked ones, when as all nations (the people of Iuda onelyonly excepted) had vtterly loſte the knowledge of God.
The Scripture alſo foreſheweth that after the Apoſtles tymes,A premonſtration of the ſtate of the churche after the Apoſtles tyme. Matt. 14. there ſhoulde happen deadly perſecutions vntounto the Churche, as in Math. 14. Many falſe Prophets ſhall aryſe and ſhal deceaue many.
Again our ſauiour Chriſt ſaieth,The Romiſh Synagogue reputed for the Church. When you ſhall ſee the abhomination of deſolation ſtanding in the holy place. &c. Mat. 24. Here, doth he ſignify that in the churche which is ſo called, ſhall Idolatry aryſe, whereby true doctrine, and true worſhipping of God ſhall bee ouerwhelmed, and there ſhal bee made a deſolation of the Church, that is too ſay, a ſolitarines or ſuppreſſion thereof. And ſo indeede it hath come to paſſe.One probable teſtimony by the abuſes of Maſſes, &c. For after that the abuſes of Maſſes and ſuperſtitions of traditions did once aryſe, there hauehave followed darkeneſſe of true woorſhipping God, of fayth, of inuocation in fayth and of functions in vocations too bee performed: Bycauſe mans conſcience beholding her owne merites is not able too vnderſtande the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, nor comprehende the manner of true calling vppon GOD, and the expecting for his diuyne helpe.
Moreouer it is ſaide,The Church of the latter age. They ſhall woorke ſignes and wonders, that, if it may be poſſible, the very elect ones ſhall bee deceaued. 2. Theſſ. 2. There ſhall happen a departing from the fayth, &c. Alſo Luke 18. Thinke you that when the Sonne of man commeth, he ſhal finde fayth vponupon earth? Againe, in the 88. Pſal. Haſt thou made al men for nought? For, it is a complaint vponupon the decay of the Church in tyme to come.
Theſe ſayinges doe witneſſe, although it be needefull,The Churche ought in the la…ter age eſpecial…ly to be cared for and preſerued. that the Churche bee preſerued, notwithſtanding in the latter age eſpecially that it is little or a companie of a few perſons which are deſpiſed and abiect in this life, as S. Paule ſaith, Not many wiſe, not many mightie men. &c. 1. Cor. 1.
Theſe teſtimonies hauehave I cited too that ende, that wee may firſte conſider, wwhat the Church is: and that the minde bee withdrawen from carnall opinions, which imagine that the Church is the pollicie or conſtitution of the Biſhoppes, and doe tie the ſame vntounto the ordinary ſucceſſion of Biſhoppes, as the ſtates of gouernment doe conſiſt in the ordinary ſucceſſion of the Princes.The Churche is not tied vntounto ordinary ſucceſſion of human… ſtate: but vntounto the worde of God. But it goeth otherwiſe with the Church: For this is a multitude not tyed vntoo ordinary ſucceſſion, but vntounto the woorde of GOD. There is the Churche renewed, where God reſtoreth doctrine and giueth his holy ſpirite. And that Churches are thus to be gouerned and preſerued,The true Churche. not by ordinary ſucceſſion, S. Paule doth witneſſe the ſame. Epheſ. 4. Hee hath giuen giftes vntounto men, Where, and which S. Pau… reputeth & teacheth the Churche …that the Apoſtles Prophets. &c For, hee teacheth, that, that is properly the Church, wherein Chriſt is effectuall woorker, and giueth true Teachers. Therefore, when as the name of the Church and the authoritie thereof is obiected vntounto vsus:No…. Authoritie of the Church obiected. Let vsus firſt conſider, whether mention bee made of the true Churche, eyther els of the multitude of Biſhops, and the politique ſucceſſion thereof: neyther let vsus ſuffer our ſelues to be terrified or diſcouraged from the worde of God, vnderunder a falſe pretence of the name of the Church.
Secondly after that wee hauehave declared which is the true Churche,More touching the true church …t retayneth the doctrine of the Goſpel. let vsus nowe adde therevnto that this true Church, which is but ſmall, and a cōpany of holy ones, doth retein the true doctrine of the Goſpel, or the articles of the faith, like as S. Paule calleth the ſame The ſeate of trueth. But this ſelfe ſame true church hath her doctrine, ſometime more, and ſometime leſſe pure & manifeſt. She hath alſo in her many weake and feeble members, as the Apoſtles were the church,The Apoſtles …er the church, but yet they …either knew what the …hurch was be…ore the reſur…ection of Chriſt, neither what manner …ingdom, Chriſtes kingdome ſhould be but yet they vnderſtood not (before the reſurrectiō of Chriſt) what ſhould bee the kingdome of Chriſt. For Peter (after the holy Ghoſte was geuen) did yet ſuppoſe that the rites and ceremonies of the lawe was needefull to be vſed: but when he was admoniſhed frō heauen, he then knew that the kingdome of Chriſt was not a Iudaicall pollicy, but ſpirituall and continual woorſhipping of God.
Afterwards whē the Apoſtles begā to prech there did ſhine in thē,Example therof by Peter Many weake members of the Church in the Apoſtles time. a pure & cleare doctrine & yet notwithſtāding in mean ſeaſō there were many weake mēbers, wc albeit they were true mēbers of the church, & held ſtil amōgſt them the articles of the faith, yet they added herevnto ſome error, as they which obſerued the ceremonies of the law, & did not ſufficiently well vnderſtand the abrogation of the law, & what was the true worſhipping of God. This was no ſmall error, & brought in with it ſome obſcurity to the articles of the faith: ſo did chriſt foreſhew as touching the churche in the latter age: that there ſhould happen great darknes which ſhoulde hinder the very electe ones of God.Chriſtes propheſie of the Church in the latter age. Mat. 24. Whereby they ſhoulde the leſſe inioy amongſt them the true doctrine.
Therfore yet remaineth the true Church in ſome place,The true Church remaineth in ſome one place or othen effectuall, from time to time. wc retaineth the articles of ye faith but now & thē leſſe pure & obſcured with ſome hurtful opinions, & which hauehave ſome error in thē. And as yet I ſpeake of the true members of the church & of the holy ones, not of others, wc hauing loſt the light of the word do leeſe ye holy Ghoſt: & follow the iudgment of reaſon, & when they thinke that they deliuer very godly things, they yet ſay cleane cōtrary things and vngodly. Like as euē at this day alſo ther are excellently learned, of good conuerſation, and outwarde ſhewe of holineſſe, which ſeeme to themſelues to ſpeake moſt holy thinges, when in deede they are farre of from the true light, (that is) from the true vnderſtanding of the worde of God. Concerning ſuch perſons, I ſpeake not as yet, but I onelyonly make mention of the true members of the Churche, which for the more parte, are weake and infirme.
So therefore ſaith Saint Paule 1.An inuincible grounde of the true Church mentioned by S. Paule. And a weake ground of the wrong Church ſubiect to ouerthrowes. Cor. 3. No man can lay any other foundation, then that which is already layde. But ſome man buildeth vponupon it Golde, other wood, and other ſtraw or ſtubble. &c.
By the foundation, he meaneth, The Articles of the faith, that is to ſay, the whole ſumme and ſcope of Chriſtian doctrine, and the doctrine of Chriſtes benefites: but hereunto (ſaith be) ſome ſhall adde profitable doctrine and interpretation, and true ſpirituall honouring of God, and theſe he calleth Golde. Some other ſhall adde ſtraw and ſtubble, (that is) hurtful opinions, and which are infected with ſome erroures, Like as in the firſt age of the world, ther were ordained ceremonies which brought with them falſe opinions.
As I do iudge S.Melanc…on… opinion of the builders in both churches Ambroſe to be a true mē ber of the Church. And yet euen he thus ſpeaketh of the Lent faſte: Caetera ieiunia ſunt voluntatis, hoc neceſſitatis eſt. That is, other faſtings are voluntary,Faſting: ſtubble added by Ambroſe but this is of neceſſity. This opinion of Ambroſe is ſtraw & ſtubble, added to the doctrine of fayth.
So Baſilius addeth Monkerie, as ſtraw and ſtubble,Monkery ſtubble added by Baſilius. and commendeth this kinde of life with immoderate and falſe commendations, when as in deede hee was therefore reprehended of his owne Biſhop.
Butch at it is no ſmall faulte too ordeine newe woorſhippings of God: the Scripture warneth vsus hereof, and this one ſentence ſufficiently ſheweth the ſame:Eſay. 29. …9. In vaine doe they woorſhip me with commaundementes of man. Matth. 15. It is a grieuous ſinne againſt the firſt commaundement, to ordeine or allow woorſhippinges not commaunded by God. For the firſt precepte, ſeeyng of forbiddeth there ſhoulde be any ſtraunge Gods, doth alſo forbid ſtrange woorſhippinges.
Cyprian vrgeth canonicall puniſhmentes, which then was vſed,Puniſhmentes by canonicall lawe. and hee confirmeth opinions, as though they were neceſſary,Stubble added by Cyprian. & that by reaſon of them, ſinnes might be forgeuen. Sometime againe he ſaith, that without thē, abſolution of ſinnes is vnprofitable. Peraduenture hee thought more conuenient heerein then he ſpake: Notwithſtanding theſe are no ſmall erroures, but very thicke ſtubble obſcuring the doctrine of Chriſtes benefites and of faith which we ſhoulde hauehave in him.
Furthermore, oftentimes, writers hauehave writtē more cōmodiouſly, then they hauehave ſpoken, becauſe for the moſt part they were very negligent & vnperfect in teaching, & borowed many ſentences and methodes of the common people,Errors of ſatiſfaction reprehended. wherein cōſiſted ſome kinde of errors. As for example, Auguſt. borroweth the name of ſatiſfactiō, frō the vulgar ſort, yea although he doth openly reprehēd the errors of ſatiſfactions. He troubleth himſelfe in the interpretation of this ſentence, that eueryevery ſinne is voluntary, where he diſputed of the ſinne originall, when notwithſtanding the Sentence is a ciuill ſaying ſette downe concerning external offences.
So cal they the ſupper of the Lord an oblatiō,The Supper of the Lorde called after the maner of the peoples oblate…n. after the maner of the people, whē it is not an oblation, but Chriſt himſelfe was the high Prieſt, which offered his owne ſacrifice. And indeede in times paſt there was not made in the ceremony of the ſupper, an oblation of the body and blood: but before the conſecration, there was breade offered, and other thinges and the Prieſt ſaide that he did offer vp prayers and thankeſgeuing, and all the ſeruice, which was woont there to be done. Although therefore the oblation was not vnderſtood after one manner, yet notwithſtanding the name afterwardes was wreſted vntounto the oblation of the body, wherevppon hauehave enſued great abuſes.
Dionyſius in that booke which containeth ceremonies of the Churche,Dionyſius his booke concerning ceremonies. when hee doeth diligently deſcribe the order of the Lordes Supper, yet doth he not at all make any mention of the oblation of the Lordes body. Neither doth the cannon of Baſilius containe this oblation: but after this, I will ſpeake more concerning the Lords Supper. Theſe things onelyonly hauehave I added too the ende I might declare how that in tymes paſte the auncient writers now & then hauehave borrowed incōuenient ſpeeches of the people, as it is wont to happen in all ages.
Somtimes,The multitude holding ſome one Church hauehave borne a great ſtroake with ſome perſons. they are ouercome with iudgments & examples of the multitude (wc is not godly) that they bee drawen into ſuperſtitious by ſome humane imagination: As in the Nicen Coūcel, except Paphnutlus alone had wt ſtood the ſame, the opinion of them had beene allowed for good wc woulde hauehave made a decree, that prieſts ſhuld abſtain frō their wiues.
So did cuſtome ouercome Cyprian and many others,Cuſtome alſo hath done the like. inſomuch that they did allowe the forbidding of marriage. Alſo the whole Nicene Councel, beyng ouercome with the agreement of a multitude, or of time, ratified the Canons of penaunce, which afterwardes brought foorth intollerable erroures.Examples of great perſonages apt to ſeduce the people into darkneſſe. Examples alſo of greate perſonages doe oftentimes deceaue the Godly: Like as the example of Antonius cauſed many too erre.
Hitherto hauehave I ſpoken of the godly, which although they bee holy, yet notwithſtanding very many of them are weake. Nowe will I proceede further touching thoſe which doe tranſgreſſe.
Sometimes the Godly doe vtterly tranſgreſſe,Ori…en a godly member of the church had his erroures. and loſe the holy Ghoſt (as I do iudge) that Origen did vtterly fall, eſpecially if hee affirmed thoſe mōſtruous errours, That there ſhoulde be innumerable worldes: That the very Diuels at the laſt day ſhoulde be ſaued.
Tertullian alſo doth vngodly diſallowe the ſeconde marriages,Tertul an other had alſo his infirmities. but peraduenture they hauehave afterwardes repented. For many hauing fallen in deede both in life and doctrine, hauehave and yet at length doe amende. And very oftentimes doth it happen that holy men doe thorowly fall, and doe not iudge according too the worde, and ſpirituall light, but are deceaued by the imagination of reaſon,Many godly members of the Church being deceiued by the imagination of reaſon, hauehave yet at length vene reclaymed. which notwithſtanding afterwardes doe better aduiſe themſelues.The true Church may ſometime hauehave her faultes Like as Gedeon altogether trāſgreſſed, when by mans aduiſe and counſell he ordayned ſtraunge kindes of woorſhipping God.
Of all theſe, followeth this concluſion, although the true Church, which is but ſmall in number, retaine the articles of the faith: yet notwithſtanding the ſame true Churche may hauehave her faults, obſcuring the articles of the fayth.
Furthermore, many doe ſo fall, that they altogether allowe and ratifie wicked errors, againſt the articles of the faith, although peraduenture ſom of them do afterwards amēd.
Firſt, therefore, when the autority of the Church is alleadged;Authoritie of the true church alleadged, how to be prooued. wee muſt ſearche, whether it be the conſent of the true Church agreeyng with the worde of God.
Secondly,Writers of the Church. it is ſo to be ſaide that the writers which are extant, hauehave oftentimes fallen, and peraduenture ſome of them were no members of the Church at all.
Thirdly,In the Church are not al members likewell diſpoſed. an other Difference is too bee added. In that ſocietie which is called the Churche, there is a greate number of vngodly perſons, of whome many excel the others in autority, outward ſhewe of religion, & opiniō of doctrine; ſuch as were the people of Iuda in the tyme of Hieremy, Example in Hieremies tyme.the Biſhoppes & wicked prieſts that alledged againſt Hieremy the autority of the ſeate, of the lawe, & the very promiſes: affirming that the lawe ſhoulde not periſhe from the Prieſtes: they denyed, that their congregation coulde erre, when notwithſtanding they did altogither erre, and diſgereede in matters from Hieremy. Alſo in Chriſtes tyme, there were very fewe godly perſons, namely, Zacharias and Symeon.
Furthermore when the vngodly multitude hath autority in the Churche,The vngodly multitude firſte embraced Maſſes. it ordaineth many falſe and wicked thinges in the name and vnderunder the title of the Churche. Such alyke multitude firſte embraced the application of Maſſes, for the quicke and dead, & moreouer the eſtimation of vowes, and woorſhipping of Sainctes: afterwardes the very example of theſe thinges did hurt the godly. And ſuch a multitude, decreede in a certaine Synode, that marriages of Prieſtes ſhoulde vtterly be taken away.The vngodly multitude decreed that marriages of prieſts ſhoulde vtterly be taken away. For it oftentymes comes too paſſe in the churche, that vngodly perſons of excellent wittes boldly challenge vntounto themſelues the ordinance of religion, by mans wiſedome: who when they bee not mooued or affected by the woorde of God, but are led therevntoo by the imagination of reaſon, and ſeeke for apte opinions for their purpoſes, do breede wicked errors,Samoſatenus, Arius, and Pelagius, heretikes, liuing about the yeeres of our Lorde. lyke as Samoſatenus, Arius, and Pelagius. Others ſeeke to eſtabliſh merites, or ſeeke for fayre kinde of gouernement, good ordering of the people and with theſe cauſes are mooued to the inſtitution & heaping vppe of ſundry ceremonies,Samoſatenus, 274. as the Monks do,Arrius, 320. as Gregory did, and as at this day the Popes,Pelagius, 435. biſhops, Princes, & many learned mē, (deſiring to ordain a forme of the church) are mooued with mans wiſedome: & reiecting the word of God, wil eſtabliſh a church according to their owne imaginations, neither doo they ſee it is a horrible impiety to ſlide away frō the word of God, to ſeeke god without his word, to ordaine meanes & maner of worſhipping god, by mās opiniō, without the expres cōmaundement of god, to chaūge the true opinions, & oppreſſe the purity of gods word.
When, therefore, the autority of the Churche is obiected vntoo vsus, as of the application of Maſſes, the church doth not erre, The Churche hath thus many ages vſed Maſſes:Alleadging of Maſſes. Therfore this cuſtome is to bee obſerued. We muſt anſwer vntounto the Maior: The vniuerſal churche, which is the multitude of them that gouerne in the church, may erre, as the Biſhops and Prieſts in Hieremies time, & in Chriſts time did alſ… …rre.
And although beſides that number, there are ſome godly perſons, which retaine ſtill the Articles of the faith: Notwithſtanding euen they beeyng moued with examples, doe … yeelde vntounto certaine erroures: whereby it comes to paſſe, that they retayne the ſame articles of faith leſſe pure, then they ought too doe.Bernarde condiſcended vntounto many errors. Like as Bernarde is ſeene too hauehave had better iudgement, then others, although yet hee yeelded and condiſcended vntounto many errors, to the abuſes of Maſſes, too the Popes power, too vowes, and woorſhippings of Saintes.
Therefore the autority of the multitude, is not at all to be alleadged againſt the worde of God▪ But we muſt returne to the rule, If anie man teach any other Goſpel, let him bee holden accurſed: Gal. 1. Let the chiefe autority …e of the worde deliuered by God:The firſt autority being of the worde of God: proueth that to be the true Churche which is agreeyng therwith. Afterwards that is to be reputed the church which agreeeth with that worde, as Chriſt ſaith, My ſheep heare my voyce, Iohn 10. and Sainte: Auguſtine ſayeth: The queſtion is, Where the Churche doeth conſiſt. What ſhall wee then doe? Shall wee ſeeke the ſame in our woordes, or in the woordes of the chiefe head thereof, our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte? I thinke th… wee ought▪ too ſeeke the Churche in his woordes, who is the trueth, and … …eſt his owne body.Obiection if the autority of the Church bee refuſed. But heere obiection is made, if the autoritie of the Church bee refuſed, …henis graunted too much▪ and … large liberty vntounto the malaper…neſſe of mens inuentions. For if once the opinions of the Churche be reiected, many will deuiſe ſtraunge and vngodly interpretations of the … This daunger, when it is not too be contemned, and that it is profitable too reſtrayne that libertie, we muſt then agayne … foorth the autority of the Church is to be required.
For Seruetus, Seruetus the he retique his opinion.when he reneweth the wicked error of Samoſatenus, and denieth the word… too bee vnderſtood the perſon, in this ſaying, 1. Iohn. In the beginning was … worde, doeth mightilly extoll the autoritie of the Scripture, he bidde… that this autority be preferred before the decrees of the church. After that he diſputeth ſubtilly ſaying, The woorde is ſimply too bee ſo vnderſtood. But whereas the Woorde, in the common ſpeech of men doth not ſignifie the perſon, hee denieth that in Iohn 1. it is too bee vnderſtood the perſon. As if, Demoſthenes ſhoulde reade this ſaying: In the beginning was the woorde, ſurely he woulde not thinke that any perſon were to bee vnderſtood.
I aſke the queſtion therefore, whether it proffit not againſt ſuch to oppoſe the autority of the churche: Heere I anſwere: That the Churche is to be heard, How the church is to be hearde.ſo farre forth as the goſpel commaundeth. So I ſay alwaies, the congregation is too bee hearde with whome the woorde of God hath bene, and which is called the churche, euen as we commaunde our Paſtors to bee hearde. Let vsus therfore heare the church teaching and admoniſhing vsus. But we muſt not ground our beliefe vponupon the autority of the church, for the churche doth not inſtitute The articles of the fayth, ſhee doth only teach, and admoniſh vsus. But for the woorde of God muſt we beleeue, when namely; we being admoniſhed of the church do vnderſtād that this ſentence is truely & without ſubtil allegation deliuered in the worde of God.
Peraduenture Demoſthenes woulde not thinke of a perſon, if hee ſhoulde reade that ſentence, In the beginning was the woorde, &c. But the hearer beeing admoniſhed of the church, (that the word ſignifieth the perſon, to ſay the ſonne of God) is nowe helped of the church, teaching and admoniſhing him, & the ſame hearer doth beleeue the article, not for the autority of the Churche, but by cauſe hee ſeeth this ſentence to hauehave aſſured teſtimonies in the ſame ſcripture:Touching vnderſtanding [the worde] to be the ſecond perſon in trinity. hee ſeeth there is mention made of a certaine perſon, who taking vppon him nature of man in the worlde, was conuerſant with men. Hee ſeeth that this perſon is called the woorde: her gathereth apt and firme teſtimonies of both natures in Chriſte. For, hee knoweth that (touching the nature of God) we muſt beleeue the heauenly voyce vttered, and that it is great wickednes too inuent opinions, as touching The nature of God, without his teſtimony 2. Peter 1. and 17. Math. Heare yee him.
Alſo,The firſt church of the Apoſtles touching dotrine, and not mans traditions. The firſte Churche is of force, as The witneſſe of the Apoſtles. But I ſpeake as touching doctrines, and not mans traditions, for they woulde hauehave doctrines too bee firme and perpetuall, but mans ordinaunces they woulde not hauehave to bee perpetual and immutable. Neither did the Apoſtles erre in doctrine: Therefore it is profitable to reteine thoſe teſtimonies whereas the moſte auncient wryters doo alleadge the autority of the Apoſtles.
As Origen, Tertullian, Irenaeus, Gregory Neocaeſarienſ. Auncient Fathers citing teſtimony of the Trinity.Alexander Biſhoppe of Alexandria and many others doe cyte their teſtimonies touching the Trinitie.
Who when they doe witneſſe that the doctrine of the Trinitie was receaued of the Apoſtles, do greatly ſtabliſh and confirme the Godly. Therefore ſuche teſtimonies are not at all too be deſpiſed nor contemned.
And I ſayde alſo, that the writers are to be hearde as now in like manner we ſay,How writers of former ages are to be heard that our Preachers are to be heard, becauſe there do ſome remayne ſtill in the Churche, which doe retaine and embrace the trueth, in ſome place more pure, in ſome other places, leſſe pure and corrupt. But heere, we muſt adde this, That they which are hearde, are too bee iudged by the woorde of God, which thing the rule of doctrine inſtituted, alwayes admoniſheth.
Examples.
Auguſtine, (touching originall ſin) more ſharply contendeth,Examples of the ſame wryters. then the reſt. Therefore hee doeth bothe teach and admoniſhe, and when we ſee him truely and without ſubtilety to recite any ſentence of the ſcripture, we thē beleue the article, not for Augaſtyne, but for the worde of God, and wee ſee, that the wryters named hauehave helde the ſame opinion, although they hauehave not handled this article ſo copiouſly or ſo plainly.
An other.
Peter Biſhop of Alexandria contending againſt Meletius, affirmeth, that ſuch as ſlyde away from the fayth are to bee reentertained, and hee alledgeth an ancient autority.Opinion of an ancient father touching ſuch as ſlyde away frō the church. For theſe wordes Epiphanius reciteth as the doctryne which hath come to vsus in our age doth declare: Therfore the ſame Biſhop of Alexandria doth both teach and admoniſh, that ſuch as ſlyde away are to bee reentertained. Thi… doo wee beleeue, not for this Biſhop: but bicauſe wee ſee this ſentence is expreſſed in the woorde of God, and heerevnto teſtimonies of the auncient Church do condiſcend alſo.