Gods Effectual Calling, Treatise · Chapter 15 – Chapter 16
CHAP. XV. Of the ſeuenth propertie, and ninth controuerſie.
THE ſacred ſcripture is the iudge of all controuerſies: I meane ſuch controuerſies, as are concerning religion. Now there bee two principall controuerſies concerning religion; the firſt is of the ſcripture it ſelfe, who ſhall be iudge here, or how it may be tryed, that the ſcripture is the word of God. The ſecond The iudge of the ſcripture.is of the ſenſe and interpretation of the ſcripture, who ſhal iudg of that, or how it may appeare that this, or that, is the very naturall ſenſe of the Scripture. I meane by iudgement here a definitiue ſentence pronounced and giuen with ſuch authority, as that all men muſt herein reſt. By the word ſcripture, I meane not only the ſubſtance thereof, but alſo the form of reuelation, which is alſo by diuine inſpiration. Againe, this manner of ſpeaking is improper, when we ſay of the ſcripture, that it is the iudge of controuerſies. For to ſpeake properly, the holy Ghoſt is the iudge; for the iudge muſt be a perſon, and the holy Ghoſt he is the third perſon in Trinity. The Scripture therefore is not properlie ſaid to be a iudge: but it is the voice and ſentence which the Iudg hath giuen the principall inſtrument or meane, wherby ye ſpirit ſets forth his iudgment, & whereby he teacheth vsus, and worketh faith in our hearts. And the ſpirit here iudgeth freely in and by whom he pleaſeth, being not tied to any one kind of men, as Paſtors & Doctors, but in and by whom it ſeemeth good to him. Here then three things muſt be conſidered of vsus: Firſt, whether the holy ghoſt be a iudge. Secondly, whether the ſcripture be his principal voice wherby he giueth Firſt, whether the holy Ghoſt be a iudge.ſentence, or determineth any queſtion. Thirdly, whether he iudg in and by any man without difference or reſpect of perſons, or be bound to one certaine kinde or ſort of men. For the firſt queſtion, I anſwere; the holy Ghoſt is a Iudge, firſt, for that he was promiſed of Chriſt Io 14. Math 28. Mar. 16.vntounto his church, at his laſt departure from the Apoſtles, & is giuen & as it were deputed Chriſts vicar on earth, both to teach and to iudge, &c. Secondly, for that among other offices of the holy Ghoſt, this is one, to iudge. But becauſe the aduerſaries do not much gainſay this aſſertion concerning Io. 16.Gods ſpirit, that by him all things are to be iudged and tried, and that by him the ſcriptures are to be interpreted, therefore we will be briefe in this point. Now for the ſecond point, that the holy ſcripture is the primarie Secondly, that the holy ſcripture is the principall voice of the iudgvoice of this iudge, iudiciarie, and proper to him, whereby he begets faith in our harts; may appeare by theſe reaſons following. Firſt, the ſcripture is the word of God. Secondly, it is moſt auncient. Thirdly, it is moſt cleere or euident. To theſe I ad the teſtimonie of the ſcripture it ſelfe. Ioh. 14. 25. 26. He ſhall teach you all things, and bring all things to *Suggeret.remembrance which I hauehave told you. And hereunto may alſo be added the common experience of the Saints. There are other meanes to prooue this, but leſſe principall, among which the teſtimony of the Church is one. The aduerſaries withſtand this concluſion, and infring it, with theſe arguments. Firſt the ſcripture is not written in mens hearts with the finger of God, neither is it the primary voice of God. Secondly, the ſcripture is of no antiquity. Thirdly, it is obſcure. Fourthly, ambiguous, &c. Bellarmine ads more to theſe, of which ye may read in him. They conclude, that the voice of the Church is the principall and proper voice of the holy Ghoſt, as he is the Iudge of controuerſies. Their proofe is this: The ſcripture is written in the heart of the Church with Gods own finger, & this is the primary voice of God: And whatſoeuer excellency wee doe aſcribe to the ſcripture, that they attribute to their owne Church, which is nothing els but a den of theeues.
And that the ſpirit being this great iudge, is not bound to one ſort of men, as thoſe of the Eccleſiaſticall function, the Pope and Councels (as they ſpeak) but doth performe this office without all reſpect of perſons, in whom and by whom ſoeuer it ſeemeth good vntounto himſelfe; this is manifeſt, firſt: for if the holy Ghoſt be not the Iudge both of the very context of the ſcripture, whether it be Gods word, and of the interpretation of ſcripture; if he be not (I ſay) in man himſelfe, aſſuredly there can be no faith. For the ſpirit only begetteth faith in mans heart. Secondly, the holy Ghoſt executeth his other offices freely in & by any man; therefore ſo may he this function of iudging. What is meant by iudging in the holy Ghoſt▪For I demand, what els is it to iudge, but to inlighten, & to teach that the ſcripture is giuen of God by inſpiration, and that this is the naturall ſenſe of this ſcripture. Thirdly, the ſame we be taught by our experience: for we find it true by experience, that he doth freely iudge in and by whom it pleaſeth him. Teſtimonies of ſcripture proue alſo this aſſertion. 1. Cor. 12. 11: And all theſe things worketh euen the ſelfe ſame ſpirit, diſtributing to eueryevery man ſeuerallie as he will. And Eſay, 54. All thy children ſhall be taught of God. Ier. 31. I will write my lawes in their harts. The aduerſaries impugne this truth of God with ſome argumēts of their owne, of which ye may reade in Bellarmine. And theſe men binde the holy Ghoſt to the Pope, and to councels confirmed by him, which point our men impugne alſo & refute with many arguments, of which this is one: that of their concluſion, this muſt be the conſequent, that the Pope and his councels muſt be aboue the ſcriptures: which thing is abſurd to be graunted. See more arguments of this ſubiect in their diſputations.
CHAP. XVI. Of the eight propertie, and the tenth controuerſie.
LASTLY, we auouch that the ſacred ſcripture is of higheſt authority, excellency and 10. Propertie.dignity on the earth. Here againe by this word ſcripture, we vnderſtand both the ſubſtance of it, and the writing. And here wee meane it hath ſuch excellency, as makes it moſt worthie of credit, and whereby alſo it gaines authority and eſtimation to the Church. For which cauſe the Church is called the Pillar and ground of truth, 1. Tim. 3. 15. And it hath many other titles, which are giuen to it often in the ſcriptures. This is prooued by the former demonſtrations, as theſe: The ſcripture is the word of God, it is moſt perſpicuous, it is moſt pure and ſimple, &c. Ergo.
The aduerſaries vary in iudgment touching this authority of Scripture: For ſome of them detract from this ſoueraigne authority of it, affirming that of it ſelfe it is not authentical, but takes authoritie and eſtimation from the Church. Of this minde are theſe, Eckius in Enchiridio. Pighius in his booke de Hierarchia, and one Hermannus an impudent Papiſt, he with a black mouth auoucheth it, that the ſcripture is of no more validity without the teſtimony of the Church, then AEſops Fables, &c. Others, more late writers and more ſubtile, ſay, that the ſcripture hath authoritie in and by it ſelfe, and is authentical; but not to vsus, before the church approue it, and aſcertain it to be ſo. Of this iudgmēt be theſe: Bellarmine, Coclaeus, Canus, Stapleton, Caniſius, &c. They which ſpeake thus, that the written word of God is not authenticall to vsus, before the iudgment of the Church be manifeſted: theſe men (I ſay) hauehave this meaning, that we bee not bound to beleeue that the Scriptures bee authenticall, before the iudgment of the Church be paſt of it; and that we ſinne not at all, if wee beleeue them not before the definitiue ſentence of the Church. But we hold this to be falſe alſo, to ſay that the ſcripture is not to vsus authenticall, without the authority of the Church: For it is the holy Ghoſt that teacheth eueryevery man to know & beleeue that the ſcripture is authenticall, and hath ſoueraigne authority in it ſelfe. And this he teacheth, not by any externall meane How the holy Ghoſt teacheth vsus what authority the ſcripture hath.firſt, but by the very ſacred ſcripture, by which alone he properly breeds faith in our hearts to beleeue and apprehend this truth of God. And ſo we reſting on this illumination of the holy ghoſt, teaching vsus by the ſcripture, that this is the excellencie and authority of the ſcripture, doe beleeue this to be ſo, albeit the whole world did oppoſe it ſelfe againſt vsus. And thus farre of the more eſſentiall queſtions concerning ſcripture.