A Trial of the Romish Clergys Title to the Church, Text and commentary · Quoted chapter 6
A. D.
CHAP. VI. VVhat conditions or properties muſt be found in the rule of Faith.
THis rule, which Almightie God hath prouided, as a ſufficient meanes to direct men to the knowledge of true faith, neceſſarie to ſaluation; muſt hauehave three conditions or properties.
Firſt it muſt be certaine and infallible; for otherwiſe it cannot be a ſufficient foundation, whereupon to build faith, which (as is proued before) is abſolutely infallible.
Secondly it muſt be ſuch, as may be certainly, and plainly knowne of all ſorts of men. For if to any ſort, it could not be knowen, or not certainly knowen, it could not be to them a rule or meanes, whereby they might direct themſelues, to the certaine knowledge of the true faith.
Thirdly it muſt be vniuerſall, that it may not onelyonly make vsus know certainly, what is the true faith in ſome one or two, or moe points, but abſolutely in all points of faith. For otherwiſe it were not a ſufficient meanes, whereby we may attaine to an entire faith: which integritie of faith is neceſſarie to ſaluation, in ſuch wiſe, as hath bene declared and prooued before.
A. W.
Your aſſumption had three points, and, as it were parts, making three ſeueral ſentences or propoſitions, which for the more To the aſſumption.plainneſſe I will handle ſeuerally, as you hauehave done. Firſt of the Scripture.
The rule of faith muſt be certaine, and infallible, certainly and plainly knowen, and vniuerſall.
The Scripture alone is not ſo.
Therefore the Scripture alone is not the rule of faith.
Ere I come to anſwer your Syllogiſme, giuegive me leaue to ſhew how obſcurely and doubtfully theſe properties are deliuered by you. Firſt infallible is taken in two diuers ſenſes. Faith muſt be infallible. The rule muſt be infallible. In the former we muſt needs expound infallible, not being deceiued by holding any errour, or nor doubting of that which it beleeueth. In the latter, what can infallible ſignifie, but either that, which is certainly true, or that, which may not be doubted of? Is it plaine dealing to ſpeake ſo doubtfully? Or is it a good kinde of reaſoning to runne the ring, and to diſpute in a circle, as they ſpeake in the Schooles? xChap. 3. Sect. 3.Before, you would prooue the infallibility of faith, by the infallibility of the word of God, which it muſt beleeue: now you conclude the infallibility of the rule, from the infallibility of faith. Is not this to trifle, rather then to reaſon? Would you not laugh at vsus, if we ſhould diſpute thus? The elect cannot fall away, becauſe the holy Ghoſt, that vpholds them, is true God. The holy Ghoſt is true God, becauſe the elect, whom he vpholds, cannot fall away. View your ſelfe in this glaſſe.
Secondly, what would a reaſonable man conceiue by theſe words, The rule muſt be certainly and plainly knowen: but that euerie man muſt be able to perceiue that this, or that is the rule? What is your meaning? That yChap. 7. Sect. 2.the rule muſt not be hard to be vnderſtood.
Thirdly, your terme of vniuerſalitie is not ſo plaine, as it might hauehave bene; becauſe it is commonly, I thinke eueryevery where in this Treatiſe, ſaue in this one chapter, taken for that which belongs to all perſons, times and places: no where for all points of doctrine, no not there, zChap. 4.where you ſpeake of the entireneſſe of faith. And I pray you tell me, why, as you apply infallibilitie to faith and the rule, you do not in like ſort deale with entireneſſe, and ſay that the rule muſt be entire, becauſe faith muſt be entire.
I come now to your propoſition, which I denie: becauſe it To the propoſition.is not neceſſarie, that the rule of faith ſhould be ſuch, as may be certainly and plainly knowen, that is vnderſtood in eueryevery point. It is ſufficient, if it may be vnderſtood in thoſe points, that are neceſſarie to ſaluatiō. Who would ſay, that he, which is to meaſure out timber in length, had not a perfect rule to that purpoſe, hauing an ordinarie Carpenters rule, becauſe there are vponupon the rule ſome figures, circles, triangles, ſquares and ſuch like, the vſe wherof he vnderſtandeth not? If you runne backe to the entireneſſe of faith, I will follow you for a refutation of my anſwer thereunto, and a founder proofe of that your conceit.