The Sovereign Judge of Controversies in Matters of Religion, Chapter 17
CHAP. 17.
The verifying of the third meanes of nullity against the allegations.
And by these reasons wee thinke wee hauehave made good the two first meanes of Nullity proposed against the eight allegations; It remaineth that wee verifie the third, to wit, that they tend to the subversion of Christian Religion.
To come then to the point, let vt first of all consider that their ayme is to proue that a Christiā can hauehave no assurance of his Religion of that which he ought to beleeue, by the Scripture, because it is dumbe, obscure, ambiguous, imperfect, which cannot assure those who depend on it, and may bee alleaged in favour of heretickes. If that detestable opinion bee once engrafted in the heart, as it is set forth and maintained by word, and writing, what will become I pray you of the authority of the Church, which is grounded vponupon the Scripture? if the foundation of it be so falty, is it not to bee feared that the building will sinke? If a Christian cannot, yea ought not to ground himselfe vponupon the Scripture by reason of these pretended imperfections, with what confidence shall hee ground himselfe vponupon the authority of the Church, which hath no other foundation, then this foundation so imperfect, if the foresaid allegations be true? But if the one and the other proppe of faith faile, this of the scripture, and consequently that of the authority of the Church grounded on the Scripture, (as of necessity when the foundation is vndermined, those that leane vponupon the wall must fall together with the wall) what will become of the authority, of the assurance of Christian Religion? The right of the Church is called in question, and shee, either as a daughter produces the scripture, the coppy of the Testament of her Father, or as a spouse brings forth the Scripture, the cōtract of her marriage, and this Testament is foūd dumbe, obscure, ambiguous, of a double meaning, being not able to cleare the night of the Church, nay which may bee imployed against her. In this case what shall bee the foundation? what the title? what the proofes of the right of the Church? will they not be found (if we beleeue the allegations) to be dumbe, ambiguous, obscure, imperfect proofes? and consequently shall not the right, instead of being confirmed, become invalide and of no force? And who will not judge that the Church proceeds not fairely attributing to her self so great authority, and maintaining it by proofes fo defectiue, or who will beleeue that the same is the true Church, the true people of God, who shew a Testament, a couenant of God, cōtracted with her, which she confesseth to be set downe in dumbe words, obscure, ambiguous, applyable to every sense, and which may be produced and vrged against her selfe?
How will the Atheists laugh at this? & how, alas! will the consciences of them bee shaken, that beleeue and receiue this opinion of the obscurity, ambiguity, and insufficiencie of the Scriptures?
Let vsus consider in the second place that their ayme is to cast all Christians into incertainty; striuing to proue by these allegations that a man in what concernes Religion ought to mistrust his owne judgement, which being once granted, how shall a man know whether hee deceiues not himselfe in beleeving that there is a Church? Here the Scripture cannot succour or helpe: for it is presupposed that it cannot afford any certainty: It is laid for a foundation, that a Christian hearing, reading, meditating on the Scripture may coozen and deceiue himselfe. Neither can a man in this straight hauehave recourse to the testimony of the holy Ghost; for the allegation presupposeth, that it cannot be knowne neither who hath, neither whether a man himselfe hath the holy spirit or no. And as for the authority of the Church, it cannot bee alleaged, for question may bee made whether there be any Church at all. As then to him who should doubt whether there ought to be a Pope in the world, it would seeme strange & far frō the purpose to alleage the testimony of the Pope, for to perswade him that there ought to bee one: Even so when we are to proue, that there is a Church, it is in vaine to alleage the testimony of the Church. If then Christian Religion hath no foundation either in the Scripture, or in the testimony of the holy Ghost, or in the authority of the Church, as it followeth from the allegation, where shall shee seeke, where shall shee finde where-vponupon to vphold her selfe? shall it bee in Philosophie? there much lesse; for if a Christian man cannot judge whether there be a Church by the spirit; as not being able to assure himselfe whether hee hath the spirit, much lesse able shall hee be to do it by his reason, which without the spirit is starke blinde in spirituall things.
Let vsus in the third place consider that in the disputes touching the markes and notes of the Church, it is questioned what they are? one is of one opinion, another of another, whence may a certaine knowledge of them bee had? shall it bee from the Scripture? but the allegation presupposeth that it is impossible: shall it bee from the Church? never the nearer: for it so litle appeares which is the Church, that it is controversed what are her markes by which she is knowne.
Let vsus in the fourth place consider, (that grant wee had found the markes of the Church, according to the allegation which casts men into incertitude,) it could not be discerned to what congregation to apply them, amongst so many and divers assemblies, who challenge them: for it is supposed as granted according to the allegation, that the Scripture cannot here guide vsus, that wee may deceiue our selues in making the choyce: and the testimony of the Church can as little helpe vsus, if first of all it bee not presupposed that it hath the markes of the Church, which is the point in question: for wee seeke in what Church the markes of the Church are to bee found: and to rely herein vponupon the testimony of the Church doth presuppose that wee know already in what Church the markes of the Church are found.
Let vsus in the fift place consider that according to the allegations there is no meanes how a man converted to the Church, canne bee assured of his Religion: For if hee hath not beene convinced by lawfull arguments, neither his profession, which followed the conviction of his conscience shall be lawfull. It is very certaine that if the foundation of his faith who hath beene converted, bee the authority of the Church, the foundation of his conuersion hath not beene lawfull. for there was no meanes to perswade him, that the Church hath any such authority; in alleadging to him the testimony of the Church. And the allegation of Scripture, and of reason according to their supposition, is not a lawful meanes to resolue the conscience. Having bin then brought to acknowledge the authority of the Church founded vponupon these arguments, it cannot be but weake and vnlawfull; and consequently the beleefe of all that hee hath beleeued, as depending vponupon the authority which hee giveth vntounto the Church. And indeede if such a one whom wee would convert doth question the authority of the Church, shall we proue vntounto him that whereof he doubteth, by alleaging vntounto him that whereof hee maketh likewise doubt? the argument then of his conuersion to the acknowledgment of the Church cannot hauehave beene the authority of the Church. If then no man can bee assured of the foundation of his conversion, no more neither can hee bee which is builded vponupon the foundation.
In the sixt place let vsus obserue that the Church which is called Catholique never speaketh by word of mouth, they are the particulars that are her Heralds. It may bee demanded then by what meanes a man may bee assured that they discharge their place faithfully, since they may erre in proposing doctrine contrary to the meaning of the Church? This cannot bee by the Scripture: for according to the allegation, truth and falsehood cannot be discerned by it; no, nor by the testimony of the Church; for he speaketh not but by particular men, of whom it is doubted whether they hauehave faithfully reported the determination of the Church.
In the Seaventh place let vsus consider, that if the authority of the Church bee the foundation of faith, every one shall beleeue because his companion hath beleeued: and so christian religion shall bee made ridiculous: for seeing the Church is a congregation of persons in which every one grounds his faith vponupon the authority of the whole congregation of which they are Members, it will necessarily follow, that every one of them shall beleeue apart because all hauehave beleeued together.
In the eight place let vsus weigh this horrible inconvenience, that we shall not beleeue the mysteries of the Trinit, of the incarnation of the redemption of mankinde, but by heare-say, because our Ancestours, our Parents, our fellow burgesses, hauehave beleeued so; and shall not beleeue that they hauehave beene the Church of God, but because they hauehave left this testimony of themselues, which the Iewes may vsurpe with the like appearance of right, if we renounce the authority of Scriptures.
Now hauehave wee verified this last meanes of Nullity not to incense any, (God is our witnesse) but to shew if it bee possible, into what, and how many execrable absurdities some amongst them vnadvisedly precipitate themselues, who by the meanes of these allegations endeavour to draw vsus from the judgement of God speaking in the Scripture, to the judgement of men pretending the title of the Church being most certaine that he who vrged principally this businesse, if wee way be judge of him according to his writings aymed especially to lay the foūdatiō of Atheisme, not that his intent was to overthrow the Romish Religion. He was a French man and a louer of publike peace, hee did know that so to maintaine it, it behoued that the most welcome and the most approoued Religion was to be maintained. We thinke it not strange, that hee should hauehave commended in publike the Romish Religion: from thence hee had his meanes: But wee are extreamely displeased, that he durst testifie by his writings his contempt, and litle respect of all Religion.
Furthermore as we hauehave proved the iniquity of the judgment which the Doctors who call themselues Catholickes passe on the Scripture: so wee hope that it will be easie to see their assignemēt of a judge in sending vsus to the Church, is eyther illusiue or impossible; illusiue, if by the Church they vnderstand themselues: for since they are our opposite parties, they cannot bee our judges. Impossible if by the Church they vnderstand the mysticall body of our Lord Iesus Christ, to whom only notwithstanding the promises hauehave beene made; For who canne distinctly point out the members of that body but hee alone who is the head? And who can then assemble them? And if this be impossible, how shal that Church be the judge which we require? A speaking Iudge, a well knowe Iudge, to whom all may hauehave their recourse, by whom all may bee resolued. And therefore we persist in our demand that wee may be remitted to answere before that vnsuspected Iudge, and acknowledged of all parties, to wit, God speaking in the Scriptures.
Let vsus conclude then with Optatus Mileuitanus;*Optatus Episcopus Mileuitanus contra Parmenianum lib. 5. Tomo. 2. Bibliothaec. patrum. pag. 393. columna. 1. editione Parisiensi 1575. Nemo vobis credat, nemo nobis: omnes contensiosi homines sumus, Quaerendi sunt judices …i Christiani, de vtra que parte dari non possunt, deforis quaerendus est judex. si Paganus, non potest nos…e Christiana secreta, si Iudaeus, inimicus est Christiani baptismatis. Ergo in terris de hac re nullum poterit reperiri iudicium: de coelo quaerendus est iudex sed vt quid pulsamus ad coelum, cum habeamus hic in Evangelio Testamentum? Quia hoc loco rectè possunt terrena coelestibus comparari: tale est, quod qu…uis hominum habens numerosos filios. His quamdiu pater praesens est, ipse imperat singulis: non est adhuc necessarium testamentum. Sic & Christus, quamdiu praesens in terris fuit (quamuis nec modò desit) pro tempore quicquid necessarium erat, Apostolis imperavit Sed quomodo terrenus pater cum se in confinio senserit mortis, timens ne post mortem …uam rupta pace, litigent frattes, adhibitis testibus voluntatem suam de pectore morituro transfert in tabulas diu duraturas. Et si fuerit inter fratres contentio nata, non itur ad tumulum, sed quaeritur testamentum. Et qui in tumulo quiescit, tacitis de tabulis loquitur viuus. Is; cuius est testamentum in caelo est. Ergo voluntas eius, velut in testamento, sic in Evangelio inquiratur. Let no body beleeue you, let no body beleeue vsus, for indeede wee are opposite parties. Wee must seeke then Iudges; if wee take them from among Christians; they can be neither of the one nor the other partie, they must be sought then without If wee call a Pagan, hee knowes not Christian mysteries; if a Iewe, hee is an enemy of Christian Baptisme. Wee cannot then finde on earth any Iudge of this businesse, wee mnst then seeke a Iudge from heauen. But why knocke wee at heauens gate, since wee hauehave the TESTAMENT in the Gospell? for here we may compare terrestriall things with coelestiall: it is as if a man had many children; whilest hee is with them he gouerneth and commandeth every one of them; his Testament is not as yet necessary. But as the terrestriall father finding himselfe nere his end, and fearing that after his death, the bond of peace being broken, contentions and debates may arise amongst the brothers; calling witnesses, signeth in tabls to endure for euer, that which he hath within his dying heart, that if there happen any strife between the brothers; it shal not be needful to go to the graue, but that the Testamēt be sought for in the dumbe tables, frō whence, he that rests quietly in his graue, …eakes liuely; The testator is in heauē: let vsus search then his will in the Gospell as in his testament.
For according to the saying of Chrysostome,aHomil in Ps 95. … 3. p. … Duca… 16…1. foreign If any thing be said without the Scripture, the spirit of the hearer halteth, now assenting, anon doubting; sometimes reiecting the words as friuilous▪ and presently receiuing the same againe as probable: But when the testimony of Gods word is produced out of the Scripture, i… strengthens as well the discourse of the speaker, as the spirit of … And would it not be very absurd▪ saith the same Father, not to trust another in a matter of monye, but to account, and …ll it on's selfe: and neuerthelesse when the determining of th…se so weighty matters is in hand, to suffer himselfe to be drawne as it were by force, and inconsiderately, to another mans opinion; especially hauing an exact scale, rule, and square, to wit, the declaration of the holy Scriptures? And therefore I adiure, and pray you all, that you leaue that which seemeth Good to this man or to that man, and that ye inquire of the Scriptures concerning these things.… 13. in … epist. ad … finem ex ed…io… Com…liona… 84▪ foreign
Galat. 6. v. 16. As man… as walke according to this rule, peace bee on them, and mercy, and vponupon the Israel of God.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Cameron, The Sovereign Judge of Controversies in Matters of Religion (1628)