The Jesuits Shifts and Evasions, Chapter 6 – Chapter 7
CHAP. VI. The third Euaſion.
THe third Euaſion which Maſter Arnoux ſaith we vſe, is, that we ſerue our turnes with the circle; in this, that we proue thoſe things to be Scripture by our particular ſpirit, and proue that particular ſpirit by the Scripture. Which is falſe and ſlanderous. We leaue that particular ſpirit to mad men, none of vsus makes our ſelues Iudges of the Scriptures; That is the Popes and his Prelates property, who being aſſembled boaſt that they pronounce Iudgement touching points of faith, and beleeue they cannot erre. And our Aduerſaries ſay, that eueryevery particular perſon of the Church of Rome doth certainly diſcerne the true Church, which ſpirit or particular iudgement, is meere blindneſſe, ſeeing that the poore people hauehave no other proofe to know that the Church of Rome is the true Church, then onelyonly the witneſſe that the ſame Church giueth of itſelfe.
Touching the circle, if any ſerue their turnes therewith, it is our aduerſaries, for they ground the authoritie of the Scripture vponupon the teſtimony of the Church: and yet ground the authoritie of the Church vponupon teſtimonies of the Scripture: as one that hauing placed the walles of a houſe vponupon the foundation, afterward ſhould place the foundation vponupon the walles. When we aske them, how they know that wee muſt beleeue the bookes of the new Teſtament; They anſwere and ſay, becauſe the Church ſaith it, and ordaines it to be ſo: and when we ſay, that how know you that wee muſt beleeue the Church? becauſe (ſay they) that the bookes of the New Teſtament ſay ſo, and ordaine it to be ſo, for there it is written, Tell it vntounto the Church, &c. Certainely as often as they alledge the Scriptures to ground and authorize their Church, they ouerthrow that which they will hauehave men to beleeue; which is, that the authority of the Scripture is grounded vponupon the authority of the Church. And thereby are tyed to rowle the circle, as Diogenes is to his tub, and ouerturne their owne wits by this circulation. But when we aske one of them, and ſay, how know you that your Church teacheth the true Doctrine? or how know you that it is conformable to the ancient Church? There they are at a ſtay, and the circle rowles no more, and ſo they are dumbe by neceſſity: For how ſhall they know the true Doctrine, ſeeing the rule of the true Doctrine, which is the holy Scripture, is hidden from them? And how ſhould they know whether their Church is conformable to the ancient Church, ſeeing it is not knowne, but by an infinite number of Greeke and Latine Bookes, which the people vnderſtand not? Then the people muſt know that the Church of Rome teacheth the true Doctrine, onelyonly becauſe thoſe that teach it, ſay ſo, which is to belieue at hazard, and to hauehave a humane Religion, grounded vponupon coniectures, without the Word of God, and to allow a man to be a witneſſe and a Iudge in his owne cauſe.
Therefore Maſter Arnoux giueth markes to know the true Church, without ſpeaking of the holy Scriptures,Pag. 119. which are all falſe. Firſt, The conſent of the people. But there are a greater number of the people that diſagree with the Church of Rome, than thoſe that agree therewith. And Ieſus Chriſt ſaith, that broad is the way that leadeth to deſtruction, Math. 7.13.14.and many there be which goe in thereat: becauſe ſtraite is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth vntounto life, and few there be that finde it. Then he addeth the teſtimony of Martyrs: a falſe marke, for there ſhall neuer be any Martyrs found, that died for calling vponupon Saints, or for Tranſubſtantiation, or for Purgatory; They ſuffered death for the doctrine of the Goſpell, for the which our poore Churches hauehave ſuffered ſo many martyrdomes by meanes of the Church of Rome, which ſuffereth no more, but maketh martyrs ſuffer. For a third marke, he placeth the authority of the Fathers: But the Fathers are contrary to the Doctrine of the Romiſh Church, the people cannot looke into them: And Maſter Arnoux ſpeaketh by heare-ſay: for in his Booke he alledgeth but foure or fiue places out of the Fathers, which are not found to be falſe and corrupted. For a fourth marke, hee puts the eminence of the Doctrine. I thinke that by the eminence, hee vnderſtandeth the excellency, which conſiſteth in purity, and conformity to the Word of God. Without proofe to ſay, that the Church of Rome hath the purity of Doctrine, it is without proofe to pre-ſuppoſe that which is in queſtion. To the contrary we hauehave proued, againſt Maſter Arnoux, that Poperie is a heape of errours, and a corruption of Chriſtianitie. And how ſhould the people know that purity of Doctrine, ſeeing they hide the rule of purity, which is the holy Scriptures from them?
For the laſt marke, hee ſe…teth ſucceſſion, neuer interrupted. It he vnderſtandeth a ſucceſſion of doctrine, wee deny it; if he vnderſtandeth a ſucceſſion of chaires without Doctrine, that ſucceſſion is nothing. Many other Churches alſo which condemne the Church of Rome, hauehave their ſucceſſion, and that ancienter than the Romane. And ſchiſmes hauehave often broken the ſucceſſion of the Romiſh Biſhopricke. And how can the people know any thing touching this ſucceſſion, which cannot be learned but by reading of infinite Hiſtories, and Greeke and Latine Authors, that hauehave written for the ſpace of one thouſand ſixe hundred yeares?
CHAP. VII. The fourth Euaſion.
THe aduerſary noteth another Euaſion, wherewith wee ſerue our turnes (as he ſaith;) which is, to produce diuers places of Scripture, one with another, whereof the one ſerueth to interpret the other. For example, he ſaith, that wee expound theſe words, This is my body, by this place, I am the Vine: wherein hee ſlandereth vsus. We know well, that theſe words, I am the Vine, are not the expoſition of theſe words, This is my body: Wee note not thoſe places. I am the Ʋine, I am the dore, This cup is the Couenant. The rocke was Chriſt, to interpret theſe words, This is my body, but to ſhew that whoſoeuer will alwaies take the words of the holy Scripture literally, and leaue theſe interpretations whereby the Scripture expreſſeth it ſelfe, ſhould often fall into great abſurdities, and to ſhew that ordinarily the Scripture nameth the ſignes and Sacraments, by the names of that which they repreſent.