Answer to the Tractive by Master Kennedy, Lesson 3
Heir followis M. Q. Confirmatione, of this Thride Leſſone.
AND to the effect, that thow ſall mair cleirly perceaue the Apoſtles, till occupy the place of ane Iudge, to the interpretatione of the worde of God, and the Scripture to be as witnes berare, of the will and mynede of the Lrde. Quare by the Apoſtles tuik inſtructione. Thow ſal marke the ſentence put in writ, and ſend away with Paule and Barnabas, and ſum vther of the reſt of the Congregatione, ſaying thir wordis.
It hes pleaſit the haly Baiſt and vsus, to put na vther burdene vpone ȝow, bot till abſtene fra filthynes of Idoles, and blude, it that is wirreit, and Fornicatione, fra the quhilkꝭ ȝe keiping ȝow, ȝe do weill: and weill fair ȝe.
Marke gude Reader, the wordis of the ſentence: ſaying, it hes pleaſit the haly Gaiſt and vsus, as the Scripture wald ſay, and vsus, as Iudges appointit be God, to decerne the rycht vnderſtanding of Gods worde fra the wrang Als it may be notit, that thae is na teſtimonie of the Scripture put in the ſentence; be the quhilk, it may be perceaiut, the Iudgement onelyonly referrit to the Apoſtles, and the Scripture na wayis to occupy the place of ane Iudge, toward the īterpretatione of the Scripture.
M. Iohne Dauiſonis Anſwer.
ANE Bairne may Iudge on this interpretatione of M. Q. that other he ſpeakis effectionatly, that grounds his argument ſa weakly, to proue the Apoſtles to be Iudges, or els be hes nocht vnderſtand his Texte, that he reaſonis vpone. For quhare he ſayis, marke gude Readers, the wordis of the ſentence: ſaying. It hes pleaſit the haly Gaiſt and vsus, as the ſcripture wald ſay, and vsus as Iudges appointit be God, to decerne the rycht vnderſtanding of the Scripture, fra the wrang. This maner of interpretatione, the hale warld may ſee, that it is na worth: For in it, thare is manifeſt wrang done to the haly Spirit, in ſa far as M. Q. ſa ſlychely ouerſeis him (quhom it hes pleaſit the Apoſtles, the Elders, and Brethren, to put principall, and Firſte, as the onelyonly trew Iudge in the decrete) and geuis onelyonly the dignitie of Iudgement, and preſidencie to the Apoſtles, quhilk thay wald neuer hauehave tanc on thaim ſelues. And mairattour, I meruell quhow he hes dreamit this interpretatione, and vsus as Iudges: conſiddering thare is na mentione maid of Iudgement, before thir wordis, nor behinde. Except that Iames ſayis I think beſt, quhilk I hauehave ſufficiently ſchawin before, that thir wordis meanit of na Iudgement geuing.
Secondly, vnderunder this worde (vsus) is contenit nocht onelyonly the Apoſtles, bot alſwa the Elders and Brethren, as may be eaſylie perceauit be the letter writtin in the Councell of the haly Spirit, be the Apoſtles. For the Inſcriptione of the letter contenis the Apoſtles, Elders, and Brethren, quhilk he hes pretermittit in his tractiue, that he mycht interprete this terme (vsus) as he pleaſit, quhilk he could not hauehave done, and he had lukit to the Superſcriptione of the letter. Quhareby we may cleirly ſee, that it is the Scripturs, quhilk geuis the rycht vnderſtanding of the difficill places of the Scripture, and the diſcretione betuix the rycht vnderſtanding of thaim, and the wrang, for the quhilk thare is ony controuerſie, for the ſuperſcriptione of this letter of the Councell, geuis to thaim that luikis on this matter, the rycht interpretatione of this worde (vsus.) And alſwa diſcretione betuix the rycht vnderſtanding heirof, and the wrang, without the quhilk, na warldly Creature could interprete it, nor ȝit could thay decerne, quhidder M. Q. hes interprete it rycht or wrang. And tharefore I hauehave put in writ the Epiſtle of the Councell, that all men that hes ony Iudgement, may perfytely ſee, quhow M. Q. hes cloikit the mater, gif he hes pretermittit the Superſcriptione of the Apoſtles Epiſtle, of ſet purpoſe: and gif he hes done it of ignorance, I hauehave put the ſame Epiſtle in writ, that the warld may hauehave petie of his ignoraunce, and be war in tymes cumming, that thay be not diſſauit be his writings. And alſwa that the warld may ſee, quhom this worde (vsus) rehearſis, and to quhom it hes reſpect.