A defense of the sincere and true translations of the holie Scriptures into the English tong against the manifolde cauils, friuolous quarels, and impudent slaunders of Gregorie Martin, one of the readers of popish diuinitie in the trayterous Seminarie of Rhemes. By William Fvlke D. in Diuinitie, and M. of Pembroke haule in Cambridge. Wherevnto is added a briefe confutation of all such quarrels & cauils, as haue bene of late vttered by diuerse papistes in their English pamphlets, against the writings of the saide William Fvlke.

MART. 26. I will not speake of the German Heretikes,* 1.1 who to mainteine this heresie, that all our workes, be they neuer so good, are sinne, translated, for Tibi soli peccaui, to thee only haue I sinned▪ thus, Tibi solùm peccaui▪ that is, I▪ haue nothing else but sinned: whatsoeuer I do, I sinne:* 1.2 whereas neither the Greeke nor the Hebrewe will possibly admit* 1.3 that sense. Let these passe as Lutherans, yet wilfull corrupters, and acknowledged of our English Protestants for their good brethren. But if Beza translate, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, when* 1.4 we were yet of no strength, as the Geneua English Bible also doth interprete it, whereas euery young Grecian knoweth that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is weake, feeble, infirme, and not altogither without strength: is not this of purpose to take away mans free will alto∣gither? See chap. 10. nu. 13.

FVLK. 26. I knowe not what German heretikes

those be which maintaine that heresie, that al our works be they neuer so good are sinne, except they be the Li∣bertines with whom we haue nothing to do. For we ne∣uer say, that good workes are sinne, for that were al one to say that good were euill. But that al our good workes are short of that perfection, which the law of God requi∣reth, we do humbly confesse against our selues. Or else, what soeuer seemeth to be a good worke, and is done of mē voyde of true faith, is sinne. For these assertions we haue the scripture to warrāt vs. And if to proue the later any man hath translated those words of Dauid in the 51. Psalme, Lecha, Lebadecha, Tibi solum, or tantūmodo tibi pec∣caui,* 1.5 &c. To the only or altogither to thee I haue sinned, in respect of his naturall corruption which he doth ex∣presse in the next verse, he hath not departed one whitte from the Hebrewe wordes, nor from the sense which the wordes may very wel beare, which he that denieth, ra∣ther sheweth him selfe ignorant in the Hebrew tongue, than he that so translateth. For what doth Lebad signifie,* 1.6 but Solum or Tantum and therefore it may as well be translated Solum tibi, as Soli ••ibi. And the Apostle Rom. 3. prouing by the later end of that verse, all men to be vn∣iust, that God only may be true, and euery man a lier, as it is written that thou mayest be iustified in thy wordes &c. fauoreth that interpretation of Bucer, or who soeuer it is beside. But if Beza translate 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, when wee were yet of no strength, as the Geneua Englishe Bible doth also interprete it, whereas euerye young Gre∣cian knoweth that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is weake, feeble, infirme, and not altogither withoute strengthe: is not this of purpose to take awaye mannes free wyll altogither? Chapter tenth, Number. 13. Naye it is to shewe as the Apostles pur∣pose is, that wee haue no strength to fulfill the lawe of God without the grace of Christ, euen as Christ him selfe sayth, without me you can do nothing, Ioan. 15. v. 5. But euery young Grecian (saye you) knoweth that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is weake, feeble, infirme, and not altogither with

out strength. And is there then any old Grecian that will proue, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 alway signifieth him that is weake, but not voide of strength? Doth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 alwayes signifie him that hath some strēgth? Certaine it is that the Apo∣stle speaketh here, of those that were voide of strength, for the same he calleth in the same verse 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vngodly, or voide of religion, for whom Christ died. Howe say you then, had vngodly persons any strength to be saued, except Christ had died for them? Therefore he that in this place translateth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, weake, feeble, infirme▪ must needes vnderstand men so weake, feeble, and infirme, as they haue no strength. For how might it else be truely sayed, what hast thou, which thou hast not receiued? 1. Cor. 4. v. 7. Yes, say you, we haue some peece of freewil at least, some strength to clime to heauen, euen with∣out the grace of God, without the death & redemption of Christ. If you say no, why cauill you at Bezaes trans∣lation and ours? The Greeke worde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as great a Grecian as you would make your selfe, signifieth weake or infirme, sometime that which yet hath some strength, sometime that which hath no strength at all, as I will giue you a plaine example out of S. Paule. 1. Cor. 15. v. 43. The dead bodie is sowen 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in weakenesse: it riseth againe in power. Doth not weakenesse here signi∣fie priuation of all strength? It is maruaile, but you will say a dead bodie is not altogither voide of strength. Be∣za telleth you out of S. Paule, Rom. 8. v. 6. That the wise∣dome of the flesh without Christ is death, it is enmitie against God, it is neither subiect vnto the law of God▪ neither can it be, where is the strength of free will that you complaine to bee taken away by our translation? Beza doth also tell you, that S. Paule calleth all the ce∣remonies of the lawe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; as they are separated from the spirit of Christ, the weake and beggerly elementes, Gala••. 4. Are they not voide of strength, & riches which are voide of Christs grace and spirit? But your purpose was only to quarrell, and seeke a knot in a rush, & there∣fore

you regarded not what Beza hath written, to iusti∣fie his translation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••rentius Me∣lancth. See ••inda. Dubi. Dial. 1. c. 1••▪ Psal. 51.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.4

  Whitak. pag. 1••••. Ro. 5. v. 6.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉