before the faith was preached, among the Gentiles: by vvhich not onely euery other inseriout teachers doctrine was tried, but al the Apostles, and Euangelistes preaching, vvriting, interpreting (which is here called prophecying) were of gods Church appointed and admitted, or disproued and reiected. This forme, by mouth and not by Scripture, euery Apostle deliuered to the countrie by them conuerted. For keeping of this forme, the Apostle before praised the Romanes, and after∣ward earnestly warneth them by no man 〈◊〉〈◊〉 speache to be drawen from the same. This he commendeth to Timothee, calling it his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 For not holding this fast and sure, he blameth the Galatians, further also denouncing to him self or an Angel that should write, teach, or ex∣pound against that which they first receiued, 〈…〉〈…〉, and commanding alwaies to bevvare of them that taught otherwise. For feare of missing this line of truth, him self notwithstanding he had the Holy Ghost, yet lest he might haue preached in vaine and lost his labour, he went to conferre with Peter and the rest, for tho fast keeping of this Rule of truth, the Apostles held Councels, and their successors by their example. For the holding of this Rule, and by the measure thereof, were al the holy Scriptures written, for and by the same, al the glorious doctors haue made their sermons, commendries, and interpretations▪ Gods vvork al vvritings and interpretatiōs no otherwise admitted nor deemed to be of God, but as they be agreable to this Rule.
And this is the sure Analogies 〈◊〉〈◊〉 measure of faith, set downe and commended to vs euery where for the Apostles tradition: and not the phantastical rule or square that euery Sectmaister pretendeth to gather out of the Scriptures falsely vnderstood and wrested to his purpose, by which they iudge of doctor, Scripture, Church and al. Arîus had by that meanes a rule of his owne, Luther had his false weightes, and Caluin his owne also. According to which seueral measure of euery Sect, they haue their expositions of Gods word: and in England (as in other infected Countries) they kept of lare an apish imitation of this prophecying which S. Paul here and in other places speaketh of, and which was an exercise in the primitiue Church, measured not by euery mans peculiar spirit, but by the former Rule of faith first set downe by the Apostles. And therfore al this new phantastical Prophecying & al other preaching in Caluins schoole, is iustly by this note of the Apostle condemned, for that it is not according to, but quite against the Rule of faith.