Page 16
¶ The .viii. Chapter. That so farre as mans reason may beare, there are sufficient proues to stablyshe the credite of Scripture.
VNlesse we haue this assuraunce, whiche is bothe more ex∣cellent and of more force than any iudgement of man. in vayne shall the authorytie of Scripture eyther bee strengthened with argumentes, or stablished with con∣sente of the churche, or confyrmed with any other mea∣nes of defence. For vnlesse this fundation bee layde, it still remayneth hangynge in doubte. As on the other syde when ex∣emptynge it from the common state of thynges, we haue embraced it deuoutely and accordyng to the worthynesse of it: then these thynges become very fitte helpes, which before were but of small force to graffe and fasten the assurance therof in our myndes. For it is meruaylous, howe greate establishemente groweth herof, when with earnest studye we consider howe orderly and well framed a disposition of the diuine wisedom appereth therin, howe heauenly a doctrine in euery place of it, and nothyng sauoryng of earthlynesse, howe beautyful an agreement of all the partes amonge theym selues, and suche other thynges as a∣uayle to procure a maiestie to writynges. But more perfectly are oure hartes confirmed when we consyder, howe we are euen violently cari∣ed to an admiration of it rather with dignitie of matter, than with grace of woords. For this also was not done without the singular pro∣uidence of God, that the hye misteries of the heauenly kingdome should for the moste part be vttered vnder a contemptible basenesse of words, least if it hadde ben beautified with more glorious speache the wicked shoulde cauill that the onely force of eloquence doeth reigne therein. But when that roughe and in a maner rude simplicitie dooeth rayse vp a greater reuerence of it selfe than any rhetoricians eloquence, what may we iudge, but that there is a more myghty strength of truthe in the holye Scripture, than that it nedeth any art of wordes? Not with∣oute cause therefore the Apostle maketh his argument, to proue that the faythe of the Corinthians was grounded vpon the power of God,* 1.1 and not vpon mans wysedom, bycau••e his preachyng among them was set foorth not with enticyng speche of mans wisedom, but in playne eui∣dence of the spirite and of power. For the truthe is then sette free from all doubtyng, when not vpholden by forayne aides it selfe alone suffi∣seth to susteyne it self. But how this power is proprely alone belongyng to the scripture, hereby appereth, that of all the writynges of menne, be they neuer so connyngly garnyshed, no one is so farre able to pearce our affections. Reade Demosthenes or Cicero, reade Plato, Aristotle, or any other of all that sorte: I graunt they shall meruailously allure, delite, moue, and rauishe thee. But if from them thou come to this ho∣ly readyng of Scriptures, wylte thou or not, it shall so lyuely moue thy affections, it shall so pearce thy hearte, it shall so settle within thy bones, that in comparison of the efficacie of this feelyng, all that force of Rhetoricians and Philosophers shall in maner vanysshe awaie: so that it is easy to perceyue that the scriptures, whiche doo farre excell all