A tract of the soueraigne iudge of controuersies in matters of religion. By Iohn Cameron minister of the Word of God, and divinity professour in the Academie of Montauban. Translated into English by Iohn Verneuil. M.A.

CHAP. 7. (Book 7)

A verifying of the first meanes of nullity against the fift and sixt ••llegation. (Book 7)

AND for the fifth reproach cast vpon the Scripture, to wit, that those who make profession to end their contro∣versies

by its determination, are disagreeing in opinion, if this consideration should make that God speaking in the Scrip∣ture or by the Scriptures, were not a competent Iudge to de∣termine our controversies, it would follow also from thence that neither the Church should be our Iudge, since in this respect there is no difference. For in the times of the Pri∣mitiue Church, both Arrians and Orthodoxes, Donatistes & Catholiques, did pretend to follow the judgement of the Church. The Arrians did reject the Councell of Nice, re∣quired a new Councell: yea many Arrians in effect prote∣sted that they would hold themselues to the Councell of Nice: so that by this account the Church it selfe shall not be the Iudge, if from the discord of them, who professe to referre themselues to the decision of a Iudge, wee shall con∣clude the insufficiencie of the Iudge.

Finally amongst the Doctors, who call themselues Ca∣tholiques, and protest all with one full consent to submit themselues to the judgment of the Church, what jarres? what contentions are there? The Angelicall D S Thomas* 1.1 holds that the Crosse is to be worshiped with a religious worship, to this purpose hee brings the authority of the Church: and proveth that the image is to bee worshipped with the very* 1.2 same worship which is due to the same thing represented by the Image. Bellarmine is not of the same opinion, as∣signing a lower degree of worshippe to the Image, then to the thing whereof it is an Image, and for streng∣thening of his opinion hee also alleageth the authority of the Church. wherefore then cast they this reproach ra∣ther on the sacred word, then the Church? And whereas in the sixth place, they endeavour to prooue that, God speaking in the Scripture, cannot be judge of our differencies, vnder a colour that Hereticks do challenge and attribute to themselues the Scripture, by the same reason they conclude also that neither the Church shall bee Iudge: for heretiques make* 1.3 vse of the authority of the Church as of a cloake, Cite the Fathers, the Councels, the traditions of the Church. But if it bee replyed, that this is for shew only and in Sophisticall

manner; the answer also is easie, and at hand, to wit they do the like in alleaging the Scripture: therefore things stand vpon the very same tearmes, were it not that some though they dare not speake, yet do thinke that the Scripture in∣deede favoureth Heretiques, which were all one as to imagine that God by his word doth cover (as with a cloake) the devils lyes, which were as impious to thinke, as blas∣phemous to speake.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Discord amongst the Romish Do∣ctors.
• * 1.2

  Tho. 2^a 2^ae qu. 103. art. 3. & 3. q 25. art. 40. Bellar. lib. 2. de magin. c: 20. 2••
• * 1.3

  Concil. Cal•• Act. 1.