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.

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Title
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.
Author
Cameron, John, 1579?-1625.
Publication
Oxford :: Printed by VVilliam Turner printer to the famous Vniversity, and are to be sold by Henry Curteine,
1628.
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Subject terms
Authority -- Religious aspects -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A17865.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A17865.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 27, 2025.

Pages

Page 7

CHAP. 1. (Book 1)

The subtility of those who shunne the reformation, and the sincerity of them who require it. (Book 1)

IT is sayd that Alcibiades as yet but young in yeares, but in craft and subtility already aged, comming on a day to visit Pericles, when one had told him that hee was busie making vp the accounts which hee was to giue of his office; immediately replyed, it was better for Pericles to busie himselfe, in seeking the meanes how hee might giue no accounts at all, and so went his wayes. This passage hath beene applauded by many as most sharpe and witty. But there are some, and of those not a few who much esteeme the vse and ne∣cessity of the councell it importeth: All bankrupts, pet∣tifoggers, extortioners, and in a word, the whole rable of impostors make vse thereof, and haue recourse vnto it, as to the onely soveraigne remedie of their di∣spaire: and indeede hee that is convinced in his consci∣ence,

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that knoweth that hee shall come short of his ac∣counts, and in the proofe of his pretended right, it is his safest and easiest way to avoid the comming to any ac∣count, or triall at all. Where contrariwise, hee that hath a cleare conscience, his reckonings ready, his cause good, doth flye nothing more then such shifts; and desires, and endeauours aboue all to bee heard throughly, fearing least the prescription, exceptions, and pretences of cun∣ning wranglers, though hee could make vse of them, should darken the equitie of his cause, and leaue behind it this scruple, that his cause in the issue of it, will prooue like to those other vnto which it hath some resemblance in the proceeding. Would to GOD all men in the controversies of religion, were of the same opinion, and had the same cou∣rage, and true meaning, which humaine and civill wisdome doth suggest to vs in our law suites, that wee would bee willing to come to an issue. And since wee all agree that our heauenly Father hath not left vs without a Testament, that wee on both sides, know by what Notaries it hath beene receiued, where they haue enrolled it, since wee haue the law and the testimony, that wee would also haue our recourse with a joynt consent, to that Testament, to those Notaries, to their Registers, and say with one and the same voyce af∣ter the Prophet, To the law and to the testimony, if they speake not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Truely God revealeth not his will; the Prophets, the Apostles teach it not, but by his word; wee haue this word, what can wee aske more? would wee know what the judgement of God is, what the testimony of the Pro∣phets, and Apostles are concerning that doctrine? ought not God himselfe to declare it? should not the Prophets and Apostles Publish it? Wee haue this declaration, wee haue (no Christian doubteth thereof) the authentique coppy

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of this publication, haue we not then what wee neede, what we seeke, and aske so earnestly, to wit a sentence and a finall decree on our controversies? Truely it is not necessa∣ry, that the King, the Secretary, the Court, the Register bee all present wheresoever it is requisite that the Kings will be knowne, if wee haue the order of the Court, wee are as∣sured of the Edict and decree. Wee stand at this day on these termes, wee haue not to do with the Iewes, neither with the Turkes, who denie the authority, the one of a part, the other of the whole Scripture. Wee are Christi∣ans, wee beleeue, wee all protest that we haue in the Cano∣nicall booke of the Scripture of the old and new Testament, the declaration of the will of God. We acknowledge on both sides that whatsoever is there contained, is the word of God which is able to make vs wise vnto salvation, and throughly furnished vnto all good workes.* 1.1 Why do we then so earnestly demand the corporall presence of our judge? why do wee desire that he should giue vs a Vicar, a substi∣tute, since wee haue his decree, and acknowledge that hee hath pronounced it?

Notes

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