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. 6. (Book 6)

The verification of the first meanes of Nullitie against the third, and fourth allegation. (Book 6)

3 BVt (if as by the third allegation it seemes) the Scripture bee ambiguous. and capable of divers interpretations, wherefore and with what reason is it, that the Doctors that terme themselues Catholickes doe make more account, of one expression of Scripture, then of another, grounding themselues either vpon the circumstances of the very text, which is expounded, or vpon some other passage of the Scripture, the sense whereof is cleare, manifest and certaine, and not simply vpon the authority of the Church?

If the Scripture be as they say, a nose of waxe, Theramenes buskin, a shoe for both feete, a wethercock which turnes with the winde: wherefore do they refute by Scripture the inter∣pretations, nay, rather the false glosses of heretiques? Wherefore do they not barely alleage vnto them the autho∣rity of the Church? Verily according to their reckoning, for the prooueing of transubstantiation, they neede no more vrge the words of the Scripture, hoc est corpus meum, neither to say that they must be taken as they sound, as be∣ing words of a last will and testament, seing that this passage being a part of the Scripture, is according to the nature of the Scripture (if their allegation be true) ambiguous and ca∣pable of divers interpretations: and therefore they ought not to beleiue transubstantiation by reason of this place of Scrip∣ture, but because it hath pleased the Church so to interpret it: and so the beliefe of the Church of Rome will not bee grounded vpon the Scripture, nor ruled according to it; but quite contrary, the sence of the Scripture, is ruled and grounded vpon the knowledge of the Church; so that the foundation is builded vpon the house, and the building is the levell and the square.

And to conclude, how commeth it to passe that they say

that the Scripture proueth so distinctly, so clearely, so evi∣dently the pretended authority of the Church, that they wonder how those that do but read the Scripture can admit it, if so bee that the Scripture bee ambiguous, and of a double meaning as hath beene pretended by the third alle∣gation.

4 Touching the fourth defect objected against the Scrip∣ture, to wit that it is imperfect, and doth not sufficiently fur∣nish vs with reasons, for to proue or refute what is to be belee∣ued, in matters of controversie betwixt vs. If this obje∣ction bee received, how haue the Doctors of the Church, which is called Catholique, vndertaken to proue all the points of the Romish Religion by the Scripture? Haue they taken vpon them rashly a thing impossible? would they shew themselues in this sophisters and cavilling di∣sputers, seeking in the Scripture that which is not there to be found and prouing a truth by a lye? or are there some points of doctrine beleeued in the Church termed Catho∣lique, which are not contained in the Scripture? who amongst them all dare vndertake to make a catalogue of any such points? what may those points of doctrine be, that are not handled in the Scripture, for being silent in which, the Scripture is termed imperfect?

They are not points touching the Trinity, the incarnati∣on of the Sonne of God, the redemption of mankind, or of faith in Iesus Christ, of hope, charity and repentance, of the necessity and practise of good workes, of life eternall, of Baptisme, of the preaching of the word, of the holy supper; these points and those that depend on them are without doubt retained in the Scripture.

What then can these articles of faith bee, of which the Prophets, the Apostles, nay God himselfe hath spoken in the Scripture? Is it the article of the popes authority, not only now to excommunitate, but also to depose Kings? his authority of dispēcing with mariages, with which God dispenceth not in his word? to make eating of flesh in Lent (a thing of it selfe indifferent) to bee a sinne? and that

an incestious mariage be not incestious, or else the article of his imperiall dominion so soveraigne and supreme that al∣though hee should lead whole troupes of silly soules into hell, none may presume to say vnto him my Lord why do you so? and of so large extent that it reacheth vnto the soules both of the liuing and the dead? Or are they the ar∣ticles of worshipping of Images, of invocation of Saints, of the fier of purgatory, as hote as that of hell, of workes of supererogation, of merit ex congruo & ex cōdigno, that Iesus Christ hath sacrificed himselfe vpon earth twice, to wit, when he celebrated the holy Supper with his disciples, and not once alone vpon the crosse, that divine service ought to be sayd in an vnknowne tongue, that Christ hath not saued by his death the litle children which dye without baptisme. And if there be any other article of this sort of which the holy Ghost hath made no mention, and the Prophets, and Apostles haue written nothing. No the holy Ghost hath di∣ctated, the Prophets and Apostles haue written the cleane contrary, That the temporall authority of Kings is immediat∣ly from God.* 1.1 That every man is subiect to, and not aboue the law of God. That the very Apostles are the servants, but not the lords of the Church.* 1.2 That the soules of them which dye in Christ rest from their labours.* 1.3 That wee must not call on him in whom we have not beleeued. That wee must not bowe downe to images.* 1.4 That when we haue done all wee can, wee are vnprofi∣table servants. That Christ hath not offered himselfe often∣times, but once. That the vse of an vnknowne tongue in the Church is a curse.* 1.5 That Christ receiued the litle Children, yea before baptisme.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 13. 1. 2. Cor. 4. 5.
• * 1.2

  Apoc. 14. 13.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 10. 14.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 20. Luc. 17. 10. Heb. 9. & 10. cb.
• * 1.5

  1. Cor. 14. 21. Mat. 1••. 1••,