Rhemes against Rome: or, The remoouing of the gagg of the new Gospell, and rightly placing it in the mouthes of the Romists, by the Rhemists in their English translation of the Scriptures. Which counter-gagg is heere fitted by the industrious hand of Richard Bernard ...

VII. Proposition. That the Scriptures cannot of themselues be knowne to be the Word of God, vnlesse the Church doe giue witnesse vnto them, that they are so;

Confuted by their owne Bible.

1. IT plainely auoucheth the contrary: 1. By teaching that Christs sheepe knew his voice, Ioh. 10. 4.

2. That Christ hath promised, that such as doe his will, shall vnderstand all the doctrine, whether it be of God, Ioh. 7. 17.

3. That to his Disciples it is giuen to know the Mysteries of the kingdome of heauen, Mat. 13. 11. Now, the Scriptures in∣spired of God, 2. Tim. 3. 16. are his voice, are his doctrine; and there are the Mysteries of the Kingdome of heauen, euen that great Mysterie, opened by the Scriptures, Rom. 16. 26. in the Law and Prophets, Acts 28. 23. Therefore if Christs sheepe and Dis∣ciples can know his Voyce, his Doctrine, and the Mysteries of

the Kingdome of Heauen, then they can know the Scriptures to be the Scriptures of God.

II. It telleth vs by whom, and by what we haue this know∣ledge. 1. By the Spirit of God: for what things God hath pre∣pared for them that loue him, hath he reuealed to vs by his Spi∣rit, which we haue receiued, that we may know the things, that of God are giuen vnto vs, 1. Cor. 2. 9. 10, 12. Now, the Scriptures are of those things which God hath giuen vnto vs: therefore by the Spirit of God can wee know them to be of God. And in∣deed all Scripture being inspired of Gods Spirit, who can bet∣ter informe our knowledge of them, then the blessed Inditer and Author of them?

2. By the Scriptures themselues, which beare witnesse of themselues, that they are iustified in themselues, Psal. 18. 10. that* 1.1 they are all inspired of God, 2. Tim. 3. 16. that they are holy Scriptures, Rom. 1. 6. the Scriptures of the Prophets, Rom. 16. 26. who were guided by the holy Ghost, 2. Pet. 1. 20. as also were the Apostles, Mat. 10. 20. Mark. 13. 11. And Paul telleth vs, that he wrote the Commandements of God, 1. Cor. 14. 37.

III. As their Bible telleth vs, that by the Spirit, and by the Scriptures themselues, we know the Scriptures to be of God; so also the same Bible teacheth vs: 1. That the testimonie of the Spirit is truth, 1. Ioh. 5. 6. and is no lye, 1. Ioh. 2. 27. which Spirit of Christ all the Children of God haue, Gal. 4. 6. and all that are Christs; else they are none of his, Rom. 8. 9.

2. That the testimony of the Scriptures are of more credit then the testimony of men; for the witnesse of God is greater then men, 1. Ioh. 5. 9. And Christ preferred the testimony of the Scriptures before mans testimony, yea, though a Prophet: for he saith, he receiued not testimony of man, speaking of Iohn Bapt. Ioh. 5. 33, 34. and yet he referred himself to the testimony of the Scriptures, testifying of him, vers. 39. Yea, he saith, that his owne words would not be beleeued, if the Scriptures be not belieued, ver. 47. So that the Scriptures testimony of themselues, being the Word of God, & so the testimony of God, are sufficient witnes to take them for the Scriptures of God; which whoso refuseth or questioneth, the testimony of no men, no, not of Christ, if he

were here on earth, would be beleeued, to make vs to receiue them for Gods Word. This their owne Bible doth teach vs.

IV. Their Bible doth not onely shew, how the Scriptures giue witnesse of themselues thus in generall termes, but more particularly informeth vs, that the Scriptures doe proue the par∣ticular bookes of holy Writ to bee the Word of God. Moses witnesseth of his owne writings, that he wrote by commande∣ment, Deut. 31. 9, 19. and what he deliuered, was that which was commanded him Exod. 34. 34. All the Prophets witnesse their Prophecies to be of God, Esay 1, 2. Ier. 1. 2. Ezech. 1. 3. Dan. 10. 1. Hos. 1. 1. Ioel 1. 1. Amos 1. 3. Obadiah 1. 1. Ionah 1. 1. Mich. 1. 1. Nah. 1. 1. Hab. 1. 1. Zeph. 1. 1. Hag. 1. 1. Zach. 1. 1. Mal. 1. 1. Iesus Christ gaue approbation to the authoritie of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalmes, Luk. 24. 26, 24. And so the Apo∣stles, Act. 26. 22. Rom. 16. 23. not onely in expounding, but al∣so by alleaging one where or other some thing out of euery booke; as out of Genesis, Mat. 23. 35. Act. 7. 3. and 3. 25. Ioh. 4. 5. out of Exodus, Mat. 5. 38. and 22. 32. Act. 13. 17, 18. Leuiti∣cus, Rom. 10. 5. Mat. 5. 38. Numbers, Ioh. 3. 14. and 6. 31. Deu∣teronomy, Mat. 4. 4, 7. and 5. 31. or 7. 37. Ioshua, Act. 7. Heb. 11. 31. Iam. 2. Iudges, Act. 13. 20. Heb. 11. 32. Ruth, Mat. 1. 2, 3 12. Samuel, Kings and Chronicles, Mat. 1. 2, 3, 6, 7. and 12. 3, 42. and 23. 35. Luk. 4. 25, 26, 27. Act. 13. 21, 22. Rom. 11. 3. Heb. 11. 32. Iob, Iam. 5. 11. Psalmes the whole book, Act. 1. 16, 20. and parts thereof, Mat. 13. 35. and 21. 16, 42. Prouerbs, Rom. 12. 26. Iam. 4. 6. Heb. 12. 6. Esay, Mat. 21. 5, 13. Ioh. 12. 38. Ieremy, Mat. 27. 9. Ezechiel, 2. Cor. 6. 18. Reuel. 4. 7. and 20. 8. Daniel, Mat. 24. 15. So might I goe thorow all the small Prophets, but that whole booke of the Prophets is approoued, Act. 7. 42. And all the Scriptures of the old Testament, are called by Saint Paul, the words of God, Rom. 3. 2. and are confirmed in particular, as the rest: as Hosea, Mat. 9. 13. and 12. 7. Ro. 9. 25, 26. Ioel, Act. 2. 16. Ionas, Mat. 12. 40. Amos, Act. 7. 43. Micha, Mat. 2. 6. Zacha∣rie, Mat. 27. 9. Habacuk, Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 3. 11. Nahum, Rom. 10. 15. Haggai, Heb. 12. 26. Malachy, Mat. 17. 11, 12.

Thus the old Testament beareth witnesse to it selfe, and the New also to the Old; so doth the Old to the New, foreshew∣ing

what in the New is reuealed, besides the record it beareth of it selfe: For Iohn telleth vs, that his writings are the truth of God, Ioh. 19. 35. Reuel. 1. 1. Saint Paul, that his are the com∣mandements of God, 1. Cor. 14. 37. Saint Peter confirmeth the authoritie of all Pauls Epistles, 2. Pet. 3. 16. And thus must we thinke of all the Apostles writings, as the diuine truth of God, because they were all led by the same Spirit, Ioh. 15. 26. into all truth, Ioh. 16. 13. which called the words of Christ to their re∣membrance, Ioh. 14. 26. which Spirit Christ gaue them, and they had receiued, Ioh. 17. 8. Neither is it to be doubted, but as their words in their Ministerie were the words of God, Mat. 10. 20. Mark. 13. 11. so were their words written of God also, seeing they wrote what they taught, as these places shew, Luk. 1. 1, 3, 4. Act. 1. 1. 1. Cor. 15. 1. 2. Cor. 1. 13. Phil. 3. 1. 2. Thes. 2. 5. and as before is prooued at large.

V. Their owne Bible telleth vs, that the Word is a lampe and a light, Psal. 118. 105. 2. Pet. 1. 19. This is spoken of the writ∣ten* 1.2 Word. Now a lampe and a light need no man to point to them, that hath eyes to see, if the same be before them, but they shew themselues to such clearely enough; euen so doth the light of Gods Word in Scripture shew it selfe. Gods workes shew themselues to be his workes out of themselues, Act. 14. 16. He lest not himselfe without testimony, Rom. 1. 20. Psal. 18. 1. His* 1.3 workes shew him, and shew themselues to be his; and shall not Gods Word shew it selfe to be Gods Word? Is there to a god∣ly man a lesse print of the Deitie in his Word to discerne it, then in a very naturall man to discerne his workes? Moreouer, shall the writings of men discouer their Authors, of what pro∣fession and learning they be and shall not Gods Word be able to shew it selfe to bee of God? For let one man write like an Artist; another, as a Philosopher; the third, as a Moralist; the fourth, as a Statist; the fifth, as a Diuine: No man that is an Artist, a Philosopher, a Moralist, a Statist or Diuine, but hee can discerne of all these writings distinctly, though hee haue not some to tell him, what they bee. So let a man, endued with Gods Spirit, and spirituall vnderstanding, come to the holy Scriptures, he will discerne them to be of God, and of his Spirits

inditing, though none beare witnesse to them, and tell him so much. For the spirituall man iudgeth all things, 1. Cor. 2. 15. and if he can iudge, he also can discerne of thē. Weigh also, that those which bee good Bankers, know money at the first sight, whose image and superscription it beareth. The worke of an Apelles is easily discerned from that, which is an ordinarie Painters. And wee know, that men well read, are so quick∣sighted, as that they can discerne learned mens writings from the counterfeites of them. How much more then may the wri∣tings of God, so infinitely surmounting all others in all man∣ner of grace, dexteritie and maiestie of themselues, be seuered and sundred from all other writings, and be knowne to be of the Lords owne inditing?

Lastly, as in generall the Scriptures shew themselues to bee Gods Word, and also more particularly, that the seuerall books thereof are his Word: So these very bookes, which wee at this day acknowledge, and haue in account for Gods Word, and so beleeue them to be, doe witnesse for themselues, that they are indeed the very Word of God, though the Church should bee silent in her dutie so to professe, and teach them to be. And this is cleare:

1. From the Penmen, who according to the wisdome giuen to them, as Peter speaketh, 2. Pet. 3. 15. haue written the truth of God, Ioh. 19 35. and the commandements of God, 1. Cor. 14. 37. Now, who were the Penmen of these bookes, we know: 1. By the titles of them. 2. By the inscriptions, as that to the Rom. chap. 1. 1. to the Corinth. chap. 1. 1. 2. Cor. 1. 1. to the Gal. chap. 1. 1. and so of the rest of the Epistles of Saint Paul. Like∣wise that of Saint Iames, Peter, and Iude, and the Reuel. 1. 1, 4. are knowne by their inscriptions. 3. By the subscription in some, as 1. Cor. chap. 16. 21. The salutation of me Paul with mine owne hand. 4. By apparant testimonie within them, telling vs who wrote them. Iohn saith, he wrote the Gospell ascribed to him, Ioh. 21. 24. So Saint Paul his Epistles, 2. Cor. 10. 1. 1. Co∣rinth. 15 9. 1. Tim. 1. 13. That to the Hebrewes, in many places discouers it selfe to be Saint Pauls. So the Gospell to be Saint Lukes, and the Acts too; for hee that wrote the one, wrote

the other also, Acts 7. 7.

2. From the puritie, the veritie, the integritie, the godly plainenesse and simplicitie, and yet powerfull maiestie thereof, euincing all gaine-sayers, and manifesting these very bookes to be the Word of God. What true and euident properties soe∣uer can be shewed to be the properties of Gods Word to know it by, the very same these bookes challenge to themselues, to approue themselues to bee Gods Word to the conscience of e∣uery true Christian. See Scotus his ten arguments, 1. Sent. prol. Art. 1. Also Gregor. de Ʋalent. tom. 3. p. 329. Let our aduersa∣ries speake herein.

3. From the witnesse of Gods Spirit, making the reading, studying, meditation, preaching, and hearing of the things con∣tained in these bookes, very powerfull vpon mens consciences, working conuersion to God, and so perswading to beleeue them to bee of God, as hereupon they doe yeeld obedience thereto, feare to offend against the commandements therein, beleeue with comfort the promises, yea, and so fully to giue themselues to the guiding thereof, as they thinke in them to find eternall life, and are so perswaded, as that they can forsake all, yea, if need were, also to suffer death vpon the faith of these sauing truths therein contained, as holy Martyrs haue done ve∣ry chearefully and constantly through the Spirits assistance, bearing witnesse to them, and by which they and wee know them to be the things giuen vs of God, 1. Cor. 2. 12.

This worketh faith, and maketh vs beleeue them, and there∣fore is called the Spirit of Faith, 2. Cor. 4 13. This teacheth vs, Ioh. 6. 45. and is truth, 1. Ioh. 5. 6. and euer accompanieth the Word, Esay 59. 21. to make it the power of God to saluation, Rom. 1. and the sauour of life vnto life, to them that are saued, 2. Cor. 2.

The Church is to testifie of them, to interpret them out of themselues, to keepe them, and to defend them; but she cannot either make them to be Gods word, if they were not so already: for she cannot make a word to be mans, if man neuer spoke it; neither can she make Gods word to be his word vnto vs vpon her owne credit, if it selfe bare not witnesse of it selfe, and the

Spirit did not confirme the same, and not worke this faith in vs. If her authoritie could worke this beliefe, then were she to blame for not bringing all to the faith of them. To worke di∣uine faith in our hearts, is of God, and not of men.

Contraried by Antiquitie.

Saluianus, lib. 3. de prouidentia, saith, All that men say, need reasons and witnesses; but Gods Word is witnesse to it selfe: for whatsoeuer the incorrupt Truth speaketh, must needs be an incorrupt witnesse to it selfe.

Ambrose. lib. 5. Epist. 31. Whom may I beleeue in the things of God, better then God himselfe?

Hilarie, lib. 1. de Triniate. God is a witnesse for himselfe; and he is not to be knowne but by himself. Now, God and his Word is one; and therefore saith Nilus, it is all one to accuse God, as* 1.4 to challenge the Scriptures.

Origen, lib. 4. cap. 2. de Princip. Whosoeuer with all diligence and reuerence, as is meete, shall consider the words of the Pro∣phets, it is certaine, that in the reading and diligent view there∣of, hauing his mind and vnderstanding knocked at by a diuine inspiration, he shall know that the words which he readeth, were not vttered by man, but are the words of God; and of himselfe shall perceiue, that these bookes were written, not by humane Art, not by the word of mortall man, but by a Maiestie Diuine.

Gainesaid by some of their owne.

Gregorie de Valentia, Comment. in Thom. cap. 3. pag. 31. The Reuelation of the Scripture is beleeued, not vpon the credit of another Reuelation, but for it selfe.

Canisius citeth, cap. de praecept. Eccl. Num. 16. We beleeue, adhere, and giue the greatest authoritie to the Scripture, for the testimonies sake of the holy Ghost speaking in them.

Bellarmine, de Ʋerbo Dei, lib. ca. 2. Nothing is more knowne, nothing more certaine then the Scripture, that it were the grea∣test

madnesse in the world, not to beleeue them. If he saith truth, as he doth; then is it madnesse, not to beleeue the Scrip∣ture bearing witnesse of it selfe, that it is all of it selfe inspired of God. What farther Testimonie neede wee? A Papist now of late in His guide of Faith, saith thus: We beleeue the Scriptures* 1.5 for the diuine Authoritie, which is the formall obiect of Faith, and of infinit force and abilitie to perswade immediately by it selfe, without the helpe of any formall inducement whatso∣euer.

Stapleton saith, That all the former writings of the Bible may* 1.6 be assured to vs by the latter; the old Testament by the new: and the inward Testimonie of the Spirit is so effectual for the belee∣uing of any point of faith, that by it alone any part may be be∣leeued, though the Church hold her peace and neuer be heard. Note this saying well, you Papists, that perswade your selues, that the Scripture is not Scripture to you, but because the Church tels you so.

They haue no Scripture for defence of this their Position, to* 1.7 obiect against vs. Atheisticall obiections some haue made, as if they would vphold the Turkish Alcoran, vnworthy any Chri∣stian, and no more worthy any answer, then the blasphemie of Rabshekah, 2. King. 18 36. against which King Hezekias commandement was; Answer him not a word, Esa. 36. 21.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 19.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 11 9.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 19.
• * 1.4

  Decausis dissent. Eccl. pag. 2.
• * 1.5

  S. N. Guide of faith. chap. 7. num. 3.
• * 1.6

  Defens. Eccl. Autho. lib. 1. cap 9. Tripl incoat. Aduers W••i∣tak. in admonit.
• * 1.7

  S. N. Guide of Faith. chap. 7. num. 2. and 3.