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Let vs see if Sainte Augustine in those tenne yeares, that he handled his question against the Donatists, could not finde any actuall proof in the scripture vpon this poynte, as Du Perron saith, I thinke he promiseth very certayn proofes when he saith, Ne videar humanis argumentis agere, ex Euangelio profero certa documenta &c, Least I should seem
to discourse with humaine reasons, J will alleadge sure proofes out of the Gospell, &c. And in an other place, Quid sit perniciosius, vtrum non Baptizari an rebaptizari iudicare difficile est: verumtamen recurrens ad illam stateram Domini∣cam, vbi non ex humano sensu, sed ex authoritate diuina re∣rum momenta pensantur, inveniode vtraque re Domini senten∣tiam, Qui lotus est, non habet necessitatem iterum lauandi, &c: Jt is an hard thing to iudge, whether is more dangerous, not to be Baptised, or to be baptized againe yet hauing recourse vnto that ballance of the Lord, where not of humain sence, but of diuine authority the vallews of things are weighed, I finde, of both matters the lords sentence, He that is wash∣ed, hath no neede to bee washed agayne. &c. And in an∣other place, hauing said that this custome came of the Tra∣dition of the Apostles, not meaning that it wanteth his proofes in Scripture, he addeth, Contra mandatum dei esse quod venientes ab hereticis, si iam illi Baptismum christi acce∣perunt, baptizantur, quia scripturarum sanctarum testimoni∣is non solum ostenditur, sed PLANE ostenditur: That it is against the cōmandement of God, that such as come frō hereticks shold be baptised, if they haue already receued ther the Baptism of Christ, becaus by the testimonies of holy Scrip¦tures, it is not only shewed, but plainly shewed. These places & others of this father, do shew the audaciousnes of du Per¦ron in his affirmations, and his sincerity in his allegations.
As for the places he bringeth out of the same father, to proue that he acknowledged the imperfectiō of the scriptu e cō∣cerning this poynt, he confoūdeth the question of act, exā∣ple or practise with the questiō of law or ordināce: S: August∣ine saith in this matter, there cā be none exāples of scripture alledged, that is, it cānot be foūd there that it was so practi∣sed: & therfore he referrd the custō or practis hereof to apost¦olike traditiō: but that it ought so to be practised he affir∣meth that not only the scripture sheweth it, but that it shew¦eth it manyfestly. Whence I conclude against the Bishops conclusiō, on this second poynt; The doctrine that euidently sheweth what is to be done in all matters cōcerning fayth &
which confuteth the heresies that repugne the same, is per∣fect: but the scripture conteyneth this doctrine: Therfore it is perfect.
The assumption, is proued not only by the scripture, but also by the testimonies of the fathers, by whome he pretendeth to proue the doctrine of the church of Rome. I wold earnest¦ly desire of him, cleare & direct answere to that place of Au∣gustine aboue alleadged, out of his secōd book 9 chapter de doctrina Christiana▪ for in the verball conference he woulde giue no answer therūto, but on condition, that I would pro∣test to forsake the scripture, and not to reason any more but by the authority of the fathers.
lib. 1. ••. cōt. 7.
Lib. 2. de bap: cont Don. c. 1
Lic. 5, de cont. Don c. 2