Chapter 46

That the holy Scripture must not be declared by what sense one will; but by that of the Church of Rome; and where that declareth not, we must follow the uniform exposition of the Saints; And of the great submission, and subjection, which we must performs to this holy Church.

THOU art to know, that the exposition of holy Scripture, must not be made according to the wits, or fancies of particular men; for so (although it be most certainly true in it, self) as being the word of God) yet (for as much as concerneth us) it would be very uncertain; since commonly there are as many opinions, as there be heads of men. Now, for as much as it doth greatly import us, to have suprem certitude of the Word which we are to believe, and follow (since we are to lay down, for the confession & obedience thereof, whatsoever we have (& even our very life,) our business were not well provided for, if (notwithstanding the several opinions, which men of themselves are subject to) the certainty of this Word, might not be lodged in the hart of a Christian.

To¹ the only Catholic Church, this privilege is given, that it may understand, and interpret the Divine Scripture; because the same holy Ghost, which delivered the Scripture, doth dwell in her. And where the Church doth not determine, we must have recourse to the uniform interpretation of the Saints, if we will be free from error. For otherwise how shall that which was spoken by a divine spirit, be understood by a spirit, & wit which is humane; since every scripture, is to be read, and declared, by the same spirit that wrote it. Thou art also to know, that the declaration, of, what Scripture, is the Word of God (that so it may be believed by all men) doth not belong to any other, but only to that same Christian Church, which by divine ordination hath the Bishop of Rome for her head. And esteem, thou for certain, as S Hicrome² saith, That whosoever shall eat the lamb of God, out of this Church & house of God, is a profane person, and no Christian. And whosoever shallbe found out of the same, will infallibly perish, as they who entered not into the ark of Noë, were drowned in the flood.

This is that Church, which the Gospel commandeth us to hearken to; and whosoever shall not hearken to her, is to be held, for a wicked person, and for an unbeliever. And this is that Church, of which S. Paul saith, that she is the pillar, and strength of truth. And to believe that this is so, that very Faith infused by God, (whereof we spoke before), doth incline, and illuminate us, as to one of the other articles; and with a like certainty to that which belongeth to others, and as hitherto it hath been so believed of this Church. And although, in these times of ours, there be departed from her, a certain race of people, full of³ pride, and who, for that very pride, were fit to be deceived by the devil; yet the Church doth not for this, give over to be what she was; nor must we leave to believe, that which formerly we believed. And therefore against this Church, let no revelation, move thee, nor inward feeling of spirit, nor any other thing, either greater, or less, although it might seem, to be an Angel from heaven, which should go against it; I say although it should seem, for to be so indeed, it is not possible.

Much less art thou to be moved, by the doctrine of heretics, whether they be passed, or present, or to come; who being forsaken by the hand of God, through his just judgement, do follow a false light, instead of a true; and destroying themselves, they are the cause of perdition to as many as follow them. Observe what end they have had, who in former times have departed from the belief of this Church; and how they have resembled the blustering of a wind, which quickly passed, and soon after was forgotten. And consider, how this Church hath remained victorious. And although, even since the infancy thereof, it have been assaulted; yet never hath it been conquered, because it was grounded upon a firm rock; against which, neither the rain, nor the wind, nor the rivers, nor the very gates of hell, can prevail. Shut therefore thine ears, against all doctrine which is contrary to this Church; and follow that belief, which hath been received, and kept, for such a multitude of years; since it is certain, that an infinite number of men, have been, not only saved therein, but have here, been Saintes.

For my part, I cannot reflect upon a greater folly, then for a man to leave a way, by which so many persons, so wise, and so holy went to heaven; to follow certain other folks, who are incomparably inferior to the former, in every thing, that is good. In pride indeed, and impudence, they are superior; for they will needs be better believed, (without any other proof, but of their own opinion) than a multitude of our forefathers, who were endued with divine wisdom; and who lead a most excellent life; and who wrought a multitude of great miracles. Whereas their chief, whom these deceived creatures follow, was a certain⁴ Luther, a man so weak in the point of his flesh, that he was not able to live without a woman; nor, she being dead, could he live then in chastity, but⁵ was fain (as the report goes) to take a second; though many others, have contented themselves with one, and others again without any at all, that so they might, with greater liberty & purity, attend to the contemplation of God. How then shall we call that, a good spirit, which lived in that wicked man, since it had not force to give him a chastity, even of the most vulgar strain; whereas yet he had made a promise of it, after the highest manner; & which many men did so possess, whom it had been fit for him to follow as his betters. And since our Lord hath said, that by the fruits, we should know the tree; it must have been a spirit of earth, and of infirmity of flesh, and of the devil, which dwelled in that man; since he yielded such fruits as these, and worse than these. Stay a while, & thou shalt see the end of these wicked persons; and how God will vomit them out, to their extreme reproach; declaring the error of them by some manifest punishment, as he hath done with their predecessors.

Footnotes

1. The only Catholic Church of Christ, in the undoubtedly true Intérpretour of God's holy Scripture. ↩

2. Let Protestant's note this & tremble. ↩

3. Heresy is both the Mother, and the companion, and the daughter of Pride. ↩

4. A strange fellow to make the reformer of God's Church. ↩

5. According to Luther's doctrine, he must either do that or worse: for he saith, it was not possible for a man to live▪ without woman. ↩