Gal. i. Though we ourselves, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached, let him be accursed.

2 Tim. iii. Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, which also were committed unto thee, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and forasmuch also as thou hast known the holy Scriptures of a child, which are able to make thee learned unto salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesu. For all Scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable to teach, to improve, to amend, to instruct in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, and prepared to all good works.

1 Pet. iv. If any man speak, let him speak as the words of God.

2 John. If any man come unto you, and bring not this learning, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. For he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds.

Apoc. xxii. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall minish of the words of this prophesy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from those things which are written in this book.

That the writings of the old Fathers, without the written word of God, are not able to prove any doctrine in religion.

THE SECOND CHAPTER.

must be

IRENEUS, lib. ii. cap. 46. To lean to the Scriptures of God, Doctrine in which is the certain and undoubted truth, is to build a man's religion house upon a sure and strong rock. But to leave that, and grounded проп the lean to any other doctrines, whatsoever they be, is to build Scriptures a ruinous house upon the shattering gravel; whereof the only. overthrow is easy.

We may

not build our faith

Idem, in Epistola 72. Happy is he that soweth upon the water where the ox and the ass treadeth; that is, upon that upon men's people which only followeth the doctrine of both the Testaments, and not upon the vain traditions of men.

traditions.

TERTULLIAN, in the Prescriptions of Heretics, p. 95. It is not lawful for us to favour any doctrine at our pleasure, nor yet to choose what any man hath brought in of his own The Apo- mind. We have the Apostles of the Lord for our austles taught thors, which did not elect any thing, that they would bring but that in, of their own heads; but taught faithfully to all nations, which they learned of that doctrine that they had received of Christ.

nothing

Christ.

The first

point of be

lief is, that, after the

Therefore

although an angel from heaven should preach any other thing, let us hold him accursed.

And a little after he saith, We need to use no curiosity after Jesus Christ, nor make further search after the Gospel for when we believe, we desire to believe no more. none other For first we believe this, that there is nothing else that we thing is to ought to believe.

Gospel,

be believed. Idem, of the Flesh of Christ, p. 20, against Apelles,

There is no

that the

certainty in which said, that the angels had a bodily substance, which Scripture they took of the stars. Tertullian answereth, that there is defineth no certainty in this matter, because the Scripture declareth

not.

The Law,

the Pro

phets, and

it not.

The same, to Praxeas, p. 418. Let this be a general rule, indifferently determined beforehand against all heresies, that the Gospel that is true, whatsoever is first; and that to be forged, doctrines, whatsoever cometh after.

are the first

and there

fore true.

Our words, without

ORIGEN, in his first Homily upon Jeremy. We must needs call the holy Scriptures to witness; for our judgare not to ments and expositions, without these witnesses, are worthy be believed. no credit.

God's word,

That which cannot be

proved by the Scrip

ture, leave to God.

Idem, upon Leviticus, in his fifth Homily. If the holy Scripture do not determine any thing, we ought not to admit any other writing for the stablishing of our doctrine: but as for the rest, let us leave it to God.

The same, upon the third chapter to the Romans. After

these, as his custom is, (meaning St. Paul,) he doth confirm that he had said by the Scriptures, giving also an example to the preachers of the Church, that those things which they speak to the people, should be armed and maintained by the holy Scriptures, and not spoken out of their own judgments. For if he, being such and so great an If Paul Apostle, thought not the authority of his own words to be thought his authority sufficient, except he teach those things which he saith, to not suffi be written in the Law and the Prophets; how much more more ought ought we little ones to take heed, that, when we teach, we we to take utter not our own minds, but the sentences of the Holy Ghost.

The same, upon Matthew, in his 26th Homily. No man ought, for the stablishing of doctrine, to use any books that be without the canonical Scriptures.

cient, much

heed that

we utter not our

own minds.

which be

not in the

the Bible

and are not

CYPRIAN, in the Exposition of the Creed, after that he All books hath rehearsed the canonical books of the Bible, he saith, These be they which our fathers have included within the Canon of Canon, out of the which our fathers would the doctrine of are called our faith to be certain: nevertheless there be other books, Apocrypha, which of our elders were not called canonical, but ecclesias- sufficient to tical as the Book of Wisdom, the Books of Sirach, Tobie, Judith, Machabees, and other. All which books they would our faith. have to be read in the Church, but not alleged as of authority to confirm any article of our faith. All other writings they called Apocrypha, which they would in no wise to be read in the Church.

ATHANASIUS, Against the Gentiles. The holy Scriptures, being inspired from God, are sufficient to all instruction of the truth.

BASILIUS, in his book of Ethics, of his short Definitions the 26th. Every word and deed that maketh for the certainty and surety of good men, and the confusion of them that be evil, must be confirmed by the testimony of God's Scriptures. And those things, which either in our nature, or in

prove any

articles of

the custom and manner of our life, are manifestly known, must we use, to confirm those things which we do and

say.

The same, in his short Definitions, the first question, Whether it be lawful or expedient for a man to permit himself to do what he thinketh good, without the testimony of the holy Scriptures? His answer: Seeing that our Saviour saith of the Holy Ghost, He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he hath heard, that shall he speak : and of himself he saith, The Son can do nothing of himself: and again, I have not spoken of myself; but he which sent me gave me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak; and I know that his commandment is eternal life: therefore those things that I speak, I speak as the Father said unto me: who is he then that will run into such madness, that he dare once think only any thing of himself, seeing that he hath need of the Holy Ghost for his aid, so that, both in mind, word, and work, he may be guided in the way of truth; and that he must needs walk in darkness, except he be lightened with the Sun of Righteousness, our Lord Jesus Christ, which shineth upon us with his commandments, as with bright beams? For the commandment of the Lord is clear, and giveth light to the eyes. For of those things that are done and commonly used among us, some are by God's commandment determined and plainly set forth in the holy Scriptures, and some not expressed. Of those that be expressed by the Scriptures, there is utterly no power given to any man, whatsoever he be in the whole world, either to do any thing of those that be forbidden, or else to leave undone any thing of them that be commanded; seeing that the Lord hath once commanded and said, Whatsoever I command you, that take Things that heed ye do, &c. But of those things that are not expressed, be not com- the Apostle Paul hath given us a rule, saying, I may do all indifferent, things; but all things are not expedient: I may do all or not used; things; but all things edify not.

No man can dispense

with God's law.

manded be

to be used

but yet as

charity requireth.

ISYCHIUS, upon Leviticus, lib. v. cap. 16. Let us, which

would have any thing observed of God, search no more but Search no that which the Gospel doth give unto us.

When

further than the

Gospel.

Church of

Antichrist's

tures.

CHRYSOSTOME, upon the 24th chap. of Matthew, Hom. 49. you shall see the abominable desolation stand in the In time of heresy holy place; that is, when you shall see ungodly heresy, there is no which is the army of Antichrist, stand in the holy places of means to try the the Church; in that time let them which are in Jewry fly truth, and unto the hills; that is, let them that be in Christendom the true resort unto the Scriptures. For like as the true Jew is Christ from a Christian, (as the Apostle saith, He is not a Jew which Church, is outward, &c.) in like manner the very Jewry is Christian- but only by the Scripity, the hills are the Scriptures of the Apostles and Prophets. And why doth he command all Christians at that time to resort to the Scriptures? For in this time, since heresy hath prevailed in the Church, there can be none other proof of true Christianity, neither can there be any other refuge for Christian men, willing to know the truth of the right faith, but only unto the holy Scriptures. Beforetime it was showed by many other means which was the true Church of Christ, and which Gentility; but now there is no way to know it. And why? For all those things which pertain to Christ in deed, have the heretics in their schism; likewise Churches, likewise the Scriptures of God, likewise bishops, and other orders of clerks; and likewise baptism and the sacrament of thanksgiving; and, to conclude, Christ himself. Wherefore he that will know, which is the true Church of Christ in this so great a confusion of things, being so like, how shall he know it but only by the Scriptures? It was also known which was the true Church of Christ by their manners, when the conversation of Christian men, either of all or many, was holy; which was not among the heathen. But now Christian men are become An heavy saying, but, like, or worse than the Gentiles or heretics; yea, and there alas! too is more continency found amongst them than amongst Chris- true. tians. Therefore he that will know which is the true Church of Christ, whereby shall he know it, but only by the Scriptures? The Lord therefore, knowing that so great a con