THE TRIALL OF TRVTH : Containing A PLAINE AND SHORT DISCOVEry of the chiefest pointes of the Doctrine of the great Antichrist , and of his adherentes the false Teachers and Heretikes of these last times .

AT OXFORD , Printed by JOSEPH BARNES , and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Bible Ann. Dom. 1600.

RIGHT Reverende Father , and my very good L. I am bold in your Lordshippes name to present to Christ his Church these my travailes vndertaken in defence of the same against her capitall enemy the great Antichrist , especially seeing your Lordship is our Coronell vnder whose conduct we , that are leaders of smal bandes vnder your regiment , are marshalled along vnto these our military services , and are encouraged to fight the Lords battles . Wherefore I am most humbly to craue not only your Lordshippes approbation herein , but also your speciall protection , that so the better successe may ensue .

And I am most earnestly to exhort all those which are Leaders with me of smaller companies , that they would submitte themselues dutifully to the government of their Lieftenant generall , and Coronels appointed over them for their spirituall services , that they take them for their governours and not for their enemies , and that they be preast and ready to put in execution their lawfull designmentes , ( howsoeuer some of them perhappes may conceaue , that there might bee devised some better course for the menaging of these affaires . ) For doubtles whersoeuer the Generall & Coronels be not readily obeied by their vnder Officers , but deemed & iudged for deadly enemies , there must needes arise sedition and mutinies , and so in the end , vnlesse it be prevented , the vtter overthrowe of the whole army . As therefore , my brethren , wee would bee loath to be the meanes to weaken & dissolue the Lords bands , and to strengthen and encrease the force of the enemy , let vs so stand vpon our several watches , that we keepe our selues to our owne colours , and discerne our chiefest Patrones & Protectors from our most dangerous and deadly foes , and distinguish our Fathers , that haue begotten vs through the gospell , from such as would bastardize vs , if they could , and rob vs of our caelestiall and heavenly inheritance . Yea whereas the enemy by strong leagues and confederac●es , and by all meanes that pollicy can devise , or industry bring to passe , hath long time sought to strengthen himselfe that he might bring vs to vtter destruction : how ought we with one heart and one soule ioine togeather for our owne preservation , & especially for the furthering of the glorious gospell of Christ our Lord , & for the establishing of his kingdome ? We knowe all very well that by peace and vnity small things become great , as by discorde and dissention great things are brought to nothing . And therfore I cannot but greatly reuerence that godly affection of that religious & reverend father in God THOMAS COOPER late Bishop of Winchester , who lying in his death bed , when sense , reason , & iudgment began to faile him , yet this desire did not waxe weake , but his importunate wil ( if I may so tearme his holy and godly zeale ther in ) was , that set praiers should bee appointed for the peace of this our Church , & for the establishing of Christian loue and vnity among our selues The which thing , as I take it , would the more easily come to passe , if we would duely weigh with our selues , that government and ceremonies ( about the which we contende ) are only in general Calvin . in J. ep. ad Cor. c. 11. commanded in the word of God : but what special kinde of government is fittest for every time and countrey , & what ceremonies in particular belong to order , comelines , and edification , these things are not left in the power of private persons ( for that woulde tende to confusion and all disorder , and cause Controversies to be endles ) but to the power of such as be in autoritie , and the determination of their holesome lawes .

The articles of faith saith Tertullian be the law of faith : Tertul. d● virg. vt●ad . this law remaining , other matters of discipline and conversation doe admitte the novelty of correction , the grace of God working , & profiting the Church to the end . Wherefore as I would exhort our Leaders of smaller companies to acknowledge and reverence their greater Commanders , and to submit themselues to their governement ; so I would also most humblie beseech those wich are in higher place & autority to embrace with loue their inferior Officers , which are desirous to keepe the vnity of the spirit in the bonde of peace . And Hostes iudicandi suns qui contrae remp . arma ferunt . non qui suo iudiecio tueri velint remp . that they will not over hastely adiudge all those to be factious & mutinous , who differ a little in iudgement from them in the ordering of the battle , & in the manner of performing of this or that peece of service ; if they fly not , nor turne their backes in the skirmish , but advaunce their ensignes couragiously , & employ their forces manfully against the enimy . The time hath ben Euseb. lib. 5. Cap. 23. when that the diversity in fasting ( & so no doubt in other matters of the like kind ) hath ben thought to haue ben a commendation to the vnity in faith . The time hath beene when heady Idem . lib. 5. Cap. 26. Victor seeking a victory to himselfe and so hindering the conquest and triumph of the truth , hath beene overruled by a discrete Irene perswading peace , that so the gospel might gette the greater victorie . The time hath beene when rash Iosuah provoking meeke Moses to put to silence Eldad Numb . 11. & 28. and Medad for prophecying in the host , and not being present as it were before his Consistorie , receaued the cheeke for his labour : Enviest thou for my sake ? I would to God all the LORDES people could prophecie , and that the Lord would put his spirit vpon them . For if Christ Ph. 1. 18. be preached any manner of way it ought to be the matter of great ioy to every true & sincere Christian : And if to vs this dispensation be committed , woe , woe vnto vs if we preach not the 1. Cor 9. 16. Gospell : but if we be instant herein in season , & out of season , and feede Christes sheepe againe & againe , for that they are redeemed with his owne blood , happie are we even by the testimony of the Lord himselfe , seing we are possessed with his loue . And happy also is the estate of those sheepe which haue Ioh 21. 15. a faithfull sheapheard to goe in and out before them , and to lead them alonge into the pastures of righteousnes : as lamentable is the case of those Congregations which are as sheepe scattered abroad without a sheapheard ; as wretched is the estate Math 9. 36. of that ground , which hath no skilfull husbandman to manure the same . Surely the harvest is great & the labourers are but few & therefore we must make earnest suite to the Lord of the harvest that he would thrust forth labourers into his harvest . And may we not as truly say , that these battles are hote , & that the leaders thereof on the adverse part are many , expert , & cruel & therefore that there is great neede that all the Leaders of the Lords armies should be stirred vp & encouraged each by other to stand vp in the breach and couragiously to withstand the force of the enimie ? The which thinge if any of them shall either be vnwilling or vnable to performe , order had neede to be taken presently for such , least the armie thereby should be brought in great danger .

And verely ( right Reverend in the Lord ) it is lamentable to behold what great massacres , blindnes , and ignorance , superstition and Idolatrie do make as yet in the middest of many Congregations , who are laide as it were wast and desolate , for want , as it may be supposed , either of hability , or else of industry in their Leaders which should withstand the force of these enimies . How many are there even among those which outwardly notwithstanding conforme themselues to law & order , who feede still vpon poison , for want of holesome foode to be so divided , that they may be able to receaue the same : & like silly sheepe are still ready to stray hither & thither & to become a pray to the greedy wolfe , for want of such a sheapheard as should still goe in & out before them , and direct them along in a right course ? For is it not with vs ( who are in this our Church as it were the feete of the Ministery ) as it was with that image represented to Nabuchadnezzar in a dreame , whose feete were part of iron & part of clay ? For there are in many ( the Lord be blessed for than , & encrease the number of them ) the strength of iron , whereby they are enabled to stay the people vpright , & to keepe them in obedience to God & to their Soveraigne : and there are others like moultring clay hauing little power to strengthen themselues , & lesse hability to stay others .

Thus am I bold to intimate the estate of Christs sheepe vnto your Lordshippe being our great sheepheard , who not onely by your antority do require our watchfulnes & diligence over our severall flocks , but also by your owne example do perswade vs therevnto verifiyng by your practise the truth of that saying of one of your L. most famous Predecessors ; that , as an Emperour should die standing in the fielde , so should a B. in the pulpitte . The high and cheife Bishop of all our soules visite your Lordship daily with his mercies , encrease his graces & blessings vpon you , & preserue you both in body & soule to his owne honour , & to the benefite of his Church . Amen .

AS it is a necessary duty ( good Christian Reader ) for every member in mans body , even for the meanest and basest as wel as for the most principal to performe their common service for the common benefit & preservation of the whole : even so it is as needful for every member of the Church & common weale , be he higher or lower , greater or lesse , to walke painfully in his seueral calling , & in obedience to God , who hath thus or thus placed him & carefully to discharge that dutie which the Lord requireth at his hands . For there are none of Gods blessings , be they in comparison of the greater of never so low a rate & estimation , but that they are worthy that we should employ our cares & cogitations about the lawful obtaining , encreasing , & preserving of the same : & there is no talent so smal committed to any , that is carelesly or contemptuously to be flunge aside , tied vp in a napkin , or buried Math. 25. in the ground . Should a little light be cleane put out , wheras it may fit some little candlesticke , & serue to lighten some little house ? Or should a man of meane stature , when he is assaulted by his enemy , stand nothing at al vpon his owne defence , but cast away al manner of weapon , because he is not able to vse Hercules clubbe ? Our Saviour Christ ( which Isa 42 3. Mat. 21. 16. breaketh not the bruised reede , nor quencheth the smoaking flax ) reiected not the testimony of very children crying in the temple & saying , Hosanna , the son of Dauid , but gaue strength vnto it with Haue ye never reade ; out of the mouthes of babes Psal. 8. 2. and sucklings thou hast made perfite thy praise . Little David vnable to beare the weapon of a man of warre , beeing 1. Sam. 17. strengthned by the Lords aide , prevailed against great Goliah . And experience doth teach that in martiall services , a meane souldiours bullet may strike some cheife man of the adverse part , and so further the winning of the fielde , and helpe to the getting of the full victorie . The Lords hand is not shortned , nor his spirit tied : the planting and watring of such as haue the greatest giftes is nothing , vnlesse God 1. Cor. 3. 7. giue the encrease : and the laboures of the meanest Minister of Christ may be profitable to his Church , when it pleaseth the Lord to giue a blessing therevnto . Yea the meaner the instrument , the greater is the glorie of him that worketh by the same , when all men that see it shall say , this hath 2. Cor. 47. the Lord done : and shall perceaue that it is his worke . Vpon these groundes haue I beene emboldened ( good Christian Reader ) albeit but a meane souldiour to come into the fielde with the residue of the Lordes army , to the succouring , if it be but of one soule , or to the rescuing of one captiue out of the enimies handes .

Many things do plainly convince the B. of Rome & his adherents as the most capitall enimies of Christes Church in these last times & endes of the world . For howsoever they pretend themselues to be the onely preservers , yet in truth they are most greavous destroiers of the Catholike faith : & albeit they make a shew as if they were the cheifest pillars , yet they are the greatest pullers downe of the Church of Christ : and although they glory of their perfect consent and agreement with the doctrine of Christ , yet in truth they maintaine many flat & direct contradictions against the very grounds & foundations of the doctrine of Christ . The shortest summe & abridgment of the doctrine of Christ is , Repent , & beleeue the gospel . Repentance & Faith . Whereof the Marc. 1. 15. one is occasioned by the due consideration of our owne most manifold and greavous corruptions , the other by the apprehension of the Lordes most singular and endles goodnes . And therefore the scope of the whole Scripture tending to teach repentance & faith , tendeth likewise to these two ends , on the one side to display & lay open the incomparable excellencies & perfections that be in God , that by the beauty therof we may be most earnestly stirred vp to desire reconciliation & fellowship with him , to place our whole hope & confidence in him & to ascribe vnto him al honour & glory : & on the other side to discover the infirmities & corruptions of man , that therby he may be induced , al selfe loue set aside , to distrust , deny , & renounce himselfe , to hang down the head being confounded in himselfe & cast downe to the bottomles pitte of hell . So the Prophet I say setting downe the mighty working of the gospell at the coming of the Messias testifieth that thereby the high lookes shall be humbled , and the Isa. 2. 17. & 24. 23. loftines of man shall be abated , and the Lord onely shall be exalted in that day : yea that the Moone shal be abashed , and the Sunne ashamed , when the Lord shal appeare : that is , that such things , as in our selues seeme beautiful as the Sunne , shal be covered with darknes , & dashed over as with a coa●e , in respect of the brightnes of Gods most admirable goodnes shining in the face of the glorious Messias . And wha● else also meaneth the Prophet ●zechiell in saying , that when Ezech. 16. the Lord hath confirmed his everlasting Covenant with vs , & is pacified towards vs , them we shal remember our waies & be ashamed , & neuer open our mouthes any more in respect of our shame ? Wherefore if we will bee partakers of the fruite of the gospell , we must be moued thereby to looke throughly into our own corruptions , & to cast down our eies as it were vpon our own fowle feete , that so we may haue our part in that shame which is the path way to worship & honor . We Eccl. 4. 21. must not be gazing vpon our peacockes tailes , nor beholding the Sunne when he shineth , nor the Moone walking in her Iob. 31. 26. brightnes : that is , we must not admire ourselues no not in respect of our temporal or spiritual gifts , lest our owne harts do flatter vs in secret , & so induce vs to kisse our own hands . Surely this is an iniquity to be condemned , seing it is a denial Hab. 2. 4. of the Lord aboue . For he that lifteth vp himselfe , his hart is not vpright : for the iust shal liue by faith : which teacheth vs not to admire ourselues , or to trust in our selues , but to go out of our selues and to trust in God , and to place our whole hope in the riches of his grace , & in the fulnes of his goodnes . And in truth we can hardly detract to much from man ( in whose flesh dwelleth no good thing , & al the imaginations Rom. 7 18. Gen. 6. 5. of whose hart are only evil continually ) that so he may be brought to cast away al selfe loue , pride , & confidence in himselfe , & take to himselfe his due deserved confu●ion and shame , & be vnfainedly humbled as he ought to be : As on the contrary side we can as hardly ascribe to much to Gods goodnes , or be overlavish in extolling the high length , bredth , & depth of the loue of Christ that passeth knowledge , that so the pledges of his endles favour may raise vs vp to a true & liuely faith , & to giue him that glory that is due to him . And why should mire that lieth in the streete be so gready to be seasōed with sugar & spice , & a vile peece of a rotten post to be gilded over with fine gold ? why should wretched & sinful man be desirous to enlarg his own estimation & by advauncing & lifting vp himselfe prepare a way to a most dangerous downfall ? So God be glorified , we ought not greatly regard what becometh of vs , seing all is due to him , & nothing to vs . And verely the most blessed servants & saints of God being purged and clensed from all corruptions , & being admitted to the vision of God , and to bebold not his hinder partes , but even to see him face to face , and so to behold his vnspeakable glory , as farre forth as the creature is capable of the same , albeit they are so highly advaunced , yet they take their crownes from their owne heades , and cast them downe before the throne , saying : Apoc. 4 10. & 11. Thou art worthy , O Lord , to receaue honour , & glorie , & power : for thou hast created all thinges , & for thy willes sake they were & are created ; never ceasing day nor night to sing holy , holy , holy , Lord God Apoc. 15. 4. almighty : who shal not feare thee & glorify thy name , for thou only art holy ? Yea our most glorious Lord & Saviour Christ Iesus himselfe , who was annointed with the oile of gladnes aboue his fellowes , and endued with the spirite with out measure , who is advaunced to the right hand of GOD , and hath all power in heaven and earth giuen vnto him , & is appointed iudge of quicke & deade , when he shall haue finished the worke of his Mediator-shippe , and shall haue placed al the elect of God in the peaceable possession of that most glorious kingdome which he hath purchased for them with his owne blood , then , as he is man , he shal deliver vp his kingdome to God , & be subiect to him , & that to this end , that God may be all in all , all glorie & honour , power & 1. Co. 15. 28 praise being worthely ascribed only to him . Whereby it is evident that God can never be sufficiently magnified in respect of his incomprehensible goodnes & glory ; as on the contrary side man can never be sufficiently humbled & abased , especially in comparison had vnto God .

And yet the members of the Church of Rome , fearing belike that Gods great grace should be to highly magnified & that to much should be yeelded therevnto , & being loath ( as it seemeth ) that man should take to himselfe that due deserued shame that belongeth vnto him , wil haue neither Conc. Trid. sess 6. cap. 1. Can. 7. al our workes before our conversation being done without faith to be condemned for sinne , nor all our good workes after our Cap. ●… . con. 25. Cap. 2. can. 4. conversion to be stained so much as with any ●ental sinne , neither all our very sinnes to be damnable and mortall nor yet our conversion it selfe to be wrought only by the spirit of regeneration , but also by the power of our owne free wil : neither our salvation to be ascribed to the only death of our all sufficient Saviour , but also to our owne merites and desertes . The Prophet Cap. 11. can . 32. Psal. 115. 1. David was of another spi●…e : Not vnto vs , O Lorde ( saith he ) not vnto vs , but vnto thy n●…e giue the praise , for thy loving mercy & for thy truthes sa●e , Oh , ( saith Aust. ) God doth prevent thee in all thinges , prevent thou also his wrath : How ? Confesse that all good thou receivest of him , and all evil Serm. 10. de ver. Apost. from thy selfe . But the Church of ●ome regardeth not this holesome counsel of this learned Father , shee will not haue her children to disgrace themselues so much , as to confesse themselues voide of al goodnes and replenished with all evill : neither will shee haue the free mercy of God in Christ so farre fo●th m●gn●fied and extolled , as i● all the due deserved glory of al celestial graces were to be ascribed thervnto : and therefore God in his iust wrath hath given her over to her owne blindnes , that making her boast that her faith No manerreth more then hee that thinketh he never erreth . cannot faile , yet shee teacheth divers and manifold errours contrary to all the grounds of the Catholike faith . For many grievous and damnable are the heresies , wherewithall the Bishop and Church of ●ome are most truely and iustly charged by vs , which professe the Gospell of ●esus Christ : for the removing wherof the words indeed of the scrip●ure are alleadged by them ; but the question being of the right sence thereof , albeit the children of that Church pretende for the iustifying of their interpretations the consent of fathers Stap. doct. princ . li. 7. ca. ●…●… 8 10. ● l. 10. cap. 11. the common testimony of the faithfull , & the decrees of councels , yet at the last only , or at the least principally , they rest vpon the definitiue sentence and censure of the Pope . So that the question being whether the Pope bee Antichrist , the ful and finall decision thereof must in the ende as they teach ) be devolved to the Pope himse●fe , and hee must be the Iudge in his owne cause Now what is this , but aske my fellow , nay aske my selfe , whether I am a thiefe ? Whereby they make manifest vnto the whole world the great weaknes and wretchedne● of their owne cause , which cannot otherwise be iustified & approved , vnlesse the guilty parties themselues be suffered to pronounce the definitiue sentence . Whereas our Saviour Christ testifieth of himselfe , saying : If I shoulde beare witnesse of my selfe , my witnesse were not Ioh 5. 31. Ioh. 8. 54. true . And againe : If I should honour my selfe , my honour is nothing worth . If then our Saviour himselfe would not be beleeved vpon his owne bare word , b●t had his doctrine confirmed by his Fathers voice from heaven , by the testimonies of the Prophets , and by his owne miracles : what pride possesseth the Popes heart , that he will not submit himselfe as Christ did , and be tried as he was tried ? Now herein the Antichristian presumption of the Bishop of Rome in exalting himselfe aboue our Saviour Christ beeing manifestly detected , with the great nakednes and wretchednes of his cause , his friendes to shadow & darken ●he same , haue raised Camp. rat. 2 Poss . Bibl. select no. 7. cap. 18. vp a mist of a most notorious slander against vs , as if we were those parties , that would be tried by none but by our selues , and would allow in no manner of controversie the iudgement of any Interprete● , but Luthers , Melancthons , Caluins , Bezaes or the like . The which thing if it were true , we see no reason why we may not iustifie the same far better , then they can their depending vpon the Popes chaire . For these men were painefully exercised in praier● , reading , and meditation , and were furnished with the knowledge of Artes and tongues which are great helpes to the attaining vnto the right interpretation of holy scriptures . Whereas it is averred by men of their owne profession as a thing notorious , that many of their Popes haue not vnderstood the Alphonsus li. 1. c. 4. groundes and principles of the very Grammer it selfe : and of those that haue beene learned , the greater sort haue beene expert in pointes of policie , rather then in sound and profound Divinity . Now right interpretation of holy scriptures being obtained from God not extraordinarily by revelation in these daies , but ordinarily by meanes , let all indifferent persons iudge whether the vnlearned or politike Popes , or the other so wel studied & learned men were like to be the better Interpreters of holy scriptures . But indeede we stand not vpon this exception , but constantly avouch that this their accusation is a most impudent and shameles slaunder raised vp in al likelyhoode even against their owne consciences , as it may appeare by the appeale of that reverend Father John Juell in diverse controversies betweene them and vs made vnto all approved antiquity cited & censured euen by themselues . For we like of the testimonies of Fathers , Camp . Rat 5. Church and Councels , and haue iust cause in many pointes to allow of their decisions : but we tie not the truth necessarily vnto them , but vnto the spirit of truth , who being the Autor , is also the best interpreter of holy Scripture , having therefore plainely set downe in them all necessarie points of faith , that the plaine & easie places therof , might be as lightes to the darke and obscure , for the better opening and explaning of the same .

Yea as in al Artes & Sciences there are some principles and grounds vndeniable and vnavoideable , having open & manifest truth in themselues evident to the light of nature shining in vs , and winning credit to themselues by their own perspicuous verity , by the which the certainety of al other precepts of lesse perspicuity & authority is to be tried : even so in Theology also there are certaine principles & grounds , having open , confessed , & vndeniable truth in themselues , such as are the Articles of the Apostles creede , vnto which the interpretations of darker places are to be referred , & by which the doubts & controversies in matters of faith are to be decided . For these are even as great torch-lightes , lightning both themselues & others also . And as any having but meane skil in that craft , if he set but the level to the worke , shal soone see whether it be right : or if he rub the mettal vpon the touch-stone , he shal quickly perceiue what it is : even so to any that is but meanly experienced in the doctrine of Christ , if he compare his faith to these grounds of faith , he may soone perceiue whether he hold a sound faith . For as in Law , & Physicke , & in al other libe●al Arts & Sciences the painfull student may attaine to a sufficient knowledge of the same by the helpe especially of their maine groundes and principles , albeit there bee no vnerring Interpreter able to decide al doubts and controversies therein : even so in Theology , albeit there be none vnerring Interpreter among men , yet the studious & devout Christian may attaine to a sufficient knowledge of al such points of faith as are necessary to salvation by the helpe of the maine grounds & principles of faith . Or may we suppose that the God of all , but especially of such as beleue , hath bin more careful for the naturalman by leaving those principles which stande vpon their owne ground , that so he may attaine to the knowledge of all such Arts & sciences which are profitable for the maintenance of this temporal life : that he hath not left the like principles and grounds for the regenerate man , wherby he may attaine to the knowledge of al such things as do concerne eternal life ? And if Aristotle bee iudge in Philosophy , Galene in Physicke , Iustinian in the law , albeit many of their rules & precepts he diversly expounded by their Interpreters : even so albeit there be diverse expositions of holy scripture , yet God forbide but the holy scripture of God the most cleare & pure fountaine of truth should be the iudge of faith , & that especially by the maine grounds of faith therein contained . The which are therefore named by the auncient Fathers the key A b● serm 38. Aug. de doct. Christ . l. 3. cap 2. & 3. De Temp. Serm 119. So r. hist. Eccles. lib. 5. Cap. 10. and rule of faith , for that the perspicuity & plainnes of them doth open as it were a doore into all the mysteries of faith . And hereof it was , that not only Theodosius the Emperor vsed them as a meanes to end all controversies in his time : but S. Austin also , being to expound the first booke of Moses , called Gen. setteth them down in the forefront of his worke , as a rule whereby he meaneth to frame al his interpretations : that if they misse in the meaning of any particular place , yet they may not erre in the substance of faith because he avoucheth nothing but that which is agreable to the grounds of faith . So likwise Tertullian & Iraene that liued near the Apostles See Kemnis . Exa Trid. Conc. de traditionibus . time , when certaine heretikes charged the scriptures ( as the members of the Church of Rome doe now ) that they were in sufficient , dark , & ambiguous , & that the truth could not be found out by them without traditions , they ioined issue with them , & referred themselues to the iudgment of that doctrine , which the Apostles delivered by tradition to the Churches : the summe whereof they relate , altogeather as it were , even as it is set down in the Apostles Creed , being the very pith & substance of that faith , which was delivered first by mouth by the Apostles themselues , & afterward set downe in their writings , that it might be the pillar & foundation of faith : & al interpretations of scripture they require to be agreable to this entire & perfect body of truth , as they had learned of the Apostle S. Paul , that al prophecie should bee Rom. 12. 6. sutable & proportionable to the faith . Vnto the which Testimonies of these learned Fathers , I adde the iudgment of Beza & Kennitius quoted before , that al indifferent persons may perceiue , that we walke in the same waies , that these learned Fathers haue trod out vnto vs , & vsed the same meanes to attaine to the right interpretation of holy scripture , and to a sound & catholike iudgment in matters of faith . No humble Serm. in c 3. Cant. christian ( saith Beza ) if he desire to be taught , can be deceiued in the interpretation of holy scripture , if he diligently confer place with place according vnto the example of our S. Christ , & the Math. 4. 7. practise of the auncient Councels : & if with all he referre the whole vnto the correspondency of the articles of our faith , which we call our Creede , being the summary abridgment of every fundamentall point of our Christian religion . Most notable also to Serm 4 de Incarnat . Dumini . this purpose is that of Leo : If any ( saith he ) shal preach vnto you any other thing besides that which ye haue learned , let him be accursed preferre not wicked fables before evident truth : & whatsoever it shall happen that ye read or heare contrary to the rule of the Catholike & Apostolike Creede , account it altogeather damnable & divelish . By which testimony of this learned Father we may gather , that the doctrine of faith sette down in the Creede is that evident truth which was delivered by the Apostles , & whatsoever is contrary to the same is a wicked fable & to be accursed , as being no better then flat damnable & divelish . Wherefore ( good Christian reader ) if thou wouldst not willingly hold that faith which is fabulous , accursed , damnable , & diuelish , examine thy faith according to those grounds , which are both easie , short , & perfect , least thou shouldst plead ignorance in thy selfe , or length & tediousnes in the worke it selfe . Be not ouer credulous in this matter of so greate moment , nor so simple as to receaue any pointes of faith , which are not agreeable to this rule of faith , No although that they be ta●ght by that Church which maketh her boast that she cannot erre , and that the faith of her cheife governor can never faile Nay rather if thou wilt be a sound scholer in the schoole of Christ , learne to yeelde that reverence & honour only to the bookes of Aug ep 91. ad ●litron . the diuine scripture , that thou firmely beleue that none of the Autors of them erred any whit in the penning of the same : giue this prerogatiue only to the worde of God , that it hath his sufficient warrant & credite in itselfe , because it is inspired of God & proceedeth from him which cannot erre , deceiue , or be deceiued : & as for the writtings of all other , albeit they excel in wisdom & holines , receiue them not because they haue thus iudged , but for that they are confirmed by the autority of the Canonicall scripture , or by some reason agreable vnto Hom. 13. in 2. ep ad Cor trueth . And verily it is an absurd thing ( as Chrysost saith ) in a mony matter not to trust an other , but to tell that even after a mans own father , & in matters of farre greater moment , which concerne Gods glory , & the salvation of our owne soules , in a simple & sottish credulity to follow the iudgments of other men , whereas also we haue a most exact ballance & rule , even the censure & determination of the divine lawes . Yea whereas we are precisely commanded to proue all , & to approue the best : & ● . Th. 5. 21. 1. Ioh 4. 1. 1. Cor. 14. & 32. not to beleeue every spirit , but to try the spirits , whether they bee of God or no : for that the spirits of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophets & therefor by trial to be found true before they be beleeued . Neither is it any disgrace to the iudgment of man , to be subiect to the censure of Gods spirite , already set downe in the canonical scriptures : for even the spirit of God speaking in S. Paul was content to be tried by the sacred scriptures , that is in truth by himselfe ; & the Bereans at commended Act 17. 11. Apoc. 2. 2. for doing the same : as the Ange●l of the church of ●phesus is also commended for examining them which said they were Apostles & finding them liars . So likewise our Saviour Christ the wisdome of God , in whome were hid al the treasures of knowledge , willeth his auditors to search the scriptures , & Ioh. 5. 39. so to try by them , whether he taught any other doctrine than was contained in these sacred bookes : for in them ( saith he ) ye thinke to haue life , & they are my deponents & witnesses : Neither doth he desire any better lurers to giue evidence concerning the truth of his doctrine . And S. Hierome foretelleth of the faithfull of these last daies , that they shall not suffer In Nah. c. 3. themselues any longer to be kept in ignorance by their blind guides , but shal ascend vp to the mountaines of the Apostles & Prophets , that by the cleere light of their infallible doctrine they may be directed in the right way to their eternall salvation . Wherefore as many of vs as desire to be saued by comming 1. Tim. 2. 4. to the knowledge of the truth , let vs follow the commandement of Christ and his Apostles , & the example of the noble Bereans , & of the faithful of these last time ; let vs ascend vp to the mountaine of the Apostles & Prophets , & take them to be our guids in all our ghostly & spirituall affaires , & let vs by their Canonicall writings , especially by the foundations of faith in them contained , as by a most certaine & sure rule , try the doctrine of al men & angels , & of al particular Churches whatsoever , be they French , Duch , Spanish , or Italian . I hat law that will not be tried , is worthely suspected , & that doctrine which flieth the light , is the doctrine of darknes . For truth seeketh not corners , it would not be covered vnder a bushel , but set on a candlestick , she would not haue her face masked , lest she should passe vnknown , she would appeare with open countenance , that so she might be iustified of all her children . For thy furtherance herein ( good Christiā●eader ) in this short treatise ( the which if it giue but occasion to some other to handle the same matter in manner more suffi●ient , I neede not account my labour to be lost ) I haue laide purple to purple , that it might the better be discerned , as also the cloth of the contrary colour : that is , I haue ioined to the Articles of our Christian Creede , the points of our Christian faith agreeable therevnto , as also such erronious and heretical positions , which are repugnant & contrary to the same . The which thing being so behouefull and necessary , it had bin convenient that some one of great giftes had been emploied therin , neither could his learning & eloquence haue beene more advanced , then in being handmaides in so profitable a service . But now it pleaseth the Lorde to send this present vnto thee by the hands of a simple servitour , and in a rude and vnpolished speech as in an earthen platter or wodden dish , that so the meate may rellish for the meates sake it selfe , & not for the fairenes or goodlines of the dish . But first thou must purge and free thy taste from the corrupt humors of partiality , and of al obstinate & wilful resolutions : neither must thou presume to appointe of thy selfe what shal be sweet , & what sowre , but suffer the Lord himselfe only to be thy taster therein : and so thou maiest also in thy course both taste and see how gracious the Lord is , and at the length attaine to the blessednes of al such , as place their whole hope and confidence in him . The Lord for his mercies sake disperse more & more the grosse misles of al spirituall blindnes and darknes , and open thine heart , as hee did the heart of Lidia , & giue thee vnderstanding in all things , Act. 16. 14. graunting vnto thee the spirit of truth to leade thee into al truth , for his owne glory , and thine vnspeakeable comfort and ioy .