334 74.0 theholy Scriptures\ reitrditedby gelsfJiirit. which another bathdeliuered, that fo out of the afhes of' their credit and reputation theymay build a monument of their own fame : the quite contrarie is bee obferued in the N'riters oftheScriptures,who fuccelhuely writing one after another the fpace of dicers thoufand yeeres, doe notwith Banding confent together in the fame truth, the latter rati- fyingand confirming that which the former had deliuered 'without anyalteration, oppofition or emulation, as though theywere diners hands fet on work by the fame foule,which couldnot poffiblycome topaffe vnleffe theywere ouerruled by Gods fpirit. 4.Se.6. Fiftly,the mightieoppóftions whichhaue been made by The fjt reafon, thediuell and his wicked impes againfl this dod}rineofthe mood f ul! the fcri tures,and yet a! invaine,do euidentlyPhew that theyare f . Gods wordand truth the patronage and proteelion whereof preferuattoof the scriptures he hathhimfelfe vndertaken, abone al humane reafon and a;ainftall op- ;power.For bath not the diuell in fortier times,anddoth hee pojtions. not í}i11 at this dayoppofe himfelfe againfl the wordofGod? anddoenot his curled infiruments, vngodlymen, the more they exceede in wickednes the more bend their wholepow- er malitioufly tooppugne this truth,perfecuting the children ofGod,for this caufe onely that theyare profeffors andpra- }fifers ofGods true religion? And whence proceedeth this malitious oppofition but from this, that the Scriptures are the wordofGod ? and therefore as they hate and oppofe themfelues againf God himfelfe, fo alto againfl his word; and becaufe they know that by this light their workes of darkencffe arc difcouered, therefore they labour to put it Beane out,thattheir wickedneffe maynot be defcried; be- caufe it is pure and holie they cannot endure it, they them- feluesbeing corrupt and wicked; becaufe it is the rule of iu- (licewhich fheweth the-crookedneffe of their waies, they would,iftheywereable, burne it or cut it in peeces becaufe it is the word by which theyare condemned,therefore they loathe as much toheare it, as the prifoner doth abhorreto heare the fen tenceofthe it& Judge. And hence proceedeth theiroppofition and oppugning ofthe holy Scriptures with Alltheirforce andmight; but.dll in vaine, for themore the +diuell
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