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the
holy
Scriptures
\
reitrditedby
gels
fJiirit.
which another
bath
deliuered,
that
fo
out
of
the
afhes of'
their
credit and
reputation
they
may
build
a
monument
of
their
own fame
:
the quite contrarie
is
bee obferued
in
the
N'riters
ofthe
Scriptures,who
fuccelhuely
writing
one after
another
the
fpace
of
dicers thoufand
yeeres,
doe
notwith
Banding confent
together
in the
fame
truth,
the
latter
rati-
fying
and
confirming
that
which the former had deliuered
'without
anyalteration,
oppofition or emulation,
as
though
they
were
diners
hands
fet on
work by the
fame
foule,which
could
not
poffibly
come
to
paffe vnleffe
they
were ouerruled
by Gods
fpirit.
4.Se.6.
Fiftly,the mightie
oppóftions
which
haue
been
made
by
The
fjt
reafon,
the
diuell and his
wicked
impes
againfl
this
dod}rine
ofthe
mood
f
ul!
the
fcri
tures,and yet
a!
in
vaine,do euidently
Phew
that
they
are
f
.
Gods word
and truth the patronage and proteelion
whereof
preferuatto
of
the scriptures
he
hath
himfelfe
vndertaken, abone
al
humane reafon and
a;ainftall
op-
;power.For bath
not
the diuell
in
forti
er
times,and
doth
hee
pojtions.
not
í}i11
at
this day
oppofe himfelfe
againfl the word
ofGod?
and
doe
not
his
curled
infiruments,
vngodlymen, the
more
they
exceede in wickednes
the more
bend their
whole
pow
-
er
malitioufly
to
oppugne this truth,perfecuting
the
children
ofGod,for
this
caufe
onely
that they
are profeffors
and
pra-
}fifers
ofGods
true religion? And whence proceedeth
this
malitious oppofition
but
from this,
that
the
Scriptures are
the word
of
God
?
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,that
their
wickedneffe may
not
be defcried;
be-
caufe
it
is
pure
and
holie they cannot endure
it,
they
them-
felues
being
corrupt and
wicked;
becaufe
it
is
the
rule of
iu-
(licewhich
fheweth
the
-
crookedneffe
of
their waies, they
would,ifthey
were
able, burne
it
or cut
it
in peeces
becaufe
it
is
the word by which
they
are con
demned,therefore they
loathe
as
much
to
heare
it,
as
the prifoner
doth
abhorre
to
heare
the
fen
tence
ofthe
it& Judge.
And
hence proceedeth
their
oppofition and
oppugning
ofthe
holy Scriptures
with
All
their
force
and
might;
but.dll in
vaine, for
the
more the
+diuell