276 TheChurch thefetatvifitringtruth VERSE Z. a Necefr free cos quiScriptural cdtpcndo per- tratiant,etion- firecleatque unitcs fidei fue- rint,varlas pa- re, e in malt0- rum locorum ob- fctaritate fen- tentio quam. vis ncqtictqll'am ipf:z varatas aft ejufdemfidei imitate difor- det ; ficut eti- am unto traaa- torfecundum tandem fidem alit er ati2afitcr eundem locum potefi exponere, quia hoc eitts obflwritos pate. t glug, cp,r9. b Theodoret. de curattd.Gnec. Cypr. ferm. de diug.epift 3 ..ad Voluf et to.3 de doarin.Cbrift., fib .1, cap.9. them to Gods people with inodeftie, and moderation; and a therein Grid alloweth the learned a Chrsflian ti. bertie, with fubmiffion oftheir opinions alwayes to the fpirits ofthe Prophet, ,fo long as theydoe therein nothing contrary to the Analogie of faith, to the generall peace, andunity ofthe,Church, to the rules ofcharitie, pietie, loyaltie, andfobrictte ; to abound in their ovine fenfe,and todeclare, for the further edifyiner a of the Church, what they corceive to be in filch difficult places principally in tended. And further than this noChurch nor perfon can goe ; for if unto any man or chaire there were annexed an ibfallibleptit, enablinghim to give filch a deereand indubitate expofition of all holy Scriptures, as fhould leave no inevidence in the Text, nor hefitancie in the rnindesof men; how comes it to patre that hitherto fo many difficultiesremaine, wherein even our Adverfaries amongt1 themfelves doe give feverall conjeaures and explications, andhow can that man, to whom fo excel- lent a gift of in./rat/44.6e is beftowed, cleere himfelfe of envie, and abufe of the graceof God, who maketh not ufe thereof to expound the Scriptures, and to compofe thofe differences thereabouts, which doe fo much per x the world:? Secondly, for thole places which in their meaning are ease to be underflood, but in their excellent and high nature hard to be believed (as all Articles of faith, and things of abfolute neceffitie are in their termer b C*91410 but:in their heavenly nature unevsdent unto ha- wane realm) the office of the Church is not to binde miens confciences to beleeve thee truths upon her au- choritie, for wee have not dominion over the faith of menineither are we lords in ChrifisRock ; and how Thal any fcrupulous minde,vvhich is defirous to boult things to thebran, be fecure of the power which the Church in this cafe arrogates, or have any certaintie that thisfo. cietyofmen muff be beleeved in their religion,who will allow
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