Use 3. Again, hence for our judgment we learn this truth, that the word of God hath the same gi*ound of truth as God himself. Therefore it is the judge of all controversies. Of all things questionable in religion, the word of God is judge ; because it is not ' yea and nay, but yea,' and ' it is true, as God is true.' And it is judge of this controversy too, whether it be the word of God '?
The question between the papists and us is, whether the epistles and the prophets be the word of God, or no ? whether is it or no ?
I answer, from apostolical testimony, St Paul saith, ' As God is true,' his word is true, the true word of God ; and ' All Scripture is given by inspira- tion,' 2 Tim. iii. 16. The word of God therefore is the judge of all divine truths, because it is most certain, even as certain as God himself. What are the properties of a chief judge ?
He must be true, without error ; authcntical, without appeal, such as can from himself without a higher determine. He must be infaUibie, without peril of error. All these belong to God's truth.
It is yea, it is true without error, it is alway yea. And then it is authen- tical. There is nothing higher but God himself, whose word it is, and it hath the same authority that himself hath, ' As God is true,' so it is true. It is authentical without all appeal. We cannot go higher than God him- self in his word. We cannot call God or Christ from heaven. He hath left us his word, and therefore it is to be credited of itself.
And it is infallibly true, without danger of error. One depends upon an- other, ' As God is true, so our word is true.' If God be true infallibly, this issues by consequence, that the Scripture is the judge, and infallibly true without danger of error.
Hence we may know what to judge of that Romish assertion. There are no other judges in the world can be said to be * yea' alway.
Councils are not alway yea : they are ' yea and nay.' What one council hath set down, another hath reversed. In the council of Basle, the pope was above the council. In another council, that is above the pope.
So one pope's decrees thwart another. The popes are ' yea and nay,' and not yea ; for many hundred years they laboured to cross and thwart one another. So councils and popes are ' yea and nay,' and not alway 'yea.'
Traditions of the fathers are * yea and nay,' and not alway ' yea.' They thwart themselves. St Austin, the best of the fathers, to whom the church is most chiefly beholden of all the rest, he was 'yea and nay.' Doth he not retract ? He wrote a book of retractations of his former opinions (niiiim).
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 18. 865
Tlien he was ' yea, and nay,' and yet a holy man. That which is the judge of controversies must be yea, that is, infalhbly true, authentically true, that there be not a higher. From all others, from fathers and councils, there may be appeal to Scripture, but from Scripture to none ; because it is the voice and word of God. All things else are yea and nay, they are changeable, and they may be so without prejudice to the being of them. A council may be a good council, and inconstant in many things. Fathers may be holy ftxthers, and uncertain. It is only the prerogative of God to be infallible like himself, unchangeable in his nature ; and his word is like himself.
Use 4. Hence likewise issues this, that whatsoever ar/rees not tilth the word of God, which is not yea and nay, is false and nanyht. Therefore those opinions of the Church of Rome, that say they cannot err, if they be not yea with this yea, then they are not yea ; for only the word of God is not ' yea and nay, but only yea,' that is, only certain and true. All other re- hgions that are not divinej are yea and nay. Popery is not grounded upon the word of God, because it is 'yea and nay,' that is, it is uncertain. See how they cross many ways this word of God, that is always yea, and true as God himself is true.
Is it ' yea,' that they saw no image of God, and therefore they must make and worship no image ? ' Nay,' saith the Church of Rome. They have a nay for this yea ; they will make images and worship them, the image of Mary, and other saints. ' Yea,' saith the Scripture, ' drink 3'e all of this.' ' Nay,' saith the Church of Rome. They have a ' nay' for this ' yea ;' only the priest must drink the wine. ' Let the word dwell plenteously in you,' is the ' yea' of Scripture. The Church of Rome hath a ' nay' for this ' yea.' It is dangerous for the people to read the Scripture, and therefore they are forbidden it. We must pray with the understanding as well as with a good affection, 1 Cor. xiv. 15, that is, we must know how we pray. It is proved at large excellently. Nay, understand, or not understand, so the intention be good, saith Rome ; pray in Latin, or howsoever. There is their nay to this j-ea. ' Let ever}^ soul be subject to the higher powers, is the ' yea' of God's book. Therefore the souls of the clergy, and whosoever. The Church of Rome hath a ' nay' for this 'yea.' Therefore their doctrine is bad ; for only God is true, and his word is only ' not yea and nay, but alway 3'ea,' infallible. Therefore that which is contrary to it must needs be false. If only yea be true, then that which is contrary to it must needs be false [nnn).