Romans — Chapter 12

And this is the sure Analogie and measure of faith, set downe and commended to vs euery where for the Apostles tradition; and not the phantastical rule or square that euery Sect-maister pretendeth to gather out of the Scriptures falsely vnderstood and wrested to his purpose, by which they iudge of Doctour, Scripture, Church and al. Arius had by that meanes a rule of his owne, Luther had his false weights, and Caluin his owne also. According to which seueral measure of euery Sect, they haue their expositions of God's word: and in England (as in other infected Countries) they kept of late an apish imitation of this prophecying which S. Paul here and in other places speaketh of, and which was an exercise in the primitiue Church, measured not by euery man's peculiar spirit, but by the former Rule of faith first set downe by the Apostles. And therfore al this new phantastical Prophecying and al other preaching in Caluins's schoole, is iustly by this note of the Apostle condemned, for that it is not according to, but quite against the Rule of faith. *c. 6,16. c. 16,17. **1. Tim. 6,20. ***Gala. 1,6. Gala. 2,1. aAct. 15,6.

1. A liuing Host.) Lest men should thinke by the former discourse of God's eternal predestination, that no reward were to be had of good life and workes, the Apostle now earnestly recommendeth to them holinesse of life.

6. According to the rule of faith.) The Apostolical rule or Analogie of faith. By this, and many places of holy writ, we may gather, that the Apostles by the Holy Ghost, before they were sundred into diuers Nations, set downe among themselues a certaine Rule and forme of faith and doctrine, conteining not only the Articles of the Creed, but al other principles, grounds, and the whole platforme of al the Christian religion. Which Rule was before any of the Books of the New Testament were written, & before the faith was preached among the Gentils: by which not only euery other inferiour Teacher's doctrine was tried, but al the Apostles, & Euangelists preaching, writing, interpreting (which is here called prophecying) were of God's Church approued and admitted, or disproued and reiected. This forme, by mouth and not by Scripture, euery Apostle deliuered to the countrie by them conuerted. For keeping of this forme, the Apostle before praised the *Romanes, and afterward earnestly warneth them by no man's plausible speach to be drawen from the same. This he commendeth to Timothee, calling it his **Depositum. For not holding this fast and sure, he blameth the ***Galatians, further also denouncing to himself or an Angel that should write, teach, or expound against that which they first receiued, Anathema, and commanding alwaies to beware of them that taught otherwise. For feare of missing this line of truth, himself notwithstanding he had the Holy Ghost, yet lest he might haue preached in vaine and lost his labour, he went to conferre with Peter and the rest. For the fast keeping of this Rule of truth, the Apostles held aCouncels, and their Successours by their example. For the holding of this Rule, and by the measure therof, were al the holy Scriptures written. For and by the same, al the glorious Doctours haue made their sermons, commentaries, and interpretations of God's word: al writings and interpretations no otherwise admitted nor deemed to be of God, but as they be agreeable to this Rule. The Heretikes phantastical rule or rather rules of faith, many & diuers one from another. And this is the sure Analogie and measure of faith, set downe and commended to vs euery where for the Apostles tradition; and not the phantastical rule or square that euery Sect-maister pretendeth to gather out of the Scriptures falsely vnderstood and wrested to his purpose, by which they iudge of Doctour, Scripture, Church and al. Arius had by that meanes a rule of his owne, Luther had his false weights, and Caluin his owne also. According to which seueral measure of euery Sect, they haue their expositions of God's word: and in England (as in other infected Countries) they kept of late an apish imitation of this prophecying which S. Paul here and in other places speaketh of, and which was an exercise in the primitiue Church, measured not by euery man's peculiar spirit, but by the former Rule of faith first set downe by the Apostles. And therfore al this new phantastical Prophecying and al other preaching in Caluins's schoole, is iustly by this note of the Apostle condemned, for that it is not according to, but quite against the Rule of faith. *c. 6,16. c. 16,17. **1. Tim. 6,20. ***Gala. 1,6. Gala. 2,1. aAct. 15,6.