Part 49 (1/2)
Furthermore, they are deceivers, in that they not only ascribe to St
Augustine an opinion he did not hold, but they also falsify and pervert his words For St Augustine's words really are, ”I would not have believed the Gospel if the authority of the whole Church had not ustine speaks of the whole Church, and says that throughout the world it with one consent preaches the Gospel and not the Letter of the Manicheans; and this unanimous authority of the Church moves him to consider it the true Gospel But our tyrants apply this name of the Church to themselves, as if the laymen and the common people were not also Christians And what they teach they wantof the Christian Church, although they are a minority, and ho are universal Christendoht in the name of universal Christendoustine: what he says of the Church throughout all the world, they would have us understand of the Ro that the doctrines of men are also to be observed? What doctrine of men has ever been devised that has been accepted and preached by all of the universal Church throughout the world? Not one; the Gospel alone is accepted by all Christians everywhere
[Sidenote: Their True Meaning]
But then we ustine to say that he would not believe the Gospel unless he were moved thereto by the authority of the whole Church For that were false and unchristian Every man must believe only because it is God's Word, and because he is convinced in his heart that it is true, although an angel fro is rather, as he himself says, that he finds the Gospel nowhere except in the Church, and that this external proof can be given heretics that their doctrine is not right, but that that is right which all the world has with one accord accepted For the eunuch in Acts viii, 37, believed on the Gospel as preached by Philip, although he did not knohether many or few believed on it [Acts 8:37] So also Abraham believed the promise of God all by himself, when no man knew of it, Romans iv, 18 [Rom 4:18]
And Mary, Luke i, 38 [Luke 1:38], believed the e of Gabriel by herself, and there was no one on earth who believed with her In this way Augustine also had to believe, and all the saints, and we too, every one for hiustine's words cannot bear the interpretation they put upon them; but they must be understood of the external proof of faith, by which heretics are refuted and the weak strengthened in faith, when they see that all the world preaches and regards as Gospel that which they believe And if this ustine's words, it is better to reject the words; for they are contrary to the Scriptures and to all experience if they have that other
[Sidenote: The Apostles Also Men]
Finally, when they are refuted with Scripture so that they cannot escape, they begin to blaspheme God and say, ”But St Matthew, Paul and Peter also were men; therefore what they teach is also the doctrine of men And if their doctrine is to be observed, let the pope's doctrine be observed as well!” Such blasphe uttered even by some princes and bishops, who count themselves wise
When you hear such utterly hardened and blinded blasphemers, turn away from them or stop your ears; they are not worthy that one should talk with theument were to hold, then Moses also was a o our way, and believe nothing at all, but regard everything as the doctrine of men, and follow our fancy
[Sidenote: Answer]
But if you will talk with them, do so, and say, Well, let St Paul or Matthew be the doctrine of men; then we ask, Whence comes their authority? Hoill they prove that they have authority to teach and to be bishops? Or how shall we knohere the Church is? If they say that St Matthew has so asserted in Matthew xvi, 19 [Matt 16:19], or St Paul in some place or other, do you say, But that does not hold: they are the doctrines of men, as you say; you must have God's Word to confirm you And then you will find that these hardened blasphemers put themselves to shame and confusion with their own folly They cannot even distinguish between a h whom God speaks The words of the Apostles were coreat miracles, such as were never done for the doctrines of men And if they are certain in themselves, and will prove it to us, that God has commanded them to teach as they do, ill believe them as we believe the Apostles If it is uncertain whether the words of the Apostles are of God, ill give us certainty that their doctrines of na!_[8]
[Sidenote: Why Doctrines of Men are Condemned]
But we do not condemn the doctrines of ladly endure them, but because they are contrary to the Gospel and to the Scriptures The Scriptures set the consciences of men free, and forbid that they be taken captive with the doctrines of men The doctrines of men take captive the conscience This conflict between the Scriptures and the doctrines of men we cannot reconcile Hence, because these two for children to judge here whether we are to give up the Scriptures, in which the one Word of God is taught fro of the world, or the doctrines of e daily? And we hope that every one will agree in the decision that the doctrines of men must be forsaken and the Scriptures retained For they cannot be reconciled, but are by nature opposed to one another, like fire and water, like heaven and earth; As Isaiah Iv, 8 f says: ”As the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are her than your ways” [Isa 55:8 f]