The sixt Chapter. Of the holie scriptures; out of the Preface vpon the first epistle to the Corinthians.
NOw wée must speake something of the holie scriptures, whereby wée are both encouraged to studie them, and somewhat also are holpen in the following of that studie: 1 and this shall be doon, if I touch first in few words the woorthines and profit of them; secondlie, if we shew by what certeine marks & tokens we may be able to iudge, and saie what is the sense or meaning of them: and lastlie, if we shall open the waie and means how to challenge them vnto our selues. 2 This diuision I mind to folowe, as being most conuenient for the vnderstanding of those things, which shall be spoken. And first of al, bicause we are to speake of the worthines and profit of the holie scriptures, 3 I will giue this plaine and homelie definition of them. For it is a hard matter for anie man, perfectlie and exactlie to define those things which are of God. 4 Wherefore let vs define the holie scriptures, to be a certeine declaration of the wisdome of God, inspired by the holie Ghost into godlie men, and then set downe in monuments & writings. That it is inspired by the inward motion of the holie Ghost, for the saluation and restoring of vs, Peter testifieth in the first chapter of his latter epistle, when he saith, 5 that Prophesie came not in old time by the will of men, but holie men of GOD spake as they were mooued by the holie Ghost. And verie great honour hath come therevnto, bicause as well Christ, as the apostles, 6 and sound councels haue vsed the testimonie of it, for the confirmation of those things which were decréed: yea, we may not thinke that anie traditions be necessarie to saluation, which are not surelie and stronglie grounded therevpon.
And we must alwaies beare in mind, 7 how wée are sent awaie by Christ, the best teacher of the church, to search out the scripture, when he saith in the fift of Iohns gospell: Search ye the scriptures. Moreouer, euerie facultie and learning borroweth his woorthines from the matter, about which it is occupied. For, according as that dooth excell, so is anie science accounted of more or lesse estimation. Wherefore, séeing this science of ours intreateth of nothing else but of Christ, 8 it is so much the more to be accounted the head of all other, as Christ is the most excellent aboue all other things. And as I suppose no man doubteth, but that the new testament speaketh chieflie of Christ. But bicause some man perhaps doubteth, whether the old testament doo so likewise, let him heare euen Paule writing to the Romans the 10. chapter; Christ is the end of the lawe. 9 And in the fift of Iohn, when the Lord had said (that which euen now I recited) Search the scriptures; 10 he added incontinent, For they beare witnes of me. And in the same chapter it is said of Moses; He hath written of me. 11 And manie other places may be brought, to confirme this selfe-same thing; but let vs content our selues with these for this time.