Two kinds of Roman disputants: blindfold quarrelers who hiss at the Spirit's testimony
Next we must see what the Roman doctors judge about all this, so that it may be plain where the real state of the question on Scripture's authority lies — the question fought today with such heat between us and them. First of all, notice that among the Pontificii there are two kinds of men.
Many among them are insolent, without candor, with scarcely any learning. Their only aim is to harass our people with importunate disputes. They often fight like the Andabatae — blindfold fighters — not seeing what they hold or where they aim their blows. In debate they not only attack our doctrine; they also tear up their own opinions and contradict themselves. Pointed sophisms and captious subtlety are enough for them if they can make trouble for us. They do not care whether what they urge against us can be turned back on themselves.
So when Scripture's authority is the question, they hiss at the Holy Spirit's inward testimony and babble against our people words that strip sacred Scripture of all authority and hang our faith solely on human testimony. In that way they expose the Christian religion to reproach and make it look ridiculous, as if it rested on no foundation but the authority of those who profess it.
Latin
V. Sequitur jam ut videamus quid de istis omnibus Pontificii censeant, ut inde liquido constet, qua in re situs sit status quaestionis de Scripturae authoritate, quae tanta contentione inter nos et illos hodie agitatur. Hic autem ante omnia observandum inter Pontificios duo esse hominum genera. Etenim inter eos multi sunt homines procaces, nullius candoris, vix ullius doctrinae, quibus aliud nihil propositum est, quam nostros importunis disputationibus vexare. Hi saepe pugnant Andabatarum more, non videntes quid teneant, et quo dirigant ictus. Itaque inter disputandum non tantum nostram doctrinam impugnant, sed propria quoque placita convellunt, et sibi ipsis adversantur. Satis enim ipsis est, modo aculeatis quibusdam sophismatis, et captiosa quadam subtilitate molestiam nobis creent; non curantes interim, an ea, quae contra nos proferunt, possint in ipsos retorqueri. Ita, quum de authoritate Scripturae quaestio est, internum Spiritus sancti testimonium exsibilant, et multa in nostros blaterant quae omnem Scripturae sacrae authoritatem detrahunt, et fidem nostram unice suspendunt ex hominum testimonio. Et ita Christianam religionem exponunt opprobrio et ridiculam reddunt, quasi nullo alio fundamento niteretur, quam eorum, qui illam profitentur, authoritate.
About this text
Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu, Sedan Theses, newly rendered from Latin: from theology proper through the Roman theses I–77 and the Reformed theses of Part Two. The theses only — not the collected works.
English follows locked Pitt Latin through Imaginum CLOSED + Sanctorum Cultu Romana CLOSED + Pars Secunda Reformata I-XL. 1675 PDF ~384-390 (book ~370-376); Vision OCR + pdftotext + tess. No modern English. This slice densifies Sanctorum Pars Secunda I-XL. Next: Pars Secunda XLI–fin (~CI). Claim stays claimed (book densify not done).
Catalogue & scope
ESTC R17887; Wing L802. IA bub_gb_eOkHAW4G0-wC (+ EEBO 1675 for gap leaves). Densify through Sanctorum Cultu Romana I-LXXVII + Pars Secunda Reformata I-XL (Pars Secunda not closed; not whole folio).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Theologia I-XLIII (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
- Checked print Internet Archive PDF of the 1675 Pitt folio (Latin)
- Checked print pdftotext of De Theologia pages (Latin)
- Checked print Internet Archive DjVu OCR of the 1675 Pitt folio (Latin)
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Fide I-XXII (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Authoritate Scripturae Pars I I-XLVII + Pars II I-XXXV + Pars III I-VIII (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
- Copy-text Locked Latin, De Scripturae plenitudine densify (Pitt 1675) (Latin)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.