§ 27.
Soc. It remains then to enquire, who shall judge concerning this sufficient proposal, or sufficient reason, which I am said to have, to believe what the Nicene Council, or the Church hath declared in this point. [79]Whether the Church's judgment is to be taken by me in this, or my own made use of; If her judgment, the ground of my belief and of Heresie lies still in the Church's definition; and thus it will be all one in effect, whether I believe what she declares, without sufficient reason; or learn this of her, when there is sufficient reason to believe so. It must be then, my own judgment, I am to be directed by in this matter[80]: and if so, then it is to be presumed, that God doth both afford me some means not to be mistaken therein; and also some certain knowledge when I do use this means aright: (for, without these two I can have no security in my own judgment in a matter of so high concernment, as Heresie and fundamental Faith is.) Now this means, in this matter, I presume I have daily used, in that I find my Conscience, after much examination, therein to acquit me, unless you can prescribe me some other surer evidence, without sending me back again to the authority of the Church.
Prot. 1. Whilst your discovery of your tenent to be an Heresie depends on your having sufficient reason to believe it is so. And 2. The judgment of your having, or not having sufficient reason to believe this, is left to your self, the Church hath no means to know you or any other to be an Heretick, till they declare themselves to be so. And thus, in striving to free your self from Heresie, you have freed all mankind from it, (as to any external discovery and convincement thereof) and cancelled such a sin; unless we can find one, that will confess himself to maintain a thing against his own Conscience.
Soc. If I, so do the Protestants; for, they also hold none guilty of Heresie, for denying any thing declared by the Church, unless they have reason to believe, that whatever is declared by the Church is revealed by God; and of this sufficient reason they make not the Church or Superiors, but themselves, the Judge.