Of the Errors which the Sectaries do hold concerning the Word of
God.
Bullinger said once in my hearing, said Luther, that he was earnest
against the sectaries, as contemners of God's Word, and also against
those who attributed too much to the literal Word; for, said he,
such do sin against God and his almighty power, as the Jews did in
naming the ark "God." But, said he, whoso holdeth a mean between
both, the same is taught what is the right use of the Word and
Sacraments.
Whereupon, said Luther, I answered him and said, "Bullinger, you
err: you know neither yourself nor what you hold; I mark well your
tricks and fallacies. Zuinglius and OEcolampadius likewise
proceeded too far in this your ungodly meaning; but when Brentius
withstood them, they then lessened their opinions, alleging they did
not reject the literal Word, but only condemned certain gross
abuses. By this your error," said Luther to Bullinger, "you cut in
sunder and separate the Word and the Spirit; you separate those that
preach and teach the Word from God who worketh the same; you also
separate thereby the Ministers that baptize from God who commandeth
it; and you think that the Holy Ghost is given and worketh without
the Word; which Word, you say, is an external sign and mark that
findeth the Spirit, which already and before possesseth the heart.
Insomuch, according to your falsities, that if the Word findeth not
the Spirit, but an ungodly person, then it is not God's Word;
whereby you define and hold the Word, not according to God who
speaketh it, but according as people do entertain and receive it.
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