Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/279

ICHTHYOPHAGIA; OR, FISH-EATING. 275 transgresses a divine law, e contra. Bu. Where is the difference in mingling vinegar and wormwood, which is put in first, if I must drink them both? Or what matter is it whether a stone that has given me a wound rebounds from me to a friend directly or sideways? Fi. I have learned that. Bu, And if the modus of a law’s binding, in laws of both kinds, is to be taken from the matter and circumstances, what difference is there between the authority of God and that of man? Fi. Indeed, a very wicked question. Bu. There are, for all that, a great many that do not think there is much difference. God gave a law by Moses, and it is not lawful to violate it; and He also gives laws by a pope or a council what difference is there between the one and the other? Moses’s law was given by God, and our laws were given by men, and it should seem that those laws which God gave by one Moses should be of less moment than those which the Holy Spirit gives by a full council of bishops and learned men. Fi. It is unlawful to doubt concerning the spirit of Moses.

Bu. Paul comes in the place of a bishop; what difference is there, then, betwixt the precepts of Paul and of any other bishop? Fi. Because, without controversy, Paul wrote by the inspiration of the Spirit. Bu. How far extends this authority of writers? Fi. I think no farther than the apostles themselves, unless that the authority of councils ought to be looked upon inviolable. Bu. Why may we not doubt of Paul’s spirit? Fi. Because the consent of the church is against it. Bu. May we doubt concerning that of bishops? Fi. We ought not rashly to be suspicious of those, unless the matter manifestly savours of gain or impiety. Bu. But what think you of the councils? Fi. We ought not to doubt of them, if they are rightly constituted and managed by the Holy Spirit. Bu. Is there, then, any council that is not so? Fi. It is possible there may be such, otherwise divines would never have made this exception. Bu. Then it seems that it is lawful to doubt concerning councils themselves. Fi. I do not think we may, if they be received and approved by the judgment and consent of Christian nations.

Bu. But since we have exceeded the bound that God has set, and within which He would have the sacred and inviolable authority of the scripture circumscribed, it seems to me that there is some other difference between laws divine and human. Fi. What is that? Bu. Divine laws are immutable, unless such as are of that kind that they seem to be given only for a time, for the sake of signification and coercion, which the prophets foretold should end as to the carnal sense of them, and the apostles have taught us are to be omitted. And then, again, as to human laws: there are sometimes unjust, foolish, and hurtful laws made, and therefore either abrogated by the authority of superiors or by the universal neglect of the people; but there is nothing such in the divine laws.

Again, a human law ceases of itself when the causes for which it was made cease; as, for instance, suppose a constitution should enjoin all persons yearly to contribute something towards building a church, the requirement of the law ceases when the church is built. Add to this, that a human law is no law, unless it be approved by the consent of those who are to use it. A divine law cannot be dispensed with nor abrogated, although, indeed, Moses being about to make a law required