Confession Of Jacques D’Auchy, Made Before The Commissary And The Inquisitor.

Inq. “Jacques, though there have been wicked popes, cardinals, bishops, priests, and monks, there have, on the other hand, also been good ones; do you not know that the good grain is not without chaff? No, no, there are good grains and good pastors, though you do not know them.” Jac. “Show me then but a single upright pastor, such as I demanded of you, according to the Scriptures, and I will follow him.” Inq. “Though I should name them to you, you do not know them any way, and 585 will not believe me; but even if it were true, namely, that they are wicked, yet they have the true faith.” Jac. “I hold to the testimony of Paul, that light has no communion with darkness.” 2 Cor. 6:14. Inq. “Do you mean to say then, that a man who commits evil works cannot have the true faith?” Jac. “If a man that has received knowledge, yield himself to the commission of wickedness, his faith will not last long, or will soon be darkened.” Inq. “Who has told you this?” Jac. “Paul writes to the Romans, that some held the truth in unrighteousness, since that which might be known of God, God had showed them; and though they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; wherefore God gave them up to the lusts of their hearts, filled with darkness.” Romans 1:18. Inq. “Paul speaks there of the philosophers, who turned to the heavens, stars, planets, etc., for guidance.” Jac. “That is all the same to me, of whom he speaks, philosophers or others; but Paul shows that through their works and ingratitude their hearts were filled with darkness. Moreover, he also says: ‘Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, . . . for this cause God shall send them strong delusion;’ which also came to pass.” 2 Thess. 2:10,11. Inq. “Did not Judas Iscariot commit a wicked work in delivering up the Son of God?” Jac. “The Scripture says that it would have been better, if he had not been born.” Matt. 26:24. Inq. “Yet he had a true faith; what do you say to this?” Jac. “Had he a true faith before or afterwards?” Inq. “Before and also afterwards, though he was a thief.” Jac. “Though his heart was wicked, yet his walk was good, so that they did not dare think that it was he who should commit the deed, but all asked: ‘Is it I? is it I?’ ” Mark 14:19. Inq. “Look also at Demas, did he not have the true faith? Yet his heart was bound up in things of this world; nevertheless, Paul regarded him as a brother.” Col. 4:14. Jac. “It is true that Paul regarded him for a time as a brother and companion in the work of the Lord; but after he said that Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present world, and no longer calls him a brother or companion.” 2 Tim. 4:10. Inq. “That you do not know.” Jac. “The Scriptures say nothing about it.” Inq. “That proves nothing either way; you must believe that a sinful man can have the faith and the Gospel; do you think that we must therefore not hear him, and believe his word?” Jac. “My lord, wherein do you reprove Paul of sin, after he had received the knowledge of the truth?” Inq. “Is it not written: ‘He that saith that he hath no sin, maketh God a liar?’ ” 1 John 1:10. Jac. “True, but it is also written in the same epistle: ‘Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin because he is born of God.’ 1 John 3:9. And Paul said: ‘How shall we, that are dead to sin, live unto sin’ ” Rom. 6:2. Inq. “Paul there simply asks a question; but do you therefore think that he did not sin?” Jac. “You know that Paul said that Christ was living in him; did Christ then commit sin? Gal. 2:20. He also exhorts the Corinthians, to follow him, even as he had followed Christ, and calls God and men to witnesses, how holily and justly, and unblamably he had walked among them, 1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Thess. 2:10. Of what sin then, my lord, will you accuse Paul?” Inq. “Nevertheless, he was a sinner; this you certainly cannot deny.” Jac. “I do not want to deny it; for he says himself, that he was the chief of sinners, blasphemers and persecutors while in unbelief, but not after he had received the knowledge [of the truth]. 1 Timothy 1:15. Well then; but what I ask you for, are pastors that are blameless in life, doctrine and conversation;