Parties agree whence authority belongs, not how it is known; plan of inquiry; four questions about Scripture's light, the Spirit, the Church, and faith's foundation

The parties therefore agree whence Scripture's own authority belongs to it; they do not agree whence it is known that such authority belongs to it. And so the state of the controversy seems easy and ready. Yet when one comes to the fight, and each side explains its mind more clearly and in particular, then great obscurity and confusion arise in this question; and one can scarcely assign in what the parties properly disagree.

Therefore, so that, as far as in us lies, we may bring some light to this most celebrated question, we will try to set out the whole matter more carefully. And first we will investigate and set out the way in which Scripture becomes known to us as divine. Then we will inquire into the Pontificians' sentence, which is not so ready and prompt to acknowledge and perceive as it might seem. And finally, once the state of the controversy has been drawn out from that, we will explain what the Pontificians' error is in this part, and will refute it.

Further, concerning the way by which we come to knowledge of sacred Scripture, four things chiefly will have to be discussed. First: whether sacred Scripture has some light by which it presents itself to be acknowledged, and what that light is and of what kind. Second: what parts the Holy Spirit has in this business, and how far His work is necessary for someone to acknowledge the Word of God and Scripture. Third: what is to be attributed to the Church in this matter, and how much its testimony avails. Fourth: finally, on what foundation especially that faith rests which we give to Scripture as true and divine.