The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

in thanksgiving for the pardon obtained for his sin, as some fabulate with Kimchi. Nor are there two psalms or canticles of Adam related by Blessed Amadeus in his revelations as having been crafted by Adam, and which Nierembergius in On the Origin of Sacred Scripture, book 2, chapter 3, transcribes from a manuscript of Saint Lawrence in the Escorial. Nor, finally, is the book called The Generations of Adam, etc., which the Hebrews wish to have been dictated by God to Adam himself, or the other mentioned by Saint Epiphanius in the Panarion, inscribed: The Revelation of Adam, when God sent sleep upon him. For it was not written in the time of Adam, nor did he write anything.

XIV. Every prophecy of Scripture is not made by proper interpretation, according to the doctrine of the Prince of the Apostles in his 2nd Epistle, chapter 1, because of the reason brought by him: "For prophecy was not brought at any time by human will, but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Spirit." Therefore, Scriptures cannot be interpreted without the Holy Spirit. Faith teaches that the authentic interpretation of Sacred Scriptures exists only there where their true and legitimate sense is faithfully brought forward and guarded, namely, in the true Catholic Church, whose Master assigned by Christ is the Holy Spirit.

XV. As long as the legitimate line and succession of the Supreme Pontificate persisted before Christ in the Old Testament, the High Priest of the Hebrews was the true Judge of controversies of Sacred Scripture instituted by God, Deuteronomy chapter 17. And he was infallible as a Judge and Prince of the Council in settling legal controversies, although in particular mandates or deeds, some may have erred by commanding and acting with a human sense, not about to err while disposing as Supreme Pontiffs and in settling a legal controversy. The King, however, was in no way the Judge of legal controversies.

XVI. There is in the Church a Judge of controversies that pertain to the genuine understanding of Sacred Scripture, and it is not Sacred Scripture itself, which can settle its own intrinsic controversies and sufficiently quiet doubting intellects neither according to the letter nor according to the Spirit. But the judge of all these is the Supreme Roman Pontiff, or a Council approved by him, whose sentences those who are unwilling to acquiesce to must be damned and held as Heretics. Indeed, Scripture alone is not a sufficient and complete norm for deciding them, but Scripture and tradition together; and according to these, the legitimate judge of controversies proceeds from the instinct of the Holy Spirit, who teaches and suggests all things to establish the truth of the faith, so that he may be infallible.

XVII. The Church, however, exposes the Scriptures by that same Spirit of truth