which are alleadged by the Spanish Authors cited in the Margin Blessed saith the Psalmograph are they who diligently meditate vpon diuine Scriptures To know God by the testimony of them Reade and search saith Christ our Lord the Scriptures for they testifie of mee Hereunto alludes that of Deuteronomie Aluarado toâ—â— primero del arte de bien viuir fol. 1091. Chap. 22. Aske thy father and hee will declare vnto thee thy Ancestors and they will tell thee For as Father Serpi cloquently teacheth The writings and Scriptures whence wee should knowe and learne are no other then the Prophets Euangelists and Apostles whose Bookes wee all enioy And to these saith S. Paul Serpi en el tratade â—e Purgatorio pag. 1. as Father Serpi obserueth this saying wee must approach to gather learning and profit from them But that of Moyses transcendeth all these testimonies as Father Luys de Granada noteth as the most Illustrious and pregnant one Granada en el preambulo de la 2. P. de la introduâ—â—ion del Symbelo to conuince all vnderstandings who hauing propounded and declared the Law of God saith on this wise These words which I now set before thee shall bee in thy heart and thou shalt teach them to thy children and shult thinke of them when thou art in thy house and when thou iournyest when thou goest to bed and when thou risest vp againe thou shalt fasten them as a signet to thy hand and they shall bee and mooue before thine eyes and thou shalt write them in the galleries and portals of thy house With what other words wee may say with Granada could the consideration and studie of the Law haue been better exemplified and as if all this had been little in the 11. Chapter of the same Booke hee againe recommends it to vs in the selfe same words a thing which seldome happens in the Scripture so great was the care of this heauenly man who spake with God face to face desired wee should haue to be assiduous in the Law of God as who well vnderstood how much wee were bound so to doe and the inestimable fruits and benefits that would follow of it The same God that without making difference of Sexe age or qualitie enioyned all to reade the sacred Scripture did likewise ordaine that it should be diuulged in all languages that all might haue the fruition of it Leon en el prologo de los nombres de Christo So doth the learned Father Luys de Leon confesse it in these words That God compiled the holy Scriptures with very plaine words and in a language which was vulgar and familiar to them to whom hee first gaue them And when froÌ„ them together with the true knowledge of Iesus Christ this treasure was transferred and communicated to the Gentiles hee caused them to bee explicated into diuers tongues and almost into all those which at that time were most generall and common that they might bee obuious and familiar vnto all And to ratifie the trueth hereof wee reade that S. Hierome translated it into his mother tongue Prades en el prologo de la adoration delas imagines which was the Dalmatique And Iohn Chrysostome into the Armenique tongue Vlphilas a Gotish Bishop into the Gotish tongue as Doctor Prades relateth of all the three Iohn Prelate of Seuill translated it into the Arabique as Father Mariana storieth who saith that the said Prelate did it with intendment to promote the increase of all Christians Mariana en la historia de Espanua lib. 7. ca. 3. tomo primero and helpe the Mores for that the Arabique tongue was of ordinary vse among all And hee addeth that there are some copies of this translation which haue been propagated to our times being yet extant in some places of Spaine And the same Mariana saith that the King D. Alonso the tenth Idem ibidem lib. 14. cap. 7. procured the holy Books of the Bible to be translated into Spanish Would to God the most mighty Philip the fourth would command the like worke now Holy Scripture hath been imprinted many other times in the Spanish tongue and sometime in the Valentian tongue as the reader may see in the exhortation which the most learned and religious Cypriano de Valera made inducing to reade it which accompanieth the version which hee with great labour and studie made and caused to bee imprinted which is the last time that I knowe it hath been printed in our tongue I would it might please God that it were turned into all languages as also into our Spanish he in whose hands are the hearts of Kings can mooue the Catholike Kings to permit vnto our Countrey men the Spaniards the fruition of this inualuable treasure for the foresaid pious Gentleman for the good of our Nation imployed twenty whole yeeres labour in the said translation which in the iudgement of all the learned is a very excellent one Also the trueth of the former proposition appeareth to wit that all the faithfull are obliged to reade and ruminate the holy Scripture in that the holy Doctors and ancient Fathers exhortes all thereunto Puente en la guia espiritual fol. 291. Prades en el prologo de la historia de la adâ—racion de las imagines Father Puente doth clearely teach this as you may see in the place quoted in the Margent So likewise Father Prades doeth openly confesse it though hee adde that notwithstanding this the Catholike Church to wit the Romane did prudently and holily in prohibiting the vulgar to reade the Scripture that you may see how the Papists esteemed the authoritie of the holy Doctors when they speake which they oft doe against their errours and tyrannies Granada en el preambulo de la 2. part de la introduecion del Symbolo Luys de Granada approoues our proposition and in proofe of it alleageth that which S. Hierom wrote to a Virgin by name Demetria recommending to her the reading of sacred Scripture Hiero. ad Demet and giues the same aduice to S. Paula and yeelds this reason of it that the true nourishment of the soule is to meditate day and night on the Law of the Lord and S. Bernard writing to his sister perswades her to this study Bernard ad soreremde modo bene viuendi c. 50. declaring vnto her particularly the fruits and effects of this good reading And S. Paul counselleth his disciple Timothie who was full of the holy Ghost that till hee came hee should bee exercised in reading the holy Scripture which Timothie had learned from a childe Father Torres is of the same minde with Granada Torres lib. 25. ca. 2. de la Philosophia de Principes and brings to ratifie his opinion almost the selfe same examples and testimonies which the other did and addes that S. Fulgentius recommends the foresaid study of Diuine Scripture vnto Theodoret the Senator Fulgent epist 6. ad E. Of S. Hierome
benefit that may accrew to many by auoiding the desparate malice of some that put themselues to death with their owne hands and blind themselues because they would not behold the Sunne for this were a denying of that which is good to the good man to whom properly it belongeth to preuent an euill man of that ill himselfe seekes Thus farre the same Author proceedes whereupon he concludes that though many abuse the booke of the Reuelations of S. Gertrudis and other such like yet should they not for all this bee prohibited in the vulgar tongue Now if this reason bee of force in such bookes which are replenished with palpable lies and most impudent blasphemies as that is which we formerly mentioned of the espousal of Gertrudis with Christ and that which ensues of her that is to say when Gertrudis was drawing neer to the hour of her death Christ appeared to her clothed inglorious garments the ornaments of an heauenly spouse accompanied with his blessed Mother and S. Iohn Euangelist and an innumerable multitude both of men and women Saints of Celestial Courtiers and inhabitants and in particular the resplendant Armie of virgines all clothed in white who for all the day long continued in the Monastery and that in the same Monastery the Saints men and women conuersed with the Monkes and Nunnes of the Monastery and that the Lord comming to the bed of his spouse and beloued Idem câ—p vltimo del libro 4. de la insinuacion de la diuina piedad hee beheld her with an amorous countenance and shewed to her many fauours and kinde entertainements and she bent her head to Christ who leaning and resting himselfe vpon the bed of the sicke partie with both his hands hee opened his breast The Reader must obserue as hee may perceiue in the Chap. 36. of the same Author that the same was written by the instinct of the holy Ghost which promiseth to them that shal reade it admirable benefits and manifested it to her and sayd I will now free thee from the bandes of the flesh and present thee to my selfe as the treasure and ioy of my heart to enioy thy sweete and pleasing companie c. Wherefore as I said if this reason bee of force in such like bookes who can bee so shamelesse as to denie but that it must needes bee much more preualent in the bookes of the holy Scripture which the holy Ghost himselfe inspired into his seruants the Prophets and Apostles who writte them to open our vnderstandings and make them sacred and holy And now it is time that we come to the other Granada who as it seemes hath conuerted his sweet and pleasant graines into fearefull and thundring bullets not so piercing and mortall to vs as to the Romane Church it selfe For he applies himselfe purposely to refute the vanity of that propounded calumnie with as much vehemency and splene as if his owne life therein concurr'd Granada en el preambulo de la segurda parte de la Introduccion del Symbolo This Author sayes how others obiect that by good reading many take an occasion to runne into many errors To this I make answere That there is nothing so good 〈◊〉 perfect which humane malice may not depraue and abuse What doctrine can be more exact and infallible then that of the Gospels and of S. Pauls Epistles and yet notwithstanding all the heretiques that euer haue beene both moderne and of ancient times haue pretended to ground their heresies vpon this so perfect doctrine whereupon the Apostle S. Peter making mention of S. Pauls Epistles he sayth that there are in them many very difficult things to be vnderstood so that many wicked men tooke occasion out of this to plant their errors And further hee addes that heretiques labour to maintaine themselues out of all the bookes of the holy Scriptures wreathing and wresting them to colour and cloake their errors And besides this what is there in humane life so necessary and profitable but if wee forecast some inconueniences that may ensue wee may thinke it fit to be reiected Thus fathers should neuer marrie their daughters because many wiues die in childbed and other some are cut off by the crueltie of their husbands let there be no Physicke nor Physicians because many times both they and their medicines kill there must be no swords nor armes seeing men euery day kill one another men must not crosse the Seas in that there happen euery day so many shipwrackes both of men and goods all study in Theologie must be laid apart because all heretiques abusing and adulterating of the same take occasion to ground their heresies and errors thereupon But what do I speake of earthly things seeing euen those heauenly are not exempted from their inconueniences What can be more expedient and requisite for the vse and gouernment of this world then the Sunne and yet how many men haue dyed growen sicke through the immoderate heate thereof But why doe I insist in these things when euen from the goodnesse mercy and passion of Iesues Christ our Sauiour which are the fundamentall causes of all our happinesse euill men presume to perseuere and continue in their sins Vnto all that formerly deliuered I will annexe this one thing of great consideration and therefore I demand What more efficacious and piercing motiue can there be to conuince all vnderstanding and reduce them to true faith then the resurrection of Lazarus who had lien buried foure dayes and stunke whom the Lord raised vp againe with these words Lazarus come foorth And this was sufficient that neither the gates of death nor the ligatures bands wherewith he was bound could keepe him in his graue What heart can there be so hard and obdurate that will not be mollified and yeeld to the faith and beliefe of that Lord by meanes of this so inexplicable a miracle But O the incredible malice of humane hearts this so wonderfull a miracle is not onely not preualent to subdue the hearts of the high Priests and Pharises but further here-from they were excited to condemne to death the worker of so renowmed a miracle wherewith not being content they sought to kill Lazarus because many by his meanes came to beleeue in the Sauiour Wherefore if humane malice be so implacable as that it here-from assum'd a motiue and stimulation to so great a wickednesse who can produce any argument from that abuse wherewith wicked men alienate and adulterate good things wringing and wresting them to their corrupt and prophane willes that hereby a good should be preuented and cut off To this demaund made by so famous an Author whose reasons all these I haue deliuered were I would faine haue the Romane Antichrist make answere who prohibites the reading of the sacred Scriptures to an innumerable sort of the vulgar depriuing them hereby of infinite many benefits which from the reading of the same doe accrew in that some abuse and alienate them
sacred Scripture the onely meanes to know vnderstand and distinguish which is the true and which the false Religion what kinde of worship and manner of seruice and honour hee enioyneth and approoues of and what hee inhibiteth and detesteth but Sathan the father of lies and author of darkenes perceiuing that by this way alone his fraud is disanulled his darkenesse dissipated and the vanity on which his kingdome is grounded luculently detected whence results his eminent ruine Finding by the long experience of his losses that such miserable men as he hath captiuated vnto death and bound with the chaines of ignorance and blindnesse being irradiated with this heauenly light doe escape out of his prison and are transported into the liberty of the sonnes of God Hence it comes to passe that though by the quality of his peruerse and cursed disposition he abominates and persecuteth all the means that ten◠to the good and saluation of mankinde yet with more singular diligence and extraordinary violence he hath euer opposed will neuer intermit to resist vntil God altogether bridle him vp the bookes of sacred Writ Now amongst all the persecutions and wars which he hath stirred vp against it that which the Church of Rome by the interuention of his trusty Agents the Pope of Rome and the Inquisitors of Spaine doth at this day prosecute against it is without all comparison most transcendent and cruell For to omit those other infamous aspersions they cast vpon it there being allowed in those countreys where the Inquisition reigneth an infinite number of bookes repleate with a thousand blasphemies superstitions delusions lyes dishonesties and turpitudes to the great preiudice and destruction of numberlesse soules they prohibite the reading of holy Scripture vnto the common people quite exiling it from them and most shamefully calumning it to bee the cause and occasion of errours and the instigatrix to vice It is true that Pius the fourth gaue order to the Bishops and Inquisitors that with the consent of the Parson or Confessor they should licence the reading of Scripture in the vulgar tongue to such as could reade it with fruit Hereby intimating and that not obscurely that his meaning was not that they should reade it who were incited thereunto by a desire of knowing and inquiring into the trueth but onely such as by auricular confession their course of life and behauiour had giuen sufficient testimony that they were most obstinate Papists and such as had sworne vnto the Popes words But let the beneuolent Reader obserue that all that was granted by Pius were it much or little yet so much as hee permitted hath been all abrogated and annihilated by a Bull of the most vngentle Clement the eighth of infamous memory as may bee seene in Castigatione indicis librorum prohibitorum conformably whereunto are interdicted all the holy Scriptures in the vulgar tongue in the Catalogue of prohibited bookes made by the Cardinall Quirogua in his sixt rule as also in that recent one compiled by the order of Cardinal Bernardo de Rojas and Sandoual in the fourth Rule and yet not thus content the said ministers of Sathan send into all parts their familiars which are other incarnate deuils of inferiour authoritie to them but of no lesse cruelty and sagacitie who night and day goe from house to house and from company to company pretending themselues to bee friends and familiars withall being in trueth enemies and familiar deuils And by this meanes they knowe and discouer if there bee any that flying the contagion of dissolute bookes betake themselues to the Sanctuary of the holy Scriptures labouring to reade them in the vulgar tongue because they vnderstand not the other languages in which they are composed if they take a Lay-man that 's skill'd onely in the Spanish with this Diuine booke in his hands it were better for him they had surprized him coyning false money or machinating some notable treason against his Prince or naturall Countrey for that his offence and rebellion should be lesse cruelly chastened then the reading of holy Writte in the mother tongue is wont to bee This great truculency and vnheard Tyranny of the Pope and Inquisitors the deplorable blindnesse and the lamentable seruitude of those that are subiect vnto them especially of those of my Nation haue caused me to take vp my penne to doe that in my owne language which many graue and religious Doctors haue happily accomplished in other tongues to the wonderous and plentifull benefit of the faithfull to wit to euince and point out as with the finger the precise necessitie and obligation that all sorts and conditions both of men and women haue to reade and meditate on the holy Scriptures whether they be rich or poore learned or vnlearned small or great ones and that not onely if the Prelats permit it but also though they should all inhibite it The reasons and arguments which I will alleadge for this purpose are either drawne word for word or collected by necessary consequence out of Spanish bookes two or three Latine bookes excepted all which are imprinted in Spaine with priuiledge and as you may see in the Frontispice of all of them haue been examined and approoued not by one but by man Doctors and not by the lesse but by the most learned men and not by those that were the least but the greatest Papists so that euery good Catholique Romane especially if he bee a Spaniard may reade and peruse this my booke without any scruple of conscience and cannot chuse but giue credit to what he readeth in it My intendement herein hath been to gratifie my Nation as also that forreine nations which professe the true Religion and faith and particularly the Noble English Nation in which it flourisheth more then in all the rest and to which I stand more obliged then to all others may see that the strength of the truth we maintaine is so forcible that maugre all the power of Hell Pope and Inquisitors it is manifested diuulged by the mouth of it's enemies And this will be more perspicuous in those other Tractates which if God vouchsafe me his Diuine grace and my necessitie and pouertie affoord me time place and tranquilitie I will bring to light In which I will prooue by authorities I haue already gathered out of Spanish Authors and Bookes the principall points of our English Religion against the Romane God grant it may all be to the honour of his holy Name and edifying of his Church which shall be the maine remuneration and guerdon I most desired of the labour I bestowed in this Worke and the residue I purpose to imprint hereafter which how great it hath been iudicium sit penès doctos That all the faithfull whatsoeuer be their profession and condition are precisely obliged to Reade and Meditate the Diuine Scripture THis Trueth first appeareth in that God would haue it so and commands it as the ensuing authorities out of Scripture it selfe auerre the
Granada en el li. de la insinuacioÌ„ de la dinina Pedad fol. 22. Note that this Booke is approued by the grauest Doctors in all Spaine in that she was very perseuerant in reading of the holy Scriptures and in that shee confirmed whatsoeuer she spake out of the Texts both in the one and th' other Testament who if she were now in Spaine I make no doubt but she would be reputed a Lutherane Wee also prooued more in particular in what an obligation all the faithfull stand bound to reade the diuine Scriptures because it is Gods pleasure we should know and vnderstand him by them Lorenzo Iustiniano teacheth as much whoÌ„ Fray Ioseph de Iesus Maria followes Fray Ioseph cap. 12. del libro de las excelencias de la castidad and alledgeth in these words By meanes of the holy Scriptures our Lord meant to illuminate and instruct our ignorance informe and direct our faith and fortifie and strengthen our hopes The very same Father Arinçan openly confesseth and maintaineth saying that the holy Scripture Arinzano en su Rosario fol. 138 is a Booke plaine and delucide without danger which God imparted to vs that by the same wee might know him But aboue all these Testimonies that of S. Augustine conferring with God in prayer and speaking of himselfe propounds vnto vs and Father Lewys of Granada auerres and confirmes the same Whereas I was weake and insufficient sayth S. Augustine to finde out trueth with naked reason and therefore stood in need of the testimonie and authoritie of the holy Scripture Granada en la segnuda parte de la introduccion del Symbolo I began then presently to conceiue how it was not possible to beleeue that thou O God wouldest giue so great a diuinity and power to these writings in the world but that by their meanes thou wouldest be beleeued and by them sought out Saint Augustines words extend thus farre the which the Bishop of Tortosa also alledgeth to prooue what we haue formerly propounded and he addes That God gaue vs the Scriptures especially by them to finde out Christ whom as S. Augustine saith the Scripture sounded in his care From this it must needs infallibly follow that whosoeuer takes away the vse of the holy Scripture from the vulgar together with them they take away the onely meanes and instrument which God gaue them to know himselfe and his Sonne Iesus Christ and so consequently they shut against them the gate of eternal life which wholly consists in this knowledge and the same Iesus Christ testifieth speaking to his heauenly Father from which also we may collect how deepely we stand bound and obliged to the reading of the same holy Scripture if wee meane to know God and obtaine euerlasting life The said obligation and bond is also made more manifest wherein all Christians stand bound to reade the holy Scriptures for as God will be beleeued out of them so he will likewise by them be serued and reuerenced because in them hee reueales vnto vs his Diuine will and pleasure and hee sent amongst vs his holy Law which the vulgar can no wayes obserue nor keepe if they be not permitted to looke into it They will peraduenture alledge how this reason onely prooues that euery Christian ought to know and vnderstand the Law of God but hereof it doth not necessarily follow that the reading of the holy Scriptures is requisite for all in generall because it is sufficient that the Doctors and great Masters propound to the vulgar whatsoeuer is most necessary and requisite therein to be knowen First I answere this obiection That Gods will is not the people should onely heare and vnderstand what their Teachers and Pastors thinke good but that all and euery good Christian and faithfull man should search and looke into the Scriptures as formerly hath beene sufficiently prooued As also it is further auerred because as S. Basil teacheth and next to him the Bishop of Tortosa â—rena in Isaâ—og in totam Scripturam â—ol 7. all Scripture is diuinely inspired and written by the holy Ghost to this end that as a common medicine of the soule all men in generall and euery man to himselfe in particular might apply a fit and proper remedy Conformable to this S. Basil teacheth whom Doctor Fonseca cites and followes For as the eyes which behold all things and cannot see themselues except in some glasse that represents them to our sight so likewise our soule viewing and beholding all things cannot see nor discerne her selfe but onely by looking into the glasse of the holy Scriptures Hereupon it followes that the reading thereof is requisite and expedient for all men in that it is befitting that all men should both see and know themselues But the Pope of Rome will not permit the vulgar people to see and behold themselues in this diuine glasse that they may not discerne how odious and abominable the false doctrine he professeth maketh the Christian soule in the sight of God imitating herein the Ape or Monkie who breakes the glasse because it layes open his owne vglinesse and deformity and herein also resembling that ancient Lays who cast away her glasse whereof Ausonius made this Epigram At mihi nullus in hoc vsus quia cernere talem Qualis sum nolo qualis eram nequeo All which as by his daily workes it appeares the Pope alledgeth of the diuine glasse of the holy Scriptures for the vse he makes of them is but small or none at all Most true it is that there is this difference betweene the Pope and Lays for she hated her owne deformitie and not the glasse but hee loues his owne deformitie and abhorres the holy Scripture for he reueales and manifests it to all the world But let this suffise for this time and secondly let vs answere the reason propounded to vs for in that we are commanded to prooue and try the spirits because Sathan many times transformes himselfe into an Angel of light from hence it comes to passe that the reading of the sacred Scriptures is necessary for all men which teach vs how wee should discouer masked and hollow enemies and those inwardly deceitfull shewing vs also what we should retaine and what to auoid as S. Augustine affirmes and next to him Father Iesus de Maria. Fr. Ioseph en el cap. 12. del lib. de la castidad And questionlesse if it be not lawfull for vs to looke into the Scriptures wee shall so hardly be able to distinguish betweene bad and good the faire and deformed what God commands and so what himselfe prohibits as a blinde man can iudge of colours because it is only the Scripture that represents vnto vs all these things without any error or deceit If it be not so as I say let a Papist tell me that neuer saw the Bible how can hee trie the spirits whether they be of God or of the deuill how can he discerne betweene Gods
ignorance which is a cause of all evills as those Authors noted in the Margent most learnedly prooue and testifie Marquez en su Tesoro en la Epistola dedicatoria and indeede the thing of it selfe is so cleare and manifest that it needes no proofe nor testimony Father Iesus de Maria confirmes this trueth in the same wordes propounded Father Albarado is of the same opinion Granada en el preambulo de la segurda parte de la Introduccion y en el prologo del memorial Amongst those bookes saith hee which we are euioyn'd to to reade the holy Scripture hath the first place which was dictated by the holy Ghost to illuminate our vnderstandings and to make them holy Father Serpi confesseth as much saying The diuine Scriptures Fr. Ioseph en el lib. de la caflid ad cap. 12 dissipate the darkenesse and cloude of ignorance and therefore the reading of them is expedient for all men in that it concerneth all men not to be ignorant Albarado tom primero del arto de bien viuir fol. 390. And seeing you beloued Countreymen that in charitie it may be lawful for me to exhort you are inuolued in the palpable and Aegyptian darkenesse of ignorance as dayly experience teacheth vs Serpi de purga torio cap. 1. which all godly and learned men whom God raiseth vp amongst you do lament be no more rebellious and opposite to this diuine light of the holy Scripture for whosoeuer are so they will haue ill successe and one of your great Doctors learnedly notes Granada ibidem He that goes out of his house in the night hee caries with him a Torch or a Lanthorne and he that doeth not so Marquez ibid. fol. 1. is in danger to fall or stumble and in the night and darkenesse of this life the Scripture must be the light Vascones en el desterro de ignorantia en la Epistola dedicatoria to guide and conduct vs except we meane to trippe and stumble at euery steppe as the same Author sets downe wherefore most deare brethren you shall doe exceeding well if according to the counsell and aduise of the Apostle S. Peter you be intentiue and obseruant of the diuine Word confirmed by the Prophets as one that is conducted by a resplendant and bright Torch in an obscure and darke place while the light of the true day breake foorth Fonseca 2. p. del amor de Dios cap 2. and that the Authour of light may rise and shine in your hearts but so you doe wonderfull ill if according to the Iniunctions and Mandates of the Pope you do not hearken and giue eare to the same And if you would know why that same successor to S. Peter as hee boasteth himselfe to bee teacheth doctrine quite contrary to that of S. Peter in this particular point I will plainely and briefly expresse it to you The word of God explained in the holy Scriptures is as before wee said Psal 119. and Dauid affirmes the same a lanthorne that giues light to our steppes wherein we may plainely conceiue the propertie it hath to distinguish good men from bad Fowlers when they follow their game by night vse to carrie burning lights with which they dazell the fowle who perceiuing the light fall into the Fowlers nets so they catch Partridges and of Doues the Prophet Hosea sayes comparing the captiuitie of Ephraim to the Doue or Turrle taken by this delusion and stratageme Birds properly seeke after the light though thereby they lose their liberty but on the contrary wilde and sauage beastes are enemies to the light for the Lion or Wolfe and so all other beasts perceiuing the same they shun it as they would doe a consuming fire and being astonished they flie to their Caues and Dennes In the same manner the Internall light of the sacred Scriptures discouers which are the birds that raise their flight towards heauen and who the wild and sauage bee that runne and hide themselues in the Caues of the earth Peter that wee may come to the point is a bird that bends his flight vp towards heauen and so hee imbraceth the light of the Scriptures and hee would haue vs guided thereby but the Pope is a wilde and sauage beast as S. Iohn testifies in his Apocalypse and therefore hee abhorres and shunnes this diuine light and loues darkenesse in which like to other beasts hee commits his rapine and robberies and because this may not come to your notice he prohibites you the holy Scripture But if you affect the saluation of your owne soules and would not bee ensnar'd with the delusions and subtilties of the deuill but haue the darke fogges and mistes of ignorance taken from before your eyes though the Pope and hell it selfe combined together doe prohibite yet you ought to lay hold of this diuine light and not to goe one steppe in the darke night of this life without the same Also the necessitie and obligation that all the faithfull haue to reade and meditate on the sacred writings and euicted from afflictions which cannot bee wanting in this life Seeing as holy Iob saith all this life is but a long affliction Iob 7. and Saint Peter saith that our aduersary as a rauenous Lion goes about euery where seeking whom he may deuoure 1. Pet. 5. And the Apostle S. Paul magnifieth the strength and great power of this enemie and furnisheth vs with diuers kinds of spirituall weapons to foyle him with Granada en el preambulo de lae 2. parte de la introduccion del Symbole This argument which I haue abridged Father Luys de Granada vseth to demonstrate that the books of sound good doctrine are altogether requisite to the cōmon people Amongst which reasons if this be of validitie who wil be so blasphemous as to denie it to be good in the sacred Canonical books For what doctrine in the world can be paraleld with that which God himselfe inspired his seruants the Prophets Apostles withall to enlighten our vnderstanding and sanctifie them as we said elswhere of which the same God said by the Prophet Esaias I am the Lord thy God Esa cap. 44. teaching thee profitable things that is things which in an eminent degree deserue the title of profitable Puente en la guia espiritual fol. 292. as Father Puente elegantly obserueth So that this argument might suffice without farther explication to authorize our purpose Howbeit we will not so leaue it but will compendiously shew that in the sacred Scriptures most effectuall remedies are found for all dangers that can assault vs in this life and that without it a Christian cannot extricate himselfe out of them and thence it appeares that the reading of it is precisely necessary vnto all First holy Scripture is Puente ibid. fol. 292. as Father Puente faith with Origen a shoppe of all wholesome things to care euery sicke person that commeth
to it and Puente addeth that in it we shall find sufficient remedie for all euill Fonseca 2 parte del tratado del amor de Dios cap. 2. wherewith to heale the soule It is as Fonseca obserueth not onely a gener all antidote against the griefes of the soule but also a lenitiue and ease for the euils that befall the body Granada en el preambuio de la 2. parte de la introduccion And also as Father Luys de Granada auerreth it is thâ—t celestiall Manna which had the relishes of all meates because there is no taste or effect which a soule can desire to haue which it may not sind in it Yea it is as the same Granada noteth that royall table furnâ—shâ—d with all meates of which the Prophet speaketh Thou O Lord hast prepared a table before me which giues me strength and subsistence against all my enemies Fonseca ibid. fol. 64. It is as Fonseca formerly alleadged teacheth an armoury against all the force of the deuill and against the snares of hell and a tower as that of Dauid full of all manner of weapons against all kinde of temptations Puente ibid fr. Ioseph en su libro de castidad fol. 160. as Father Puente affirmeth It is armour to defend vs and weapons to offend our enemies saith Father Ioseph Iesus Maria. And he addes that therefore S. Bernard writes to one of his sisters that shee should fence her selfe with diuine Scripture and that shee should endeauour to ruminate in her prayer that which shee should reaâ—e therein because it would serue her not onely for a defence in this life but also for a particular helpe to obtaine the life to come Estella 1. parte del libro de la vâ—â—idad del mundo fol. 96. And Father Stella saith thus That nothing besides God in this life is more sweetely receiued nor relisheth more deliciously nothing so much segregateth our soule from the loue of the world and nothing so comforteth and fortifieth the souldier of Christ against all temptations as the frequent reading of the holy Scripture If then the excellencie and valew of the weapons of the sacred Scripture be so great as well in defending vs against our aduersaries as in offending them who can bee so shamelesse as to denie that the reason which aboue wee alleadged out of the Father Granada in fauour of bookes comprising good doctrine is not much more forcible and that without comparison in Scripture Seeing therefore we formerly mentioned that whereof the Apostle S. Peter putteth vs in minde that our aduersarie as a rauenous Lion enuironeth vs on all sides to deuoure vs and the Apostle Saint Paul setteth before vs the might of this aduersary and prouideth vs with diuers sorts of weapons to vanquish him and play the conquerours It will be fitting that wee consider what these weapons are whether they be onely the deuoute bookes and not the Canonicall or profane books not tending to deuotion which as wee shall hereafter see are at this present flourishing in the Papacie or the sacred and Canonicall of which my Argument treateth This one Brauo a Spaniard will shew vs whose authoritie may not be vnderualued seeing in matter of Armes that of the Brauo was euer in repute This Spaniard Brauo tells vs That the Apostle S. Peter Brauo en la vigilia magna fol. 89. who obserued the maner of arguing with the deuill vsed against vs gaue vs the forme of answering him Cuiresistite fortes in fide WhoÌ„ resist ye being stedfast in the faith and doctrine of Christ c. And a little after the Apostle S. Paul sayth Sumentes scutum fidei in quo possitis ownia tela nequissimi ignea extinguere For he opposeth to this fire the doctrine c. But what doctrine is this perhaps it s that which occurres in the bookes of Amadis and Belhâ—nise or in the bookes which the Pontificall Doctors bring to light or in the Canonicall ones of holy Scripture Let vs here attend to this Doctor for hee will tell it vs. Not sayth hee the doctrine which is inspersed in pernicious books in amorous letters in sugred complements which some out of curiositie through their depraued inclination make their study for this is to adde fire to the deuill and to strengthen his enemy but sacred spirituall and holy doctrine which is of greater force Psal 118. Whereof Dauid sayth Ignitum eloquium tuum vehementer Thy word is very fiery and if wee haue recourse to the trueth of his Gospel to his counsell to the Commandements of Gods Law and be firme and irremooueable in them This diuine fire is such that it will consume all the artificiall and deluding fire of the deuill Hitherto are Brauos words See yee not that the holy Apostles send vs not to assume weapons against the temptations of our enemy from bookes of meere deuotion much lesse from profane ones but from the Canonicall of holy Scripture And why should they not direct vs vnto it Granada en el preambulo de la segunda parte de la introduccion del Symbolo for as the same Granada sayth What are the weapons of the Christian warrefare what the spirituall sword that cutteth off vices but the word of God And as hee obserueth With what other weapons did our Captaine fight in the desert with the enemie but by infirming euery temptation by some word of Scripture August lib. 4. de Trinit c. 13. Puente tem 2. de la perfecion fol. 255. Teaching vs with his example to draw from it the trueths and remedies wherewith we are to ouercome all our temptations as doeth note with Saint Austin Father Puente And from it only did the Church in the time of the Martyrs draw matter of constancie in the time of the Doctors knowledge in the time of heretiques the confutation of their errors in time of prosperitie humility and temperance in time of supinenesse matter of feruencie Reynosa en el maestro christiano fol. 86. as the Father Reynosa noteth of what else but that said famous S. Austin whom the said Reynosa citeth and followeth that quicquid homo extra didicerit si noxium est ibi damnatur si vtiles est ibi inuenitur Whatsoeuer a man learneth out of it if it be hurtfull it s there condemned if it be profitable it s found there and wee neede not goe seeke it elsewhere And that we may not defatigate our selues of what but the holy Scripture spake S. Paul that it is profitable to instruct the ignorant to refute error to reprooue sinne to teach righteousnesse to perfect a Christian and make him complete in euery good worke which is as much as if he should haue said that it comprehendeth all things necessary to our saluation as forthwith the most learned Father Puente will demonstrate eloquently and copiously We will conclude from what hath beene said that seeing the Apostles themselues that informe vs of the ambushes and
This Author still prosecutes let all this be spoken that men may discerne and vnderstand that there can be nothing so good but it is exposed to some inconueniences yet procur'd rather by the abuses of men then out of the originall nature and qualitie of things And yet for all this there is no reason that through the disorder and misprision of a few many and good men should loose the fruit and emolument of wholesome doctrine All which our blessed Sauiour plainely intimated vnto vs in the parable of the Cockle where he sayes Matth. â—â— that the other seruants demanding of their master whether they should weed out the bad weeds or no that so they might not be preiudiciall to the good seed hee answered them that they should let them alone because it may well be that in plucking vp the weeds together with the they might irradicate the good eares In which parable hee points out vnto vs that the priuiledge and immunities of the good ought so tenderly to be reserued that many discommodities are to be digested rather then that good men should be hurt or damnified If Christ himselfe taught vs thus much why does the Pope who vaunts himselfe to be his Vicar both teach and practise the contrary Why doeth hee depriue good men of the diuine Scriptures and therein of a treasure inestimable in that some particular bad men vse them ill seeing he is not a vice god vpon earth as with a brasen face hee entitles himselfe but a vice-deuill of hell whose workes he performes and whom men obey in euery thing whereof except he speedily repent hee shall one day receiue the iust reward and recompence But yet let vs proceede a little further with this Author Vnto all this I adde saith hee that sound doctrine is so farre from being a motiue and stimulation vnto errour that rather it is the meanes to confirme and strengthen vs in our faith wherefore I thought good here to insert a thing which a certaine Lord of the holy Inquisition of these kingdomes of Portugall related to me the which is very behoouefull to prooue the benefit of good and discreet reading and the discommoditie that growes from bad and iniudiciall perusing of bookes This Lord therefore reported to mee that a man came to that sacred Court to require mercy who freely confest that applying himselfe to reade corrupt and vicious bookes his true faith was thereby so shaken as that he firmely beleeued hee had no more to answere for but to die like a beast But afterwards vpon a speciall occasion that fell out or rather in that it was so ordained by diuine prouidence he began againe to reade and peruse books of good instruction by meanes whereof he was released of the blindnesse wherein he formerly stood This very Author still annexeth another example of a Moore whose eyes God opened by the helpe of good and commendable reading euen as it happened to the Queene of Ethiopia's Eunuch by reading in the Prophet Esaias Wherefore if the benefites growing from good reading be so diuine and that of corrupt and vicious reading so hurtfull and pernicious let me aske of the Papists one question From whence comes it that bad reading is permitted to all in generall and the good onely to a few in number If they know and beleeue that the Eunuch being one in the ranke of secular men attain'd to the vnderstanding of Christian veritie by reading of the holy Scriptures and that the fore-mentioned Spaniard by the reading of profane bookes lost his faith and became an Atheist how comes it that the Lords Inquisitors after hereticall errors doe not consent that there one onely booke of the diuine Scriptures may be publisht in the vulgar tongue that so secular men like to that Eunuch may daily reade in it whereas they tolerate an infinite company of obscene and vicious bookes permitting them to come into euery mans hands If they take away the holy Scriptures from the popular sort which might be very profitable for many and no preiudice to any except they assume it from their owne corruption and blindnesse vnder colour and pretext that some ground their errors out of them how is it that they suffer so many bad and profane bookes that can benefite none but as experience continually teacheth are the instruments of many euils I cannot conceiue what answere the Papists will returne hereunto but this I am assured of that as the Pope the Inquisitors and great Prelats know well that the vulgar sort can neuer possibly come to the sense and feeling of that miserable seruitude whereunto they haue reduced them by the meanes of depraued and petulant bookes they therefore indifferently permit them to be read of all men making no account of the errors and vices that encrease through the reading of such bookes in that they speake not against the Authoritie of the Pope nor of the Inquisitors But by reason they know that the holy Scripture is a cleare and manifest light that will reueale their workes and false doctrine they vse all the care and circumspection possible that the vulgar sort may not reade them and so come to discerne the insupportable yoke they haue laide vpon them This out of all doubt is the true reason why they suppresse the reading of holy Scriptures and tolerate those that are corrupt and bad And that this may the more clearely appeare I thought fit here to set downe somewhat of much which diuers Spanish Doctors haue vtter'd against prophane bookes and the great preiudice that euery day growes in Spaine by the reading of them Father Torres amongst other things affirmes Torres en la Filosofia de principes pag 943. that many of those bookes vsually read at this day throughout all Spaine are obscene and dishonest and are good for nothing else but to make Pandors and secret Bawdes teaching them to sinne and to send many soules into hell These pernicious bookes haue a number of followers and well-willers but good writings that treat of vertue and pietie he close hid vp in corners for these ill bookes like a canker enter and seaze vpon all parts of the mind and so irradicate and plucke vp the root and ground of all vertues but the Lords Inquisitors winke at all this Father Ioseph de Iesus Maria is very admirable vpon this subiect Fr. Ioseph cap. 13. del lib. de la castidad exhibiting vnto vs many strong and vnanswerable reasons wherewith to subdue and ouercome our aduersaries First of all therefore hee sayes that in many bookes which are much read in the vulgar tongue and come into the hands of the common people in Spaine they vse idolatrous speeches and phrases wherein the Christian Faith and Religion is scandaliz'd and the religious and godly customes of Catholike people That bookes of Poetrie are full of blasphemies and vent more error then euer the Gentiles did in their writings All this the same Author affirmes and daily experience shewes
no lesse which the Lords Inquisitors know well enough and yet notwithstanding all this they permit vnto all and except none the reading of such bookes but to reade the word of God in secular men they repute it for a crime worthy of death and as an offence of that nature they punish it This very Author sayes further That in those bookes there are not onely found many violent instigations to vice but also masters and skilfull pedagogues who teach and instruct how to attempt and prosecute them yea which is more they make a bed for heresies But this last though it be infallibly true he confirmes with a very grosse and explodible lie speaking thus When impious Luther saith hee began to disperse his poyson in Germanie Sathan being desirous to bring into France likewise this heresie when he found so maine a resistance in that most Christian kingdome he laboured with subtill policie to haue the Fables of Amadis of Gaule translated into French that they might infect and taint the minds of Noble people they being best read and most curious in reading and to prepare them for the embracing of heresies and so by the tickling delight of lasciuious loues of fabulous feats of Armes and magicall Incantations the mindes of men in a small time were so poisoned and defiled that no discourse passed among ingenious and curious people but of matters ridiculous and fabulous And that when the deuils ministers perceiued how this Translation was so well receiued and entertained they returne againe to sow abroad other dreames and Fables translating daily more immodest and fabulous bookes which did so obfuscate and darken young wits and so notably polluted and stained their willes that men retir'd themselues from the reading of good books and diuine Histories and euen the Name of Christ came to be lesse called vpon Thus farre extend the words of that Author wherein first matter is ministred to vs of no slender laughter in his imputing to the Protestants of France whom hee calls heretickes that which iustly at this day may be rather imposed on the Papists and those practises currant and in vse amongst them as the same Author himselfe complaines together with many others and dayly proofes and trials would informe vs though they had beene silent For who is ignorant that in the Papacie diuine Histories are exil'd and banisht and prophane and fabulous Romances brought in in their stead No man there mentions the calling on the Name of Christ but vpon some image of stone or wood of his Mother or some other Saint And who knowes not that throughout all the reformed Churches they are conuersant generally in reading freely the holy Scriptures and that onely the sacred Name of Christ is in euery place and of all men called vpon and therefore in this respect the Pope and the Inquisitors prosecute them with fire and sword endeauouring that those Saints by them canoniz'd should bee prayed vnto and Christs holy Name quite and cleane forgotten But leauing this for another place let it be lawfull for vs once more to demand of the Papists What is the reason that they vnderstanding how these fantasticall and idle bookes brought so much detriment and hurt to the faithfull in France that as wise men whose propertie it is as wee say in our Spanish tongue Escarmentar en cabeca agena To bee afraid by other mens harmes they doe not banish out of the Papacie the originall and cause of so many euils yet this they not onely not doe but euery day they bring in and multiply these brutish and sordide bookes For labouring so industriously and studiously to remooue out of Spaine the holy Scriptures in the vulgar tongue the same being reuealed by God neither conteining so much as one letter that iustly demerits either blame or reprehension but being written onely and wholly for our instruction and benefite wherefore I say vsing such rigor and seueritie to this diuine Booke doe they indifferently and generally permit all men to reade an infinite number of base and pernicious bookes replenisht and stufft with blaspheraies and implying many Heresies whereunto they attract and drawe the most godly and zealous as our Aduersaries themselues frankly confesse and acknowledge Till our Aduersaries giue a full answere to this demand it will not bee altogether vnfit here to set downe what learned Doctor Leon saith after hee hath complained that one of the greatest calamities of our times was that men are growen to such an inclination and disposition hee speakes of the Papists and more particularly of the Spaniards that the holy Scriptures which at other times were wont to be a cure and remedy Leon en el prologo de lot nombres de Christo are become an infectious poyson for this preiudice he sayes they haue wrought that by the presumption and pride of the vulgar they haue made the reading of the Scriptures vnprofitable for them and so another discommoditie ensues I cannot tell whether I may iustly say a worser for they betake themselues without any bridle or restraint to the reading of many bookes not onely vaine and friuoulous but importantly obnoxious and hurtfull the which as by the Art of the deuill haue in number encreast more in our age then any other for want of such as were good and vertuous and the same hath happened to vs as many times it doth with the earth which when it cannot bring forth corne it produceth thornes and I affirme that this second dammage doth in some sort surmount the other because in the sacred Scriptures men onely lose a great Instrument and meanes to be good but in these profane Authors they finde the occasions to be euill and wicked for in the first onely the Rudder and Sterne of good gouernment is taken away and in the other fomentation and nourishment is exhibited to vices For as S. Paul alleadgeth euill wordes corrupt good manners and an obscene and vnpure booke which is dayly before the eyes of him that reades it what will it not effect or how is it possible hee should bee cleare from grosse and vnwholsoâ—e blood that is maintained with nothing but corruption and poyson And in trueth if wee doe but intentiuely obserue it and bee iust and vpright iudges wee cannot but giue sentence that the greatest part of our deprau'd and debausht customes which wee dayly see and meete withall proceedes from the continuall reading of these profane and scurrillous bookes with a relish of Gentilisme and Insidelitie which those that are Zealous of Gods seruice finde in them and I knowe not whether in any age amongst Christian people a greater plague hath been prooued In my iudgement the beginning the roote and the absolute originall of these euils consists in these bookes This and much more the same famous Doctor writ vpon this particular and questionlesse would haue spoken much more and farre more significantly had it not been for that same cruell barbarous and inhumane Inquisition of Spaine in which
most stinking and obscure prison hee remained seuen yeeres in the Towne of Valladolid where as all the world knowes hee vnderwent great troubles afflictions and torments because hee vttered in a Sermon a Proposition that was not pleasing to the Pope of Rome though it was but Christian and true whereof peraduenture wee will intreate more at large in another booke Now it remaines we only obserue how the sacred Scriptures are not prohibited the faithfull to containe them within a certaine moderation and gouernement because this impertinent and seuere prohibition as the Papists themselues well knowe is a cause of greater and more pernicious Inconueniences And who can bee so credulous as to beleeue that to make bad men good they must needes depriue them of the holy Bible which is the onely Instrument to make them good when they freely permit dishonest and immodest bookes which are the proper Instruments of sinne and impietie Surely hee cannot but bee a foole that beleeues this But let vs grant that they who tooke from the vulgar the vse and reading of the Scriptures pretended herein to remooue occasion and meanes of breeding errours yet when long experience had taught them that Inci erunt in scillam cupientes vitare Caribdim which is that studying to preuent one preiudice they brought in a thousand seeing through default of the holy Scriptures profane bookes crept in why I say Dato vno absurdo miltae sequuntur did they not labour to suppresse so pernicious a pâ—ague by restoring them and excluding the other seeing naturall reason informes vs that of two necessary euils we should euer imbrace the least how much more in that the holy Scriptures are good of themselues and remote from all euill There is no doubt but if that prohibition simply aymed at the good and benefit of the faithful they would haue beene so but there 's all the matter in that they do not so much seeke the profit and benefit of the faithfull but rather their owne particular ends and interests the which consists mainely inconcealing from the people the knowledge of trueth which they might attayne vnto by meanes of the holy Scriptures and that they should not seeke and affect to vnderstand it they haue alwayes entertained them with the scumme and dregges of idle and profane bookes the reading whereof is not onely frankely permitted them but further it is a cause that opposite to the willes and desires of good men they are perused and read ouer by all of which amongst others the former mentioned Father Ioseph complaines in these wordes Fr. Ioseph ibid. fol. 796. The abusiue and poysonable practise of euill bookes allowed of in Spaine from whence the greatest part of corrupt customes proceedes comes not from the allowance and toleration of the Lawes nor from the King because they haue ordained sufficient remedies against this dammage and preiudice but rather from the negligence and carelesnesse of Iudges both Secular and Ecclesiasticall in executing such iust and good Lawes and they whom this most of all did concerne were the Bishops and Prelats of the Church who being to giue daily notice hereof to Kings and temporal Lords that they might helpe and ioyne together for the banishing out of the Commonwealth these fountains of pollution and vncleannesse they did not only not do it but Kings Princes exhorting them to purge and cleanse the Kingdome of this letiferous poyson they yet liue and perseuere in the same with most pernicious carelesnesse and forgetfulnesse not with out speciall and singular danger to their owne consciences and the soules of their poore subiects A little after the same Authour sayes it is a lamentable pitie that so many sage and wise considerations hauing bene entred into to establish these iust Lawes which was to remooue out of their Studies and Libraries these hurtfull bookes so many Petitions preferred by the Sollicitors of the Kingdome so many meetings and consultations with the Lords of the Counsell with such a number of manifestations written and published touching the Kinggs pleasure in this behalfe it could neuer bee once put in execution the vrgent necessitie of this execution being so materiall and important what shall wee say to this but onely that the Pope Bishops and Fathers of the Faith conniue at this perdition seeing neither the King nor the whole Kingdome can so far preuaile with them as to execute such iust behoofefull and beneficiall Lawes in all other respects they being so sedulous industrious and circumspect in purging as they say the bookes and writings of the holy Doctors of the Church not exempting herein the Scriptures diuine as appeares in a publisht booke called Index expurgatorius All this wee haue produced by reason of that which Father Granada sayes he heard from an Inquisitor and hee himselfe alleadgeth it to shew the great dammage that proceedes from bookes of corrupt doctrine and instruction and the inexplicable emolument profit deriuing from bookes of good and vertuous Argument it now remaines that we should conclude and shut vp this discourse with the very words which the same Granada vseth in the finishing of his discourse Lawes and iust Tribunalls looke not so much vpon particulars as to generalls that is to say not what may happen to particular persons but what generally concerneth the good of all who in no reason ought to perish through the abuse and disorder of some neither in like manner doe they aime at the particular preiudice which things procure if the generall benefits bee greater then the preiudices as we may perceiue in Nauigation at Sea for if the dammages of shipwracke be great and important yet the benefits of Nauigation are farre greater These are the principall reasons which our Aduersaries produce against the publicke vse and reading of the holy Scriptures the rest are so weake and friuolous as they deserue not to haue any more time spent in propounding them for that would bee as much as to refute them and so the time wee should spend in them will be better gain'd in setting downe two reasons which besides the other before alleadged shew plainely to our view and as it were with the pointing of a finger that the Pope depriues not the vulgar of the Bible to doe them good but rather to auoyd and shunne his owne precipice with which wee will close and shut vp this Treatise The first reason is because as Father Luys de Granada sayes all the studie and care of our capitall enemie is Granada en el preambulo de la 2. parte de la introduceion del Symbole to bereaue vs of this light of the word of God and hee confirmes it thus The first thing the Philistines performed when they had Sampson in their power was to plucke out his eyes and when they had done this they found no difficultie in doing whatsoeuer else they meant to lay vpon him euen to the making of him grinde in a Mill. And this Authour addes of the same
people it is written that they were very carefull and vigilant to procure that there might bee no Forges amongst the people of Israel but that hauing neede of any such things they should repaire vnto their Countrey to haue them and to make vse of their Forges because the people of Israel by this meanes remaining vnfurnished and disarmed they might the more easily suppresse and ouercome them With the same Authour therefore wee may demaund what bee the Armes of a Christian warfare but the Word of God and still with the same Authour wee perseuere and say our enemies in many parts haue stript and bereaued vs of these Armes and in stead of them left vnto vs the bookes of their hatred and malice which are obscene and profane bookes instigators vnto vice all which they doe that the people hereby remayning disarmed they might ceaze vpon them and dispose of them and their occasions according to their owne willes and pleasures imitating herein that sacrilegious and abominable King Antiochus who commanded the bookes of Gods Law to be torne in pieces and burnt and to kill any one in whose hands at any time they were found Pacheco 〈◊〉 discursos fol. 732. This he did because as Father Pacheco obserues the wicked man saw that for his wicked dessignes and intentions it was a behoofefull thing to extingush and suppresse the sacred bookes And this and no other is the liuely reason why the Pope and the Inquisitors so expresly prohibit them and take away the liues of such faithfull men that desire to reade them in their owne tongue like another Antiochus This Lye you may reade in Fonseca en la segunda parte del tratado del amor de Dios cap. 2. and in fr. Luys de Granada en el preambulo de la 2. parte de la introduccion doing as hee did which most impudently and falsely they would put vpon and applie vnto Henry the eighth King of England affirming that hee tooke from religious men the holy Bookes knowing that the reading of them was as powerfull and trenchant Armes Vndoubtedly if I shall expresse what I haue by experience found true in this most noble and flourishing Kingdome of England about this particular it will bee wonderfull different and contrary to that which we see dayly practised at this day in all gouernments liuing vnder the obedience of the Romane Church For whereas there vpon grieuous and cruell penalties the common people are prohibited the reading of the sacred Scriptures because the Pope and the rest of the Prelates know well that they would finde matter enough in them wherewith to conuince and condemne their false doctrines here all faithfull and Christian men are exhorted to reade and meditate on them nay they are sharpely rebuked if they doe not so For here neither the Bishops nor other Prelates and Ministers of the Church haue any feare least the people should finde their condemnation whereas in other places this Diuine light of the holy Bookes is banisht as Father Granada complaynes and laments Granada ibid but in this Realme it shines and lightens in the most hidden and sesecret corners thereof There Prelates are destitute of all knowledge yea in so grosse a manner as that some of them neuer so much as sawe the Bible en c. 6. as Father Estella complaines but here there is scant a childe of a dozen yeeres olde who hath not read and read it often In other kingdomes many of the Pastours doe not vnderstand the Diuine writings and which is more they contemne them or at least seeme to make of them but a light and slender esteeme neither doe they retaine any good opinion of those that doe vnderstand them as most learned Doctor Leon affirmes Leon enel prolego de los nombres de Christo Here all Pastors in generall but especially the most reuerend Bishops are verie conuersant in the same studie of Diuine bookes euery one highly esteeming to studie and vnderstand them and hee is reputed but a bad Christian and a worse Pastour that doeth otherwise And finally in those parts like wicked Antiochus they put those Seculars to death that read the holy Scripture but here like religious and zealous Christians they commend and remunerate such as reade them This because it is well knowne to all I doe not here particularly specifie in any large relation because experience hath taught mee the trueth thereof From whence I gather that what the Papists faigne and deuise of Henry the eight is an infernall lye forged by themselues for how can it stand with any reason that to bring in a Religion that approoues nothing more in the faithfull then the reading of the holy Scriptures Henry the eight should prohibite them and therefore what they falsely father vpon Henry the eight rather may bee applied to the Romane Church where the Scriptures are forbidden vpon paine of death for no other ende but the same for which Antiochus the Great supprest and forbade the Booke of God The second reason which sheweth that the Pope forbiddeth the Scriptures not so much for the peoples good as to shunne his owne shame is this ensuing The Pope of Rome knowing that it hath euer beene a commendable custome in the Christian Church that publike Readers should daily impart to all the people the reading of the Prophets and other bookes of the holy Scripture and that in a Tongue which they vnderstood as may be collected out of S. Ambrose vpon the fourth Chapter to the Ephesians and Doctor Sandoual well notes it Sandonal en il tratado deloficio Ecclesiastico pag. 12. as wee shall shew by and by and withall perceiuing on the one part that he could not quite put downe this good custome and without apparent scandall and on the other side considering that if the reading of the Scripture were continued to be permitted in the vulgar tongue his tyrannicall Empire would soone fall to the ground because it is impossible that one should reade or heare read the holy Scripture but he must discerne the falshood of the Popes doctrine hereupon hee craftily deuised a middle way to effect his purpose which was as wee haue said principally to conceale his owne shame more then to effect the good of the people First hee ordained indeed that the Scripture should be read to the people and thus farre hee cunningly cumplied with the ancient Christian Church and by this meanes subtilly cast a vaile and mist ouer his treacherie but secondly hee so ordained reading of the Scripture with such a limitation and checke that in effect though the vulgar cannot discerne it hee vtterly ouerthrowes the practise of the ancient Christian Church while he restraines the reading of it to a tongue not vnderstood vulgarly that is to the Latine onely which what is it else in effect then not to haue it read at all and if so it is then most apparent that the peoples vnderstandings are depriued of an inualuable benefit
notes very well vpon that same very place of the Apostle conformable to whom Tena ibid. Father Hurtado prooues and preacheth quòd quando quis Verba facit apud hominem ignorantem suae linguae propriè loquendo non loquitur the reason hereof is quia actualis loquutio est actualis significatio rei expressio non est autem actualis significatio sine actuali perceptione audientis and hee confirmes it by this example quia ramus appensus non significat aliquid actu nisi quando actu ex illo cognito deuenitur in cognitionem Vini nec ramus est signum iumento sed potatori From all this heretofore expressed I collect that the Pope more through force and feare then consent or will propoundeth the Scriptures in the Church to the people and this he doeth in Latine to the end they may not conceiue and vnderstand them Wherein he goes quite contrary to the order and course helde in the Primitiue Church before he began to exercise his tyrannies vpon men which very order of the Primitiue Church is now obseru'd in England and throughout all the Reformed Churches both conformable to reason the Commandements of God and Apostolicall instruction which already we haue sufficiently prooued and will doe more at large if God permit me in another place Out of all this formerly produced I conclude that the Pope forbids the holy Bible to the common people not so much to reprehend them within the bounds of sobrietie as to retaine them in grosse and palpable ignorance not to preuent errors in the faithfull as to nourish and maintaine his owne not to benesite soules but to emptie purses not to bridle the pride of his Subiects but to loose the raines to his owne vnbridled appetites and of a priuate Romane Bishop to make himselfe the absolute spirituall Head and high Priest of the whole world thus like another Lucifer he erecting and raising vp himselfe aboue all that which is called God Neither doeth he prohibite the Bible the precious pearle of Gods word because it ought not to be giuen to swine but in that himselfe is one and would haue others to be so too not because the same is darke and obscure but in that he like a close and slie theefe loues darkenesse better then light for the attaining to his proper ends and desseignes and the more easily to tyrannize ouer the world But they that are desirous and zealous of their saluation ought with a gratefull and cheerefull heart to receiue so high and inexplicable a benefite out of Gods diuine bounty conferred on vs in declaring vnto vs by the sacred word his heauenly will and pleasure which is pleasing and acceptable to him and the same odious and offensiue to the other that so following the one and flying the other we may both liâ—â— and die in his loue and fauour and by this meanes attaine to be partakers of his glory the greatnesse of which benefit and supereminencie of which honour Moses declared vnto the people in these expresse words What Nation is there so noble and happy that enioyes the same Ceremonies Iudgements and Lawes of God which I will this day set before your eyes And in the Psalme 148. the royall Prophet yeeldeth praise vnto God saying that hee had denounced his word to Iacob and his Iudgements to Israel which grace and fauour he had not shewed to any other nation of the world So as this high and speciall fauour shewed vs by God in communicating himselfe vnto vs by his holy word ought to bind vs to be the more carefull in seeking him out euen as he commandeth vs and that we might the better doe it hee gaue order they should be diuulged in our vulgar tongues and the holy Doctors exhorts to the same moouing vs thereunto by the example of those in the Primitiue Church and others that liued many ages after and also we are hereunto inuited by the rare and innumerable benefits which doe daily proceed therefrom deriued from the true knowledge we haue therein of God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ if we desire to be knowen of him with approbation and acceptation and that note vs to be his elect through the obligation wherein wee all stand bound to obserue his sincere seruice and worship submitting all those temptations which ordinarily assaile vs to his holy will and most sacred Law if we meane to obtaine victory ouer our enemies grosse ignorance and blindnesse and without which this light must needs haue a great power and domination ouer vs. Finally it binds vs neuer to let this sacred booke of the holy Scriptures to be out of our hands the reading and meditation therein being our most important felicitie and happinesse as may plainely appeare by all that which hath beene said and Fonseca teacheth no lesse Fonseca segunda parte tratado del amor de Dios fol. 57. who is yet liuing in the Spanish Court and esteemed for one of the greatest Diuines and rarest Preachers of our time Laus Deo Los Libros de que he sacado lo que en este tratado se contiene son los que se siguen The Bookes out of which this Treatise is gathered are these following HIstoria Pontifical y catclica compuesta por el Doctor Yllescas en Madrid AnÌ„o 1613. Tesoro de ignorantes compuesto por el P. Fr. Chrystoual Marquez impresso en Madrid AnÌ„o 1614. Bienes del honesto trabaâ—o y danÌ„os de la ociosidad por el P. Pedro Guzman en Madrid AnÌ„o 1614. Guia espiritual del P. Puente en Madrid AnÌ„o 1614. Obras del Maestro Gracian en Madrid AnÌ„o 1616. Tomo primero de la historia general de EspanÌ„a por el P. Mariana en Madrid AnÌ„o 1623. Consideraciones sobre los mysterios de la missa por el P. Francisco Antonio en Madrid AnÌ„o 1598. Tomoprimero del Arte de bien viuir por el P. Maestro Aluardo en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1613. El Maestro Christiano del Maestro Reynosa en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1618. Obras morales del Maestro Fr. Manuel Rodriguez en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1621. Luz de las marauillas que Dios obra en el alma por el P. Maestro Fr. Leandro de Granada en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1607. Segundo Tomo de la perfecion por el P. Puente en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1613. Los Nombres de Christo por el P. Maestro Fr. Luys de Leon en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1603. Suma del P. Maestro Fr. Pedro de Ledesma en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1589. Catorce discursos sobre el Pater noster por el P. Fr. Balthasar Pacheco en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1594. Vigilia magna del P. Fr. Nicolas Brauo en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1605. Libro del Rosario de nuestra senÌ„ora por el P. Arinzano en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1903. Tratado del officio Ecclesiastico Canonico por el Doctor Don Bernardino de Sandoual en Toledo AnÌ„o 1568. Primeraparte de las excelencias de la castidad por el P. Fr. Ioseph de Iesus Maria en Alcala de Henares AnÌ„o 1601. Primera parte del Libro de la vanidad del mundo por el P. Estella en Alcala de Henares AnÌ„o 1597. Insinuacion y demonstracion de la Diuina piedad por el P. Maestro Fr. Leandro de Granada en Seuilla AnÌ„o 1616. Philosophia moral de Principes por el P. Torres en Burgos AnÌ„o 1596. La introduccion del Symbolo de la Fe por el P. Maestro Fr. Luys de Granada en Lerma AnÌ„o 1619. Tratado del Purgatorio contra Luthero por Fr. Dimas Serpi en Barcelona AnÌ„o 1611. Historia de la adoracion y vso de las Imagines por el Maestro Prades en Valencia 1597. Segunda parte del tratado del Amor de Dios por el P. Maestro Fonseca en Valencia AnÌ„o 1608. Tomo tercero y quarto de la perfecion Christiana por el P. Puente en Pamplona AnÌ„o 1616. Segunda parte del Monte Caluario por Don Antonio de Gueuara en Anueres AnÌ„o 1559. Con Preuilegio Isagoge in totam sacram Scripturam Autore Ludouico de Tena Episcopo Dertusensi en Huesca AnÌ„o 1622. FINIS LONDON Printed by THOMAS HARPER M. DC XXIV