and when wee shall eyther take in oure handes the booke of the holye Scriptures thereby to vnderstand of the wyll of GOD or elles that we come together in the Church to heare hys voyce by the holy Ministery of hys worde or els to communicate and be partakers of hys holy sacraments and of the prayers which are there made we oughte to goe with no lesse reuerence ne yet to prepare oure selues in none other sorte then yf we shoulde heare Actes ii God wyth hys owne mouthe speake out of the cloude and out of the greate smoke whiche was in the Mounte of Synay and that we dyd heare the greate thunders and the lyghtninges that were then sene For euen the same God whiche then dyd there speake is euen he that speaketh at thys present daye in hys Churche and shall iudge vs accordyng to that lawe whiche he hathe published there And albeit that he speaketh vnto vs nowe more familiarly and more louynglye then he then dyd yet notwythstandyng let vs not thyncke that he is of lesse power and force then he then was But in that that he vseth such gentlenes and benignitie towarde vs the punishment shall be so muche the greater vppon vs yf we doo abuse the same Yf we wyll vnderstande howe wee oughte to guide and gouerne oure selues wee muste cleane to the resolution of thys Councell and to the decrees and ordinaunces whyche we haue receyued ¶ Of the Councell that vvas holden in the Mounte Syon and of the conference of the same vvyth that vvhyche vvas holden in the Mounte Synay and of Moyses and of Iesus Christe and of the Ministery of the lavve and of the Gospell T. THys is a goodlye Councell and of greate authoritie but thou saydst that there was yet an other in the lande of Chanaan and of Iudea and in especiall in the Mounte of Syon by the verye Sonne of GOD. I woulde bee verye gladde that thou wouldest declare vnto mee also what that was D. That Councell dothe euen so muche excell the other as Iesus Christ Heâ— iii dothe excell Moyses and the Master of the house the seruaunte For thoughe that GOD hym selfe dyd speake in proper person in bothe yet notwithstandyng he hathe shewed hym selfe this seconde tyme in a sorte muche more authentique and more excellent more amiable and agreable to the weakenesse of mans nature then euer he dyd synce the beginnyng of the worlde For when he shewed himselfe in the mounte Synay the people dyd not see his Deut. 4. Exod. xiâ— Hebr. ii face nor shape nor dyd see or heare anye thing but suche as were horrible and fearefull It was not lawfull for them to doo so muche as to come to the mountaine or to touche the vttermoste parte thereof wyth out daunger of deathe and to bee stoned or striken thorowe wyth arrowes were it man or beaste Therefore the people beynge greatlye amased and afrayde desired Moyses to be Exod. xx Eeu xxviii as a meane betwene GOD and them and to declare vnto them hys wyll and pleasure as hys Embassadour to that ende that they moughte heare no more that voyce of GOD so horrible and fearefull for they thought that they coulde not heare it agayne but that they shoulde all dye and dyd muche maruell that euer they coulde heare it with oute deathe Wherefore GOD knowyng the weakenesse of hys people dyd promise them to sende them a Prophet euen oute of the middest of their brethern lyke vnto Moyses into whose mouthe he woulde put his worde and by Deut. xviii the same he woulde cause them to heare his voyce This Prophete accordyng to the testimonye of Sainâ—t Peter is Iesus Christe oure Lorde of whome the Father hymselfe dyd saye This is my welbeloued sonne in whome I Actes iii. Math. 3. 1â— haue set my whole delighte heare hym And for that cause the Apostle saythe writyng to the Hebrewes that God hath Heb. i in tyme passed oftentymes and in sundrye sortes spoken to our Fathers by the Prophetes but in these latter dayes he hath spoken to vs by hys own Sonne and making comparison of thys manifestation whiche was made by oure Sauioure Iesus Christe wyth that of the mounte of Synay Truely sayth he you are not come to the mountayn whiche moughte bee touched nor to burnyng fyre nor yet Heb. xiâ— to darkenesse and myste and vnto tempest neyther vnto the sounde of a trompette and to the voyce of wordes the whiche those whiche dyd heare it refused that the communication should be addressed to theÌ„ any more for they could not endure that which was commaunded If a beast touch the mountayne he shall bee stoned or elles stricken thorow wyth a darte And so terrible was the sighte that appeared that Moyses sayde I feare and quake but you are come to the mounte Syon and to the Citie of the lyuyng God the heauenly Ierusalem and to the companye of manye thousandes of Aungels and to the congregation of the firste borne which are written in the heauens and to God which is iudge of all and to the spirites of iust and perfecte men and to Iesus Christ the mediatoure of the newe TestameÌ„t and to the sprinckled bloude of whiche declareth better things then the bloud of Abell See that you despyse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not whiche despysed hym that spake on earth much lesse shall we escape yf we turne away from hym that speaketh from heauen whose voyce then shooke the earth T. It semeth to me that these wordes conteyne a goodly conference of the Ministery of the lawe and of the Gospell and I haue a great desyre to heare it ¶ Of the manifestation of God in Christ D. THen where as the people saw nothing at that tyme but fyre and smoke and greate darcknes whiche letted them from seyng both the Sunne and the Moone Deut. 4. also the heauens God hath shewed himselfe to vs in Iesus Christe his sonne in mans shape in our owne fleshe For it is he that is the very Image of God and that very forme of hys substance the bryghtnes of hys glory It is he that is the true Iohn i â— Tim. iii Seb. i. Mal. iiii Iohn viii Sonne of Iustice and the onely lyghte of the worlde by whome all mystes and darckenesses are chased away euen those whiche let vs to see GOD. And where as then the people durste not come to the foote of the Mountayne howe perfecte and howe well prepared so euer they were to receyue the Lorde wee haue nowe accesse euen to the verye throne of hys Maiestye by Iesus Christ our Lord through whome it is geuen vs not onely to come vnto hym but also Heb. iiii to touche embrace hym for the sanctification which i. Cor. 6 Dan. ix wee haue receyued of hym that is the holye of holye ones is in deede of other vertue and efficacye then was that of Moyses towardes the Israelites In the
the dead and to apply them to sondry vses but the pulpit is not greatly encumbred with them and wheÌ„ they do preach they preach nothyng els but lyes as their owne dreames phautasies Legenda aurea a Scripture of their owne inspiration theyr owne traditions decrees and ordinaunces Christ ordeined onely two SacrameÌ„tes which two they haue corrupted and added to theÌ„ fiue bycause that Christ did not so well know what is meete for his Church as they do O horrible Gene 2 presumption God him selfe when he had created man in Paradise sayd It is not good that man be alone we will make i Cor 7 hym a helper The Apostle s Paul saith It is good for a maÌ„ not to touche a woman yet to auoyde fornication let euery man haue his owne wife euery woman her own husband Heb 13 â— The Apostle saith mariage is honorable among al meÌ„ the bed vndefiled but God will iudge the whore masters and adulterers these wordes are generall and haue regarde to all men and to all estates Iesus Christ did not onely alow mariage but did also honor it with his presence In Cana of Galilee S. Augustine in hys treatise of the goodnes of mariage sayth in his 21. Chap. that he dare not preferre the virginity of S. Iohn before the mariage of Abraham S. Ambrose in hys first booke sayth Touching virgins S. Paule sayth I haue no coÌ„maundmeÌ„t of the Lord but I do couÌ„sel or aduise if the doctor of the Gentils had no commaundemeÌ„t who is he that might haue any And truly he had no coÌ„maundment but he did counsell therunto for virginitie can not be coÌ„mauÌ„ded it may wel be desired for that which is not in our power is not to be coÌ„mauÌ„ded but it is to be wished for Origens vpoÌ„ S. Mathew in his 24. Homelie sayth That they which do forbid men to marry do enforce theÌ„ to a licentious villeni forbiddyng that which is expedieÌ„t The like he sayth of those that coÌ„maund abstinence from meates and such lyke where vnto the faithfull may in no wise be coÌ„strained he sayth that they lay he any burdens on the shoulders of men coÌ„trary to the wil of Christ who sayth My yoke is pleasant my burthen light easy c. Eusebius in hys Ecclesiasticall historie 3. boke 30. cha reciteth that S. Clement writyng against such as did condempne mariage among other thynges sayth wil they reproue the Apostles S. Peter had a wife So had Philippe Paul also had a wife as appeareth by one of hys Epistles in the whiche he is not ashamed to send salutations to her whom he sayth he would not carry about the countrey with him bycause he would be the more ready to preach the Gospell Many of the auncient fathers were maried as Patriarkes Prophetes and Bishops of the primitiue Church Yet is not the Pope affrayde to say and stand agaynst God and Christ that mariage is vnclennes pollution and carnal filthynes as it is said in the. 4. of the senteÌ„ces Dist c. 17. chap. 4. and his decret 27. Quest 2. chap. whiche begynneth Cum societas Tertulian in his prescriptions agaynst the heretikes sayth It is not in our power or choise lawful â–ª to bring in to chuse or alledge for authoritie that whiche any other hath brought in or alledged for hys own pleasure for we haue the Apostles of the Lord for our authors who haue brought in nothing for theyr own pleasure â–ª nor any new thing but haue faithfully preached and taught to the nations that discipline which they receyued of Christ S. Augustine vpon S. Iohn in the. 46. treatise and. 10. chap. sayth if they whiche sit in the chaire of Moses do teache the lawe of God it doth then folowe that God teacheth by them but if they will teache any thyng of theyr owne heare them not nor yet do it c. And in the. 6. against Faustus chap. 16. in the. 18. booke chap. 12. doth cal by the wordes of Christ not onely false Prophetes but also theeues and murderers all such as dare preach any other thing to the people of God theÌ„ the Canonical Scriptures against such he alledgeth the saying of Christ al those yâ— came before me are theeues murderers S. Paul in his 1. Epistle to the GalathiaÌ„s doth accursâ—e him that bringeth any other doctrine theÌ„ that which he hath taught yea if it wer an AuÌ„gell of heauen Further in hys Epistle he sayth that whiche I receyued of the Lord the same also deliuer I vnto you c. It is not so with these men of whom we haue alreadie spoken they deliuer vnto vs their own traditions inuentions and dreames in the stead of the worde of God And I doubt not although these men haue nothing in their mouthes but the fathers the fathers which must authorise the scriptures vnto theÌ„ if the fathers liued in these daies but they wold be as readye to persecute them as they are to persecute those which in these dayes do professe Christ Let it be seene how many of them were which suffered in the late tyme of theyr late persecution that did denie any one article of the Christian fayth but they did by Gods grace most costantly affirme them euen sealing them vp with their bloud examine Theodoret Epiphanius and Augustine Fathers of great holynes and doctrine who haue largely written of heresyes and let it be seene whether they maintained any one of those which they cite no not one let vs see how many Arrians Anabaptistes Pelagians Marcionistes Nestorians Ebionistes or any other kind of heretikes they did then execute I suppose the number wil appeare very smal for they are al in leage with Sathan I doubt not but if the Gospell had as fatte a smoking kitchin tyed vnto it as haue the Romyshe rytes we should haue a great number of Gospellers for this kitchin Seducers of the people is of great effecte among the Romanistes S. Chrisostome vpon S. Mathew in his 48. Homelie chap. 24. sayth thus There are some which do greatly seduce through lyes vntrouthes they preach Christ they teach the fayth they haue also churches orders and elders as the faythfull haue They do also read the Scriptures of God it semeth that they geue the same baptisme and the sacrament of the bodye and bloud of Iesus Christ likewise they honour the Apostles Martyrs and by these meanes they do greatly abuse the vnderstanding not only of the simple but also of such as are wise who shall he be that Antichrist shall not be able to shake or moue partlye doing the workes of Christ and the antichristians fulfilling in a sorte the dueties of christians vnlesse it be peraduenture such an one as doth consider that which the Apostle sayth if Sathan can transforme himself into an Angell of lyght is it then a greate matter for hys ministers to be transformed lyke to the minister of iustice whose end shal be according to
cause of this blasphemie for S. Peter in his i. epistle 3. chap. cōmaundeth vs to be alwayes readye to render reason to all that shall demaund vs of the fayth hope that we haue And again S. Paul Colo. 3. chap. Pro◠10. b let the word of God dwell plenteously in you but what answere make they to that which are more folish then the very fooles in dede Blessed is euery symple one he that walketh surely But that is the cause of all euills for that that many know not how to alledge aptly the testimonies of the scriptures for in this place we may not vnderstād the symple for the foolyshe and for him that vnderstandeth nothing but for him that is not craftye and melicious For if it shoulde be so vnderstode it should be superfluous to say be ye wyse therefore Math. 10. b as serpentes and symple as doues S. Ambrose vpō the 2. epistle to Tymothe 3. chap. sayeth All scripture geuen by inspiration from God c. It is manifest that all Scripture wherof God hath declared himselfe to be author is profitable For it is geuē to that end that it shoulde profite the ignoraūt reforme the deformed drawing the wicked into al good workes for by profiting a litle and litle in newnesse of lyfe it maketh the mā of God c. The law of the Lord is perfect restoring or conuerting soules the testimonye of the Lord is Collo 3. b Psal 19 Psal 119 faythful and sure it geueth wisedome to the ignoraunt The statutes of the eternall are righteous reioysing the hart the cōmaundement of the Lord is pure and doth lighten the eyes And againe Thy word is alampe or lanterne to my fete a light to my steppes The Prophet Esay in his 8. chap. sayth is there any where a people that asketh not councell of hys God Should men turne frō the liuing to the dead If any man want light let him loke vpon the law the testimonie whether they speake after this meaning The lyght of the Ezech 20. c morning shall not be geuen vnto them Moreouer the Prophet sayth Say to the childrē in the desert walke not in the ordinaunces of your fathers obserue not al their statutes be not defyled with their idoles I am the Lord your God walke in my ordinaunces and kepe my statutes and do thē Eccle. 1 a Itē the fountayne of wisedome is the word of the soueraign Lord God the entre into the same are his eternal cōmaūdements And agayn Search the scriptures for in them you thinke you haue eternall life and they bee they which beare Iohn 5 Iohn 20 g witnes of me And Iesus did many other thinges that are not written in this boke in the presence of his disciples but these things ar writtē to the end that you should beleue that Iesus is the annoynted sonne of God that in so beleuing you may haue life thorow his name The holy scriptures are In what recommendacion God hath his Word full of the lyke sayings The auncient fathers are full of the worthines of the scriptures S. Augustine in his 56. sermon made to the brethren that were in solitude sayth he that maketh none accompt of the reading of the holy scriptures sent from heauen ought not onely to feare that peraduenture he shall not receaue euerlasting rewards but also that he shall not escape the euerlasting punyshmentes for it is so daūgerous vnto vs not to read the deuine precepts that the Prophets with great sorrowe exclame cry out for that cause haue Esay 5. c Ose 4. b 1 Cor 14 my people bene brought into captiuitie because they had no knowledge for he that is ignorant shall be ignorant out of all doubt he that in this world maketh none accompt to seke to know God by the holy Scriptures God wil not vouchsafe to know him in the ioyes euerlasting we ought to be a feard to heare after that the gates shall be shut with the folyshe virgins I know you not I haue none acquaintaunce Math 25 ◠with you you that worke iniquitie depart you frō me what meaneth this I knowe you not I am not acquainted with you how knoweth he not those that he sendeth to the fyre There is neyther of thē spoken without cause for as it hath bene already sayd suche as woulde not in thys world seeke to knowe hym by reading the Scriptures GOD will not acknowledge them at the day of iudgement We ought also not to heare negligently but with attentiue eare fear that which is written in Salomō he that turneth sayth he his eare Prou 18 ◠frō the hearing of the lawe his prayer shal be abhominable wherefore he that will be heard at Gods hand muste fyrste heare God For how woulde he that God shoulde heare him when he doth so dyspyse hym that he maketh none accompte of the readyng of hys commaundementes Saint Hierome in the proeme of his Commentaries vpon Esaye to Eustochius sayth therfore I yelde vnto thee and to hym by thee that whiche I do owe obeyng the commaundement of Iohn 5. f Math. 7 ◠Christ who fayth searche diligently the Scriptures Seeke and you shall finde to the end that it be not sayd to me as it was to the Iewes ye erre not knowyng the Scriptures the power of God the wisedom of God and truly after S. Paul if Christ be the power and wisedom of God he that knoweth not the scriptures the same knoweth not y◠power of God nor his wisedō To be ignoraūt of the Scriptures is not to know Christ c. S. Chrisostome in the Homelie 29. vpon Benefis sayeth There is neyther griefe of body no◠mynde in the nature of man but it may haue medicine of the Scriptures c. These are sayinges of great importance and are true They are no Legend lyes They are confirmed by the word of God whiche is the infallible truth Then if man know not God as he ought to do but by the Scriptures that none can be saued but by the knowledge of God and Christ Thē must it nedes folow that ignoraūce of the Scriptures bryugeth with it damnation I haue alledged here mo sayinges of the fathers then I would haue done nothyng so many in number as I could haue done but bycause the great swarme of aduersaries say that it is not lawfull or expedient that euery man should read the Scriptures but rather that the people should be ignoraunt affirmyng ignoraunce to be the mother of deuotion I could haue aūswered it to the full by the woorde of God alone whiche woorde I thincke to be most sufficient but bycause these kynde of men before named wil not accept Christ to be a true man of hys word except he haue some of the doctors fathers for witnesses Seyng nowe that it hath pleased our good God in mercy so to deale with vs as he hath in these our
their workes and not according to their fayned show of Christianitie S. Hierom vpon the. 9 cha of the Prophet Osee fayth I do noâ— fynde by the auÌ„cient hystories that any other haue deuided the Church and seduced the people of the houshould of God but onely the Priestes and Prelates whom God hath appoynted to be the spialles watch meÌ„ for the ChristiaÌ„s against yâ— enemies of the church S. Bernard in hys Appologie to williaÌ„ the Abbot sayth The wals of the Church do shyne but the pore are in distresse the stone Wherof the church consâ—steth workes of her are clothed with gold but she leaueth her children naked Isichius vpon Leuiticus boke 4. chap. the. 14. sayth They may well bee called the deckyng of the house that doo maintaine it to witte those orders of men whiche teach godlynes or godly thynges for of suche is the Churche made in dede and not as many do thinckâ— of wood and stones And therfore when in the olde tyme it was commaunded to assemble the church Moyses did not bring together tymber stones and such like but the people the elders the Leuits Saint Chrysostome of his resignatioÌ„ or banishment Hom. 20 sayth The church consisteth not of walles but of the multitude of good people S. Bernard vpon the Cantiqueâ— in his 33. sermon sayth Now from whom shal the church hyde her The coÌ„plaiÌ„t of Bernard self all are frendes and all are enemyes all are allies and all are aduersaries al are of the houshold and none is at quiet al are neighbours and euery maÌ„ seketh his own profit they are the ministers of Christ serue Antichrist they walke in honour with the goods of the Lorde yet they honour not the Lord froÌ„ thence coÌ„meth that beautie of the whore which thou dayly doest see clothed as players of staige playes apparelled as a king of this thou seest the golde vpon their brydles fadles and spurres of this are the tables furnyshed with meates and vessells of this are the dronkennesies and gluttonies of this proceedeth the harpe viall from thence are the flowing wine presses the ful sellers the one equall with the other of this are the litle boxes and pottes full of swete oyntmentes and sauours of this are their pursses filled for this cause wil they be ar the princes of the Church the Prouostes the Deanes the Archdeacons the Byshops and the Archbishops and such things come not lawfully to passe but because they walke in the affaires of darknes heretofore it hath bene spoken of and nowe is the time come and fulfilled Beholde in peace my bitternes is very bitter It Esay 38. d hath beene heretofore bitter in the death of the Martyrs after that more bitter in the controuersies of the heretiques now it is most bitter in the maners of the seruauntes of the housholde they can neyther be driuen awaye nor auoyded they are so strong and so infinitely encreased The wound of the Church is in her entrayles and bowells and it is incurable and therfore is her bitternes very bitter c. S. Hillarie writing against Aurentius sayth these wordes I warne AdmonitioÌ„ of Hillary you to beware of Antichrist you doe to much esteeme the walles seeking the Church of God in the gorgiousnes of buildinges thinking that the vnitie of the faythfull is there conteyned doe we doubt whether Antichrist haue hys seate there or no. The mountaines the woodes the lakes prisons and wildernesses are more assured vnto â—e and more safe for the Prophets being in them hidden did prophecie Saint Bernard vpon the. 90. Psalme and verse 6. sayeth in maner al the Christians seke their own gayn not the gaine of Iesus Christ And they haue turned ouer the very offices of the ecclesiasticall dignitie into shamefull and dishonest gayne and into affaires of darknes and do not in these things seke the saluation of soules but the pleasures of riches For thys cause are they rouÌ„ded for this cause do they haunt the churches say Masses anâ— sing Psalmes At this daye they striue by proces go to lawe for Bishoprikes Archbishoprikes in such sorte yâ— the reuenues of yâ— Church are vestowed in superfluities and vaine vsages there resteth no more but that the man of sinne the sonne of perdition be reueled c. Saint Bernard in his sermon of the conuersion of S. Paul sayth O Lord God those whom we see to couet the chiefe places in thy church and possesse the principalitie they are euen the first that persecute thee They haue taken the Arke of Sion and they haue possessed the castle and afterward haue frely through the power therof set the whole ciâ—ie on fyre their coÌ„uersation is miserable the subuersioÌ„ of thy people is lamentable S. Bernard in his boke de considâ—r ad EugeniuÌ„ toward the ende of his 4. booke speaketh to the Pope in this sorte what is it that thy flatterers saye vnto thee goe to hardely The description of the Romish Court. thou byest them with the spoyle of the churches The lyfe of the poore is sowen in the gates of the riche The siluer shyneth in the dirte meÌ„ runne thither out of al parâ—es the poorest caryeth it not awaye but he that is strongest or ells hee that runneth moste spedelye this custome or rather deadlye corruption began not in thy time God would it might end in the same In the meane time thou art adourned decked preciously if I durst say it thy seate is rather a close of deuils then of shepe Dyd S. Peter so Did S. Paul so mocke Thy court doth vse rather to receaue the good then to make any good for such as are euill do not amend in thy court but the good do there waxe worse Bernard also sayth Beholde the Ad Eâ—gen lâ—b â—eâ—tio common murmure and complaint of all the Churches they crye out that they are wounded and corne in peeces There are very fewe or none ar all who feare not that wouÌ„d doest thou aske what wound it is The Abbotes are robbed and spoyled by their bishops the Bishops by their Archbishops It is a maruell if any man be able to excuse it In so doing you do very wel declare that you haue plentie of power but not of iustice you do it because you are able to doe it but the question is if you ought to doe it You are ordayned to conserue to euery man his honour and degree not to be enuious toward him c. S. Paule doth rightwell setforth in his colours this Romishe prelate whiche will be called Sanctissimus or most holy in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians and. 2. chap. naming him the sonne of perdition the man of sinne c. S. Peter also in his 2. Epistle and. 2. chap. doth most liuely paynt out the maners and life of this Romyshe rabble of Prelacy Furthermore in the distinctioÌ„s distinct 34 cap Lector glose distinct 82 chap prisbit and in
the Canon of the Apostles 17. quest 4 chap Si quis distinct 40 chap Si papa distinct 96 chap Satis chap Simplici Incipitis It is written in these canons that the power and authority of the Popes is such that they are able to dispense against the doctrine of the Apostles agaynst the right of nature consequently against the Gospell and woorde of God c. O horrible blasphemy Christ coÌ„maunded that none should adde or diminish from his word his word must be our guide or Scholemaster and instructor and yet in these dayes the number will saye it is not for vs to read the Scriptures it appertayneth onely to priests Fryers and Monkes to read vnderstand the scriptures as though the kingdome of heauen belonged only to such truly if yâ— thei which liue as it were in solitary life haue nede to be armed with the vnderstaÌ„ding of the Scriptures to heale their wounds which thei daily receiue in the battail of this mortall lyfe being â—isburdened of a great number of cares which he is charged with that is burdened with office of Magistrate or of rule in the coÌ„mon welth and also that he is charged with that is burdened wyth wyfe childreÌ„ familye he that is in thys sorte burdened shall haue more ofteÌ„ occasioÌ„ to offend the maiesty of God then he that is not so burdened wherefore it is the more nedefull that he haue his medicine prepared wherewith to heale his deadelye woundes which he dayly receaueth by meane of sundry occasions geueÌ„ vnto him which medicine is yâ— vnderstaÌ„dyng of gods word wherewith he mai assuredly furnish himself against al temptatioÌ„s as witnesseth the Psalmist saying The words of the Lord are pure euen as the siluer which froÌ„ the earth is seueÌ„ times tryed purified Eusebius in his ecclesiasticall historye Psal 12 6. boke 15. chap. alledgeth the Epistle of Alexander bishop of IerusaleÌ„ against Demetrius doth reproue him saying That which thou sayest in thy letters affyrmyng that it was neuer sene nor knoweÌ„ that secular lay men should dispute of the The scripture ought to be had in the vulgarae tounge fayth in the preseÌ„ce of Byshops I know not what hath moued thee to affyrme so manifest a lye for so much as when so euer any is found sufficient meete to instruct and teach the people the bishops haue accustomed to desyre theÌ„ to take the matter in hand So dyd our brother Neon Byshop to Euelpâ— ' in the citye Larande the Byshoppe Celsus to Paulin in the citye Iconie the Byshop Atticus to Theodore in the city Synnade and there is no doubt but other byshops do the lyke in their dioces when they fynde any man mete to profyt the people Iohn Gerson a greate pyller of the papacie in the fyrst parte of hys examination of doctrynes sayth that the fyrst veritye is so sure that any symple man not beyng authorised may be so excellently sene instructed in the holy Scriptures that meÌ„ ought to geue more credyte to hys affyrmation in matter of teaching theÌ„ to the doctryne of the Pope for it is playn that we ought to geue greater credyte to the Gospell then to the Pope within fewe wordes after he sayth that if a generall Councell should be holden that such a wel instructed man were present there if that the greatest nuÌ„ber should through malice or ignoraunce declyne and decree anye thyng agaynst the Gospel such a lay man myght lawfully stand agaynst the whole generall Councell Panormitan albeit he were a greate Idolater of papacie in the chap. significasti extra de electronibê° sayth these woordes In matters concernyng the fayth the saying of a laye man oughte to haue place before the saying of the Pope if hys saying bee more probable and better authorysed by the olde and newe Testament Sainte Hierome in hys fyrste tome writyng to Marcelle encouragyng her to goe to Bethleem sayeth In the vyllage of Iesus Christ there are none but rusticall men there is nothynge heard on anye syde but Psalmes The plowe man holdynge the plow by the tayle doth singe Alleluya the haruest maÌ„ beyng at his labour sweating doth passe the time in singyng of Psalmes and the laborer in the vineyard with hys hooke cutting the vynes doth syng some thynge of Dauid such are the songes of that countrey such are as men coÌ„monly say theyr songes of loue S. Hierome in the proem of his 1. booke of his exposition vpon the Epistle to the EphesiaÌ„s in the. 9. Tome sayth All words and al sentences are conteyned in the boke of God by the which also we know God are not ignorant of the cause of our creation I do not a litle maruell that some haue ben so gyueÌ„ to folly and sluggishnes that they would not learne those things which are excellent but haue thought do thinck worthy of blame al those that are gyueÌ„ to such studies to whom albeit I could make more stricte aunswer soone leaue them offended or pleased I say that it is much better to read the Scriptures then to be gredy and to fish for riches and to gather heay them together S. Hierome vpon the. 6. chap. to the Ephesians sayth if he coÌ„maund the lay men of the Ephesians such as be occupyed in the affayres and busines of this life as men see amoÌ„g the commoÌ„ people to instruct and bryng vp theyr children in all godly discipline and learnyng what may men then thincke of Ministers and elders of whose order and maner of lyfe he wrote to his disciple Timothe saying hauyng theyr children subiect in all reuerence c. Primase Byshop of Vtica in the countrey of Affricke disciple to S. Augustin writing vpoÌ„ the. 3. chap. of the Epistle to the CollosiaÌ„s sayth let the word of God dwel pleÌ„tuously in you c. Hereit it is playnly declared that the lay people ought also to haue the word of God not onely slenderly but also aboundantly and also that they ought to admonish teach one an other Theophilacte vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians the. 6. chap. shewyng fathers mothers by what meanes they shal make their childreÌ„ obedient and ready to do theyr coÌ„maundement declareth the cause of theyr obedience to the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of theyr father saying fathers prouoke not your childreÌ„ c. If thou wilt haue thy children obedient bryng them vp and exercise them in Gods worde accustome them to sermons and say not that it belongeth to Monckes onely to read the holy Scriptures for truly it is rather the office of euery Christian man namely of hym that is occupyed in the affayres and busines of thys world And yâ— more yâ— he nedeth help so much yâ— more nedeth he to vnderstand for he is the more tossed with the sourges and assaultes of this worlde It shall be much for thy profite that thy children do heare and read the holy Scriptures for out of them they shall
to erre S. Paule and S. Iohn Iame. i. Act. 3. 14 Gal. 1. 2. Dauid and Ely Esay and Moyses and all the Prophets and Apostles were men like vnto others subiecte to the same infirmities that others were and yet S. Paule doth so authorise his doctrine as hath bene alreadye sayd that he condempneth the Aungels of heauen if they doe gayne saye it Wherfore they conclude that euen so as the Prophets and Apostles were men and yet notwithstanding all their writinges are without errour euen so fareth it with the fathers in all their determinations and Councels D. They conclude veri euel and speak wholy against the sentence of S. Augustin who is as good a christiaÌ„ as any one For they attribute as much to the bokes ordinances of men as to the Canonicall bookes whereupon we oughte to consider that albeit the Prophets and Apostles were men yet notwithstanding there is greate difference betwene them and those that came after them For we are certayne that they spake by the spirit of God and that God hath not suffered any errour to be mingled in their writinges because that he woulde they shoulde be geuen and left to vs for most certayne rules wherby to examine all other doctrines There is yet an other matter besyde this which is well worthye to be noted To wit that if any of those by whom it hath pleased God to be serued in this woorke haue chaunced to committe any faulte in their office the spirite of God hath not hidden it but hath manifestly declared it to the end the men shoulde not so be moued with the authoritie of suche personages that they shoulde followe lies in the steed of the truth and vice in the steede of vertue We haue an euident example hereof in Nathan the Prophet who without hauing demaunded i. Sam. 7 at the mouth of the Lord sayd of his owne onely authoritie and proper councell to Dauid that he shoulde builde the Lordes house and temple wherfore he was rebuked and corrected immediatly the next nyght following by the Lorde who commaunded him to declare the contrarye to Dauid We may also alledge the example of the Prophet which was sent into Beth-el and was kylled by the Lyon i. kings 17 Iob in Iere. xx i. Kings xix Ionas 2 Gal. 2 and that of Iob and of Ieremie who cursed the day of their byrth and also that of Hely and of Ionas so many faults of S. Peter and especially that for the whiche S. Paule reproued him I leaue vntouched a number of others such lyke Now it standeth not so at this present with vs ne yet with the auncient doctors that were before vs. For seing that God woulde that thys rule shoulde be obserued in hys church it coulde not otherwise be but that it must be appoynted by a number of bookes certayne or ells there woulde neuer haue beene any ende Seing then that the Lorde hath once appoynted and allowed thys rule we maye compare vnto it neyther booke nor Councell what so euer they bee For if since the time of the Apostles there hath neuer beene man of what holines or knowledge so euer he were that hath so perfectelye and wel written and taughte as the Prophettes and Apostles didde without faylinge in anye one thinge â–ª wee maye not thincke that it is otherwise in their Councelles and Sinodall statutes then it is in their bookes For those that write such bookes be the very self and same men by whom the Councells are celebrated and holden vnto whom their aduises and opinions are spoken euen as they are couched in their bookes Wherefore they may as wel erre in the one as in the other we must also knowe that the most holy and perfecte men in deede haue not all the giftes of God neyther continuallye nor in all ages ne yet in all things no not those giftes in dede which are geuen vnto them but that GOD doth reueale manye thynges to others and at other tymes ¶ VVhat rule S. Augustine geueth concerning Councells and the vvritinges of the auncient Fathers T. SEing it is so it is very nedeful that we haue some certayne rule wherwith to guide vs in these matters D. I doe thinke that we can not doe better nor follow a better rule when any of these things come in question then to followe the maner of proceding that S. Augustine did vse with Maximine Bishop of the Arrians which would arme himself with the Councell of Arimine againste the conclusion that was made and confyrmed by the holy fathers touching the diuinitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ in the Councell of Nice by the authoritie of the truth as it is sayd and hy the truth of authoritie Tom. 6. Lib. 3. I may not now sayeth he alledge the Councell of Nice nor thou the Councel of Arimine as for a preiudice neyther am I bounde to the authorite of the one nor thou to the authoritie of the other Let vs debate the one matter with the other the one cause with the other the one reason with the other by the authoritye of the Scriptures not by proper and particular witnesse of euery man but by indifferent to vs both Which thing he hath also written in other places as concerning To Paul Epist 112 To Hic 29 Epist the authoritie of the Canonicall bookes agreeth very well with this I will not saith he that thou embrace myne authoritie to the end thou shouldest thinke it necessarie to beleue any thing because that I haue spokeÌ„ it but that thou beleue the Canonicall Scriptures And againe I confesse to thy charitie that I haue learned to beare that honour and reuerence to the onely bookes of the Scriptures which are called Canonicall that I doe beleue assuredlye that no one of the authors of them hath in any one iote of his writinges erred And iâ—â—â—diatlye after he sayth But I read yâ— others in such 〈…〉 what excellencie of holines and doctrine so euer be 〈…〉 I thinke not that which they saye to bee true because that they were of that opinion but because that I am perswaded that that whiche they speake is agreeing to the truth eyther by the Canonicall authors or els by apparaunt reason This is his manner of writing to Saint Hierome And agayne thou seest here howe S. Augustine submitteth the writings of the auncients and the CouÌ„cels to the worde of God and to the determinations therof conteyned in the holy Scriptures and maketh it iudge aboue all T. I do finde the aduise of S. Augustine very good but me thincketh there are other things to be considered in that conference and difference of the auncient Doctors and determinations of the lawfull Councels whereof I woulde gladlye heare the resolution But because that we haue entreated of manye good poyntes touchyng thys matter of Councells it seemeth to me very good for this present hers to make an ende to the end I may haue some little tyme to call to my remembraunce