shew mercy iudgement and righteousnesse in the earth and in these things I delight saith the lord And as touching the knowledge of his sonne the same God Esay 53. sayeth By hys knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many and he shall beare their iniquitie But all this matter our sauiour CHRIST dispatcheth very roundly where he speketh to his father in these words Iohn 17. This is eternal life that they know thee to be the onely true GOD and whome thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST But now remaineth this thing to be discussed will some man say to witte from whence we haue to fette the knowledge of GOD the Father and of his sonne CHRIST and from whence we may readily learne how GOD will be worshipped of vs This matter is easily answered and determyned And soothly it is best for vs in thys behalfe to heare men inspired with the spirite of GOD rather than any other else whatsoeuer Therefore the authour of the 19. Psalme would haue vs to flee to the very law and testimonie vttered by GOD himselfe The Lawe of the Lord sayth he is vndefiled conuerting the soule the testimonie of the Lorde is sure and giueth wisedome to the simple The statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the hearte the commaundement of the Lord is pure and giueth light vnto the eyes The fear of the Lord is clean and endureth for euer the iudgements of the Lorde are true and righteous altogither More to be desired are they than golde yea than muche fine gold sweeter also than hony and the hony combe Moreouer by them is thy seruaunt taught and in keeping of them there is great rewarde Many things spoken to this effect in the 119. Psalme I purposelye passe ouer In Esay Chap. 8. Whosoeuer by GODS disposition do offer themselues vnto CHRIST to be taught as being desirous to learne the trueth are commaunded to resort for councel to the lawe and to the testimony And he whose integritie is renoumed in the Sermons of the Prophets Apostles I meane Abraham the common father of all the faythfull Luke 16. to those that are carefull to prouide and foresée least they fall into endlesse paines and torments giueth in charge that they heare attentiuely Moses and the Prophetes Last of all CHRIST speaketh expreselye Iohn 5. saying Searche the Scriptures for they are that testify of mee Then the matter is brought to this pointe that so many Kings and Princes as are desirous to rouze vp men to the purchasing of the knowledge of the true and euerlyuing GOD and of hys sonne IESVS CHRIST and to bring them home to a sounde and sincere religion haue néede especiallye for manye greate causes and considerations to become authours themselues vnto all their subiectes and euen to as manye as they maye that they and euery of them to the vttermost of their power maye applye their diligence continuallye to the reading hearing examining and meditating of the holy Scriptures Other waye than this wherein a man might walke safely as in respecte of knowing the true GOD and of puchasing saluation without feare of erroure or anye other daunger can none be shewed And vndoubtedly this businesse is in it self of such great excellencie dignitie that it is a thing well worthy wherof Christian Kings and Princes shoulde by a speciall regarde make decrées in their publike edictes and actes of Parliament Neyther in verye déede are they ignoraunt how it is the moste sage and sacred commaundemente of GOD himselfe that so manye as are desirous to bée enrolled and registred in the blessed Common weale and Citie of GOD shoulde continuallye exercise themselues in learning and meditating the lawe of GOD that is to saye the holy Scripture These words whiche I coÌ„maund thee this day sayth GOD alwayes our most noble Emperoure Deutronomie 6. shall be in thyne hearte and thou shalte rehearse them continually to thy children and shalte talke of them when thou tariest in thy house and when thou walkest by the waye when thou lyest downe and when thou risest vp Which decrée we finde to be repeated in the 11. Chapter of the same Booke that euen hereby it may be apparant that it is a matter very earnestly vrged of god Wherfore if Christian Magistrates doe at any tyme make lawes for theyr people wherein they shall no lesse seuerelye than grauelye commaunde that all and euerye householder and gouernours of familyes shall daylye in theyr seuerall houses ordinarilye reade heare and examine from tyme to tyme certaine Chapters of the holye new Scriptures they can not bée sayd to attempt anye matter or straunge from theyr office and callyng but with all faythfull diligence to propounde commende and putte in execution the moste aunâ—â—ent ordinaunce and decrée euen of GOD hymselfe by whose grace and fauoure they so ofte confesse themselues to be aduaunced to theyr hyghe and moste honourable estate And in good sooth if Magistrats woulde duely consider with themselues by howe solemne an othe and for howe manye causes they are bounde and beholden vnto GOD againe if they woulde call to minde howe néedefull a thyng it were especiallye in these dayes for all menne to bée trayned vppe in the doctrine of true Religion and besydes howe manyfolde commodities myghte by this moste holesome enterprise redounde vnto all estates they coulde by no meanes abyde to be counted slacke or negligente in thys behalfe But rather they woulde wyth all godlye care and so long time putte foorth Lawes touching the reading and meditation of the Scriptures vntyll they shoulde sée menne to bée more in loue with Diuine matters than nowe they are to profitte somewhat like in the Doctrine of Fayth and Christianitie and to amende their manners whyche we sée nowe euerye where oh vnhappye age of ours to be ouermuche corrupted and plainely abhominable And questionlesse it becommeth Magistrates wyth greate courage and constancye to goe forwards in thys office for so muche as they vnderstande that it is euen by name enioyned vnto them also of GOD that they shoulde continuallye be occupyed in readyng the sacréed Bookes For thus doeth GOD the supreme lawgiuer Deutronomie 17. say vnto them When the king shall sitte vpon the throne of his kingdome then shall he write him a copie of this Lawe in a booke by the Priestes of the Leuites and ye shal be with him and hee shall reade therein all the dayes of his life that he maye learne to feare the Lorde his GOD and to keepe al the wordes of this Lawe and these ordinaunces for to doe them That his hearte bee not lifted vp aboue his brethren and that he turne not from the commaundemente to the right hande or to the lefte but that hee maye prolong his dayes in his kingdome hee and hys sonnes in the middest of Israell They then are more grosely deceiued thaÌ„ that they shal néed with any long processe to be confuted whosoeuer they be that imagine this commaundement to belong in no wise vnto Christian Magistrates
thriftinesse then he that vnderstandeth no suche matter but hangeth onely vppon the bare name of religion and cleaueth therevnto as to a holy ancker and supposeth the knowledge of GOD to consist only in the bare name of the sect Thys lawe the Emperour commaunded to be openly proclaymed by Ariobindus his Liuetenaunte and other officers and so many as woulde not obey it to forfayte all their goods and to goe into exile But if thys moste holy Emperour was carefull to determyne in what tong the Iewes who at that time as touching that matter contended very odiously among themselues should read the holye Scripture why shoulde not our kings Princes prouide by Lawes firste that all Christians vnder theyr Dominions maye reade then nexte in what tongue they maye reade the sacred Byble not so muche publikely in Churches as priuatelye in their houses And what shall we say of the Emperour Theodosius the seconde who as the reporte goeth and no doubte moued by the commaundement of GOD whyche is extante as touching Kinges Deutronomie 17. wrote out with hys owne hande the Bookes of the Newe Testamente reade euerye mornyng in hys house some parte of them and recyted customarily certaine Psalmes and prayers togither wyth hys wife shée was Eudocia the daughter of Leontius a Philosopher of Athens of whome they say were written right learned Poems and with his sisters But if I shoulde go aboute to produce moe proues tending to thys ende I feare leaste I shoulde incurre offence who especiallye haue excéeded alreadye the compasse of an Epistle Therefore that my speache maye drawe to an ende I am perswaded verylye that it wyll then goe well wyth the Church and with the whole common wealth when as the Kings Princes and all other Magistrates of these our times seriously turning their minds to the Statutes of the Almighty and euerliuing GOD whiche were rehearsed euen nowe out of Deuteronomie and to the examples of the most noble Emperoures of whome wee haue spoken shall beginne to putte forthe and with all godly diligence to commend vnto the people committed to their charge lawes as touching the dayly and domesticall and that perdie in their owne Countrey language reading hearing and meditating of the holye Bible And as for the reasons wherewith men may bée moued to obey their most holesome lawes and decrées I haue in this volume partly out of the most sacred Sermons of the Prophets and Apostles partly out of the Commentaries of the most excellent Doctors packed togither as ye would say in one bundle very many and the same not to be misliked so that this onely remayneth namely that with what willingnesse and desire they are of me offered with the selfe same all menne whensoeuer they shall reade them woulde vouchsafe to receyue them My purpose and scope to dispatche it in a worde is to profite at leastwise somewhat by my labour all sortes of men that are carefull for a better life and for the euerlasting saluation of their soules But vnto your highnesse most noble Prince I haue thought good to consecrate this worke as well for sundry causes and considerations as also especially for twayne which haue in them more force than the rest The one is when I behold and consider the iustice clemencie gentlenesse and other vertues naturally ingenerate in you togither with the notable education and instruction worthy a most famous Prince doubtlesse I am perswaded that your Highnesse may easilie be broughte to this poynte namely that you will not onely exercise your selfe dayly in the reading of the holye Byble according to GODS commaundemente Deuteronomie 17. but also prouoke and stirre vp one whyle by gentle exhortations another while by sharpe and seuere preceptes all the people and inhabitantes of youre Dominion as GOD also hath willed Deuteronomie 6. and. 11. to the doing and practising of the like For what shoulde not I looke for at his hands whose father Friderike Prince Elector Palatine and those twayne of the same house neuer sufficiently praysed supplying before hym the selfesame honoures to theyr innestimable commendation I meane Fridericke and Otho Henry haue accomplished many difficulte attempts for the amplifying of GODS glory and encrease of sincere Religion Neyther haue I anye doubte but that youre Highnesse most noble Father caused therefore of late the Bookes of the Diuine Oracles most cléerely and at his greate charge to bée Printed in the vulgar tong to the intente that both innumerable Copies myght be conueyed and spredde ouer all youre Dominions and other places and also be deuoutely redde of euery man for conscience sake in theyr priuate houses The other cause is so soone as other Potentates shall perceyue you whose glory standeth aloft on a high and stately place to gyue some onset to the trayning of Christian people to the reading and exercising of the holy Scriptures it is very lykely that immediatelye therevppon many of them that are in authoritie wyll stoutely followe in the selfesame rare of godlynesse It happeneth I wote not how that the vertue whiche procéedeth from Princes and greate men casteth forthe farre and néere an incredible brightenesse and as yée would say beames whereby it both rouzeth vp a great number and also allureth them to mutation And euen as wittie Paynters doe choose out all the welfauouredst bodyes they can come by and do lay to gette Tables that haue bin aforehande curiously wroughte by the cunningest Artificers of their occupation to the intente they may drawe forthe and expresse them wyth theyr pencill and couloures so likewise suche men as are of a noble courage and especially of an honourable stocke and Parentage do much more willingly and desirously learne vertue of their equals than of anye other sortes of men besydes whatsoeuer Wherefore I most humbly pray and beséech youre Highnesse to take well in worth my good wyll and meaning héerein The King euerlasting immortall inuisible and GOD onely wise vnto whome alone all honour and glory is due vouchsafe through IESVS CHRIST his sonne to informe your mind with his holy Spirite to good gouernement and to guide and defende you to the ende Farewell moste noble Prince The Ides of march M.D.LXI Of the reading and dayly meditation of the holy Scriptures very requisite and necessarie for all Christians of what estate or condition soeuer The first Booke ALl doe agree in this that Man differeth from other Creatures in vnderstanding and reason But if we shall procéede further and enquire wherein a Christian Godly man may be discerned from an vnchristian and vngodly man verily I do not see what fitter aunswere may be made than in the knowledge if GOD and in the studie of accomplishing his will. For as touching the wicked and vngodly man eyther hee is altogither ignorante of GOD his maker and Creator and vtterly voyde of the knowledge of his wil for else if he can giue any iudgement thereof at all yet is he moued in the meane time with no desire of
to the xi day before Easter lette the fiue bookes of Moses be read From the fifteenth day before Easter to the Supper of the Lord the Prophet Ieremy From the Octaues of Easter to the Octaues of Pentecoste the Apocalyps the Actes of the Apostles the Canonicall Epistles From the eyght daye beefore Pentecost to the Calendes of August the bookes entituled of the Kings and Paralipomenon From the firste Sonday of August to the Calendes of September the Bookes attributed to Salomon namely the Prouerbs and Ecclesiastes the Booke of Wisedome and Ecclesiasticus From the firste Sondaye of September to the Calendes of October Iob Tobias Esther Ezras of some is added also Iudith From the first Sonday of Nouember to the Calendes of December Ezechiel Daniel and the twelue small prophets From the firste Sondaye of December to the natiuitie of the Lorde Esay From the firste Sonday following the natiuitie of the Lorde to Septuagesima the Epistles of S. Paule the Apostle These Bookes therfore among whiche notwithstanding we sée some â—o be placed of the Bishops which the olde purer Church acknowledged not for Canonicall and againe some whiche are reckned in the Canon to be pretermitted were vsually read and expounded of readers whâ—n and at suche time as the faithfull come togither in the morning and oft times before dailight We gather hereby a most certaine argument as touching the prayers which they call morning prayers and are yet still in vse in many Churches and in whiche certaine parcels oute of the Bookes of the olde Testament are vsually read Againe the Bookes of the Euangelistes concerning the doctrine and doyngs of Christe they did in like maner and peraduenture in the time of Euening praier reade ouer and expounde But now in these daies this practise is vtterly worne out of Churches only the beginnings or parcels of certaine Bookes are slightly tasted of a nuÌ„ber of newe-founde and vnnecessary songs being brought in cleane contrarye to the decrées of the auntient fathers as in déede many other things moe in time paste holesomly ordeined we sée now either vtterly to be decaied or wonderfully to be peruerted and corrupted And ther is now no place left so muche as to the bookes of the Euangelists that they might be red ouer once in a yere but on the sondayes onlye certaine Histories out of theÌ„ are by piecemeale picked out whereas of our auncestours the Euangelicall bookes especially were wonte to be expounded wholye without interruption to the people I graunt indéede that in some places in the holy feastes chiefely of Easter and Whitsontide and likewise at the Natiuitie of the Lord for as much as then commonly those that had profited sufficiently in the doctrine of the Cathechisme or in the principles of Christian religion were with great preparation and to the incredible reioycement of all the godly baptized the interpretation of the holy booke begun and not ended was a little intermitted and left off and the mysteries of the natiuitie and resurrection of CHRIST of the sending of the holye GHOST also the doctrine as touching the vse of Baptisme diligeÌ„tly declared But assoone as those holy dayes were past it was prouided that the same bookes should agayne be taken in hande and continued whych thyng Sainct Augustine doth not obscurely signifye in the beginning of his exposition of the Epistle of Saint Iohn But to what purpose is it to stande longer in these things When as ofte therefore as I beholde consider the diligeÌ„ce example of the fathers me thinketh verylye that it were no harde matter to finde a meane whereby eueÌ„ nowe also anye manne maye once or oftner in a yeares space reade ouer the whole Bible or certaine bookes of it according as he himselfe shal thinke good For there is no lette to the contrary but that a man may appoint this lawe vnto himselfe namelye to pervse ouer the holy bookes in the selfesame order and time that as we declared euen now they are reckened and distinguished in by Gâ—eâ—iâ—n Euery man may easily obserue that forme and order that is of him prescribed But for so much peraduenture as that order and disposition wil not be liked of all men wherein be recounted some bookes whiche are not in the Canon and againe othersome that being Canonicall and right worthy to be read are omitted I meane the volumnes of the foure Euangelistes and the Psalmes of Dauid wée as by the pointing of a finger will shewe another way and that truely more easie and more certaine as comprehending all the Canonicall bookes and likewise least any man should complayne the residue also called Apocrypha Go too therefore first of all lette vs place by themselues the Canonicall bookes according as they are of the auntient Hebrues and also of the Gréekes and Latines but especially of OrigeÌ„ Epiphanius Hilarius Hierome Augustine and the counsel of Loadicea digested and sette downe and withall let vs mark into how many Chapters euery booke is diuided These bookes following belong to the olde Testament Genesis hath Chapters 50 Exodus hath Chapters 40 Leuiticus hath Chapters 27 Numeri hath Chapters 36 Deutronomy hath Chapters 34 Iosua hath Chapters 24 Chronicles 1. hath Chapters 29 Chronicles 2. hath Chapters 36 Ezra 1. hath Chapters 10 Ezra 2. hath Chapters 13 Esther hath Chapters 9 Esay hath Chapters 66 Iudges hath Chapters 21 Ruth hath Chapters 4 Samuel 1. hath Chapters 3â— Samuel 2. hath Chapters 24 Kings 1. hath Chapters 22 Kings 2. hath Chapters 25 Ieremy hath Chapters 52 Lamentations hath Chapters 4 Ezechil hath Chapters 48 Daniel hath Chapters 12 Hosea hath Chapters 14 Ioel hath Chapters 3 Amos hath Chapters 9 Abdias Conteyneth Chapters 1 Ionas Conteyneth Chapters 4 Micheas Conteyneth Chapters 8 Nahum Conteyneth Chapters 3 Habacuc Conteyneth Chapters 3 Sophony Conteyneth Chapters 3 Haggeus Conteyneth Chapters 2 Zacharie Conteyneth Chapters 14 Malachie Conteyneth Chapters 4 Psalt hath psal Chap. 150 Iob hath psal Chap. 42 Prouerbs hath psal Chap. 31 Ecclesiastes hath psal Chap. 12 Song of SalomoÌ„ hath psal Chap. 8 Out of all these bookes a man maye lawfullye fetche proofes and allegations to fortify and confyrme the doctrine of religion and they are in authoritie before the other bookes and fragments which are called Apocrypha and be in lesse price wherefore we shall not without good cause bestowe our greatest care and diligence in reading and learning of the same Therefore in this wise and order I iudge they maye once or oftner in a yeares space readilye and without trouble be red Now I holde best that we take our beginning at the Psalter and that it be reade apart yea sometimes read againe by reason of the manifolde profite and vtilitie thereof For it is manifest that in it is contained as yée woulde saye an Epitome or abridgement of the whole Scripture Therefore there is offred alwayes in it that which maye profitablye be learned there commeth alwayes next to hande something whereby the minde in
perfourming or accomplishing of it But vndoubtedly it is requisite that the true Christian do excell in both that is to saye not onely in knowledge but also in holy actions of life and conuersation so farre forth as is possible Howbeit the knowledge of GOD and of his diuine will a Christian man can not from anye other where eyther more certaynely or plentifully atteyne vnto than out of the word of GOD it selfe whiche by the Prophetes and Apostles is faithfully committed to writing and so conueyed ouer to posteritie For it pleased GOD that hys will béeyng cléerely expressed should remayne extant in a fewe Bookes to the whyche man béeing otherwyse compassed about on euerie syde with the Cloudes of ignorance so ofte as he coueteth to knowe what is pleasing to GOD mighte as vnto a Chest full of all manner of precious iewels haue recourse to draw out from thence whatsoeuer is wholesome and profitable for hym for in déede of the Bookes of holy Scripture it may woorthely bée sayde that in them are layde vp and conteyned all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge euen so much and so manyfolde in effecte as maye bée had of GOD in this life Whiche thing séeing it is so verily I can not but greately maruell howe it commeth to passe that where as all Christians are gréedilie gyuen to heare yet appeare they beyonde measure colde and dull to reade and heare the sayde Bookes For where shall a man fynde one amongst a greate number that hathe those holy Bookes at home in hys house and if it be so that some haue them yet how manye bée there of them can say that they haue reade them ouer at any tyme or tymes in all theyr lyues And how shall wée beléeue I beséeche you that the wyll of GOD is diligentlye accomplished of those menne of whome it is not certaynely knowen as yet whether they euer vouchsafed to learne it out of the sacred Bookes or no for thys cause therefore I supposed that I shoulde take vpon me a thyng both acceptable to GOD and also most profitable to men if I admonished all Christians of what estate or condition soeuer they be to prepare themselues to the diligente reading of the holye Scriptures out of whyche alone the wyll of GOD is to bée knowen and dayly to reade ouer certayne Chapters of them or at least to heare them attentiuely readde of others Whyche parcell of dutie whatsoeuer it bée certesse I doe interprete my selfe to owe as well vnto GOD to the aduancemente of whose glory vppon earthe wée oughte all the sorte of vs to endeauour our selues to the vttermost of oure powers as also vnto men whome for so muche as wée may sée nowe euery where to haue as a man woulde say broken in sunder the barres of godlynesse and honestie and by that meanes which is greatly to be lamented to leade their liues very dissolutely and licentiously it is requisite and necessarie for vs by as many meanes as we maye to reclayme and bring backe to the righte way Nowe I haue determined to deuide thys worke into two Bookes whereof in the former I wyll declare that it belongeth to all sortes and degrées of men whatsoeuer whyche at the least couet the name of Christianitie both to reade and heare wyth greate aduisemente the Bookes of the holye Bible In the latter I will shewe by what meanes euery man maye readily without lette in a yeares space orderly turne ouer all the sayd Bookes by reading and pervsing dayly certayne Chapters of them Firste and formost therefore that we are men wée oure selues both confesse and doe not a little glorye so to bée called and by thys very name that wée are vehemently moued to the searching after GOD and the knowledge of hys will it is more cléere and manyfest than that it can be wincked at or dissembled Looke I pray you vppon the body of man so cunningly and excellently deuised and made that in it the head in whiche as in a high Tower are placed the organicall powers of the senses dothe perpetually of the own accord reach vpward toward heauen where the seate of GOD is vnderstoode to be In consideration whereof al the olde Poetical writers pronounced man to be happier and in better case than the brute beasts For where all Creatures else beside saith a certain Latin Poete that bin of brutish kinde Are aye with groueling face to gaze vpon the ground assignde To man is giuen a stately grace and loftie looke whereby He may behold the haughtie Heauens and eke the Starrie Skie Further to the body is added the mind whereby man so ofte as he listeth may surmounte and ouerreach the very Firmamente and Startes and euen there beholde and looke vpon the Maiestie of GOD himselfe for why the minde is the most noble parte of man giuen downe from GOD into the body as into a Pauilion or rather gorgeous Temple by the whiche the diuine power of GOD dothe at all times wonderfully display it selfe in vs For certesse by the mind GOD indureth into vs all as the Apostle speaketh Actes 17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lyfe and breath By the minde through GOD we moue and haue oure being Through the minde the Poet Aratus was bolde to sing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For we are his ofspring or generation Now by the diuers and sundrie powers of the mind as namely vnderstanding reason memorie and suche like by the direction whereof man accomplisheth great and waightie matters wée may perceyue euidently that GOD is not farre from euery one of vs as in déede if we woulde diligentlye searche we might euen grope I gladly vse the Apostles wordes and find him out Neyther is anye other thyng meante by those common sparkes of knowledge naturally engraffed in all menne whereby we beléeue that there is a GOD that all things come to passe and are gouerned by his prouidence moreouer that some actions are honest and pleasing vnto GOD whyche we oughte to embrace that other some are dishonest and displesing vnto GOD which we ought to abhorre And these and such like impressions of knowlege are so plain euident that there was no man euer foūd so barbarous or brutishe that vtterlye denyed them so déepe also do they sticke printed and as it were seared in our mindes that they can neuer altogither be blotted or scraped out Wherevpon the Apostle-Rom 2. sayth When the Gentiles whiche haue not the Lawe doe by nature the things conteyned in the law they hauing not the lawe are a lawe vnto themselues which shew the effect of the lawe written in their heartes their conscience also bearing them witnesse and their thoughtes accusing one an other or excusing Therfore what man so euer he be that is partaker of his right minde and féeleth himselfe at anye time perced with the sting of his owne conscience he maye verye well perceyue without the instruction of anye other that he carrieth aboute with him a number of things
hys worde but he prouided especially by his wonderfull prouidence that the same shoulde be committed to writing and so commended to euerlasting memorye For GOD him selfe wyth hys owne finger wrote his Lawe in two tables of stone and then commaunded that by Moyses and the reste of the Prophetes hys sayings and doings shoulde be putte in wryting Exodus 17.24.34 Deutronomie 6.31 Iosue 24. Ieremie 36. Psalme 102. By these what thyngs so euer are written they are called by the name of Scripture Whervpon Christ himselfe by the Scripture vnderstandeth the bookes of Moyses of the Prophetes and of the Psalmes Iohn 5. Luke 24. To the same bookes do the Apostles and Euangelistes wyl vs to haue recourse whylest to the confirmation of theyr owne assertions they oftentimes and that desirouslye alleage the Testimonies of Scripture But wée muste knowe that euen the Bookes of these also are accounted wyth the reste in one and the selfe same order of Scriptures whether they beare the name and tittle of Gospels or Actes or Epistles For it is out of all doubte and controuersie that whatsoeuer is comprehended in the whole bodye of the Canonicall bookes is the verye true and healthsome worde of GOD published and putte forthe by his commaundemente All Scripture sayeth the Apostle 2. Timoth. 3. is enspired of GOD. And Peter in his 2. Epistle Chap. 1. Prophesie sayeth hée came not in olde time by the wyll of man but holy men of GOD spake as they were moued by the holy GHOST And like as the writers as well of the Olde as of the Newe Testament receyued a commaundement from one and the selfe same GOD and our and the selfe same spirite enspired theyr myndes gouerned theyr handes and pennes Psalme 68. Actes 2.1 Corinth â—â— Ephes 4. euen so all the whole Scripture is in a manner one Booke reuealing wyth wonderfull consente thyngs moste diuerse and manifolde as Ieremie expounding the 29. Chapter of Esay and Saint Augustine in hys preface to the 150. Psalme doe learnedly gather Whyche things séeing they are so we doe with greate cause vehementlye speake in the commendation of thys Booke not in respecte of the paper or parchmente and of thys or that tongue or of one kinde of letter or other or of the Golde or diuersitie of colour wherwyth it is garnished and sette forthe but euen in respecte that it conteyneth the moste holye and sacred wordes of GOD hymselfe and therefore doe affirme that out of it men ought to learne both by reading and hearing what GOD hathe decréed of vs and of oure saluation For we muste knowe that to this ende especiallye all Bookes are written euen that they shoulde diligentlye be reade and by often reading ouer be fullye vnderstoode that so desyred fruytes myghte redounde to the vnderstanders of them Nowe there be thrée special causes why we shoulde bestowe more diligence in pervsing this latter Booke than the former FIRST Greater is the dignitie of GODS word than of the whole worlde The world in déede was created of the same that the word came from which we so greatly commende and eyther Booke is indifferentely called the Booke of GOD yet neuerthelesse the latter excelleth for so much as wée finde recyted in it the selfe same worde that GOD vsed when he made the worlde of nothing For we reade GOD sayde Let there bee light and the lighte was made Againe God sayde Let there be a firmamente and there was made a firmament and so forth of other things And whereas by the former Booke we perceyue onely that there is a worlde by the latter we maye perceyue what was before the worlde and from whence and by what meanes the same tooke beginning Therefore whether we were neuer able to aspire in searching of causes by the conducte of naturall reason thyther are wée broughte by Faith whyche Faith is intentiuelye fixed on the worde of GOD reuealed read or harde For Faith commeth by hearing of the worde and by Faith wee vnderstande that the worlde was ordayned throughe the worde of GOD so that the thyngs which are seene were made of things that appeared not Rom. 10. Heb. 11. SECONDLY Whatsoeuer thyngs are necessary to be knowen as touching the will of GOD and oure saluation are clearelye and expreslye declared in the written worde of GOD but howe farre shorte should we come to thinke that the same are as apparantly represented in the frame of the worlde Greate is the darkenesse of mennes mindes and oft times euen in those thyngs that are supposed to be moste manifeste by Nature they are more blynde than is the Owle in the noone dayes And then doe we all commonlye moste fouly ouershoote and deceiue our selues when we beginne once to dispute of GOD and of matters appertayning to saluation For proofe whereof are so manye and so absurde fonde and fantasticall I wyll not saye ridiculous opinions whyche the Philosophers deuised as touching GOD and their Summum bonum whereof the number grewe as Marcus Varro recounteth in Augustine in his Booke 19. Chapter 1. Of the Citie of GOD to a hundred fourescore and eighte And Hermias a Christian Philosopher reconed vp some of them and laugheth them well fauouredlye to scorn in his booke entituled A deriding of the prophane Philosophers But vndoubtedly hée shall at length be frée from all error and shall gather to hymselfe substantiall knowledge that neuer at anye tyme departeth from the footesteppes of the Prophetes and Apostles It were a haynous offence to determyne anye thyng of Religion or of the state of a better lyfe onlye by the direction of Nature excepte the censure bée giuen out of the tables of GODS worde and as well the Scripture it selfe as nature bee founde to sumpe togyther in one And therefore wisely the Prophete Psalme 19. After discourse hadde of the glory of GOD to be discerned by the workemanshippe of the Heauens and of the Firmamente addeth immediately a commendation of the Lawe and written worde of god The Lawe of the Lorde sayeth he is vndefyled conuerting the soule the testimonie of the Lorde is sure giuing wisedome to the simple the Statutes of the Lorde are right reioycing the heart the precepts of the Lorde are pure giuing light to the eyes As though he shoulde say we can by no meanes atteyne to the Sanctuarie of the eternall and simple truth without the brighte brands of Scripture burning before vs Which thing no doubte was signifyed by those wise men who comming from the East parts of the worlde although for a space they rightly followed the Starre as the rule of reason yet was it néedefull for them to the intente they myghte fynde out CHRIST the Kyng and worship him to be resolued out of the Oracles of the Prophetes as concerning the place where hée shoulde bée borne Math 2. The holy man Antonius myghte in déede saye wyth a safe conscience that thys huge and vnmeasurable Worlde was to him in stead of a Booke for so muchâ— as
behoofe of many ages and to be short turne thē into diuers and sundry languages and finally transport them ouer withoute any businesse into Countreys and Prouinces both farre and néere This most holesome purpose and aduise therefore accomplished by the wonderfull prouidence of God and taken in hand for our incomparable benefite that man vndoubtedly séemeth ouermalapartly to despise that maketh not accompte of the Bookes of holy Scripture as he ought to doe and so refuseth eyther to reade them or heare them But as oft as I call to remembrance the diligence of the auntiente Fathers whiche liued long before the Bookes were published by GODS commandement and againe consider the great sloth and sluggishnesse of the people of our time verily I am vehementlye moued in mind and do in a maner whollie quake for feare Neyther doe I sée by what force of spéeche or with what thundering words so great dulnesse may I say of ours or malice or rather both ioyned togither can sufficientlie bée dashed and ouerthrowen The very first maysters and teachers of our Religion whiche were Adam and suche as liued in his time conceyued the diuine misteries alonely by the instiction of the holy GHOSTE and of them were other immediately taught by a liuely expressed voyce who agayne by a long continuance of time as it were from hand to hand louingly imparted the same vnto others and so whereas they had all of them but memorie onely in stead of Bookes they neuerthelesse for the space of many hundred yeares kept and reteyned in their families doctrine polluted with no maner of blemishes or defilements at all So feruente a care was in them of Religion so greate constancie faithfulnesse consent and diligence both in learning and teaching But as for vs we haue Bookes wherein wée may reade the selfesame doctrine both cléerely and purely expressed We haue Bookes Printed and put forth in the very same tong that those auntiente Fathers spake in we haue Bookes most faithfully translated into sundry languages we haue the Bookes not only of Moses and the other Prophets but also of the Apostles and Euangelistes wherof the one sort were vtterly vnknowen to all that went before Moses the other sort altogyther vnheard of as many as were before CHRISTES incarnation we haue Bookes that doe most plenteously and wyth incredible perspicuitie declare whatsoeuer is necessarie to our saluation we haue Bookes in all places and at all times most easie with little cost in such readinesse and yet notwithstanding this most excellente and soueraigne benefite of Bookes wherewith GOD hath enriched and after a sort blessed vs before an innumerable multitude of our holy auncesters we do in no wise worthelie weigh and cōsider yea verily as though we neyther euer heard of them at any time nor yet saw them we doe wyth deafe eares and blinde eyes passe ouer many great commodities we lette slippe from vs manyfolde occasion of profiting we suffer sincere doctrine to shrinke and fall downe to the grounde And finally which the very vnworthinesse of the thing compelleth me to adde a number but suche as are Christians onely in name doe vtterly contemne all Religion scoffe at it speake againste it and euen by all possible meanes trample it vnder their féete O strange ingratitude oh monstrous malice oh wickednesse worthy of GODS hastned vengeance But what shall we thinke a great number of vs would do if so be we had no Bookes of holy Scripture at all verily I beléeue we would not so muche as thinke of GOD or of any thing belonging vnto GOD all our life long neyther should we liue in any better estate than that wretched Nabuchadnezar who as we may reade in Daniel 4. kepte companye for certayne yeares with brute Beastes was depriued of reason and vnderstanding wente groueling vppon the ground and susteyned himselfe with fodder and grasse But why doe we not at the length rouze vp our selues lay to oure eares open our eyes by the example of the said Nabuchadnezar and lift them vp to heauen that being restored to our right mind we may more attentiuelie behold the greatnesse of the benefite whereby GOD hathe enriched vs with the Bookes of holy Scripture and being stirred vp and enlightened with the reading of them may prayse him giue him thanks glorifye him to be short may religiously vse and enioy the same holye Bookes to all those endes and purposes where vnto it is euident GOD so ordeyning they are written and putte 〈◊〉 Now it may be that some subtill trifeler séeking the defence as well of his owne as of others slouthfulnesse and coueting to vndermine the felicitie of the faithfull will make exceptions and say that the commandement of God whiche a little before was recited out of Deuteronomie perteyned only to the Iewes and dothe in no case bind the Christiās to the obseruation of it but such are in no wise to be heard or hearkned vnto for why no man is ignorant that of the precepts of the law whereof some are Morall some Ceremoniall and other some Iudiciall the two later kindes onely are abrogate for the one kind conteyned nothing else than types and shadows of things afterward to be accōplished by CHRIST Heb. 10. the other was giuen peculiarly to the nation for the framing and well ordering of their common weale Wherfore seing all things lōg agone shadowed in rites and Ceremonies are now throughly perfited finished by CHRIST and séeyng againe that their whole common wealth is vtterlie subuerted and ouerthrowen it followeth that those two kindes of lawes likewise are vtterly repealed and taken away It remayneth then that the preceptes of the firste sort or kinde I meane as touching maners are yet still in force and common to all as well Christians as Iewes But that in these or within the compasse of these commandements ought to be placed that which we alleadged before out of Deuteronomie who can denye yea and whatsoeuer is auaileable to the declaration of oure Faith in GOD and the loue toward our neyghbour and briefely to the framing of a godly and vnblamable life that whether it be found discussed in the Bookes eyther of the old or newe Testament let euery Christian man knowe assuredly to belong also to himselfe to the intente he shoulde whollie kéepe and obserue the same But nowe dothe our Sauiour CHRIST himselfe repeate the selfesame commaundemente and will haue it for euer ratifyed and established whilest in the fifth of Iohn he commandeth vs to Search the Scriptures which do paynte him forth in their couloures and declare hym to be the Sauiour and protector of mankinde Whyche words if a man would contend that they were vttered onely to the Iewes and therefore alleadge that they agrée not vnto Christians that man as Saincte Augustine doth learnedly gather entreating De verbis Domini sermone 45. might as wel saye that he woulde neyther knowe Christe nor be acknowledged of CHRISTE Wherefore Saint Peter dealing as an interpreter
hym Soone after hauyng gotten oportunitie hee adioyned to hymselfe certaine Merchaunts of Rome by the help of whom he beganne there to gather companies togither after the maner of Christians and with greate courage and sinceritie of mind to preach the Gospell vnto them To bee shorte throughe his long and continuall exhortations hee broughte to passe that the inhabitantes of all that Countrey were instructed in the misteries of oure Religion and professed with greate reuerence Iesus Christe to be their only sauiour In the Chapters next immeddiatly folowing in the same writers we reade That a certaine seely Christian woman whilest being captiue among the Iberians they are people neare vnto Fontus toward the Northe and the sea Euxinus shee was grieuouslye tormented with the continuall lothsomnesse of the prison labouring with harty prayers vnto God and fastings became shortly after very famous through hyr wonderful and very Apostolicall vertues Especially she was renoumed for the power of working signes wonders and besides shee taught the chiefe pointes of Christian religion with so great a grace and dexteritie that al might well wonder at it in that sexe but none follow it or come neare vnto it Nowe as shee excelled in bothe kindes so shee preuayled in shorte space so far forth by hir singular diligence and fidelitie that she brought the king the Queene and all their subiectes to the knowlege of the true God of our sauiour IESVS CHRIST Moreouer shee caused temples to bee builded wherein the people mighte religously meete togither and procured ambassadours to be sente to the Romayne Emperour that godlye Constantine to require of him teachers such as shoulde be meete to forwarde so holy a worke The Emperour hauing receyued this message was rauished with no lesse ioye and gladnesse then if he had gotten by hys owne pollicye and puissance some new kingdomes and vnknowne prouinces to be adioyned to the Romayne state and therewithal picking out many chosen men for the purpose excelling both in sinceritie of life and doctrine he commaunded them with all speede to hasten thither Furthermore Nicephorus Callistus writeth in the eight booke and fiue and thirtith Chapter of his Ecclesiasticall Historie that by one Gregory whom after manye iniuries and sundrye tormentes Tiâ—idates king of the Armenians hadde kepte by the space of fourteene yeares togither in a deepe and filthy dungeon al Armenia was happily drawen to forsake Idolatrie and to worship the one and eternall GOD in the Faithe of IESVS CHRIST And in the 33. Chapter he pronounceth generally that the warres which the Romaines helde wyth the Barbarians especially vnder the Empire of Gallienus and thenceforth gaue oftimes occasion wherby Christian religion was spread abroade farre and neare when as the prisoners which the Barbarians toke of the Romaynes and caried home to theyr houses became afterwarde vnto them faithfull teachers of wholesome doctrine of Christ IOHN Zonaras a Gréeke writer recordeth that at what tyme the Bulgarians warred continually without ceassing againste the Constantinopolitans it fortuned that they toke a certaine noble Damosell whyche being eftsoones brought to Constantinople profited beyonde all mens expectation in good learning and in the doctrine of our religion But when as afterwarde truce or peace being concluded on both sides this sayde Damosell was returned home againe into hir Countrey shée perswaded the king of Bulgarians whose sister shée was although our men knew not so muche to submitte himselfe with all his people to CHRIST the LORD This came to passe about the yeare after our saluation purchased by Christe 866 what time the soueraigntie of Constantinople was in the handes of Michaell the sonne of Theophilus I hadde almoste ouerskipped that whyche Cassiodorus booke tenne Chapter eight of his Tripartite Historie and Nicephorus Callistus in his booke fourtéenth and Chapter eigtéene haue lefte in writing namely that whilest Isdegardis raigned among the Persians there were sente ambassades for diuerse causes oftner than at anye tyme before from the Romaines to the Persians and againe from the Persians to the Romaynes Nowe whilest there wente often thyther from the Romaynes men learned and very zealous of Christian religion vnto whom also was twice adioyned Maruthas bishop of Mesopotamia it was broughte to passe by theyr modesty vertue holynesse and vehement exhortations that no small number of the Persians began to reuereÌ„ce our religion and by little and little wholy to imbrace it whervpon afterward it was permitted to the beléeuers to appoint Churches or congregations to dedicate for euer Temples vnto Christ You sée therefore by what means those forraine countries contrary to al mens expectation were set at quiet with our men through the séeds of Christian doctrine sown among barbarous people how happily our religion grewe vp in processe of time brought forth most ioyfull fruites But the matter coulde neuer haue come to that passe if in those captiue Laie men in Frumentius I saye the ladde in the poore séely woman in the miserable and desolute Gregory in the noble Virgin in the Merchants trauelling through al quarters for traffike in the Ambassadors notable for their godly knowlege in others of like estate coÌ„dition there had not bin before they were transported into those Countries a meane vnderstanding of Gods holye misteries therewithall also a certaine wonderful dexteritie in expressing the sense meaning of their minds where-throughe wilde and barbarous natures mought haue bin méeked mollified and turned There was no Christian in those dayes but was fully persuaded of this that he had manfully to labour for his owne parte to prouide so much as in him lay that the bounds of ChristiaÌ„ religion might bée exteÌ„ded stretched forth to Gods glory And it was the coÌ„mon opinion of all meÌ„ that by the simple exposition of the principles of ChristiaÌ„ doctrine by Faith Lowlinesse Modesty by the duties of Loue Charitie a man might more preuaile with the barbarous people than by any other meanes beside whatsoeuer And truelye so it is indéede Long fierce and bloudy warres haue Christian Princes foughten in our and in oure fathers remembrance wyth the cruell Turkes often inuasions haue they made one into anothers borders horrible slaughters haue they committed on bothe sides they haue gotten perforce they haue troden vnder foote they haue distroyed all that euer is But who euer heard that anye Turke was so farre forth moued with these things that hée so muche as once thought to forsake his error and to imbrace our religion Agayne what honour or what glory hath redounded vnto GOD out of these mortall and bloudie battels Where on the other side if so be we by entreating modestly wisely of the dignity certaintie of our religioÌ„ should giue theÌ„ to vnderstaÌ„d that we sought neither for theyr goods nor their Castels nor their Cities but the health safetie of their soules I suppose that we should sooner this way come to a glorious victorie and such as would be acceptable
should be limited out certayne orders kindes of life functions and besides that sundry duties should of sundry meÌ„ according to their seuerall natures qualities be perfourmed and accomplished yet it can not be denyed but that there are some things also found coÌ„mon indifferent to all without exception As in meÌ„s bodies we sée alwaies great difference in their stature lineamentes voyce countenance but greater in theyr gestures motioÌ„s which expresse the affectioÌ„s of their mindes so likewise in those large and ample bodyes of ciuile societie wonderfull diuersities doe euery where appeare whilest namely some duties are executed by Kings Princes Iudges othersome by Lawyers Phisitions Souldiours Merchant men Artificers yea in a small house or familie some by the husband and the wife some other by the sonnes and daughters othersome finally by the seruants and handmaydes But agayne like as in this poynte all men and women are very like and egal that they consist of soule and body and are partakers of one and the selfesame substance and are all subiecte to the common lawe of being borne into the world and departing out in which behalfe verily none is saide to be aboue other nor none inferioure vnto other euen so must thou néedes graunte whether thou wilt or no that there are no small number of actions to the accomplishing whereof partly for the reteyning of the dignitie of the minde partly for the conseruation of the body all men mortall are bounde For if we haue regard to the body it selfe truly whether wée meane to speake of the most rich King Croesus or if the most vile begger Irus or of any other that by reason of outward respectes do very farre differ betwéene themselues we must néedes confesse that all of them oughte héere vnto to apply their diligence and indifferently to ioyne in this namely that they betwéene whiles refresh their bodies with meate and drinke that they take their swéete sléepe and rest being wéerie that they preserue and maynteyne their health that they recouer it when it is lost that they séeke to nourish it when it is recouered that they couer and defend their bodies with apparell c. There is no néede why we should procéede any further in this reckning In like maner if we consider the minde no man whether he be of the highest degrée of honour or of meane worship or of the lowest and basest estate of all can be vtterly voyde of all knowledge of God no man can bée ignorante of the will and Commaundementes of God according wherevnto we discerne good things from euill and are moued to follow the one and eschue the other no man can auoyde but that he must néedes yéelde obedience vnto GOD as vnto him that is most high most mightie most excellent and most iust But séeing that whatsoeuer things be of this kind are most plentifully declared in the Bookes of the Prophetes and Apostles and that we speake all this while to Christians which doe highly reuerence and embrace these Bookes wée worthelie conclude that it is the dutie of all Christians both to reade and heare the said Bookes and to gather out of them the knowlege of GOD and his most holy misteries This studie and this diligence euery one oweth vnto his owne soule for the dignitie health and saluation whereof we ought to leaue nothing vnassayed nothing vnattempted Looke how déere thyne owne Soule is vnto thée and so farre shouldest thou be off from foreslowing the studie and practise of Gods holy word But as touching the duties which for the dignitie of their minds are common indiffereÌ„tly to all Christians we shall haue occasion agayne anon after to speake Now we will shew that to the end euery man may according to his calling and kind of life duly execute those manyfolde and seuerall offices whyche are alotted vnto him it is good yea very necessarie before he beginne or attempt any action which at leastwise may become vprighte and acceptable to God to heare the counsell and iudgement of the holy Scriptures and in all things to follow and be aduised by the same For in very déede neyther king nor Prince nor Iudge nor any other man else whatsoeuer can possibly performe to any purpose the things that belong to his office and calling vnlesse he firste shall haue learned as well as the Minister of the Churche the manner and forme of good actions out of the Propheticall and Apostolike writings As touching whiche poynt least any manne shoulde doubte we will not sticke of diuers degrées of men to set downe so much in effect as to this presente businesse shall séeme expedient Wherfore if thou be a King or Prince verily there is so much the more cause why thou shouldest continually and attentiuely reade the holy Scripture For it is thyne office to gouerne and preserue Common Weales to make iust and vpright lawes to defend the innocent to punishe malefactors But howe and after what sort these things shouâ—d rightly and according to Gods holy ordinance be done and accomplished it is most certaynely to be learned out of the sacred Scriptures And for the same cause did GOD commaunde Kings and Princes by name studiously to reade the holy Bookes in giuing forthe a statute as touching thys matter Deut. 17. When the King sitteth sayth he on the seate of his kingdome he shall lay before him a patterne of the Booke of this Law in the sight of the Priests and Leuites and it shal remaine with him and he ought to reade in it al the dayes of his life namely that he may learne to feare the Lord his GOD and to obserue all the wordes of this Lawe and these Statutes to do them In which place more matter touching the office of a King both goeth before and followeth after I omitte to tell that in the 1. Samuel Chapter 8.12 and 1. king 5.8.10 2. king 22. 2. Chron. 1.9 Prouerbs 20.21.25.29.31 Eccles 10. Psalme 20.101 Ieremy 22. and in other infinite places mo many things bée declared whyche are most néedefull to be knowen and obserued of all Kings and Princes if at leastwise they couet to obteyne anye place in the Kingdome and Court of the most mightie King IESVS CHRIST if they will from their heart testifye and declare that they according to the counsell of the most holy King and Prophet Dauid Psalm 2. doe in dede kisse and adore the Sonne sent of GOD the Father into the earthe to whome the Father hathe gyuen the Gentiles for an inheritance and all the coastes of the earth for a possession and therewithall also power and authoritie to destroy all the wicked and vngodly from the face of the earth Againe further both all the Courtiers and all the whole nobilitie must indeuour to frame and conforme themselues after the example of the King must wyth a certayne holy kind of ambitioÌ„ striue among theÌ„selus to the intent that by reading learning the Diuine philosophie and true Christianitie
they may become most like to their godly Christian king In vayne do some lay for excuse the troubles impedimeÌ„ts of the Courte and I wote not what heapes of businesse besides wherewith they are ouerwhelmed It is not the place but the mind whervpon to make thée studious of Gods worde the point of the whole matter depeÌ„deth And very easily may he find a place time houres coÌ„uenient to reade studie in that hath at the least a desire to séeke them Obadias gouernour of the wicked King Achabs house is read 1. King. 18. to haue bin vehemeÌ„tly addicted to the word of God and to his Prophetes the interpretours of it of which Prophets he had a hundred at the least in caues notwithstanding Iezabels crueltie who sought to slea theÌ„ priuily ministred vnto their necessities And the Pagan Eunuch treasourer to Candace Quéene of the Aethiopians found the meanes to get oportunitie of reading the holy Scriptures euen whilest he trauelled by the way was caried in a Coach as we may reade Acts. 8. But why doe I not to reproue the detestable dulnesse slouth of some men set downe the words of Iohn Chrisostome as touching the diligence of this Eunuch written in the beginning of his 34. Homilie vppon Genesis These they are That Barbarous Eunuch of the Aethiopian Qu. which was in so great glory was caried in a Chariot euen at that time neglected not reading but taking the Prophet in his hands vsed great studie and diligeÌ„ce though he knew not what was conteyned in the booke and hee broughte with him whatsoeuer was in him namely a good desire cheerefulnesse of minde and aduizednesse in marking For consider I pray thee what a thing it was not to omitte reading so muche as in the time of trauelling and especially sitting in a Chariote Therefore well worthy are they of blame that can not be perswaded thus to do wheÌ„ they sitte quietly at home in their owne houses but supposing such maner of reading to be superfluous bycause either they keepe coÌ„pany with a woman or are appoynted to warfare or bee charged with childreÌ„ and seruaÌ„ts or otherwise intangled with businesse they thinke it no parcell of their charge to apply themselues to the reading of the diuine Scriptures Behold he was an Eunuch or gelded man and hee was a Barbarian which both were sufficieÌ„t to make him negligent and carelesse and yet besides he was in greate honour abounded in riches Adde herevnto also that he was in his iourney and was caried in a Coach. For to him that in this wise trauelleth by the way it is no easie matter to be occupyed in reading nay it is very harde and troublesome Neuerthelesse he through the wonderfull desire and care that he had ouercomming all lettes and impedimentes gaue himselfe intentiuely to reading Wherevpon it followeth that he vttered not those wordes that a great number nowe adayes haue in their mouthes namely when they vse to saye I vnderstand not the things that are written I can not conceiue the deepe meaning of the Scriptures wherfore theÌ„ shuld I bestow my time in vayne I reade and haue no body to direct me As for him he thought no such matter being in language a Barbarian in mind a Philosopher but he considered rather that he should not be shakeÌ„ off but holpeÌ„ with grace froÌ„ aboue so that he brought with him that which in him lay a true indeuour I meane and diligence whome also let vs imitate c. These thinges hath he in that place Séest thou not with howe greate sharpnesse and grauitie Chrisostome cutteth off and beateth backe the cold and senselesse reasons that some deynty toothed Cockneys are wont to vse to the intent to cast from them the care of heauenly things Truely they are ouerwise nay rather very vayne in this behalfe They proue themselues to be guiltie of a most gréeuous crime who when they can find a time to bestow in banquetings and bellychéere in dicing and carding in tossing to and fro of balles in huntings in hawkings in idle ridings vp and downe yea in deuising wayes to oppresse the innocents and to spoyle good Citizens of that which they haue to speake of nothing else more bitter doe yet denie that they haue any spare time or leysure left wherein to be occupyed in reading and vnderstanding the word of god But with Clubs vndoubtedly I had almost sayd with forkes or roddes and scourges are those most perstilente flatterers worthy to be beaten that are not afrayde to whisper in the cares of soft and delicate men and of suche as are ouer-lighte of credite that the studie of the holy Scriptures is altogither vnméete for a noble man as though forsooth that true Nobilitie coulde stande withoute the knowledge of true vertues whiche the Scripture alone doth rightly teache or any noble enterprises bée happilye atchieued where the foundation of Fayth is not layde out of the worde of God as thoughe that whyche God hymselfe hathe defyned to bée fayre and expediente in a Kyng that by mans authoritie ought to bée déemed foule and vnséemely in a Noble manne But rather to lette passe these shâ—melesse and treacherous flatterers all true Nobilitie in déede hath respect to those worthy men whome especiallye the holye Ghoste than holye and godly men doe wonderfully for their studye of GODS worde and sanctimony of lyfe commende and sette forthe So doeth the Scripture celebrate hym whom we spake of namely Obadias likewise Naaman the Syrian 2 King. 5. diuers Princes beléeuing in Christe Ioan. 12. certaine Centurians Math. 8. Luke 7. Actes 10. a Ruler Ioan. 14. the Eunuch Act. 8. Ioseph of Arimathia Math. 27. Sosthenes Act. 18. the noble men of Thessalonica and Berrhoea Act. 17. certaine of the family of Caesar Philip. 4. I passe ouer very many godly Kings and Potentates mentioned in the olde Testament neither do I declare what manner of examples of a Courtelye life and conuersation maye fruitfully be gathered and obserued out of the Bookes of Genesis Kings Esther Daniel Of some holy fathers in their Commentaries and Histories are greatelye extolled Apollonius an Ecclesiasticall writer Abdomênus Senna Tertnl Chrisostome Nectarius Byshoppe of Constantinople Ambrose Byshoppe of Millan Hillary Byshoppe of Orleance Cassiodorus Author of the Tripartite History Boetius Seuerus Sulpitius and others who besides that they were noble by the pedigrée of their Auncestors and likewise in that they were of greate aucthoritie in the Churche or Common weale obtayned also an Honorable name and reporte by theyr handlyng of the holy Scriptures The consideration of these times of ours compelled mée inasmuche as I sée nowe euery where the Nobilitie in lamentable sorte to be farre awaye withdrawen from the Doctrine of Religion to saye more to Noble men than I was purposed to haue done Lette vs nowe therefore passe forward to the other degrées If thou be a Iudge Consull or Pretor surelye séeyng it belongeth to thy office to take vppe
It may very truely bée sayde that it lyeth for the most parte in vs that a thing be made to be eyther easie or hard The gate vnto well doing is alwayes open so that we our selues do not shutte it vp or of our owne accord turne aside from it But I heare incontinently one that sayth vnto mée the reading whiche you so greately vrge hathe no little laboure and painefulnesse in it further it requyreth good leysure and oportunitie Verily to the intent I maye cutte off whatsoeuer appertayneth to thys excuse I will indeuoure in fewe wordes to shewe howe a man maye prouide that in reading hée shall féele neither laboure nor yrkesomnesse then next that it is not so harde a matter to finde both leysure and oportunity I will in one worde declare that whiche maye séeme sufficient Bring with thée to the reading of holy thyngs a godlye and willing minde and thou haste in effecte vtterly remoued all manner of incombraunces There are some diseases if we maye beléeue Galen writing De locis adfectis lib. 3. Cap. 6. in whyche the powers of the senses are so damnified and hurte that the patientes for so muche as they are continuallye attached wyth a kynde of heauinesse and feare doe imagine whatsoeuer they sée to be sharpe bitter and altogyther agaynste them wherefore they haue in suspition and ielousy all thynges that are done or sayde and doe eschue and abhorre the presence and company of men but yet after a while they are healed and deliuered froÌ„ thys maladie Euen in like case saye I the reading of the Scriptures séemeth harde and painefull vnto thée bycause forsooth thou doest so imagine it to be some euill spirite peraduenture beguiling and bewitching thy senses but the same no doubte will become swéete easie yea and pleasaunte also vnto thée when by the helpe of the holye Ghoste thou hast cast from thy mind that imagination And to what ende I beséeche you shoulde anye man thus colourably pretende these thinges sith wée maye sée daylye a greate number that thinke not the time long a whit when they reade the long and tedious tales stuffed wyth lies of certayne old Gréekes and the fantasticall Asse of Apuleius and the fonde dotages of Lucian I saye nothing al this whyle of the most vaine figmentes of Florandus Syr Lancelot Syr Tristram king Arthur the foure sonnes of Aymon of Magelona Melucina the rounde table I speak nothing of Amorous or rather venemous books ouerflowing in lasciuiousnesse and vncleanesse of the hundred Nouels of vnsauerie and ribaldly â—estes and of other dregges of like stampe whiche it were far better to be abolished with fire the so ofte times to be putte forth in print And in these toyes whylest Courtiers whylest noble men noble women yong men maydes whilest the worshipfull whilest the common sorte of men do spend certaine houres in the fore noone certaine in the afternoone again some after supper and oftimes a greate parte of the night there is not so much as one word whispered as touching any labour or pain in reading but as well the eyes as the eares yea and mindes both of the reader and also of the whole company sitting about him do abide intentiuely fixed vpon these trifles and neyther the noyse of the houshold nor the comming in of others can possibly breake off the base and loude-sounding voyce of the speaker And moreouer the labour of reading if at leastwise it deserueth to be called labour thou mayst now then diuide with the residue of thy familie so that thou that art gouernour of the house mayst read one while another while some one of thy company another while thy sonne or thy daughter another while thy wife another whyle some other in the house that can skill of reading As in other actions so in this also may one not without a cause succéede another resembling as a man wold say Hercules who as the Poets imagine rescued wearye Atlas by bearing vp heauen with hys shoulders Neyther truely oughte it to séeme a thing straunge or remoued from the vsage of the godly to commitet the office of reading and recyting holy bookes vnto wiues children seruaunts and other in the house Again if the reading of the scriptures be fitly pointed out and distinguished into certaine peculiar houres as it is expedient it should be then maist thou haue sufficient space both to breath in and also to recouer the powers of thyne eyes the sight whereof peraduenture is dazeled or of thy voyce if it be thy hap to read in the presence of other and this mayst thou doe albeit thou hast determyned to pervse ouer dayly many Chapters Moreouer there is no let to the contrarie but that thou mayst now and then to auoyde yrkesomnesse chaunge places For thou mayst very wel reade in thy chamber when as eyther thou risest in the morning or goest to bed at night in the Churche when there is eyther nothing or very little out of the Scriptures as it oftimes commeth to passe red or expounded to the people in thy parlour so long as thy dinner or supper is in makyng readie vntill thou be about to take thy meate whilest the dishes are brought too or carried from the table in thy Studie in thy garden to be short wheresoeuer thou wilt and art disposed Saint Augustine euen before the time of hys Baptisme reade with great feruencie and at all times and in euery place the holy bookes hée disputed as touching the sayings of the Prophetes and Apostles He reporteth in the 8. booke and 6. Chapter of his Confessions that he read Paules Epistles at the table Chap. 22. that he tooke in hand oft times the new Testamente in his Ortchard where he hearde once a voyce froÌ„ heauen saying vnto him Take read Wherby hée was vehemently moued prouoked to imbrace Christian religion as he recordeth also in other places moe Again being awaked in the night in the morning after dinner after supper and one while alone another while with his most swéete companions Licentius Trigetius Nauigius Alipius Nebridius and others he vsually and often and with an incredible desire of learning conferred as teaching the word of god By these meanes therefore the difficultly and tediousnesse if any be thought to spring out of reading is easilye eyther diminished or vtterly takeÌ„ away For as the mouth that is out of taste can not away with anye meate thoughe neuer so deintie and holesome but when it is recouered is refreshed there with and can scarcely be satisfied so when a man beginneth first to read the holy scriptures he quickly loatheth them but when he hath once tasted the swéetenesse of the spirituall doctrine then he féeleth dayly more and more all things to become more pleasant acceptable vnto him and then singeth he with the Psalmist How sweete are thy testimonies to my throate yea they are sweeter than hony to my mouth But it remayneth nowe that we shewe howe and
and defende their own slouthfulnesse withall To be shorte there is no state or condition no function or office no laboures no causes incident either to publike or priuate dealings that can minister anye excuse sufficiently lawfull to discharge anye Christian from the reading and pervsing of the Sacred Bookes Nowe sith it is euident that no excuse or allegation whatsoeuer wyll goe for payment it is méete and requisite that euery man doe so distribute the times houres of hys actions as of them he may giue some daylye to the searching of the writings of the Prophets and Apostles And in good sooth it is not likely that the thinges shoulde otherwise be well done that are not accomplished in order and in a tyme appointed Some things are fit to be done in the nighte othersome in the dawning othersome in the morning othersome at noonetide othersome in the euening And looke howe muche more laborious the businesses are or labours busie whych it behoueth to deale withall so muche more duly shalte thou seuer and diuide them and indeuoure to execute euerye thing in certaine houres and peculiar distances of times and seasons We reade in Ammianus Marcellinus that Alexander the greate Iulius Caesar and the Emperour Iulianus who laboured to immitate those former in manye thinges diuided the nightes while they laye in their campes into thrée partes wherof the first parte they gaue vnto rest and to the satisfaction of nature the seconde to the doing of things néedefull the thirde to the studye of good artes and sciences But why doe we not rather turne our consideration vnto Christian princes Therefore to speake of Alfred king of Britain who first of all founded the famous schole at Oxforde we finde it recorded that he in like manner disseuered all the time into thrée portions and gaue eight houres dayly to the minde to read pray and meditate in other eight to the administration of his kingdome and the residue to bodily exercises Not muche vnlike vnto this man was Charles the great who vsed to féed his minde with good studies and meditatiōs but especially with the reading of the holy Scriptures and which not a fewe haue reported of him in the time of dinner and supper he wold alwayes haue some things recyted as well out of the sacred Bible as also out of the workes of Saint Augustine It is plain and euident that many other princes mo besides haue in learning the duties of godlynes out of the holy Scriptures troden the salfe same pathe Why do not euery one of vs therefore after the example of so worthy men especially of Alfred and Charles kings that deserued excéedinglye wel of Christian religion take counsel by by as touching ordinary houres to be appointed to the reading of the holy Bible I doe very willingly and euen purposely rehearse the factes of kings and princes in this cause partly to the intent the kings princes and noble men of our days may perceiue that they also are prouoked by the authoritie princely presidents of their auncestours to the like diligence in learning the doctrine of religion and partly to the ende that inferioure persons who are by no meanes like princes surcharged and in a maner ouerwhelmed with the waues of manifolde and difficult affayres may vnderstand and wil they nil they confesse that they haue no manner of excuse left vnto them wherby they might pretend that they want fit time and oportuniti to reade the holy Scriptures Be it therefore concluded and determined that it is no harde matter for any Christian to finde fit places times and houres to pervse ouer the bookes of the heauenly Philosophy that at leastwise considering what other excellent men haue done in the same matter will not sticke valiantlye to pricke forwarde himselfe to the doing of the like Therefore now as one letting his sute fall and acknowledging himselfe to be vanquished and ouercome some man demaundeth and would gladly learne of vs what time or what houres we déeme conuenient to be chozen to the reading of the sacred bookes I wil in few wordes declare what I thinke to be moste expediente The choyse ought especially to be in thy selfe to determine of the houres according to the manner of the fūction whiche thine office or kinde of life doeth require Doubtlesse GOD himselfe séemeth greatly to commend the time of the morning and euening when a Deut. 6. and 11. he sayth ye shall lay vp my words in your heart and in your soule And ye shall teache them your children speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house when thou walkest by the way when thou liest down and whē thou risest vp Thou séest the times to be pointed out which euery man euen without any informer shoulde effectuallye in déede consecrate vnto prayers thankesgiuing and meditation of things spirituall and heauenly Albeit where the Lorde addeth that when a man sitteth at home in his house and when he trauelleth by the way he oughte to talke of his word he doth not obscurely signify that not only in the morning and euening but also at all other times and houres whatsoeuer men may profitably be excused in learning the lawe of God and therefore that it muste be leafte frée to euerye manne to appoint certaine houres accordyng to the trade of hys lyfe and varietie of businesses whyche happen therein That whyche is of it selfe holesome and fruitefull at what time soeuer it be done is well done Let thy chiefe studye and care be this that what houres thou haste once appointed thou mayste without interruption and manger all lettes and impedimentes perpetually obserue For why all things that shall once in this behalfe reuerently be decréede are as by an inuiolable lawe and yet withoute superstition to be reteyned and kepte And if at any time peraduenture some odde businesse and vnlooked for doe fall out to the contrary then it behoueth theé very carefully to prouide that at some other tyme the want be supplied But againe thou askest howe muche shall I reade euerye daye in what space shall I once peruse ouer all the whole Bible I aunswere that as I vnderstand it was an ordinary matter with oure auncestours once in a yeares space to haue the Bible from the beginning to the ende publikely recited in holy assemblies to the common instruction of all that were present For to the intēt that thing might the more commodiously be done they admitted in those daies no other Psalmes or Books of Scripture in the sayde assemblies but suche as were Canonicall as wée haue shewed in the former Booke And that the same moste commendable vsage was kepte and continued manye ages following it is not to bée doubted For euen Gratian himselfe distinct 15. declaring what Bookes of holy Scripture were wonte to be read in hys tyme that is to say about the yeare after Christes byrth .1160 signifyeth that there was made onelye a verye small chaunge From Septuagesima sayth he
so great plentye and varietie of things maye be refreshed and therefore is the one only booke of the Psalmes before al other thought worthy to bée learned yea and to be kaÌ„ned by hart of all men This booke moreouer consisteth of prayers prepared for euerye euent and purpose of thankesgiuing it minstreth doctrine of greate importaunce and excelleÌ„cie there be in it exhortations sharpe and seuere it aboundeth with most swéete consolations yea al things are so handled and deliuered in it that in euerye parte thereof both the glorie of GOD is celebrated and set forth and the minde of man informed to godlynesse of life and conuersation Wherefore euen they also are wonte that absteyne froÌ„ other books of holy scripture not vnwillingly to exercise themselues in reading reciting dayly both morning and euening certaine of the Psalmes Which things séeing they are thus we do not without good cause and consideratioÌ„ set down our aduertisement apart by it selfe as touching the reading and substanciall learning of the Psalmes Now the Psalmes doe amount in number to a hundred and fifty and the whole yeare consisteth of two fiftie wéekes one day If therfore thou be disposed to reade ouer the booke of Psalmes once in a yeares space thou shalt read euery wéeke thrée Psalmes so shal there remayn two wéeks to spare or if thou wilt thou maist pervse only two Psalmes in euery of the last 6. wéekes But if thou be determined to read ouer the Psalmes twice in one yeare then shalt thou reade euery wéeke sixe Psalmes which will most conueniently be done if thou repeate euery day after the Lords day one Psalme Howbeit so againe will be left two wéekes voyde vnlesse peraduenture it liketh thée in euerye of the foure laste wéekes to reade only thrée Psalmes Where if incase now by obseruing the selfsame order thou wilt recite euerye wéeke nine Psalmes then shalte thou reade ouer the whole Psalter thrice in one yeare vsing a Prouiso in the meane time that in some of the latter wéekes thou distribute the number of the Psalmes according to the proportion specified in the premisses Albeit thou mayst also in suche wise diuide and participate this labour as namely in one wéeke thou mayst recytâ— eight Psalmes and in an other nine and so goe on with like proportion to the reste and at the length thou shalt perceyue fiftéene Psalmes to be kept in store to the last wéeke Last of all when thou shalt be minded to reade ouer the booke of Psalmes foure times in a yeare it is requisite that thou reade euerye wéeke eleuen Psalmes and in euery of the foure last wéekes fiftéene Psalmes and so there will remayne one only daye frée from reading Thou séest therefore an easye and open waye whereby thou mayste in twelue monthes space reade ouer the whole booke of the Psalmes once or twice or thrice or fouretimes euen as thou lyst thy selfe And is this so greate and troublesome a labour wherein thou accustomest to saye thrée Psalmes in a wéeke or euery daye one or two Psalmes and the one perhaps in steade of a prayer in the morning when thou risest and the other at nighte when thou goest to bed Let vs procéed now in like maner to the other bookes called Canonicall There are founde in these seauen hundred thréescore and seaâ—entéene Chapters Wherfore if a man wil reade euery wéeke fiftéene Chapters he shal dispatch al bookes which a litle before we numbred once in a yeares space and there shall remayne two dayes onlye to spare And it will be a very easye matter to dispatch the reading of fiftéene Chapters if in some one day of the seauen thou repeate thrée Chapters and in euery of the rest twayne Who is hée therefore that can iustly complayne that hée hath euen by this meanes an ouer heauye and importable burthen layde vpon him Nowe then as it shall please thée to multiply the number of the Chapter so will it be easye for thée to accompte how and in what order thou maist in a yeares spaces pervse ouer either twice or thrice all the bookes of the old Testament But in what estimation sayeth some man shall the bookes called Apocrypha be had Shall it be good to spende any time in reading of them also Why shoulde wée not say I whensoeuer oportunitie serueth euen extraordinarily reade them Or if it please thée to applye the reading of them to certaine peculiar tymes appointed there is no let but thou mayst do it Let vs therfore rehearse as well the names as Chapters of the sayde bookes and fragments Tobias hath Chapters 14 Iudith hath Chapters 16 Susanna hath Chapters 1 Bell dragon hath Chapters 1 Song of the threée children hath Chapters 1 Fragmentes of Esther hath Chapters 8 Ezra 3. hath Chapters 9 Ezra 4. hath Chapters 16 Machabees 1. hath Chapters 16 Machabees 2. hath Chapters 15 Baruch hath Chapters 6 Wisedome hath Chapters 19 Ecclesiasticus hath Chapters 51 The summe of the Chapters amounteth to a hundered thréescorne and thirtéene Reade therefore euerye wéeke thrée Chapters but the laste wéeke of the yeare saue one tenne Chapters and the laste of all thirtéene and thou shalt verye well dispatche all the whole matter But there is no cause as I haue also admonished before why thou shouldest bestow so much study in these as in those which the church hath long agone auouched to bée Canonicall Nowe it is requisite that we speake of the Bookes of the newe Testament And they are in this order by a receyued custome which no man wil lightly finde fault with placed and disposed Mathew Contayning Chapters 28 Marke Contayning Chapters 16 Luke Contayning Chapters 24 Iohn Contayning Chapters 21 Actes of the Apostles Contayning Chapters 28 Epistle of S. Paul to the Romaines Contayning Chapters 16 To the Corinthians the first Contayning Chapters 16 To the Corinthians the seconde Contayning Chapters 13 To the Galathians Contayning Chapters 6 To the Ephesians Contayning Chapters 6 To the Philippians Contayning Chapters 4 To the Colossians Contayning Chapters 4 To the Thessalonians the first Contayning Chapters 5 To the Thessalonians the secoÌ„d Contayning Chapters 3 To Timothy the first Contayning Chapters 6 To Timothy the second Contayning Chapters 4 To Titus Contayning Chapters 3 To Philemon Contayning Chapters 1 To the Hebrues Contayning Chapters 13 The Epistle of Iames Contayning Chapters 5 Of Peter the first Contayning Chapters 5 Of Peter the second Contayning Chapters 3 Of Iohn the first Contayning Chapters 5 Of Iohn the second Contayning Chapters 1 Of Iohn the third Contayning Chapters 1 Of Iude Contayning Chapters 1 Apocalyps Contayning Chapters 22 The Chapters in all are two hundred thrée score For in what place the Epistles of Peter the seconde of Iohn the seconde and thirde and one of Iude deserue to be put I do not nowe dispute who professe my selfe to followe the common opinion or rather custome Now if thou readest euery wéeke in the Newe Testament fiue Chapters thou shalt go
thorough with it once in a tweluemonths space If thou pervse ouer ten Chapters thou shalt go thorough with it twice and one only day shal be left to spare If fiftéene Chapters thou shalt accomplishe it thrice If twentie thou shalte accomplish it foure times These things being thus declared it remayneth that euery godly man do repute with himselfe howe oft hée will reade ouer the holy Psalmes howe ofte the bookes of the olde Testament howe oft the newe Testamente in a yeares space Of whiche pointe when he hath once determined then shall it be néedefull for him to limit out the Chapters of the bookes according to the wéekes and dayes of the yeare after that forme and order whiche wée haue shewed in the premisses Howbeit partly to the intent the godlie disposed may the more willingly and easilye imbrace our counsayle and aduice partly leaste those that haue alreadye attempted to reade dayly the holye Byble at houres appointed should alleage for excuse that they do sooner than a man would thinke fayle and misse in the order or number of the Chapters I haue prouided a Calendar wherein for euery daye in euery moneth are noted and set downe certaine Chapters as wel of the worke of the Psalmes as of the other bookes of the old and new Testament and the same truely so digested and distincted in number that thou mayste verye well reade and pervse ouer once or oftner in a yeare as thou thinkest good al the said bookes of the holy Bible or at leastwise so many of them as thou hast most fancie to and canst best like of And in this order is this Calendar made First and foremost we haue giuen to euerye moneth two litle pages or sides of a leafe the one answering to the other and either of them with lines from aboue drawn directly downewarde disseuered and diuided into Columnes or pillers In the former page of the left side are drawen two suche lines betwéen which for as muche as they represent and make a very small and slender piller there is no greater space or distaunce than that by descending from the heade to the foote the letters A. b.c.d e. f g. A b.c. c whereby are wont to be noted in common Calendars the spaces of the wéekes and number of the dayes maye be writen But before this same piller towarde the left side there are set down certaine notes of numbers which whilest they aunswere to the sayde letters doe at the firste sighte declare what day of the moneth euerye daye in the wéeke is From the seconde line to the vttermost parte of the same side towarde the right hande is a great deale of space left wherein whosoeuer list maye at his owne choyce and libertie note the publike feasts and holydayes hapning throughout the whole yeare Though I who am fully resolued to consecrate this labour whatsoeuer it bée to the reading of the Scriptures and for this cause haue willinglye called it a Calendar of the holy Scripture do set downe the things memorable whiche the holy bookes reporte to be done on certaine dayes adding also some things in some places whiche the opinion onely of the learned warranteth to be done on the same dayes of which sort are the natiuitie and death of CHRIST the murther of Stephen the calling of Paule c. as touching whych things verile the holy Scripture expresseth no certain dayes and yet by the common consentes of all menne there are some certaine dayees appointed Thus much of the former â—age On the other side or page which stretchesh towarde the right hande there follow foure other distaunces or pillers marked out with fiue lines let downe to rights in manner of a plum line And of all of them well néere the bredth is alike sauing that the first is discerned to be somwhat narrower Whiche first is appointed only to the worke of the Psalmes and it conteyneth in suche wise the number and order of Psalmes affixed on certaine dayes as all men may pervse them ouer once euerye yeare But if a man be disposed to reade them twice or thrice or fouretymes in a yere there is no cause to the contrary but that he by his own choyce and industry multiplying the numbers of the Psalmes according to the rate and proportion of euery wéeke may frame to himselfe papers with columnes or pillers correspondent and fixe them in a table to his own vse concerning which thing we haue touched somewhat also aboue Next foloweth the seconde Columne wherein are placed the bookes of the olde Testament whiche our auncesters the most holy gouernours of Churches haue acknowledged to be Canonicall The names therefore of these bookes we haue sette downe in a decent order and likewise what and howe manye Chapters of them maye conuently be reade euerye daye The third Columne we haue giuen to the bookes of the Olde Testamente no numbred in the Canon wherof the titles and Chapters are in a number certaine distributed throughout the wéekes of euerye moneth And we haue purposelye sundered these bookes from the former neyther woulde wée mingle them togither in one and the selfesame distance For it came to my remembraunce to feare that that woulde not onely haue bin vnséemely but also to some very gréeuous For what if some mans stomacke could not well brooke the Bookes of the latter kinds or at least not thinke them worthy the reading euery yere Truely I for my parte will interprete my successe to be happy and my labour and diligence not to be vtterly loste if so be I shall obtaine but thus muche of good folkes namely that they will euen once in a yere reade ouer all the Canonicall Bookes Furthermore the fourth columne is dedicated to all the Bookes whyche are nowe euery where by a custome receiued ascribed to the new Testament the Chapters whereof we haue in such wise digested and disposed as that they may once in a yeares space be read ouer without any paines But if any mans minde shall be inflamed with so seruent a desire of reading the holy mysteries that he wyll assay to attempt greater matters and like as the Psalmes so peraduenture also couet to go through a twice or thrice wyth the Canonical Bookes of the olde and newe Testament it shall be an easie matter for him by doubling the numbers whiche we haue put or by conueying them somewhat otherwise to deuise an other way fit and profitable for hys purpose and to make another Calendar Moreouer aboue these Columnes in the pages of euery moneth there are fixed of vs in steade of pillar coronets certaine titles The firste and highest line extended throughout both the pages containeth the name of euery moneth in Latine and English then next how the Hebrues do call the same how many it is with theÌ„ in number finaly howe it is termed in the Atticke tongue of the Gréeks The line that is vnderneath this I meane in the former page ouer and aboue the firste
  9.10  16 27 e   11.12 6 II. Corinth 1 28 f   13.14 7  29 g   15 16 8  30 A  91 17.18 19  2 31 b  92 20.21  3 Augustus August with the Hebrues V. Moneth THINGS DONE Boedromiωn in Greeke Psalmes Olde Testament Newe 1 c Aaron dieth Num. 20. 33. Ezra coÌ„meth to IerusaleÌ„ Ezra 7. 93 22.23  4 2 d   24.25  5 3 e   26.27 9 6 4 f   28.29 10  5 g   30.31 11  6 A  94 32.33.34  7 7 b Ierusalem is brent 2. King 25. Baruch readeth the booke in 95 35 36  8 8 c Babilon Baruch 1. 96 37.38  9 9 d   39.40  10 10 e Ezchiel to the Elders of Israel Ezech. 20. Some thinke  41.42 12 11 11 f that vpon this day Ierusalem was set on fire both of the  43.44 13  12 g Babilonians Ieremie 52. and also of Titus  45.46 14  13 A  97 47.48 49  12 14 b  98 50.51  13 15 c  99 52.53  Galath 1 16 d   54.55  2 17 e   56 57 15 3 18 f   58.59 Baruch 1  19 g   60.61 2  20 A  100 62.63.64  4 21 b  101 65.66  5 22 c  102 Ieremie 1.2  6 23 d   3.4  Ephes 1 24 e   5.6 3 2 25 f   7.8 4  26 g   9.10 5  27 A  103 11.12.13  3 28 b  104 14.15  4 29 c Iohn is beheaded Marke 6. 105 16.17  5 30 d   18.19  6 31 e   20.21 6 Phillip 1 September Elul in Hebrue VI. Moneth THINGS DONE Maimacteriωn in Greeke Psalmes Olde Testament Newe 1 f Haggeus prophesieth chap. 1.  22 23 Wisdome 1  2 g   24.25 2  3 A  106 26.27.28  2 4 b  107 29 30  3 5 c Another vision of Ezechiel Ezch. 8. 108 31 32  4 6 d   33.34  Colosl 1 7 e   35.36 3 2 8 f It is thought that Ierusalem was brent by Titus  37 38 4  9 g   39.40 5  10 A  109 41.42.43  3 11 b  110 44 45  4 12 c  111 46.47  I. Thess 1 13 d   48.49  2 14 e   50.51 6 3 15 f   52. Threnes 1 7  16 g   2.3 8  17 A  112 4. Ezech. 1.2  4 18 b  113 3.4  5 19 c  114 5.6  II. thess. 1 20 d   7.8  2 21 e   9.10 9 3 22 f   11.12 10  23 g   13.14 11  24 A  115 15.16.17  I. Timoth. 1 25 b The walles of Ierusalem are finished Nehemia 6. 116 18.19  2 26 c  117 20.21  3 27 d   22.23  4 28 e   24.25 12 5 29 f   26.27 13  30 g   28.29 14  October Thisri in Hebrue VII Moneth THINGS DONE Gâ—anepsione in Greeke Psalmes Olde Testament Newe 1 A The first day of trumpets Leuitic 23. 118 30 31.32  6 2 b  119 33 34  II. Timoth. 1 3 c Gedalia is supposed to be slaine 2. King. 25. Ieremie 41. 120 35.36  2 4 d   37 38  3 5 e   39.40 15 4 6 f   41.42 16  7 g   43.44 17  8 A  121 45.46.47  Titus 1 9 b  122 48. Daniel 1  2 10 c The feast day of clensing Leuitic 16.23 The Iubilie yeare 123 2.3  3 11 d 50. Leuitic 25.  4.5  Philemon 1 12 e   6.7 18 Hebrues 1 13 f   8.9 19  14 g   10.11 Ecclesiastic 1  15 A The feast of tabernacles Leuitic 23. Numb 29. Iohn 7. 124 12 Hosee 1.2  2 16 b Ezech 45. 125 3.4  3 17 c The arke stayed on the mountaines of Ararat Genes 8. 126 5.6  4 18 d   7.8  5 19 e   9.10 2 6 20 f   11.12 3  21 g Haggeus is sent to Zerubabel chap. 1.  13.14 4  22 A VIII day of tabernacles Leuitic 23. 127 Ioel. 1.2.3  7 23 b The people sent after the dedicatioÌ„ of the temple 2. Chro. 7. 128 Amos. 1.2  8 24 c A newe couenaunt with God. Nehem. 9.10 129 3.4  9 25 d   5.6  10 26 e   7.8 5 11 27 f   9 Abdias 1 6  28 g   Ionas 1.2 7  29 A  130 3.4 Micheas 1  12 30 b  131 2.3  13 31 c  132 4.5  Iames 1 Nouember Marhefuam in Hebrue VIII Moneth THINGS DONE Anthesterione in Greeke Psalmes Olde Testament Newe 1 d   6.7  2 2 e   8. Nahum 1. 8 3 3 f   2.3 9  4 g   Habacuc 12 10  5 A  133 3. Sophony 1.2  4 6 b  134 3. Haggeus 1  5 7 c  135 2. Zachary 1  I. Peter 1 8 d   2.3  2 9 e   4.5 11 3 10 f   6.7 12  11 g   8.9 13  12 A  136 10.11.12  4 13 b  137 13.14  5 14 c  138 Malachy 1.2  II. Peter 1 15 d Ieroboam ordayneth a feast day 1. King. 12.  3.4  2 16 e   Iob. 1.2 14 3 17 f   3.4 15  18 g   5.6 16  19 A  139 7.8.9  I. Iohn 1 20 b  140 10.11  2 21 c  141 12.13  3 22 d   14.15  4 23 e   16.17 17 5 24 f   18.19 18  25 g   20.21 19  26 A  142 22.23.24  II. Iohn 1 27 b  143 25.26  III. Iohn 1 28 c  144 27.28  Iude. 1 29 d   29.30  Apocalyps 1 30 e   31.32 20 2 December sâ—slâ—u in Hebrue IX Moneth THINGS DONE Goseideone in Greeke Psalmes Olde Testament Newe 1 f   33.34 21  2 g   35 36 22  3 A  145 37.38.39  3 4 b Zacharias prophesieth againe chap. 7. 146 40.41  4 5 c  147 42. Prouerb 1  5 6 d   2.3  6 7 e   4.5 23 7 8 f   6.7 24  9 g   8.9 25  10 A  148 10 11.12  8 11 b  149 13.14  9 12 c  150 15.16  10 13 d   17.18  11 14 e   19.20 26 12 15 f Antiochus placeth an Idol in the temple 1. Machab. 1.  21.22 27  16 g   23.24 28  17 A   25.26.27  13 18 b   28.29 29.30 14 19 c   30.31 31.32 15 20 d Ezra commaundeth the straunge wiues to be put away  Ecclesiastes 1.2 33.34 16 21 e Ezra 9.  3.4 35.36 17 22 f   5.6 37.38  23 g   7.8   24 A The foundation of the second Temple Haggeus 2.  9.10.11  18 25 b Natiuitie
of CHRIST Luke 2. The teÌ„ple clensed 1. Mac. 4.  12. Cantic 1 39.40 19 26 c Stephen the Deacon Act 7.  2.3 41.42 20 27 d   4.5 43.44 21 28 e The children are slaine Matth. 2.  6.7 45.46 22 29 f   8 47.48  30 g    49.50  31 A    51  THou séest now and in what sort we haue ordeyned the Calendar of holy Scripture and brought it to an ende And to the intente the greater number of godlye readers maye reape of swéete and continual fruite by this our labour we haue prouided this Calendar and digested it in suche wise as that they may draw it forth in tables of paper or parchment and fasten them to the wals in their studie Parlour priuie chamber shoppe chappel Oratory and wheresoeuer they list themselues For my parte I couet nothing so muche as that all the godly woulde receyue this worke with that minde that it is of me offred Howbeit I goe not about to prescribe any thing as of necessitie to anye man but doe franckely confesse that euery man oughte to be at his owne choyce and liberty to appoint and determine more at large of and concerning all this whole businesse and therefore hardly let euery one choose suche a way of reading the holy mysteries as he shal suppose to be most fitte and conuenient for his purpose Yea if any man shal by his owne proper witte and industrie denise a more apt waye than this is and will not be grieued to impart the same vnto vs we protest that we shal be so farre of from enuying his good successe that we wil follow him rather for our guide and lodes man and render vnto him the expresse meaning of a thankeful minde when and so farre forth as in vs shall lye For why wée truely are not ashamed to confesse that after the maner of painters who vse with a cole or chalke to drawe the first lineamentes of their worke we haue shadowed out more truely than fully finished a certain slender and easie forme of distinguishing and limiting forthe certaine chapters of bookes to be reade euery day throughout the yeare And soothly of al other we couet least that any thing shoulde in this behalfe be superstitiously obserued Libertie is a thing of it selfe verye amiable neyther is it méete as perteyning especially to this matter that any thing should in such wise be commaunded or enioyned as though that he that did otherwise shoulde by and by bée put in fault and blame For doubtlesse it is very fitte and requisite to be permitted that a man shoulde at any time of the yeare beginne the holye Bible that he should dispose and digest in suche order and number as well the Bookes as Chapters as he himselfe can best like off againe that he shoulde pervse some certaine bookes out of whiche he hopeth to reade moste profit in the doctrine of religion so muche the oftner like as Saint Ambrose wished Augustine to reade before others the prophet Esay and other bookes more rarely and sparinglye But thys thing we are most of all desirous to perswade that it is very necessarie for euery Christian that he should dayly pervse ouer certaine Chapters of the sacred Byble And if so be the same man shal once in a yere go through with the reading of the whole Byble then we promise him that ouer and besides he shall deserue no smal commendation of his godly trauell with all men he shall also reape moste ample fruite and commoditie by this hys diligence I woulde haue thée therefore whatsoeuer thou art duely to consider with thy selfe whether anye man may iustly hereafter alleadge for excuse that it will bée as greate a matter for him to read ouer the holy Bible as a number wil séeme to make it What labour I praye thée is it to bestowe one houre or mâ—e pâ—raduenture in pervsing ouer thrée foure or fiue Chapters at the moste euerye daye in the wéeke In good faith he maye well blushe and be ashamed that dare hence forwarde so muche as once tomutter against these things Therefore let euery manne forthwyth without anye delay make prefix and inionye to himselfe a lawe and let him with all care and industrie indeauour to obey it so long as he liueth But if it shall happen through businesse falling out of the sodayne that lawe to be broken and interrupted then let him not spare hardlye to punishe and euen to be awreaked of himselfe No manne is better styrred vppe and reteyned in his dutie doing than he that of his owne accorde is both a lawe and a iudge to himselfe It is incredible howe acceptable a thing it is to GOD when a man willingly and without compulsion giueth himselfe fréely to godly exercises But nowe I woulde not haue thée to saye vnto me that thou art driuen awaye from the reading of the sacred Byble bycause all the matter thereof is harde and beyonde thy capacitie neyther canst thou atteyne vnto the things therein conteyned Naye thou séest further that of the things whiche thou readest or in some sorte vnderstandest thou canst not gather anye spirituall profitte for why thou arte ignoraunte howe or by what meanes thou mayste aptlye transfer the thyngs that the Scripture specifyeth to the instruction and information of thine owne life But I will not suffer theée I saye to vse herein anye longer cyrcumstaunce and for bycause it woulde grieue mée verye muche if there shoulde anye thyng As yet be a hyndraunce to thy godlye purpose and that thou whyche séemedst to be euen now redy bent and fully prepared to the reading of the holy mysteries shouldest yet be withdrawen from the enterprising therof I will also go aboute to remoue out of thy waye these lettes and impedimentes and as I maye so saye thornes and bryers First whereas thou thinkest and speakest honorablye as touching the worke of the holy Scriptures and arte fully resolued that in it are comprised things heauenly Diuine and in all respectes noble and excellent in good sooth thou dost very wel and godly and like a good Christian For in déede it behoueth that all the things therin comprehended be aunswerable to the maiestie of him froÌ„ whome the same proceeded Wherefore so oft as we take the Bible in our hands it is méete and requisite that we behaue our selues with al reuerence as if we were come to a pallace or Court furnished with all sumptuous and gorgious attyre wherein we had to talke and debate that of most weyghtie affayres with some mightie lord and Emperour sitting in a high and stately seate and garded about on euerye side with many noble menne and officers For in verie déede to reade the holy Scriptures is euen for a man to present himselfe vnto GOD and to make entreatie as touching euerlasting saluation Neyther can it be perceyued that any man is in good earnest conuersaunt in the sacred bookes except therewithall he lift vp his
minde vnto GOD and behold wonder at anwadore his goodnesse power Wisdome righteousnesse c. And truely howe it commeth to passe I knowe not the verye sighte of the holye Bookes themselues doeth sodainelye strike as it were priuilye a Whiche thing Chrisostome also in his thirde homilie of Lazarus testifieth Let vs not hoorde vp golde saith he but let vs lay vp for our selues the treasure of the spiritual Bookes As for gold verily when it encreaseth most thē doth it moste of al endanger the possessors of it But the Bokes beyng well laide vp do bring muche profite to the owners of them For euen as when the warlike weapons of a King are bestowed although there be none to possesse thē yet do thei minister great safetie preseruation to those that dwell in the house where they are laid vp whiles neither theeues nor breakers down of walles nor any other malefactor dare once venture vpon that house so wheresoeuer the spirituall Bookes are founde from thence is expelled all the power of the Diuell and greate consolation offred to the inhabitants Inasmuche as euen the verye beholding also of the Bookes maketh vs to be more slowe to sinne For whither we haue committed any thing that is forbiddē and defiled ourselues yet being returned home and hauing looked vpon the Bookes oure conscience doeth more fiercely condemne vs and we are made afraide to committe the like againe whither we haue continued in godlinesse of life by the Bookes wee become more strong and stedfast For so soone as a man hathe touched the Gospell by and by he hathe disposed his owne mind and withdrawen it from worldly affayres and that onely by the sighte thereof But if he shall adde diligent reading then as the soule that is occupyed in the holye mysteries and matters of GOD so is he purged and made better GOD talking wyth hym throughe those Scriptures So sayth Chrisostome whose wordes it is méete we shoulde reade wyth suche an affection as he himselfe vttered them in that is to saye a godly and religious and voyd of all superstition Now albeit the dignitie of the holy Books be greater far-awaye than wee are able to expresse in wordes yet there is no cause why anye man shoulde mistruste but that the vnderstāding of them may be opened vnto him God indéede speaketh himselfe in them but the same God doeth wonderfullye apply hymselfe vnto vs and euen willinglye abateth hys talke to our capacitie As mothers knowe howe to stutte and stammer with their stutting and stammering infants euen so doeth God vouchsafe to debate manye thynges wyth vs after the manner of menne whilest namely of the things that are common amongst vs he borroweth examples similitudes sentences and many other things moe profitable to an easie and plaine methode of teaching Yea and moreouer the writers that firste of all compiled the sacred Bookes whome hée woulde haue to bée as hys Vshers and substitutes to teach vs in the Schoole of his Churche he hathe chosen to be suche as were not famous wyth anye notable learning but of vile and base condition and vtterly voyde in a maner of al knowledge and erudition Moses whom a number do suppose to be the Author not onely of the fiue Bookes commonlye ascribed vnto him but aso of the Booke of Iob likewise Dauid and Amos were renowmed thoroughe feeding of cattell Peter the Apostle and Iohn the Gospel writer lyued by the trade of Fishing Paule exercised Tent-makyng Luke publikely dealte with Phisicke albeit there be some not wanting whyche contende that he was also a Paynter Matthewe played the Publican or Tolgatherer Loo◠what crue and fraternitie the moste excellent writers were Nowe then they vsed a kinde of speache that was agréeable to themselues and to their likes that is to saye familiar plaine and sauoring euerye where of suche a certaine ordinarye simplicitie as wée reade that S. Augustine and certaine other fauourers of eloquence durst for a tyme contemne the holy Scriptures by reason of their beggerly phrase créeping vppon the grounde and destitute of all Rhetoricall beauty All men and women therefore oughte assuredlye to truste yea euen the homely husbandmen shéepe-beardes Fishermen Bakers Bruers Paynters Carpenters Fullers Corriers Tanners and all inferiour craftsmen whatsoeuer also Wyues Widows Virgins that they and euerye of them so they haue heartes desirous to learne maye quickely profite in reading of the Scriptures And ofte tymes whereas somthings escape vs not GOD but we our selues are in the faulte For why it is not wythout a cause that he complayneth or the vngodly who sayeth that they would not vnderstande to doe good but hardened theyr heartes bycause they regarded not the voyce of the Lorde Psalme 36.95 Moreouer there are preceptes extante whereby wée are commaunded to craue GODS ayde in thys behalfe there are promises also whyche doe put vs in sure and certaine hope that nothyng shall bée denyed vnto vs Aske sayth CHRIST and it shall bee giuen you Knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you Matth. 7. Luke 11. And Iames Chap. 1. If anye of you lacke Wisedome let hym aske of him that giueth it namely GOD who gyueth to all menne indifferently and casteth no manne in the teeth Who then woulde bée grieued when he commeth to reade the holye mysteries to vse firste some shorte fourme of Prayer And manye formes of praying may be gathered out of the hundred and ninetéene Psalme alone to the intent I maye speake nothyng of other places No man I trowe will thinke muche to saye Blessed art thou O Lorde teach me thy statutes or Open thou mine eyes O Lorde that I maye see the wonderfull things of thy lawe or O Lorde make me to vnderstande the waye of thy commaundements or Teache me O Lorde the waye of thy statutes and I will keepe thy lawe yea I wil keepe it with my whole heart Cause me to walke in the path of thy commaundements for I am well pleased in it or The earth O Lord is filled wyth thy goodnesse O Lorde teach me thy statutes or Thy handes O Lorde haue made me and fashioned me giue me vnderstanding that I may learne thy commaundementes or Deale wyth thy seruaunte according to thy goodnesse and teache me thy statutes I am thy seruaunte giue mee vnderstanding that I maye knowe thy testimonies or The righteousnesse of thy iudgementes O Lorde abideth for euer giue mee vnderstanding and I shal liue c. Also out of the Ps. 25. Shew thy wayes vnto me O Lorde and teache me thy pathes Leade me in thy truth and teache mee for thou arte the God of my saluation Againe in the same Psalme The Lord is good and gratious and therefore will hee teache sinners in the waye He will direct the meeke in iudgement and teache his way vnto the lowly All the wayes of the Lorde are Mercy and Truth to them that keepe his couenaunte and his testimonies Thus whosoeuer shall praye with an assured confidence God will open