temptations of our enemies doe send vs to holy Scripture thence to take weapons wherewith to fortifie vs and withstand them because it is the armour of the Christian warrefare that to it all the faithfull should repaire because all are obnoxious to temptations and that if the Pope dispoile the common people of these diuine weapons it is that he may warre against them and sell them at his pleasure whereof I will elsewhere discourse In confirmation of the precedent Argument I thought good to prooue more at large the sufficiencie of the sacred Scripture in all things necessary to our saluation that it may appeare the better that its worthy to be frequently conuersed in by all seeing it compriseth all that is necessary to all The holy Scripture containeth all things whatsoeuer is necessary for Saluation DOctor Aluarado clearely teacheth this truth Aluarado tomo primero delarie de bien Viuir fol. 454. who when hee affirmed that God had constituted in the Church the necessary and fit meanes to obtaine the same and these meanes are reduced to seuen speciall heads hee sets them downe in order saying The first is true faith and the knowledge of the true God and our Mediatour and Redeemer Iesus Christ The second meanes is his holy Law which comprehends all the commandements of things requisite and necessary to enter into eternall life and all the instructions which may assist vs to attaine vnto it with security and perfection The third is Religion and the sincere worship of God with such externall rites and ceremonies as are belonging to God The fourth meane are the Sacraments The fift are seuen rare and excellent vertues faith hope charity prudence iustice fortitude and temperance together with seuen speciall gifts and endowments of the holy Ghost The fixt is internall doctrine and the light of inspiration and illustration from the holy Ghost and for the exterior it must proceed from learned Masters and Doctors who both by example and doctrine teach whatsoeuer is expedient to bee knowen or vnderstood for to rayse soules vp to heauen The seuenth meane is the diuine and sacred Scriptures wherein are reuealed all things by vs formerly mentioned Whatsoeuer hath beene deliuered comes from this Authour who though he were a blacke Monke by Order and profession yet heerein he hit the white of Christian verity and truth and of the sufficiencie and validity of the holy Scriptures As also Father Torres Teetino which is a lesuite deliuered this trueth I te atino which in Spanish signifies as much as I embrace this trueth when he said that S. Paul referred Timothie to the Scriptures wherein he might learne whatsoeuer was fit and conuenient for him the which if the Pope would preach and teach to his disciples and followers all those traditions which hee sels vnto vs for necessary faith and are not to be found in the Scripture would be superfluous and of no moment at all For if in the Scriptures wee meete with all things necessary there is nothing out of them that can be esteemed necessary As a philosophicall Axiom plainely prooues which sayes qui totum dicit nihil excludit Brauo en la Vigilia magna fol. 78. Doctor Brauo manifestly acknowledgeth the former truth propounded in these words The holy Scripture is a glasse wherein a man may clearly perspicuously discerne whatsoeuer is requisite in an humane life for the true seruice and worship of God But beyond all these Authors Father Puente is admirable vpon this subiect as in other arguments Puente toro 3. de la terfecion fol. 711. so in this more especially against the Church of Rome for not in one but in many places he auers and prooues this veritie with words very significant and most preualent reasons I meane not here to set downe all that I haue read and obserued throughout his bookes about this particular point in that I would not willingly be prolix as also because I conceiue that what I shall hereunder mention will be more then sufficient And in the New Testament he first saith that all the Law Euangelicall was fully declared Whereupon it must needes of necessitie ensue that in the New Testament is comprehended whatsoeuer is necessary for saluation For of this there is no doubt to be made but that the Law of the Gospel is sufficient in it selfe to saluation This Author in another place saies Idem en la guia espiritual fol. 291. The sacred Scripture is the clearest glasse where we may best see and behold those countenances which we haue set downe that is to say the glorious countenance of God that of our Sauiour Iesus Christ then our owne Because in the same are reuealed all those vertues which appertaine to the perfect knowledge of these three things Moreouer it prescribes vs remedies against vices armes against temptations aduice and resolution in doubts consolation in sorrow ease and relaxation from labours and troubles and due Meanes whereby to attaine to the perfection of all vertues For as S. Dionysius saith that is the table which diuine wisedome placed in the Church plentifully furnished with Bread and Wine For on the same is set the bread of life and of vnderstanding which are the solid and firme truthes from whence the vertues take their life and essence and the knowledge of things eternall as also there is the wine of ardent and zealous affections mingled with the water of wholsome knowledge to giue saluation vigor and ioy vnto the heart It is the Pantry of the King of Heauen and the Cellar of his most precious wines whereinto hee brings his elect and there he quencheth the hunger and thirst they haue of Righteousnesse It is an open shoppe full of medicines for all maner of spirituall infirmities and a tower like that of Dauid replenished with all manner of armes against euery kinde of temptation For in that it is a table full of delicates Psal 22. it is placed as Dauid speakes to defend vs against those that vex and persecute vs. For which cause S. Paul said that all Scripture inspired from God 2. Tim. cap. 3. is profitable to instruct to conuince correct and inable to euery good worke that euery man of God may be perfect and well instructed in euery good worke as if hee had said It is very effectually to teach vs necessary trueth for our saluation and to conuince such enemies who with false and colourable reasons pretend and seeke to deceiue vs and to correct our vices and exorbitances and to fortifie vs in the exercise of vertue and good works that so we may attaine to that perfection whereunto wee are called and to the end thereof which is eternall life which is said to bee found in the holy Scriptures which manifest him who is our eternall life and the meanes left vnto vs to purchase him All this aboue mentioned is set downe by Father Puente the which though in it selfe it be much yet is
which are alleadged by the Spanish Authors cited in the Margin Blessed saith the Psalmograph are they who diligently meditate vpon diuine Scriptures To know God by the testimony of them Reade and search saith Christ our Lord the Scriptures for they testifie of mee Hereunto alludes that of Deuteronomie Aluarado toâ—â— primero del arte de bien viuir fol. 1091. Chap. 22. Aske thy father and hee will declare vnto thee thy Ancestors and they will tell thee For as Father Serpi cloquently teacheth The writings and Scriptures whence wee should knowe and learne are no other then the Prophets Euangelists and Apostles whose Bookes wee all enioy And to these saith S. Paul Serpi en el tratade â—e Purgatorio pag. 1. as Father Serpi obserueth this saying wee must approach to gather learning and profit from them But that of Moyses transcendeth all these testimonies as Father Luys de Granada noteth as the most Illustrious and pregnant one Granada en el preambulo de la 2. P. de la introduâ—â—ion del Symbelo to conuince all vnderstandings who hauing propounded and declared the Law of God saith on this wise These words which I now set before thee shall bee in thy heart and thou shalt teach them to thy children and shult thinke of them when thou art in thy house and when thou iournyest when thou goest to bed and when thou risest vp againe thou shalt fasten them as a signet to thy hand and they shall bee and mooue before thine eyes and thou shalt write them in the galleries and portals of thy house With what other words wee may say with Granada could the consideration and studie of the Law haue been better exemplified and as if all this had been little in the 11. Chapter of the same Booke hee againe recommends it to vs in the selfe same words a thing which seldome happens in the Scripture so great was the care of this heauenly man who spake with God face to face desired wee should haue to be assiduous in the Law of God as who well vnderstood how much wee were bound so to doe and the inestimable fruits and benefits that would follow of it The same God that without making difference of Sexe age or qualitie enioyned all to reade the sacred Scripture did likewise ordaine that it should be diuulged in all languages that all might haue the fruition of it Leon en el prologo de los nombres de Christo So doth the learned Father Luys de Leon confesse it in these words That God compiled the holy Scriptures with very plaine words and in a language which was vulgar and familiar to them to whom hee first gaue them And when froÌ„ them together with the true knowledge of Iesus Christ this treasure was transferred and communicated to the Gentiles hee caused them to bee explicated into diuers tongues and almost into all those which at that time were most generall and common that they might bee obuious and familiar vnto all And to ratifie the trueth hereof wee reade that S. Hierome translated it into his mother tongue Prades en el prologo de la adoration delas imagines which was the Dalmatique And Iohn Chrysostome into the Armenique tongue Vlphilas a Gotish Bishop into the Gotish tongue as Doctor Prades relateth of all the three Iohn Prelate of Seuill translated it into the Arabique as Father Mariana storieth who saith that the said Prelate did it with intendment to promote the increase of all Christians Mariana en la historia de Espanua lib. 7. ca. 3. tomo primero and helpe the Mores for that the Arabique tongue was of ordinary vse among all And hee addeth that there are some copies of this translation which haue been propagated to our times being yet extant in some places of Spaine And the same Mariana saith that the King D. Alonso the tenth Idem ibidem lib. 14. cap. 7. procured the holy Books of the Bible to be translated into Spanish Would to God the most mighty Philip the fourth would command the like worke now Holy Scripture hath been imprinted many other times in the Spanish tongue and sometime in the Valentian tongue as the reader may see in the exhortation which the most learned and religious Cypriano de Valera made inducing to reade it which accompanieth the version which hee with great labour and studie made and caused to bee imprinted which is the last time that I knowe it hath been printed in our tongue I would it might please God that it were turned into all languages as also into our Spanish he in whose hands are the hearts of Kings can mooue the Catholike Kings to permit vnto our Countrey men the Spaniards the fruition of this inualuable treasure for the foresaid pious Gentleman for the good of our Nation imployed twenty whole yeeres labour in the said translation which in the iudgement of all the learned is a very excellent one Also the trueth of the former proposition appeareth to wit that all the faithfull are obliged to reade and ruminate the holy Scripture in that the holy Doctors and ancient Fathers exhortes all thereunto Puente en la guia espiritual fol. 291. Prades en el prologo de la historia de la adâ—racion de las imagines Father Puente doth clearely teach this as you may see in the place quoted in the Margent So likewise Father Prades doeth openly confesse it though hee adde that notwithstanding this the Catholike Church to wit the Romane did prudently and holily in prohibiting the vulgar to reade the Scripture that you may see how the Papists esteemed the authoritie of the holy Doctors when they speake which they oft doe against their errours and tyrannies Granada en el preambulo de la 2. part de la introduecion del Symbolo Luys de Granada approoues our proposition and in proofe of it alleageth that which S. Hierom wrote to a Virgin by name Demetria recommending to her the reading of sacred Scripture Hiero. ad Demet and giues the same aduice to S. Paula and yeelds this reason of it that the true nourishment of the soule is to meditate day and night on the Law of the Lord and S. Bernard writing to his sister perswades her to this study Bernard ad soreremde modo bene viuendi c. 50. declaring vnto her particularly the fruits and effects of this good reading And S. Paul counselleth his disciple Timothie who was full of the holy Ghost that till hee came hee should bee exercised in reading the holy Scripture which Timothie had learned from a childe Father Torres is of the same minde with Granada Torres lib. 25. ca. 2. de la Philosophia de Principes and brings to ratifie his opinion almost the selfe same examples and testimonies which the other did and addes that S. Fulgentius recommends the foresaid study of Diuine Scripture vnto Theodoret the Senator Fulgent epist 6. ad E. Of S. Hierome
Granada en el li. de la insinuacioÌ„ de la dinina Pedad fol. 22. Note that this Booke is approued by the grauest Doctors in all Spaine in that she was very perseuerant in reading of the holy Scriptures and in that shee confirmed whatsoeuer she spake out of the Texts both in the one and th' other Testament who if she were now in Spaine I make no doubt but she would be reputed a Lutherane Wee also prooued more in particular in what an obligation all the faithfull stand bound to reade the diuine Scriptures because it is Gods pleasure we should know and vnderstand him by them Lorenzo Iustiniano teacheth as much whoÌ„ Fray Ioseph de Iesus Maria followes Fray Ioseph cap. 12. del libro de las excelencias de la castidad and alledgeth in these words By meanes of the holy Scriptures our Lord meant to illuminate and instruct our ignorance informe and direct our faith and fortifie and strengthen our hopes The very same Father Arinçan openly confesseth and maintaineth saying that the holy Scripture Arinzano en su Rosario fol. 138 is a Booke plaine and delucide without danger which God imparted to vs that by the same wee might know him But aboue all these Testimonies that of S. Augustine conferring with God in prayer and speaking of himselfe propounds vnto vs and Father Lewys of Granada auerres and confirmes the same Whereas I was weake and insufficient sayth S. Augustine to finde out trueth with naked reason and therefore stood in need of the testimonie and authoritie of the holy Scripture Granada en la segnuda parte de la introduccion del Symbolo I began then presently to conceiue how it was not possible to beleeue that thou O God wouldest giue so great a diuinity and power to these writings in the world but that by their meanes thou wouldest be beleeued and by them sought out Saint Augustines words extend thus farre the which the Bishop of Tortosa also alledgeth to prooue what we haue formerly propounded and he addes That God gaue vs the Scriptures especially by them to finde out Christ whom as S. Augustine saith the Scripture sounded in his care From this it must needs infallibly follow that whosoeuer takes away the vse of the holy Scripture from the vulgar together with them they take away the onely meanes and instrument which God gaue them to know himselfe and his Sonne Iesus Christ and so consequently they shut against them the gate of eternal life which wholly consists in this knowledge and the same Iesus Christ testifieth speaking to his heauenly Father from which also we may collect how deepely we stand bound and obliged to the reading of the same holy Scripture if wee meane to know God and obtaine euerlasting life The said obligation and bond is also made more manifest wherein all Christians stand bound to reade the holy Scriptures for as God will be beleeued out of them so he will likewise by them be serued and reuerenced because in them hee reueales vnto vs his Diuine will and pleasure and hee sent amongst vs his holy Law which the vulgar can no wayes obserue nor keepe if they be not permitted to looke into it They will peraduenture alledge how this reason onely prooues that euery Christian ought to know and vnderstand the Law of God but hereof it doth not necessarily follow that the reading of the holy Scriptures is requisite for all in generall because it is sufficient that the Doctors and great Masters propound to the vulgar whatsoeuer is most necessary and requisite therein to be knowen First I answere this obiection That Gods will is not the people should onely heare and vnderstand what their Teachers and Pastors thinke good but that all and euery good Christian and faithfull man should search and looke into the Scriptures as formerly hath beene sufficiently prooued As also it is further auerred because as S. Basil teacheth and next to him the Bishop of Tortosa â—rena in Isaâ—og in totam Scripturam â—ol 7. all Scripture is diuinely inspired and written by the holy Ghost to this end that as a common medicine of the soule all men in generall and euery man to himselfe in particular might apply a fit and proper remedy Conformable to this S. Basil teacheth whom Doctor Fonseca cites and followes For as the eyes which behold all things and cannot see themselues except in some glasse that represents them to our sight so likewise our soule viewing and beholding all things cannot see nor discerne her selfe but onely by looking into the glasse of the holy Scriptures Hereupon it followes that the reading thereof is requisite and expedient for all men in that it is befitting that all men should both see and know themselues But the Pope of Rome will not permit the vulgar people to see and behold themselues in this diuine glasse that they may not discerne how odious and abominable the false doctrine he professeth maketh the Christian soule in the sight of God imitating herein the Ape or Monkie who breakes the glasse because it layes open his owne vglinesse and deformity and herein also resembling that ancient Lays who cast away her glasse whereof Ausonius made this Epigram At mihi nullus in hoc vsus quia cernere talem Qualis sum nolo qualis eram nequeo All which as by his daily workes it appeares the Pope alledgeth of the diuine glasse of the holy Scriptures for the vse he makes of them is but small or none at all Most true it is that there is this difference betweene the Pope and Lays for she hated her owne deformitie and not the glasse but hee loues his owne deformitie and abhorres the holy Scripture for he reueales and manifests it to all the world But let this suffise for this time and secondly let vs answere the reason propounded to vs for in that we are commanded to prooue and try the spirits because Sathan many times transformes himselfe into an Angel of light from hence it comes to passe that the reading of the sacred Scriptures is necessary for all men which teach vs how wee should discouer masked and hollow enemies and those inwardly deceitfull shewing vs also what we should retaine and what to auoid as S. Augustine affirmes and next to him Father Iesus de Maria. Fr. Ioseph en el cap. 12. del lib. de la castidad And questionlesse if it be not lawfull for vs to looke into the Scriptures wee shall so hardly be able to distinguish betweene bad and good the faire and deformed what God commands and so what himselfe prohibits as a blinde man can iudge of colours because it is only the Scripture that represents vnto vs all these things without any error or deceit If it be not so as I say let a Papist tell me that neuer saw the Bible how can hee trie the spirits whether they be of God or of the deuill how can he discerne betweene Gods
to it and Puente addeth that in it we shall find sufficient remedie for all euill Fonseca 2 parte del tratado del amor de Dios cap. 2. wherewith to heale the soule It is as Fonseca obserueth not onely a gener all antidote against the griefes of the soule but also a lenitiue and ease for the euils that befall the body Granada en el preambuio de la 2. parte de la introduccion And also as Father Luys de Granada auerreth it is thâ—t celestiall Manna which had the relishes of all meates because there is no taste or effect which a soule can desire to haue which it may not sind in it Yea it is as the same Granada noteth that royall table furnâ—shâ—d with all meates of which the Prophet speaketh Thou O Lord hast prepared a table before me which giues me strength and subsistence against all my enemies Fonseca ibid. fol. 64. It is as Fonseca formerly alleadged teacheth an armoury against all the force of the deuill and against the snares of hell and a tower as that of Dauid full of all manner of weapons against all kinde of temptations Puente ibid fr. Ioseph en su libro de castidad fol. 160. as Father Puente affirmeth It is armour to defend vs and weapons to offend our enemies saith Father Ioseph Iesus Maria. And he addes that therefore S. Bernard writes to one of his sisters that shee should fence her selfe with diuine Scripture and that shee should endeauour to ruminate in her prayer that which shee should reaâ—e therein because it would serue her not onely for a defence in this life but also for a particular helpe to obtaine the life to come Estella 1. parte del libro de la vâ—â—idad del mundo fol. 96. And Father Stella saith thus That nothing besides God in this life is more sweetely receiued nor relisheth more deliciously nothing so much segregateth our soule from the loue of the world and nothing so comforteth and fortifieth the souldier of Christ against all temptations as the frequent reading of the holy Scripture If then the excellencie and valew of the weapons of the sacred Scripture be so great as well in defending vs against our aduersaries as in offending them who can bee so shamelesse as to denie that the reason which aboue wee alleadged out of the Father Granada in fauour of bookes comprising good doctrine is not much more forcible and that without comparison in Scripture Seeing therefore we formerly mentioned that whereof the Apostle S. Peter putteth vs in minde that our aduersarie as a rauenous Lion enuironeth vs on all sides to deuoure vs and the Apostle Saint Paul setteth before vs the might of this aduersary and prouideth vs with diuers sorts of weapons to vanquish him and play the conquerours It will be fitting that wee consider what these weapons are whether they be onely the deuoute bookes and not the Canonicall or profane books not tending to deuotion which as wee shall hereafter see are at this present flourishing in the Papacie or the sacred and Canonicall of which my Argument treateth This one Brauo a Spaniard will shew vs whose authoritie may not be vnderualued seeing in matter of Armes that of the Brauo was euer in repute This Spaniard Brauo tells vs That the Apostle S. Peter Brauo en la vigilia magna fol. 89. who obserued the maner of arguing with the deuill vsed against vs gaue vs the forme of answering him Cuiresistite fortes in fide WhoÌ„ resist ye being stedfast in the faith and doctrine of Christ c. And a little after the Apostle S. Paul sayth Sumentes scutum fidei in quo possitis ownia tela nequissimi ignea extinguere For he opposeth to this fire the doctrine c. But what doctrine is this perhaps it s that which occurres in the bookes of Amadis and Belhâ—nise or in the bookes which the Pontificall Doctors bring to light or in the Canonicall ones of holy Scripture Let vs here attend to this Doctor for hee will tell it vs. Not sayth hee the doctrine which is inspersed in pernicious books in amorous letters in sugred complements which some out of curiositie through their depraued inclination make their study for this is to adde fire to the deuill and to strengthen his enemy but sacred spirituall and holy doctrine which is of greater force Psal 118. Whereof Dauid sayth Ignitum eloquium tuum vehementer Thy word is very fiery and if wee haue recourse to the trueth of his Gospel to his counsell to the Commandements of Gods Law and be firme and irremooueable in them This diuine fire is such that it will consume all the artificiall and deluding fire of the deuill Hitherto are Brauos words See yee not that the holy Apostles send vs not to assume weapons against the temptations of our enemy from bookes of meere deuotion much lesse from profane ones but from the Canonicall of holy Scripture And why should they not direct vs vnto it Granada en el preambulo de la segunda parte de la introduccion del Symbolo for as the same Granada sayth What are the weapons of the Christian warrefare what the spirituall sword that cutteth off vices but the word of God And as hee obserueth With what other weapons did our Captaine fight in the desert with the enemie but by infirming euery temptation by some word of Scripture August lib. 4. de Trinit c. 13. Puente tem 2. de la perfecion fol. 255. Teaching vs with his example to draw from it the trueths and remedies wherewith we are to ouercome all our temptations as doeth note with Saint Austin Father Puente And from it only did the Church in the time of the Martyrs draw matter of constancie in the time of the Doctors knowledge in the time of heretiques the confutation of their errors in time of prosperitie humility and temperance in time of supinenesse matter of feruencie Reynosa en el maestro christiano fol. 86. as the Father Reynosa noteth of what else but that said famous S. Austin whom the said Reynosa citeth and followeth that quicquid homo extra didicerit si noxium est ibi damnatur si vtiles est ibi inuenitur Whatsoeuer a man learneth out of it if it be hurtfull it s there condemned if it be profitable it s found there and wee neede not goe seeke it elsewhere And that we may not defatigate our selues of what but the holy Scripture spake S. Paul that it is profitable to instruct the ignorant to refute error to reprooue sinne to teach righteousnesse to perfect a Christian and make him complete in euery good worke which is as much as if he should haue said that it comprehendeth all things necessary to our saluation as forthwith the most learned Father Puente will demonstrate eloquently and copiously We will conclude from what hath beene said that seeing the Apostles themselues that informe vs of the ambushes and
most stinking and obscure prison hee remained seuen yeeres in the Towne of Valladolid where as all the world knowes hee vnderwent great troubles afflictions and torments because hee vttered in a Sermon a Proposition that was not pleasing to the Pope of Rome though it was but Christian and true whereof peraduenture wee will intreate more at large in another booke Now it remaines we only obserue how the sacred Scriptures are not prohibited the faithfull to containe them within a certaine moderation and gouernement because this impertinent and seuere prohibition as the Papists themselues well knowe is a cause of greater and more pernicious Inconueniences And who can bee so credulous as to beleeue that to make bad men good they must needes depriue them of the holy Bible which is the onely Instrument to make them good when they freely permit dishonest and immodest bookes which are the proper Instruments of sinne and impietie Surely hee cannot but bee a foole that beleeues this But let vs grant that they who tooke from the vulgar the vse and reading of the Scriptures pretended herein to remooue occasion and meanes of breeding errours yet when long experience had taught them that Inci erunt in scillam cupientes vitare Caribdim which is that studying to preuent one preiudice they brought in a thousand seeing through default of the holy Scriptures profane bookes crept in why I say Dato vno absurdo miltae sequuntur did they not labour to suppresse so pernicious a pâ—ague by restoring them and excluding the other seeing naturall reason informes vs that of two necessary euils we should euer imbrace the least how much more in that the holy Scriptures are good of themselues and remote from all euill There is no doubt but if that prohibition simply aymed at the good and benefit of the faithful they would haue beene so but there 's all the matter in that they do not so much seeke the profit and benefit of the faithfull but rather their owne particular ends and interests the which consists mainely inconcealing from the people the knowledge of trueth which they might attayne vnto by meanes of the holy Scriptures and that they should not seeke and affect to vnderstand it they haue alwayes entertained them with the scumme and dregges of idle and profane bookes the reading whereof is not onely frankely permitted them but further it is a cause that opposite to the willes and desires of good men they are perused and read ouer by all of which amongst others the former mentioned Father Ioseph complaines in these wordes Fr. Ioseph ibid. fol. 796. The abusiue and poysonable practise of euill bookes allowed of in Spaine from whence the greatest part of corrupt customes proceedes comes not from the allowance and toleration of the Lawes nor from the King because they haue ordained sufficient remedies against this dammage and preiudice but rather from the negligence and carelesnesse of Iudges both Secular and Ecclesiasticall in executing such iust and good Lawes and they whom this most of all did concerne were the Bishops and Prelats of the Church who being to giue daily notice hereof to Kings and temporal Lords that they might helpe and ioyne together for the banishing out of the Commonwealth these fountains of pollution and vncleannesse they did not only not do it but Kings Princes exhorting them to purge and cleanse the Kingdome of this letiferous poyson they yet liue and perseuere in the same with most pernicious carelesnesse and forgetfulnesse not with out speciall and singular danger to their owne consciences and the soules of their poore subiects A little after the same Authour sayes it is a lamentable pitie that so many sage and wise considerations hauing bene entred into to establish these iust Lawes which was to remooue out of their Studies and Libraries these hurtfull bookes so many Petitions preferred by the Sollicitors of the Kingdome so many meetings and consultations with the Lords of the Counsell with such a number of manifestations written and published touching the Kinggs pleasure in this behalfe it could neuer bee once put in execution the vrgent necessitie of this execution being so materiall and important what shall wee say to this but onely that the Pope Bishops and Fathers of the Faith conniue at this perdition seeing neither the King nor the whole Kingdome can so far preuaile with them as to execute such iust behoofefull and beneficiall Lawes in all other respects they being so sedulous industrious and circumspect in purging as they say the bookes and writings of the holy Doctors of the Church not exempting herein the Scriptures diuine as appeares in a publisht booke called Index expurgatorius All this wee haue produced by reason of that which Father Granada sayes he heard from an Inquisitor and hee himselfe alleadgeth it to shew the great dammage that proceedes from bookes of corrupt doctrine and instruction and the inexplicable emolument profit deriuing from bookes of good and vertuous Argument it now remaines that we should conclude and shut vp this discourse with the very words which the same Granada vseth in the finishing of his discourse Lawes and iust Tribunalls looke not so much vpon particulars as to generalls that is to say not what may happen to particular persons but what generally concerneth the good of all who in no reason ought to perish through the abuse and disorder of some neither in like manner doe they aime at the particular preiudice which things procure if the generall benefits bee greater then the preiudices as we may perceiue in Nauigation at Sea for if the dammages of shipwracke be great and important yet the benefits of Nauigation are farre greater These are the principall reasons which our Aduersaries produce against the publicke vse and reading of the holy Scriptures the rest are so weake and friuolous as they deserue not to haue any more time spent in propounding them for that would bee as much as to refute them and so the time wee should spend in them will be better gain'd in setting downe two reasons which besides the other before alleadged shew plainely to our view and as it were with the pointing of a finger that the Pope depriues not the vulgar of the Bible to doe them good but rather to auoyd and shunne his owne precipice with which wee will close and shut vp this Treatise The first reason is because as Father Luys de Granada sayes all the studie and care of our capitall enemie is Granada en el preambulo de la 2. parte de la introduceion del Symbole to bereaue vs of this light of the word of God and hee confirmes it thus The first thing the Philistines performed when they had Sampson in their power was to plucke out his eyes and when they had done this they found no difficultie in doing whatsoeuer else they meant to lay vpon him euen to the making of him grinde in a Mill. And this Authour addes of the same
notes very well vpon that same very place of the Apostle conformable to whom Tena ibid. Father Hurtado prooues and preacheth quòd quando quis Verba facit apud hominem ignorantem suae linguae propriè loquendo non loquitur the reason hereof is quia actualis loquutio est actualis significatio rei expressio non est autem actualis significatio sine actuali perceptione audientis and hee confirmes it by this example quia ramus appensus non significat aliquid actu nisi quando actu ex illo cognito deuenitur in cognitionem Vini nec ramus est signum iumento sed potatori From all this heretofore expressed I collect that the Pope more through force and feare then consent or will propoundeth the Scriptures in the Church to the people and this he doeth in Latine to the end they may not conceiue and vnderstand them Wherein he goes quite contrary to the order and course helde in the Primitiue Church before he began to exercise his tyrannies vpon men which very order of the Primitiue Church is now obseru'd in England and throughout all the Reformed Churches both conformable to reason the Commandements of God and Apostolicall instruction which already we haue sufficiently prooued and will doe more at large if God permit me in another place Out of all this formerly produced I conclude that the Pope forbids the holy Bible to the common people not so much to reprehend them within the bounds of sobrietie as to retaine them in grosse and palpable ignorance not to preuent errors in the faithfull as to nourish and maintaine his owne not to benesite soules but to emptie purses not to bridle the pride of his Subiects but to loose the raines to his owne vnbridled appetites and of a priuate Romane Bishop to make himselfe the absolute spirituall Head and high Priest of the whole world thus like another Lucifer he erecting and raising vp himselfe aboue all that which is called God Neither doeth he prohibite the Bible the precious pearle of Gods word because it ought not to be giuen to swine but in that himselfe is one and would haue others to be so too not because the same is darke and obscure but in that he like a close and slie theefe loues darkenesse better then light for the attaining to his proper ends and desseignes and the more easily to tyrannize ouer the world But they that are desirous and zealous of their saluation ought with a gratefull and cheerefull heart to receiue so high and inexplicable a benefite out of Gods diuine bounty conferred on vs in declaring vnto vs by the sacred word his heauenly will and pleasure which is pleasing and acceptable to him and the same odious and offensiue to the other that so following the one and flying the other we may both liâ—â— and die in his loue and fauour and by this meanes attaine to be partakers of his glory the greatnesse of which benefit and supereminencie of which honour Moses declared vnto the people in these expresse words What Nation is there so noble and happy that enioyes the same Ceremonies Iudgements and Lawes of God which I will this day set before your eyes And in the Psalme 148. the royall Prophet yeeldeth praise vnto God saying that hee had denounced his word to Iacob and his Iudgements to Israel which grace and fauour he had not shewed to any other nation of the world So as this high and speciall fauour shewed vs by God in communicating himselfe vnto vs by his holy word ought to bind vs to be the more carefull in seeking him out euen as he commandeth vs and that we might the better doe it hee gaue order they should be diuulged in our vulgar tongues and the holy Doctors exhorts to the same moouing vs thereunto by the example of those in the Primitiue Church and others that liued many ages after and also we are hereunto inuited by the rare and innumerable benefits which doe daily proceed therefrom deriued from the true knowledge we haue therein of God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ if we desire to be knowen of him with approbation and acceptation and that note vs to be his elect through the obligation wherein wee all stand bound to obserue his sincere seruice and worship submitting all those temptations which ordinarily assaile vs to his holy will and most sacred Law if we meane to obtaine victory ouer our enemies grosse ignorance and blindnesse and without which this light must needs haue a great power and domination ouer vs. Finally it binds vs neuer to let this sacred booke of the holy Scriptures to be out of our hands the reading and meditation therein being our most important felicitie and happinesse as may plainely appeare by all that which hath beene said and Fonseca teacheth no lesse Fonseca segunda parte tratado del amor de Dios fol. 57. who is yet liuing in the Spanish Court and esteemed for one of the greatest Diuines and rarest Preachers of our time Laus Deo Los Libros de que he sacado lo que en este tratado se contiene son los que se siguen The Bookes out of which this Treatise is gathered are these following HIstoria Pontifical y catclica compuesta por el Doctor Yllescas en Madrid AnÌ„o 1613. Tesoro de ignorantes compuesto por el P. Fr. Chrystoual Marquez impresso en Madrid AnÌ„o 1614. Bienes del honesto trabaâ—o y danÌ„os de la ociosidad por el P. Pedro Guzman en Madrid AnÌ„o 1614. Guia espiritual del P. Puente en Madrid AnÌ„o 1614. Obras del Maestro Gracian en Madrid AnÌ„o 1616. Tomo primero de la historia general de EspanÌ„a por el P. Mariana en Madrid AnÌ„o 1623. Consideraciones sobre los mysterios de la missa por el P. Francisco Antonio en Madrid AnÌ„o 1598. Tomoprimero del Arte de bien viuir por el P. Maestro Aluardo en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1613. El Maestro Christiano del Maestro Reynosa en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1618. Obras morales del Maestro Fr. Manuel Rodriguez en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1621. Luz de las marauillas que Dios obra en el alma por el P. Maestro Fr. Leandro de Granada en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1607. Segundo Tomo de la perfecion por el P. Puente en Valladolid AnÌ„o 1613. Los Nombres de Christo por el P. Maestro Fr. Luys de Leon en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1603. Suma del P. Maestro Fr. Pedro de Ledesma en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1589. Catorce discursos sobre el Pater noster por el P. Fr. Balthasar Pacheco en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1594. Vigilia magna del P. Fr. Nicolas Brauo en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1605. Libro del Rosario de nuestra senÌ„ora por el P. Arinzano en Salamanca AnÌ„o 1903. Tratado del officio Ecclesiastico Canonico por el Doctor Don Bernardino de Sandoual en Toledo AnÌ„o 1568. Primeraparte de las excelencias de la castidad por el P. Fr. Ioseph de Iesus Maria en Alcala de Henares AnÌ„o 1601. Primera parte del Libro de la vanidad del mundo por el P. Estella en Alcala de Henares AnÌ„o 1597. Insinuacion y demonstracion de la Diuina piedad por el P. Maestro Fr. Leandro de Granada en Seuilla AnÌ„o 1616. Philosophia moral de Principes por el P. Torres en Burgos AnÌ„o 1596. La introduccion del Symbolo de la Fe por el P. Maestro Fr. Luys de Granada en Lerma AnÌ„o 1619. Tratado del Purgatorio contra Luthero por Fr. Dimas Serpi en Barcelona AnÌ„o 1611. Historia de la adoracion y vso de las Imagines por el Maestro Prades en Valencia 1597. Segunda parte del tratado del Amor de Dios por el P. Maestro Fonseca en Valencia AnÌ„o 1608. Tomo tercero y quarto de la perfecion Christiana por el P. Puente en Pamplona AnÌ„o 1616. Segunda parte del Monte Caluario por Don Antonio de Gueuara en Anueres AnÌ„o 1559. Con Preuilegio Isagoge in totam sacram Scripturam Autore Ludouico de Tena Episcopo Dertusensi en Huesca AnÌ„o 1622. FINIS LONDON Printed by THOMAS HARPER M. DC XXIV