waies Some of them thus All scripture is profitable to teach and to argue Therefore traditions are superfluous which is much like vnto this All meat is profitable to nourish Luc. 11. 41. Dan. 4. 24. Therefore drinke is needlesse or els thus All alsmedeedes are profitable to Saluation therefore prayer is needlesse and the Sacraments are needlesse Alas who will not pitty such follies Or thus All scripture is profitable that is sufficient therefore traditions are needlesse But what an exposition is this Is it the same to be profitable and to be sufficient if it be so one may also interpret that place of S. Paul in the 1. Tim. 4. 8. same place Piety is profitable to all things that is Piety is sufficient for all things therefore all other things are needlesse And likewise that Take 2. Tim. 4. â—1 Marke and bring him with thee for he is profitable to me for the ministery that is sufficient Therefore Timothy Titus and Onesimus and all the rest were needlesse But who doth not now euidently perceaue that if this licence of interpreting the Scripture were once permitted how easy it were to corrupt it all But that the matter may appeare more plainly the text of the Apostles is well to be considered For the Apostle in the cited Chapter doth exhort Timothy the Bishop that he should instruct his subiects in fayth and good workes and that he should reprehend his aduersaries who being corrupted in mynd and reprobate concerning fayth 1. Tim. 3. 16. did resist the truth And that he might shew that he was able to performe it he addeth But thou continue in those things which Ibid. paulo post thou hast learned and are commtted to thee knowing of whome thou hast learned And because from thine infancy thou hast knowne the holy Scriptures which can instruct thee to Saluation by the fayth that is in Christ Iesus For all Scripture inspired of God is profitable to teach c. Where by the holy Scripturs which he sayth Timothy to haue knowne he meaneth the Scripture of the old Testament For at that tyme when Timothy was a Child the Scripture of the new Testament was not extant Therefore the Apostle in that text thus doth argue All Scripture inspired of God is profitable to teach subiects reprehend aduersaries But the Scripture of the old Testament which thou hast knowne from thy infancy is inspired of God Therefore it is profitable to teach thy subiects and to reprehend thy aduersaries And when thou art well instructed with the knowledg of that Scripture thou wilt obtaine great aide thereby to performe that which I haue tould thee And from the same head one may conclud in this manner All Scripture inspired of God is profitable to teach and argue And whosoeuer is instructed with the knowledg of this Scripture shall obtaine great aide thereby to performe them both Now out of both these arguments it followeth that these three propositions are true according to the Apostle 1. All Scripture inspired of God is profitable to teach and argue 2. That the Scripture of the old Testament is profitable to teach and to argue 3. That the Scripture of the new testament is profitable to teach and to argue As therefore it doth not follow the Scripture of the old Testament is profitable therefore the Scripture of the new Testament is needlesse superfluous Nor the contrary The Scripture of the New Testament is profitable therefore the Scripture of the old Testament is superfluous So also it doth not follow that tradition is superfluous because the old and the new Testament are profitable THE VIII TESTIMONY FOR I testify to euery one hearing the words â—po 22. 18. of the Prophecy of this booke If any man shall add to these things God shall add vpon him the plagues written in this booke And if any man shall diminish of the word of the booke of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the booke of life Heereby our aduersaries conclude in this manner If any man shall add to the words of this Apocalypticall Prophecy he shal be punished of God But the Catholikes add traditions Therefore the Catholikes shal be punished of God They may also conclude in this manner If any man shall add to the words of this Apocalipticall prophecy he shal be punished of God But the Caluinists add Ghospells Epistles of the Apostles the institutions of Caluin the Cathechisme of Hidelberge Athanasius Creed and also the first foure generall Councells Therefore the Caluinists shal be punished of God Or in this manner If any man shall diminish of the words of this Apocalipticall prophecy he shal be taken out of the booke of life But the Lutherans do not only diminish of the words of this Apocalipticall prophesy but also bring it into question whether it be true or no and not acknowledging it to be diuine and Canonicall tell vs in plaine termes that it is counterfait Apocalipticall Therefore they shal be taken out of the booke of life But now to the purpose S. Iohn forbiddeth nothing els but onely that the words of the Apocryphall prophecy be not corrupted of any Which he insinuateth to be done two wayes first by addition as if one should add any thing to the Apocalipticall prophecy to be as a part of it which is not Secondly by diminishing as if one should take something from it although it did not belong to it which certainly doth The Catholikes do neither But with an example I will declare it better S. Iohn foretelleth that in a certaine tyme two Prophets shall come clothed with sackcloath who shall prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty dayes and shall haue power to shut heauen that it raine not in the dayes of their prophesy and to turne the water into bloud c. To which prophecy the catholikes ad nothing at all which doth not belong vnto it nor take any thing away which is added therto but leaue it whole as it was prophesied of S. Iohn But our aduersaries do the contrary especially those who say that Luther and Caluin were the two Prophets For these who say this must of necessity diminish of the words of this prophecy seing that it is certaine that Luther and Caluin were not cloathed in sackcloathes nor had any power of shutting heauen nor also had those properties which follow The Conclusion of all that is contained in this Booke TWo things I haue hitherto endeauoured to performe The one is to shew that the Scriptures cannot be the iudge of Controuersies but the Church And this I haue declared six wayes First by the office of the iudge which is not fitting for the Scripture because the Scripture caÌ„not pronounce sentence in that manner betweene two at variance so that the one party may see it is for him and the other perceaue it is against him Secondly out of the scripture it selfe in the which two things are to be considered the
and the other Phacee King of Israel passage is made presently to the B. Virgin Behould sayth he a virgin shall conceaue and shall bring forth a sonne and his name shal be called Emanuel And in the 14. Chapter where the Prophet passeth from the king of Babilon vnto Lucifer and in the 71. Psalme passage is made from Salomon vnto Christ All the kings of earth shall adore him Vide D. Hieron l. 5. in psal cap. 16. and in the sixt Chapter of S. Iohn the Euangelist passeth from barly loaues to the Eucharistical or Sacramental bread And so often tymes in other places The sixt obscurity ariseth from this that in the Histories of Scripture things are not set downe in that order in which they were done In like manner that the computation of yeares doth not appeare plaine and manifest Lastly that certaine bookes often tymes are cited which if they were extant they would help the reader very much but seeing they are not to be found they leaue him doubtfull in suspence as are these which follow 1. The booke of the warres of our Numer 21. v. 14. Iosue 10. v. 13. 3. Reg. 11. v. 41. 3. Reg. 14. c. Lord. 2. The booke of the Iust 3. The booke of the words concerning the daies of Salomon 4. The booke of the speaches concerning the dayes of the kings of Iuda and the kings of Israel 5. The booke of Samuel the Prophet 1. Paral. 29. v. 29. Ibidem concerning the acts of Dauid 6. The booke of Nathan the Prophet concerning the same things 7. The volume of Gad the Prophet Ibid. 2. Paral. 9. v. 19. Ibid. Ibid. 8. The booke of Nathan the Prophet concerning the acts of Salomon 9. The booke of Achias the Silonite of the same 10. The vision of Addo the Prophet 2. Paral. 20. v. â—4 against Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat 11. The history of the kings of Israel written by Iehu the sonne of Hanan â— Paral. 26. v. 22. 12. The history of king Ozias written by Isay the sonne of Amos. 13. The sermons of Ose concerning 2. Paral 33. v. 19. 2. Paral. 35. v. 25 Iere. â—6 v. 6. the deedes of Manasses 14. The lamentation of Ieremy in the funerall of king Iosias 15. The volume of Ieremy concerning the ruine of the Citty and the captiuity of the people 16. The booke of Ieremy concerning Iere. 51. v. 61. 1. Machab. 16. v. 24. 2. Macha 2. 1. the destruction of Babilon 17. The booke of the tyme of the preisthood of Iohn Hircanus 18. Descriptions of Ieremy the Prophet 19. The booke of Henoch Epist Iâ—dâ— Apostoli Besides these causes there are many others the which I will touch in passing For first somtymes there are many sentences couched together betweene the which eyther there is no connexion or at least the connexion doth not appeare 2. Hebrew words occur the which of few are vnderstood 3 Oftentymes the answere which is made seemeth not to be so fit to the purpose of the question propounded 4. Very often words are doubtfull so that it cannot be discerned in what sense they are to be taken as in this place of the first to the Corinthians For other foundation no 1. Cor. â— v 11. man can lay besides that which is layd which is Christ Iesus And if any man build vpon this foundation gould siluer precious stones wood hay stubble the worke of euery one shal be manifest for the day of our Lord will declare because it shal be reuealed in fier and the worke of euery one of what kind it is the fier shall try If any mans worke abide which he built thereupon he shall receaue reward if any mans worke he shall suffer detryment but himselfe shal be saued yet so as by fier This place without doubt is most hard 1. Because it is hard to vnderstand what is meant by gould siluer hay and stubble 2. What is meant by the day of our Lord. 3. What by fier 4. What it is to burne and to suffer detriment Lastly what it is to be saued so as by fier Whereupon S. Augustine writeth Aug. in l. dâ—â—iâ—e oper c. 15 plainly that this is one of these places of which S. Peter spake in his last epistle when he sayd there are some things in the epistles of S. Paul hard to be vnderstood Petr. â—ost epist 3. 16. That other place of S. Paul is as hard VVhat shall they do that are baptized 1. Cor. 15. â—â— for the dead if the dead rise not againe at all why also are they baptized for them for it is not easy to explicate what to be baptized signifieth in this place and what to be baptized for the dead As concerning the which six diuers opinions are extant in Bellarmine Bel. lib. 1. dâ— Purg. c. 4. Likewise in the same Apostle this sentence is found It is impossible for them that were once illuminated haue tasted also of the heauenly guift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost haue moreouer tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come and are fallen to be renewed againe to pennance crucifying againe to themselues the sonne of God Which wordes are most obscure and by the ill vnderstanding of them the heresy of the Nouatians arose in S. Cyprians tyme who sayd that neyther penance nor pardon was to be giuen to them that fell and therefore they called themselues Catharos that is pure and cleane And this is sufficient about the causes whereby the Scripture according to the true and lawfull sense therof is very hard and obscure There remayneth yet another question which shal be briefly examined Wherefore is it Gods will that the Scripture should be obscure THIS truly is a great question and worthy to be sought out wherefore the Scripture being by reason of the things themselues and the misteries therein conteined very obscure is made yet more obscure by reason of the manner of treating thereof and this according vnto the will and disposition of God And wherefore rather by his will and disposition are not those mysteries which seeme obscure by themselues so clearely propounded that there may be no difficulty to any in the vnderstanding of them Truely there be diuers reasons of this of the which I will here set downe some few The first reason is Because God as he is willing that an order be kept in al other things euen so also in his Church to wit that there should be some who might teach and some who might be taught which order could not be kept if the Scripture were so plaine that it might easily be vnderstood of all to the which that place of S. Paul doth belong He gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and Eph 4. 11. other some Euangelists and other som pastours and Doctours to the consumation of the Saints vnto the worke of the ministery vnto the edifying of the body of
naturall water For in another place it is called fier as in S. Luke He shall baptize Lue. 3. v. 1â— you in spirit and fier and yet it is not vnderstood of true fire Therefore how can it appeare that in the former place true water is to be vnderstood or how will the Lutherans proue it against the Caluinists Not by any other meanes then by the practise order and tradition of the Church Another Christ in his last supper did not only institute the blessed Sacrament but also he adioyned the washing of feete and in the institution of the blessed Sacrament he sayd Eate and drinke but in the washing of eete and you ought one to wash the feete of another Here the Aduersaries say that in the first words there is a precept but not in the last And so the faythfull by Gods commaundment are obliged to receaue the blessed Sacrament in both kindes but not so to the washing of feete Now I aske how they are certaine of this or by what pretence do they thinke themselues bound to the receauing of both kyndes and yet free from the washing of feet Certainly they cannot pretend the words of Scripture For they seeme rather to shew the contrary For these words Eate and drinke seeme to signify no more of themselues then if a hous-keeper should say to his guests eate and drinke and be merry And if the hous-keeper should say so it would not be thought that be meant thereby to bynd them by a precept Therefore seing Christ spake in the same manner how is it certaine that he intended by that manner of speaking to oblige all the faythfull to the receauing of both kinds But these wordes You ought to wash the feete of one another seeme to signify a precept no lesse then if the maister should say to the seruant Thou must couer the table How therefore know they that by these words they are not obliged to wash the feete of one another seing the words themselues do shew plainly an obligation Only by the practise and Tradition of the Church For the Church neuer hath vsed this washing as necessary which notwithstanding she would haue done if shee had thought that she had beene obliged to it and that by Christs commaundment I omit many like examples which are easy to be found And out of these I conclude thus The Scripture may be considered two waies 1. According to the bare and outward letter 2. According to the inward sense which is intended of the holy Ghost But neyther of these two waies can it be iudge of Controuersies Not the former way as we haue proued in the first part of this second argument Neither as it is taken in the second way because the sense of the Scripture often tymes is so obscure and doubtfull that there is need of some other iudge who may define this to be the true meaning which is intended of the holy Ghost and not any other contrary And this is sufficient about the second Argument drawne from the Scripture THE III. ARGVMENT Which is drawne out of the Controuersies them selues THIS argument thus I propound There are many Controuersyes about fayth and Religion of the which in the Scripture there is no mention made at all or at least not so much as is sufficient so that the Scripture may giue sentence of them therefore in deciding of them some other iudge is to be sought Such Controuersyes be these The first whether the Bookes of Toby Iudith VVisedome Ecclesiasticus the Machabees be Canonicall land diuine The Lutherans and the Caluinists say no. But the Catholikes say the contrary Now who must be iudge to decide this contention The Scripture cannot be Neither the Lutherans nor the Caluinists which is well to be noted do appeale to the Scripture but to the Canon and tradition of the Iewes They say therefore that those Bookes cannot be found in the Canon of the Iewes which is extant in S. Hierome and therefore they are not to be accouÌ„ted Canonicall and Diuine Hence they confesse that in this case there ought to be some other iudge besides the Scripture And who is that The tradition of the Iewes say they But is not this strang to see our Aduersaries make more reckoning of Iewes then of Christians For although they be desirous to be accounted Christians they are deadly enemyes to the traditions of Christ and his Apostles and yet notwithstanding make great accompt of the Iewes traditions Wherefore say they not rather with S. Augustine Not August l. â—8 de ciuit Dei c. 36. the Iewes but the Church holdeth the Bookes of the Machabees for Canonicall or with Isidorus The Iewes do not receaue the bookes of Toby Iudith and the Machabees but the Church doth number them among the Canonicall Scriptures Ifidor in l. Proâ—m de lib. vet noâ— Test And in the same place The Booke of VVisedome and Ecclesiasticus are knowne to haue the like authority that other Canonicall Bookes haue The second is how many Sacraments there be of the new Law Our aduersaries say but two Baptisme and the Lords supper The Catholiks beleeue seauen But what sayth the Scripture Nothing as concerning any certaine number and therefore it cannot be the Iudge in this Controuersy From whence therefore receaue the Catholikes the number of seauen if not out of Scripture From the tradition and consent of the Church From whence the aduersaryes the nuÌ„ber of 2. Let them looke from whence Truly they haue it not from the Scripture but if they thinke they haue let them performe these three things First let them shew out of Scripture that the name of a Sacrament is attributed to Baptisme and to the Eucharist and not as well to Confirmation Order Pennance Matrimony and Extreme Vnction Secondly out of Scripture let them define a Sacrament Thirdly let them shew that the definition agreeth fitly with Baptisme and the Eucharist and not as well to the rest If they can do this they do something but that they neither wil nor euer can do this I am most certaine For first where will they find in Scripture that the name of a SacrameÌ„t is attributed to Baptisme and the Eucharist Truly in no place But I will find where it is applyed to Matrimony For so writeth the Apostle For this cause shall man leaue his Father and Mother Eph. 5. 31. shall cleaue to his wife and they shall be two in one flesh This is a great Sacrament But I speak in Christ in the Church As though he had sayd That a man shall leaue his parents and cleaue to his wife This is a great Sacrament because it is a signe of the vnioÌ„ of Christ with his Church that is the mariage of Christ and his Church Secondly where will they find Luth. in l. de captiu Bab â— vlt Melan. in ep Conf. August art 13. Mel. in locis ommunâ—â—us tit dâ— numero Sacramentorum in the Scripture the definition of
A TREATISE OF THE IVDGE OF CONTROVERSIES WRITTEN In Latin by the R. Father Martinus Becanus of the Society of Iesus Professour in Diuinity AND Englished by W. W. Gent. IHS Permissu Superiorum M. DC XIX THE PRINTER TO THE READER GENTLE Reader hauing perused this short Treatise trāslated into English and sent vnto me by a friend I was straight moued with earnest desire to set the same forth in Print hoping that many wold reape great benefit by reading it come to be resolued in the may nest of the Controuersyes that now disturbe the Christiā world yea such a Cōtrouersy as the knowledge therof is the beginning of al Truth contrarywise Errour therein the fountaine of all Contentions For if both sides Protestants as well as Catholikes would admit some visible Iudge liuing on earth endued with full authority to decide their controuersyes about the sense of holy scripture by sentence infallible not obnoxious vnto deceit Contentions might be soone ended and an vniuersall peace throughout Christendome for in matters of Religion established Now the contrary currant perswasion That Scripturs are cleare and perspicuous in all points of Controuersy and their true sense apparent obuious to euery simple man that shall attentiuely peruse the Text hath opened a wide gap for all Heresyes to enter into Christendome rending in peeees the Peace Vnity therof and depriuing the same of all meanes by which Cōtentions may be brought to some finall end For men being once perswaded that they see the Truth in all points of Religion controuerted no lesie cleerly shining in the Holy Scriptures then the Sunne doth at noone day they must needs condemne as erring wanting the light of Gods spirit all others that shal vnderstand the Scriptures otherwise then they do And this so peremptorily as they will contemne the sentence of any Pastour or Pastours that shal sit in iudgment vpon the Cōtrouersy This presumption of light to vnderstād the Scriptures aboue their Elders so much proclaymed in Protestāts pulpits makes our Aduersaryes disagree implacably and without hope of reconcilement not only frō vs but also betweene themselues Yea as a Protestāt of great name well acquainted Hook Eccles folis pag. 119. with the proceedings of their Churches complaines this conceit hath made thousands so headstrong euen in grosse palpable errors that a man whose capacity will scarse serue him to vtter fiue words in sensible manner blusheth not in any doubt concerning matter of Scripture to thinke his own bare Yea as good as the Nay of all the wise graue and learned iudgmēts that are in the whol world which Insolency must be repressed or it will be the bane of Christian Religion Thus he This insolent doctrine is in this Treatise solidely briefly perspicuously confuted and the necessity of a liuing Iudge assisted by Gods special prouidēce infailibly to decide the Controuersyes of Religion is so cleerly demonstrated that I conceaue great hope that many by the perusal therof will cast off the foresayd proud Hereticall perswasion which themselues are forced to confesse to be the bane of Christianity I pray God this my wish may take effect and thou that art a Christian reape as much comfort by the reading thereof as I wish vnto thee OF THE IVDGE OF CONTROVERSIES HEERE We treat of the Iudge of Controuersies in matters concerning Faith Religion about which we Catholikes and our Aduersaries do differ Our Aduersaries for the most part do hould that Scripture alone is the Rule and Iudge of all Controuersies in matters of faith and religion And that out of it alone all controuersies Whatsoeuer may be decided and ended without any other Traditions or authority of the Church This they proue three wayes First because God in the old Testament did send the Iewes to Scripture only as vnto their Iudge for we reade Isa 8. 20 in the Prophet Isaias To the law and testimony The same also doth Christ in the Ioan. 5. 39. new when he sayth Search the Scriptures And the men of Beroea followed this counsell of Christ of whom it is written that they were daily searching the Act. 17. 11. Scriptures if these things were so Secondly because God in the ould Testament hath commanded that nothing should be added to the Scripture Deut. 4. 2. you shall not ad to the word sayth he that I speake to you And againe VVhat I commaund Deut 12. 32. thee that only do to our Lord neither adde any thing nor diminish Likewise Christ him selfe and his Apostles in the new Law do condemne all Traditions will haue vs to be satisfied with Scripture only as in S. Matthew You haue Mat. 15. 6. made frustrate the commandement of God for your Tradition And againe I persecuted the Galat. 1. 13. Church of God sayth S. Paul being more aboundantly an emulatour of the traditions of my sore-fathers And also Beware least any Colloss 2. 8. man seduce you by Philosophy and vaine fallacy according to the tradition of men Thirdly because S. Paul plainly doth confesse that only Scripture by it selfe is sufficient when he saith All 2. Tim. 3. 16. scripture inspired of God is profitable to teach to argue to conuert to instruct in iustice that the man of God may be perfect instructed to euery good worke And the same Apostle accurseth them who thinke that any thing ought to be added to the Scripture If any sayth he Euangelize to you besides that which you haue receiued be he anathema The same also S. Iohn doth witnesse I testify sayth he to euery one hearing the words of the Prophesy of this booke if any man shall ad to these things God shall ad vpon him the plagues written in this booke So far our Aduersaries But Catholikes make a distinction betwixt the Iudge and the Rule They call that the Iudge which giueth sentence betwixt them that contend And that the Rule according to the which sentence is giuen by the Iudge They supposing this distinction teach three things First that the Church is the Iudge of Controuersies Secondly that the Rule which the Church doth follow in giuing of sentence ought not to be the Scripture only but scripture and tradition togeather Thirdly that the Church according to this rule may pronounce sentence two wayes eyther by the Pope who is Head and Pastour of the Church or els by generall Councells approued by him the which do represent the Church By both which meanes the sentence cannot but be infallible For neyther is it possible that the Pope should erre in faith to whom it is sayd in the person of S. Peter I haue praied for thee that thy faith may not saile Neyther the Councells lawfully assembled by reason of the promise of Christ Behould I am with you alwayes euen to the consummation of the world Now to the end I may the better confirme this opinion and conuince the other I purpose to vse six arguments by
lib. post collation cap. 7. Church is that the sonne who is not partaker of the sinne of his Father shall not carry the iniquity of his Father But if he be partaker of it he shall of necessity carry it But now it is certaine that all Adams posterity were partakers of his sinne according to that of S. Paul in whom all sinned But in what manner Rom. 5. 12 all sinned in Adam is to be taught in another place yet here in the meane tyme I say that all sinned in Adam because God conditioned with him as with the first origen common roore head of his whole posterity that if the commandement which God had giuen him to wit that he should not taste of the fruit forbidden both he and his posterity should remaine in Paradise but if not then both he and all his posterity being guilty transgressours of Gods law should be cast out of paradise which afterwards so fell out There were also some ancient Heretikes who altogether denied the resurrection of our flesh because they found it written It is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing Which place Ioan 6. 63 they vnderstanding only according to the outward letter not searching any Refert Tertull. in lib deresur car c. 37. further into the inward sense and meaning thereof argued in this manner To what purpose should the flesh rise at all sith it profiteth nothing And out of the selfe same place the Caluinists conclude against another verity To what purpose say they should Christ impart to vs his flesh in the Eucharist if the flesh profit nothing But truly they both are deceaued by looking only into the bare letter which killeth Otherwise one might conclude in like manner if the flesh doth profit nothing Vide Maldonatum in cap. 6. Ioan. at all to what end did Christ take flesh to redeeme man To what end was the word made flesh To what end did he suffer in it vpon the Crosse Certainly he did not all this to no purpose That the Scripture according to the sense and meaning thereof cannot be Iudge BVT this being sufficient about the former part where it is manifest both by the authority of the Apostles and also by diuers sundry examples that the Scripture if we respect only the bare and outward letter thereof cannot be the infallible Iudge in matters of Controuersy because that the bare letter killeth and bredeth great errours and heresies But now let vs proceed to the latter part of this our argument wherein I wil declare that if we regard the very sense and meaning of the Scripture the same can be noe competent Iudge of all Controuersies in matters of fayth and Religion The which I proue in this manner The Scriptures according vnto the true sense thereof often tymes is obscure and very hard to be vnderstood oftentymes about discerning the true sense and meaning of it great Controuersies do arise But euery Controuersy doth require some iudge to determine the same it is therefore necessary that some Iudge be appoynted who certainly may determine which is the true sense of the Scripture which cannot be the Scripture it selfe for of the sense and meaning thereof there is Controuersy and therefore it is necessary that some other be assigned besides the Scripture In this discourse are certain principles grounded which are to be explicated and proued in particuler one after another The first is That the Scripture often tymes according vnto the sense is obscure hard to be vnderstood THIS S. Peter doth testify in his later Canonicall Epistle where speaking of the Epistles of S. Paul he 1. Pet. 3. 16. Luc. 24. 27. vseth these wordes In the which sayth he there are some things hard to be vnderstood Also it may be confirmed diuers waies First by the example of the disciples going vnto Emaus who vnderstanding not the Scriptures were taught by Christ Secondly by the Eunuch in the 8. Chapter of the Acts 13. verse who being asked of S. Philip whether he vnderstood the Prophet Isay which he was then reading answered in this maÌ„ner How can I sayd he vnlesse some man shew Act. 8. 31. me Thirdly by the example of the Apostles who vnderstood not many Mat. 13. 36. things which Christ had taught them For his Disciples coming to him sayd Mat 16. 11. expound vs the Parable of the Cockle seede Againe why do you not vnderstaÌ„d that I sayd not Luc. 18. 34. of bread to you and they vnderstood none of these things and this word was hid from them they vnderstood not the things thâ—t were sayd Fourthly by the common consent of all the interpreters For if the Scripture were easy what neede were there of so many interpreters so many commentaries so many questions and controuersies Fiftly by many particuler places and bookes of Scripture I proue it hard For who doth not perceaue Ezechiels prophesy about the visioÌ„ of the foure beasts to be most obscure Moreouer it plainly appeareth Daniels prophesy of the 70. weekes and of the abhomination of desolation to be most hard sith that in the searching into it and in the explaining of it it hath hitherto euen yet doth put many to their wits end as concerning the which Christ himselfe sayd he that readeth let him vnderstand Mat. 24. 15. Furthermore euen in the whole Apocalips of S. Iohn many obscure places and full of secret mysteries may be found And S. Hierom also affirmeth in a certaine epistle of his to Paulinus that in it there are as many Sacraments or secret mysteries as wordes But that in the other bookes of Scripture also many obscure and difficult places are to be found is wel known to such as read them to omit others let them speake who in tymes past notwithstanding their daily reading of Scripture with great diligence coÌ„fessed themselues to haue beene very ignorant in many passages thereof in which to be instructed and resolued they had recourse to S. Augustine S. Hierome and other most learned Fathers of the Church Whereof the Epistles of the auncient Fathers themselues do giue ample testimony out of the which I will put downe some We reade then that Pope Damasus asked counsell of S. Hierome about these Questions 1. What signified this whosoeuer shall Gen. 4. 15. Epist 124. 125. inter Epist Hiero. Ibidem kill Cain shal be punished seauen fould 2. If all things which God had made were very good to what end did he commaund Noë to take into the Arke as well those beasts which were vncleane as those which were cleane sith that nothing can be good which is vncleane 3. Wherefore did Abraham receaue Circumcision for a signe or seale of his fayth And wherefore did Isaac though Ibid. a iust man and deare to God deceaued by errour blesse not whom he would but whom he would not 4. What was the interpretation of Isay Epist 142. the Prophets
the hairy crowne of them that walke in their sinnes Likewise when the Apostle sayth Epist 4. 11. Ibid. He gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Pastours Doctours His Question was how these names might be distinguished and also what office and function was due to each one What office for the Apostles what for the Prophets what for the Euangelists and what for Pastours and Doctours Moreouer he asked him this that Ibidem 1. Tim. 2. 1. seing the Apostle writeth I desire therefore first of all that obsecrations prayers postulations thanksgiuings be made for all men what difference could be made in these wordes Also what that signified that the Ibid. Rom. 11. 28. Apostle sayth of the Iewes According to the Ghospell indeed enemies for you but according to the election most deare for the Fathers Againe What that other place of S. Paul Ibid. Colo. 2. 18. meant Let no man seduce you willing in the humility and religion of Angells walking in the things which he hath not seene in vaine puffed vp by the sense of his flesh and not holding the head Euodius the Bishop asked of him Epist 98. 99. 1. Pet. 3. 19. what spirit it was of whom S. Peter spake in his first Canonicall Epist In the which spirit comming he preached to them also that were in prison Epist 120. Psal 120. Honoratus also what that speach of our Lord signified Deus Deus meus quare me dereliquisti Moreouer how that other place of Ibid. Eph. 3. 17. S. Paul was interpreted Rooted and founded in Charity that you may be able to comprehend withall the Saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth Who were also the fiue foolish Virgins and who were the wise Mat. 25. 2. Againe what was the outward Ibid. darknesse Matth. 22. 13. And how that place of S. Iohn was vnderstood the word was made flesh Ioan. 1. 14. Simplicianus asked him what that lib 1. ad Simpli quaest â— Rom. 7. 7. place of the Apostle meant where he sayth VVhat shall we say then is the law sinne God forbid and to that vnhappy man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Ibid. quaest â—â— Rom. 9. 10â— lib. 2. quaest â— 1. Reg. 10. 10. 1. Reg. 16. 24. What was the meaning of that in S. Paul But Rebecca conceiuing of one copulation of Isaac our Father and all the rest forward to that Vnlesse the Lord of Saboath had left vs seed And how it is sayd in one place that the spirit of our Lord seized vpon Saul seing in another place it is written that a wicked spirit vexed him Ibid. quest 2. 1 Reg. 15. 21. Ibid. quaest 3. And in what sense it is sayd by God in the booke of Kings it repenteth me that I haue made Saul King And againe Whether that vncleane spirit which was in Pythonissa could make Samuel who was dead before come to see Saul and speake with him Also he asked him as concerning Ibid. quaest 5. 3. Reg. 17. 20. that speach of Elias O my Lord what euen the VVidow also by whom I am after a sort susteyned hast thou afflicted that thou would st kill her sonne Now by these questions it appeareth manifestly that the Scripture in many places is obscure and hard to be vnderstood And that many most learned men of whom we haue here made mention confessed themselues not to vnderstand many things without being instructed by more learned then themselues Now therefore let vs go forward in explicating what may be the causes of so great obscurity What are the causes why the Scripture is obscure I find two causes especially The one is drawne from the things themselues which are treated of in the Scripture The other from the manner of treating of them The things of the which the Scripture treateth are of foure kindes 1. Histories as in the booke of Genesis Exodus Numeri Deuteronomi Iosue the bookes of Iudges of Kings Paralipomenon Esdras Iudith Tobias Hester the Machabees also the Ghospel and the Acts of the Apostles Secondly Prophesies such as for the most part are contained in the psalmes in the greater and lesser Prophets and in the Apocalips of S. Iohn Thirdly misteries of our faith especially about the blessed Trinity the Incarnation of Christ about predestination and reprobation about the force and efficacy of the holy Sacraments about the presence of Christ in the Eucharist about iustifying fayth about the Resurection of the dead such like other poynts Fourthly Precepts and morall documents as concerning vertues and vices For albeit that neyther in these nor in histories there is perchance any great obscurity in regard of the things treated of yet notwithstanding there is great obscurity in the prophesies and misteries of fayth For these are aboue mans capacity and vnderstanding so that we 1. Cor. 13. 12. cannot perceiue them but after a darke manner as the Apostle sayth Now the manner of treating of these things oftentymes is obscure for these causes First because there be many improper speaches in the Scripture as figures allegories and parables vnder the whichly hidden many truthes the which are not presently vnderstood of the reader Also the obscurity thereof is increased by some word which is taken sometymes in the same sentence one while properly and another while figuratiuely as in this place for example Euery one that drinketh of this water shall Ioan. 4. 13. thirst againe but he that shall drinke of the water that I will giue him shall not thirst for euer Where to drinke of water and to thirst in the former part of the sentence is taken corporally and in the latter part spiritually And againe in the very same Chapter Do not you say that yet there are Ibid. v. 35. foure monthes and haruest cometh Behould I say to you lift vp your eyes and see the countries that they are white already to haruest For heare in the first place the word haruest is taken in it proper signification but in the latter figuratiuely And againe in the same Apostle Ioan. 9. 39â— For iudgment came I into this word that they that see not may see and they that see may become blind where the former part is taken for corporall sight and the latter for spirituall And in S. Paul Him who knew no sinne 2. Cor. 5. 21. for vs he hath made sinne Where sinne in one place is taken properly for sinne but in the other place figuratiuely for a sacrifice offered for sinne for the sense Vide. Orig 3. com in Epist ad Rom. Augu. lib. 2. de consen Euangelist cap. 30. of that place is that it was Gods will that Christ who neuer had sinned should be a sacrifice for the sinne of mankind Secondly not only figures are found in the words as I haue already shewed but also in the very things themselues For one
you their iudgments 13. Answere not a foole according Pro. 26. 4. Ibid. Sap. 1. 13. to his folly least thou be made like to him contrary to that Answere a foole according to his folly least he esteeme himselfe to be wise 14. God hath not made death contrary Eccles 11. 14. to that Good things and euill life and death pouerty and honesty are of God Sap. 11. 25. 15. Thou louest all things that are hatest nothing of those which thou hast made contrary to that Iacob I loued Rom. 9. 13. Eccl. 10. 15. 1. Tim. 6. but Esau I hated 16. The beginning of all sinne is prvde contrary to that the roote of all euill is couetousnesse 17. Do good to the humble giue Eccl. 12. 6. Luc. 6. 30. not to the impious prohibite to giue him bread contrary to that giue to euery one that asketh thee 18. They that eate me shall yet Eccl. 24. 28. Ioan. 4. 13. hunger and they that drinke me shall yet thirst contrary to that he who shall drinke of the water which I will giue him shall not thirst for euer 19. As yet fourty dayes and Niniue Ioan. 3 4. Ioan. 4. 11. shal be subuerted contrary to that shall not I spare Niniue the great Citty 20. Gratis you haue receiued Gratis Mat. 10. 8. Luc. 10. 7. giue you contrary to that the workman is worthy of his wages 21. Take nothing in the way neyther skrip shooes nor rod contrary to Math. 10. 10. Marc. 6. 8. that and he hath commaunded them that they should take nothing in the way but a rod only 22. After 6. daies Iesus tooke Peter Mat. 17. 1. Luc. 9. 28. Iames and Iohn contrary to that It came to passe after these words almost eight dayes and he tooke Peter c. 23. But if thy brother shall offend Mat. 18. 15. against thee go and rebuke him betweene thee and him alone contrary to 1. Tim 5. 20. that Them that sinne rebuke before all that the rest also may haue feare 24. None is good but one God Mar. â—0 19. Luc. 6. 45. contrary to that The goodman of the good treasure of his hart bringeth forth good 25. Go preach the Ghospell to euery Mar. 16. 15. Math. 10. 5. creature contrary to that Into the way of the Gentiles do not go and into citties of the Samaritans enter yee not But go to the sheepe that are perished of the house of Israell 26. You are they that haue remained Luc. 22. 28. Math. 26. 31. with me in my temptations contrary to that you shall all suffer scandall in me 27. If I giue testimony of my selfe Ioan. 5. 31. my testimony is not true contrary to Ioan. 8. 14. this Although I giue testimony of my selfe my testimony is true 28. I do not receaue testimony of Ioan. 5. 34. Ioan. 15. 27. man contrary to this And you shall giue testimony of me 29. He that eateth my flesh and Ioan. 6. 55. Ibidem v. 63. drinketh my bloud hath life euerlasting contrary to that It is the spirit that quickneththe flesh profitteth nothing 30. All things whatsoeuer I haue Ioan. 15. 15. Ioan. 16. 1â— heard of my Father I haue notified vnto you contrary to this I haue yet many things to tell you 31. Mary Magdalen came earely to Ioan. 20. 1. Mar. 16. 2. the monument when it was yet darke contrary to that she came to the monument the sunne being now risen 32. Circumcision indeed profiteth Rom. 2. 25. if thou obserue the Law contrary to that Behould I Paul tell you that if you be circumcised Galat. 5. 2. Christ will profit you nothing 33. VVe account a man to be iustified by Rom. 3. 28. Iames 2. 20. 24. Rom. â— v. 19. Act. 7. v. 51. Rom. 11. v. 34â— 1. Cor. 2. v. 16. 1. Cor. 13. v. 3. faith without works Contrary to that of S. Iames Fayth if it haue not workes is dead in it selfe And againe you see that man is iustified by workes and not by fayth alone 34. For who resisteth his will contrary to that you alwaies haue resisted the holy Ghost as also your Fathers 35. VVho hath knowne the mind of our Lord contrary to that But we haue the sense of Christ. 36. If I shall distribute all my goods to be meate for the poore and haue not charity it doth Luc. 11. v. 41. profit me nothing contrary to that giue almes and all things are cleane to you 37. And as in Adam all dy so also in Christ 1. Cor. 13. v. 32. Ioan. 5. v. 21. Galat. 1. v. 10. 1 Cor. 10. v. 33. all shal be made aliue contrary to that The Sonne quickneth whom he will 38. Do I seeke to please men If I yet did please men I should not be the seruant of Christ contrary to that be without offence euen as I in all things do please all men 39. Beare ye one anothers burden Galat. 6. 2. Ibid. v. 5. contrary to this Euery one shall beare his owne burden 40. God inhabiteth light not accessible contrary to that Come to him 1. Tim. 6. 16. Psal 33. 6. 1. Iohn 1. 8. 1. Ioan. 3. 9. and you may be illuminated 41. If we shall say that we haue no sinne we seduce our selues contrary to that Euery one that is borne of God commiteth not sinne These and such like apparent contradictions which are found in many places of the Scripture oftentimes do trouble the reader and cause excessiue paines and labour euen to the most learned of all The auncient Fathers do giue testimony of this who spent much tyme in the according of these and such like contradictions as S. Augustine for example wrote certaine bookes of the agreement amongst the Euangelists and diuers others also who tooke great paines in interpreting the Scripture whose labours if we had not beene partaker of we should haue yet beene ignorant and blind in many matters of great importance And thus far about the third cause of obscurity in Scripture The fourth ariseth vpon this that often tymes the words of Scripture make a doubtfull sense by reason of the want of some distinction For sometymes where a distinction is needfull there is none at all Which most commonly happeneth in these cases 1. When it maketh mention of God 2. When of Christ 3. When it insinuateth the coming of Christ 4. When it speaketh of the Church For there belongeth vnto God eyther Vnity of essence or Trinity of persons To Christ eyther the humane nature or diuine Moreouer Christs comming is twofould the one in his natâ—uity the other in the day of IudgmeÌ„t Also the Church is eyther militant vpon earth or triumphant in heauen Therefore when the Scripture maketh mention eyther of God or of Christ or of the Church it is doubtfull and obscure in what sense there they are to be taken as if it speake of God whether it