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
hée without anye knowledge of good letters hadde both perfitely learned withoute Booke the holy Scriptures by hearing them redde I vse the wards of Sainct Augustine in the beginning of his worke of Christian Doctrine and also wisely vnderstoode them by pondering and considering of them but it were no wisedome for others that are vtterly voyde of the knowledge of the Scriptures so to speake The summe therefore of the matter is this that in Nature are séene onely certayne pictures and as a man would say counterfettes of things in Scripture the thing and truth it selfe and therefore that all opinions as touching Religion whiche are to be accompted firme and stable ought to be ratifyed by the warrante and defence of the holye Scriptures THIRDELY Séeing men are to be taught and enstructed all must néedes graunte that the written Booke of GODS WORDE is most fitte for oure vnderstanding and capacitie For truly to marke the things that happen in thys visible worlde to ensearche the causes thereof Further to examine what signification they haue as touching the power the righteousenesse and goodnesse of god Agayne what thyngs ought to bée followed and imbraced in vndertaking of duties of functions is a thing very difficulte and gyuen to verye fewe men but sith these and suche lyke things are appararantly discussed in the monumentes of wryters and that in a simple and knowen phrase of speaking it can not bée but that euen the rude and playne readers or hearers maye spéedily atteyne vnto them And for this cause verily it is why the custome is commonlye receyued that the rules of euerie Arte and discipline are of Authoures penned and written in certayne Bookes Yea and Sainct Hierome in hys Preface to the waylings of Ieremy is bolde to saye That the doctrine of Bookes shall no sooner ceasse and haue an ende than wee in a better state of lyfe shall bee wyth Chryste and become lyke vnto the Angels Wherefore if so bée wée wyll vprightlye weygh and consider these thrée causes truelie they maye worthylie moue vs to loue and embrace the Booke of holy Scripture before all other Bookes and euen wyth earnest desyre to be occupyed in it daye and nighte Admitte if you wyll that the Booke of the nature of things is wonderfull and in manye respectes hyghly to bée estéemed yet no man is ignorante of thys that among dyuers Bookes offered that especiallye is to bée preferred before the reste whyche wée sée to excell both in weyghtynesse of the contentes in the methode and playnenesse of teachyng and for manye causes to bée most expediente for vs Good Scholemaysters are accustomed to propounde and commende to theyr hearers suche Bookes as they suppose to bée moste profitable for them and hée that is a thriftie Scholer despiseth not the iudgemente of hys Mayster but prouideth them desirously exerciseth hymselfe in them and maketh greate accompte of them considering that vnlesse hée so doe it wyll come to passe that hée shall with shame bée thrust out of the Schole and shall haue hys name vtterlye razed oute of the register of the learned Tell mée therefore séeyng GOD oure Scholemayster both most wyse and also most desirous of oure profiting dothe commende vnto vs more than canne bée vttered in wordes the Booke of holy Scripture and wée oure selues maye iudge the same farre to surmounte all other Bookes shall not gréeuous punishmente worthely bée alotted vnto vs if wée neyther prouide nor endeauour to reade the holye and sacred Bible Wherefore to the ende I maye stirre vppe as wyth a watchworde and an alarum gyuen all the professors of Christian Religion to the diligente reading of thys Booke wherein are written the verye wordes of GOD I wyll assay to sette downe in order certayne reasons as they shall come to hande hauyng this especiallye in my prayers that so manye as is possible whylest they shall giue themselues to the reading and meditation of the holye Scriptures maye both become greater fauourers of sincere Religion and also better giuen in their liues and conuersation For I am fully persuaded of this and I couet to haue all men persuaded of the lyke that it can not be that anye man shoulde oftentimes and attentiuely reade or heare redde the holye Scripture but that he shall féele himselfe dayly to goe forwarde and to profyte somewhat in amendmente of lyfe and in the exercises of goolinesse For why it is not for nothing that GOD himselfe in the Prophete Esay Chap. 55. sayth Like as the rayne and the Snow cōmeth downe from Heauen and returneth not thither agayne but watereth the earth and maketh it to bring foorthe and budde that it may giue seede to the sower and bread vnto him that eateth euen so shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth it shall not returne vnto me voyd but it shall accomplish that which I will and it shal prosper in the thyng whereto I sende it And truely experience teacheth vs that the matter is euen so as the Prophete sayeth For as muche as wée alwayes sée for the moste parte that oute of the heartes of those that vse reuerentlye to reade or heare the worde of GOD wonderfull not onely floures but fruites also of Faith and loue doe procéede As therefore wée shewed at the beginning that all the sorte of vs ought to learne matters of Diuinitie and the will of GOD for that we are men created of GOD so for bycause it is euidente that all that knowledge is to bée gotten out of that Booke wherein the wordes or Sermons of GOD are described and conteyned it is worthilie required of manne to whome alone it is gyuen to vtter distinctlye wordes of signification to write the same wordes to reade the same being written to heare and vnderstand to learne any thing by words sentences againe to teache it is worthily required I say of man that he shoulde with all possible diligence be occupied and conuersant in the saide Booke For truly by the power of speaking and vnderstāding of wordes man excelleth all other creatures Whiche benefite it is requisite that we acknowlege to be so much the more notable by howe muche more wee are all moued by nature to griefe so ofte as we looke vpon anye that are endued with the shape of men yet voyde of the vse of communication and reason For we make accounte of them to be in no better case than bruite beastes than stockes stones or dumbe images Therefore GOD who hathe created all things by his word would haue man whom he made ruler ouer all creatures in conceiuing of godlinesse to be exercised with a moste noble gifte that is to saye speache or vtteraunce of wordes and he himselfe woulde teach and enstruct him by words For this cause GOD the father suche is the greate loue he beareth to man is recorded oftentimes to haue talked very louingly with his electe the Patriarches and Prophetes And GOD the sonne who hathe greate delighte to be conuersant with
déede to goe aboute to procure the knowledge of GOD the father and of his sonne IESVS CHRIST otherwise than by reading and hearing of the holy Scriptures is no lesse fonde and absurde than if a man shoulde vndertake in the darke nighte to hale a shippe tossed in the middest of a greate and tempestuous Sea altogither withoute sterne withoute sayles and oares without consideration of Starres or Windes withoute direction of Néedle or anye suche helpe safe and sounde to a certaine and sure Hauen lying aloofe and a greate waye off from him But vndoubtedly very straunge and wonderfull are the peruerse and preposterous iudgementes of a greate number of Christians in this behalfe In euerie profession we sée it carefully looked vnto euerye man maye bée skilfull and that also to some purpose in the things that are agréeable to his profession The Lawiers forsooth they muste haue good sight in the ciuil lawes in the ordinaunces of their elders in customes in constitutions and in the whole practise of Courtlike matters The Phisition that will practise Phisicke in anye place muste of necessitie be skilfull in the rules of hys Science that is to saye of suche as haue written and giuen forthe precepts in that arte Among those that boaste themselues to bée Philosophers whether they be of the secte of the Stoicks or of the Peripatetickes or of the Academickes looke what maister euerie one hathe sworne and addicted himselfe vnto his decrées and assertions he can declare verye wel and wil defend to the vttermost of his power As touching the artes aswel Liberal as Mechanical otherwise called handy craftes no man is permitted to vaunt himselfe in the name and title either of the one or of the other vnlesse he hathe firste giuen forth some triall of his cunning and that before suche as can iudge of the same What corruption then and preposterousnesse of iudgementes is this that is amongest vs detestable before God and man when we suppose him to be a trim Christian that neuer knew what Christianitie meant nor euer learned oute of the holy Bible anye one iote of those thinges that CHRISTE taughte and commanded to be obserued of his Disciples Phormio was in his time a notable Philosopher who in reading diuers and sundry bookes had noted no doubt manye things as touching the feates of warre and martiall discipline yet in the meane while as concerning the office of a good Capitaine he coulde saye little or nothing to anye purpose insomuche that when on a time he assayed to saye somewhat that waye he was checked of Annibal a famous and experte Capitaine and so shaken off as a fonde and doting olde man If the case stoode thus with Phormio who hadde read manye things then I praye you howe shal we beléeue that anye man can either truely iudge or fitly speake of Christian religion that hathe neuer so muche as looked vpon the outwarde couers of those bookes in whiche the foundations of that doctrine are layed Howe muche more wise and vprighte in this behalfe than a number of Chrstians are the wicked and vngodly Iewes whom we so greately detest and abhorre as those that are excluded from the felowshippe of Gods children They will not suffer any house amongest them to be withoute the bookes of holy Scripture especially of Moses lawe to the intent that at certaine times appointed their families maye reade and peruse priuately some things in them that maye serue to their edifying and instruction Neyther will they haue suche as are men growen onely but their children also to be diligentlye occupyed in learning the Lawe supposing as who shoulde saye that it maketh greatelye for their behoofe that so manye as haue receiued the marke of Circumcision should euen foorthwith bée nouzeled in the principles of theyr Iewishe religion But I praye you what doe wée in the meane time forsooth euen sléepe vntill wée snorte agayne and casting from vs all shame commende those for wonderfull good Christians that neyther in their yong yeares neither in their olde age haue euer vouchsafed to taste oute of the holy Scriptures any smacke at all of those things whiche it behoued euerie good Christian to knowe as perfectly as hys fingers endes Neither is there cause why anye shoulde suspecte that the Iewes were by error curiositie or superstition accustomed thus to doe as in déede it is well knowen that they do manye things very disorderedly and wythout any consideration For there is extante in Deuteronomie Cap. 6. as touching this point a most graue and waightie commaundement giuen by God hymselfe where he speaketh in this wise And these words which I commaund thee this day shal be in thine hearte and thou shalte rehearse them continually vnto thy children shalt talke of thē when thou tarriest in thine house as thou walkest by the way whē thou liest down whē thou risest vp And thou shalt binde them for a signe vpon thine hand and they shal be as frontlets betweene thine eies And thou shalte write them vppon the postes of thine house ▪ and vppon thy gates In like number of wordes is the selfe same precept repeated afresh Deut. 11. Now for this cause did GOD giue a law as touching the bookes of his holy Oracles to be had in euery house to the intent that all fathers of families might daily out of them propound somewhat to their wiues children seruaunts and handmaides and that by this meanes the heauenly doctrine might bothe be preserued throughout all ages withoute corruption and also moste commodiously spread abroad by perpetuall succession from time to time Long agone verily before Moses time the Churche was prouided for by the labour and industrie of the holy fathers who dwelling here and there scattered among the Infidels neuer ceassed with all faithfull diligence by a liuely sounding voice and by repetitions of one and the selfe same forme to inculke and beate into the heades of housholdes families sounde holsome doctrine But when GOD oute of a huge and numberlesse people had once fully purposed in his mind by the ministery of Moses to erect and establishe a noble and renowmed Church and common weale he foresawe that it mighte easilye come to passe partly by reason of long iourneys partely by reason of continuall warres desolations banishements and other grieuous misfortunes and cōmon calamities that not onely true doctrine might be corrupted but also the vsuall repetitions thereof faile and decaye and so in processe of time the auntient and pure religion be vtterly abolished out of the memories of men Nowe God intending to turne awaye and in time to preuent so greate a mischiefe ordeined that the whole vniuersall doctrine of the Churche shoulde be committed to written bookes whiche mighte faithfully conserue all his sayings and doings which euery man so long as hée would might kéepe at home in hys house safe and sound from all iniurie and oftentimes write them out to the vse and
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
thy mind this taske perform thou to thy Lorde and mayster Neither giue thy members to reste before thou haste filled the hamper of thy breaste with this oufe And not contented with this diligence he willeth widowes oftentimes to reade the commentaries of learned men to aske counsell of learned men After the holy Scriptures sayeth he reade the treatises of learned men of those especiallye whose faythe is known Thou hast neede to seeke gold in clay with many precious stones purchase one pearle Stande vpright as Ieremy sayth in many wayes that thou mayst come to that way that leadeth vnto peace Transferre the loue of collers iewels and silken garments to the knowlege of the holy Scriptures Againe Thou hast Exuperius of an approued age and Fayth which may oftimes enstruct thee with his godly admonitions He commēdeth moreouer Furiaes sister for hir exquisite knowlege in the holy Scriptures O that thou sawest sayth he thy sister mightest but heare face to face the sweete eloquence of hir sacred mouth thou shouldest see in a litle body what wonderfull courage of minde there were Thou shouldest heare the plentifull furniture of the olde and newe Testament to flame out of hir heart What a number of Epistles furthermore doeth the same Ierome wryte to diuerse virgins and matrones and the same stuffed with manifolde doctrine of godlynesse with sundry places of Scripture expounded and declared and with many pretye knottes and questions dissolued and loosed He wryteth to Laeta to Demetriades to Saluina to Furia to Geruntia the widowe to Celantia to Mercella to Principia the virgin to Eustochium to Paula to Theodora to Brisilla to Castorina to Nitia to Asella to Sunia to Fretela to Hedibidia to Algasia to Vrbica What maye be sayde of thys moreouer that he dedicateth certaine of his workes wherein he expoundeth many of the bookes of holy Scripture to Paula to Eustochium and Marcella and rendereth a reason of this his doing in his preface to Sophony the Prophete And in all these to whō he writeth he alwayes for the moste parte either prayseth or accounteth prayse worthy partly their loue and study of the holy Scriptures partlye their knowledge and vnderstandyng or whyche is leaste of all to the intent they myghte endeauour to bring to passe somethyng worthye of commendation in perceyuing the doctrine of religion hée both beséecheth them by commaūdyng and commaundeth them by beséeching In many other places besides when occasion serueth he handleth the selfsame cause In the proeme of his thirde booke of Commentaries vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians and euen incontinentlye in the enarration it selfe againe in the tenth Chapter of Ecclesiastes he saith that al ought to get wisedome by dayly reading of the Scriptures and to meditate without ceassing in the Lawe of the Lorde In his exposition of the firste Chapter of the Epistle to Titus he blameth them whyche doe contemne those that are studious of holye learning as vnprofitable and vaine But that is very worthy the noting and properly to be vnderstanded of our times whyche in the end of his Commentarie vpon Nahum the Prophete he sayth woulde come to passe namely that aboute the comming of Christ to execute iudgement the people euery where shoulde flocke togither to learne the holye Scriptures Now then that the comming of Christ is euen at hand it is forsooth more certaine and sure than that it is lawfull for any man to doubt Furthermore frō Ierome disagréeth not Au. thē who for the defence of sound doctrine against the treacheries of Heretickes no man hath sustayned more paineful labours He therefore writing to volusianus in his Epistle 3 auoucheth that the Scriptures are to be redde not only of the learned but also of the vnlearned and euen of all sortes of men whatsoeuer For why it was prouided by GOD that the holy Oracles should be written in a simple and playne kynde of speache leaste anye manne should pretende that hee vnderstoode nothing in them The very phrase of speaking saith he wherein the holy Scripture is indited albeit it be easie vnto al yet are very fewe able to pierce into it the thinges that are apparant are as a familiar friend speaking without guile to the hearte as well of the learned as vnlearned But those thinges whiche the holy Ghost wrappeth in misteries neyther doeth hee lyfte vp with proude eloquence anye otherwise than euen the drooping and vnlearned soule may be bold to approch as a poore man to a ritche but he inuiteth al men with his lowly maner of speeche whome hee doth not onelye feede with manifest truth but also exercise in secrete veritie being of like nature in things easie as he is in things hidden But least the things that are open plaine should breed contempt the same again are hiddē to the end they should be longed after being longed after should after a sort be renued being renued should sweetely be embraced Hereby are bothe crabbed wits holsomly corrected small wits norished great wits delighted That mind is an enimy to this doctrine that either throgh error knoweth it not to be most holsome or in being sicke hateth to bee healed Thus much in the place It is thoght also the some of the fathers did of a set purpose put forth certaine of their workes in a homely kind of stile to the intent euery one euen among the common sorte and vnlearned artificers vnto whome notwithstanding the Latine tongue was at that time euerye where familiar howbeit somewhat corrupted might the more willingly peruse them ouer and all both learned and vnlearned enioye in common togither the commodities of godly doctrine As touching whych matter D. Erasmus Roterodamus as moste sharpe and seuere Iudge if euer there were anye of an other mans stile in writing hathe discoursed at large in an Epistle whyche hée prefixed before the Commentaries of Arnobius vppon all the Psalmes The same man where hée sheweth his iudgement as touching sundrye bookes of Saint Augustines admonisheth that there is a booke extant of the maners of the Catholike Church compiled and written by Saint Augustine in a wonderfull elegant stile but in that whiche followeth as concerning the maners of the Mainchees that the forme of spéech is debaced to the capacitie and vnderstanding of the vulgare people Thou wouldest suppose that it were not the same Authors but Charitie whereby they acknowledge themselues with the Apostle to be debtors both to the learned and vnlearned Rom. 1. couet indifferently to prouide for all men alike enforceth them to vse diuers and sundrye kindes of speaking But that we may retourne to the iudgement of Saint Augustine as touching the reading of the holye Scriptures he in the seconde booke and. 38. Chapter of his Retractations testifyeth that Laie men studious of the diuine Oracles had sent vnto him certaine writings concerning the doctrine of Religion and that the againe as was méete and conuenient had made aunswere vnto them
the maners that nowe are vsed ioyned with so great contempâ—e of GODS worde I can hardlye I saye beléeue that they would account vs for their posteritie or take vs in anye wise for Christians So farre forth are wée all for the most part degenerated and gone out of kinde from that godly sinceritie of our elders Neither truely had Lay men and women onelye a colde and slender taste of Gods holy mysteries but a number of them went forwarde with so greate zeale and enforcement of minde in searching the holy Scriptures that by little and little they attayned to suche ripenesse that they became not onely excellently well learned themselues but also were able to teach and instructe others By profiting in the holy Scriptures by prophecie that is to saye by a learned and reuerende interpretation God will haue his Churche as by a certaine marke and peculiar token to be disseuered and discerned from the assemblies of the wicked wherfore to this marke did all the godly bothe in times past ayme and nowe oughte all to leuell to the intente they may not onely become wise prouident for themselues but also for others by admonishing I say by teaching and by what meanes soeuer they can besides Moses when it was tolde him Num. 11. that Heldad and Medad did prophecie or preache the worde of God in their tentes and some looked that he woulde haue forbidden them hée was so farre off from forbidding them that excellent office that hée rather wyth feruent desires sayde Woulde God that all the Lordes people were Prophets and that the Lorde woulde gyue hys Spirite vnto them Paule the Apostle 1. Corinth 14. in saying That all maye prophecie one by one gyueth to vnderstande that there were in olde time a greate number and that at all tymes there should be some in the Churche whiche by the benefite of the holye Ghoste shoulde be adorned with gret grace and dexteritie in teaching and for that their giftes shoulde not vanish away without fruite but rather be encreased thoroughe exercise that there should a place to teache not vnwillingly bée graunted vnto them so that nothing were done confusedly or vnaduisedly but all directed to the edifying of the Church Whosoeuer therfore were from that time forwarde but namelye enlightned with the giftes of the holye Ghoste leaste they shoulde alwayes like children craule vppon the grounde and neuer declare themselues to haue consideration of Gods benefites chéerefully and couragiouslye applyed their wittes to teache and enstructe others For therevnto it is that Saint Chrisostome laboureth to moue his hearers in his seauenth Homilie vppon Genesis whilest hée willeth them al to be of good courage and to prepare themselues to the painefull trauailes of teaching I woulde haue you sayth he yea and I beseeche you all to be in the nuÌ„ber of teachers and not only to be hearers of our sayinges but also to minister our doctrine vnto others and to seke after those that stray that they may returne into the waye of truth and as Paule saith 1. thess. 5. Exhorte yee one an other and edifye one an other and with feare and trembling worke oute youre owne saluation So it will come to passe that GOD shal encrease our number and your shall more plenteouslye bee enriched with his grace hauing greate care and consideration of youre members For in deede GOD woulde not haue a Christian man to be conteÌ„ted only with himself but that hee shoulde also edify others and that as well by doctrine as also by his life and conuersation So saith hée It is euident therefore that whilest the hearers were oftentimes pricked forward after this manner some of the Laitie what by hearing reading and friendelye conferring one with an other aspired to that degrée of Learning and Erudition that they were able as well publikely as priuately wisely to entreate as touchyng the affayres of Religion For verily to some of them it was permitted in Councelles lawfully called and before the whole assemblye of Byshoppes to dispute with the aduersaries othersome were not onely admitted to teache the people in the Churche but also verye gently inuited by the Byshoppes themselues And a greate sorte of them no doubte spedde very well and deserued no small commendation for their godlye diligenâ—e And as touching Disputations that this was founde true in the Nicene Synode Nicephorus Callistus declareth very plainelye in the eighte Booke and fourtéenth Chapiter of hys Ecclesiasticall Historie There are besides two notable examples sette forth in the Tripartite Historie the seconde Booke and thirde Chapiter the one oute of Socrates Constantinopolitanus of a certaine young manne the other oute of Sozomenus of an olde man oute of them bothe it is declared that by means of the Laitie studious of the holye Scriptures and modestly propounding certaine things the pride subtiltie of the Logitians Philosophers was wonderfully detected and beaten downe Albeit we cannot dissemble that they broughte more to passe by the excellencie of their faith and prayers than by the helpe and furtheraunce of Learning in so muche that all theyr dooyngs may séeme rather to be after a sorte miraculous than to procéede of any knowlege Furthermore as touching Laie men that haue taughte publikly in the Church there are extant in Eusebius book 6. Chap. 15. the words of Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem out of a certaine Epistle written to Demetrius Bishop of Alexandrîa I maruell saith he that in your letters you wil seme to affirme that it was neuer heard or done that Laie man shoulde dispute and expound the Scripures in the Churche when the Byshops were present when as this custome was commonly receiued that if there were found any in any place that could instruct the brethren in the Church coÌ„fort the people thei wer alwaies entreated of holy Bishops to haÌ„dle the Scriptures So was Euelpius inuited of oure brother Neon among them of Larandra and so was Paulisius of Celsus at IconiuÌ„ and Theodorus of Atticus at Synada And there is no doubte but that many other also in other places if any there were that coulde conueniently fulfill the worke of God in word and doctrine were to the selfe same end inuited of holy Byshoppes Hitherto Alexander of Ierusalem And that the same thing was euerye where drawen into a custome the councell holden in the time of S. Augustine at Carthage doeth not obscurely proue For thus we reade it enacted in the saide Councell A Laie man in the presence of Clearkes excepte they require him therevnto shall not presume to teache And this they did not for that they accompted it vnlawfull for Laie men to teache but forsomuch as a number of them were learned and alwaies fit and ready to teach they meant to prouide Firste that no manne shoulde vnaduisedly when and where he lifted and wythoute hauing regard of dutie to the Bishops or Clarks yea and peraduenture contrary to their mindes inuegled by Heretikes take vpon him to teach or preache Secondly
thrusteth forthe one while verily suche as are approued in opinion for their notable wisedome another while swinishe haters and contemners of all holy things an other while Hypocrites puffed vp with a vaine shew of holynesse and therefore maruellous fit instrumentes to beguile the simple by whose painted and smooth persuasions and by other crafty conueyances the vnwarie sort maye be broughte to the neglecting and open hatred of the Scriptures but it is your partes with these reasoÌ„s and instructions whereof you haue hitherto heard many and sundry as well out of the sacred Scriptures theÌ„selues as also out of the moste godly and learned fathers to shoare vp and fortify your minds and euen in spight of all the rablement of the wicked whome Sathan subborneth and armeth dayly against vs to stirre them vp to the loue and study of Gods word Let vs coÌ„sider that CHRIST doth euen now also without ceasing preache vnto vs which in very déede he doth not after one waye or manner and that there is no precepte of him oftner vrged and repeated than this wherein he sayeth to all Christians Searche the Scriptures for they are they that testifye of me This voyce of CHRIST for so much as his heauenly father hath so coÌ„maunded let vs heare with patient and stayed mindes and with al reuerence and submission obey it finally in comparison of that let vs refuse and abandon all mens pesuasions preceptes counsels flatteries threatnings curses and tormentes whatsoeuer For he that maketh none accompt of thys voyce of CHRIST there is no doubt but that his name shall oneday be vtterly scraped and raced out of the register of Christians that is to saye out of the booke of life whiche GOD himselfe hath written and that at the laste iudgement of the great day he shal heare froÌ„ the mouth of the same CHRIST a far other manner of voyce namely a heauye and a horrible voyce as touching the suffering and enduring of euerlasting fire THE ENDE Ps. 14.2.3.4 Psâ—l 53.4 Ps. 5.10 and 140.2 and 10.7 Prou. 1.16 Iam. 4.8 1. Cor. 1.20 2.14 Iere. 9.26 Deut. 10.16 Eccles 11.33 Genes 6.5.11.12 and 8.21 Psal. 36.1 Esa. 59.3.7 Rom. 3.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18 Psalm 51.5 Eph. 2.1.3.5 Rom. 3.9 Galath 3 22 Rom. 2.22 Psalm 116.11 Rom. 3.4 Esa. 59.5 Deut. 27 Galath 3.10 Coloss 2.13 Ephes 2.12 Rom. 6.23 1 Pet. 5.8 Ephes 6.12 Ephes 2.2 Genes 3.1 1. Pet. 5.8 Apocal. 12 3 Ioan. 3.3 Ephes 4.23 1. Pet. 2.2 Hebr. 13.14 â— Corinth 1.10 11. Time. 3.16 Rom. 15.4 Man is created to the knowledge of GOD and of his will. Ouid. Metamorph Lib. 1. Of the former booke which is the whole world Of the later booke to wit the holy Scripture VVe must giue more attendaunce to the latter booke of the holy Scripture than to the former and that for three causes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 III. It behoueth all men to reade the word of GOD in that it is graunted to them only to speake and vnderstand They must especiallye read the holye Scriptures which professe themselues to be Christians It is a shame for a Christian to be ignorant of the things that Christe commaundeth The Iewes reade the Scriptures painefully God commandeth in the Lawe the bookes of holy Scripture to be read and perused of all people For what cause and coÌ„sideratioÌ„ God woulde haue his doyngs and sayings committed to writing The Fathers albeit they were without Bookes yet taught they most diligently the doctrine of religion then what ought not wee to do that haue Bookes graunted vnto vs. The commandement of God as touching the reading of the Scriptures belongeth not only to Iewes Christ also commaundeth vs to reade the Scriptures In the Apostles time all the Godly read the Scriptures most diligently The holy Ghost is giueÌ„ to the beleuers to the intent they may learne and vnderstande the Scriptures â–ª Euen the Gentiles also in these dayes vsed to reade the Scriptures albeit they were extance onely in the Greeke tong In these dayes wee haue the holy Scripturs extant in all tongues And after the Apostles time all the godly serched continualy the Scriptures Exhortations of the holy Fathers as touching the reading of the holy Scriptures priuatly in houses Origen Eusebius â—â—misenus Iohn Chrisostome Augustine Ambrose Now a dayes some Bishops there be that forbid the holy Scriptures to be read The neglecting of the Scriptures of this time if it be compared with the diligence of the auntient people is verie shamefull and ignominious The Lâ—â—ie is profited 〈◊〉 dâ—â—g of the Scriptures that they were able also to teache others Laie men skilful of the holy Scriptures in times paste taughte in Churches and were chosen to thâ— goueâ—â—emet of the same The barbarus enimies of Christian religion oughte sooner by orderly teching of sounde doctrine than by force of armes be won and vnited vnto vs. The very consideration of the times present doth require that all should applye themselues to the studie of the holye Scriptures The answere It behoueth the Ministers of the Church to bee exercised in the holy Scriptures aboue all other The Ecclesiasticall Ministery consisteth not in songs or colde ceremonies The Minister ignorant of the holye Scriptures can not conuince false opinions The Minister that is without the knowledge of the Scriptures can not wisely reproue sinne The Minister that is ignorant of the Scriptures can not confer with others of godlynesse and pietie The Minister can giue no counsell to carefull consciences that is not conuersant in the Scriptures The Minister that he may be able to coÌ„fort the afflicted must of necessitie haue experience in the Scriptures To haue the name of the Ministerie without the substance of it is an absurde thing They that can not perfourme the office of the Ministerie must not reape the fruites of it The Ministers that are vnskilfull of the Scriptures oughte to bee remoued from their places They do moste grieuoâ—sly offende whiche beeing placed in the Ecclesiasticall Ministery doe still neglect the holy Scripture Albeit the studye of the holy Scripeurs doe especiallye become the Ministers of the worde yet maye not the Laitie therefore reiect it There is no degree of men among Christians to whome it perteyneth not exactly to learne the holy Scriptures Kings and Princes must reade also the holy Scriptures All Câ—urtiers and noble men must diligently reade the holy Scriptures Iudges Consuls Pretors must exercise themselues in reading the holy Bible Neither must souldiors neglecte to reade the holy Scriptures Lâ—wiâ—rs ougâ—â— to be familiarly acquainted with the holi Scripturs Phisitions also muste deuoutly trauâ—ile in the Scriptures It is expedient that Merchant men also and Artificers should profit in the Scriptures To husbandmen also is commended the reading and hearing of the Scriptures It is expedient that Boyes and Mothers also be instructed in the holy Scriptures There be certayne duties common to all Christians whiche it is needefull for theÌ„ to learne out of the holy Scriptures All Christians muste endeuor to shewe themselues to be true members of the Churche Euerye Christian ought to bee readye to render a reason of hys Fayth to euerye one that asketh it Euery Christian ought to foresee prouide that hee erre not or be not deceiued in the doctrine of Religion There is no ChristiaÌ„ that standeth not in neede to be reproued for his sinnes and oft times to be admonished No Christian caÌ„ be without comfortes The Conclusion The willing mind easilie findeth oportunitie to do well It is false to saye that in reading there is labour and griefe How we maye get leysure oportunitie to read the holie Scriptures That a time certain ought to be giuen to the reading of the Scriptures VVhat time most apt to the reading of the Scriptures How much euery day to be read The Canonical bookes of the olde Testament Let a man read dayly certaine chapters but vvithout superstition The depth and maiestie of the holy Scriptures ought not to fray vs froÌ„ the reading of theÌ„ No maÌ„ ought to complayne that he cannot vnderstaÌ„d the Scripturs howe we maye attayne to the vnderstaÌ„ding of them Some thinges we are ignoraÌ„t of to cure benefite Howe thou mayste gather spirituall profite by the thyngs that thou readest The power of the spirite worketh priuiely through the worde is the heartes of the readers and hearers Certain Chapters or fountains to which all things in the holy Scriptures ought to be referred Teaching Reprouing Instructing Correcting Comforting Conclusion Jmprinted at London by Henry Bynneman 1579.
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
the sonnes of men reioyceth to be named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to saye the Word and the same preaching without intermission or ceasing hath declared the wil of his heaueÌ„ly father Prouerb 8. Ioan. 1. Heb. 1. And moreouer amongst the things that are exercised in the Church the Word holdeth the chiefe place yea and euen the very force and dignitie of the mysticall actions or Sacramentes dependeth vppon the worde of god Wherevppon it pleased some of the learned fathers and especiallye Augustine vppon Iohn in his Sermon 80. and against Faustus booke 19. Cap. 16. to tearme the same very Sacramentes visible wordes What néede anye long circumstaunce GOD by his worde openeth bothe himselfe and all his benefites and graces vnto man and by faith in the worde man is ioyned vnto GOD and made partaker of eternall blessednesse Wherefore we maye moste truely auouch that to reade the holy Scripture with a godly affection is euen all one to talke and conferre with GOD and to heare God talking and conferring with vs Certes as often as thou readest of precepts exhortations promises threatnings iudgements rewardes punishmentes and other things of like sorte so ofte doest thou heare God himselfe of a truth speaking vnto thée Againe as ofte as thou readest of any confession of sinnes crauing of pardon prayer giuing of thanks or anye suche like so ofte dost thou thy selfe speake vnto god For in these pointes chiefly do consist the naturall commonings betwixte God and men and in these things resteth the substaunce of all sacred sayings and sentences Wherefore then to goe aboute to forbidde or withholde anye man from the reading hearing and vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures is euen as much in effecte as to commande him to dissemble or deny himselfe to be a man that so he mighte be depriued of the power of speaking and of the fruite and benefite of reason Hierome maruelleth and stomacketh the matter and counteth it intollerable if anye man shoulde so presume Forsomuch saith he in the proheme of his exposition of the Epistle of Saint Paule to the Ephesians as we differ from all other creatures in this point chieflg that we are endued with reason and haue the vse of speaking and al reason and holy speach is contayned in the bookes of God by which we both learne to know God and also to what ende wee be created I maruaile greatly at some who either giuing themselues to slouthfulnesse and slepe wil not learne the things that are excellent or else seeke to reproue others that bend themselues that waye Which men whereas I might more straightly stop their mouths shortly send theÌ„ packing either eased or pleased in vouching that it is much better to reade the Scriptures than to gape so greedily after the encreasing and hourding vp of riches I will content my selfe onelye in saying this whiche I maye obtaine euen before a moste incompetent Iudge namely that my vocation from labor and quiet solitarinesse of mind is more pleasant vnto me than al other solemnities whatsoeuer Hitherto Hierome Where if so be nowe it belongeth to mans duetie to loue and learne the words of God declared at large in the holy Scriptures forasmuche as we haue giuen vnto vs of God the power and vse of speaking howe muche more ought we wholly to be addicted vnto them which professe our selues to be ChristiaÌ„s For truly how honorable the name of Christian is and what thinges it putteth vs in minde of it shoulde be good for vs oftentimes and déepely in minde to consider He that nameth a Christian comprehendeth in one worde whatsoeuer maye be added to the dignity of a man He that nameth a Christian vnderstandeth a man to be of the number of those whome God himselfe hath pronounced to be a chosen generation a kingly Priesthoode a holy Nation a people freely purchased Exod 19.1 Pet. 2. He that nameth a Christian signifieth a man to be choseÌ„ of God the father before the foundations of the worlde were layed to bée deliuered by the son of God Iesus Christ out of most miserable captiuitie and out of the bondage of most cruell Tirants the Diuel Sinne and Death to be regenerate by the holy Ghost into the Churche of CHRISTE to bée adorned wyth newe Righteousnesse wyth Fayth Loue and other vertues and spirituall graces vnto whome lastely is appointetd prayse and immortall glorie and also eternall felicitie bothe of bodye and soule bringing with it more bountifull and large benefites than the eie of anye man can sée the eare heare or the hart be able to conceiue Ephes 1. Rom. 8. Esay 64.1 Corinth 2. Suche and so greate is the excellencie of a Christian man But whence I praye you taketh a Christian this name Thou wilt say I am sure of CHRIST Act. 11. But howe then commeth a Christian man by those incomparable benefites and by euerlasting blessednesse Forsooth euen by the knowlege of GOD the father and of his sonne oure sauiour IESVS CHRIST This is eternall life saith our sauiour Christe Ioan. 17. To knowe thee the onely true GOD and Iesus Christe whome thou haste sente And Peter Act. 4. saith There is no other name giuen vnto men vnder Heauen wherein wee can bee saued but onely the name of Iesus Christe Paule in like maner 1. Corinth 1. saith CHRIST became vnto vs the wisedome of GOD and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption But there is no maÌ„ that can distinctly and without ambiguitie know GOD the father or his sonne Iesus Christe the authour and beginner of Christianitie oute of that former booke Concerning the nature of things or out of anye inuentions of mans wisedome whatsoeuer but onely and alone by the reading of the holy Scripture reuealed from aboue Whiche thing to be true oure Sauioure Christe himselfe testifyeth Ioan. 5 saying Search the Scriptures for they are they that testifye of mee And to the intents the sonne oure Sauioure might be the better knowen of his Disciples he interpreteth many places of the Scriptures as touching his owne person The like did the Apostles also and Euangelistes with greate diligence Therefore whosoeuer he be that desireth to be saluted by the name of a Christian and to be accounted among those that knowe Christe and that looke for saluation promised in Christe him truely it standeth vppon to acquainte himselfe with the holy Scriptures and to make them as familiar vnto him as is possible As no manne can make the Iewes beléeue that he is of the Iewish secte which holdeth none of the traditions of their Thalmud and as the Turkes will receiue none for a worshipper of Mahomet that cannot alleage at the leaste some of his decrées oute of their Alcoran â—o is it not likely that he in good earnest and from his hearte shoulde be a Christian that cannot in some measure oute of the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles declare who Christe is and what inestimable benefites he hathe purchased to mankinde For in verie
giueth himselfe to the reading of the holy Scriptures should alwayes be neglected or go without fruite for as much as albeit wee are destitute of mans direction yet the Lorde himselfe comming downe into our heartes from aboue doeth illuminate our minde lighteneth our reason reuealeth the things that are hidden and becommeth a teacher of those things that we know not so as we only will bring with vs such things as we haue Cal no mā maister sayth he vpon earth Whensoeuer therefore wee take into our handes the booke of life let vs casting aside all worldly care bridle our affections and restrayning our minde that it wander not hither and thither let vs with great deuotion and attentiuenesse apply our selues to reading that so we may be guyded by the holy ghost to the true vnderstanding of the Scriptures and receyue therby much fruite Thus much Chrisostome But what doe I stande in recompting the Christians of that age A number of the Gentiles who had neyther oute of the Lawe nor oute of the Gospell anye knowledge at all of Christe gaue themselues in those dayes to the reading of the holy bookes All of them in generall were of opinion that this care especiallye became them whosoeuer at leaste were anye thing at all desirous of honesty and their own welfare The Eunuch Lieutenaunte of Caudace Quéene of the Ethiopians hauing as it is verie likely not hearde any thing as yet of CHRIST passed his tyme not onely at home when his leysure serued hym but also when he trauailed abroade and was throwen to and fro with the iotting of his Chariot in reading of the Prophet Esay Act. 8. Whiche diligence and godly disposition was so wel liked of GOD oure heauenly father who euermore beholdeth from aboue all oure studies and actions that he sente forthwith vnto hym in verye good season Philippe the Apostle that hée shoulde open vnto hym the harde places and sette downe a compendious summe of tree Religion of and concerning CHRIST his sonne Neither is it to be doubted but that GOD woulde haue the Bookes of holy Scripture long before translated out of the Hebrewe tongue into the Gréeke to the intente they mighte afterwarde be read not onely of the Iewes whiche vnderstoode the Hebrewe speache alone but also of the Gretians that is of all mortall men whatsoeuer For why that vnder the names of Iewes and Gretians all mankinde is ofte tymes comprehended wée maye learne oute of the Apostle in more than one place or two Romaines 1.2.3.10 1. Corinth 1. Galathians 5. And that the Gréeke tongue was in the Apostles time euerie where knowen and muche sette by the Historiographers doe not obscurely declare All Asia for the moste parte sounded the Greeke hauing long before felte the force of Gréekish conquerours and in the selfe same Country the Iewes loathing as a man woulde saye their Hebrews language wrote and compiled bookes in the Gréeke stile as Iosephus Philo and others In Affrica the cunninger that euerie one was in the Gréeke the excellenter he was compted as bothe the Schoole and Librarie of Alexandria doe testifye in Europe ouer and besides that a number of Gréekes doe inhabite and dwell euen Italy also and Rome it selfe as being verye ambitious and not contented with the furniture of hir owne Countrey speach hath maintained as Strabo reporteth lib. 4. verye manye Gretians and brought foorth suche as haue written whole bookes and Commentaries in Gréeke So farre foorthe that a man might well saye that the Athenienses are frée Denizens at Rome But in very déede howe muche more we maruaile at and as méete it is extoll the diligence and industrie as well of the Christians as of the Gentiles of that age in reading the bookes of holy Scripture which were found written alonely in the Hebrewe and Gréeke tongue so muche the more vehemently ought we openly in the sight of all men to deteste and abandon the greate slouth and negligence of the people of oure dayes For leaste that any man should pretend that by reason of his ignorance in the Gréeke or Hebrewe tongue he is letted front reading the holy Scriptures We haue all the Bookes of holy Scripture extant in the Latine tongue which is vsed and frequented of a greate number no lesse happilye than faithfully expressed and that of diuers and the same moste learned Interpreters which Saint Augustine reporteth also of his time entreating De Doctrina Christiana lib. 2. Cap. 5. And not onely in the Latine tongue but in others also which in times past were accompted not without contempte barbarous and vnciuill yea and there is in a maner no coaste or prouince in the whole worlde in whiche maye not be found the holy Bible turned into the same Countrey language The Italians Germaines Frenchemen Spaniards likewise Britaines Danes Rutters Polonians Swezians Slauoniās to be short all other Christians whatsoeuer haue among them to be solde and may easily come by the olde and newe Testament translated into the selfe same phrase and language that they themselues doe vnderstand Therefore like as the Apostle acknowledgeth and giueth thankes vnto God for his incomparable benefite whereby he spake with many tongs 1. Corinth 14. so is it méete requisite likewise that Christians be thankefull vnto God to euerie of whome it is graunted in their owne proper and peculiar tong to reade the holy and sacred Scriptures This onelye we oughte to be carefull for namely that we bée not founde slacke and slouthful in reading When oure Lorde Iesus Christe shal come at the laste day to iudgement peraduenture some of the Gentiles that liued in the Apostles time will goe aboute to excuse themselues that in those dayes were extant onely the Copies of the Gréekes tongue alone oute of whiche they shoulde haue learned by reading the doctrine of the Law and the Gospell But who will auouche that that excuse shall goe for payment That dare no manne doe as I thinke Then what shall become of the men of oure time that doe beholde the selfe same doctrine expressed in so manye tongues at this daye and yet do not care for it but reiect and abandon it Truely I am afraide that there will be lefte vnto them no manner of pretence at all whereby they maye cleare or defende themselues Where if so be we imagine that it will come to passe by some prerogatiue or straunge priuiledge that wée alone withoute the reading and knowledge of Gods word shal in time to come be memored with the faithful we are far wide as they say do vtterly deceiue our selues without Christ there is no passage for any mā into Heauen forasmuch as he is the dore the waye the truth and the life but the way to Christe the Scripture it selfe pointeth forth as it were with the finger For truly is it said of Hierom in his preface to the first booke of his cōmentaries vpon Esai To be without the knowledge of the Scriptures is to be without the
knowlege of Christe Let vs sée now what was done in certaine ages folowing It is the fashion of some of the common sorte wheÌ„ there is anye newe doctrine or maner of teaching especially in Philosophie firste sette abroache to flocke by by togither by heapes to be sodainely inflamed with a feruent desire of learning But as soone as they haue receiued any smacke or tast fo suffer their heate by little little to waxe colde in continuance of time to be quyte extinct aswel their doctrine as their whole secte if anye were risen to vanish away Much like as if a greate fire being kindled after it hathe for a certaine space shewen forth a huge light bin séene a great waye off by little little ceasseth to caste foorth any sparke or flame and last of all hath nothing lefte but smoake ashes whereof yet the one goeth into the ayre and the other are scattered with the winde But so muste we not iudge of the holy Scriptures For albeit the Apostles died were buried yet was by no means the studie Diuinitie buried with them The Iewes had an antient custome among them namely throughout euerie Citie when they come togither in their Sinagogues on the Sabaoth dayes to recite publikely certaine Chapters oute of the Lawe the Prophets which forthwith some one or other expounded in a familiar kinde of order to the capacitie and instruction of the hearers The selfe same forme of reading and interpreting was by the Apostles brought into the congregations or assemblies whiche in respecte of that time the faithfull were suffered to haue as maye appeare Luc. 4. Act. 13 15. 1. Corinth 14. That which the Apostles obserued in their time their successours the Pastors of Churches neuer suffered to be intermitted or broken off no not so muche as turn then when the affaires of the Christians were broughte into greate extremities and Tyrantes soughte by all meanes to worke their decaye For they neuer ceassed to haue their méetings and assemblies as appeareth euen by the testimonie of Plinie in his Epistle to Traiane the Emperoure They vse sayth he before day light to come ordinarily togither What was accustomed to be done in these assemblies manye credible writer doe reporte Iustine who liued in the yeare of Christes incarnation 1â—0 in his seconde Apologie which he wrote for the Christians hath these words On the day whiche is called Sunday all that remaine in the townes or fieldes doe come togither into one place where the bookes of the Prophets or Apostles are read so long as an houres space will suffer Then when hee which readeth leaueth off hee that is chiefe among vs admonisheth and exhorteth that wee shoulde diligently follow and embrace those good lessons that are read theÌ„ rise we all and praye togither Clemens Alexandrinus who florished Anno. 200 lib. 7. Stromatum sayeth that the sacrifices whiche they vsed in those dayes were prayers and thanksgiuings and lessons of the Scriptures which they read before meate From these Disagréeth not Tertullian who liued Anno. 230. Apologetici Cap. 39. Wee come togither sayth he to the reading of the holy Scriptures if the qualitie of the times present enforceth vs to forewarne or reknowlege any thing Forsooth with holy words we feed our faith we erect our hope we establish our trust and neuerthelesse with often repetitions and suggestions we confirme the discipline of preceptes Dionisius also the author of the Ecclesiastical hierarchie about the. 300. yere of our Lord entreating of the mysterie of the Lords supper saith very plainly By the office of the Ministers is orderly recited the lesson of the holy Scriptures And a little after The most sacred songs and readings of the Scriptures do minister vnto them directions as touching the gouernement of life and whiche in order goeth before teacheth the amendment of their corrupte affections and most pernicious nature Who wold require no witnesses to be produced And séeing Iustine liued in Asia as borne in Nicopolis a town of Palestine as Ierom reporteth was conuersant at Rome and else where in Europe Tertullian in Affrica Clemens at Alexandrîa in Egipt for as touching Dyonisius wée haue as yet no certaintie It is euident hereby that there was euery where in those daies so far forth as concerned the reading of the holy Bible a greate wonderfull consent But when as after the stormes and tempestes of persecutions were once by the singular prouidence of God appeased assuaged the godly had a time of respite graÌ„ted vnto them the Churches beganne nowe to be increased which came to passe if not in the time of Philip the Emprour Anno. 250. whom Eusebius lib. 6. cap. 25. Orosius lib. 7. cap. 20. doe reporte to haue bin the firste Christian Prince of any power that euer was after Christe yet certes vnder Constantine aboute the yere of Grace 320 thou shouldest haue séene if a man may credite Eusebius high and stately temples builded vp to the Lord wherein were practised the selfe same things that late before wer vsed in priuate houses And leaste that anye thing in this behalfe shoulde at any time be confusedly or negligently done there were appointed in all Churches readers vnto whom was enioined by the Bishop the office of Reading who deliuered vnto them in the presence of all the people the holy and sacred Bible As touching whiche matter thou mayste reade in the 8. canon of the fourthe councell of Carthage and in Gratian distinct 23. Moreover leaste any other Bookes than those that are accompted to be Canonicall shoulde be read it was prouided by the councell of Laodicea whiche was helde anno 370. canon 59. and by the third councel of Carthage canon 47. And that Iohn Chrisostome and many others who were afterwarde of great authoritie in the Churche first supplied the office of Readers before they aspired to anye higher promotions maye be auouched verye clearely by Histories Nowe the Homilies that is to saye the Sermons diuised and made by the holy fathers whyche are extante euen from the time of Origen to the Empires of Charles the greate during whose raigne Alcuinus and Beda two of the laste Authors in a maner of these Sermons flourished do proue euidentlye that the same custome whiche wée spake of euen now was obserued in all Churches Reade I pray you but the beginnings only of the homilies of Origen vpoÌ„ the bookes of Moses certain others reade likewise the beginnings of Chrisostome prefixed before his expositions vpon a good part of the bookes of holy Scripture made vnto the people reade the dyuers sundrie entries of Sermons of Saint Augustine especially where he entreateth De verbis Domini Serm. 15.33 De verbis Apostoli Serm. 1. Again very many of Maximus the Bishop Bede and other moâ— and euen forthwith in the very shorte exordiums or beginnings of their Sermons ye shall perceiue howe by them though they were Doctours of diuers times and
the Laitie ought to haue not onely sufficiently but abundauntly also the worde of Christe dwelling in them and that they ought to teache or admonishe one an other But what me thinketh thou bitest in thy lippe and couertly mockest me crying out against me that there is not so muche as one crumme of Hieroms meaning in those Commentaries Go to verily if thou wilte be it so But what if we sette downe other things whiche thou neuer darest to reiect as straunge or counterfaite and yet haue the selfe same meaning that the wordes goyng before haue Heare what hée sayth expounding the seconde Chapiter of the Epistle to Titus Lette the senses bee exercised and the minde dailye fedde with diuine readings and so shall our questions not become foolishe There is no man in a manner but knoweth the learned and long Epistle of Hierome written to Paulinus In this is contayned a huge heape of moste excellent reasons prouoking to the study of the holy Scriptures where are so digested and putte in order that the whole Epistle séeth not to bée written to Paulinus alone but generallye also to all Christians In consideration wherof it came to passe also that our auncestours nowe for certaine ages paste whoulde haue the same as a most profitable instructiō like as it is in very déed to be prefixed set before the holy Bible And albeit in the same Epistle he somwhat sharply inueyeth against the impudency and rashnes of some men which take vpon thē to teach the Scriptures before they haue learned thē cōplayneth that they to wit the holy Scriptures are of euery pratling Gossup doting olde man babling Sophister finally of all sortes of people too too vnreuerently handled and mangled yet neuerthelesse intending to signify that no manne of what state or condition soeuer oughte to be restrayned from the reading of them hée addeth immediatelye after That in them doe therefore appeare a certaine simplicitie and basenesse of wordes to the intent the rude and rusticall people mighte the more easily bee instructed and not only the learned but also the vnlearned receiue profite euerye one according to their capacitie And to learne verily it lyeth al mē vpon indifferently to teach not so But there is moreouer in Hieroms iudgement somewhat peraduenture that the haters of holy Doctrine will more maruaile at In as muche as he doeth not onely couet to haue men to exercise themselues in reading the holy Bookes But also he exhorteth commaundeth and vehemently vrgeth that Virgins that matrones entangled with the cares of houshould matters that widowes would giue themselues to the selfe same studies of holy scripture For so he writeth to Demetriades in his Epistle or booke De Viginitate seruanda This one thing O thou daughter of God And chiefly loe this one I will thee tell and ofte thee warne The same to thinke vpon Namely that thou occupy thy mind in the loue of holy reading neither suffer the good grounde of thy hart to bee infected wyth the seede of Darnell and Tares Leaste the goodman of the house beyng asleepe which is Nous that is to saye the minde alwayes cleauyng to God the enimy come and sowe Cockle in it c. Againe he sayeth Determine with thy selfe howe many houres thou oughtest to bestowe in learning the holye Scripture howe muche time in reading not to wearye thee but to delighte and instructe thy soule Straighte after there followe preceptes as touching handye laboure as of Spinning Weauing and so forthe Then in the latter end of the same Epistle Ioine saith hée the end to the beginning neither am I content once to haue admonished thee loue the holy Scriptures and Wisedome will loue thee loue hir and shee will saue thee honour hir and shee will embrace thee Furthermore in Epistola ad Celantiam matronam whiche is entituled Of the Institution of a good Huswife for whether it bée Hieroms as some thinke or of Pautinus doyng as othersome will haue it I neyther nowe dispute neither doth it greately skill séeing it is agréede vppon among all menne that it is bothe godly and learned and also compiled in that age we reade thus Let thy chiefe and principall care bee to knowe the lawe of God by the whiche thou mayste as it were beholde the present examples of the saintes before thine eyes Learne by the counsell thereof what thou oughtest to doe and what thou oughtest to leaue vndone For the greatest furtheraunce to righteousnesse that can be is to replenishe the harte and soule with the sweete testimonies of the Lord and that which thou couetest to execute indeede alwaies to ponder and meditate in thy minde To the people yet rude and not vsed to obedience it is commaunded of the Lorde by Moses that for a token of memorie wherby they might remember the commaundementes of the Lorde they should throughout the skirtes of their garmentes haue certaine ornamentes of purple and scarlet coloure indifferently meynte that euen when they looked by chaunce hither and thither they mighte still bee putte in minde of the heauenly commaundements And straitwayes after a fewe words comming betwéene hée sayth Seeing thou keepest not nowe the preceptes of the Letter but of the Spirite thy mindefulnesse of the diuine commaundements is spiritually to bee garnished whereby thou haste not so often to recorde the precepts of the Lorde as alwayes to thinke vppon them Let the holy Scriptures therfore be euermore in thy handes and ponder them continually in thy minde thinke it not ynoughe for thee to keepe the commaundements of God in thy minde and in thy deeds to forgette them But for this cause learne to know that thou mayst do whatsoeuer thou haste learned to be done Againe in the same place So farre forth be careful for thy house as thou mayst notwithstanding bestow some tyme in caring for thy soule Choose to thy selfe some fitte place somewhat remoued from the noyse of thy family wherevnto as vnto a Hauen as a man whoulde saye oute of a huge tempeste of cares conuey thy selfe and the waues of thy thoughtes that were raysed withoute dispose thou within to tranquilitie and quietnesse See thou bestowe there so much study in holy reading so often and plentifull prayers so firme and precise consideration of things to come as that thou mayste easilye by this occasion make amendes for all the lettes of the residue of thy tyme. Thus much hathe hée there Nowe let vs sée what Hierome requireth of widowes in this behalfe ad Saluinam de viduitate seruanda hée sayeth Bee alwayes occupied in reading the holy Scriptures and vse so often and feruent prayers that al the dartes of euill thoughts wherewith youth is wonte to bee pierced thoroughe maye with this shield bee beaten backe Likewise to Furia the widowe hée sayeth When thou goest to meate remember that by and by thou oughtest to praye and euen forthwith also to reade Oute of the holye Scriptures haue a certaine number of verses fixed in
that time counted for moste precious householde stuffe and euery house was after a sorte I say not only a schole but euen a Churche also adorned and beautifyed with the dayly exercises of reading the Scriptures interpretations and prayers Of whyche houses it is certaine that the Apostlement whē to the Romaynes the sixtéenth he saluted the Churche which was in the house of Prisca and Aquila and when as writing to Philemon he wisheth well to the whole Churche that remayned in his house But what thinkest thou woulde those holye fathers saye if it were so that they might now liue again They gently friendly admonishe they seuerely cōmaunded one while publikely to all another while priuately to euery one that they shoulde themselues with all care and enforcemente fashion and conforme their mindes by the reading of the holy Scriptures and this did they at that time wherin the Common weales were on euery side afflicted with warres and tumultes wherein the Churches were with the stormes of Heresies and Schismes vtterly in a manner ouerwhelmed and torne in sunder wherin was a horrible and lamentable confusion almoste of all humaine affaires wherein men were constrained to paye verye deare for their bookes written in parchments and yet notwithstanding they had innumerable hearers of euery sort age and sexe which gently toke in good parte their godly admonitions and most willingly obeyed the same But now when as al things are indifferently quiet both at home and abroade and we inioye if no continuall rest yet at the least a releasement of many troubles when the copies of the holy Bookes by reason of the newe art of Printing found out by the prouidence of GOD are in all partes of the worlde solde for little eyther howe many prouinces may we see in which neyther Byshop nor doctour nor Pastor nor elder nor yet any other maketh any mention at all of buylding pervsing at home of the bookes of the holy Byble Nay rather whyche is farre more bitter and shamefull to be spoken as that whyche tendeth to the vnspeakeable reproche of Gods glorie and of the true and Catholike Churche there are founde in some places Prelates of Churches whiche with grieuous threatnings and penalties doe vtterly forbidde the people to reade them or once to meddle with them Yea and we haue tryed by experience that some good men haue bene sore punished of suche for that they had begunne to reade how little soeuer it were at home in their houses And whych thou mayste more maruell at when the wicked rage of some cursed persons coulde not with thys crueltie be satisfied they tooke delighte moreouer to bring to passe that the like outrage shoulde be shewed euen to the harmlesse bookes themselues For euen in our time the holy Bibles haue in some places openly and by publike officers bene cursed to the fire and consumed to ashes As who shoulde say there were come vnto vs againe from Hell Iehioachim and his rablement of flatterers presuming to burn the Sermons whiche Baruch receyued from the mouth of Ieremye Ieremie 36. As thoughe there were come againe the tyraunt Antiochus whose men of war tare the volumes of the lawe in péeres and set them on fire intendyng by that meanes to gratifye their maister whome they knewe to be fullye minded vtterly to roote out all the Iewish religion 1. Machab. 1. And as though there were come againe Dioclesian who for the hatred he bare vnto Christ and to the Christians as witnesseth Eusebius in his booke 8. Chap. 2. of the Ecclesiasticall Historie deliuered al the bookes of the Prophetes and Apostles not sparing so much as one of them to the fire to be burned How long O Lord shal these abuse thy patience Seest thou so many and so greate iniuries to be done vnto thy name and yet deferreft thou to take vengeaunce To thée oh GOD to thee that art Lord of al reuengements we leaue vengeaunce thou when thou séest thy time wilt repaie But how am I fallen into this sincke whiche the more it is stirred the more foule and pestilent sauours it breatheth forth Truely this dolefull mention as touching the burning of Bibles is slipped from mée against my will but yet it is very true and the vnworthynesse of the thing enforced me vnto it But where there be none as I began to say to stir vp the people to the reading of the scriptures there must all of necessitie sticke in darkenesse and that more grosse and palpable than was the darkenesse of Egipt and as those that are attached with the disease called the Lethargie alwayes sléepe till they snort againe in the selfe same mischife and finally without all hope of recouerie die and be buried in a miserable ignoraunce of all heauenly and spiritual things Verily whilest I behold more néerely the great slouthfulnesse negligence of our Countrymen in this behalf I féele my selfe forth with to be so disquieted that I had much liuer to wéepe than to saye any thing at al. Let the men of our time yea let a number of proude ouer masterly Prelates as they cal them the fatte engrossers of Churches be ashamed be ashamed I saye to sée that in reading of the scriptures in debating of Christiā religiō poore séely maydens women of the auntient age wherein the famous doctors a little before named liued should far away surmount excell them without al cōparision Of these maydens and matrones some led their liues in the furthest partes of all Europe toward the North and yet with no smal charge and peril they sent messengers ouer Sea and lande some to Ierome into Asia othersome to saint Augustine into Africa others to be short into other places and all to this ende and purpose that they mighte haue certaine darke and obscure places of the Scriptures more clearely opened and expounded vnto them Who I beséech you would not willinglye imbrace these godly heartes so greately inflamed with desire of perceyuing the truth And yet in these our dayes there is founde euerye where and in all sortes of men so great slouthfulnesse dulnesse ignorance barbarousnesse I knowe not well what tearme apte ynough I shoulde vse that no man will eyther come or sende to the schole open in the nexte towne by no man will repayre to the Churche standing harde before his doores and alwayes open for all men to come vnto no man wil resort to his neyghbours house thoughe neuer so neare vnto hym of purpose to require anye thing to be declared vnto hym out of the scriptures yea they oftentimes come togither vnder one and the selfesame roofe they eate dayly at one common table and yet are they so estraunged as it were with a certaine lothsomnesse and fulnesse of stomacke that one is ashamed to aske and learne any thing of another Verily I can scarcely beléeue that our auncestoures in whome there was so feruente a desire of vnderstanding the holy scriptures if they should but sée
Churches if so be they suffer theÌ„selues to be ouercome in the exercise of reading of Lawyers Phisitions Orators Oh howe truly and grauely is it sayde of Byshoppe Leo the firste in hys Epistle 22. to the Cleargie and people of Constantinople If Ignoraunce seeme intollerable in the Laitie then howe muche more is it vnworthye eyther of excuse or pardon in those that haue the ouersighte of Churches But it is not néedefull that wée shoulde stande longer in handling of thys cause woulde GOD the things that wée haue presentlye touched myghte bée well layde vppe and faste fixed in memorye and then at least-wise some Ministers of Churches woulde wyth these reasons whyche wée haue alleadged bée rouzed vppe and indeuoure to become not onelye readers of the holye Scriptures themselues but also Readers and Expounders of the same vnto others But wée muste not thinke that hereby it is proued that those whyche they call Laie menne are by the like reason discharged and maye passe theyr tyme wythout the pervsing and vnderstandyng of the holye Scriptures For wiselye didde Byshoppe Leo of whome wée hearde euen nowe ioyning the cause of the Laitie wyth the cause of the Ministers of the Churche determine that ignorance of the Scriptures is intollerable euen in Layemenne also Truelye they are verye fonde that doe thus reason The Pastors of Churches oughte continuallye to bée occupyed in reading the word of GOD therefore the Laitie néede not so to doe These men shoulde haue remembred that some dueties are for iuste and wayghtye causes so inioyned to a certaine kynde of menne as thoughe they agréed peculiarlye vnto them alone when as in the meane tyme by reason they are directed vnto Vertue that is to Faith Hope and Charitie they are common to moe yea to all menne vniuersallye wythoute exception and agayne they shoulde haue considered that for iuste causes and considerations certayne vices are in such wise forbidden as thoughe a peculiar sorte of menne onelye oughte to beware of them and yet in verye déede they are forbidden indifferentlye to all But by examples produced wée shall bring to passe that euerye manne maye perceiue it to be true that wée saye The fifte commaundement in the Decalogue séemeth to prescribe onely vnto them of Obedience whose naturall parentes of whome they are begotten bée aliue Honour sayth it thy Faaher and thy Mother But yet no man can deny that in the self same precept it is commaunded that all inferiour persons generallye shoulde yéelde honour and obedience to their superiors For why al muste obey the Magistrates and the Prelates of Churches againe Wardes must obey theyr Gardians Disciples their Tutors Souldiours theyr Capitaine Craftsmen theyr Craftsmayster Marriners theyr Pylot Seruantes and Handmaydens their Maisters and Maistresses and so forth of other degrées But namely and especiallye the example is set downe as touchyng chyldren forasmuche as in them it is conuenient that a greater obedience doe shine forth than in any others In the seauenth commaundement GOD forbiddeth that anye man shoulde breake Wedlocke or commit Adultry Some man perhaps therefore would thinke that it is meante onelye of them that are maried and that Adultry and not Fornication whyche is properly of them that are single and vnmaryed is condemned But we learne partly out of Histories partly oute of the holy sayings of the Scriptures that al carnall company of man and woman out of lawful Wedlocke that is to saye not marryed togyther according to GODS ordinaunce is forbidden and as well Fornication as Adultry howsoeuer they be extinguished are punished of GOD alike 1. Corinth 6 Hebr. 13. But it pleased the holy Ghoste to giue forth this commaunment in suche a forme of wordes for that whereas all men and women oughte to be embracers of Cleanesse and Chastitie yet oughte marryed folkes inespecially to be giuen therevnto Hebr. 13. In like maner Exod. â—8 23 Leuit. 19. It is commaunded that suche Iudges shoulde be ordeyned as feare GOD as are louers of the truth and as are frée from couetousnesse Nowe these things are not so required of Iudges as though it were lawfull for other men to doe the contrarie without controlement but for so muche as when GOD requireth those vertues of all yet he woulde haue them to be séene especially in Iudges Of the same sorte it is that the Apostle 1. Timoth. 3. willeth suche a one to bee chosen Bishop as is vnreproueable the husbande of one wife sober not giuen to ouermuch Wine no fighter Nowe shall a man leaning vpon these wordes cauill and saye that it is lawfull for other whiche are no Bishops to defile themselues with the dregges of all manner of vncleanesse to be caried away wyth wandring lustes to be desguised with drinke and surcharged with Wine not to bridle their furie to flye vppon others with their fistes féete staues kniues and with whatsoeuer else commeth next to hande No but wée must vnderstande that there are required in all men maners vnreproueable chast sober discrete peaceable and that Bishops ought for these vertues to be commended and well spoken of before others After the same manner therefore must we interprete that the Ministers of Churches ought in déede of all other most diligently to searche and ransacke the Bookes of holye Scripture as to whose dutie it belongeth to teache the whole multitude but not so that the Laitie therefore are to be restreyned from the felowship thereof nay rather that the precepte as touching the reading of the Scriptures doe apperteyne to them also and that they ought to labour so far forth in accomplishâ—ng of it 〈◊〉 they may both more easilie vnderstand the publike teachers and also be able after a sort to instruct and 〈◊〉 at the least those of their owne householdes 〈…〉 â—es Wherefore the Apostle whiche willed Tiâ—â—â—â—â— and with him all the Ministers of Churches 1. Tim 4. to applye himselfe busilie to the reading of the Scriptures the same also commaundeth Coloss 3. men of all states and conditions to teach and admonish one another through the word of CHRIST dwelling in them And in the old Testament the only Tribe of Leuie had power and authoritie to deale with the Priesthode with the Sacrifices with the holy rites and to interprete the Lawe of GOD but yet to reade the holye Scriptures and likewise publikely to teach them when oportunitie serued it was left frée to euery mans choice and vnto all the Tribes indifferently to do it For why that there haue come forthe no small number of Prophets euen out of other Tribes also Epiphanius declareth in his Booke De vitis Prophetarum and Christ being descended of the Tribe of Iuda taughte openly in the Temple and in the Sinagogs no man forbidding him Paule in like sorte of the tribe of Beniamin was required oft times very curteously of the chiefe of the Iewes to speake vnto the people So then albeit it be verye requisite and necessarie that in euery felowship societie of men there
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
saith he more fonde than children that saye Blessed is euerye soule that is simple and hee that walketh in Simplicitie walketh in Faith. This truelye is the cause of all calamities that a great number can no skill to alleadge fitte testimonyes of Scripture for matters in question For the simple in that place is not to be taken for the Foole and for hym that knoweth nothing at all but for hym that is not euill for hym that is not craftye For if it shoulde so bee vnderstoode it hadde beene superfluous to saye Be yee wise as Serpentes and simple as Doues But nowe oughte euerye man very carefully to beware and take héede leaste he erre in anye wise in the Doctrine of Faith or be deceyued and beguiled of others The Angell of darkenesse oft times changeth himselfe into the likenesse of an Angell of lighte In these dayes are to be séene euery where greate swarmes of Hipocrites false teachers and enuious mē whiche doe breake into the Lords field by night and there sow darnell Againe there is no man priuie in his owne conscience that he is on euery side so confirmed in sound doctrine but that he may both be deceyued of others and also deceyue others yea and euen himselfe to Our firste Parentes Adam and Eue whome God had adorned as well with perfite righteousnesse as also with a most plentifull knowledge of all goodnesse and many other spirituall graces were notwithstanding beguiled of the subtil serpent and euen forthwith withoute any great striuing gaue consent to hys treacheries and illusions How and by what meanes therefore may we warrant our selues that we shall in no case be insnared or intangled when as we are both farre more weake than they and the old serpente dothe nowe no lesse craftily than in times past endeuoure by Heretikes and false teachers to intrap and circumuent vs He then may séeme rightly to be out of his wittes and euen to striue with reason it selfe whosoeuer feareth not ne standeth in doubte of suche a daunger And soothly that thou mayest arme thy selfe substancially against all pestilent opinions that thou mayst be able to auoyde to preuente and beate backe the strokes of the aduersaries who séeke on euery side with the enuenomed dartes of wicked arguments to assayle and set vpon thée and mayst stande so fast and perseuer so vnvanquishable in sound doctrine as is most méete and requisite thou hast néede to put on spirituall weapons the shield of faith the helmet of saluation but especially the sword of the spirit which is the word of God as the Apostle teacheth and commaundeth in the sixte of the Ephe. But thus doth he arme and defend himselfe that dayly and duly heareth readeth meditateth learneth the worde of GOD set forth in the bookes of holy Scripture For the Apostle Paul in the second Epistle to Timothy and third Chapter sayth very well that the Scripture is profitable to reproue and confute those that casting abrode the nettes of false opinions goe about to beguyle to maske and destroy the vnwary and weake What doctrine soeuer is first brought in it is necessarye that the same be tried by the touchstone of the holy Scripture as by a most absolute rule And there are to be found euery where in the sacred bookes as wel exhortations which do plainely shewe with what great héedfulnesse the authours of sects are to be auoyded as also counsels and certaine reasons whyche doe no lesse euidently declare how wisely and circumspectlye the same ought to be resisted Whych things do verye plainely proue that it is a most vaine toy that a number to beguile simple people withall do oft times iangle off and haue continually in their mouthes reading of the Scriptures doe by by become Heretickes But this speach is more worthy to be abhorred and abandoned than to be answered For what other thing else is this than to saye that the Phisicke wisely giuen and ministred of GOD himselfe is poyson and that sicknesse death is procured by that thing which is prouided to the furtherance of health and preseruation of life Shall we thinke him that we haue oftentimes spoken off Iohn Chrisostome to haue bene beside himselfe and voyde of reason who following the iudgement of the Apostle by howe muche more he sawe many Heresies to growe vppe in his time and in manner of the disease called the canker to créepe further and further by so muche more thought it necessarie to haue his hearers admonished that they shoulde diligently apply themselues to the reading of the holye Scriptures There were in déede at that time no small number of Heretikes as namely the Manichees the Anomaeans the Arians Aetians Eunomians Valentinians and Marcionites the Marcellians and Sabellians the Acoluthiās there were to be short Gentiles and such as following the Emperoure Iulianus had reuolted from the Tentes of the Christians for with all these it is euident that hée encountred by sharpning his penne againste them and so much the rather for that they vnmeasurably vexed the Churches of Constantinople and else where ouer all Greece and verye manye menne being otherwise not euill were seduced by them This necessitie therefore draue the most vigilant Bishoppe to stirre vp all mens mindes as well by bookes notoriously written as also by publike preachings and Sermons to the continuall reading of the propheticall and Apostolicke wrytings as wée haue more than once or twice here alreadye And in one place hée pronounceth that is we intende to resiste Heresies and to descerne the true Churche from the conuenticles of Heretikes we haue néede especially to the doing of it of the ayde and furtheraunce of the Scriptures Hys words in the exposition of the foure and twentie Cha. of Math. Homilie 49. are these In these dayes since Heresie inuaded the Churches there can no triall bee hadde of true Christianitie neyther is there any other refuge for Christians desirous to knowe the variety of Fayth than the holy Scripture of god Before indeed it was shewed many wayes whych was the Churche of CHRIST and whiche was Gentilitie but nowe it can no waye bee knowen of anye whyche is the true Churche of CHRIST but onely by the Scriptures And why Bycause that all these thyngs whyche are properlye Christes in trueth those Heresies haue also in Schisme they haue Churches alike and the holy Scriptures themselues they haue Bishops alike and other orders of Clearkes they haue Baptisme alike they haue the Eucharist alike and al other things and finally euen Christ himselfe A man therefore desirous to know which is the true Chuche of Christ howe shall he knowe in so great a confusion of likenesse but only and alone by the Scriptures Againe before tyme the Churche of Christ was knowen by hir very maners and conditions when the conuersation of Christians either of al or of the most was holy and blamelesse which was not so among the vngodly But nowe Christians are become as euill or worse than are
the Heretikes or Gentiles For to say the truth there is greater continencie founde among them though in schisme then among the Christians He therefore that will knowe whiche is the true Church of Christ how shal he know but only by the Scriptures The Lord knowing then that so great a confusion of things should happen in the later times therefore commaundeth that the Christians whiche are in the state of Christianitie and desirous to embrace the stedfastnesse of the true faith should haue recourse to no other thing than to the Scriptures Otherwise if they shall haue regard to any other matters they shal be offended and perishe not vnderstanding whiche the true Church is Thus much there Yea moreouer the same Father is bold to say that Heresies doe then chiefelye budde forth when men neglect to reade the holy Scriptures A great defence and bulwarke against sinne saith he in his 3. Homilie of Lazarus is the reading of the Scriptures a great downefall a daungerous pitte is the ignorance of the Scriptures a greate losse of saluation it is to know nothing of Gods lawes this thing hathe ingendred heresies this thing hathe broughte in corrupte life this thing hath turned all things vpside downe For it can not be no it can not be I say that any man should depart without fruite that is delighted with the continuall reading of the Scriptures The counsel therfore that we sée Chrisostome gaue the selfe same no doubte did other of the holye fathers giue also as Origen Hierome Augustine and suche like who then especially exhorted al men to the reading of the Scriptures when as Heresies euery where waxed rife In these sentences then as well of the Apostle Paul and also of Chrisostome and others laying forthe the lawfull vse of the holy Scriptures we wil willingly reste and if any shall be founde hereafter to the high reproche and slaunder of GODS diuine maiestie to crye out that the sacred Scripture doth minister matter and occasion of Heresie those vnlesse they wil be conuicted of high treason against the holye GHOST the author of the holye bookes we will commaunde and charge to hold their peace But if they shal go forward to speake blasphemies againste the holy GHOST then will wée with the martyre Polycarpus for so doth Iustine write of him to Florinus stoppe our eares with our fingers and turning vnto GOD saye O merciful GOD what tymes hast thou brought vs into that we should heare these things If euer at any time then vndoubtedlye at this time which ingendreth sectes not a fewe whereby the ignorant multitude is infected it were to be prouided that out of the most plentifull storehouse of the holy GHOST against the pestilent ayre of wicked opinions all good men would diligentlye procure to themselues in time preseruatiue remedies gathered out of the most excellent rules of the olde and newe Testamente whiche in déede ought to be preferred before all maner of costly and swéet smelling spices whatsoeuer Where if so bée anye malapert merchaunt or craftye cousiner be founde to abuse the Scriptures of themselues moste notable and most holesome to his own and other mens destruction there can nothing here truely be imputed to the Scriptures but what euill or mischiefe so euer bée taken it muste of necessitie be ascribed to the peruerse nature of men as well of the deceiuers as of the deceyued There is nothing at any time so excellent profitable and holesome that Satan and his Disciples dare not subtilly counterfayte and apply to another end than it ought to be but especially to do hurt Euil men make the ayre sunne fire water earth meate drinke to become hurtfull vnto them when they will not vse them aright The like iudgement is to be giuen of the worde of GOD which in the holy Scriptures is called a light a lanterne breade meate foode fire But indéed like as the Apostle saith that he preacheth CHRIST crucified vnto all that are called both of the Iewes Grecians the power of GOD and wisdome of GOD albeit the vngodly either Iewes or Gentiles should neuer so muche be offended and laugh him to scorn euen so is the course of our talke directed to the commendation of GODS worde to the intente the Godlye minded may receyue life thereby though the wicked and vngodly do snatch it and violentlye wrest it how and whithersoeuer they list themselues Againe howe many Christians may we finde whiche doe not now and then diuerse wayes ouershoote thēselues and fowly also fall If we say that we haue no sin we deceiue our selues and ther is no truth in vs as saith S. Iohn in the first Chapter of his first Epistle whervnto it behoueth vs al to subscribe For why it is requisite that euen the saints also do pray dayly as oure Lord and maister CHRIST hath taught and commanded saying Forgiue vs our debtes And the excellent Prophete Dauid Psal. 33. sayeth that all the holy ones shall cal continually vpon GOD to obtayne pardon for their sinnes I wil acknowledge sayth he my sinnes vnto the Lorde and thou hast pardoned my vnrighteousnesse For this cause shall all the godly pray vnto thee Wherefore there is no man liuing that standeth not in néede oft times of a controller or Iudge which may diligently admonish rebuke chasten and bring him into order But if it so fall out that men dare not reproue thée being a sinner or they vouchsafe it not or they doe it not so franckly and courteously as were to be wished and that peraduenture bycause thou art grieued if any doe deale with thée in that order then truely there remayneth this only aduice namely that thou reade with an attentiue minde the preceptes contained in the holye Scriptures the sentences the threatnings vttered of GOD againste sinners likewise the Sermons of the Prophetes and Apostles wherin the sinnes of all men and therefore thine also are openly and seuerely reproued humbly transfer vnto thy self whatsoeuer things thou findest agréeable to thy state By this meanes euen alone thou maist in good earnest be brought to the knowledge of thy sinnes from this knowledge secondly to repentaunce and from repentance finally to faith and amendment of life Adde moreouer that the Scripture doth finde out and condemne those secret sinnes in thée which men know not off and which thou wouldest be ashamed to confesse and so coulde neuer be reproued by the liuely sounding voyce of any man Therfore the holy Scripture when thou readest it speaketh only vnto thée alone it is a faithful kéeper of thy secrets it wil admonish thée of most weyghty affayres it wil not put into thy minde but those things that are excellent and of whiche peraduenture thou shouldst neuer haue heard anye thing of any man liuing For in good sooth this very worde whilest it is reuerently and with a feruent affection read or heard recited of another becōmeth quick and mighty in operation so that it pearceth to the very marow
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
by what meanes a man may pick out leysure and oportunitie to reade the holy Scriptures Verily I dare auouch that there is no kind of calling so vnwrapped or intangled in businesses wherein may not be had a conuenient respite to think vpon and accomplish somthing for the safetie and preseruation of the soule Among the offices that are full of difficulties and daungers maye be reckoned the kingdome the state of Consuls Lieutenauntes Iudges the gouernement of armies and if there bée anye honourable function besides in a great and mightie Commonwealth And it is euident that a greate number of men béeing in the sayde seuerall authorities verye famous and renoumed euen in the troublesome state of things and in the greatest flouds of cares and perplexities gaue notwithstanding a certaine portion of time to reading writing meditation consultatioÌ„ of coÌ„cerning difficult weighty affaires Examples of the Gentiles if any be delighted to heare he shall not néede to séeke farre for them It is reported that Alexander the Greate euen whilest he was busie in leadyng aboute his royall army of souldiours vsed to reade and write diuers and sundrye things and that if at anye tyme he was to ioyne battell with his enimy he woulde snatche vp some one booke or other for his purpose and reade whereby as by a counsailer and encourager he might be made both more apt and also more couragious to fight Octauius the Emperour if we maye credite Suetonius in a moste cruell battaile holden at Mutina a Citie of Gallia read wrote and declaymed dayly in the night time being awaked oute of sléepe he vsed a reader of Commentaries and when he was at home he would recite certaine writings of his owne to his familiar friends as vnto hearers in the Schooles Iulius Caesar as he happily fought sundry battells so put he the same himselfe as elegantly in writing and that euen in his Tentes in the noise of Trumpettes and in the confused clattering of armour and weapons so farre foorthe that a man maye doubte by whether of the two things he attained greater commendation And before thys man Cato Censorius famous for his skil both of warre and peace read very much year learned the Gréeke tong perfectlye when he was an olde man as afterwarde his graundchilde whome they called Vticensis wayting in the Courte till the Senate shoulde come togyther hadde his Bookes with him leaste any parte of the hour-glasse shoulde come forth without fruite Plinius Veronensis albeit hée was intangled with the affaires of the Courte of the lawe and of warfare yet didde hée neuer refraine hymselfe from Philosophie and from the insearching of hidden thyngs but whither he were taking his meate or iorneying or doing of some other thing he eyther read or hearde one reading wrote or indighted to one writing for him But omitting these Gentiles in whom no doubt shineth forth a wonderful industrie and care of good learning I thinke it muche better for godly and Christian people to haue the examples of godly men expounded that euen for the likenesse of religion and doctrine which they follow the mindes of all may become the more prompt and readie to imitate and imbrace the same Set before your eyes therefore the noble king Dauid a man strong and valiaunte both in war and in peace and right notable in battels and conquestes For hée whether it were so that flying the tyraunt Saule he one while wandered in obscure and forborne places another while susteyned woful banishment with the king of Geth or whither that he feared himselfe by reason of his sonne Absolon kindling the coaâ—s of ciuill warre against him or whither he should stande to the triall of battell abroade with his enimies or whither he ruled at home the raines of his kingdom was not only bent and inclined continually to the law which he had always about with him by gods coÌ„mÌ„adement but also in those most dolefull troublesome turmoyles he wrote and sang manifolde Psalmes Hys sonne and successour Salomon so administred his kingdome that he brought the same to a peaceable and most flourishing estate he was in his owne person the chiefe dealer in matter of iustice and equity the ambassadors whych kings and Princes sent vnto him as desirous to heare his wisdome and Councels he most wisely aunswered he builded moreouer most gorgiously and sumptuouslye but in al these things he omitted nothing as touching his manner of reading and pervsing the holy lawe yea he put forth parables and verses or sentences in great number he disputed most sharpely as touching summum bonum or the chiefe ende of man as is to be séene in Ecclesiastes as touching trées and plantes of beastes of birdes of wormes of fishes 1. King. 4. And what thinke yée did Ezechias and Iosias during the time of their seuerall gouernements in the studye and meditation of the holye Scriptures who to the reforming and preseruing as well of the Churche as of the common wealth vsing the counsell and aduice of the wisest of the Priestes and Prophets that age was ennobled by the excellent Prophetes Esaias Hoseas Micheas Ieremias lefte no way vnsoughte nor no stone vnturned But yet before a greate number of other that honourable Eunuch for his wonderfull diligence deserueth commendation who was the chiefe treasourer to a Quéene and alwayes occupyed in giuing and taking in casting and recasting of accomptes whyche is a moste troublesome office especiallye in a womans Courte and yet not so muche as euen then whâ—â— hée iourneyed by the waye and rode in a Chariot suffered hée the time to passe awaye withoute the reading of the Scriptures Of whome forbycause we haue spoken before nowe it shall be sufficient briefly to haue repeated thus much Notable is the praise of Cornelius the Centurion Captaine of the Italian band whom Luke Acts 10. setteth forth to haue béen a louer of sincere religion to haue feared and worshipped GOD wyth al his house which himselfe no doubt had so taught enformed to haue giueÌ„ willingly almes to the poore and finally wyth feruent prayers to haue called vpon God withoute ceassing But that he was suche a one withoute the reading and vnderstanding of the Scriptures wée canne by no means suspect séeing that euen Peter in his oration whiche he made to those that were assembled in the house of Cornelius saith playnely that the word which the Lord sent to the children of Israel preaching Peace by Iesus Christe the Lorde of all men was knowen vnto them Thou sést therfore that Kings and Princes Courtiers Lieutenaunts Capitaines whome no man can deny to be euermore distracted into manye and diuers affayres euen at what time they were in a maner oppressed with the waighte and burthen of businesses coulde finde some oportunitie to the readyng and meditation of Gods word how can then the colde and far fetched reasons take place that a number doe alleadge in greate plenty and I wote not withoute what coloured pretences to excuse
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