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
enclosed in this small but yet very noble case of his bodye whyche wythout ceasing do prouoke hym to procure a more plentifull knowledge of GOD and of hys wyll and whiche declare that hée is altogyther vnworthye the name of a manne that doeth not endeauoure him selfe wyth newe succoures and the same reuealed by GOD hym selfe to illustrate establishe and adorne those common lights of knowlege concerning GOD by nature engrauen in hym But to the intente that menne might of all times aspire to the knowledge and vnderstandyng of the power and will of God God himselfe hathe set forth openly in the sight of all men two large and ample bookes stuffed and replenished with manifolde doctrine whereout all things pertayning to the same his diuine power and will are fully and sufficiently to be learned The one of them is all this vniuersall worlde whiche of vs is inhabited and lyeth open on euerye side to the surueyall of oure senses the other is the worde of God comprised in the bookes and writings of the Prophets and Apostles Of whiche twoo bookes the dignitie and aucthoritie is wonderfull greate as in whyche are founde the Oracles and monumentes that doe not onely teache and instructe vs but also after a certaine secreate manner pricke vs forwarde to the performaunce and accomplishment of all and euery duty whatsoeuer And as touching the former booke that I may here enterlace somewhat who is he I beséeche you that in beholdyng as well by the eye sighte as in the insighte of the mynde thys moste noble and glorious frame of the worlde wyth all the partes thereof beginneth not by and by to thinke wyth hymselfe that hée of necessitie is moste myghtye moste wyse most excellente that hathe so wonderfullye from the begynning created all these thinges and that farre more wonderfullye and wiselye preserueth them and kéepeth them in order The heauens sayeth the Hebrewe king and Prophete Psalme 19. for why shoulde wée not rather borrowe fitte matter of proofe out of the holy Prophetes than out of Cleanthes of whome Tully speaketh or out of anye other Phylosopher besyde declare the glorie of GOD and the firmament sheweth his handy worke Againe the thyngs that are vnderneath these as namelye the Cloudes Windes Raines the Sea the Floudes the Mountaines Valleyes trées fishes stickering in the waters beastes both wilde and tame doe vncessauntlye as in the Psalme 104. prayse and magnifye god Nowe all these thynges togyther doe signifye vnto men that there is one certayne GOD whome for hys vnsearcheable Wisdome for hys righteousnesse and power for hys goodnesse for the benefites whyche wée daylye receyue of hym we oughte continuallye to reuerence to feare to loue to giue thankes vnto and finally for hys maiestie than the whych none can bée greater to worshippe hym to call vppon hym to glorifye hym and to pursue him with all manner of diuine honours and dueties whatsoeuer Which thing also the Apostle Rom. 1. concealed not For as much sayth he as that which maye be knowen of GOD is manifest to them for GOD hath shewed it vnto them For the inuisible things of hym that is his eternall power and godheade are seene by the creation of the world being considered in his works to the intente that they shoulde be without excuse And how many and wayghtie points and principles of religion are expressed in the holye Scriptures by similitudes comparisions and other suche like proues verye fitlye deriued from the nature and propertie of thyngs Truelye the whole Booke of Iob a good parte of the Psalmes and very manye of the Sermons of the Prophetes of Christe and the Apostles are full of examples Therefore Antonius an Hermite of the wildernesse in Egypt as we read in the Tripartite Historie booke 8. chap. 1. when on a time a certaine Philosopher demaunded of him howe he coulde attaine to contemplation of heauenlye thinges séeing he was destitute of all furniture of written bookes wisely aunsweared That all this world was to him in stead of a Librarie furnished with all maner of bookes and that this Library was at al times and in all places at hand and in a readinesse wherin he might reade so often as he woulde things heauenly and diuine Long before this Antony Clemens Alexandrnus lib. 6. Stromat defined that the creation of the worlde was the Scripture of GOD and that the preceptes of the Decalogue was promulgate and might be reade euen in the workes of nature With these agréeth Sainct Chrisostome in his 7. homily vppon the former Epistle to the Corinthians again in two other Homilies wherof the one is entituled Of fasting and of the reading of Genesis the other is accounted the 9. To the people of Antioche But it pertayneth not to our purpose at thys presente to vse anye further entreatye as touching this booke it is ynough to haue shewed in this order that al men at all times when so euer they beholde this world and the most beautiful partes thereof ought religiously to meditate of GOD and of things belongyng vnto GOD and so to take occasion both of well thinking and of well doing As for those in the meane time in whome appeareth a greater force sharpnesse of witte than in others we both exhorte and also louinglye beséeche them to bestowe a further diligence in searching the natures of thyngs And that not onlye bycause thys kynde of Phylosophye procureth a certaine honeste pleasure and delectation but much more for that when they haue once founde out the wonderfull force and operation of anye thyng they maye adore and extoll wyth prayse the greate power and Wisdome of GOD of whome such thyngs are created moreouer they maye quicken theyr Fayth and hope in GOD considering that all things are created for our behoofe and that all things necessarye for the sustentation of our weakenesse shall neuer at any time be wanting vnto vs Last of al they may discretely vse the things that are lawfull and giue thankes vnto GOD for them Vnto these thrée endes as vnto a scope or marke to ayme at shall the studious of naturall Phylosophye alwayes haue regarde vsing in the meane season euerye where thys caution or foresight namely that the Creatures be in no wise preferred before the Creator In whyche one poynte GOD the Creator as witnesseth the Apostle Paule Rom. 1. shoulde be dishonoured with a moste shamefull despight Wyth thys iudgemente who so euer shall haue studiouslye ensearched the natures and propertyes of thynges hée vndoubtedlye may bée estéemed to haue and that not a little profited in the Booke of Nature and to haue well deserued the prayse and worthye commendation of a diligente Scholler As touching the other Booke that is to saye the worde of GOD or the holye Scripture wée haue especiallye at thys tyme to entreate And that it is rightelye tearmed a Booke it maye appeare by this that GOD thoughte it not ynoughe by anye kynde of waye howsoeuer it were to publishe and proclayme
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
behoofe of many ages and to be short turne thē into diuers and sundry languages and finally transport them ouer withoute any businesse into Countreys and Prouinces both farre and néere This most holesome purpose and aduise therefore accomplished by the wonderfull prouidence of God and taken in hand for our incomparable benefite that man vndoubtedly séemeth ouermalapartly to despise that maketh not accompte of the Bookes of holy Scripture as he ought to doe and so refuseth eyther to reade them or heare them But as oft as I call to remembrance the diligence of the auntiente Fathers whiche liued long before the Bookes were published by GODS commandement and againe consider the great sloth and sluggishnesse of the people of our time verily I am vehementlye moued in mind and do in a maner whollie quake for feare Neyther doe I sée by what force of spéeche or with what thundering words so great dulnesse may I say of ours or malice or rather both ioyned togither can sufficientlie bée dashed and ouerthrowen The very first maysters and teachers of our Religion whiche were Adam and suche as liued in his time conceyued the diuine misteries alonely by the instiction of the holy GHOSTE and of them were other immediately taught by a liuely expressed voyce who agayne by a long continuance of time as it were from hand to hand louingly imparted the same vnto others and so whereas they had all of them but memorie onely in stead of Bookes they neuerthelesse for the space of many hundred yeares kept and reteyned in their families doctrine polluted with no maner of blemishes or defilements at all So feruente a care was in them of Religion so greate constancie faithfulnesse consent and diligence both in learning and teaching But as for vs we haue Bookes wherein wée may reade the selfesame doctrine both cléerely and purely expressed We haue Bookes Printed and put forth in the very same tong that those auntiente Fathers spake in we haue Bookes most faithfully translated into sundry languages we haue the Bookes not only of Moses and the other Prophets but also of the Apostles and Euangelistes wherof the one sort were vtterly vnknowen to all that went before Moses the other sort altogyther vnheard of as many as were before CHRISTES incarnation we haue Bookes that doe most plenteously and wyth incredible perspicuitie declare whatsoeuer is necessarie to our saluation we haue Bookes in all places and at all times most easie with little cost in such readinesse and yet notwithstanding this most excellente and soueraigne benefite of Bookes wherewith GOD hath enriched and after a sort blessed vs before an innumerable multitude of our holy auncesters we do in no wise worthelie weigh and cōsider yea verily as though we neyther euer heard of them at any time nor yet saw them we doe wyth deafe eares and blinde eyes passe ouer many great commodities we lette slippe from vs manyfolde occasion of profiting we suffer sincere doctrine to shrinke and fall downe to the grounde And finally which the very vnworthinesse of the thing compelleth me to adde a number but suche as are Christians onely in name doe vtterly contemne all Religion scoffe at it speake againste it and euen by all possible meanes trample it vnder their féete O strange ingratitude oh monstrous malice oh wickednesse worthy of GODS hastned vengeance But what shall we thinke a great number of vs would do if so be we had no Bookes of holy Scripture at all verily I beléeue we would not so muche as thinke of GOD or of any thing belonging vnto GOD all our life long neyther should we liue in any better estate than that wretched Nabuchadnezar who as we may reade in Daniel 4. kepte companye for certayne yeares with brute Beastes was depriued of reason and vnderstanding wente groueling vppon the ground and susteyned himselfe with fodder and grasse But why doe we not at the length rouze vp our selues lay to oure eares open our eyes by the example of the said Nabuchadnezar and lift them vp to heauen that being restored to our right mind we may more attentiuelie behold the greatnesse of the benefite whereby GOD hathe enriched vs with the Bookes of holy Scripture and being stirred vp and enlightened with the reading of them may prayse him giue him thanks glorifye him to be short may religiously vse and enioy the same holye Bookes to all those endes and purposes where vnto it is euident GOD so ordeyning they are written and putte 〈◊〉 Now it may be that some subtill trifeler séeking the defence as well of his owne as of others slouthfulnesse and coueting to vndermine the felicitie of the faithfull will make exceptions and say that the commandement of God whiche a little before was recited out of Deuteronomie perteyned only to the Iewes and dothe in no case bind the Christiās to the obseruation of it but such are in no wise to be heard or hearkned vnto for why no man is ignorant that of the precepts of the law whereof some are Morall some Ceremoniall and other some Iudiciall the two later kindes onely are abrogate for the one kind conteyned nothing else than types and shadows of things afterward to be accōplished by CHRIST Heb. 10. the other was giuen peculiarly to the nation for the framing and well ordering of their common weale Wherfore seing all things lōg agone shadowed in rites and Ceremonies are now throughly perfited finished by CHRIST and séeyng againe that their whole common wealth is vtterlie subuerted and ouerthrowen it followeth that those two kindes of lawes likewise are vtterly repealed and taken away It remayneth then that the preceptes of the firste sort or kinde I meane as touching maners are yet still in force and common to all as well Christians as Iewes But that in these or within the compasse of these commandements ought to be placed that which we alleadged before out of Deuteronomie who can denye yea and whatsoeuer is auaileable to the declaration of oure Faith in GOD and the loue toward our neyghbour and briefely to the framing of a godly and vnblamable life that whether it be found discussed in the Bookes eyther of the old or newe Testament let euery Christian man knowe assuredly to belong also to himselfe to the intente he shoulde whollie kéepe and obserue the same But nowe dothe our Sauiour CHRIST himselfe repeate the selfesame commaundemente and will haue it for euer ratifyed and established whilest in the fifth of Iohn he commandeth vs to Search the Scriptures which do paynte him forth in their couloures and declare hym to be the Sauiour and protector of mankinde Whyche words if a man would contend that they were vttered onely to the Iewes and therefore alleadge that they agrée not vnto Christians that man as Saincte Augustine doth learnedly gather entreating De verbis Domini sermone 45. might as wel saye that he woulde neyther knowe Christe nor be acknowledged of CHRISTE Wherefore Saint Peter dealing as an interpreter
hym Soone after hauyng gotten oportunitie hee adioyned to hymselfe certaine Merchaunts of Rome by the help of whom he beganne there to gather companies togither after the maner of Christians and with greate courage and sinceritie of mind to preach the Gospell vnto them To bee shorte throughe his long and continuall exhortations hee broughte to passe that the inhabitantes of all that Countrey were instructed in the misteries of oure Religion and professed with greate reuerence Iesus Christe to be their only sauiour In the Chapters next immeddiatly folowing in the same writers we reade That a certaine seely Christian woman whilest being captiue among the Iberians they are people neare vnto Fontus toward the Northe and the sea Euxinus shee was grieuouslye tormented with the continuall lothsomnesse of the prison labouring with harty prayers vnto God and fastings became shortly after very famous through hyr wonderful and very Apostolicall vertues Especially she was renoumed for the power of working signes wonders and besides shee taught the chiefe pointes of Christian religion with so great a grace and dexteritie that al might well wonder at it in that sexe but none follow it or come neare vnto it Nowe as shee excelled in bothe kindes so shee preuayled in shorte space so far forth by hir singular diligence and fidelitie that she brought the king the Queene and all their subiectes to the knowlege of the true God of our sauiour IESVS CHRIST Moreouer shee caused temples to bee builded wherein the people mighte religously meete togither and procured ambassadours to be sente to the Romayne Emperour that godlye Constantine to require of him teachers such as shoulde be meete to forwarde so holy a worke The Emperour hauing receyued this message was rauished with no lesse ioye and gladnesse then if he had gotten by hys owne pollicye and puissance some new kingdomes and vnknowne prouinces to be adioyned to the Romayne state and therewithal picking out many chosen men for the purpose excelling both in sinceritie of life and doctrine he commaunded them with all speede to hasten thither Furthermore Nicephorus Callistus writeth in the eight booke and fiue and thirtith Chapter of his Ecclesiasticall Historie that by one Gregory whom after manye iniuries and sundrye tormentes Tiâ—idates king of the Armenians hadde kepte by the space of fourteene yeares togither in a deepe and filthy dungeon al Armenia was happily drawen to forsake Idolatrie and to worship the one and eternall GOD in the Faithe of IESVS CHRIST And in the 33. Chapter he pronounceth generally that the warres which the Romaines helde wyth the Barbarians especially vnder the Empire of Gallienus and thenceforth gaue oftimes occasion wherby Christian religion was spread abroade farre and neare when as the prisoners which the Barbarians toke of the Romaynes and caried home to theyr houses became afterwarde vnto them faithfull teachers of wholesome doctrine of Christ IOHN Zonaras a Gréeke writer recordeth that at what tyme the Bulgarians warred continually without ceassing againste the Constantinopolitans it fortuned that they toke a certaine noble Damosell whyche being eftsoones brought to Constantinople profited beyonde all mens expectation in good learning and in the doctrine of our religion But when as afterwarde truce or peace being concluded on both sides this sayde Damosell was returned home againe into hir Countrey shée perswaded the king of Bulgarians whose sister shée was although our men knew not so muche to submitte himselfe with all his people to CHRIST the LORD This came to passe about the yeare after our saluation purchased by Christe 866 what time the soueraigntie of Constantinople was in the handes of Michaell the sonne of Theophilus I hadde almoste ouerskipped that whyche Cassiodorus booke tenne Chapter eight of his Tripartite Historie and Nicephorus Callistus in his booke fourtéenth and Chapter eigtéene haue lefte in writing namely that whilest Isdegardis raigned among the Persians there were sente ambassades for diuerse causes oftner than at anye tyme before from the Romaines to the Persians and againe from the Persians to the Romaynes Nowe whilest there wente often thyther from the Romaynes men learned and very zealous of Christian religion vnto whom also was twice adioyned Maruthas bishop of Mesopotamia it was broughte to passe by theyr modesty vertue holynesse and vehement exhortations that no small number of the Persians began to reuereÌ„ce our religion and by little and little wholy to imbrace it whervpon afterward it was permitted to the beléeuers to appoint Churches or congregations to dedicate for euer Temples vnto Christ You sée therefore by what means those forraine countries contrary to al mens expectation were set at quiet with our men through the séeds of Christian doctrine sown among barbarous people how happily our religion grewe vp in processe of time brought forth most ioyfull fruites But the matter coulde neuer haue come to that passe if in those captiue Laie men in Frumentius I saye the ladde in the poore séely woman in the miserable and desolute Gregory in the noble Virgin in the Merchants trauelling through al quarters for traffike in the Ambassadors notable for their godly knowlege in others of like estate coÌ„dition there had not bin before they were transported into those Countries a meane vnderstanding of Gods holye misteries therewithall also a certaine wonderful dexteritie in expressing the sense meaning of their minds where-throughe wilde and barbarous natures mought haue bin méeked mollified and turned There was no Christian in those dayes but was fully persuaded of this that he had manfully to labour for his owne parte to prouide so much as in him lay that the bounds of ChristiaÌ„ religion might bée exteÌ„ded stretched forth to Gods glory And it was the coÌ„mon opinion of all meÌ„ that by the simple exposition of the principles of ChristiaÌ„ doctrine by Faith Lowlinesse Modesty by the duties of Loue Charitie a man might more preuaile with the barbarous people than by any other meanes beside whatsoeuer And truelye so it is indéede Long fierce and bloudy warres haue Christian Princes foughten in our and in oure fathers remembrance wyth the cruell Turkes often inuasions haue they made one into anothers borders horrible slaughters haue they committed on bothe sides they haue gotten perforce they haue troden vnder foote they haue distroyed all that euer is But who euer heard that anye Turke was so farre forth moued with these things that hée so muche as once thought to forsake his error and to imbrace our religion Agayne what honour or what glory hath redounded vnto GOD out of these mortall and bloudie battels Where on the other side if so be we by entreating modestly wisely of the dignity certaintie of our religioÌ„ should giue theÌ„ to vnderstaÌ„d that we sought neither for theyr goods nor their Castels nor their Cities but the health safetie of their soules I suppose that we should sooner this way come to a glorious victorie and such as would be acceptable
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.