of that commaundemente speaketh thus vnto all Christians We haue sayeth he a most sure worde of the Prophets to the which ye do well that ye take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place vntil the day dawne and the day Starre arise in your hearts And the holye Apostle Paule commaundeth exhorteth and leaueth nothing vnattempted whereby he might allure all men to loue and frequent the wrytings of the Prophetes and Apostles Colossi 3. Let the worde of Christe sayeth he dwel in you plentifully with all wisdome and teach and admonishe one another Last of all what things soeuer do offer themselues in the New Testament to the commendation of the holy Scripture or worde of GOD the same oughte to be taken of vs as preceptes and exhortations inuiting vs to the readyng of the sacred bookes Therefore it behoueth vs patientlye to heare GOD the Father speakyng in the olde Testamente CHRIST hys sonne Peter Paule and so manye as followe theyr steppes speakyng in the Newe and as for all false deceyuers and Sophysters perswading the contrarye lette them departe farre off and for euer from the fellowshippe and societye of the Godlye To followe the aduice of wyse and honeste councellours and according to theyr councels to searche and examyne the lawe of the Lorde that is to saye the holye Scriptures with suche diligence and deuotion as is requisite is a point of very great wisdome Prouerbs 2.4 Ieremie 9. But wyth what alacritie and chearefulnesse of minde all true Christians haue euen from the begynnyng obeyed the Apostles so greatelye vrgyng the studye of the holye Scriptures and wyth what great feruencie all haue endeauoured to reade the Diuine mysteries the Historye of the Apostles Actes doâ—th sufficientlye declare The noble menne of Berea among those that were it Thessalonica when they had receyued the word with all readinesse of minde searched the scriptures dayly coueting to trie whether the things whyche they heard of the Apostles were so or no. Act. 17.11 The example of the men of Berea admonisheth vs that it is not ynough for vs to heare Sermons coÌ„tinually in publike assemblies but also verye necessarye duely to discusse examine priuately with our selues all the things whiche we haue hearde to the intente we may become the more sure and certaine of our religion This tryal and examination of doctrine is accomplished by comparing togither of diuerse places out of the holy Scriptures in which it behoueth vs so long time to be occupyed vntill we may plainely perceyue whether the things that are spoken of the teacher or of any other doe agrée with the places of Scripture or no. The Doctrine that men vse to put forth deserueth not to be accounted for sounde and Catholike excepte it be aunswearable to the rule and squire of the Prophetical and Apostolike writings And this manner of discerning in times paste was common to all hearers and besides there was receyued in euerye Churche well neare a certaine publike forme and patterne thereof For proofe whereof make the words of the Apostle 1 Corin. 14. where he saith As oft as yee come togither euery one of you hath a song hath a doctrine hath a tongue hath a reuelation hath an interpretation let all things be done to edifying And a little after Let two or three of the Prophetes speake and let the residewe determyne Further if anye thing be reuealed to another that sitteth by let the firste holde hys peace For ye maye all seuerally prophecie that all may learne and all receyue comforte and the spirites of the Prophetes are subiect to the Prophetes And againe 1. Thessa. 4. he sayeth Quench not the Spirite despise not prophesiying Trye all things holde that which is good Some therefore doe priuately to theyr owne comforte and instruction determine of prophesies and discerne the true and natiue sense from the false and counterfayte othersome whiche especiallye doe excell others in iudgement and giftes of the spirite are required euen in publike meetings that they woulde louinglye declare theyr minde as touching the doctine put forth And vndoubtedly those only can readily and fruitefullye wyth commendation do any thing in this behalfe the haue exercised theÌ„selues at home with coÌ„tinual reading of the scriptures The Apostle moreouer in the same place to the Corin. addeth another coÌ„maundement as concerning the duety of husbands But if the women will learne any thing Let theÌ„ aske sayth he their husbandes at home To the wife therfore demanding a question it behoueth the husbande to make answere render a reason out of the Scriptures euen in like case as euery Prophet or preacher doth wheÌ„ he is questioned with of manye in open publike place Neyther did the goodmaÌ„ of the house in those days performe this duetie alonlye to his wife but also to all his householde of what age or condition soeuer they were especially when there was good hope the so many as should bée instructed in the word of GOD might be made modest sober vigilant much more faithful diligent in doing of their businesse afterward than they were before It is euident also that parentes did then nouzel and instructe euen their tender little ones in the principles of godlynesse Christian religion Continue thou saith the Apostle in the 3. Chap. of his 2. epist. to Timothy in the things which thou hast learned which are committed vnto thee knowing of whoÌ„ thou hast learned theÌ„ that thou hast known the holy scriptures of a child And in the 1. Chap. of his 1. Epi. he putteth Timothy in remeÌ„braunce that he had receiued examples of Faith and godlynesse of life of his mother Eunica and of his grandmother Lois Neither ought any man to maruayle when we saye that all the beléeuers in that age did bothe often and exactlye reade the holye Scriptures and also greatly profitte by readyng of them For as Peter in hys Sermon Actes 2. truelye interpreteth that whyche was long before spoken of the Prophete Ioel it behoued that the same Prophesie shoulde then be fulfilled and that the holy Ghoste being powred into the heartes of a greate number should by and by so instruct them as that they might loue and imbrace the holye Scriptures try and examine them and finally with wonderfull dexteritie expounde and declare the meaning of them whiche benefite was afterwarde made common to all the Godlye but chiefely to those that feruentlye faithfullye and wythout staggering craued true and perfitte Wisdome of GOD the father of lightes as the Apostle saint Iames saith For it behoueth the promise of of GOD to be firme immutable which is extant in the Prophetes and wonderfully commended of CHRIST They shall all sayth he be taught of GOD. And The godlye are annointed of the holy Ghost Esay 54 Iere. 31. Iohn 6.1 Ioan. 2. Hebr. 8. Wherefore Chrisostome vpon Genesis homelie 35 is bold to say That it cannot bee that he which with greate care and feruent desire
prouide remedies by reading of the holye Scriptures There foloweth more to the same effect but bicause I couet to be briefe I haue thought good to omit it He entreateth also more at large touching the self same matter in his 3. homily of Lazarus the rich man. And I knowe not whether those wordes of his as they are generally spoken will satisfye all men or no. For it is a very harde matter to stoppe the mouthes of curious and obstinate men with a short and generall kinde of speach and there wyll some complaine peraduenture such especially as desire to séeme sharpe witted beyond the reste that we haue not aunswered to euerye member of theyr obiection Wherefore I suppose it wil be grately to the purpose if I deuide the obiectioÌ„ aforegoing as it were into parts and speake somwhat more exactly of euery of them in order I will graunte them therefore first and formost yea and I will recken vp many causes also for the whiche it shal be necessary that so many as haue addicted themselues to the Ecclesiasticall function shoulde before all other Christians apply their diligence to the vnderstaÌ„ding of the misteries of the holy Scriptures Secondly I wil proue very plainely that for the rest whyche they call Laitie it is by no meanes lawful to caste from them the selfe same studye but rather as it behoueth the states of men to be diuided so there is prescribed to euery one in the holye Scriptures a certaine rule of godly liuing and that those alone finally do substantially performe their dueties that haue thoroughly learned out of the same scriptures how to fear and loue GOD and howe to behaue themselues in all the actions and dealings Thirdlye I will adde to the rest certayne reasons whych maye moue the conscience of euery one to confesse that there is no man that maketh any at least to Christian Religion that can liue altogither destitute and ignorant of the Trueth and Doctrine contained in the Scriptures Whyche thyngs beyng thus once declared may stand the godly in greate steade to confute other obiections also if any chaunce to be made and put forthe Therefore they do greatly erre and abuse contrary to our meaning all that hath of vs hitherto béen said whiche suppose that any that at least-wise acknowledge themselues to be Christians are excepted from the study and reading of the holy Scriptures But of all other wée doe leaste of al exclude them that prepare themselues to the Ministery of the Church or that are alreadye conuersaunte in it For why that of these is first and chiefly required the exacte knowledge of Gods holy will I take it to be so apparante vnto all men as that it néedeth not once to bée touched of vs For who knoweth not that it is the duety of a faithfull Shéepehearde to procure all thinges that are auaileable to the féeding and preseruation of the shéepe of hys folde whether we haue regarde to the pastures or waters or shadowings or curings of diseases or defeÌ„ce against Wolues or anye suche like thing else beside and that it behoueth the father or goodman of the house to goe before all his familie in wisedome and discreation in prouiding and disposing of thinges necessary and that the Schoolemayster ought to be better learned than his Scholers and to appoint vnto them a forme or methood of Doctrine and finally that the Emperoure or Capitayne of an haste shoulde excell in warlike knowledge al hys souldyors fighting vnder his standerd Herevppon forsooth it followeth that those also which are placed ouer the Churche if they couet wholsomly to féede the mindes of the people committed to their charge carefully to gouerne them truely to teache them directly to bring them to saluation oughte to bée farre better séene in the doctrine of the holy Scriptures than any other of the common sorte If any man yet doubteth lette him beléeue God who in Leuitic 10. and in other places moe gaue commaundement to the Priestes and Leuites that they shoulde faithfully teache the people the Lawe and Statutes whyche hée had deliuered vnto them Let hym heare Malachy the Prophet in hys seconde Chapiter saying The Priestes lippes shall kepe Knowledge and they shall requyre the Lawe at hys mouth Let hym credite Christe who calleth the teachers of the Gospell the Light of the worlde and the Salte of the earth Let hym credite the Apostle Paule who woulde haue euery Bishop and Minister of the Churche to be suche a one as were Didacticos that is to say apte to teache as hadde a forme and patterne of wholesome Doctrine as coulde rightly cutte and diuide the worde of Trueth as were able to holde faste the Worde which is according to Doctrine and to exhorte by sounde Knowledge and conuince the gaine-speakers 1. Tim. 3.2 Tim. 1. 2. Ch. vnto Tit. 1. for vndoubtedly as it standeth other in hand to heare learn the word of God so is it the chief part duty of those the haue the ouersight of Churches to expound teach the same and that not slightly for fashions sake but learnedly grauely so as many may reape profite thereby And therefore verye subtilly haue they abused the Worlde that wyth duckyng downe theyr heades and wyth their eyes countenaunce voice and gesture wholly set to semble and dissemble haue not bene ashamed to auouche that the Ecclesiasticall Ministery consisteth onelye in the bare recitall of certayne Psalmes Hymnes Proses and that written in a tongue knowen to very few and scarce also to the Singers themselues againe in the imitation of certain ceremonies which mans wisdome without the warrant of GODS word hath inuented one after an other doe no whit auaile either to the mouing of mens mindes or to the establishing of any order or decencie For nowe during certaine ages men haue thought the whole substaunce of ReligioÌ„ forsooth to stand in these two things Singings I say not vnderstoode colde ceremonies yea and those Churches to be very wel ordered wherein euen these alone haue with a cunning kinde of Hipocrisie bin practised of their craftsmaisters Truly it is to he maruailed that any men I saye not excellent and learned but euen so much as of the coÌ„mon sorte coulde be brought to that passe namely to beléeue those deceiuers when in the meane time they perceyued in very déede that al the sincere worshipping of GOD which â—s Christ his Apostles haue prescribed consisteth in true inuocation prayer in the pure preaching of the Gospell dispensation of the Sacrements haue vtterly in a manner thorough the preuailing of those shrill squeakings dumb ceremonies bin cast out of Churches and suppressed For howe coulde it otherwise be but that the handling of the Scriptures béeyng ouce driuen oute of Churches and Congregations the studies likewise of good letters in the Schooles shoulde vtterly fall downe decaye For what man would then séeme to bestowe hys trauel in sundry disciplines
and especially in the exercises of holye Scripture or take anye long and greate paines in the Schooles of Learning when he smelleth that there will be no publike vse thereof and foreséeth that no manner of rewardes shall bée allotted to his laboures in Churches I appeale to the testimonies of a great number of good menne whyche can remember that in Churches verye greate and notable there haue not béene scarce foure Sermons throughoute the whole yeare made vnto the people and yet if there happened to be anye it was spente for the moste parte eyther in a fruitelesse narration of Myracles and those commonlye false or else in some subtill disputation sauoring more of Aristotle than of the Prophetes and Apostles Verily I remember that I hearde ouce in Fraunce one beyng old and hoareheaded and a man of singular modestie tel and reporte that he was declared Doctor of Diuinitie in the Sorbon Schoole at Paru when as hée had neuer in all his life read ouer so muche as thrée Chapiters of the holy Bible and further that he was afterwarde the Pastor of no obscure Churche and althoughe he dayly descanted vppon the hundreth and ninetéenth Psalme wherein is wonderfully commended the study efficacie and vse of Gods worde and here and there also be repeated these wordes In the lawe of the Lorde wil I meditate day and night yet notwithstanding that it neuer came into his minde one whit to peruse the Bookes of holy Scripture with a desire of vnderstaÌ„ding the truth nor neuer made also any Sermon oute of the Scriptures to the people Whyche thinges he not wythout an honest kinde of shame callyng to remembraunce bothe bewayled the vnhappinesse of the tyme past and also complayned of the shamefull ignorance of the men of his coate and calling Yea and moreouer in dyuers Countries where I haue trauailed I haue séene many Priestes as my manner is in euery place to enquyre diligently of the state of Churches whyche when they were vtterly voyde of learning and very Drones had no Churche wherein they mighte lawfully minister But out of their Masses as they call them whych they beyng hyred daylye sayde they sucked out no small gaine and aduantage sustained themselues in their filthy ydlenesse Furthermore we sée it euerye where commonly receiued not by custome but as yée woulde saye by a lawe established that Priestes are made wythoute choyce no more as they were in times past to teache but onelye to say Masse As who should say forsooth this way do the holy Byshops followe the holy Cannons whyche forbidde that without a title for so they speake any man shoulde be ordered Distinction 70. C. Neminem Sanctorum Canonum c. Therefore as touching the Doctrine of Religion there is among them no further question but it maye be sayde as Ierome speaketh expounding the thirtéenth Chapiter of Ezechiel that for the sinnes of men the word of GOD is vtterly loste and that grieuous calamitie sent downe into the worlde that GOD by the Prophet Amos Cap. 8 threatneth namely a cruell hunger thirste and scarcitie of hearing the worde of GOD. The other inconueniences whyche haue flowed oute of that fountayne to witte the false perswasion of the Ministery to consiste in bare Songs and Ceremonies I ceasse to make any further reckening of But to procéede where Bishops do not prouide that the Scriptures be continually readde and expounded in Churches and yet giue orders to a greate number of suche as they knowe haue neyther bestowed any time before in studying the holy Scriptures neyther can or will do hereafter I leaue it to be considered of euerye man whether suche either Byshops or Priestes can rightly chalenge to themselues the power Ecclesiasticall and kayes of the kingdome of Heauen as granted vnto them of God or no. We haue learned forsooth out of the Sermons of Christ and the Apostles that there is a double power of the Churches or that there be two kayes the one of Doctrine whyche consisteth in teachyng that is to saye in interpreting the Scriptures and administration of the Sacramentes whiche are annexed to the worde and euen a certaine portion of the worde like as in very déede they are acomplished by the worde the other is prepared to giue iudgement and to binde and loose But nowe howe shall he â—â—â—â—ly teache in the Churche all the chiefe poyntes of Christian Doctrine oute of the Law and the Gospell How agayne shall be wisely giue sentence as well of sinnes for whiche the obstinate must be bounde as also of faith and repentance for the witnessing whereof it behoueth them to be loosed that were bounde which neuer exercised himselfe in the monumentes of the Prophets and Apostles neither intendeth at any time to beginne Certesse that no keyes of Christes Church are committed to vnlearned Priestes it is well proued by the iudgement of those Prelates that ouer and besides that they haue deputed a good parte of the rabblement of Priestes only as I sayde to the execution of Masserites and Ceremonies haue moreouer deuised certaine cases which they name Reserued whereof some they wil haue referred to the Bishops only of euery Church othersome only and alone to the Bishop of Rome Now there shoulde be no néede to trudge for counsell to the higher Prelates if so be they déemed the Priests which themselues had made fitte to giue iudgement of matters incident and sufficiently furnished to bind and lose But that which the authours of reserued cases haue openly protested touching certayne Priestes the same may we interprete worthily to be vnderstoode of all in generall whether they be Bishops or Priestes that are founde voyde and destitute of all furniture of learning Héereby then we shall be inforced to suspect that many Churches haue of long time wanted and bin altogither withoute keyes For the vnderstanding and interpretation of the Scriptures being once loste it coulde not be chosen but that the keyes must néedes haue bin lost also And in what state the house is that is neyther opened nor shutte at any tyme with keyes but hauing as yée woulde saye the lockes and dores broken all to fitters standeth on euery side and alwayes and to euery one that commeth wide open in the very same state we suppose the Churches to haue bin and to be in whiche is had no consideration at all of the handling of the holy Scriptures But we shall haue lesse cause to maruayle that Priestes haue not hitherto bin carefull of receyuing the true keyes if in case we consider that a number of them haue not bene accustomed to go in and out by the dore but by some other way and that there haue appeared in them more liuely markes of hirelings than of anye true Shepheardes It remayneth therefore that whosoeuer hauing gotten any dignitie in the Churche of God wyll also purchase to himselfe credite and authoritie and be acknowledged in very déede for a true Shepheard hauing interest in the keyes and skill to vse
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
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
them arighte do excell and surmount others in the knowledge of the holy Scriptures Further there maye at all times fall oute verye manye affayres that doe require no small reading and experience of the holye Scriptures How wouldest thou behaue thy selfe I pray thée if there shoulde at anye tyme anye false opinions eyther by Philosophers or by wise men of the worlde or by Heretikes beginne to bée scattered among the people Shall it not bée thy parte and duetie stoutely euen out of the Pulpet to confute them Thou hopest perhappes that all things are safe ynough where thou liuest and that thou néedest not greatelye to feare anye suche daunger But take héede thou bée not deceyued It is a wyse mannes parte euen in the tyme of peace to bée thynking of Warre But what if anye doubtes of Doctrine shoulde rise in a priuate man whome shoulde hée rather goe vnto than vnto thée hys Shephearde and teacher And howe wouldest thou asswage the tempestes lurking in hys mynde and cause hym to be caulme and quiet if thou couldest not mitigate all thinges with the prosperous winds and euen with the pleasant gales of the Scriptures Agayne what if the Magistrate himselfe should at any time reguire or command thée that thou wouldest in his presence and haply before an honourable assembly of Counsellers as it commeth to passe nowe and then louingly conferre or dispute wih some man fallen into a pernitious erroure Doubtlesse if in this case thou canst not shew thy selfe to be Didacticon that is to say apt to teache and be able to stoppe the mouthes of the gaynespeakers thou shalt by and by be confounded to thy greate shame and all will estéeme thée as a foole and ydeote To let passe in the meane time that thou by thy wante of knowledge priuily giuest occasion of thinking that he which was supposed to erre inasmuch as thou arte not able to confute him auoucheth nothing but the truth Whiche thing if it come to passe not onely he alone will perseuer in his opinion but the reste also will beginne to ioyne with him to subscribe and maynteyne the same Moreouer oft times the state of Churches dothe require that thou shouldest openly inueigh againste the sinnes that the people for the time are falne into And héere hast thou néede of héedefull rebukements of cunning amplifications of crimes of graue threatnings of punishmentes of sharpe exhortations to repentance and other furniture of like sort For it is to be feared if thou pourest forth nothing else but thine owne words and manassing spéeches that thou shalte not onely not bring them to amendment of life but also hardlye perswade them to accompt those things for vices whych are committed by wicked men Therefore to restreyne and reduce men to a better trade of life and conuersation it shall be requisite for thée to vse the fires hammers swordes of the Prophetes and Apostles as fitte and peculiar instrumentes for the same purpose The word of the Lord is sa a fire sayth God himself in Ieremie Chap 23. and like vnto a hammer that breaketh the hard rocke It is a Sworde Ephes 6. Yea it is of greater force to enter than any two edged Sword as witnesseth the authour of the Epistle to the Hebrues He therfore that hath no skill aptly to leue◠shake and throw these weapons of the worde of GOD from the Pulpet into mens hearts and minds in vayne shall he take vppon him to subdue and cut off the sinnes of the people Furthermore sometimes he that hath the ouersight of the Churche is inuited of learned men dwelling néere vnto him to talke and conferre sometymes also it falleth out that strangers comming farre off or Embassadours or other do visite him and craue some question to be declared of him or require his counsell and help in some matter perchance also they call him for honoures sake to dinner or supper to be short now and then learned men come togither for other causes mingling theyr communication with sober and holy talke as touching matters of Diuinitie whiche partly is applyed to the vnderstanding of the holye Scriptures partly to the stablishing of the wauering conscience Nowe if in these and such like méetings the Pastor of the Church shall carrie only the visor of a dumb personage or if he doe any thing shall only puffe for payne sweate waxe pale and be ashamed shall he not I praye thée discredite the whole order Ecclesiasticall And trulye looke howe commendable a thing it is for laie men handsomely and comely to reason of diuine matters so shamefull a thing is it for him that should be a teacher of the Church not to be able aptely to common of anye thing out of the Scriptures What shall we say to this moreouer that in many Churches the order is derided from the auntient institution as well of the Romayne as Constantinopolitan Church as witnesseth Cassiodorus in the 9. Booke and 35. Chap. of his Tripartite Historie although in verye déede more necessarie for those times than for oures in these dayes that so many as come to the holy Table of the Lord doe confesse and bewayle their sinnes to the Ministers of the Church and require comfort and absolution by the worde of god They that can not sufficiently trie and examine themselues according to the precept of the Apostle had néede to poure forth their secretes into the bosome of their Pastor to disclose theyr ignorance and so long to be instructed and taught till all doubtfulnesse and perturbation be rooted out of their conscience But what should the good Pastor do in this behalfe when of the good questions and demaunds propounded he can auouch nothing more certaynely than if they had neuer bin hearde of before Neyther doubtlesse are we in hande héere with flimflammes as they saye and matters of no value but euen with such as vppon whiche dependeth the eternall saluation or destruction of soules So far forthe for the most parte as pertayning to thys poynte lyeth it in thée that many eyther obteyne saluation or else vtterly perish whereof the one verily commeth to passe when thou arte able by the helpe of GODS worde to fortifye mens myndes the other when thou arte not able so to doe But go too to whome I pray you doth it more apperteyne to lift vp weake and féeble consciences to susteyne the sicke and oppressed for any manner of cause with holy comfortes and consolations than to the Minister of the Church who is counted as a common parent of mens mindes and as Sainct Iames séemeth to signifie a Phisition also whiche labouring to GOD in Prayer will indeuour to help in the time of néede And that consolations are proper and peculiar to the holye Scriptures it is sufficiently playne and euident by the testimonie of S. Paule to the Romaines 15. Commōly also for the most parte the whole multitude standeth in néede of comfortable Sermons to the intent it may persist