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
Author vpon Cro in his 12. Homily chydeth thē that when the Scriptures are red expounded in the Church haue not their mindes prepared to heare thē much lesse to examine thē or conferre them with others What is it sayth he to be conuerted If we vtterly renounce al the things of the world of the fleshe with our whole study care practise apply our selues to the word of GOD meditate in his law day and night if forsaking al other things we depend onely vpon GOD and be exercised in his testimones this is truely to be conuerted to the lord Thou therfore wouldest haue thy son to learn the liberal Sciences as they cal thē to be acquainted with the Art of Grammer or Rhetorick dost thou not rid him set him free frō all things Dost thou not cause him to omit al other things applye himselfe only to this study Thou prouidest him tutors Schole-maisters Bookes expenses yea thou sufferest hym to wante nothyng vntill hee beare awaye the perfitte price of his purposed studye Whyche of vs doeth so conuert himselfe to the study of GODS law which of vs doth so apply our diligence Which of vs doth with so great care and industrie seke after heauenly things as we haue sought after earthly And why then do we complayne if we be ignorāt of the things which we haue not learned Some of you so soone as ye haue heard recited the things that are redded by by depart your way making no maner of enquirie one of another of the things that are spoken no conferēce at al no remēbrance of that cōmandemēt wherin Gods Law doth admonish thee Aske thy fathers and they shal tel thee aske thine elders and they shal shew thee Other some wil not tarie by their good wils no not til the lessons be redde in the Church Some againe there be that know not whether there were any red or no but in the outleetes of the Church are occupied about fables or otherwise entangled about worldly and vnprofitable matters Of whom I dare be bold to say that whē Moses is red they haue not now a couer only but euen a certain wall bulwarke also placed ouer their hearts For if he which is present which heareth intentiuely marketh which canuasseth and examineth the things that he doth heare that which he can not atteyne vnto diligently fearcheth out learneth can hardly come to the libertie of knowledge how can he which of purpose stoppeth his eares least he shuld heare turneth his back to the face of the Reader be sayd to haue a couer ouer his hearte to whom not so much as the couer it self of the letter wherin the sense is wrapped which is the sound of the voyce hath as yet come All this hath he in that place Manye things mo beside mayst thou find in his Commentaries spoken to the selfesame effect Vpon Leuiticus Homi. 4. he auoucheth thē to offer a thankeful sacrifice and memoriall vnto GOD that do day night meditate in the Law of the Lord and keepe in mind all the Scriptures or if they can not do that yet at least cōmit to memorie the things that are taught or recited in the Church and after they are gone out of the Church like vnto good sounde Beasts chewing their cud call back the same things to remēbrance so study finally to fulfil the cōmandemēts of GOD. In his exposition of the. 12. Chap. of the Epistle to the Romanes he affirmeth flatly that our senses can not possibly be renued but by the exercises of wisedome the meditation of GODS worde and the spiritual vnderstanding of his Law and that by how much a man dayly profiteth by reading of the Scriptures and his vnderstanding pierceth more déepely into them by so much alwayes is he more and more renewed By and by hée addeth I know not whether the sense or feeling of hym that is slouthfull towarde the reading and hearing of the holy Scriptures and towarde the exercises of spirituall vnderstanding whereby he might not only vnderstande those things that are written but also applye them more diligently and sette them foorthe can be renewed or no. Vpon Iosue in his twentith Homilie he declareth in many words That the reading of the Scriptures is both allowed of GOD and his Angels and also very profitable vnto vs albeit we doe not perfitely vnderstande them In his Prologue ad Canticum Salomonis whiche worke notwithstanding it pleaseth the learned to remoue out of Origens Librarie he telleth that there was a fashion among the Iewes that All the Scriptures except the beginning of Genesis certayne places in the beginning and ending of the Prophete Ezechiell and the canticle of Salomon shoulde be taughte vnto their chyldren by teachers and wise men appoynted for that purpose But how and after what sorte Christian children also were accustomed to learne of their Parents out of the holy Scriptures the principles of Religion and agayne generally what the householde studie was in old time in reading and repeating of the Scriptures wée maye in the life of Origen himselfe as it is described by Eusebius in the sixth Booke and second Chapter of hys Ecclesiasticall Historie as in a paynted Table behold Origen sayth he began immediately to be instructed of his father in the holy Bookes who by dropmeale as it were betweene whiles gaue vnto him among the secular studies wherem he was trayned in his tender age some things also out of our Scriptures to be red Thē afterward by little little he taught him likewise to preferre these before his sholasticall exercises And euen incōtinent he envred the child in like maner being of himselfe not vnwilling but very prompt readie to learne whatsoeuer was taught him to take forth euery day certain lessons in the holy Scriptures to cōmend thē to memory Now he truly the child conceruing a wonderfull delectatiō in reading of these things semed not to be cōtent only with a bare vnderstading of thē but would busie his father oft times about questions touching the sense meaning of the Scriptures enquiring of him diligently what such such a thing meant amongst other what the meaning of that was where it is said that The Scripture is enspired by the holy Ghost or what diuine misterie this simplicitie of words might cōteyne But he the father feined himselfe for the time gētly to rebuke him to forbid him to aske any questiō beyond the cōpasse of his age but with himself notwithstāding he reioyced excedingly giuing harty thankes to almighty GOD who had graunted him to be the father of suche a childe This out of Eusebius But with what words I pray you maye this spectacle of so godly a Father conferring with his most déere child as touching holy heauēly matters be I say not only adorned set forth but plainely and distinctly also declared Who cā expresse sufficiently the chéerefulnesse feruencie of the sonne
decay of our great vnhappy graundfather Adam they haue not onely bin depriued of all those ornamēts and graces which before they had but also infected with contrary vices and deformities so as in stedde of light they are become darke in stedde of pure they are become obscure in stedde of holy they are become prophane in stedde of vprighte iust perfit happy blessed the image of the eternall God they are become pieuish peruerse vnperfect vniust accursed the Image of the infernall Sathan And this forsooth generally is the state wherein we stand both in respect of our soules and bodies For the more manifest proofe wherof the Scriptures are plentifull especially where they painte foorth man in his naturall coloures and set him vp as it were on a stage to be seene For they teache that there is no sounde or whole parte in him from the crowne of the heade to the soale of the foote For why VVe are all the sorte of vs corrupte we haue all gone astray wee are all become abhominable there is none that vnderstandeth or seeketh after God there is none that doth good no not one Our mindes are distract within vs our memories are maymed oure reason vnreformed our vnderstanding vnperfite our wisedome foolishnesse oure heartes vncircumcised our iudgementes vniuste oure wils waywarde oure thoughtes vaine oure imaginations wicked our conceites carnall our fansies frustrate oure affections euil oure lusts vnbrideled our throats an open sepulchre our tongs haue vsed deceit the poison of Aspes is vnder our lippes our mouths are full of cursing and bitternesse oure handes are filled with cruelty and our fingers with iniquitie our feete are swifte to shed bloude destruction and calamitie are in oure wayes the way of peace we haue not knowen and there is no feare of God before oure eies These and such like are the excellent titles and prerogatiues wherewith the holy Ghost adorneth vs in the Scriptures These are in deede the true markes and monuments of our antiquitie the peculiar badges of our brauery the right Coat-armour of al Adams offspring Whereof leaste any man shoulde doubte and pretende I wote not what priuiledges for himselfe as thoughe he were exēpted out of the common aray of all fleshe the Scripture dealeth yet more plainely with vs and telleth vs that we are not only wretched and miserable by nature as being all conceiued of vncleane seede and all borne the children of wrath and perdition but also that wee haue al sinned where this worde All is referred to euery particular person whether he be Iewe or Gentile and are depriued of the glory of God that we are al workers of wickednes al shrinking and rebellious children lyars and lighter than vanitie it selfe all hatchers of Cokatrice egges and weauers of the Spiders webbe as the Prophet speaketh and to be shorte all subiect to the curse and malediction of God and so consequentlye to endlesse confusion both of soule and body For the rewarde of sinne is death and euery soule that sinneth shal dye saith the Lorde These things thus brieflye premised although they may seeme sufficient to strike as it were an Alarum into al mens consciences and to make them looke about them if haply they may espy any remedy yet ouer and besides these if wee will weigh and consider what an vnmercifull number of spirituall ennimies we haue to deale and encounter with how subtilly they lye in wayte to entrappe vs howe vncessantly they assayle vs howe greedily they gape to deuoure vs wee shall bee muche more inflamed as I thinke to prepare oure selues to the battaile and to stand vppon our guarde if at leaste we haue either anye care of oure owne welfare or dread of our own distruction For if so be wee haue not vnfitly compared the worlde vnto a Wildernes where men wander in the middest of innumerable dāgers are euen subiect cōtinually to a thousande deathes then maye it appeare sufficientlye what oure lotte and portion is in this life and howe hardlye we are like to be dealte withall vnlesse wee walke maruellous warily and circumspectly and bee throughlye fenced and fortified at all assayes We haue to consider that as there the wayes and pathes are verye doubtefull and vncertaine by reason of manifolde crinkes and turnings so here we are to mete with infinite Mazes Labyrinths of superstitions and false opinions so as there is nothing more harde and difficult than for a man amongst them to keepe the straighte course to eternall saluation Againe as the desart places are ful of horrible daungers as well in respecte of the wilde and fauage beastes as also of the Theeues and Robbers that lurke in them euen so are wee in this worlde enuironed about on euery side with farre more grieuous enimies as which for their crueltie and more than bloudy desire of destroying all that euer come in their wayes doe far-awaye exceede the saluagest beastes and cruellest cut-throates that bee For euen amongest vs rangeth that olde manqueller the Diuell who as Peter sayth goeth aboute like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure And hee is not alone but hee hathe an infinite rable and euen the Deuill and all of wicked Angels and vncleane Spirites to do him seruice so as he is not without good consideration called a Potentate the Prince of darknesse the Gouernour of this world the spirite that ruleth in the Ayre c. to note vnto vs the wonderfull force and puissance that he is of like as in other places for his malice and subtilty he is termed a Serpent for his crueltie a Lion and for all togither a greate redde Dragon hauing seauen heades and ten hornes and seauen Crowns vpon his heads c. There are also belonging to his hellish conduct and Kingdome an innumerable sorte of wicked doers whiche hauing vtterly reiected all sense of Humanitie and Godlinesse are degenerated into wilde saluage beastes For we may see euery where a ranke route of leacherous monsters to grunt like Hogges and Swine a huge throng of wrathfull Termagaunts to yell out lyke Beares a beastly company of Backbiters to barke abroade like Dogges a rauening sorte of Cormorants to houle out like Wolues a fierce and frantike multitude to take on like vntamed Tygres a number to play the parts of the nimble sighted Lynxes a slie and subtill sorte to fare like Foxes a tetchy and kicking kinde of Asses to bray a venemous sighte of Serpents to hisse and to be shorte such a huge rabble of stinking Goates bellowing Bugles puffing Panters and all manner of vncleane Beastes that a man shall walke muche safer in the Wildernesse amongst the wilde beastes in deede than hee can doe in the world amongest men of so beastly conditions neyther haue we to feare so great danger from the very Beasts themselues as we haue to doubt and dreade those that are of the selfe same nature with vs Insomuch that the olde fathers said not without a cause
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 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
togither let vs giue good heede to the things that are read that hauing reaped the greater fruite thereby we maye so depart And not much after he addeth That wee oughte so to giue our selues to the studies of holye Scripture as that we maye haue things not only sufficient for our owne vse but what also wee maye minister vnto others as well sayth he in reforming of our wiues children and seruants as also of our neyghbours friends and enimies For such is the nature of spiritual doctrines that they may be propounded in common to al there is no diuersitie in them except it be when one bringeth a minde more attentiuely bente than another and whē one surmounteth another with a more feruente desire c. Neyther can I ouerpasse the chiding speache or expostulation that the same holye father in his thirtéenth Homily vppon the Gospell of Iohn sometyme vsed although it be somewhat long and tedious Let vs blushe sayeth he and be ashamed the woman that had had fiue husbandes and was a Samaritane vseth so greate diligēce in learning that shee coulde neyther in the time of the daye nor by any other lettes or occasions be withdrawn from the doctrine of Iesus Whereas wee doe not onlye not enquire after any thyng that might tende to oure instruction in heauenly things but also are verye carelesse in all thynges and alwayes like affected and therefore passe for no manner of thyng that good is Which of vs I praye you when hee commeth home taketh in hande anye worke worthy of a Christian who searcheth for the meaning of the Scriptures None truely but as for dice and tables we finde them commonly bookes verye seldome which yet if any haue they keepe as though they hadde them not close in theyr Coffers or else all theyr studye consistes in setting forth the leaues and couers and in making the letters beautifull to the eye not to the intent to reade them neyther to gette any profite by them but to vaunte of their riches to shewe their ambition therefore studye they in them So greate is their vaine glorie I heare of no ambitious person that vnderstandeth his booke but hee is in loue onely with the glittering glose of the golden letters What gaine call yee this I beseeche you The Scriptures are not therefore giuen vs that we should haue them in bookes alone but that we shoulde engraue them in our heartes Therefore this outwarde possession of bookes is a token of the ambitiousnesse of the Iewes to whom the commaundemēts were giuen in letters to vs are they not so giuen but in fleshly tables of the heart Howbeit I forbidde no manne to buye bookes but I admonishe and with all my heart desire that we may buye them yet so as we maye oft times ponder both the letters and their meanings in our mindes and by thys meanes haue a pure minde wrought within vs For if in what house so euer the Gospell be there the Diuel dare not enter then how muche lesse power shall the Diuell or Sinne haue ouer that soule that is acquainted with it by continuall readings Sanctify therefore they soule san̄ctifye thy body this shall come to passe if thou haue alwayes the Gospell both in thy heart and tongue Where if the filthinesse of thy tong defyleth the soule if it call vppon Diuels it is euident that by spirituall reading the same is sanctified and the grace of the holy Ghost abundantly powred into it The Scriptures be as it were diuine charmes From them let vs fetch a remedy for our griefe for the maladies of our soule the vtilitie wherof if we would consider we should with attentiuenes apply oure study in them These things I oftentimes touch Is it not a thing very preposterous that common market menne shoulde beare in minde the names of Cartars and Dauncers their kinds countreis actions maners and tell likewise of the prowesse of horses and what euerye one coulde doe and they that come hither goe their wayes knowing nothing at all no not so muche as the number of the holy Bookes Thus muche hath this most excellent Preacher questionlesse in that place who in other places also ofte times singeth the selfe same song as in verye déede that song is neuer thoughte to be oute of season whych is acceptable to the eares of all men especiallye of suche as are skilfull in Musicke and is of it selfe verye swéete and delectable for in his two and fiftith Homilie vppon Iohn he againe wisheth all men to haue the Bookes of holye Scripture in their houses and diligentlye to peruse them throughe In hys fourtéenth Homilie hée requireth greate diligence to be bestowed in searching of the Scriptures And euerye where in the beginnings of hys Sermons and likewise in the latter endes or perorations hée entreateth of the manifolde vse of the Scriptures Vppon whyche occasion hée eftesoones vrgeth requyreth enforceth and pricketh forwarde all menne that whensoeuer oportunitie shall serue they woulde as well at home as abroade conferre togither of the doctrine of godlynesse that they would as touching doubtfull places both aske the opinion of others and also now and then shew their owne iudgement that they would draw this practise as a custome and perpetually kéepe it in vre But what if yée shoude haue hearde Chrysostome himselfe vttering his owne words for let it be lawfull to me I beséeche you to vsurpe the selfesame words of this mā that Aeschines sometimes did of Demosthenes whome he enuied onely for desire of glorie Albeit we haue this priuiledge after a sort graunted vnto vs euen to heare hym also whylest the things whiche he moste swéetely pronounced in the chiefe Citie and seate of a most mightye Empire we may reade in Authētical writing published throughout the whole worlde euen in like sorte as the edictes and proclamations of kings and princes are out of one notable place heard a farre off and take effect in all prouinces But least any man shoulde suppose that the Gréeke writers and Doctours of the East Churches whome otherewise some affirme let them sée with what iudgemēt and with what right they speake it to disagrée and erre in many things from the Latines and west Churches were only and altogither of this minde heare I beséech you likewise the voyces of the Latine writers as touching the selfe same cause What accompt makest thou of Hierom what of Augustine Thou grauntest them I am sure to be of the number of the chiefe and principall Diuines Then marke what Hierome hathe noted vppon those wordes of the second Epistle to the Corinthians the thirtéenth Chapter Laste of al my brethren fare yee well bee perfect be of good comforte It is to be noted sayth he that writing to the whole Churche he telleth them they oughte to be perfite and that the Laitie ought one to exhort an other Again vpon those words of Paule to the Colossians Cap. 3. Let the word of Christ dwel in you Here it is shewed that
they may become most like to their godly Christian king In vayne do some lay for excuse the troubles impedimeÌ„ts of the Courte and I wote not what heapes of businesse besides wherewith they are ouerwhelmed It is not the place but the mind whervpon to make thée studious of Gods worde the point of the whole matter depeÌ„deth And very easily may he find a place time houres coÌ„uenient to reade studie in that hath at the least a desire to séeke them Obadias gouernour of the wicked King Achabs house is read 1. King. 18. to haue bin vehemeÌ„tly addicted to the word of God and to his Prophetes the interpretours of it of which Prophets he had a hundred at the least in caues notwithstanding Iezabels crueltie who sought to slea theÌ„ priuily ministred vnto their necessities And the Pagan Eunuch treasourer to Candace Quéene of the Aethiopians found the meanes to get oportunitie of reading the holy Scriptures euen whilest he trauelled by the way was caried in a Coach as we may reade Acts. 8. But why doe I not to reproue the detestable dulnesse slouth of some men set downe the words of Iohn Chrisostome as touching the diligence of this Eunuch written in the beginning of his 34. Homilie vppon Genesis These they are That Barbarous Eunuch of the Aethiopian Qu. which was in so great glory was caried in a Chariot euen at that time neglected not reading but taking the Prophet in his hands vsed great studie and diligeÌ„ce though he knew not what was conteyned in the booke and hee broughte with him whatsoeuer was in him namely a good desire cheerefulnesse of minde and aduizednesse in marking For consider I pray thee what a thing it was not to omitte reading so muche as in the time of trauelling and especially sitting in a Chariote Therefore well worthy are they of blame that can not be perswaded thus to do wheÌ„ they sitte quietly at home in their owne houses but supposing such maner of reading to be superfluous bycause either they keepe coÌ„pany with a woman or are appoynted to warfare or bee charged with childreÌ„ and seruaÌ„ts or otherwise intangled with businesse they thinke it no parcell of their charge to apply themselues to the reading of the diuine Scriptures Behold he was an Eunuch or gelded man and hee was a Barbarian which both were sufficieÌ„t to make him negligent and carelesse and yet besides he was in greate honour abounded in riches Adde herevnto also that he was in his iourney and was caried in a Coach. For to him that in this wise trauelleth by the way it is no easie matter to be occupyed in reading nay it is very harde and troublesome Neuerthelesse he through the wonderfull desire and care that he had ouercomming all lettes and impedimentes gaue himselfe intentiuely to reading Wherevpon it followeth that he vttered not those wordes that a great number nowe adayes haue in their mouthes namely when they vse to saye I vnderstand not the things that are written I can not conceiue the deepe meaning of the Scriptures wherfore theÌ„ shuld I bestow my time in vayne I reade and haue no body to direct me As for him he thought no such matter being in language a Barbarian in mind a Philosopher but he considered rather that he should not be shakeÌ„ off but holpeÌ„ with grace froÌ„ aboue so that he brought with him that which in him lay a true indeuour I meane and diligence whome also let vs imitate c. These thinges hath he in that place Séest thou not with howe greate sharpnesse and grauitie Chrisostome cutteth off and beateth backe the cold and senselesse reasons that some deynty toothed Cockneys are wont to vse to the intent to cast from them the care of heauenly things Truely they are ouerwise nay rather very vayne in this behalfe They proue themselues to be guiltie of a most gréeuous crime who when they can find a time to bestow in banquetings and bellychéere in dicing and carding in tossing to and fro of balles in huntings in hawkings in idle ridings vp and downe yea in deuising wayes to oppresse the innocents and to spoyle good Citizens of that which they haue to speake of nothing else more bitter doe yet denie that they haue any spare time or leysure left wherein to be occupyed in reading and vnderstanding the word of god But with Clubs vndoubtedly I had almost sayd with forkes or roddes and scourges are those most perstilente flatterers worthy to be beaten that are not afrayde to whisper in the cares of soft and delicate men and of suche as are ouer-lighte of credite that the studie of the holy Scriptures is altogither vnméete for a noble man as though forsooth that true Nobilitie coulde stande withoute the knowledge of true vertues whiche the Scripture alone doth rightly teache or any noble enterprises bée happilye atchieued where the foundation of Fayth is not layde out of the worde of God as thoughe that whyche God hymselfe hathe defyned to bée fayre and expediente in a Kyng that by mans authoritie ought to bée déemed foule and vnséemely in a Noble manne But rather to lette passe these shâ—melesse and treacherous flatterers all true Nobilitie in déede hath respect to those worthy men whome especiallye the holye Ghoste than holye and godly men doe wonderfully for their studye of GODS worde and sanctimony of lyfe commende and sette forthe So doeth the Scripture celebrate hym whom we spake of namely Obadias likewise Naaman the Syrian 2 King. 5. diuers Princes beléeuing in Christe Ioan. 12. certaine Centurians Math. 8. Luke 7. Actes 10. a Ruler Ioan. 14. the Eunuch Act. 8. Ioseph of Arimathia Math. 27. Sosthenes Act. 18. the noble men of Thessalonica and Berrhoea Act. 17. certaine of the family of Caesar Philip. 4. I passe ouer very many godly Kings and Potentates mentioned in the olde Testament neither do I declare what manner of examples of a Courtelye life and conuersation maye fruitfully be gathered and obserued out of the Bookes of Genesis Kings Esther Daniel Of some holy fathers in their Commentaries and Histories are greatelye extolled Apollonius an Ecclesiasticall writer Abdomênus Senna Tertnl Chrisostome Nectarius Byshoppe of Constantinople Ambrose Byshoppe of Millan Hillary Byshoppe of Orleance Cassiodorus Author of the Tripartite History Boetius Seuerus Sulpitius and others who besides that they were noble by the pedigrée of their Auncestors and likewise in that they were of greate aucthoritie in the Churche or Common weale obtayned also an Honorable name and reporte by theyr handlyng of the holy Scriptures The consideration of these times of ours compelled mée inasmuche as I sée nowe euery where the Nobilitie in lamentable sorte to be farre awaye withdrawen from the Doctrine of Religion to saye more to Noble men than I was purposed to haue done Lette vs nowe therefore passe forward to the other degrées If thou be a Iudge Consull or Pretor surelye séeyng it belongeth to thy office to take vppe
thee to sende thy children to learning and to prouide them Scholemaysters and to see that nothing bee wanting for their instruction and in the meane time not to bring them vp in the nourture and chastisement of the Lorde Therefore do euen we first of all reape the fruite of this thing that is to say through our owne defaulte we haue harebraynd vngracious disobediente and vnmanerly children Let vs not then thus do but let vs obey this blessed Apostle who giueth vs good councell let vs bring them vp in the instructiō and information of the lord Let vs set before them an example causing them from their tender youth diligently to apply the reading of the Scriptures Wo is me whilest I am thus continuallye speaking I seeme to do nothing else but trifle howbeit I will not ceasse for all that to do that which mine office bindeth me to do These things hath he All that Sermon of his is very worthye to be read as in whiche hée sheweth with manye reasons that those when all is said do best prouide for their children and lay open vnto them the way to riches peace and tranquilitie of life happie estate and to preferment in Princes courts whiche haue a care ouer them that they be instructed euen from their infancie in the holy Scriptures To bée short the husbande and the wife the parentes and children the maisters and seruantes the mistresses and maydes may find in the holy Bookes infinite as well preceptes as examples whiche it is not néedefull to rehearse as touching all those things that it behoueth euery one of them to doe in their seuerall state and calling The same must thou thinke to be spoken both vnto widowes and virgins of whose care and diligence like as also of the instruction of children in the holye Scriptures we haue aboue somewhat discoursed So far-forth therefore is that true which Saint Augustine sayth De verbis Domini Sermone 19. namely that vnto all estates of mē there is prescribed in the sacred bookes a rule to liue by and that all and euery sexe age and degree is prouoked to leade an vprighte and godly life Therefore as we began to saye before not onely those that are appoynted to the Ecclesiasticall ministerie but also generally all Christians of what estate or condition soeuer they be ought dayly to bestow sometime at the least in reading and pervsing the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles The continuall meditation of the Scriptures is not the priuate and peculiar office of some fewe persons but the common and publike dutie of all Christians I graunt in déede that the godly and learned Pastors of Churches shoulde goe before but yet muste all other states and degrées followe after There is none neyther one nor other that can bée debarred from this daunce There is no man in this life in all respectes so perfite vnto whome remayneth not some thing more to be learned no man so exactly accomplisheth his dutie but that some good man for I speake not of anye slaunderous and enuious cauiller may say vnto him this would be amended Wherefore I beléeue there is not any man liuing whiche by the rules and exhortations of the holy Scriptures may not onely become better learned but also better qualified and which by reading of the word of God may not bée made more strong and couragious to all good actions of life whatsoeuer A greate offence it were doubtlesse to surmise that the Philosophers or anye other persons besides shoulde be able better to prescribe what euerie one ought to do or to leaue vndone than God himselfe Certes the Philosophers Lawmakers and other worldly wise men when they dispute of duties doe oftentimes erre Euidente proofes héereof we haue in Plato Aristotle Panaetius Cicero and such like whyche doe commonly one carp and controll another Neyther doe they commend any thing as comely and honest but so far-forth as it is déemed to be suche by the opinion of men But the Prophetes and Apostles coulde not erre bicause they were taught by the holy Ghost who is the spirit of truth and voyd of all error yea they so vrged commanded all things as they knew the same to be allowed of god But to frame the life and maners in suche wise as God maye be pleased with them is no doubte a most soueraigne thing highly to be desired of all men And in déede the Philosophers cā after a sort tell vs what one man oweth vnto another but what mā oweth vnto god how God shuld rightly be worshipped of true faith in God remissiō of sins of the inward spirituall righteousnesse of the heart of other things like vnto these they do not so much as make any mētion at al much lesse cā they perfitly declare thē As oft as in the writings of the Philosophers ther happen any place as touching God or as touching the duty of man towards God we sée how coldly slenderlye and obscurelye they runne ouer it Which truely that it shoulde so come to passe God vndoubtedly had ordeyned that eyther for bycause they were conuicted in their owne cōsciences and stayed not vpō any sure foundation in these their disputations or else for that it was not their proper charge but was reserued for others the Prophets I meane Apostles their Disciples and finally for so much as God would haue all men to be admonished by this meanes that the perfite knowledge of God and of his will is to be learned not out of the Bookes of the Philosophers but only and alone out of the holy Scriptures And this is that in effect whiche the Apostle meaneth 2. Timoth. 3. when he saith That the holy Scripture inspired of God is profitable to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect and prepared to all good works Wherevnto Sainct Augustine hauing respecte in hys 2. Sermon vpon the 90. Psalme very wittily said That the holy Scriptures are letters patents sent downe from the heauenly Citie to vs which do exhort vs all to lyue well Wherfore whosoeuer coueting to reade the holy Bible wherein is most absolutely cōprised all the discipline cōcerning the duties of all and euery Christian as wel towards God as towards men and to reforme his maners accordingly requireth the same Bible to bée reached vnto him he shal more truely a great deale say of it Giue me my Maister then long ago Cyprian vsurped the like saying as oft as he meant or spake of the most famous writer Tertullian if we may credit Hierome But I will procéede somewhat further to speake of certayne dueties which are common to all Christians and yet in the meane time can not rightly be performed of any man without the reading and knowledge of the Scriptures Howbeit I will speake only of the chiefe principall wherevpon depend other almost infinite In the explication whereof we will gather togither those reasons wherewith the consciences I hope of
the eyes of their mind whereby they may iudge vprightly of al things Further it cānot be denied but that there be many things in the Scriptures of thēselues very plaine and easie to be vnderstoode Likewise there are dyuers and sundrye thynges here and there intermixed whyche who so hathe any iudgement at all doeth soone perceiue where vnto they tende Moreouer there is no man the carrieth not about with hym an expert maistresse of manye secrete and mysticall matters to witte hys owne proper conscience whych doeth ofte times priuily reproue finde faulte with and make ashamed those that pretende that they vnderstand not the holy Scriptures It is a very grieuous offence when thou once vnderstandest the truth to dissemble it to neglect not exercise or deny it and God is wonte to giue vppe those that so doe hauing firste as witnesseth the Apostle Rom. 1. blinded their harts into a reprobate sense Furthermore be shall best prouide for his owne safety that dothe not labour to flye ouermuch alofte but contenteth himselfe in places some what harde and difficulte to drawe forthe the simple and sounde meaning whych the words themselues do signifie wythout any couertures and whyche séeme not to be strange from the minde and purpose of the author To hunt after subtil and straunge interpretations to muse vppon allegories wythout cause why to crake continuallye of mysticall meanings is the property of men that consider not sufficiētly the snares and bayted hookes of the deuill Examples howe suche curiositie and vnaduisednesse hath bin punished God would haue in all ages to be séene Woulde to God we coulde oftetimes call to remembraunce howe greate a benefite it is to be wise to sobrietie He shal not a little be helpen to the collecting of proper sentences that will exactlye marke where the beginnings of sermons disputations and narrations and where the endings of the same bée again where the prefaces propositions confirmations confutations conclusions are distinguished in them Let hym obserue also the proper spéeches and phrases that are familiar in the Scriptures let hym searche diligētly throughout euery member as well the thynges that goe before as also the things that follow after to be short let hym duely examine the causes and circumstances of euery point If after all these things thus discussed there remaine some things yet still hidden it shall be expedient to repeate them oftener than once and the more intentiuely to consider of them Repetition commonlye causeth some things to be more cleare and lightsome and that whyche is harde to daye to morrowe or nexte daye becommeth plaine and easie One daye teacheth an other and one night certifieth an other If the daye as it is saide in the prouerbe taketh away the sicknesse oft he bodye then vndoubtedly taketh in awaye also ignoraunce whyche is a maladie of the minde It shall be verye profitable in lyke manner to conferre diligentlye the playne and agréeable places of the Scriptures wyth that place touching the meaning whereof the question is as Luke reporteth Act. 17. the Thessalonians did If thys conference be in vayne then there is no let but that thou maiste aske the aduice of some other wiser than thy selfe GOD wil bring to passe that when thou thinkest leaste of it thou shalte lighte vpō some Philip that may resolue thée of thy most intricate doubtes Act. 8. Hée that wanteth altogither the helpe of a teacher let hym looke ouer the Commentaries or Annotations of the choicest interpretres that hée can come by Laste of all if all thy labour in searching of some hidden mysteries proue voyde and of none effecte and that mannes industry as ye woulde saye be mocked and deceyued then doubt thou not that it commeth to passe for some benefite of thine that some thinges whyche thou soughtest verye desirously to knowe doe remaine still vnknowen vnto thée It is profitable that thou shouldest knowe by this meanes the infirmitie and ignorance as well of all mankinde as also of thy selfe Hereby also thou learnest how highly thou oughtest to estéeme the giftes of the holy Ghoste who enlightneth the myndes of the godly Thou vnderstandest agayne that the same gifts are giuē to euery man according to the measure of Faith. Further thou haste in admiration eayl◠more and more the maiestie of the things comprehended in the sacred Scriptures And there are in verye deede some things in them whych ought of vs rather to be beleeued than perceiued like as also certaine pointes are onely touched by the way but not fully declared Neither truely is it to be doubted but that many before thée haue sticked and stammered at the selfe-same places Yea euen the diligentest of al other do oftetimes stumble and are deceyued Therefore the wante of knowledge of some certaine places doeth by no meanes giue thée occasion to caste awaye the holye Bookes but rather thou muste so muche the more diligentlye and constantlye goe forwarde to pervse them as thou arte sure and certaine that there wyll be alwayes a number of thynges whyche thou shalte neuer bée able to attayne vnto and that a Christian manne oughte all hys lyfe long to bée a Scholler of the holye Ghoste But to declare howe and by what meanes thou mayste reape a Spirituall profite by the thynges whyche thou readest and indifferently at the leaste vnderstandest althoughe a man myghte stand long vppon thys matter yet I will saye so muche in effecte as I truste for this present time shall be sufficient Firste all menne oughte to be perswaded of this that the effectualnesse of prayer poured from the hearte vnto GOD is very greate for whyche cause we haue a little before admonished that so ofte as we come to the readyng of the holye Bookes wée shoulde in anye case to beginne wythall vse some forme of prayer Secondly there lyeth hidden in the worde of GOD it selfe when it is read or hearde or when it is duely examined a certaine wonderfull power of the spirite where with the mindes of men are stricken and after an vnspeakable maner moued drawen Whiche thing doubtlesse we woulde by no meanes affyrme except it were found expressed in the sacred Scriptures and except further it were manifest that many good mē had at all tymes proued the selfe same thyng to be true Hearken I praye you what the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes Chap. 4. sayth The worde of GOD is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper than anye two edged sworde and entreth throughe euen to the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirite and of the ioyntes and the marow and is a discerner of the thoughtes and of the intents of the heart Neyther is there anye creature whyche is not manifest in his sight but al thyngs are naked and open to hys eyes wyth whome wee haue to do In whyche place there are two things of vs to be obserued The one that vnto the worde of GOD are ascribed life and other effectes of verye great
the minde oughte alwayes to be intentiuely fixed and set vppon those fiue fountaines or Chapiters to the whyche the Apostle hymselfe auoucheth that al things contained in the holy Scriptures are to be referred For thus wée reade 2. Timoth. 3. The holye Scriptures are able to make thee wise vnto saluation through the faith whiche is in Christ Iesu For the whole Scripture is inspired of God and is profitable to teache to improue to correct and to instructe in righteousnesse that the maÌ„ of God may be made absolute perfect to al good works Likewise 1. Corinth 10. They are written to admonish vs vppon whome the endes of the worlde are come Againe to the Rom. 15. Whatsoeuer things are written aforetyme they are written for oure learning that wee through patience and comforte of the Scriptures might haue hope Of these fiue fountaines therfore I meane Teaching Reprouing Instructing Correcting Comfortyng al persons when they reade the Scriptures or heare them read shal very carefully consider Neither in sooth will it be a harde matter in passing throughe these fountaines as by steppes and in meditating deuoutlye vppon them to find out and gather those things that are agréeyng and answerable to euery one of them And in very déede they may rightly be taken for places as yée woulde saye of Diuine inuention For the fountaine as touching Doctrine or Teaching doeth admonishe that thou shouldest intentiuely looke about thée whither any thing out of the place of Scripture which thou hast gone through in reading may be drawen forth as pertayning to the chiefe principles and common places of the doctrine of our Religion He that knoweth and can saye by hearte the preceptes of the Decalogue the articles of the Faith as they call them the effect and meaning of the Sacraments and other pointes vsually taughte vnto yong beginners and learners in religion this man shal easily in a manner at the first sight be able to discerne the principall parts of Doctrine what they are For vpon those fountaines or welheads séeing they are to be accounted for the ground-worke and foundation are built al the rules of Christian religion whatsoeuer Going forwardr to the seconde fountaine as concerning Reprouing thou shalte wyth all diligence and indeuour weigh and consider whether in the place or sentence by thée read anye thyng bée reposed as auaileable to impugne heresies and any false doctrine whatsoeuer either olde or newe for euen at this daye the more is the pitie are hearde ouer many thynges euen among the common sorte contrary and repugnant to the trueth Whatsoeuer shall betide proper to thys kinde sée thou bestowe and laye vp in thy minde from thence when occasion shal be offered to bring it forth as a preseruatiue againste the pestilent poyson of Heretikes Next in the thirde fountayne whych is as touching Instruction we are willed out of the words and sentences of Scripture wisely to gather those things aparte whyche tende to the passing of the life in righteousnesse and true holinesse and generally which are any thing auaileable to the good administration of Churches of pollitike or housholde affayres For why that knowledge is barren and vnfruiteful that bringeth not a man to such dealings in the common trade of hys life as are both holesome and commendable To Correction whyche obtayneth the fourth place and is after a sorte contrarye to Instruction hée that is desirous to finde fit matter muste first looke about hym and consider with what faultes either priuie or apparant he hymselfe is infected then nexte wyth what corruptions and defilementes the Churches euerye where are blemisted and impaired also the common wealth and priuate houses or families howe in these on euerye side discipline is lette loose and to be shorte howe lewde and corrupte the maners and conditions of al sortes of menne are If therefore the place of Scripture whyche thou haste in hâ—nâ—e doeth minister anye thing to the controlling eyther of thine owne faultes or other mens and to the reprouing and amending as well of publike as priuate enormities then shalte thou with verye good right accompte all that among Corrections Whosoeuer furthered by Gods greate goodnesse intendeth earnestlye to leade a godlye life and with all inforcement to detefie and abandon sinne hée shall bée able wyth iudgement to gather oute of the diuine Oracles bothe Instructions and also corrections Last of al to heape vp matter of Comfort or Consolation it is not so busie a labour Hee that is grieued wyth a sore or vexed wyth anye other maladie whatsoeuer that manne diligentlye séeketh and serapeth togither medicines wheresoeuer he can come by them so likewise hée that is touched wyth anye sense or féeling of publike or priuate calamities whereof vndoubtedly euerye one of vs haue dailye experience and do taste of many in some measure and that not of one sorte or kind wil studiously note and gather euery where in reading plentiful matter comfort against all perils and daungers whatsoeuer But those men that by their dayly dealings and experience of many thynges haue gotten to themselues anye wisedome they can muche better than a number of others gyue sentence as touching all these pointes For Wisedome as wel in al other affayres as also in the consideration of diuine matters maketh men attenâ—â—â—e and circumâ—pect and helpeth them greatelye to the finding out of the vse of those thinges as that whyche hâ—â—deth vp a Torche in the darke and goeth commâ—â—lye before them That man in like care shall not a little profite in this exercise and shal get the Garland from a greate many that hathe been some space conuersant in â—eating the holy Scriptures Yea and he also shall be able to performe something worthy of commendation in this behalfe that hathe bin happily furthered wyth the acquaintance and familiar conferences touchyng Religion of learned and Godlye menne But the readyest and moste certayne waye of all is to obserue with great care and industrye in Sermons made by faythfull Teachers to the people in Sacred assemblies howe and by what meanes in the discourse of euerye parte of the Propheticall and Apostolike writings whyche are there declared one while a manifolde Doctrine as touching true opinions an other whyle Controlementes of false opinions an other while Instructions or Exhortations vnto Vertue an other while reprehensions of Faultes an other whyle Consolations all them applyed to the presente state of thyngs and so farre foorthe as may be to the times places and persons are vttered and produced and wyth no small cunning Clearklinesse and indeuoure inculked and repeated Lyke as those children doe putte vs in good hope and expectation of theyr towardnesse whyche wée sée willinglye and vncompelled to goe to the Schooles wherein the fyrste poyntes of Learning are taughte so we dare be bolde to saye that those shall easily vnderstand al the whole vse of Christian ReligioÌ„ that do chéerefully laying all other matters aparte resorte to the Churche
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.