inconquerable firmenes whereby the scripture hath stood and miraculously triumphed against so many sleights of Sathan rags of the world 1. Mâ—â— â— 59.60 as when Antiochus coÌ„manded That the bookes of the law which were found should be burnt in the fire and cut in peeces and that whosoeuer had a book of the TestameÌ„t found by him or whosoeuer consented vnto the law should be put to death yet presently these bookes shined as it were out of darkenes and not long after they were translated into the Greeke tongue and divulged through the whole world Let this be considered and who may denie that the scripture hath procéeded from God 1. Cor. 2.4 Let vs consider the venerable Maiestie of the spirit of God which shineth euery where in the scripture vnder a plaine simplicitie and humblenes of words together with an euident appearance of heaueÌ„ly wisedome and the subiect and matter of the scripture which in euery place containes diuine doctrine not sauouring of earthly wisedome and shewes the pure and perfect lawe of the Lord Deut. 4.6.7.8 Psal 9.9 and declares that meanes of saluation which is not repugnant to the glorie and most perfect iustice of God but appeareth and calmeth mans conscience and the efficacie and powerfull working of the scripture in the mindes of men Heb. 4.12 Psal 119.11 Act. 12.13 namely in mans conuersion when the scripture doth vnfold an hidden force whereby a man is striken and inwardly moued and so transformed into a new man and in aduersitie when it kindleth a liuely and strong consolation in our hearts as that we regard the scripture more then all other things and suffer our selues to be separated from it by no kinde of torments no not by death it selfe as appeareth in the Martyrs with whose blood it hath bene sealed Let this be considered and who may denie that the Scripture hath procéeded from God Let vs consider the consent of the whole Church generally and of seuerall godly persons particularly for so many Ages and in so many Nations in receiuing and retaining the scriptue Let vs consider so many and notable miracles 1. Kings 17.12 2. Kings 4 13. 17.21 Ex. 14.21 Iosh 3.15.6 Iosh 10.12 2. Kings 10.11 Exo. 2.7.10 â— 2 Act. 7 2â— c. Am. 7.14 Act. 2.11 â— â—â— as well of the Olde Testament which Sathan could not imitate onely in colour as the raising of the dead the diuiding of the Sea and Riuers and the standing still and going backe of the Sunne as of the New which the Iewes themselues cannot denie though at this day they say that Christs Miracles were done by some superstition of the word Schemhamphâ—ras least they should be compelled to acknowledge Iesus to be the Christ the Sonne of the Virgine Marie and so yéelde to the Truth Let vs consider the meruailous calling of Moses and the Prophets and the Apostles of whom the most part were vnlearned and priuate men and such as had learned nothing in humane schooles and yet disputed with a maiestie of heauenly mysteries and the strange conuersion of Paul into a new man being before a professed cruell and bloudie enemie and that these had no regard to their owne estimation and profite but onely to the glorie of God and of Christ and to the saluation of men Let vs consider the admirable harmonie and consent of the doctrine of Moses the Prophets Christ the Euangelists Apostles so that as when two Lutes of the same proportion are tempered tuned alike at the touching of the one the other will moue the strings by reason of the consent and Harmonie So the olde and new Testament agreeing in the same tune being written by the same spirit if the string of the one be toucht the string of the other will sound that is if we vnderstand the type and figure of the old Testament we shall presently perceiue the trueth of the newe and if we perceiue the truth of the new we shall vnderstand the type and figure of the olde Let this be considered and who may denie that the script hath procéeded from God Let vs consider the Euent accomplishment of the prophecies of the Scripture as of the Messias the Sauiour of Mankinde Gen. 3.15 Of the going downe of Abrahams posteritie into Aegypt of the bondage of Aegypt and the deliuerance out of it Gen. 15. â—3 14 15 Act. 7.6.7 Gen. 49.8 Isa 45.22 Iâ—ai 22.1 Ezek. 1â— 6. 2. King 22.4 Dan. 9.3 â— Mat. 24. â—2 Ier 12.15 15 11.1â— Isa 44.23 45.1.2 1. King 13.2 2. King 23.15 Dan. 7.17 1 11.2 5.24.25.26.27 that should be and was foure hundreth yeares after it was fore tolde to Abraham Of the Principalitie and Kingdome that should be erected in the Tribe of Iudah Of the vocation of the Gentiles after a long time to the free Couenant of God Oâ— the destruction of Hierusalem Of the returne of the Iewes from the Babylonish captiuitie Of the workes of Gyrus fauour towards the Iewes described an hundreth and seuentie yéeres before they were done Of Iosiah the King of Iudah that should kill the Idolatrous Priests and â—urne mens bones on the Altar of Bathel three hundred yeeres before Iosiah was borne and three hundreth fiftie nine yéeres before it was bone Of the Foure Monarchies and their courses and periods Of Antichrist and his doctrine Of the end of the world and the like and of the comming and death of Christ All which could not before séene by the quicknes of mans wit nor be gathered by naturall causes and yet were most surely performed â—dde hereunto the antiquitie of the Scripture which deliuers those things which no Bookes of humanitie haue truely and directly mentioned As the Time and Order of the worlds Creation the Progresse of the world the names and families of the Patriarks and the causes of the Corruption of the World and the state and condition of soules after this life Let all this be considered and who may denie that the Scripture hath procéeded from God Besides this the Iewes themselues do witnes with one consent that the books of the old TestameÌ„t were giuen by inspiration from God and therefore they reade and kéepe them studiously For which cause one calles them Librarios Christianorum Aug. the keepers of the Librarie of Christians in that they haue affoorded vs the reading of those sacred Bookes the vsing of which themselues neglect Yea the Iewes doe confesse Ioseph lib. 18. cap. 4. Antiq. Iudâ—c will they nill they that Iesus Christ was famous for Wisedom and vnheard of Miracles was slaine of the people and rose againe the third day But these reasons and this testimonie of the Iewes to prooue that God is the author of the scripture and that it procéeded from him is nothing to that one inward Testimonie of the holy spirit which doth speake within to our hearts and doeth assure vs that the scripture was written by diuine
inspiration and doeth seale it vp in our hearts Isa 3 1. Matth. 13.11 Luk. 8.10 1. Ioh. â— â—0 27 For the Arme of the Lord in working maÌ„s Redemption hath not bene reuealed to all and euery one vnderstandeth not the secrets of the kingdome of Heauen but whosoeuer are led by Gods spirit they easily acknowledge the force of the spirit speaking in the scripture they haue an anointing from that Holy one and knowe all things and they neede not that any man teach them but the same true annointing and not lying teacheth them of all things and therefore the Apostle saith 1. Cor 1.15 That he that is spirituall discerneth all things This testimonie of the spirit doeth chiefely confirme vs and doth onely satisfie vs for the certaintie of the Scripture Ioh. 14.17 and is onely knowne to the Elect without which the testimonie of the Church auailes nothing For as God is onely a méete witnes of himselfe in his word so his word can finde no credite in our hearts before it be sealed by the inward witnes of his holy spirit And this is the Authenticke irrefragable and vndoubted Authoritie of that scripture of which Paul speakes when he saith Let the words of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisedome that is Exercise your selues in the word of God and put it in practise The Word of Christ is the Doctrine of Christ and the word of the Gospell and generally the whole Canonicall Scripture * The whole scripture is the word of Christ because it aimes at him as a booke doth aime at the Title which is able to instruct in true Religion that is in Faith and loue and therewithall to saue our soules And the word of the Apostle hath a great Emphasis and force in that he saieth not Let the word of Christ be in you but Let the word of Christ dwell in you And how not sparingly and niggishly and a little but plenteously richly and aboundantly His meaning is that the doctrine of the Gospell should be very familiar and well knowne to the Faithfull and that it should be so farre off from them to be ashamed of the Gospell of Christ Rom. 1.1 which is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth as that on the contrarie 1. Pet. 3.15 they should be readie alwaies to giue an answere to euery man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them with meeknes and reuerence And here we may gather with what spirite they are led at this day who doe strictly forbid the multitude common sort from reading and perusing the Scripture crying out that there is no greater pestilence to be taken héede of then the reading of the word of God by the common people For questionles Paul speakes héere to men and women of all states and conditions and he would haue them not only to take a slender sleight taste of Christs word but he chargeth that it should dwell in them that is that it should be rooted and stablished in them and in all plenteousnes whereby they may daily profite and procéed in the attainment of euerlasting saluation But for that some haue a preposterous desire of learning abusing the word of God either to ambitiousnes or vaine curiositie or deprauing the sinceritie thereof one way or other therefore he ioynes immediately in all wisdome As if he had said it is not enough to haue the word of Christ among vs to handle it daily vnles we doe it wisely and reason and dispute of it religiously and reuerently For there are some prophane and vnreuerent men who handling the Scriptures with vnwashen hands and talking of them with rash tongues doe speake grossely of God and things pertaining to God and doe carnally expound that which coÌ„taines some secret mysterie Therfore prudence and discretion and sobrietie is necessarie for him that will handle the word of God profitably and to edifying For the Scripture doth compreheÌ„d mere Oracles and sets downe the holy and eternal will of God and therefore it requires readers and hearers studious of holines addiected to godlines who with ferueÌ„t sighes and groanings and zealous Prayers conceiued in the feare of the Lord Psal 111.10 Prou. 1.7 must desire to be instructed from aboue For the feare of the Lord is the beginning of Wisedome saith Dauid and of Knowledge saith Salomon And that this precept of the holy Apostle may be the better performed of vs let vs consider first how profitable and necessarie the word of God is for vs and secondly after what sort and with what heart we must heare it 1. The profitablenes of the Word First let vs see the profitablenes and commoditie of the word of God If we obserue duely the titles that God hath enstamped on his Word in holy Scripture we may easily perceiue the inestimable commoditie that redounds to vs by the searching reading and hearing thereof Deut. 8.3 It is the spirituall Manna that procéedeth out of the mouth of God and giues life to men represented by that foode of Angels and Bread sent from Heauen readie without labour Wisd 20.21 which had abundance of all pleasures in it and was meete for all tastes and serued to the appetite of him that tooke it and was meete to that that euery man would It is the light and the Trueth that leades vs in this world that giues direction to the people that walke in darkenes Psal 43.3 Isa 9 2. Ex. 28.18 and shines vpon them that dwell in the Land of the shadow of death expressed by the bright Carbuncle that was set in Aarons brest plate It is the pure Wheate in comparison whereof the traditions and deuises of men are but chaffe Ier. 32.28 It is the nourishment and Bread of life for want and scarcitie of which Am. 8. there comes the pining staruing and death of soule in comparison whereof the fantasies of men are but huskes fit to nourish swine withall Psal 23.2 Ier. 36.25 Ier. 2.13 Ier. 32.24 Psal 119.30 Isa 22. Psal 12.6 Matt. 13.43.44 It is the pure water of saluation in comparison whereof mens inuentions are broken cesternes that can hold no water It is the powerfull fire and the hammer that breakes the rocks and the word of truth and the siluer purified and refined from the earth in comparison whereof the doctrines of men are dreames and drosse and impuritie It is the inualuable pearle and treasure which no earthly riches can counteruaile and therefore to be sought and bought of all them that will be prouident Merchants for their soules health Io. 6.68 Isa 59.5 2. Tim. 2.17 Matt. 2.16.17 Luk. 2.62 10.42 13.34 It is the word breeding eternall life whereas humane ordinances are but Cockatrices egges and Spiders webbes and fretting cankers It is the new garment that must not be matched nor patched with old rags and the new wine that abhorres old bottels It is
Quando quidem ipse etiam librorum aspectuâ— segniores nos reddit ad peccandum forasmuch as the very sight of the Bookes doth withhold vs from sinning If the very sight of the sacred Bible in our houses will cause vs to thinke thus I will not sweare vainely I will not blaspheme I wil not offend the diuine Maiestie this way or that way because yonder lyeth the holy Booke of God which forbids sinne and threatens sinners shewes the punishment of vngodlines If the very sight of the Bible doe so much how will the reading and perusing and reuerent meditating on the scriptures amend and reforme our manners Lastly that the word of God will make vs absolute Saint Paul teacheth when he saith to his scholler Timothie 2. Tim. 3.15 â—6 11 that the holy scriptures were able to make him wise vnto saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus for the whole scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnes that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes As if he had said the scripture teacheth the truth of the Christian faith and conuinceth erroneous doctrines and rebukes vices and instructs in all godlines and holy conuersation And that more is Rom 15.4 as the same Apostle affirmes as the scriptures were written for our learning so they were written for to bréede in vs patience and consolation and hope in all our afflictions If the word of God be able to prepare vs on this wise to euery good worke who will not admire the fulnes and sufficiencie thereof He that would say that the scripture containes not all things necessarie to saluation but that some vnwritten verities are to be beléeued equally with the written word such as were those things that Paul ordered when he came to Corinth 1. Cor. 11.34 2. Thes 2.15 2. Io. 11. 3. Io. 13.14 Io. 21.25 and the instructions and traditions that he vttered to the Thessalonians those things which the blessed Euangelist would not write with pen ynke and paper but speake mouth to mouth and those other things which Iesus did the which if they should be written euery one the Euangelist supposeth that the world could not containe the Bookes that should be written He that would obiect this to procure authoritie to mens deuises must knowe that the things which Paul ordered among the Corinthians were not fundamentall points of Christian doctrine but such things as pertained to order and decencie as place time forme of prayers and other such like for which the Apostle tooke order in congregations according to the consideration of times places and persons and he must knowe that the instructions and traditions giuen to the Thessalonians were nothing else but the selfe-same doctrine which formerly the Apostle had deliuered vnto them either by word or by letter and he must knowe that the Euangelist meanes not any other Gospell 1. Io. 1.1 then that which he had before preached and written euen Iesus Christ the eternall life which was from the beginning which he had heard and séene with his eyes and looked vpon and handled with his hands but he meanes some particular matters that priuately beloÌ„ged to some speciall persons and were not tending to the edification of the whole Church and he must knowe that though all things are not written Io. 20.31 that Iesus did yet enough is written that we might beléeue that Iesus is that Christ that sonne of God and that in beléeuing we might haue faith through his name and Christs Church is built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Eph. 2.20 Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone and no reuelations or apparitions are to be expected Luk. 16.29 Heb. 1.1 for we haue Moses and the Prophets and must heare them and albeit at sundry times and in diuerse manners God spake in the old time to our fathers by the Prophets in these last daies he hath spoken to vs by his sonne that is although the former declaration of Gods will made by the Prophets was not full yet nothing must be added to this latter For the sacred scriptures are the touchstone to try truth and falsehood as Cyprian shewes by an excellent similitude in which he likens the scripture to a pipe or conduit of water If saith he a conduit of water do suddenly faile In epist ad Pompeiuâ— coÌ„tra epist Stephani which before ran copiously abundantly doe we not presently goe to the head of the spring that we may see whether the vaines encreasing the head be dried vp or whether they running ful from thence it faile in the mid or meane way And if we find that the pipe be corrupted or broken we ameÌ„d it that the current of water may runne as it formerly did Euen so must the Ministers of God do they must keepe them fast by the coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts of God that if the truth reele or stagger in ought we may returne to the fountaine of the Lord the Gospel that which hath bene deliuered by the Apostles that a reason of our doing may thence arise from whence both the order and originall thereof proceeded For if we haue recourse to the welspring of Gods ordinance all error of man ceaseth and whatsoeuer is obscurely hidden vnder a darke cloud it is opened by the light of â—ruth Since then the word of God is so vsefull and necessarie for vs Chrys ser 3. de Laz let vs follow the custome of Smythes Carpenters and other such Artificers They haue stâ—ll the tooles and instruments of their science readie and fit and though dearth or pouertie constraine them yet they had rather do any thing then sell their tooles and so maintaine themselues and they had rather pay vse for monie then engage their instruments For why they well know that if they sell their tooles their art decaies and the foundation of their gaine fals to ground but while their tooles are left and they apply their facultie in processe of time it may come to passe that they may pay their debt But if they doe away their tooles before they pay their debt what hope or expectation is left Of this minde must euery Christian be And as their tooles are the hammer and tongs and anuile and the like so our instrumeÌ„ts are the writings of the Prophets and Apostles and the whole scripture giuen by inspiration of God As they finish the workes which they take in hand by their instruments and tooles euen so by these Bookes we frame our selues and corrupt our liues and reforme and renew our soules But héerein is the ods that the Artificer by his craft onely ads a forme and shape to that he workes on but he cannot chaunge the substance and matter for he cannot turne siluer into gold or yron into copper but he onely alters the outward shape and proportion of
reiection of the Iewes the destruction of erusaâ—em and the like demonstrations of the last Iudgement And are not daily calamities both publique priuate and the death of the bodie are not these representations Images of the last iudgement Wherefore since it is so certain that the day of iudgement shal come at the time prescribed of God and since that day shall be so searefull and terrible Let vs watch and pray continually that we may be counted worthie to escape all these things that shall come to passe and that we may stand before the Sonne of man Secondly we must note The day of iudgemeÌ„t not known and why that the day and houre of the day of Iudgement is vncertaine and vnknowne For this our Sauiour teacheth most euideÌ„tly For wheÌ„ the disciples asked what signe there should be of his coÌ„ming and of the end of the world Christ did not answere when his comming should be but after what manner it should be He declareth the fashion of it but he concealeth the season of it If any shall say that the approaching of it may be discerned by the signes and tokens which our Sauiour himselfe hath set downe and that therewithall the time of it may be somewhat coniectured It may be answered that the prognostications and signes of the day of iudgement are of two sorts some are precedent anâ— going before it and some are conioyned and going with it And of the foregoing tokens some goe long before it and some goe not long before it The signes that goe long before the day of iudgement Matt. 24 24.3â—.38 are these First the preaching of the Gospell throughout the whole world and among all nations secondly that strange securitie and gluttonie such as was in the daies of Noah before the flood thirdly a departure from sound doctrine of which Paul speakes 1. Tim. 4.1 when he saith That the spirit speaketh euidently that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith and shall giue heede vnto spirits of error and doctrines of Diuels fourthly a wonderfull disorder and corruption in manners for in the last daies saith the scripture shall come perillous times 2. Tim. 3.1.2.3.4 for men shall be louers of themselues couetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobedient to Parents vnthankefull vnholy without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers intemperate fierce no louers at all of them which are good traitours headie hie-minded louers of pleasures more then louers of God fiftly the reuealing of that notable Antichrist for the Apostle saith 2. Thess 2.3 That no man must deceiue vs by any meanes For that day shall not come except there come a departing first and that that man of sinne be disclosed euen the sonne of perdition sixtly Luk. 2â— 12 Matt. 24.10 Matt. 24.11 the persecution of the godly and betraying of them for the name of Christ seuenthly publike and notorious scandales and offences eightly many false Christs false Prophets saying I am Christ that is vsing the name of Christ or faining that they are sent of Christ or that they are that which Christ is shewing forth signes and wonders to deceiue the very elect if it were possible ninthly neglect of loue and charitie and a falling from the faith The signes going néerely before the day yet such as the day shall not presently follow are these First in heauen Mar. 13.17.24 the sunne shall be darkened that is there shall be eclipses of the Sunne the Moone shall loose her light the Starres shall fall from heauen that is shall séeme to fall the powers of heauen shall be shaken Secondly in the earth there shall be great earthquakes sturs and tumults nation shall rise against nation and kingdome against kingdome Luk. 11.9.10.15 Mar. 13.7.8 Luk. 21.23 no place shall be frée from wars pestilences famines persecutions and vexations 3. In the sea there shall be fearefull roaring sounding and flowing 4. In the aire there shall be dreadfull and terrible tempests In a word the heauen earth and all Elements shall expresse the face of an angrie Iudge that sinners may be warned to repent Super. Matt. 24. except they will perish suddenly And therefore Saint Chrysostome saies When the good man of the house dieth the familie lamenteth apparelleth it selfe with blacke garments so when mankind drawes to an end the powers of heauen which were made for mankind doe mourne and putting aside beautie are ouerwhelmed with darkenes When the king of heauen ariseth to iudge the quicke and dead the Angelicall powers shall be moued and the terrible seruants shall goe before the terrible Lord. Vnto these foregoing signes may be added the conuersion or gathering of Israel to the faith that is of the whole Iewish nation to the Church of Christ Luk. 21.24 Isai 59. Rom. 11. when the fuâ—â—s of the gentiles is come in of which conuersion both the Prophet and the Apostle maketh mention and the which how and when it shall be none knowes but God These are the signes that goe before the second comming of Christ The tokens conioyned and going with the day of iudgement are the wayling of the kinreds of the earth Matt. 24.30 and the signe of the Sonne of man which shall be seene in the heauen when the Lord shall come in the cloudes which some take for the signe of the Crosse and some take for the excellent glory and Maiestie which shall giue witnes that Christ is come to iudge the whole world Now by the accomplishing of the foregoing signes which we haue scene and doe see daily performed we may gather the néere approaching of the day of iudgement but of the signe that shall goe with it the time is vncertaine and therefore our Sauiour saith Matt. 24.33 When ye see all these things knowe that the kingdome of God is neere euen at the doores and he addes presently but as the daies of Noah were Verse 37.38.39 so likewise shall the comming of the Sonne of man be for as in the daies before the flood they did eate and drinke marrie and giue in marriage vnto the day that Noah entered into the Arke and they knewe nothing till the flood came and tooke them all away so shall also the comming of the Sonne of man be And he ads withall of this be sure Verse 43.44 that if the goodman of the house knewe at what watch the theefe wold come he would surely watch not suffer his house to be digged through therefore be ye also readie for in the houre that ye thinke not will the Sonne of man come 2. Pet. 3.10 This Peter learned of his Maister Christ when he said That the day of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night And likewise Paul Thess 5.2.3 when he said That the day of the Lord shall come euen as a theefe in the night for when they shall say peace and safetie then shall come vpon them sudden destruction as
them but a Christian may doe otherwise and farre more by the working of the Spirit that blesseth the studie of the scriptures nam ligneum vas acceptum poteris aliquando reddere aureum for thereby thou mayest make that a golden vessell which thou receiuedst a wooden vessell Who will now call into question the profite that the scripture brings to them that loue it reade it heare it and thinke vpon it And how brazen are his browes that dares to affirme Bellar. tom 1. l. 1. c. 16. that the translation of the scripture into vulgar languages is neither necessarie nor much profitable but ofttimes hurtfull and therefore the reading of them is not to be permitted to any but to such as shall be licensed thereunto by their Ordinarie Ioh. 5.49 If Christ commend and commaund the searching of the scriptures if the Eunuch of Canaâ—ce be neuer to be forgotten Act. 8.28 Act. 16.11 for busie perusing of the word of God if the noble Beraeans did well in receiuing the word with all readines and searching the scriptures daily whether those things were so Act. 18.24.26 if Apollos Aquila and Priscillâ— were diligent readers and expounders of the things of the Lord if he that spake as he was inspired of God Psal 1.2 pronounce the man blessed that meditates on Gods law day and night they that will debarre men from reading and hearing of Gods word must be contented to be ranked in the number of those on whom the man of God doth cast a view Isa 5.20 when he saith Woe vnto them that speake good of euill and euill of good which put darkenes for light and light for darkenes that put bitter for swéete and sweete for sowre Doth not the wiseman shew how necessarie the scripture and the exposition thereof is for the people in that he writes that where there is no vision Prou. 29.18 that is declaration of Gods word the people decay doth not Christ shew that the not knowing of the scriptures is the mother of error Matt. 22.19 when he saith that the Saduces beléeued not the Resurrection and were wrapt in ignorance because they knew not the scriptures Doth not the holy Apostle cleerely beate downe the maintenance of ignorance 1. Thes 5.20 1. Tim. 4.13 when he commaunds not to despise prophesie that is the exposition of the word of God and when he chargeth the Minister to apply reading exhortation and doctrine Doth it not manifestly appeare that the scriptures were read of Ezra to the people in their knowne tongue Noh 8.18 9.3 Luk. 21.22 and likewise of Christ himselfe in that vpon the reading and expounding of a place of the Prophet when Christ had said this day is the scripture fulfilled in your eares they all bare him witnes wondred at the gratious words which proceeded out of his mouth and likewise of the Apostles Act. 2.11 13.15 who preached to the Greekes and other nations not in the Hebrewe tongue but in the Greeke tongue and in that tongue that was vnderstood of the hearers But that in old times the common people were commaunded to reade the scriptures and to read them in that tongue that they vnderstood Deut. 6.6.7.8.9 it is most euident by that place where it is said Heare O Israel these words which I commaund thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou tarriest in thine house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest downe and when thou risest vp and thou shalt binde them for a signe vpon thine hand and they shall be as frontlets betwéene thine eyes also thou shalt write them vpon the postes of thine house and vpon thy gates Cor. Agrip de â—an scient Incapite Ieiunij One saith that is was decréed in the first Nicem Counsell that no Christian should want a Bible in his house Augustine speakes thus to his people Let it not suffice that you heare the scriptures read in the Church but also in your owne houses either reade them your selues or séeke some to reade them Chrysostom speakes thus to his hearers In Ioan. Hom. 9 〈◊〉 â—pâ—â— Coâ—os I admonish and desire you to get you Bookes heare this all ye secular men get you Bibles which are medicines for your soules If you will haue nought else get you euen the newe Testament the Apostle the Acts that are continuall and diligent teachers Origen speakes thus In Isai hom 2. Would God that all of vs would doe that is written Search the scriptures Ierome speakes thus of the companie of women that were conuersant with Paule at Bethleem In epitaph Paula It was lawfull for none of them to be ignorant of the Psalmes and not to learne somewhat euery day out of the holy scriptures Despir sancto c. 1. Basil speakes thus As much as humane nature can beare we may be like to God and the likenes cannot be without knowledge and this knowledge consisteth of doctrine and the beginning of doctrine is speech and the parts of speech are syllables and sounds As if he had said Except men know sounds and syllables they cannot perceiue the speech except men perceâ—ue the speech they cannot apprehend the doctrine except men apprehend the doctrine they cannot be like to God Iulian that most wicked Emperour obiected to Christians Cyrill contra Iuliad lib. 6. In fuâ—â—â— Orat. â—e sâ—r Gorg. That their women were spitefull in the scriptures and Nazianzen witnesseth of his sister Gorgonia that she was excellently exercised in the old and new Testament If women if the common people if euery fort were commaunded to reade and search and did reade and search the scriptures who are to be exempted from this dutie If Moses wish Num. 11.29 Psal 1.9.10 1. Thes 4.1 that all the Lords people had knowledge and could prophecie if Paul wish to all Gods people daily and large encrease of knowledge to call ignorance the Mother of Deuotion is that heresie that called Ignoarnce of the truth knowledge (a) Iâ—en l. 2. c. 19. For Ignorance is the Mother of all errors (b) Concil Tol. 4. c. 24. and not to knowe the scripture is not to knowe Christ (c) Hier. distinct 38. fi iuxtra and they which knowe not those things which pertaine to the Lord are not knowne of the Lord (d) Greg. in pastoral l. 1. c. 1. and it is the greatest torment and paine to the Diuels to see any to apply the word of God and studiously to seeke out the knowledge of Gods lawe and the mysteries of the scripture this is the flame and fire wherein they burne for they possesse all those that lye in Ignorance (e) Orig. in Numb hom 27. and as the body cannot liue except it breath so the soule cannot liue except she knowe her Creator for not to knowe God is the death