it but little in respect of that hee writes in another place explaining the same place of the Apostle his reasons translated word for word euen as the present citations were are these which follow Another excellencie of the sacred Scripture is Idem 4. toma fol. 560. that the same is very beneficiall to saluation and that perfection which wee pretend Because the holy writings said the Apostle Possunt te instruere ad salutem They can informe thee in whatsoeuer is requisite for thy saluation And a little after they are not onely profitable for euery one in particular but further they are good and behoofefull for others and in this reason S. Paul recounts fiue great commodities for one of the fiue ends The first is ad docendum for the teaching of men all that is requisite for saluation perfection that so through ignorance they may not bee depriued of them and it doeth not onely explaine the trueths therein mentioned but also other verities appertaining to naturall Sciences for that corrects and directs many things and if it were not for the light wee receiue there-from wee should repute many things for true that are but counterfait and falfe The second end is ad arguendum that is to confute and conuince those that follow and vphold heresies and contrary errors For the Scripture sets downe such strong reasons and arguments as are sufficient to subdue them and to refell their vaine arguments Euen as wee may plainely see by the reasons wherewith Christ our Lord reprehended and conuinced the Iewes and in those produced by S. Paul in his Epistles against many Heretikes and Schismatikes The third end is ad corrigendum that is to correct vice and rebuke the guilty because the same prescribes rules of correction and points out those things that are to be corrected together with a meanes to reforme them The fourth end is ad erudiendum in Iustitia to instruct them in righteousnesse and equitie because it doth not only teach such verities as enlighten the vnderstanding but also further the doctrine of vertue which mooues and excites the minde to loue and imbrace them propounding all those motiues meanes and benefits which stirre vp a man to put them in practise and finally ratifying after an excellent manner that formerly vttered saying Vt perfectus sit homo Dei velomne opus bonum instructus For it remaines not satisfied in the simple teaching of any vertue but in deciphering an high and compleate perfection in them all that the man of God may be perfect and well instructed in all manner of good workes and in the exercise of all vertues from the meanest to those which are most excellent and supereminent A little vnderneath The fulnesse of all wisedome is found in the two Testaments the New and Old Thus farre proceedes the same Authour and thus with that formerly alleadged I haue sufficiently expressed the propounded trueth of the validitie and all-sufficiency of the holy Scriptures from whence wee also gather to returne to our purpose how precisely and strictly Christians are bound to reade and be often conuersant in the holy Scripture For what can be more necessary for them then that which comprehends and containes all that is behoofefull and requisite to liue here a life of grace and afterwards to obtaine a life eternall which in the same is expressed and manifested And now it is time we should come to the obiections of our Aduersaries against the vse and free reading of the Bible in the vulgar tongue Their first reason is that as Christ himselfe taught Holy things must not bee giuen to dogges nor pearles to swine whereby they conclude with a strange and deprau'd subtilty that the precious Margarite Matth. 7. or Pearle of the Scripture should not be commited to the handling of the vulgar First of all I answere thus to this reason that the obligation and bond in this case is very great wherein Princes stand bound to the Pope and his Ministers seeing they honour them with such a glorious and Illustrious title as that of swine and dogges Secondly I answere that whereas there are diuers that tearme themselues Seculars to whom many Ecclesiasticall persons are not to be compared for sanctitie and puritie of life yea who many times are worse then the most reprobate Seculars as in another place we will prooue therefore the Pope and the Inquisitors if they would onely communicate the Scriptures to men holy and deuout they should rather take it from bad Ecclesiasticall men and permit them to the good Secular sort but seeing they doe not so but freely grant them to all Ecclesiasticall persons both good and bad and contrariwise detaine them from all both good and bad indifferently if they be Seculars it is a signe that they do not prohibite the Bible to the vulgar because they are as swine but because they should be so euen as indeed they are for the most part vnder the Papacie Thirdly I answere that to bee holy it is not sufficient to vnderstand Latine neither can the ignorance of it be any cause of not being holy and therefore if the Pope thinke that it is not iust nor reasonable to permit the Scriptures to any other but such as are holy he herein manifests himselfe to be most vniust allowing it onely to all those that vnderstand the Latine as he thinks and prohibiting all such as vnderstand it not as if to vnderstand Latine and to be holy were einsdem ambitus cōuertibile To the fourth I answere in the same words with which Doctor Gratian satisfies them that oppose the said place of S. Matthew against the common and vulgar vse of the Bookes of Mother Teresa Gratian en sus obras fol. 7. These bookes saith Gratian are certaine to come into the hands of swine which are carnall and sensuall men who trample and tread vpon God For they wil neither spend money in buying of them nor time in reading of them neither weare out their wittes to vnderstand them being content with their own wisedom in the pleasures and delights of the world because for our sinnes such men delight rather in bookes of Cheualries and vanities then in Bookes of spirit and deuotion And if any man read and then contemne or calumniate the same as if they were an Instrument to salue and worke some good effect in a Christian soule hee would be content to suffer as well as he that made them calling to minde that the Lord for the saluation of soules would himselfe be contemned ill intreated pesecuted and crucified of the most base abiect and abominable people of the world And if any for want of vnderstanding or in malice of heart should erre or shew scandall in this spirituall doctrine let him lay the blame on his owne malice or ignorance and not on the Bookes which giue a light to those that haue good eyes but they that will reade them with eyes dazled through philartie and selfe-loue such
Granada en el li. de la insinuacioÌ„ de la dinina Pedad fol. 22. Note that this Booke is approued by the grauest Doctors in all Spaine in that she was very perseuerant in reading of the holy Scriptures and in that shee confirmed whatsoeuer she spake out of the Texts both in the one and th' other Testament who if she were now in Spaine I make no doubt but she would be reputed a Lutherane Wee also prooued more in particular in what an obligation all the faithfull stand bound to reade the diuine Scriptures because it is Gods pleasure we should know and vnderstand him by them Lorenzo Iustiniano teacheth as much whoÌ„ Fray Ioseph de Iesus Maria followes Fray Ioseph cap. 12. del libro de las excelencias de la castidad and alledgeth in these words By meanes of the holy Scriptures our Lord meant to illuminate and instruct our ignorance informe and direct our faith and fortifie and strengthen our hopes The very same Father Arinçan openly confesseth and maintaineth saying that the holy Scripture Arinzano en su Rosario fol. 138 is a Booke plaine and delucide without danger which God imparted to vs that by the same wee might know him But aboue all these Testimonies that of S. Augustine conferring with God in prayer and speaking of himselfe propounds vnto vs and Father Lewys of Granada auerres and confirmes the same Whereas I was weake and insufficient sayth S. Augustine to finde out trueth with naked reason and therefore stood in need of the testimonie and authoritie of the holy Scripture Granada en la segnuda parte de la introduccion del Symbolo I began then presently to conceiue how it was not possible to beleeue that thou O God wouldest giue so great a diuinity and power to these writings in the world but that by their meanes thou wouldest be beleeued and by them sought out Saint Augustines words extend thus farre the which the Bishop of Tortosa also alledgeth to prooue what we haue formerly propounded and he addes That God gaue vs the Scriptures especially by them to finde out Christ whom as S. Augustine saith the Scripture sounded in his care From this it must needs infallibly follow that whosoeuer takes away the vse of the holy Scripture from the vulgar together with them they take away the onely meanes and instrument which God gaue them to know himselfe and his Sonne Iesus Christ and so consequently they shut against them the gate of eternal life which wholly consists in this knowledge and the same Iesus Christ testifieth speaking to his heauenly Father from which also we may collect how deepely we stand bound and obliged to the reading of the same holy Scripture if wee meane to know God and obtaine euerlasting life The said obligation and bond is also made more manifest wherein all Christians stand bound to reade the holy Scriptures for as God will be beleeued out of them so he will likewise by them be serued and reuerenced because in them hee reueales vnto vs his Diuine will and pleasure and hee sent amongst vs his holy Law which the vulgar can no wayes obserue nor keepe if they be not permitted to looke into it They will peraduenture alledge how this reason onely prooues that euery Christian ought to know and vnderstand the Law of God but hereof it doth not necessarily follow that the reading of the holy Scriptures is requisite for all in generall because it is sufficient that the Doctors and great Masters propound to the vulgar whatsoeuer is most necessary and requisite therein to be knowen First I answere this obiection That Gods will is not the people should onely heare and vnderstand what their Teachers and Pastors thinke good but that all and euery good Christian and faithfull man should search and looke into the Scriptures as formerly hath beene sufficiently prooued As also it is further auerred because as S. Basil teacheth and next to him the Bishop of Tortosa â—rena in Isaâ—og in totam Scripturam â—ol 7. all Scripture is diuinely inspired and written by the holy Ghost to this end that as a common medicine of the soule all men in generall and euery man to himselfe in particular might apply a fit and proper remedy Conformable to this S. Basil teacheth whom Doctor Fonseca cites and followes For as the eyes which behold all things and cannot see themselues except in some glasse that represents them to our sight so likewise our soule viewing and beholding all things cannot see nor discerne her selfe but onely by looking into the glasse of the holy Scriptures Hereupon it followes that the reading thereof is requisite and expedient for all men in that it is befitting that all men should both see and know themselues But the Pope of Rome will not permit the vulgar people to see and behold themselues in this diuine glasse that they may not discerne how odious and abominable the false doctrine he professeth maketh the Christian soule in the sight of God imitating herein the Ape or Monkie who breakes the glasse because it layes open his owne vglinesse and deformity and herein also resembling that ancient Lays who cast away her glasse whereof Ausonius made this Epigram At mihi nullus in hoc vsus quia cernere talem Qualis sum nolo qualis eram nequeo All which as by his daily workes it appeares the Pope alledgeth of the diuine glasse of the holy Scriptures for the vse he makes of them is but small or none at all Most true it is that there is this difference betweene the Pope and Lays for she hated her owne deformitie and not the glasse but hee loues his owne deformitie and abhorres the holy Scripture for he reueales and manifests it to all the world But let this suffise for this time and secondly let vs answere the reason propounded to vs for in that we are commanded to prooue and try the spirits because Sathan many times transformes himselfe into an Angel of light from hence it comes to passe that the reading of the sacred Scriptures is necessary for all men which teach vs how wee should discouer masked and hollow enemies and those inwardly deceitfull shewing vs also what we should retaine and what to auoid as S. Augustine affirmes and next to him Father Iesus de Maria. Fr. Ioseph en el cap. 12. del lib. de la castidad And questionlesse if it be not lawfull for vs to looke into the Scriptures wee shall so hardly be able to distinguish betweene bad and good the faire and deformed what God commands and so what himselfe prohibits as a blinde man can iudge of colours because it is only the Scripture that represents vnto vs all these things without any error or deceit If it be not so as I say let a Papist tell me that neuer saw the Bible how can hee trie the spirits whether they be of God or of the deuill how can he discerne betweene Gods
which are alleadged by the Spanish Authors cited in the Margin Blessed saith the Psalmograph are they who diligently meditate vpon diuine Scriptures To know God by the testimony of them Reade and search saith Christ our Lord the Scriptures for they testifie of mee Hereunto alludes that of Deuteronomie Aluarado toâ—â— primero del arte de bien viuir fol. 1091. Chap. 22. Aske thy father and hee will declare vnto thee thy Ancestors and they will tell thee For as Father Serpi cloquently teacheth The writings and Scriptures whence wee should knowe and learne are no other then the Prophets Euangelists and Apostles whose Bookes wee all enioy And to these saith S. Paul Serpi en el tratade â—e Purgatorio pag. 1. as Father Serpi obserueth this saying wee must approach to gather learning and profit from them But that of Moyses transcendeth all these testimonies as Father Luys de Granada noteth as the most Illustrious and pregnant one Granada en el preambulo de la 2. P. de la introduâ—â—ion del Symbelo to conuince all vnderstandings who hauing propounded and declared the Law of God saith on this wise These words which I now set before thee shall bee in thy heart and thou shalt teach them to thy children and shult thinke of them when thou art in thy house and when thou iournyest when thou goest to bed and when thou risest vp againe thou shalt fasten them as a signet to thy hand and they shall bee and mooue before thine eyes and thou shalt write them in the galleries and portals of thy house With what other words wee may say with Granada could the consideration and studie of the Law haue been better exemplified and as if all this had been little in the 11. Chapter of the same Booke hee againe recommends it to vs in the selfe same words a thing which seldome happens in the Scripture so great was the care of this heauenly man who spake with God face to face desired wee should haue to be assiduous in the Law of God as who well vnderstood how much wee were bound so to doe and the inestimable fruits and benefits that would follow of it The same God that without making difference of Sexe age or qualitie enioyned all to reade the sacred Scripture did likewise ordaine that it should be diuulged in all languages that all might haue the fruition of it Leon en el prologo de los nombres de Christo So doth the learned Father Luys de Leon confesse it in these words That God compiled the holy Scriptures with very plaine words and in a language which was vulgar and familiar to them to whom hee first gaue them And when froÌ„ them together with the true knowledge of Iesus Christ this treasure was transferred and communicated to the Gentiles hee caused them to bee explicated into diuers tongues and almost into all those which at that time were most generall and common that they might bee obuious and familiar vnto all And to ratifie the trueth hereof wee reade that S. Hierome translated it into his mother tongue Prades en el prologo de la adoration delas imagines which was the Dalmatique And Iohn Chrysostome into the Armenique tongue Vlphilas a Gotish Bishop into the Gotish tongue as Doctor Prades relateth of all the three Iohn Prelate of Seuill translated it into the Arabique as Father Mariana storieth who saith that the said Prelate did it with intendment to promote the increase of all Christians Mariana en la historia de Espanua lib. 7. ca. 3. tomo primero and helpe the Mores for that the Arabique tongue was of ordinary vse among all And hee addeth that there are some copies of this translation which haue been propagated to our times being yet extant in some places of Spaine And the same Mariana saith that the King D. Alonso the tenth Idem ibidem lib. 14. cap. 7. procured the holy Books of the Bible to be translated into Spanish Would to God the most mighty Philip the fourth would command the like worke now Holy Scripture hath been imprinted many other times in the Spanish tongue and sometime in the Valentian tongue as the reader may see in the exhortation which the most learned and religious Cypriano de Valera made inducing to reade it which accompanieth the version which hee with great labour and studie made and caused to bee imprinted which is the last time that I knowe it hath been printed in our tongue I would it might please God that it were turned into all languages as also into our Spanish he in whose hands are the hearts of Kings can mooue the Catholike Kings to permit vnto our Countrey men the Spaniards the fruition of this inualuable treasure for the foresaid pious Gentleman for the good of our Nation imployed twenty whole yeeres labour in the said translation which in the iudgement of all the learned is a very excellent one Also the trueth of the former proposition appeareth to wit that all the faithfull are obliged to reade and ruminate the holy Scripture in that the holy Doctors and ancient Fathers exhortes all thereunto Puente en la guia espiritual fol. 291. Prades en el prologo de la historia de la adâ—racion de las imagines Father Puente doth clearely teach this as you may see in the place quoted in the Margent So likewise Father Prades doeth openly confesse it though hee adde that notwithstanding this the Catholike Church to wit the Romane did prudently and holily in prohibiting the vulgar to reade the Scripture that you may see how the Papists esteemed the authoritie of the holy Doctors when they speake which they oft doe against their errours and tyrannies Granada en el preambulo de la 2. part de la introduecion del Symbolo Luys de Granada approoues our proposition and in proofe of it alleageth that which S. Hierom wrote to a Virgin by name Demetria recommending to her the reading of sacred Scripture Hiero. ad Demet and giues the same aduice to S. Paula and yeelds this reason of it that the true nourishment of the soule is to meditate day and night on the Law of the Lord and S. Bernard writing to his sister perswades her to this study Bernard ad soreremde modo bene viuendi c. 50. declaring vnto her particularly the fruits and effects of this good reading And S. Paul counselleth his disciple Timothie who was full of the holy Ghost that till hee came hee should bee exercised in reading the holy Scripture which Timothie had learned from a childe Father Torres is of the same minde with Granada Torres lib. 25. ca. 2. de la Philosophia de Principes and brings to ratifie his opinion almost the selfe same examples and testimonies which the other did and addes that S. Fulgentius recommends the foresaid study of Diuine Scripture vnto Theodoret the Senator Fulgent epist 6. ad E. Of S. Hierome
Father Gusman recordeth that he wrote to a Father and in another place to a mother Guzman en su libro de los bienes del Innesto trabajo fol 24 that they should enure their daughters to reade and vnderstand the holy Scripture Gregorie Nazianzene saith Father Reynosa aduised out of his great experience Ad laetan de institutione filiae that the Bible should neuer part out of the heart nor out of the mouth Reynosa fol. 87. del maestro Christiano nor out of the vnderstanding nor out of the tongue by reason of the admirable benefits which redounded from the assiduous vse of it S. Chrysostome amongst all the rest of the Fathers is very admirable in this point and particularly in his third Sermon that hee made of Lazarus where he answereth to all the obiections that the Papists at this day make against the free and vulgar vse of the Bible The Reader may please to peruse the Exhortation which most learned and godly Cypriano de Valera made to perswade men to reade continually the holy Scriptures where hee shall find the maine and principall summe collected of whatsoeuer S. Chrysostome deliuers in that place Besides that formerly deliuered we doe prooue the precise necessitie and obligation wherein all the faithfull stand bound to reade the holy Scriptures because in the Primitiue Church and many ages after all sorts of people did so and it was counted a great offence not to reade them and that this reading was very behoouefull and profitable for them the most learned Doctor Leon affirmes most clearely saying Leon en el Prologo de los nombres de Christo In the first ages of the Primitiue Church and many yeeres after it was esteemed a great fault in the faithfull not to be often conuersant in the perusing and reading of the Diuine Bookes and Ecclesiasticall men and those whom we call Secular both learned and vnlearned for this reason treated so much of this exercise and study that the carefulnesse herein of the vulgar sort stirred vp in Bishops and Prelates a greater study and practise in the same who ordinarily in their Churches in a manner euery day expounded the sacred Scriptures to the people because the particular reading of them by euery one in their houses by the light of that publike doctrine being illuminated and gouerned as it were by their Masters and Teachers voice might be free from errour and be a cause of the greater and more important benefit which in very deed was so great as that order and gouernment was religious and zealous and the fruit was answerable to their sowing of the seede And Master Prades confesseth as much in this point as Leon in these words In ancient times the holy Scriptures were propounded to the people in the vulgar tongue that so all sorts of people might reade them the which was very profitable and as such approoued of many holy and very learned men That the said Reading of the holy Scriptures prooued very profitable Prades en el Prologo de la adoracion de las imagines many Spanish writers affirme and confesse but amongst all therest Father Torres auerres the same admirably with wonderfull examples of many who were cur'd and reform'd by the same The which I will heere expresse and set downe with all possible breuitie Torres lib. 25. de la Philosophia de Principes Cap. 2. that the propounded veritie may more euidently appeare The first example produced by Torres is of the Eunuch seruant to Candaces Queene of Ethiopia who by the meanes of reading the Prophet Esaias attain'd to the knowledge of Christian veritie The second is of S. Eugenia who desiring to be assur'd of the infallible knowledge of her saluation the Epistles of S. Paul came to her hands this would not haue happened to her if shee had beene in Spaine vpon the doctrine whereof she considering and meditating she in such sort grew to discouer the falsities and deceits of the Gentiles and the veritie of Christian wisedome that she was not onely conuerted to the faith and beliefe of our Lord but further shee was martyred in defence and for the confession of the same The third example that he propoundeth is of that illustrious Domina who was a Martyr of Iesus Christ who being a Gentile no lesse prudent then honourable and being brought vp in the Palace of the Emperour Maximian by chance she met with a booke of the same Epistles and with the History written by S. Luke of the Acts of the Apostles in whose doctrine she discouered the errors of Infidelitie and so becomming a Christian shee embraced a cruell death to keepe possession of that shee had vndertaken To the former examples he addes this other of that most illuminated S. Augustine who being plunged in a thousand doubts and ambiguities it was said vnto him Tolle lege Take and reade and hee obeying this voice not knowing from whom or whence it came hee tooke the Epistles of the Apostle and opening them the first which presented themselues to him were those wordes written to the Romanes Chap. 13. Not in eating and drunkennesse but put yee on our Lord Iesus Christ c. And these reasons so farre preuailed with him that presently abjuring his heresie hee was conuerted to the Lord. The last example propounded by this Author is incomparably beyond all the rest and sufficient to mooue vs neuer to be without the holy Scriptures in our hands which is the same of the most holy Virgine the Mother of him that is Lord of heauen and earth who at the same time when she felt in her sacred entrailes the most diuine mysterie of the Incarnation by the comming of the Angel S. Ambrose sayes that shee was reading and meditating on the Prophesie of Esaias Chap. 7. Ambros lib. 2. in Luc. cap. 1. Ecce Virgo concipiet pariet filium c. whereunto Torres addes That wee may conceiue how the reading of the holy Scriptures was a singular preparation for the receiuing of such a fauour and grace the which he confirmes and this renowmed S. Augustine obserues in the blessed Virgine amongst whose many excellencies hee specifies one namely that she was very well read and conuersant in the Prophets Many other examples the same Father Torres mentions which heere I omit to auoid prolixitie and because these aboue declared euidently demonstrate that the vse and reading of the holy Scriptures hath euer beene common and commendable in all the faithfull and that the perusing of them hath brought foorth wonderfull effects which is the same we aimed at in the beginning and which for more efficacie we now briefly confirme by the example of S. Gertrudis with whom if wee may beleeue the Papists blasphemous fiction our Lord did marrie and moreouer that our Sauiour Christ sayd Masse on the day of his nuptials that they might be the more solemne and authenticall For this blessed Nunne is wonderfully exalted by Master Granada
and the Popes commandements By the word of God he cannot because he neuer read it nor heard it read but only in a tongue he vnderstood not which is as much as if he heard it not at all It may be he will reply that he knowes sufficiently because the Pope and his Prelats haue so taught him But thus I answere He is subiect to a thousand errors and delusions for how can he but be deceiued who suffers himselfe to be led by the nose by those men who are deepely interessed in the same things they command Gueuara segund parte del monte Caluario fol. 702. seeing as Antonio de Gueuarra notes no man obserues loyalty and fidelitie where peculiar interests doe distract him and the same Gueuarra said The Lord is onely he that opens our sight that we may clearely see and who points out vnto vs the way wherein we must walke and remooues the stones that they annoy or offend vs not and aduiseth vs what wee are to doe in all things Now therefore such a Papist as neuer lookt into the Bible must needs be ignorant and indiscreet and therefore he cannot auoid the running into innumerable errours and therefore his safest course is to repaire to the holy Scriptures which without any deceit or ambiguity will informe him in whatsoeuer hee ought to beleeue or stands obliged to be for they are the most approoued and authenticall instruction leanning to no falsitie and therefore they are called Canons or Rules because conformable to the same Vt per Lydium lapidem fidei dogmata sunt examinanda as the Bishop of Tortosa prooues out of S. Augustines authoritie Tena ibid. fol. 4. and as the same Bishop said The Scripture is called the olde and new Testament quia sicut in Testamento mens voluntas Testatoris continetur ita in sacra Scriptura mens Dei qui illius verus est Testator As also it is like a Letter or Epistle which God writes to all the faithfull wherein hee reueales vnto them his will and what he requires from euery one Puente Tom. 3. tratado 7. c. 1. as both S. Gregory Father Puente teach Whereupon I conclude that all the faithfull in generall none excepted stand precisely obliged and bound to reade and meditate in the holy Scriptures Because it is requisite for all men to examine whether their faith be true or false all men must needs vnderstand the will of their heauenly Father exprest in this letter and Testament and as he should be accounted an vngratefull and inhumane sonne that did contemne to reade and peruse the deed and Testament of his Father to know thereby his Will and to put it in execution so with farre greater reason he ought so to be esteemed that regards not the Diuine Scriptures because they are the letters and writings wherein our eternall Father the King of kings and Lord of lords hath declared his will and pleasure and what he requires from vs. If any one Puente en la Guia spiritual fol. 298. saith S. Gregory next to him Father Puente should receiue letters from an earthly Emperour he would not cease till hee had read them and vnderstood what they comprehended to fulfill it how therefore can thy slothfulnesse be so great that the heauenly Emperour hauing sent thee his Letters and Certificates for thy good thou shouldest neglect and not reade them Study therefore I pray thee euery day and reade and meditate continually on the words of thy Creator conceiue and vnderstand Gods meaning in his owne wordes for in them his diuine meaning and will is exprest there you shall perceiue his sublimity and condition the loue he beares thee and what he would haue thee to doe to giue him contentment What Gregory and Puente speakes to all true Christians I tell it now to you noble and discreet Countreymen and let it be lawfull for me to speake freely and ingeniously I beseech you affectionately to tell me what would you thinke of a man vpon whose life it stands to knowe the will of his father to put it in execution and hauing meanes to vnderstand the same without ambiguity or doubt by his last Will and Deede he yet desires to bee informed of another that goes about to delude and deceiue him would you not hold such a man for the greatest foole and sot liuing Certainely if you doe thus you cannot but perceiue that you commit the same and a greater folly and therefore when you know that your heauenly Father hath left you his diuine Will manifested and reuealed in his Testament and the Letters Patents of of the holy Scripture and that on the knowledge or ignorance of it your euerlasting glory or damnation depends you neuerthelesse making smal account of this diuine Testament and letter repaire to the Romane Bishop to bee informed of your heauenly Fathers Will being true that the Pope is but a man as others are if peraduenture hee bee not a woman as Pope Ioane was giuen to deceiue and to bee deceiued whom it so neerely concernes that you should not know the will of God for your knowing of it euidently and perspicuously would but cause his ruine and perdition In a word deare Countrey-men open your eyes at last and seeing you are so subtill and aduised in the fluxible and momentany things of this life giue not occasion to all the world to say that you are fooles and indiscreete in matters that shall for euer be permanent in the future life and whereas without sparing any labour you goe inuironed with a thousand perils vnto the remotest parts of the world induced by I know not what pride and ambition which euer swayeth in you and are detested and misprised by other Nations to subiugate those who neuer were in subiection and to impose your yoake on the neckes of such as neuer vnder-went it bee not so sencelesse and so cowardly that for feare of the Pope of Rome you omit the perusing and scrutiny of the Testament and Letter which the Emperour of heauen hath dained to leaue you by the reading whereof you shall expedite your selues from that deplorable seruitude into which the Romish Antichrist hath plunged you shal exempt your selues frō infinite tribute which you pay to him and his Minister and which is more by Gods assistance you shall attaine the knowledge of the true Religion and Christian faith and bee able to iudge betweene good and euill that which is seemely and that which is vnseemely betweene vertue and vice and finally betwixt the commandement of God and the Popes Iniunction which you shall neuer bee able to doe if you reade not holy Scripture and which therefore are exceeding behoouefull to you and to all that desire to serue God as they ought Besides that before alleadged Puente en la guia spiritual fol. 401 we may prooue the precise necessitie of reading the holy Scripture by the faithfull in that God meant by them to enlighten our
ignorance which is a cause of all evills as those Authors noted in the Margent most learnedly prooue and testifie Marquez en su Tesoro en la Epistola dedicatoria and indeede the thing of it selfe is so cleare and manifest that it needes no proofe nor testimony Father Iesus de Maria confirmes this trueth in the same wordes propounded Father Albarado is of the same opinion Granada en el preambulo de la segurda parte de la Introduccion y en el prologo del memorial Amongst those bookes saith hee which we are euioyn'd to to reade the holy Scripture hath the first place which was dictated by the holy Ghost to illuminate our vnderstandings and to make them holy Father Serpi confesseth as much saying The diuine Scriptures Fr. Ioseph en el lib. de la caflid ad cap. 12 dissipate the darkenesse and cloude of ignorance and therefore the reading of them is expedient for all men in that it concerneth all men not to be ignorant Albarado tom primero del arto de bien viuir fol. 390. And seeing you beloued Countreymen that in charitie it may be lawful for me to exhort you are inuolued in the palpable and Aegyptian darkenesse of ignorance as dayly experience teacheth vs Serpi de purga torio cap. 1. which all godly and learned men whom God raiseth vp amongst you do lament be no more rebellious and opposite to this diuine light of the holy Scripture for whosoeuer are so they will haue ill successe and one of your great Doctors learnedly notes Granada ibidem He that goes out of his house in the night hee caries with him a Torch or a Lanthorne and he that doeth not so Marquez ibid. fol. 1. is in danger to fall or stumble and in the night and darkenesse of this life the Scripture must be the light Vascones en el desterro de ignorantia en la Epistola dedicatoria to guide and conduct vs except we meane to trippe and stumble at euery steppe as the same Author sets downe wherefore most deare brethren you shall doe exceeding well if according to the counsell and aduise of the Apostle S. Peter you be intentiue and obseruant of the diuine Word confirmed by the Prophets as one that is conducted by a resplendant and bright Torch in an obscure and darke place while the light of the true day breake foorth Fonseca 2. p. del amor de Dios cap 2. and that the Authour of light may rise and shine in your hearts but so you doe wonderfull ill if according to the Iniunctions and Mandates of the Pope you do not hearken and giue eare to the same And if you would know why that same successor to S. Peter as hee boasteth himselfe to bee teacheth doctrine quite contrary to that of S. Peter in this particular point I will plainely and briefly expresse it to you The word of God explained in the holy Scriptures is as before wee said Psal 119. and Dauid affirmes the same a lanthorne that giues light to our steppes wherein we may plainely conceiue the propertie it hath to distinguish good men from bad Fowlers when they follow their game by night vse to carrie burning lights with which they dazell the fowle who perceiuing the light fall into the Fowlers nets so they catch Partridges and of Doues the Prophet Hosea sayes comparing the captiuitie of Ephraim to the Doue or Turrle taken by this delusion and stratageme Birds properly seeke after the light though thereby they lose their liberty but on the contrary wilde and sauage beastes are enemies to the light for the Lion or Wolfe and so all other beasts perceiuing the same they shun it as they would doe a consuming fire and being astonished they flie to their Caues and Dennes In the same manner the Internall light of the sacred Scriptures discouers which are the birds that raise their flight towards heauen and who the wild and sauage bee that runne and hide themselues in the Caues of the earth Peter that wee may come to the point is a bird that bends his flight vp towards heauen and so hee imbraceth the light of the Scriptures and hee would haue vs guided thereby but the Pope is a wilde and sauage beast as S. Iohn testifies in his Apocalypse and therefore hee abhorres and shunnes this diuine light and loues darkenesse in which like to other beasts hee commits his rapine and robberies and because this may not come to your notice he prohibites you the holy Scripture But if you affect the saluation of your owne soules and would not bee ensnar'd with the delusions and subtilties of the deuill but haue the darke fogges and mistes of ignorance taken from before your eyes though the Pope and hell it selfe combined together doe prohibite yet you ought to lay hold of this diuine light and not to goe one steppe in the darke night of this life without the same Also the necessitie and obligation that all the faithfull haue to reade and meditate on the sacred writings and euicted from afflictions which cannot bee wanting in this life Seeing as holy Iob saith all this life is but a long affliction Iob 7. and Saint Peter saith that our aduersary as a rauenous Lion goes about euery where seeking whom he may deuoure 1. Pet. 5. And the Apostle S. Paul magnifieth the strength and great power of this enemie and furnisheth vs with diuers kinds of spirituall weapons to foyle him with Granada en el preambulo de lae 2. parte de la introduccion del Symbole This argument which I haue abridged Father Luys de Granada vseth to demonstrate that the books of sound good doctrine are altogether requisite to the cōmon people Amongst which reasons if this be of validitie who wil be so blasphemous as to denie it to be good in the sacred Canonical books For what doctrine in the world can be paraleld with that which God himselfe inspired his seruants the Prophets Apostles withall to enlighten our vnderstanding and sanctifie them as we said elswhere of which the same God said by the Prophet Esaias I am the Lord thy God Esa cap. 44. teaching thee profitable things that is things which in an eminent degree deserue the title of profitable Puente en la guia espiritual fol. 292. as Father Puente elegantly obserueth So that this argument might suffice without farther explication to authorize our purpose Howbeit we will not so leaue it but will compendiously shew that in the sacred Scriptures most effectuall remedies are found for all dangers that can assault vs in this life and that without it a Christian cannot extricate himselfe out of them and thence it appeares that the reading of it is precisely necessary vnto all First holy Scripture is Puente ibid. fol. 292. as Father Puente faith with Origen a shoppe of all wholesome things to care euery sicke person that commeth
to it and Puente addeth that in it we shall find sufficient remedie for all euill Fonseca 2 parte del tratado del amor de Dios cap. 2. wherewith to heale the soule It is as Fonseca obserueth not onely a gener all antidote against the griefes of the soule but also a lenitiue and ease for the euils that befall the body Granada en el preambuio de la 2. parte de la introduccion And also as Father Luys de Granada auerreth it is thâ—t celestiall Manna which had the relishes of all meates because there is no taste or effect which a soule can desire to haue which it may not sind in it Yea it is as the same Granada noteth that royall table furnâ—shâ—d with all meates of which the Prophet speaketh Thou O Lord hast prepared a table before me which giues me strength and subsistence against all my enemies Fonseca ibid. fol. 64. It is as Fonseca formerly alleadged teacheth an armoury against all the force of the deuill and against the snares of hell and a tower as that of Dauid full of all manner of weapons against all kinde of temptations Puente ibid fr. Ioseph en su libro de castidad fol. 160. as Father Puente affirmeth It is armour to defend vs and weapons to offend our enemies saith Father Ioseph Iesus Maria. And he addes that therefore S. Bernard writes to one of his sisters that shee should fence her selfe with diuine Scripture and that shee should endeauour to ruminate in her prayer that which shee should reaâ—e therein because it would serue her not onely for a defence in this life but also for a particular helpe to obtaine the life to come Estella 1. parte del libro de la vâ—â—idad del mundo fol. 96. And Father Stella saith thus That nothing besides God in this life is more sweetely receiued nor relisheth more deliciously nothing so much segregateth our soule from the loue of the world and nothing so comforteth and fortifieth the souldier of Christ against all temptations as the frequent reading of the holy Scripture If then the excellencie and valew of the weapons of the sacred Scripture be so great as well in defending vs against our aduersaries as in offending them who can bee so shamelesse as to denie that the reason which aboue wee alleadged out of the Father Granada in fauour of bookes comprising good doctrine is not much more forcible and that without comparison in Scripture Seeing therefore we formerly mentioned that whereof the Apostle S. Peter putteth vs in minde that our aduersarie as a rauenous Lion enuironeth vs on all sides to deuoure vs and the Apostle Saint Paul setteth before vs the might of this aduersary and prouideth vs with diuers sorts of weapons to vanquish him and play the conquerours It will be fitting that wee consider what these weapons are whether they be onely the deuoute bookes and not the Canonicall or profane books not tending to deuotion which as wee shall hereafter see are at this present flourishing in the Papacie or the sacred and Canonicall of which my Argument treateth This one Brauo a Spaniard will shew vs whose authoritie may not be vnderualued seeing in matter of Armes that of the Brauo was euer in repute This Spaniard Brauo tells vs That the Apostle S. Peter Brauo en la vigilia magna fol. 89. who obserued the maner of arguing with the deuill vsed against vs gaue vs the forme of answering him Cuiresistite fortes in fide WhoÌ„ resist ye being stedfast in the faith and doctrine of Christ c. And a little after the Apostle S. Paul sayth Sumentes scutum fidei in quo possitis ownia tela nequissimi ignea extinguere For he opposeth to this fire the doctrine c. But what doctrine is this perhaps it s that which occurres in the bookes of Amadis and Belhâ—nise or in the bookes which the Pontificall Doctors bring to light or in the Canonicall ones of holy Scripture Let vs here attend to this Doctor for hee will tell it vs. Not sayth hee the doctrine which is inspersed in pernicious books in amorous letters in sugred complements which some out of curiositie through their depraued inclination make their study for this is to adde fire to the deuill and to strengthen his enemy but sacred spirituall and holy doctrine which is of greater force Psal 118. Whereof Dauid sayth Ignitum eloquium tuum vehementer Thy word is very fiery and if wee haue recourse to the trueth of his Gospel to his counsell to the Commandements of Gods Law and be firme and irremooueable in them This diuine fire is such that it will consume all the artificiall and deluding fire of the deuill Hitherto are Brauos words See yee not that the holy Apostles send vs not to assume weapons against the temptations of our enemy from bookes of meere deuotion much lesse from profane ones but from the Canonicall of holy Scripture And why should they not direct vs vnto it Granada en el preambulo de la segunda parte de la introduccion del Symbolo for as the same Granada sayth What are the weapons of the Christian warrefare what the spirituall sword that cutteth off vices but the word of God And as hee obserueth With what other weapons did our Captaine fight in the desert with the enemie but by infirming euery temptation by some word of Scripture August lib. 4. de Trinit c. 13. Puente tem 2. de la perfecion fol. 255. Teaching vs with his example to draw from it the trueths and remedies wherewith we are to ouercome all our temptations as doeth note with Saint Austin Father Puente And from it only did the Church in the time of the Martyrs draw matter of constancie in the time of the Doctors knowledge in the time of heretiques the confutation of their errors in time of prosperitie humility and temperance in time of supinenesse matter of feruencie Reynosa en el maestro christiano fol. 86. as the Father Reynosa noteth of what else but that said famous S. Austin whom the said Reynosa citeth and followeth that quicquid homo extra didicerit si noxium est ibi damnatur si vtiles est ibi inuenitur Whatsoeuer a man learneth out of it if it be hurtfull it s there condemned if it be profitable it s found there and wee neede not goe seeke it elsewhere And that we may not defatigate our selues of what but the holy Scripture spake S. Paul that it is profitable to instruct the ignorant to refute error to reprooue sinne to teach righteousnesse to perfect a Christian and make him complete in euery good worke which is as much as if he should haue said that it comprehendeth all things necessary to our saluation as forthwith the most learned Father Puente will demonstrate eloquently and copiously We will conclude from what hath beene said that seeing the Apostles themselues that informe vs of the ambushes and
temptations of our enemies doe send vs to holy Scripture thence to take weapons wherewith to fortifie vs and withstand them because it is the armour of the Christian warrefare that to it all the faithfull should repaire because all are obnoxious to temptations and that if the Pope dispoile the common people of these diuine weapons it is that he may warre against them and sell them at his pleasure whereof I will elsewhere discourse In confirmation of the precedent Argument I thought good to prooue more at large the sufficiencie of the sacred Scripture in all things necessary to our saluation that it may appeare the better that its worthy to be frequently conuersed in by all seeing it compriseth all that is necessary to all The holy Scripture containeth all things whatsoeuer is necessary for Saluation DOctor Aluarado clearely teacheth this truth Aluarado tomo primero delarie de bien Viuir fol. 454. who when hee affirmed that God had constituted in the Church the necessary and fit meanes to obtaine the same and these meanes are reduced to seuen speciall heads hee sets them downe in order saying The first is true faith and the knowledge of the true God and our Mediatour and Redeemer Iesus Christ The second meanes is his holy Law which comprehends all the commandements of things requisite and necessary to enter into eternall life and all the instructions which may assist vs to attaine vnto it with security and perfection The third is Religion and the sincere worship of God with such externall rites and ceremonies as are belonging to God The fourth meane are the Sacraments The fift are seuen rare and excellent vertues faith hope charity prudence iustice fortitude and temperance together with seuen speciall gifts and endowments of the holy Ghost The fixt is internall doctrine and the light of inspiration and illustration from the holy Ghost and for the exterior it must proceed from learned Masters and Doctors who both by example and doctrine teach whatsoeuer is expedient to bee knowen or vnderstood for to rayse soules vp to heauen The seuenth meane is the diuine and sacred Scriptures wherein are reuealed all things by vs formerly mentioned Whatsoeuer hath beene deliuered comes from this Authour who though he were a blacke Monke by Order and profession yet heerein he hit the white of Christian verity and truth and of the sufficiencie and validity of the holy Scriptures As also Father Torres Teetino which is a lesuite deliuered this trueth I te atino which in Spanish signifies as much as I embrace this trueth when he said that S. Paul referred Timothie to the Scriptures wherein he might learne whatsoeuer was fit and conuenient for him the which if the Pope would preach and teach to his disciples and followers all those traditions which hee sels vnto vs for necessary faith and are not to be found in the Scripture would be superfluous and of no moment at all For if in the Scriptures wee meete with all things necessary there is nothing out of them that can be esteemed necessary As a philosophicall Axiom plainely prooues which sayes qui totum dicit nihil excludit Brauo en la Vigilia magna fol. 78. Doctor Brauo manifestly acknowledgeth the former truth propounded in these words The holy Scripture is a glasse wherein a man may clearly perspicuously discerne whatsoeuer is requisite in an humane life for the true seruice and worship of God But beyond all these Authors Father Puente is admirable vpon this subiect as in other arguments Puente toro 3. de la terfecion fol. 711. so in this more especially against the Church of Rome for not in one but in many places he auers and prooues this veritie with words very significant and most preualent reasons I meane not here to set downe all that I haue read and obserued throughout his bookes about this particular point in that I would not willingly be prolix as also because I conceiue that what I shall hereunder mention will be more then sufficient And in the New Testament he first saith that all the Law Euangelicall was fully declared Whereupon it must needes of necessitie ensue that in the New Testament is comprehended whatsoeuer is necessary for saluation For of this there is no doubt to be made but that the Law of the Gospel is sufficient in it selfe to saluation This Author in another place saies Idem en la guia espiritual fol. 291. The sacred Scripture is the clearest glasse where we may best see and behold those countenances which we haue set downe that is to say the glorious countenance of God that of our Sauiour Iesus Christ then our owne Because in the same are reuealed all those vertues which appertaine to the perfect knowledge of these three things Moreouer it prescribes vs remedies against vices armes against temptations aduice and resolution in doubts consolation in sorrow ease and relaxation from labours and troubles and due Meanes whereby to attaine to the perfection of all vertues For as S. Dionysius saith that is the table which diuine wisedome placed in the Church plentifully furnished with Bread and Wine For on the same is set the bread of life and of vnderstanding which are the solid and firme truthes from whence the vertues take their life and essence and the knowledge of things eternall as also there is the wine of ardent and zealous affections mingled with the water of wholsome knowledge to giue saluation vigor and ioy vnto the heart It is the Pantry of the King of Heauen and the Cellar of his most precious wines whereinto hee brings his elect and there he quencheth the hunger and thirst they haue of Righteousnesse It is an open shoppe full of medicines for all maner of spirituall infirmities and a tower like that of Dauid replenished with all manner of armes against euery kinde of temptation For in that it is a table full of delicates Psal 22. it is placed as Dauid speakes to defend vs against those that vex and persecute vs. For which cause S. Paul said that all Scripture inspired from God 2. Tim. cap. 3. is profitable to instruct to conuince correct and inable to euery good worke that euery man of God may be perfect and well instructed in euery good worke as if hee had said It is very effectually to teach vs necessary trueth for our saluation and to conuince such enemies who with false and colourable reasons pretend and seeke to deceiue vs and to correct our vices and exorbitances and to fortifie vs in the exercise of vertue and good works that so we may attaine to that perfection whereunto wee are called and to the end thereof which is eternall life which is said to bee found in the holy Scriptures which manifest him who is our eternall life and the meanes left vnto vs to purchase him All this aboue mentioned is set downe by Father Puente the which though in it selfe it be much yet is
are not blinded with the doctrine of Spirituall Bookes which are no more in fault for their blindnesse then the Sunne is in fault that the Batte is blind euen as the fault is not to be imputed to the Sunne that the Bat is blinde but to the defect of its eyes sithence the Eagle beholds it directly without any detriment of sight Many heretiques patronize their heresies by a misinter pretation of sacred Writ and yet neuerthelesse we may not say that Scripture hurteth and ought not to be read All these are the words of Doctor Gratian to whom the Pope and the Inquisitors owe many gratulations seeing here with admirable grace hee stops their mouth that henceforward they may not open it to grunt as hogs doe and barke as dogges according to their custome to authorize the prohibiting of the holy Scripture in the vulgar tongue in regard of the hurt they pretend to ensue vpon the reading of it whereof I shall speake hereafter and that they may forbeare to transferre their faults on others endeauouring to confirme and make good the said inhibition with the place of S. Matthew chap. 7. in which Christ teacheth vs only thus much that he would not haue time spent and paines taken in preaching to such of whose amendment wee can haue no hope as Chrysostome here expounds it and this makes no whit against the reading of holy Scripture in the vulgar tongue vnlesse the Pope be so euill opinionated of all that are not Clergie men as to censure them all as profligate and obstinately reprobate and that in them there is no hope of amendment and so consequently repute them as members of the deuill and heires of hell and summarily if the Pope esteeme them such he should not onely inhibite them the reading of the Bible but also the partaking in the prayers and Sermons of the Church seeing Christ speakes of such But I doe not beleeue that the most holy Father will pronounce so hardly of them for charity will not permit him to doe it especially of his owne children For the Father being most holy in the superlatiue degree at least his sonnes should be holy and though they were wicked as to speake freely the trueth they are not very good he therefore ought the rather not onely permit them but also perswade them to read it The holy Scripture being as I haue formerly euicted an vniuersall Apothecaries shop which hath powerfull remedies for euery sort of infirmitie and griefe to what better place can the Pope renuoy such as are enfeebled with the wound of sinne For what thing is more proper and fit for a sicke man then Physicke and for a wounded man then that which will heale his wounds The Pope if he were a Father and not a tyrant ought instantly to licence to his sonnes and the faithfull holy Scripture and chiefly to those that are faint and weake for hee that is well needes not the Physician or Physicke but he that is sicke This is euident Torres lib. 25. cap. 2. de su Filosofia de principes and yet that it may be the more cleare let vs heare what Father Torres saith on those words of the Apostle 1. Tim. 3. All Scripture is diuinely inspired c. After hee hath said that S. Paul sends his disciple Timothy vnto the Scripture in which he might learne whatsoeuer he stood in need of He further addes If he so earnestly enioyne a man replenished with the Spirit of grace the reading of holy Scripture what would he say to one full of the malignant spirit hee would haue said to such a one as the Redeemer of the world said to the Scribes and Pharises who perceiuing the crudity of their stomackes and that their apostumated bosoms could not be mitigated by any lenitiues he sent them to the diuine Scriptures as to a publique hospitall for the wounded and maimed Search the Scriptures Ioh. 5. that they by reading and perpending the same might know that he preached all the truth to them All this saith this Author And the Pope should doe so herein imitating Christ our Lord whose Vicar hee saith he is though indeed hee be his enemy seeing Christ desires that his very enemies should search the Scriptures and examine by them the doctrine he preached to them and this he did because he was assured that it helde correspondencie with them But the Pope would not haue his doctrine brought to any triall much lesse to the touchstone of holy Scripture because hee knowes it to be repugnant thereunto and therefore in the Countreys subiect vnto his tyrannie to wit where the Inquisition hath place hee suffers none to enquire which is the true Religion and which the false but contrariwise if any be desirous to finde out and receiue the trueth and to this ende search the Scripture he causeth such a one to be burned and not so satisfied doeth further declare all his kinred and allies liuing and his posterity to be infamous and incapable of obtaining offices and dignities of honour and trust Though it be certaine that God would not the sonne should sustaine the blame of the fathers sinne much lesse bee punished for that wherein his father was not blame-worthy but rather commendable But herein as also in the rest the Pope is guided by the same infernall spirit that the false prophet Mahomet is who well knowing that if his doctrine should be disputed of and the trueth debated by good reasons of necessity the falsenesse of it would be descried The first thing he commanded was that vnder paine of death none should be so presumptuous as to canuase the ground and trueth of his Law but rather that his disciples should be obliged to maintaine it by way of hostilitie against any that would impugne it this precept is fully practised in those kingdoms in which the Inquisition is established and for that purpose the Pope would it were in all the world But referring this to some other place I will close with the saying of Doctor Yllescas who after he hath recited what is said of Mahomet Yllescas en la historia Pontifical fol. 205. speaketh as followeth Wherein if those who gaue credit vnto him had not beene so blinde they might haue seene that bee was an Impostor seeing hee would not haue it controuerted whether that he taught them were good or euill Oh how much I desire beloued countreymen that you would consider that for as much as hee constraines you to beleeue and holde whatsoeuer the Church of Rome beleeueth and holdeth without permitting you to examine whether it be a true or false Church his scope is no other then to deceiue you and if you be not totally blinded you must of necessity perceiue it Looke well vnto it for it imports and concernes you more then it doeth me and I discharge my duety in admonishing you of it Secondly our aduersaries obiect to vs that the holy Scripture is obscure and that therefore it should
bee reserued from the vulgar This is a meere lye and vntruth and a manifest impietie because the sacred Scriptures as the Papists themselues preach and teach is like an Epistle or Letter that God writes to all the faithfull wherein he expresseth his will and what hee requires from euery one Whereupon it must needs follow that in things which of necessity we are to learne out of the same it is most cleare and delucidant For otherwise God had not performed so much as his owne part in that he pretended which is to reueale and make manifest vnto vs his holy will which can not be auerred without great blasphemy Wherefore let vs giue eare to the most learned Doctor Leon Leon en el prologo de los nombres de Christo who with his accustomed erudition and learning confirmes what I haue said in these words he speaking thus It is a very apparent thing that the holy Scriptures were inspired of God that they might be a comfort vnto vs in the molestations and troubles of this life and in the darkenesse and errors of the same a guiding and directing light and that for the wounds which sinne and euill passions make in our soules we might haue a peculiar and healthfull remedy for euery one of theÌ„ And because he writ them for this end which is vniuersall it is likewise euident that hee meant the vse likewise of them should bee common to all and so for his part he constituted and ordayned them for he writ them in plaine and perspicuous wordes and in a tongue that was naturall and vulgar amongst them to whom he first gaue them Arinzano en su Rosario fol 138. afterward he appointed that they should be translated into other languages c. Father Arinzano thought and affirmed as much as Leon though in fewer words The holy Scripture saith hee is a plaine and manifest Booke without danger which God gaue vnto vs that by the same we might knowe him Doctor Brauo speakes with S. Gregory that as the looking-glasse is a thing which most distinctly Brauo en la Vigilia Magna fol. 78. and to life represents things to the eye so the Scripture containes all that which any wayes is pertinent for our instruction And he addes that holy Scripture is a glasse of the vnderstanding and an information apt and requisite for all ages Reinosa en el Maestro Christiano fol. 86. for all kinde and manner of people Father Reynosa affirmes with the same Gregory that the holy Scripture with the obscurities thereof exerciseth the strong and intelligent and with it's humble phrase and stile applies it selfe to the capacitie of the simple and that it is not so intricate as we neede to feare entring into the same Puente en la guia spiritual fol. 29. Father Puente is rare and excellent in this point and first he sayes the sacred and holy Gospels doe fitte themselues to all qualities and conditions of men for as Manna being but one onely meate comprehended the sancur and taste of all other and was pleasing to the relish of him that eate it so the word of God exprest in the Gospel bends it selfe to the apprehension of the hearers and Readers yeelding to euery one Idem ibidem fol. 293. that spirituall refection which his owne necessity and will requires In another place hee sayes againe with S. Gregory out of whom hee also tooke all the rest hee deliuered In the Sea or Ocean of the holy Scripture the Lambe may wade and the Elephant may swimme Because the simpler sort like Lambes may there meete with many verities which they may reade and meditate vpon with securitie wading through this deepe Ocean by the banke or shore and so they of more sublime wit and apprehension shall encounter with many deepe mysteries of such profunditie that they knowe not where to finde any ground but they shall bee in no danger if they swimme with humility and with a demall of their owne iudgements reuerencing alwayes those secrets that they cannot conceiue and enter into and thus both the one sort and the other with their reading and meditation on the holy Scripture as they ought to doe shall obtaine the same fruits and benefites Furthermore Idem ibidem fol. 394. this selfe same Authour speakes in another place That the holy Gospels are vnto vs eyes wherwith we may discerne and vnderstand the diuine Mysteries distinctly and apparantly and without the vaile of Figures and that they impart a resplendant soueraigne light to those that reade them reuealing vnto them such things as they are to beleeue the rewards they are to attend the punishments they should feare and the sinnes they ought to shunne and auoid c. Hee also saies in the same place That the holy Ghost assists those that reade and meditate on the holy Scripture raising vp their vnderstandings and wills that they may discerne loue and practise that which therein is comprehended And hereunto hee addes That this diuine Spirit opens our apprehension in the reading that in the reading we may vnderstand But those that depraue the holy Scipture alleadging that it is obscure and not intelligible herein they likewise defraud the holy Ghost the Authour thereof imputing vnto him O infernall and diabolicall blasphemie the note of Imprudence Impotencie and ignorance that being willing as this Author speakes to open the sence thereof to them that reade it cannot doe the like to the vulgar sorte The third Obiection of our oposites the Papists is that by the too common reading of the holy Scriptures many take occasion to erre and that therfore they are not to be published in the vulgar tongue To this so friuolous and common obiection and calumnie I first answere that the holy Scripture is so farre from being a motiue and ouerture to errours that the same rather curbes Serpi de purgaetorio fol. 1. and corrects them as Father Serpi together with Thomas de Campis teach And there is nothing that doth so strengthen and fortifie our mindes and vnderstandings against errours as the said perusall and reading As with Laurentius â—ustinianus Frier Ioseph de Iesus Maria affirmes Fr. Ioseph cap. 12. del libro de la castidad and none will doubt of this but such as haue no shame neither before God nor men Secondly I answere that though for our sinnes there are many who abuse the holy Scripture to ground and erect their owne errours yet ought they not for all this to bee prohibited Fr. Leandro de Granada en el prologo del libro intitulade luz de las marauiilas as Father Gratian formerly declared vnto vs and two more do now affirme The first is Father Leandro de Granada in these words No man wil forbeare to minister wholsome physick though some weake person may peraduenture conuert the medicine into poison For both God and naturall reason instructs vs that wee should not neglect the great fruit and