places it is not obscurely signified firste that the Bookes of holy Scripture were in times paste by Readers from an hyghe Pulpit with a cleare voice whyche all myghte heare and in the common tongue whyche all might vnderstande accustomed to be recited Secondlye that by name were rehearsed Moses the residue of the Prophets the Psalmes the Gospels the Actes of the Apostles the Apostolicall Epistles and that for the moste parte these bookes were read through from the beginning to the ende Lastly that this order was obserued that the reading wente alwaies before and then followed a more large declaration of the thinges that were read by some one that was excellent in the gifte of Prophecie In the meane time the godly Doctors and Teachers neuer ceassed to exhorte their godlye hearers that they woulde daylye also reade ouer the holy Scriptures at home at their owne houses that they woulde priuatelye call to minde the things that they hadde publikely heard and that by the example of those of Berea they would duly weigh and examine them by the ballaunce and touchstone of the Scriptures And of the peoples diligence profiting at that time in reading the holy Scriptures this is no doubtfull argument for that it was not néedfull for the Doctours themselues thoughe some men in these oure dayes doe very weywardly and importunately vrge it to expresse at all times the names of the Authours and Chapters of the holy bookes In as much as the people themselues so soone as they hadde hearde any place alleaged and broughte forth by and by vnderstood in what Author in what booke and in what parte of the booke the same was to be founde as they that were verye well exercised by reason of their daylye and domesticall reading Therefore the thinges that in so many ages and in euerie place were with singular care great commendation and with no lesse fruite accustomed to be done in sacred assemblies or méetings wherevnto all Christians of all estates and degrées whatsoeuer vsually came togither We may iudge also to be verye séeming and sitting for all the professours of Christianitie in these oure dayes neither can we suppose them to bée within the compasse of Christes flocke or folde that shall contemptuouslie refuse eyther to heare the holy Scriptures in the Churche or to reade them oftentymes at home by themselues Wherefore if thou dwellest in suche a place where as the Propheticall and Apostolique writings are not accustomed to bée recited in holy publike assemblies then forsooth is it most requisite and necessarie that thou shouldest prescribe vnto thy selfe a perpetuall and vnchangeable Lawe as touching the dayly reading of them at home at thy house But if thou dwellest where they are publikelie recited in a tong knowen vnto thée it is well and thou hast good cause to reioyce wyth thy selfe as one in farre more happie estate than infinite thousands of men whome a man may finde euery where in Cities Townes Villages and stréetes vtterly voyde and destitute of the knowledge of Heauenly and Spirituall thyngs but thou must prouide neuerthelesse with all possible diligence that thou mayest profite and goe forwarde in the wholesome doctrine of GODS worde not onely in the Lordes house or Temple but also in thine owne priuate house by all occasions and to the vttermost of thy power according to the holye admonitions of godly and learned Pastors For true Christianitie consisteth not in thys that a man doth oftentimes conueygh hymselfe bodilie from hys House to the Churche but in that a man both at home and in the Churche shoulde bende hys whole heart and mynde to the true vnderstanding of the mysteries of GODS holye worde But why doe we not alleadge some of the exhortations that the holy Fathers vsed to make to their hearers when they coueted to stirre them vp to the priuate reading of the sacred Scriptures forsooth I trust they wyll no lesse profite now a great number than it is certayn they profited in times past For they prouided their painefull workes both for vs and our whole posteritie And certes for mâ—ne owne part I confesse I coulde not deuâ—se either more pithy or profitable exhortations than thâ—irs are OrigeÌ„ therfore about the yeare of our Lord 230. being a Doctor of the famous schole and Church of Alexandria from when his voyce sounded into the whole world namely whilest out of his Auditory there came on euerye side innumerable wise gouernours of Churches whom also Mammea mother of AlexaÌ„der Seuerus the Emperor called vnto hir for a time to Antioch whilest hir desire was to be instructed of hym the same OrigeÌ„ I say expounding the booke of Leuiticus in his homilie 9. hath these words For those only doeth the high Priest aduocate propitiator Christ pray that are the Lords inheritaunce that wayte for him before the gates that depart not froÌ„ the teÌ„ple but giue theÌ„selues to fasting and prayer Dost thou thinke that scarcely coÌ„mest to the Church on holy and festiual dayes neyther giuest thy selfe to heare the word of God nor applyest thy diligeÌ„ce to keepe his coÌ„maundements that the Lords inheritance can light vpon thee Neuerthelesse we wish that by the hearing of these things you would bend your selues not only in the Church to hearken to the worde of God but also in your own houses to be exercised and to meditate in the law of the Lord day night for Christ is eueÌ„ there also and euery where present to all those that seeke after him For therfore is it commaunded in the law that wee should thinke vpon it when we go by the way when we sit in the house and when we ly in our bed and when we rise vp and this is in very deed truely to waite before the dores for the high Priest tarying within in the holye place and to become the Lords inheritaunce Againe in the self same homilie not much after he inueigheth sharply against those the when they heare the Scriptures red do not as they ought to do giue diligent héed vnto theÌ„ And at length hauing exhorted theÌ„ to bridle the flesh to stir vp the spirite he addeth immediatelye these wordes as touching the hearing reading of the word of GOD If thou coÌ„mest often to the Church loke thou giue eare to the hearing of the holy scriptures see thou takest hold of the meaning of the heauenly coÌ„maundements For as the flesh is nourished with meat drinke eueÌ„ so is the spirite strengthned with the liuely sense and working of the word of God which being made more stroÌ„g wil enforce the flesh to stoop vnto him to be obedieÌ„t to his laws The nourishments therfore of the spirite are the reading of the Scriptures coÌ„tinual prayers teaching coÌ„ference of the word With these meats it is norished with these it is streÌ„gthned with these it getteth the vpper haÌ„d Which things bycause ye do not loke ye coÌ„plaine not of the infirmitie of your flesh The same
men shall so be stricken and pierced thorow that whosoeuer wil be counted in the nūber of Christians which make not their vaunt at the least of the vaine title maye easilye vnderstande that hée hathe of necessitie to applye himselfe diligentlye to the reading of the Scriptures Whyche thyng that wée woulde doe and accomplishe we haue once before promised alredye Tell me therefore whosoeuer thou be and haste a desire to be called a Christian I meane suche a desire as is vnfayned oughtest thou not if thou couetest in déede to be that whiche thou faine wouldest to laboure by all meanes possible to declare thy selfe to be a true and liuely member of that spirituall bodye whyche is the Churche and whereof Christe is the heade for thus we reade of all men of what age sexe dignitie or condition soeuer they be that are regenerate and borne againe in CHRIST Rom. 12. Wee being many are one body in CHRIST and euerye one seuerally one an others members 1. Corinth 12. Wee are all baptized by one spirite into one body whether wee bee Iewes or Greekes or bonde or free and we haue al tasted of one spirite And in the same Epistle and tenth Chapiter Wee that are manye are one breade and one bodye ▪ for wee are all partakers of one breade Ephes 4. One bodye and one spirite like as also you are called in one hope of youre calling One Lorde one Faith one Baptisme one GOD and father of vs all Chap. 5. Wee are members of his body whyche is the Churche Therefore thou canste not choose if so be thou wilte be counted better than an Ethnicke Iewe or Turke but testifie by some meanes that thou arte indéede a true liuelye and effectuall working member of the holye Churche of god But if thou canste not be the mouth or the eie that thou mightest sustaine the roomth of a Byshop and gouerne the Churche by commaunding ordeynyng whatsoeuer things should be profitable and necessarye if thou canste not be the tongue whereby thou mightest publikelye teache and prophecie in the Churche if thou canste not be the hande to dispose the Sacramentes or goodes of the Churche yet surely thou mayste be the eare thou mayste be the finger thou mayste be a parte of the breaste and to make an ende thou mayste and oughtest to be of that Churche whyche standeth in néede of verye manye Ministers and is alwayes occupyed aboute manye thynges some certayne member and that truelye quicke liuely stirring and suche a one as is bewtified both with féeling and mouing Onelye take héede thou dispayre not and accounte thy state to be happye if thou mayste haue place in the Churche but euen among the basest and weakest members so they be sounde and not as yet for their rottennesse to be cutte quite awaye But there is no common wealth that acknowledgeth that manne to be a Citizen and suffereth him to enioy the common priuiledges of the Countrey whyche doth not reuerence the Magistrates in it but refuseth to obey them whyche will not embrace the vprighte Lawes and excellent Statutes that are the verye sinewes of Common weales neyther promise that he will liue after them Neither in very déede deserueth hée the name of a good Citizen that careth for none of those thynges whyche pertayne eyther to the dignitie of the Common wealth wherein he liueth or to hys duetie in defending and adorning the same Howe then shall the Churche iudge thée to be a liuelye member of hirs incase thou doest not homage as thou arte bounde vnto CHRISTE hir heade incase thou neuer bethinke thy selfe to vnderstande the Doctrine of CHRISTE incase she perceyueth no lyfe of Fayth no motion of anye good actions to be in thée the Churche finally is not holpen by any duety or diligence of thine For why it is certayne that all the godlye do receiue lyfe and mouing from CHRISTE their heade and from hys worde CHRISTE is the life of the Churche who powreth abroade after a wonderfull manner his vitall powers into all hys members and the wordes whyche CHRIST speaketh are spirite and lyfe Ioh. 6. and againe by the worde of GOD the faithfull do liue Deut. 4. Math. 4. Is any of you so fonde and foolishe as to thinke himselfe for thys cause onelye to become a member of the Churche for that he doeth nowe and then or if hée will euerye daye in the wéeke repayre corporally to holye assemblies Nay it behoueth thée to be ingraffed and linked into that bodye in spirite like as in verye déede the selfe same bodye is spirituall But the spirite is nourished and sustained by the word wyth the which it hath a certaine Anologie or proportion Now therefore if so be either when thou arte present in Ecclesiasticall assemblies whiche are especiallye ordayned for the handling of Gods worde or when thou art returned home to thy house thou intentiuely readest the worde of GOD hearest it and layest it vppe in thy mind then beléeue me shalt thou bée reputed and taken in very déede for a liuely member of the Church And truely this is a verye small matter and easie to be done whyche as a testimonye of thy engraffing into the Churche wée requyre at thy handes For if thou refuse once to ensearche the Scriptures doubtlesse I doe not sée howe thou shalte bée able to perfourme anye thyng worthye of commendation Hée that cannot abide to apply himselfe to the hearing and reading of Gods worde wythout the which there is no accesse vnto Faith howe shall we suppose that he can be broughte to accomplishe anye workes or dueties of Loue flowing out of Faith for soothly where the word of GOD is there is hearing where Hearing is there is Faith where Fayth is there followe of necessitie the workes of loue Be carefull therefore to heare reade and vnderstande the worde of GOD so shalte thou haue Faith and the fruites of Faith and Workes yea and so shall all thinges redounde to the common edifying and encrease of the wholebodye of the Churche Ephes 4. But I haue further to demaunde of thée O Christian for I doe as willingly for mine owne parte attribute this glorious title vnto thée as thou for thy parte arte willing to heare it Wherefore I praye thée art thou called a Christian but bycause thou beléuest in IESVS CHRIST and haste once receyued baptisme as a seale of this thy fayth and of the Righteousnesse thereof But howe wilte thou perswade vs that thou beléeuest in CHRIST if so be thou be ignorante of the articles of Fayth if thou canst not make confession of thy Fayth and so ofte as néede is render an accompte of the same for there are certayne generall preceptes prescribed indifferently to all Christians as Hee that beleeueth shall be saued Math. 28. Rom. 10. c. He that confesseth me before men I wil confesse him before my father whiche is in Heauen Math. 10. Marc. 8. and Luke laste Againe Rom. 10. With the hearte man beleeueth
the eyes of their mind whereby they may iudge vprightly of al things Further it cānot be denied but that there be many things in the Scriptures of thēselues very plaine and easie to be vnderstoode Likewise there are dyuers and sundrye thynges here and there intermixed whyche who so hathe any iudgement at all doeth soone perceiue where vnto they tende Moreouer there is no man the carrieth not about with hym an expert maistresse of manye secrete and mysticall matters to witte hys owne proper conscience whych doeth ofte times priuily reproue finde faulte with and make ashamed those that pretende that they vnderstand not the holy Scriptures It is a very grieuous offence when thou once vnderstandest the truth to dissemble it to neglect not exercise or deny it and God is wonte to giue vppe those that so doe hauing firste as witnesseth the Apostle Rom. 1. blinded their harts into a reprobate sense Furthermore be shall best prouide for his owne safety that dothe not labour to flye ouermuch alofte but contenteth himselfe in places some what harde and difficulte to drawe forthe the simple and sounde meaning whych the words themselues do signifie wythout any couertures and whyche séeme not to be strange from the minde and purpose of the author To hunt after subtil and straunge interpretations to muse vppon allegories wythout cause why to crake continuallye of mysticall meanings is the property of men that consider not sufficiētly the snares and bayted hookes of the deuill Examples howe suche curiositie and vnaduisednesse hath bin punished God would haue in all ages to be séene Woulde to God we coulde oftetimes call to remembraunce howe greate a benefite it is to be wise to sobrietie He shal not a little be helpen to the collecting of proper sentences that will exactlye marke where the beginnings of sermons disputations and narrations and where the endings of the same bée again where the prefaces propositions confirmations confutations conclusions are distinguished in them Let hym obserue also the proper spéeches and phrases that are familiar in the Scriptures let hym searche diligētly throughout euery member as well the thynges that goe before as also the things that follow after to be short let hym duely examine the causes and circumstances of euery point If after all these things thus discussed there remaine some things yet still hidden it shall be expedient to repeate them oftener than once and the more intentiuely to consider of them Repetition commonlye causeth some things to be more cleare and lightsome and that whyche is harde to daye to morrowe or nexte daye becommeth plaine and easie One daye teacheth an other and one night certifieth an other If the daye as it is saide in the prouerbe taketh away the sicknesse oft he bodye then vndoubtedly taketh in awaye also ignoraunce whyche is a maladie of the minde It shall be verye profitable in lyke manner to conferre diligentlye the playne and agréeable places of the Scriptures wyth that place touching the meaning whereof the question is as Luke reporteth Act. 17. the Thessalonians did If thys conference be in vayne then there is no let but that thou maiste aske the aduice of some other wiser than thy selfe GOD wil bring to passe that when thou thinkest leaste of it thou shalte lighte vpō some Philip that may resolue thée of thy most intricate doubtes Act. 8. Hée that wanteth altogither the helpe of a teacher let hym looke ouer the Commentaries or Annotations of the choicest interpretres that hée can come by Laste of all if all thy labour in searching of some hidden mysteries proue voyde and of none effecte and that mannes industry as ye woulde saye be mocked and deceyued then doubt thou not that it commeth to passe for some benefite of thine that some thinges whyche thou soughtest verye desirously to knowe doe remaine still vnknowen vnto thée It is profitable that thou shouldest knowe by this meanes the infirmitie and ignorance as well of all mankinde as also of thy selfe Hereby also thou learnest how highly thou oughtest to estéeme the giftes of the holy Ghoste who enlightneth the myndes of the godly Thou vnderstandest agayne that the same gifts are giuē to euery man according to the measure of Faith. Further thou haste in admiration eayl◠more and more the maiestie of the things comprehended in the sacred Scriptures And there are in verye deede some things in them whych ought of vs rather to be beleeued than perceiued like as also certaine pointes are onely touched by the way but not fully declared Neither truely is it to be doubted but that many before thée haue sticked and stammered at the selfe-same places Yea euen the diligentest of al other do oftetimes stumble and are deceyued Therefore the wante of knowledge of some certaine places doeth by no meanes giue thée occasion to caste awaye the holye Bookes but rather thou muste so muche the more diligentlye and constantlye goe forwarde to pervse them as thou arte sure and certaine that there wyll be alwayes a number of thynges whyche thou shalte neuer bée able to attayne vnto and that a Christian manne oughte all hys lyfe long to bée a Scholler of the holye Ghoste But to declare howe and by what meanes thou mayste reape a Spirituall profite by the thynges whyche thou readest and indifferently at the leaste vnderstandest althoughe a man myghte stand long vppon thys matter yet I will saye so muche in effecte as I truste for this present time shall be sufficient Firste all menne oughte to be perswaded of this that the effectualnesse of prayer poured from the hearte vnto GOD is very greate for whyche cause we haue a little before admonished that so ofte as we come to the readyng of the holye Bookes wée shoulde in anye case to beginne wythall vse some forme of prayer Secondly there lyeth hidden in the worde of GOD it selfe when it is read or hearde or when it is duely examined a certaine wonderfull power of the spirite where with the mindes of men are stricken and after an vnspeakable maner moued drawen Whiche thing doubtlesse we woulde by no meanes affyrme except it were found expressed in the sacred Scriptures and except further it were manifest that many good mē had at all tymes proued the selfe same thyng to be true Hearken I praye you what the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes Chap. 4. sayth The worde of GOD is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper than anye two edged sworde and entreth throughe euen to the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirite and of the ioyntes and the marow and is a discerner of the thoughtes and of the intents of the heart Neyther is there anye creature whyche is not manifest in his sight but al thyngs are naked and open to hys eyes wyth whome wee haue to do In whyche place there are two things of vs to be obserued The one that vnto the worde of GOD are ascribed life and other effectes of verye great
that the Clarks should vnderstand themselues to be twitched as it were by the eare couertly admonished of their dueties to the intent they mighte labour afterward better to execute the which became them to doe I mean the office of preaching and not willingly post it ouer vnto others Lastely there was good hope that by suche and occasion the learned of the Laitie mighte bée moued to addicte themselues sooner than otherwise they woulde haue done wholly to the ministery of the Churche And therefore also after that decrée the godly Byshoppes wente forwarde as béefore to exhorte the Laitie to a perpetuall studye of the holye Scriptures and as ofte as the case so requyred called them foorthe publikely to teache And that they did so muche the more iustely and willingly by howe muche the more they considered it was necessary that there shoulde be chosen from among the learned Laitie like as Tertullian sheweth in his Booke Of exhortation to Chastitie suche as mighte be substituted in the place of the ministers of the Church deceassed Certes if it had not bin lawful to choose some out of the Laitie to the Ecclesiasticall gouernemente the Churche shoulde neuer haue séene the moste excellent Byshoppes Nectarius at Constantinople nor Ambrose at Millayne of whome the one supplied the Pretorship of the Citie if we may credite Rufinus in his Ecclesiasticall Historie Booke 11. Chap. 21 the other was President of Millayne and of all the Countrey adioining as Theodoritus reporteth in his fourth Booke and sixte Chapter and which is not a little to be maruailed at the one baptized but a fewe dayes before thys other still conuersaunte among the Catechistes that is such as were newly instructed in the principles of religion For soothly so long were the Churches euery where verye well prouided for as menne of all sortes and degrées gaue themselues diligently to the reading and vnderstanding of the worde of god Whosoeuer hadde nowe openly exhibited any notable specialtie as wel of their godlinesse of life as also of their doctrine and learning those by the voyces nad frée consents of the godlye were aduaunced as yée woulde saye by degrées to the dignitie of a Deacon of a Prieste of a Pastor or finally of a Byshoppe Neyther was it any strange matter at that time that Churches shoulde be administred of those that soughte by some honest arte or trade to gette wherewith to sustaine their familie if at the leaste they were any thing well exercised in the knowledge of holy Scripture For why the Diuine Scripture teacheth yea and the Ecclesiasticall Histories and Canons doe proue that euen he also whyche is alreadye placed in the gouernement of the Churche maye withoute reproche exercise some crafte whereby hée maye nourish both himselfe and so manye as appertaine vnto him The Apostle Paule reporteth of himselfe that since the time he beganne to preache the Gospell oftentimes laboured with his own hands to gette thynges necessary for his liuing 2. Corinth 11 1. thess. 2.2 thess. 3. Actes 20. And there is mention made Actes eightéene of Aquila a man excellentlye well séene in the holye Scriptures and by whose direction the greate learned man Apollo was muche furthered in the waye of saluation the same Aquila in the meane time vsing the crafte of Tente making to gette his liuing by There is commended Coloss 4. the minister of the Gospell and Phisition Luke like as also by the same arte of Phisicke no fewe Bishoppes are read to haue prouided for themselues as Basyll Byshoppe of Aucyra Eusebius of Alexandrîa Boazanes of Persia Theodotus of Laodicea Cyrus of AlexandrÃa Basill the Greate As for Spiridion Byshoppe of Trimmythus in Cyprus the Author of the Tripartite Historie firste Booke and tenth Chapiter auoucheth that hée was giuen to the tillage of Lande and kéepyng of Cattell And we reade Distinct 91. in the Canons of Pelagius and of the Councelles of Carthage and Constance that vnto ministers of Churches taking ouer small stipendes or wages Hushandrye is commended as moste fruitefull and conueniente for liberall natures And looke howe necessarye and expediente it was for the Laitie to apply diligently the reading of the Scriptures to the intente that Churches as is saide before might by their aide be preserued and increased euen so requisite also was is and euermore shall bée the selfe same study to the adorning of Common weales to the enlarging of Empires and Dominions or certainelye to the winning and adioyning of those peoples to the Christian Worlde that do nowe for the hatred they beare to Religion neuer ceasse to afflicte oure brethren with warres murthers inuasions and other infinite calamities Some manne peraduenture wyll maruaile and smyle to hymselfe to heare thys But to bee certaine and true that I saye it shall by and by verye playnelye appeare Hearken howe and by what meanes it came oftener than once to passe in times paste and thereby learne that the same maye nowe also in like maner come in vre Whereas Byshops and Preachers coulde neuer at anye time safely trauaile to barbarous Nations and Countries a farre off there fréely to preache the Gospell of Iesus Christ some one notwithstanding of the common sorte getting his liuing by his handy labour or some Souldior or Phisition or Merchaunt or Chapman béeyng ledde away captiue or happily by chaunce or some other occasion hathe bin conueyed and carryed thither Some suche man therefore is this forsomuche as be hadde before at home perfectly larned the holy Scriptures and there withall coulde very readily speake to the rude and ignorant attempted to open the principles of Christian Religion firste to a fewe afterwarde to moe according as occasion serued and at the length with a wonderfull spirite grace and vehemencie procéeded so far forthe in dooyng the same that in the ende he moued a number of his hearers with folden armes as they saye to embrace oure Religion And thus commeth it to passe sometimes that whome neyther the care and vigilancie of Byshoppes nor the power of Kings and Princes nor anye force puissaunce or subtilty whatsoeuer coulde possiblye winne or reclayme to oure parties a little knowledge of the worde of GOD appearing euidentlye in some one séely soule of the Laitie hathe drawen to oure sides and ioyned vnto vs wyth and indissoluble hande of friendeshippe and amitie As touching whiche pointe I haue thoughte good to adde famous example oute of Ruffinus written in the tenth Booke and ninth Chapter of hys Ecclesiasticall Historie and likewise oute of Theodoretus hys firste Booke and twoo and twentith Chapiter Frumentius a childe beeng trayned vppe in the knowlege of good letters and also in the doctrine of godlinesse accompanied Meropius a Tyrian Philosopher into India where hee beeyng taken was dryuen into a miserable state and condition But afterwarde by some meanes winnyng fauoure and credite hee was broughte vnto the Courte and there beeyng verye well liked for the doyng of manye thinges hee had a principall charge of gouernmeÌ„t committed vnto