importance It is sayth he quicke or liuely and mighty in working and operation for it pierceth and entreth throughe euen to the diuiding of the soule and the spirite in as muche as it moueth the whole manne after an incredible manner againe it discerneth the thoughtes and intentes of the hearte in asmuche as it findeth faulte with and iudgeth a man and bringeth hym to the knowlege of hymselfe and of God and compelleth him to humble hymselfe to confesse that he is a sinner and to flye vnfaynedly to Gods mercy The other howe that from the worde we maye passe sodainely to GOD hymselfe vnto whome all thinges thoughe neuer so secreate are wyde open and bare Therefore by the former pointe we must be moued to thinke and perswade oure selues that in the worde of GOD yea euen when it is read onelye or hearde there is a certaine maiestie and excellencie by reason whereof it deserueth to be imbraced of vs with all reuerence and lowlynesse of hearte And by this later it commeth to passe that wée belieue that God is not farre absent from his worde but when and so long as it pleaseth him worketh mightily by it as by a fit instrument accomplisheth most wonderfull things Not that the word as it consisteth of bare letters and sillables as it is written read pronoūced or heard is in it selfe of so great efficacie no verily our meaning is not so to perswade but we hold for truth that whilest the authour of the same word written read pronounced or heard is considered and whilest the things signifyed therein are diligently examined the diuine power in the meane season after a certaine imperceyueable manner approcheth wherewyth estsoones the mindes of readers or hearers are so moued pierced inflamed and enlightned that repētāce faith and other such like vertues do folow in them For we vnderstand that euen the very same consideration is to be had of the outward worde that all men do confesse to be had of the outward elementes in the Sacraments of CHRISTES Church The water if it be considered in it selfe is of no great force neyther can it in very déed wash away the filthinesse of the soule but as sone as the worde is added to the element according as CHRIST gaue in commaundemente it becommeth a Sacrament Howe be it in this word of the Sacrament we haue not so muche to marke the sillables and sounde of the letters as we haue to obserue the dignitie of him that first instituted that holy action the things signified by it especially the inuocation and calling vpon of the three persons in one diuine essence or substance of the Deitie And then forsooth so great is the power of the water through the working of the worde that it toucheth indéed the body but it washeth also the heart I vse the worde of S. Augustine in his treatise 80. vppon Iohn not bicause the word is spoke but bicause it is beleued for whereas GOD is thus called vpō by faith there he doth not disdaine by his power to worke heauenlie spirituall effectes in the heartes of those that are baptised We say then that euen in like case when the minde is wholly set vpon the word which is read heard or vnderstoode and hath regard vnto God the Author of the worde and besides weigheth in a iuste ballaunce the things signified in it that then the diuine power doeth wonderfully shewe forth it selfe and repentance faith hatred of sinnes endeuoure of true holinesse of life are stirred vp and euen the whole man both in body and in soule is chaunged and renued Of whych diuine workemanshippe there are proofes sette foorthe in the Sacred Scriptures verye playne and apparant to all men For Ezra read in the booke of the Lawe Nehemia 8. in the open streete that was before the watergate frō morning vntil midday in the presence of men and women that gaue heede vnto it and the eares of all the people hearkned vnto the Booke of the Law It foloweth a little after And al the people when they heard the words of the lawe The Apostle Peter Actes 2. rehearseth the Scriptures to the Iews and interpreteth them as touching Christ which being heard so many as were present were pricked in hearte and said vnto Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shal we do And vnto the Rom 10. But what sayth it The worde is neare thee euen in thy mouth and in thine hart This is the word of Faith which we preach to wit if thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus shalt beleeue in thine hearte that God raysed him vp from the dead thou shalte bee saued For with the hearte man beleeueth vnto righteousnesse and wyth the mouth manne confesseth to saluation Againe in the same place Fayth commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde of GOD. Moreouer Peter Act. 10. making a plaine declaration of the summe of Christian doctrine oute of the holy Scriptures in the house of Cornelius the Centurion To this CHRIST sayth he beare all the Prophets witnesse that throughe his name whosoeuer beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes While Peter yet spake these wordes the holy Ghoste fell on al them that hearde the worde Wée may therefore out of al question confirme this assertion namely that by the diligent and attentiue reading hearing and meditation of the worde of GOD a man is induced to the knowledge of GOD and of hymselfe to the detestation of his sinnes and to vnfayned repentaunce to Faith in Iesus Christe to the amendment of hys life and conuersation and to bée shorte receiueth the holy Ghoste and wyth hym most large and bountifull giftes That whyche wée knowe in tymes paste vsually befell to the readers or hearers of GODS word that the same also may happen nowe in these dayes wee flatly auouche wythout controlment For why if hée that beyng incensed with desire of profiting taketh in hand the holy Bookes do before al things craue the ayde of the holy Ghost thē next deuoutly reade or heare the word of GOD by which as by an instrument it pleaseth GOD to talke familiarly with vs after this also lifte vp his mind vnto GOD speaking by the Prophets or Apostles and duly discusse the things specified in thē there is no doubt but that God after his acustomed clemency putting to his hande will stirre vp purge teach and sanctifie the heart as well of the reader as the the hearer and graciously grante vnto him Repentance Faith the holy Ghost and other giftes and graces of hys spirite Furthermore to the intent that euery one furnished and affected in that sorte that we speake of maye in reading envre himselfe wisely and discretlye to note picke out and as by a certaine methode to distinguishe those things that may be profitable to all intentes and purposes and applyed to the attaynement of perfection and soule health we adde last of all that the very edge of
giueth himselfe to the reading of the holy Scriptures should alwayes be neglected or go without fruite for as much as albeit wee are destitute of mans direction yet the Lorde himselfe comming downe into our heartes from aboue doeth illuminate our minde lighteneth our reason reuealeth the things that are hidden and becommeth a teacher of those things that we know not so as we only will bring with vs such things as we haue Cal no mā maister sayth he vpon earth Whensoeuer therefore wee take into our handes the booke of life let vs casting aside all worldly care bridle our affections and restrayning our minde that it wander not hither and thither let vs with great deuotion and attentiuenesse apply our selues to reading that so we may be guyded by the holy ghost to the true vnderstanding of the Scriptures and receyue therby much fruite Thus much Chrisostome But what doe I stande in recompting the Christians of that age A number of the Gentiles who had neyther oute of the Lawe nor oute of the Gospell anye knowledge at all of Christe gaue themselues in those dayes to the reading of the holy bookes All of them in generall were of opinion that this care especiallye became them whosoeuer at leaste were anye thing at all desirous of honesty and their own welfare The Eunuch Lieutenaunte of Caudace Quéene of the Ethiopians hauing as it is verie likely not hearde any thing as yet of CHRIST passed his tyme not onely at home when his leysure serued hym but also when he trauailed abroade and was throwen to and fro with the iotting of his Chariot in reading of the Prophet Esay Act. 8. Whiche diligence and godly disposition was so wel liked of GOD oure heauenly father who euermore beholdeth from aboue all oure studies and actions that he sente forthwith vnto hym in verye good season Philippe the Apostle that hée shoulde open vnto hym the harde places and sette downe a compendious summe of tree Religion of and concerning CHRIST his sonne Neither is it to be doubted but that GOD woulde haue the Bookes of holy Scripture long before translated out of the Hebrewe tongue into the Gréeke to the intente they mighte afterwarde be read not onely of the Iewes whiche vnderstoode the Hebrewe speache alone but also of the Gretians that is of all mortall men whatsoeuer For why that vnder the names of Iewes and Gretians all mankinde is ofte tymes comprehended wée maye learne oute of the Apostle in more than one place or two Romaines 1.2.3.10 1. Corinth 1. Galathians 5. And that the Gréeke tongue was in the Apostles time euerie where knowen and muche sette by the Historiographers doe not obscurely declare All Asia for the moste parte sounded the Greeke hauing long before felte the force of Gréekish conquerours and in the selfe same Country the Iewes loathing as a man woulde saye their Hebrews language wrote and compiled bookes in the Gréeke stile as Iosephus Philo and others In Affrica the cunninger that euerie one was in the Gréeke the excellenter he was compted as bothe the Schoole and Librarie of Alexandria doe testifye in Europe ouer and besides that a number of Gréekes doe inhabite and dwell euen Italy also and Rome it selfe as being verye ambitious and not contented with the furniture of hir owne Countrey speach hath maintained as Strabo reporteth lib. 4. verye manye Gretians and brought foorth suche as haue written whole bookes and Commentaries in Gréeke So farre foorthe that a man might well saye that the Athenienses are frée Denizens at Rome But in very déede howe muche more we maruaile at and as méete it is extoll the diligence and industrie as well of the Christians as of the Gentiles of that age in reading the bookes of holy Scripture which were found written alonely in the Hebrewe and Gréeke tongue so muche the more vehemently ought we openly in the sight of all men to deteste and abandon the greate slouth and negligence of the people of oure dayes For leaste that any man should pretend that by reason of his ignorance in the Gréeke or Hebrewe tongue he is letted front reading the holy Scriptures We haue all the Bookes of holy Scripture extant in the Latine tongue which is vsed and frequented of a greate number no lesse happilye than faithfully expressed and that of diuers and the same moste learned Interpreters which Saint Augustine reporteth also of his time entreating De Doctrina Christiana lib. 2. Cap. 5. And not onely in the Latine tongue but in others also which in times past were accompted not without contempte barbarous and vnciuill yea and there is in a maner no coaste or prouince in the whole worlde in whiche maye not be found the holy Bible turned into the same Countrey language The Italians Germaines Frenchemen Spaniards likewise Britaines Danes Rutters Polonians Swezians Slauoniās to be short all other Christians whatsoeuer haue among them to be solde and may easily come by the olde and newe Testament translated into the selfe same phrase and language that they themselues doe vnderstand Therefore like as the Apostle acknowledgeth and giueth thankes vnto God for his incomparable benefite whereby he spake with many tongs 1. Corinth 14. so is it méete requisite likewise that Christians be thankefull vnto God to euerie of whome it is graunted in their owne proper and peculiar tong to reade the holy and sacred Scriptures This onelye we oughte to be carefull for namely that we bée not founde slacke and slouthful in reading When oure Lorde Iesus Christe shal come at the laste day to iudgement peraduenture some of the Gentiles that liued in the Apostles time will goe aboute to excuse themselues that in those dayes were extant onely the Copies of the Gréekes tongue alone oute of whiche they shoulde haue learned by reading the doctrine of the Law and the Gospell But who will auouche that that excuse shall goe for payment That dare no manne doe as I thinke Then what shall become of the men of oure time that doe beholde the selfe same doctrine expressed in so manye tongues at this daye and yet do not care for it but reiect and abandon it Truely I am afraide that there will be lefte vnto them no manner of pretence at all whereby they maye cleare or defende themselues Where if so be we imagine that it will come to passe by some prerogatiue or straunge priuiledge that wée alone withoute the reading and knowledge of Gods word shal in time to come be memored with the faithful we are far wide as they say do vtterly deceiue our selues without Christ there is no passage for any mā into Heauen forasmuch as he is the dore the waye the truth and the life but the way to Christe the Scripture it selfe pointeth forth as it were with the finger For truly is it said of Hierom in his preface to the first booke of his cōmentaries vpon Esai To be without the knowledge of the Scriptures is to be without the
Vppon whiche occasion hée affirmeth that his worke De fide operibus tooke the beginning And that in those dayes the Laitie was accustomed of their owne accorde to handle the holy Scriptures that they had scarce anye néede of admonitions this may be a proofe suffcient that Augustine like as Hierome also before hym was often tymes â—nen of Virgins and women not only louers of the holy Scriptures but also expert in them earnestly called vpon by letters to resolue them in certaine doubtes and that for their sakes he one while declared hard and perplexed questions whiche they didde putte sooth an otherwhile did some other thing to prouoke and help forwarde the study of godlinesse Reade hys Epistles to Paulina Demetriades Fabiola Felicia Prota 〈◊〉 Edith Florentina a mayde and Maxima a widowe of Italy In his seconde Booke De anima â—â—â—â—igme hee telleth of one Peter an olde Prieste that he learned manye things of a young man of the Laitie and that hée reioyced excéedingly and gaue harty thanks vnto GOD therefore Seing then that by these and such like reasons S. Augustine witnesseth abundantlye that the studye of holy Scripture was in his tyme verye common and familiar among men and that the people of al sorts sexes and ages were able then godlye and expressely bothe to question and make aunswere as touching the affayres of religion it should be superfluous to enterlace in these our wrytings the exhortations to the same study whyche are to be founde in his workes verye frequent and forceable Verily out of one onely Sermon which is entituled Of the study of Wisdome meditation of Gods lawe as out of one bed I will gather certaine floures whereby euery manne maye easily coniecture what maner of posies of the same sorte are to be founde in the rest of hys Sermons We haue yet saith he a good comfort in reding the holy Scripturs bicause the reding of the holy Scripturs is no small foreknowlege of the diuine blessednesse For in them as in a certaine glasse a man maye consider of himselfe what hee is or whether he goeth Continuall reading purifyeth all things it causeth feare of hel sire it stirreth vp the heart of the reader to long after heauenly ioyes Hee that will alwayes be with GOD ought often to pray and reade For when we praye wee talke with GOD and when we read GOD talketh with vs The reading of the holy Scriptures bringeth with it a double commoditie either for that it instructeth the vnderstanding of the soule or bycause it leadeth a man froÌ„ the vanities of the world to the loue of GOD the labour bestowed in reading is commendable auayleth much to the clensing of the minde For like as the flesh is nourished with carnal meates so is the inner man nourished and fed with the diuine Oracles of GOD as sayeth the Psalmest How sweet are thy testimonies to my mouth oh Lord yea they are sweeter than hony and the honye combe But he is moste blessed of all that so readeth the holy scriptures as he turneth them into practise Hitherto hée Soothly these words are well worthy to be written of the godly in golden letters and to be painted in those bookes whych they dayly beare about them to the intente they maye oftentimes learne exactly to weygh and consider euery one of them Saint Ambrose whom whilest he liued S. Augustine most willingly hearde and reuerenced with all dutifulnesse in his Sermon 35 entituled Of the fasting of the Lord in the desert and that man liueth not by bread only againe where he expoundeth Psal. 118. in his SermoÌ„ 21. exhorteth al the faithful to the diligent reading of the Scriptures and in his booke of Offices Chapter 22. hée sayeth That our wordes and communications oughte chiefely to bee framed of the Scriptures We myghte moreouer call to remembraunce the notable sayings of other famous men as touching this matter but I feare me least these which we haste noted already may séeme to be ouer manye and too too tedious to the queysie stomackes of some How beit I could doe no lesse but out of those most excellent authours describe some things euen word for word and that partly to the intent we myght testifye to the world that we with all faithful sincerity and according to the iudgements of most holy men doe handle this cause partely to the ende we might stoppe the mouthes of some arrogant persons whiche as soone as they perceyue a man to differ from them in opinion do grinne by and by exclayme without measure and accuse him of heresie not considering in the meane time that whilest they condemne vs they condemne likewise the most excellent and antientest diuines whose voyces haue now bene heard But sithence they haue thus defined determined the were of all other in a maner as the coÌ„moÌ„ schoolemasters and teachers I meane Origen Chrisostome Hierome Augustine Ambrose it cannot be doubtfull to no man that all their Scholers in like manner maintained the selfe same opinion and wheresoeuer they became with incredible diligence commanded it and set it forth For that a gentle and discréete Disciple shoulde vary and disagrée from his faithfull Schoolemayster professing the truth is a thing verye rare or at leaste verye vncomely and vnciuill And vndoubtedly their Epistles written to Laye menne of diuers nations likewise vnto Virgins matrones widowes in al prouinces where they dwelte doe declare that there were a great number that applied themselues lustily to the reading fo the holye Scriptures Certes Hierome writing to Sunia and Fretela proueth that in Germany and eueÌ„ among the people called Gete where they inabited the common opinion is that the Getes towarde the North possessed the bancke of the riuer Fistula and Suedeland with the Marchesse adioyning wherein of the name of Getes came the Gothes the couetrey of Gothlande to bée so called to this daye the study of the holy Scriptures and likewise of the Gréeke and especiallye the Hebrewe tongues was at that time muche made of and highly estéemed Who would beleeue this sayth hée that the barbarous tonged Getes shoulde seeke after the trueth of the Hebrewe and that whilest the Greekes slepte naye rather laboured to the contrarye Germany woulde searche out the oracles of the holy Ghoste O good God what a Worlde was that wherein the Laitie bothe men and women were founde euerye where skilfull in Diuine matters How swéetely didde such reason and conferre togither of the doctrine of the Lawe and the Gospell and of all the dueties of godlinesse Certes I beléeue the godly in those dayes tried among themselues moste honeste maysteries as family to be founde in which there was not eyther the maister or mistresse eyther the sonne or the daughter or at leaste wise some one or other of the householde that coulde not at appointed times reade certaine Chapters of the holy Bible and indifferently wel expounde all the profitablest places in them The holy bookes were at
prouide remedies by reading of the holye Scriptures There foloweth more to the same effect but bicause I couet to be briefe I haue thought good to omit it He entreateth also more at large touching the self same matter in his 3. homily of Lazarus the rich man. And I knowe not whether those wordes of his as they are generally spoken will satisfye all men or no. For it is a very harde matter to stoppe the mouthes of curious and obstinate men with a short and generall kinde of speach and there wyll some complaine peraduenture such especially as desire to séeme sharpe witted beyond the reste that we haue not aunswered to euerye member of theyr obiection Wherefore I suppose it wil be grately to the purpose if I deuide the obiectioÌ„ aforegoing as it were into parts and speake somwhat more exactly of euery of them in order I will graunte them therefore first and formost yea and I will recken vp many causes also for the whiche it shal be necessary that so many as haue addicted themselues to the Ecclesiasticall function shoulde before all other Christians apply their diligence to the vnderstaÌ„ding of the misteries of the holy Scriptures Secondly I wil proue very plainely that for the rest whyche they call Laitie it is by no meanes lawful to caste from them the selfe same studye but rather as it behoueth the states of men to be diuided so there is prescribed to euery one in the holye Scriptures a certaine rule of godly liuing and that those alone finally do substantially performe their dueties that haue thoroughly learned out of the same scriptures how to fear and loue GOD and howe to behaue themselues in all the actions and dealings Thirdlye I will adde to the rest certayne reasons whych maye moue the conscience of euery one to confesse that there is no man that maketh any at least to Christian Religion that can liue altogither destitute and ignorant of the Trueth and Doctrine contained in the Scriptures Whyche thyngs beyng thus once declared may stand the godly in greate steade to confute other obiections also if any chaunce to be made and put forthe Therefore they do greatly erre and abuse contrary to our meaning all that hath of vs hitherto béen said whiche suppose that any that at least-wise acknowledge themselues to be Christians are excepted from the study and reading of the holy Scriptures But of all other wée doe leaste of al exclude them that prepare themselues to the Ministery of the Church or that are alreadye conuersaunte in it For why that of these is first and chiefly required the exacte knowledge of Gods holy will I take it to be so apparante vnto all men as that it néedeth not once to bée touched of vs For who knoweth not that it is the duety of a faithfull Shéepehearde to procure all thinges that are auaileable to the féeding and preseruation of the shéepe of hys folde whether we haue regarde to the pastures or waters or shadowings or curings of diseases or defeÌ„ce against Wolues or anye suche like thing else beside and that it behoueth the father or goodman of the house to goe before all his familie in wisedome and discreation in prouiding and disposing of thinges necessary and that the Schoolemayster ought to be better learned than his Scholers and to appoint vnto them a forme or methood of Doctrine and finally that the Emperoure or Capitayne of an haste shoulde excell in warlike knowledge al hys souldyors fighting vnder his standerd Herevppon forsooth it followeth that those also which are placed ouer the Churche if they couet wholsomly to féede the mindes of the people committed to their charge carefully to gouerne them truely to teache them directly to bring them to saluation oughte to bée farre better séene in the doctrine of the holy Scriptures than any other of the common sorte If any man yet doubteth lette him beléeue God who in Leuitic 10. and in other places moe gaue commaundement to the Priestes and Leuites that they shoulde faithfully teache the people the Lawe and Statutes whyche hée had deliuered vnto them Let hym heare Malachy the Prophet in hys seconde Chapiter saying The Priestes lippes shall kepe Knowledge and they shall requyre the Lawe at hys mouth Let hym credite Christe who calleth the teachers of the Gospell the Light of the worlde and the Salte of the earth Let hym credite the Apostle Paule who woulde haue euery Bishop and Minister of the Churche to be suche a one as were Didacticos that is to say apte to teache as hadde a forme and patterne of wholesome Doctrine as coulde rightly cutte and diuide the worde of Trueth as were able to holde faste the Worde which is according to Doctrine and to exhorte by sounde Knowledge and conuince the gaine-speakers 1. Tim. 3.2 Tim. 1. 2. Ch. vnto Tit. 1. for vndoubtedly as it standeth other in hand to heare learn the word of God so is it the chief part duty of those the haue the ouersight of Churches to expound teach the same and that not slightly for fashions sake but learnedly grauely so as many may reape profite thereby And therefore verye subtilly haue they abused the Worlde that wyth duckyng downe theyr heades and wyth their eyes countenaunce voice and gesture wholly set to semble and dissemble haue not bene ashamed to auouche that the Ecclesiasticall Ministery consisteth onelye in the bare recitall of certayne Psalmes Hymnes Proses and that written in a tongue knowen to very few and scarce also to the Singers themselues againe in the imitation of certain ceremonies which mans wisdome without the warrant of GODS word hath inuented one after an other doe no whit auaile either to the mouing of mens mindes or to the establishing of any order or decencie For nowe during certaine ages men haue thought the whole substaunce of ReligioÌ„ forsooth to stand in these two things Singings I say not vnderstoode colde ceremonies yea and those Churches to be very wel ordered wherein euen these alone haue with a cunning kinde of Hipocrisie bin practised of their craftsmaisters Truly it is to he maruailed that any men I saye not excellent and learned but euen so much as of the coÌ„mon sorte coulde be brought to that passe namely to beléeue those deceiuers when in the meane time they perceyued in very déede that al the sincere worshipping of GOD which â—s Christ his Apostles haue prescribed consisteth in true inuocation prayer in the pure preaching of the Gospell dispensation of the Sacrements haue vtterly in a manner thorough the preuailing of those shrill squeakings dumb ceremonies bin cast out of Churches and suppressed For howe coulde it otherwise be but that the handling of the Scriptures béeyng ouce driuen oute of Churches and Congregations the studies likewise of good letters in the Schooles shoulde vtterly fall downe decaye For what man would then séeme to bestowe hys trauel in sundry disciplines
and especially in the exercises of holye Scripture or take anye long and greate paines in the Schooles of Learning when he smelleth that there will be no publike vse thereof and foreséeth that no manner of rewardes shall bée allotted to his laboures in Churches I appeale to the testimonies of a great number of good menne whyche can remember that in Churches verye greate and notable there haue not béene scarce foure Sermons throughoute the whole yeare made vnto the people and yet if there happened to be anye it was spente for the moste parte eyther in a fruitelesse narration of Myracles and those commonlye false or else in some subtill disputation sauoring more of Aristotle than of the Prophetes and Apostles Verily I remember that I hearde ouce in Fraunce one beyng old and hoareheaded and a man of singular modestie tel and reporte that he was declared Doctor of Diuinitie in the Sorbon Schoole at Paru when as hée had neuer in all his life read ouer so muche as thrée Chapiters of the holy Bible and further that he was afterwarde the Pastor of no obscure Churche and althoughe he dayly descanted vppon the hundreth and ninetéenth Psalme wherein is wonderfully commended the study efficacie and vse of Gods worde and here and there also be repeated these wordes In the lawe of the Lorde wil I meditate day and night yet notwithstanding that it neuer came into his minde one whit to peruse the Bookes of holy Scripture with a desire of vnderstaÌ„ding the truth nor neuer made also any Sermon oute of the Scriptures to the people Whyche thinges he not wythout an honest kinde of shame callyng to remembraunce bothe bewayled the vnhappinesse of the tyme past and also complayned of the shamefull ignorance of the men of his coate and calling Yea and moreouer in dyuers Countries where I haue trauailed I haue séene many Priestes as my manner is in euery place to enquyre diligently of the state of Churches whyche when they were vtterly voyde of learning and very Drones had no Churche wherein they mighte lawfully minister But out of their Masses as they call them whych they beyng hyred daylye sayde they sucked out no small gaine and aduantage sustained themselues in their filthy ydlenesse Furthermore we sée it euerye where commonly receiued not by custome but as yée woulde saye by a lawe established that Priestes are made wythoute choyce no more as they were in times past to teache but onelye to say Masse As who should say forsooth this way do the holy Byshops followe the holy Cannons whyche forbidde that without a title for so they speake any man shoulde be ordered Distinction 70. C. Neminem Sanctorum Canonum c. Therefore as touching the Doctrine of Religion there is among them no further question but it maye be sayde as Ierome speaketh expounding the thirtéenth Chapiter of Ezechiel that for the sinnes of men the word of GOD is vtterly loste and that grieuous calamitie sent downe into the worlde that GOD by the Prophet Amos Cap. 8 threatneth namely a cruell hunger thirste and scarcitie of hearing the worde of GOD. The other inconueniences whyche haue flowed oute of that fountayne to witte the false perswasion of the Ministery to consiste in bare Songs and Ceremonies I ceasse to make any further reckening of But to procéede where Bishops do not prouide that the Scriptures be continually readde and expounded in Churches and yet giue orders to a greate number of suche as they knowe haue neyther bestowed any time before in studying the holy Scriptures neyther can or will do hereafter I leaue it to be considered of euerye man whether suche either Byshops or Priestes can rightly chalenge to themselues the power Ecclesiasticall and kayes of the kingdome of Heauen as granted vnto them of God or no. We haue learned forsooth out of the Sermons of Christ and the Apostles that there is a double power of the Churches or that there be two kayes the one of Doctrine whyche consisteth in teachyng that is to saye in interpreting the Scriptures and administration of the Sacramentes whiche are annexed to the worde and euen a certaine portion of the worde like as in very déede they are acomplished by the worde the other is prepared to giue iudgement and to binde and loose But nowe howe shall he â—â—â—â—ly teache in the Churche all the chiefe poyntes of Christian Doctrine oute of the Law and the Gospell How agayne shall be wisely giue sentence as well of sinnes for whiche the obstinate must be bounde as also of faith and repentance for the witnessing whereof it behoueth them to be loosed that were bounde which neuer exercised himselfe in the monumentes of the Prophets and Apostles neither intendeth at any time to beginne Certesse that no keyes of Christes Church are committed to vnlearned Priestes it is well proued by the iudgement of those Prelates that ouer and besides that they haue deputed a good parte of the rabblement of Priestes only as I sayde to the execution of Masserites and Ceremonies haue moreouer deuised certaine cases which they name Reserued whereof some they wil haue referred to the Bishops only of euery Church othersome only and alone to the Bishop of Rome Now there shoulde be no néede to trudge for counsell to the higher Prelates if so be they déemed the Priests which themselues had made fitte to giue iudgement of matters incident and sufficiently furnished to bind and lose But that which the authours of reserued cases haue openly protested touching certayne Priestes the same may we interprete worthily to be vnderstoode of all in generall whether they be Bishops or Priestes that are founde voyde and destitute of all furniture of learning Héereby then we shall be inforced to suspect that many Churches haue of long time wanted and bin altogither withoute keyes For the vnderstanding and interpretation of the Scriptures being once loste it coulde not be chosen but that the keyes must néedes haue bin lost also And in what state the house is that is neyther opened nor shutte at any tyme with keyes but hauing as yée woulde saye the lockes and dores broken all to fitters standeth on euery side and alwayes and to euery one that commeth wide open in the very same state we suppose the Churches to haue bin and to be in whiche is had no consideration at all of the handling of the holy Scriptures But we shall haue lesse cause to maruayle that Priestes haue not hitherto bin carefull of receyuing the true keyes if in case we consider that a number of them haue not bene accustomed to go in and out by the dore but by some other way and that there haue appeared in them more liuely markes of hirelings than of anye true Shepheardes It remayneth therefore that whosoeuer hauing gotten any dignitie in the Churche of God wyll also purchase to himselfe credite and authoritie and be acknowledged in very déede for a true Shepheard hauing interest in the keyes and skill to vse