the vniuersall churche of Christ But therfore it may not be suffered The thirde probation THrough the damnable libertie of hauinge it in the vulgar tongue haue not all holye mysteries been despised Haue they not therby vtterly condemned all that hathe not been expressed in the letter of their Englishe Byble Haue they not made vs worse hereby then the Iewes To take all mysteries from vs excepte they be expressed in their Englishe â–ª The Iewes durst not expresse the highe name of God Iehoua But what mysterie durste not our men medle withal Yea reason turne tosse at their pleasure The Iewes had Cabala their tradition left among them by Moyses without writynge receyued as it were by hande from generation to generation concernynge the mysticall sense included in the wordes of scripture But through this damnable heresye our men haue whollye condemned all that is not expressed in the letter of theyr Englishe And yet S. Iohn sayde I had manye thinges to write vnto you neuerthelesse I woulde not write with paper and ynke but I truste to come and speake with you mouthe to mouth Aug. ad Ianu. yea and S. Augustine sayeth quae non sunt scripta sed tradita custodimus quae toto terrarum orbe obseruantur we kepe and obserue not only such thinges as be written but also traditions not written whiche be obserued in all places of christendome Agayne yf ye wil nothinge to be Gods word but that whiche is expressed in the letter written what say ye then to Moyses Were not the wordes of God spoken to him gods worde tyll they were written Wer not the wordes of God spoken to the Apostles gods word tyl they were written Christ in sayinge to Peter blessed arte thou c Mat. xvi declareth that that high mystery came into S. Peters heart as to the prince of Chap postles onelye by secret inspiration and not by the worde written And so doeth lykewise this that neyther Euangelist nor Apostle did euer by writing sende the faith to anye nation but where they were firste informed by preaching For faith commeth by hearynge sayeth Paule and not by writynge Rom. x. Furthermore Paule bad the Thessalonians as I sayde kepe the traditions whiche he had geuen them by mouth ii Thes ii because the wordes that he spake to the people by mouth our lord and vsed aboute the sacrament of the Altar or about the sacrament of baptisme who can shew the reason fully of all the wordes gestures orders questions and aunsweres there vsed And yet all these wee haue receiued of Christ and his Apostles Thus muche sayth Origene And here marke I beseche you of Origenes woordes whiche was liuiÌ„g wtin lxxxx yeres after saint Iohn the Euangelist that many suche traditions were left by Christ his Apostles which bee not in the Byble expressed and yet to be obserued of all faythful Catholike people Beside this what they wyl saye to manye thinges moe not expressed in Scripture and yet vnder the payne of damnation to be beleued I cannot tel as to the Baptim of infantes the .iii. persons in Trinitie to be of equall power and of one essence that God the Father is ingenitê° not begot the procedinge of the holye gost from the father the Sonne the deity equalitye of the Holy Goste with the father and the Sonne the obseruynge of the Sonday the order of our Crede the continuance of the virginite of our Lady that she is Theorocos mater dei the mother of God the receyuinge the Sacrament of thalter fasting the mixtinge water with wyne in the Chalice the Sonne to be consubstantial with the father that Christes soule descended in to hel the making of the signe of the Crosse the numbre of the Sacramentes that there be .ii. natures in Christe knit together in vnitate diuine supposite that Soules departinge hens streyght wayes haue the fruitioÌ„ of the deitye And that men and women haue power to ministre the Sacrament of Baptym It is not expressed in scripture neyther by commaundement couÌ„sell licence or example what they will say to this gere I wot not but this one thynge I am wel assured of that hauiÌ„g the Scripture in Englishe hath brought tholy mysteries of God into contempte and hatred Where as the wisedome of God as S. Basil despiritu sâ—Ì„cto cap. xxvij Basill testifieth neuer wolde all the misteries of our faith to be put in writing thereby to be a laughinge stocke both to the Iewes and Gentils For if Christe himselfe were counted a sclaunder to the Iewes and folishnes to the Heathens how muche rather shal the high mysteries of our fayth so be counted being most harde to be perceyued †Mysterium noÌ„ est quod ad populares aures effertur patrâ—s ergo in occuâ—to ac silentio misterijs suam seruauere dignitateÌ„ Basi xxvii de spuÌ„ sancto Agayne it is not a mystery sayeth he that is open to euery man or that is blowen in to euery mans eare Tholy Fathers euer kept tholy misteryes in most secrecy reuerencyng the dignitie therof S. Dionise Dioni cap. i. in celes hierarch Iren. lib. 3. ca 4 Epiphan coÌ„tra AeriuÌ„ Tertul de cor mili Orig homil v in num Cypri de Lot peduÌ„ Hila in psal ij Ireneus Epiphanius TertuliaÌ„ Origen Ciprian and Hylari with one consent do firmelye establisshe this agaynste the approuers of thenglisshe translacions Yea and S. Basill dothe affirme that there be so manye mysteries without Scripture whiche must be credited that he can in no small time recite them al Deficier me dies inquit si ecclesiae mystria citra scriptuÌ„ tradita pergam recensere Howe can it then be that the Englisshe Bible can continue many such meÌ„ taking occasion thereby to condemne al holy mysteries receiued by the Catholyke Churche euen from the begynninge S. Iohn testienge that so many moe thinges wer done that the whole world were not hable to conteme all if they were wrytteÌ„ And s Paule bidding the Thessalonians as ye haue hearde obserue all his tradicions receyued by mouthe not by writyng sayeth Theophilact and yet aswel to be beleued as thother Yea and in the time of s Peter Linus Cletus Anacletus Clement Euaristus c. S. Iohns Gospell was not written but these men wyll nothing to be beleued but onlye that whiche is in their Englishe Byble so that all that time the Christians by this their iudgement should not haue ben bouÌ„d to beleue that whiche is now in S. Iohns Gospel bycause then it was not written Howe be it al faythfull people beleue that the Churche of Christe taught aboue .lx. yeres after Christes ascension all that is now in S. Iohns Gospell beinge yet not then written In the time our mother the Churche was a virgin I meane not corrupt nor adulterate with sundry heresies there were almost no scriptures of the new Testament in Paper and Inke All the monitions wordes and workes of Christe
nedefull God woulde haue sent it to the Eunuche to Saule and to Cornelius in the viij ix and x. of thactes but there ye reade that god sent them teachers Philip Anany and Peter and not the scripture whiche hadde been but in vayne as appeareth by the Eunuches sayinge howe shall I vnderstaÌ„de scripture by reading except I be taught Whervpon S. Hierom sayth Ego vt de me loquar nec saÌ„ctior suÌ„ hoc eunucho nec studiosior quâ—cuÌ„ librum teneret c. ignorabat tamen eum queÌ„ in libro nesciens venerabatur O howe manye this daye muche more ignoraÌ„t then Theunuche will take in hande onelye with their English boke to open mysteries bothe to theyr owne destruction and others The xxiij probation Our men wyll nothinge but theyr english booke but the holy man Ireneus which dyd see S Iohans disciple or as some affirme whiche was scholer to S. Iohans disciple named Policarpus doeth testifie that we must folowe the order of the traditions whiche the forefathers dyd leaue vnto them vnto whoÌ„ they committed the cure of Christes people vnto whiche ordinaunces the very heathens sayth he comming to Christes stocke did obey hauing their belefe written by the sprit of God in theyr hartes and not writen with ynke in velom or perchement What shal we say then to theym whiche yet bewaile their Iewish scriptures plucked besyde the postes and walles onlye desyre theyr scripture with inke and paper in the booke As for saluation only wryten in the hart by the holy spirit it should seme they passe not of The .xxiiij. probation The heathen Philosopher would not youth to be the medlers with moral philosophy bycause they were vnapte therunto eyther to be Iudges therof or to take any profyt thereby and he ment not only youthe in yeares but also in maners a childe saieth Esaie of an hundâ—eth yeares old shal dye Esay lxv What then shal we saie shal we admit vnto the haÌ„dling of our heaueÌ„ly philosophy whome the heathen thought vnmete vnworthy to handle theyr lerning whiche was but prophane woulde not the Iewes permitte all ages to the reading of all the bokes in the olde testament and shall we christen men doe it wyll we be worse then the Iewes Yea worse theÌ„ the prophane ethnickes and more out of order O Lord be mercifull vnto vs. The .xxv. probation It was neuer admitted though somtymes permitted in any place of christenedome scripture to continew in the vulgar tongue but only in tyme of scisme or heresy shall it nowe then be suffred to continew any longer in this realme so many mischefes yssewyng therout as haue done daily increasing these many yeares and would do styl more and more The .xxvi. probation When it is in the vulgar tonge the comen sorte play with Gods worde as the deuyll did disputing with Christ brought Gods worde but to a wronge purpose Christ said man lyueth not only by breade but by euery worde that procedeth fourth of Gods mouth The deuill spake Gods worde but it was not fourth of Gods mouth so did the olde Prophete of Bethell speake Gods word iii. Reg. xiii but not out of Gods mouthe Likewise did the CCCC iii. Re. xxii Prophetes whiche deceyued Achab. All sorcerers witches and coÌ„iurers vse gods worde but not oute of Gods mouthe so haue all heretikes in tymes past and doe at this day But when is it Gods worde furthe of Gods mouthe Howe shall we know or proue that Euer when it is spoken according to the consent faythe of the catholike churche For very scripture doeth shewe that the trew vnderstandynge of Goddes worde and that is furth of gods mouth spoken is euer to be soughte in the catholike churche for the catholike church alone hath euer the true sense of scripture whiche is for that cause called of S. Paule the pyller and foundation of all trueth i. Timo. iii. wherein also for this cause God ordeyned some apostles some Euangelistes Ephes iiii some Prophetes and teachers styl to coÌ„tinue lest we shoulde be ouerthroweÌ„ with blastes of errour And therfore Ireneus wttnesseth Iren. li. 3. cap. 3. and longe after him S. Augustine that the trewe meaning of scripture is to be hadde by the triall of the succession of the holye bishoppes and fathers since Peters time in the see of Rome which thinge caused S. Augustine to say I would not beleue the ghospell if thautoritie of the churche caused me not so to doe Aug. in epist fund So that we must beleue that hath been receyued of all men at all times and in all places of christendome and we muste leane to thantiquitie to the generalitie and consent of the fathers and the true sense and meanyng of scripture must euer be proued and tried oute herby How be it to none of this our new men wil agre because it whollye maketh agaynst theÌ„ but thei euer do studie to bring al into question to deny al general councels all ordinaunces decrees canons and expositours vpoÌ„ scripture And much of this disorder thenglish Bible doeth cause wherfore me thinke it maye not well be permitted to continue The xxvij probation Can it be chosen but so long as all people haue the Byble in English at their pleasure there shal euer be some amonge them readie ministers of the deuyl to dispute reason and teache the residue to the vtter destruction of all deuotion and good order And yet amonge them selues they shall saye the cause is they can not be taught truelye of the preachers abrode And hereby heresye shal be sowed plentifullye and Gods worde pitifullye abused vnder a colourable defense therof Thei shal say o the Ghospell ought not to be kept from christen men and that is verye trueth it oughte to bee taught them and preached vnto them but not to teache them selues for wrastynge it amisse The xxviij probation It is the occasion of manye heresies to haue the scripture in the vulgar tongue Howe be it heresie dyd neuer spring furth of scripture but only of the peruerse vnderstandynge of scripture sayeth Hilarius Hilar. lib. ij de triuitate And yet then seing the rude ignoraÌ„t sort be euer prone peruersly to wrast the scriptures we muste thinke that to haue scripture in english is to minister occasioÌ„ to the coÌ„mon sorte to fall into errours· that it so shall doe appeareth by that they be not hable to weye nor beare the mysteries nor to vnderstand the tropes and allegories whiche the greate learned men ofte are scant hable well to digeste howe much lesse the cobler carter or coryer The xxix probation Hilarius vpon In corde meo abscondi eloquia tua Sheweth that the high mysteries oughte not to be publyshed abrode amonge all people It is good saieth he to hyde the kynges priuetie and secret And s Paul saith he was aferd to fede the people with any other but with mylke Math. xiii Christ in the gospell telleth of
bee knowen beinge translated into another tongue A thirde cause is iii. lacke of knowledge of the antiquitie which ofte causeth great hardnes seing it is not for euery maÌ„ to knowe the antiquitie but only for them which be of great studie wisedome and learning in sundrie authours iiii A fourth cause that ofte one name is coÌ„mon to diuerse yea oft one hath diuerse names A fifth cause that one word oft doeth signifie diuerse thinges v. or that one worde is ofte diuersllye taken as this worde lex the lawe is taken in one place for the figures and ceremonies Math. xi in another for the threateninge of the lawe in another for the wholle Byble Rom. iiii Hec Orig. lib iii. in Ro. iii. in medio et in eccl Eras lib. iiii in another for thold testament in another for the lawe of nature before the fal in another after the fall in another for the lawe wrytten and in another for the lawe of the ghospel A sixt cause that repugnance ofte apperith in scripture vj. as I and my father bee one my father is gretter then I Iohn .x. and .xiiii. Rom. iii. Iames .ii. Ephes iiii Psalm iiii Math. v. we iudge man to be iustified by faith with out the workes of the law man is iustified by the workes of the law and not by fayth only be angry and offend not euery one that is angry is worthy Iudgement be angry and offend not let all indignation and anger be taken froÌ„ you Iohn .xiiii. mathew .x. mat xxviii I leaue my peace with you I came not to brynge peace but the sworde goe not to the heathen goe in to all places of the worlde with suche lyke many hundreth places A seueÌ„th cause vij that one thing in scripture is oft diuersly told as Stephans rehersal Actes the vii is not recited streight as it is in the Genesis And saint Luke Actes the ix speakyng of Paules coÌ„uersion telleth it not as Paule doth him selfe Actes the xxii and xxvi viij The eight cause that textes in the newe testament are recited furth of the olde and not worde by worde Math. ii as that of Matthew quoniam Nazereus vocabitur He shall be called a Nazarite Yea somtymes fourth of the new and yet not so to be founde as that of the Actes Christ sayde beatius est dare quam accipere Actes xx It is more blessed to geue than to receyue ix The .ix. cause that ofte appereth variaunce in the yeares and tymes yea and that the diuersytie of the tymes oft to them that be well lerned causeth great confusion The .x. cause that textes many tymes which ought spiritually to be vnderstand x. they take carnally and lyke wyse take the contrarie The .xj. xj cause that somtymes it appereth to the sensuall man not to be possible as Oportet vos nasci denuo Iohn .iii. Ye muste bee borne agayne Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli c. mat xxviii â–ª Excepte ye be made lyke chylderne c. The .xij. cause that ofte it semeth blynd and no profyt in it as that of the Iudges xij the trees went fourth to anoynt theym a kynge yea and that of Deut. Yf. S. Paule had not expounded it thou shalte not mussell the Oxe that treadyh fourth the corne xiij The .xiij. cause that oftetimes the persoÌ„ that speketh is not euer well marked As †Paul loquu tus est in persona imperfecti hoiÌ„s non quod volo bonum hoc ago c The good that I woulde doe I not but the euyll whiche I would not that doe I. †Christus Ioquitur in Matheo sub persona vulgaris Iudaei Non est bonum sumere panem filiorum et mittere canibus It is not mete to take the chylderns bread and to cast it to dogges †Et in psa loquitur sub persona corporis sui mystici Roma vii Math. xv Psal xx Psal lxviii Longe a salute mea verba delictorum meoruÌ„ The wordes of myne offenses are farre from myne healthe Delicta mea a te non sunt abscondita Myne offenses are not hyd from the. c. Yea besyde this ofte in the Psalmes in the Prophetes in the gospels other places moo also very harde to the knowledge wherof the vnlerned by theym selfes can neuer attayne the wordes be somtyme spoken as in person of the Prophet hym selfe somtyme in person of God somtyme of the aungell somtyme of the Deuyl somtyme of man sometyme of Christe as God sometyme of Christe as man sometyme as head of the church militant somtyme as head of the church triumphant somtime as in the person of his sensual parties of his owne body and somtyme in the person of some particular parte of his body misticall c. The .xiiii. cause that scripture ofte vseth this terme all where as some or parte be but ment Cum exaltatus fuero a terra omnia traham c. Iohn xii â–ª When I am lyfte vp from the earth I wyll drawe all men vnto me Omnes loue c. besyde that which lyeth hydde within xix The .xix. cause that they marke not and in dede it is not for euery man to marke what thinges were geuen but for a tyme to continew and what for euer As the workynge of myracles was gyuen but for a tyme mar xvi as S. Augu. in his dayes dyd witnesse sayeng he that then wold loke for a myracle was a miracle to the worlde hym selfe And that of the actes Actes xv to absteyne from that was offred to Idols to absteyn from blood and from straungled xx The .xx. cause that scripture is full of diuerse and soundry senses It is the boke wrytten as it is in the Apocalyps both within and without in the spirit and in the lettre within by the spiritual meanyng without by the sense of the letter within bycause it promiseth inuisible thynges without for that it disposeth the visible thinges within bycause it moueth to desire heuenly thynges without for that it teacheth worldly thynges to be contemned The .iiii Chapter The letter doeth kyll and that sondry wayes SEing the letter doth kyl as S. Paule saith and that diuerse wayes the ignoraunt people ought to be sore aferde to couet after that whiche causeth present death How be it maÌ„s nature is such euer to desyre that which is forbyd Nitimur in vetituÌ„ seÌ„per cupimusqueâ—egata Neuertheles for as muche as the letter doth kyll and that soÌ„dry waies and that the rude simple and vnlerned yea oftymes the proude arrogant and captious be euer redy to take rather that whiche shall hurte then that which shall helpe shal the scripture then be so lefte that the leuyng of it may be occasion of spirituall death to the multitude God forbyde It ought in no wyse to be suffered j. The letter euer doth kylle when a mystery is
the prophet I recited the text euin now that the people must requyre the law and the meaning therof at the mouth of the prist Mala. ii but then is it not for euery one to take it himselfe to controlle descaunt at his own pleasure The .xvii probation Can the vnlearned only with the english bible and with reading only the english translatiō discerne or know how Christes wordes be trewe that he came to fulfylle the lawe Math. v. and not to breake it and how many maner of wayes that is trewe and yet how he is the ende of the lawe Agayn can he perceyue therby how the old testament and the new are both one in substaunce Vetus lex occultatio nouae nona reuelatio veteris Aug. and yet diuerse in perfectiō and in imperfection what nedeth the olde styll to remayne yea or what neded the newe to be geuen seyng Christe answered to the lawyer askinge howe to come to heauen Luc. ◠In the lawe what readest thou Loue thy lord God c. Moreouer can he see in his english booke how the gospel is easy and lyght for so Christ calleth it and that thold was ouer hard and importable as it is in thactes the .xv. seyng that in thold only manslaughter was forbyd here to be angry is is condemned there loue thy frende here loue thyne enemy there eye for eye here yf thou hast a boffet on th one side turne thother there commytte no adultery here yt thou beholdest a woman vnchastly thou art an adulterer there thou shalt not be forsworne here thou shalte not sweare at al there for stealyng other mens goodes thou must restore fourefold here for not geuyng thyne owne thou mayst be dampned Can ye with thenglish bible tell these and many moo as hard thynges as these be I am sure ye can not And therfore if ye might be suffered whiche God forbyde styll to wade in thenglish translation ye muste nedes styl walke from blindnes to blindnes The .xviii. probation In the Law and the Prophetes o how many hard thynges be cōteined yea what part of scripture is so lyghte that a godly learned man dare take in hand fully to discusse expound and declare by his owne witte yf he doe not see nor neuer haue sene anye doctor or expositoure theron And yet shall scripture be suffered to continew in thenglish tongue for all men to expounde at theyr pleasure The .xix. probation What thinges haue we gotten by the scriptures beyng in englysh these yeares past seruauntes stubbourne frowarde and disobediēt to theyr masters and mastres fleshly liberty contempt of all godly order losse of deuotion and godlynes prayer and fastyng set at nought and vnbrydled boldnesse to all mischefe See then whether it be high tyme to take it awaye agayne Suffer the sword of the spirit to continew no longer in the mad mans hande Hebre. iiii The .xx. probation Who is hable to tell at the fyrst sight how many hūdreth fautes be euyn in they re best transiation yf there were any good and yet shall they be suffered styll to continewe shall they styll poyson moo lyke as doo a thousande damnable englysh bokes sette furth within these .xxij. yeares Lord delyuer vs from theim al and that with all spede I take God to record yf I may speake only of one faute in the translation and touche no moo my herte dyd euer abhorre to here this word dominus whiche most comonly doth include noster to be translated the Lorde where as it ought to be trāslated our Lord the very latyn phrase so declaryng as appeareth sufficiently by that one exāple of the comike where one sayth to Pamphilus Pater est what man that hath a iudgement in the latyn tonge can denie this word Pater here in this place to include tuus so to be translated in to Englyshe thy father is not the same iudgement to be geuen of S. Iohans sayeng to Peter Iohan the .xxj. Dominus est It is oure Lorde our Maister where as they haue falsely translated it as in many other places calling him the Lord And lykewise in the salutatiō of our Lady Haile Mary full of grace dominus tecum doth not here this worde dominus include noster wouldest thou make tharchaungell lyke a deuyll to calle hym the lorde he is the lord to the deuyl but to vs he is our most mercifull Lorde and so to be called Our father which art in heauē halowed be thy name c. And S. Thomas cryed my Lorde my God Agayn seing God is Lorde of Abraham Lorde of Isaac and Lorde of Iacob would then Abraham Isaac or Iacob call hym the Lord no trulye but my Lorde or oure Lord. This I speake not now so much for the translatiō seing it swarmeth as full of faultes as leaues I wil not say lines as I doe for that I would wish that the comen speache amonge people sprōg of custom through the fond translation I thanke the Lord the Lorde be praysed the Lorde knoweth with all suche phrases might be left and that the people might be taughte to call hym our Lord I thanke our Lord our Lord be praysed our Lorde knoweth c. The xxi probation The holy martyr and chiefe byshoppe S. Clement writynge to S. Iames Thapostle wylleth the worde of God not to be read after euerye mans toye in his brayne seinge manye places of scripture sayeth he without the leadinge of the holye ghost maye be wrasted and taken after euerye mans leude mynde and fonde iudgement whiche thinge hath been put in practise of late and not as the spirite of God dyd meane Oportet ab eo intelligētiā discere scripturarū qui eā á maioribus secūdū veritatem sibi traditā seruat Haec diuus Clemens lib. x. recog Idem quoque docēt Iren. Tertull Athan. et Epiphan But sayeth he we must euer learne the true meaninge of scripture of hym whiche doeth obserue it as he hath accordinge to trueth receyued it of the elders Hereby we maye perceyue that we muste euer take the meanynge of scripture at his hande that went before in the trueth of Christes vniuersal church But how can it then be in the Englysh tonge for al mē to read take as they haue done at their pleasure thei haue made scripture no scripture by false recitynge by false wrastyng and tournyng For as Martiall◠sayeth Quem recitas meus est o Philentine libellus At male cum recitas incipit esse tuus O my frende the boke that thou recitest is myne but when thou makest false recitall then thou makest it thine owne booke and none of myne O lorde in howe many places maye scriptuce by the wicked be tourned into sundrie facions as God knoweth it hath been euen after the oracle of Apollo Aio te aeacida Romanos vincere posse Is it thē to be continued in thenglish tonge The xxij probation If scripture in the vulgar tongue had been
Therfore God hathe ordeined that like as in temporal gouernauÌ„ce none is made ruler but beynge outwardly sent and appointed by men euen so in the spirituall functiones Wherfore nowe to conclude seing the only remedy to redresse this damnable errour of theym whiche teache secretly and doâ— much hurt in corners through the english translation is to take it awaye for by other meanes it wil not be stopped it can not be permitted that the Bible shoulde continue in english Here in this I might haue had iust occasion to speake against preachers which hadde authoritie wickedly geuen to preache and did comenly preach vnderstandinge not the latine tonge as it was saide but were called some from one occupation and some from another and some frome plaieng the vices parte in enterludes but I wil not medle with this matter The xl probation Hierom. in Ezech. 44. S. Hierom saith Alta profunda dei mysteria non sunt monstranda vulgo nec proferenda ad populum ne si maiora se audierint maiestatem scientiae ferre non possint quasisolido suffocentur cibo qui adhuc lacte infantiae nutriendisunt The depe and profounde mysteries of God are not to be shewed to the common people nor to be vttred to theÌ„ lest they hearinge greater thinges then they can beare be not hable to atteyne to the knowledge therof and be as it were choked with harde meate whiche yet oughte to haue been fed but with milke of infancie The .xli probation It helpeth well and is a good probation against the english Bibles that Christe euer vsed paraboles to the rude vnlearned sorte yea and that the wordes of the gospell do testifie that ofte when he spake they vnderstode hym not Nihil inquit horum intellexerunt but yet he saide to his disciples and theyr successours Vobis datum est nosse mysteria It belongeth to you to knowe the mysteries Yea and whan he would teache theym high secretes he ascended into the mount from the comen people wherof Esai hadde spoken Esay vi Ye shall heare with youre eares and not vnderstand c. In expounding which place S. Hierom doeth vtterly dryue awaye the comen people from medling or handlyng the mysteries of scripture Agayne doeth not Christe showe in the Gospell Luc. xii that he is a good stewarde which geueth in measure to the seruauntes they re meate in dewe season what a wicked stewarde were he then whiche withoute all measure or discretion obseruing no order regarding no mans person or bloode wold set on the table before all men indifferently were he Lord or lorell master or seruaunt all kyndes of disshes at ones bothe grosse and fyne The .xlij probation Chrisosostom vpon Chrisost lib. iiij de sacerdotio Intende lectioni i. Ti. iiij sheweth thoffice of Bisshops to be to studye the scripture thoffice of the laitie to know the scripture by they re teaching and preaching sufficient for theyr saluation The .xliij probation S. Augustin sheweth certen places of scripture to be for pregnaunt August episâ— Volusiam wittes and certen for the rude dolardes But how then can the scripture be in thenglish tongue for all indifferentlye to reade The xliiij probation O how many Englyshe readers doe take hurte of the Prophetes and canticles not knowwing the mysteries nor when it is a trope not knowyng when it is to be taken to the lettere and when the letter doth kylle The .xlv. probation Gregorius Nazianzen saieth I is conuenit de rebus diuinis disserere lib. i. suae theol â–ª qui contemplandi acumine coeteris antecellunt c. It is mete for theym too intrete of Gods mysteries whiche doe excede and passe other in excellencie of gyfte c But then it shall not be lawfull for euery one to haue it in the vulgare tonge The xlvi probation S. Hierom saith that the Iewes dydde not permitte any to reade the beginning of Genesis In proaemiâ— Eâ—echielis nor the canticles neyther the beginning nor the ende of Ezechiell before .xxx. yeares And the Romayns suffered none to rede the bokes of Sibylla but onlye the tenne commissioners named decemviri Fenestella lib i. capi xiii and before theym the .ij. commissioners named duumviri So muche reuereÌ„ce they gaue to theyr boke And shall we christians suffer the hyghe mysteries to be miserably tormoyled of all handes But ye wyl say S. Hierom and Chrisostom also in certein places seme to allow the laitie vnto reading of scriptures And. S. Hierom did translate scripture vnto the Dalmatians Truth is many thiÌ„ges for a time haue ben permitted of deuotion but after seing the successe nought they haue been taken awaye After the beginninge maydes wiues boyes and men kept vigils together aboute martyrs tumbes and Vigilantius for reprouing it was sharply taunted of S. Hierom yet afterward for inconuenieÌ„ces it was taken away Euseb lib vi cap. xxxiij And at the beginninge the bodie of Christ was geuen to the laytie in their handes to carye home c. But thorough witchecraftes and other abuses coÌ„mitted that custome was taken awaye Likewyse the laytie receyued once vnder bothe kindes whiche custome throughe offenses and perils that chaunced and that might chaunce still is iustly prohibited and taken awaye vtterlye And likewise answere is to be geuen to all them that make these forsayde obiectioÌ„s to haue the scriptures in englishe The .xlvii. probation If that which Eusebius doth testifie in his time to be trewe had been nowe verified in these our daies we neded not then to be so ferd of hauinge scripture in euery mans hand Libro eccl cap. xvi His wordes be these Imperiti obseruant ne disputare audeant de ijs quae ignorant et de illis testimoniuÌ„ perhibere quae nesciunt The vnlearned euer obserue this that they dare not once dispute or reason of those thinges that thei be ignoraunt of nor beare testimonie of those thinges whiche they know not But alas nowe the more ignoraunt the more obstinate in madde boldnesse so that by no meanes thenglish translation maye be suffered The .xlviij. probation â–ª Scripturarum intelligentiam non ex propria praesumptione sed ex maioruÌ„ scriptis autoritate sequebaÌ„tur quos et ipsos ex apostolica successioÌ„e intelligendi regulaÌ„ suscepisse constabat Haec Eusebi lib. xi Eccl. cap. ix The example of Grego Nazian and Basil be to faythfull christians a sufficient rule to folow which if we do we wyl say awaye with thenglishe Bibles away they can not be abiden For the readers therof passe of no expositions of the fathers but onlye stycke to theyr owne bare taking of scripture as thei phancye it and as they please where as these .ii. holy doctours studied scripture together not presumptuously folowing their owne imaginatioÌ„ but folowing the doctrine and authoritie of the elders whom they knew to haue receyued the vnderstaÌ„ding of scripture euyn by succession from the Apostels The xlix probation
If Spiridion iustlye reprehended Triphillius but onelye for chaunginge of one worde in scripture cubile for lectuÌ„ what reprofe are our men worthye Lib. i. Tripere capit x. whiche chaunge many hundred wordes yea sentences and all If holy Basilius wold not suffer one syllable of scripture to be corrupted or altered lib. vii tripert cap. xxxvi but rather would haue suffered many deathes what shall we then say to the great and damnable corruption and alteration that hath been among our men If holy Basilius bad the Emperors coke medle with his cokerye let scripture alone tuuÌ„ est inquit de pulmeÌ„tarijs cogitare noÌ„ dog mata diuina de coquere lib. vij â—rip ca. xxxvi what woulde he haue sayde to oure men these yeres past The .l. probation Hauinge the scripture in Englishe causeth manye braynles bodies to dispute and reason they know not whervpon and euer to lay scripture for the wickedlye as al heretikes euer did where as in dede in reasoninge with suche scripture wyll not serue Tertull. de praescrip haerettcoruÌ„ et lib. iiij coÌ„tra Mâ—rtionem For as Tertullian saieth in disputing with an heretike we muste not flee to scriptures nor pitche our battel there for ther eyther neuer or els very hardly the victory shal be gotten Heretikes wylbe ouercome sayeth Sisinius vnto Nectarius in the storie of Socrates li. 9. trip ca. 19 neither with scriptures nor with disputations †Approbata ab â—cclesia noÌ„ oportet rursus rationibus fulcire etc. Nam queÌ„admoduÌ„ par est spiritui faÌ„cto et Cbristo diuinitas ita in suis institutis est aequa authoritas potestas Nec minus ratuÌ„ est quod eeclesia dictaÌ„te spiritu sancto tradidit quaÌ„ quod ipse tradidit Haec Cypri de Lot ped but only by the authoritie of the churche and by the traditions of the fathers elders So that beside the scripture written we muste receyue manye traditions not written many generall councels in whoÌ„ the holye ghost did speake and sundrie interpretations vpon scriptures made by the holy fathers beinge replenished wyth Gods spirite ¶ The conclusion of this simple discourse SEing now these probations which be euident against the scripture in Englishe seing also the great hardnes that is in scripture with the causes therof and how many waies the letter doth kyl And seing againe that the vniuersall churche of Christ hath vtterly forbid the scripture to be in the vulgare tongue consideryng the manyfolde inconueniences that ryse therof as great numbres of heresies disobedience and contempt of powers with fleshely libertie c. And finally seing that by no meanes so soone as by the scripture in english heresies do both spryng daily and be also mainteined wherin should good men be more diligent than in thexter patioÌ„ hereof wherfore it shal be euery faithful christians duetie being in authoritie to lay to his healping hande to the taking away quite that with al spede the Englishe translations with all hereticall Englishe bookes whiche no doubt haue been the greatest occasion of all the mischeifes we haue hadde in this realme of late dayes Through these our newe founde religion hath euer strongly been mainteined and vpholden Our new found religion I say which ye must nedes confesse to haue ben starke nought and damnable because the beginnyng was aduoutry the continuaunce extortion the ende plaine treason Yea euen from the beginning their procedinges for so they termed them beyng rather worthy the name of retrocedinges were styll from synne to synne Fyrst PeccatuÌ„ quod per paeniteÌ„tiaÌ„ noÌ„ deletur suo pondere ad aliud peccatuÌ„ grauius trabit Et hoc suppliciuÌ„ domini longe omniuÌ„ est grauissimuÌ„ quaÌ„dâ— vnuÌ„ peccatuÌ„ per aliud pâ—nitur quod peccatur quum in profundu â—enerit conteÌ„nit forsaking the head of the churche falling from the vnitie therof then despising all generall counselles all ordinaunces froÌ„ the beginning kept through out christendome After this spoyling pollyng pylling robbing and stealing all landes ornamentes goodes of the churche being more fearse then euer was Iulian thappostata without mercy or pitie And finally spytefully contemninge all the holy sacramentes with all censures and iudgementes of the churche and fathers vpon scripture only sticking to their own what pleased them to phansie O lorde was not this a tyme most miserable Iesu be mercyfull vnto vs and graunt vs neuer to fall againe into the lyke palpable darkenes ¶ Of Masse all other diuine seruice in the churche to be in Latine and not in the vulgare tongue ANd here note further I beseche you that like as it is nowe spoken of scripture not to be in English euen so is it ment that as vnlawful it is yea and more too if more may be that the high mysteries in the sacrifice of Masse or other diuine seruice should be in English where as the preist is a comon person and offereth vp for al the people beyng the meane betwene God and them so that his communication is to God and not to the people What cause is there then why diuine seruice should be in Englishe except ye thynke that God vnderstandeth no Latine Neither the Italians nor GreciaÌ„s haue diuine seruice in their vulgare tongue Moreouer at that tyme of diuine seruice all the comen people then present shuld onely put their whole affiauÌ„ce in fide maâ—ris ecclesiae in the fayth of oure mother the catholyke churche like as our beleif is in the baptisme of infantes Yea note further that it was not without great mystery the writyng of Christes tytle at his passion in Hebrewe Greke and Latine Also it was not without great mysterye that many wordes were neuer translated as Alleluya Osanna Amen Sabaoth Kirieleison c. And that Christ praied in secret silence alone the head for the whole bodie to signifie vnto vs thereby that the priestes office is likewise to doe the same the coÌ„mon minister for al the people being meane betwene God them As for that of Paule to the Corinthians i. Cor. xiiii which might appeare to the simple to make for theyr purpose to haue all in the vulgar tonge yf ye marke it well it is onely spoken for them whiche doe preache expounde or interprete scriptures in the church that is to saye that their sermons their expouÌ„dinges or interpretatioÌ„s of scriptures they beinge authorised therevnto must euer be made in that toÌ„ge whiche the hearers doe vnderstande and perceyue And this ye know well bothe is and euer hath ben vsed And therfore here now further A man might demaunde a questioÌ„ wherfore ye com to the Churche I suppose ye wyll saye as ye muste no doubte yf ye tell the treuthe that the chiefe intente of your comming is or ought to be to pray though sermoÌ„s and diuine seruice and the ministration of the holy sacramentes be causes also seing that Christe called the Church the house of prayer