Christ that is of the Church And also that to the Corinthians Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all doctours do 1. Cor. 12 29. all interprete as though he had sayd in no wise For it is the office of some to teach and interpret of others to learne and giue eare which in the same place is declared with a noble example taken from mans body For euen as in a mans body there be many members yet not all of them are exercised about the same office euen so in the Church which is Christs body there bee many faythfull yet all are not partakers of the same grace proceeding from God For to one 1 Cor. 12. 8. 9. is giuen the worke of wisdome to another the working of miracles to another the discerning of spirits to another the interpretation of languages And as the same Apostle speaketh in another place To euery one as God hath Rom. 12. 5. diuided the measure of his fayth where he addeth in the same place I say to all that Rom. 12. 3. are among you not to be more wise then behoueth to be wise Which is as much to say euen as the eyes haue not the office of hearing nor the eares of seing nor the armes of walking nor the feete of eating because it is not graunted them so by nature euen so in the Church not all ought to vse the office of teaching not all of interpreting the scripture not all of working miracles for that were to be more wise then behoueth to be wise but euery one doth that which he ought to do euen as it is giuen him from God in diuision of graces But our aduersaries do erre exceedingly against this diuine ordination who permit the liberty of reading and interpreting of Scripture to all as to all meere lay men yea to poore and silly women For seing that they be not called of God to the office they do appeare most vnfit to thrust themselues into it For now it is come to that passe that there is not one whether he be Tapster Tayler or Tinker Lutheran or Caluinist who doth not thinke himselfe skillfull inough in vnderstanding and interpreting the Scripture only by his owne labour without the helpe and instruction of any other But let them heare what the Apostle sayth the eye cannot say to the 1. Cor. 1â— 21. hand I neede not thy help or againe the head to the feete you are not necessary for me Let them heare that of the first to 1. Tim. 2. 11. 1. Cor. 14. v. 34. Timothy Let the women learne in silence withall subiection But to teach I permit not the woman nor to haue dominion ouer the man but to be in silence And to the Corinthians Let women hold their peace in the Church for it is not permitted them to speake but to be subiect But if they list to learne any thing let them aske their owne husbands at home But to what end al this Truly to this that the order set downe of God in his Church ought to be obserued Are all Doctours do all interprete No For there are diuisions of graces from hence followeth that those silly women who pratle much out of the Scriptures and blush not to blab out their owne priuate opinions concerning controuersies of fayth do most foolishly arrogate vnto themselues that which neither they haue on or belongs vnto them But in this they imitate their Mother Eua who could not hold her peace in paradise but her husband being silent she begaÌ„ to dispute with the serpent and presently was ouercome by him and deceaued as her husband also by her and many such Eues are found in this age which do the same The second reason yf the Scripture were easy it would be vnderstood not only of the faithfull who are in the Church but also of those who are Infidells no members of the Church and so by little and little the Maiesty authority of it would be ouerthrowne To this purpose is that which is sayd in S. Math. Giue not that which is holy to dogs Math. 7. 6. neyther cast yee your pearles before swyne least perhaps they tread them which their feete As D. Thomas 1. p. q. 1. art 9. ad 2. S. Aug. aut quisquis aut hoc ille est hom 7 in Apocalip It is vnderstood by S. Augustine and S. Thomas If the Scripture were plaine and easy doubtlesse it would be lesse esteemed both of the infidells Christians then is fitting Moreouer to many it would be an occasion of pride and arogancy For if they â—hould perceaue that these things which treate of profound mysteries were plaine and apparent they would brag of themselues excessiuely imagin nothing to be so hard which they could not by their owne wit and learning conceaue and vnderstand But now contrariwise they see the obscurity of the Scripture to be so great that by no meanes they are able to ouercome it and therefore finding themselues ignorant and wanting the instruction of others they fly seriously to God to the end that he may open their eyes and illuminate their vnderstanding that his diuine misteries may be layd open vnto them As Dauid did who sayd Open my eyes and I will consider Psal 118. vers 18. 34. the wonders of thy law And a little after Giue me vnderstanding and I will search the law And againe in the same Psalme Illumimate thy face vpon thy seruant and teach me thy iustifications And very well for the sense of the Scripture can proceed from none but from the Author of the Scripture But the author of the Scripture is the holy Ghost and therefore it is called the word of God the sense therefore of the scripture can come from none but from the holy Ghost to which that place of S. Peter doth belong no prophecy 2. Petr. 1. 20. of Scripture is made by priuate interpretation The cause headdeth For not by mans will was prophecy brought at any time but the holy men of God spake inspired with the holy Ghost And thus it cometh to passe that proud and arogant men who are wise in their owne iudgments and attribut much to their owne wits do neuer obtaine the true sense because God resisteth the proud and giueth grace to the humble And Math. 11. 25. this is it that Christ spake of in the Ghospell I confesse to the O Father because thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent and hast reuealed them to little ones And also the Apostle saying themselues wise they become foolish It followes necessarily out of the obscurity of the Scripture that many Controuersies arise amongst Christians THIS is another principle of those which I set downe before And truly it needeth no other confirmation then daily experience For it is generally well known that in all ages euen from the Apostles tyme vnto this our present age that there hath sprung out alwaies new controuersies
and the other Phacee King of Israel passage is made presently to the B. Virgin Behould sayth he a virgin shall conceaue and shall bring forth a sonne and his name shal be called Emanuel And in the 14. Chapter where the Prophet passeth from the king of Babilon vnto Lucifer and in the 71. Psalme passage is made from Salomon vnto Christ All the kings of earth shall adore him Vide D. Hieron l. 5. in psal cap. 16. and in the sixt Chapter of S. Iohn the Euangelist passeth from barly loaues to the Eucharistical or Sacramental bread And so often tymes in other places The sixt obscurity ariseth from this that in the Histories of Scripture things are not set downe in that order in which they were done In like manner that the computation of yeares doth not appeare plaine and manifest Lastly that certaine bookes often tymes are cited which if they were extant they would help the reader very much but seeing they are not to be found they leaue him doubtfull in suspence as are these which follow 1. The booke of the warres of our Numer 21. v. 14. Iosue 10. v. 13. 3. Reg. 11. v. 41. 3. Reg. 14. c. Lord. 2. The booke of the Iust 3. The booke of the words concerning the daies of Salomon 4. The booke of the speaches concerning the dayes of the kings of Iuda and the kings of Israel 5. The booke of Samuel the Prophet 1. Paral. 29. v. 29. Ibidem concerning the acts of Dauid 6. The booke of Nathan the Prophet concerning the same things 7. The volume of Gad the Prophet Ibid. 2. Paral. 9. v. 19. Ibid. Ibid. 8. The booke of Nathan the Prophet concerning the acts of Salomon 9. The booke of Achias the Silonite of the same 10. The vision of Addo the Prophet 2. Paral. 20. v. â—4 against Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat 11. The history of the kings of Israel written by Iehu the sonne of Hanan â— Paral. 26. v. 22. 12. The history of king Ozias written by Isay the sonne of Amos. 13. The sermons of Ose concerning 2. Paral 33. v. 19. 2. Paral. 35. v. 25 Iere. â—6 v. 6. the deedes of Manasses 14. The lamentation of Ieremy in the funerall of king Iosias 15. The volume of Ieremy concerning the ruine of the Citty and the captiuity of the people 16. The booke of Ieremy concerning Iere. 51. v. 61. 1. Machab. 16. v. 24. 2. Macha 2. 1. the destruction of Babilon 17. The booke of the tyme of the preisthood of Iohn Hircanus 18. Descriptions of Ieremy the Prophet 19. The booke of Henoch Epist Iâ—dâ— Apostoli Besides these causes there are many others the which I will touch in passing For first somtymes there are many sentences couched together betweene the which eyther there is no connexion or at least the connexion doth not appeare 2. Hebrew words occur the which of few are vnderstood 3 Oftentymes the answere which is made seemeth not to be so fit to the purpose of the question propounded 4. Very often words are doubtfull so that it cannot be discerned in what sense they are to be taken as in this place of the first to the Corinthians For other foundation no 1. Cor. â— v 11. man can lay besides that which is layd which is Christ Iesus And if any man build vpon this foundation gould siluer precious stones wood hay stubble the worke of euery one shal be manifest for the day of our Lord will declare because it shal be reuealed in fier and the worke of euery one of what kind it is the fier shall try If any mans worke abide which he built thereupon he shall receaue reward if any mans worke he shall suffer detryment but himselfe shal be saued yet so as by fier This place without doubt is most hard 1. Because it is hard to vnderstand what is meant by gould siluer hay and stubble 2. What is meant by the day of our Lord. 3. What by fier 4. What it is to burne and to suffer detriment Lastly what it is to be saued so as by fier Whereupon S. Augustine writeth Aug. in l. dâ—â—iâ—e oper c. 15 plainly that this is one of these places of which S. Peter spake in his last epistle when he sayd there are some things in the epistles of S. Paul hard to be vnderstood Petr. â—ost epist 3. 16. That other place of S. Paul is as hard VVhat shall they do that are baptized 1. Cor. 15. â—â— for the dead if the dead rise not againe at all why also are they baptized for them for it is not easy to explicate what to be baptized signifieth in this place and what to be baptized for the dead As concerning the which six diuers opinions are extant in Bellarmine Bel. lib. 1. dâ— Purg. c. 4. Likewise in the same Apostle this sentence is found It is impossible for them that were once illuminated haue tasted also of the heauenly guift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost haue moreouer tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come and are fallen to be renewed againe to pennance crucifying againe to themselues the sonne of God Which wordes are most obscure and by the ill vnderstanding of them the heresy of the Nouatians arose in S. Cyprians tyme who sayd that neyther penance nor pardon was to be giuen to them that fell and therefore they called themselues Catharos that is pure and cleane And this is sufficient about the causes whereby the Scripture according to the true and lawfull sense therof is very hard and obscure There remayneth yet another question which shal be briefly examined Wherefore is it Gods will that the Scripture should be obscure THIS truly is a great question and worthy to be sought out wherefore the Scripture being by reason of the things themselues and the misteries therein conteined very obscure is made yet more obscure by reason of the manner of treating thereof and this according vnto the will and disposition of God And wherefore rather by his will and disposition are not those mysteries which seeme obscure by themselues so clearely propounded that there may be no difficulty to any in the vnderstanding of them Truely there be diuers reasons of this of the which I will here set downe some few The first reason is Because God as he is willing that an order be kept in al other things euen so also in his Church to wit that there should be some who might teach and some who might be taught which order could not be kept if the Scripture were so plaine that it might easily be vnderstood of all to the which that place of S. Paul doth belong He gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and Eph 4. 11. other some Euangelists and other som pastours and Doctours to the consumation of the Saints vnto the worke of the ministery vnto the edifying of the body of
the sense thereof is obscure and doubtfull which falleth out often as I haue shewed aboue cannot so plainly pronounce sentence that it may be vnderstood of both parties at variance For if it should clearly pronoūce sentence in any such case the sense of the Scripture should not be obscure but plaine and manifest which is contrary to our supposition Therefore in such a case the Scripture cannot be iudge Perchance you will say that although the sense of the Scripture in one place be obscure yet notwithstanding in some other place it is very playne and therefore the Scripture by that place which is cleare may pronounce sentence of that place which is obscure I answere The heretikes harpe on this string but in vaine For first if it be so wherefore by that meanes do they not end all controuersies betwene them wherefore I say do not the Lutherans and the Caluinists seing they so long contend about some obscure place run presently to another which is plaine or if they do so why make they not an end of all their strife Here they are at a non-plus and know not what to say Furthermore that the words of the Scripture are playne is one thing but that the sense is plaine is another For the plainesse of the words dependeth vpon the knowledg of grammer but the sense vpon the intention and counsell of the holy Ghost And doubtlesse oftentymes it may happen that one may be perfect in the knowledg of his grammer and yet very ignorant of the meaning of the holy Ghost So that it may fall out very well that the words of the Scripture may be plaine yet the sense of the words as they be intēded of the holy Ghost may be obscure To shew this to the eye I will declare it with this example The words of Christ in the scripture be these This is my body This is my bloud Which words if they be taken according to their proper signification are so manifest and plaine that they may be well vnderstood of all men whether they be Christians Iewes Turkes or Ethnicks But about the sense of them intended by the holy Ghost almost infinite controuersies are amongst Christians The like is to be found in those words of S. Iohn Mary Magdalen cōmeth earely to the monument when it was yet darke And in those of S. Mark She came to the monument the sunne being risen Then the which wordes nothing could be spoken more plainly yet because the first do seeme to be contrary to the second it may be doubted and that with great reason what the proper sense of them is and how they may agree one with another Moreouer I say that oftentymes it happeneth that the one party thinketh that place cleare and manifest which the other houldeth to be obscure and intricate Now then what is to be done in such a case or what iudge is to be admitted doubtlesse the scripture cannot be the iudge seing the controuersy is about the sense of it when some thinke it plaine others obscure and of some it is construed in this sense of others in another What counsell shall we take therefore must not then another iudge be sought out For example There is contention betwixt vs and the Caluinists as concerning the true descending of Christ into hell which they deny we mantaine and do for our beleife bring a double testimony The one is out of the Creed He descended into hell the other out of the acts Thou wilt not leaue my soule in hell We say that both of these be cleare and euident The Caluinists deny both and with their obscure interpretation they make both places most obscure For they interpret the first in this sense He descended into hell that is say they he suffered vpon the Crosse most cruell and horrible torments of a damned forlorne man that pressed with anguish he was forced to cry out My God why hast thou forsaken me So Caluin But Cal. lib. 2. inst c. 16. §. 10. 11. catechism◠Hidelberg◠quaest 44. they take the latter in this sense Thou shalt not leaue my Carcase in the graue What is to be done here To what iudge shal we appeale If we aske counsell of the Scripture it will say the same that it sayd before It will not ad so much as any one iote to that set downe Now of that which is sayd before is the controuersy which can neuer be ended by that which is sayd before If then after the Controuersie begun the Scripture say no new thing at all but remaine still in the same ancient tearmes truly by it the contention cannot be decided but of necessity we must eyther go to some other Iudge or one of the parties contending must yield voluntarily or els they are forced still to continue in their endlesse strife and contention The other argument is this There are many testimonies of the Scripture which can by no meanes be interpreted according to the true sense but by the authority and tradition of the Church Therefore if a Controuersy should arise about these testimonies the Scripture only cannot be iudge but we ought to fly to the tradition authority of the Church as for exāple Christ sayth Teach ye all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost The true and lawfull sense is that in baptisme we are to pronounce these wordes I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost And that baptisme without such a verball and expresse pronuntiation of those words is no true baptisme We and our aduersaries agree in this But if one should deny this to be the sense and should say that these words were not needfull In the name of the Father and the Sonne and the holy Ghost but that an inward will and intention of baptizing him in the name of the holy Trinity were sufficient how should he be confuted only out of the words of the Scripture Nothing lesse seing the wordes be these baptizing them in the name of the Father c. where there is not any vocall inuocation of the blessed Trinity insinuated to be of necessity From whence haue we then that it ought to be verily from the practise and tradition of the Church If thou dost reiect this thou shalt not haue helpe against the aduersary who shall deny the pronouncing of these words to be necessary Another example is this Christ sayth Vnlesse a man be borne againe of water and spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God This place according to the true and lawfull sense is vnderstood of the necessity of baptisme with water as the Lutheranes themselues do confesse yet the Caluinists notwithstanding deny it How therefore can they be confuted of the Lutherans Truly not out of the Word alleadged For although water be named there yet it is not so expresly named as though it ought to be vnderstood of true and
about the seÌ„se or meaning thereof which cannot be knowne but by custome or traditioÌ„ that taketh place of which is said in the law For then the best interpreter of the Lawes is Custome and that our Emperour Seuerus hath written how that in doubts Leg. â—7 ff de legibus which proceed from Lawes either custome or the authority of things iudged alwaies in the same manner ought to haue the force of a law Perchance you wil say what if some controuersy occur which neither Ibid. leg 38. can be defined out of the written law nor out of any custome what then shal be the rule that the iudge ought to follow I answere Then the matter must be taken vp according to that equity which doth proceed out of the law of nature But this especially happeneth when some certaine Case doth occur which is vnderstood according to the wordes of the law but not to the meaning of the law-giuer as before was said For then the Iudge is to giue sentence according to that which he thinketh to be iust and right The very same may happen in Controuersies of faith For if any controuersy should arise which cannot manifestly be decided neither by Scripture nor tradition recourse presently were to be made to the help of the holy Ghost who although he assist the Church in al occasions yet in this especially he doth teach her al truth as Christ himselfe hath promised And this remedy also the Apostles haue vsed in that Councel of Hierusalem where they were assembled about circumcision and the obseruation of legall rites and ceremonies Now these be the argumeÌ„ts by which hitherto hath beene proued that the Scripture cannot be ludge of controuersies in faith but that the Church may Now it remayneth that we diligently weigh and consider the testimonies of Scripture which were propouÌ„ded in the beginning and which are obiected and often repeated by our aduersaries against this doctrine but not in that order as they were propounded but as they are placed in the Scripture of the old and new testament one after another And truly by the examining of these as I did before insinuate it wil be manifest that some of them are nothing to the purpose and the rest rather make for vs then for them But to conclude and speake freely as the matter is indeede I affirme that our aduersaries who alwaies so much boast bragge of Scripture vnderstand nothing lesse then the true sense meaning of the Scripture The Testimonies of Scripture brought against vs heere are examined THE I. TESTIMONY YOVV shal not ad to the word that I speake to you And this also VVhat I commaund Deut. 4. 2. Deut. 12. 32. thee that only do to our Lord neither ad any thing nor diminish Out of which the aduersaries generally gather these two poynts First that all Traditions which Catholikes admit ought to be vtterly reiected But what is their reason Because forsooth nothing is to be added to the written word of God Secondly that no humaÌ„ precepts such as are the commandements of fasting lent abstinence from flesh on Fryday and Saturday of the single life of Priests such like ought to be obserued But wherefore Because say they that only is to be done which Christ hath coÌ„maunded whatsoeuer men commaund is not to be done Thus they but very foolishly as I wil shew two waies First by disprouing their false interpretation And againe by shewing the true sense and meaning of these places of Scripture Now first that their interpretation is false they themselues cannot deny vnlesse they will altogeather be accouÌ„ted foolish and impudent For if all traditions ought to be refused the Apostle himselfe must be reiected who saith Hould the Traditions which you 2. Thes 2. 14. haue learned whether it be by words or by our Epistle Likewise if al human precepts should be contemned and that only should be done which God commaundeth What should we say of the Rechabits who most diligently obserued the precept of their Father Ionadab did they amisse therein This truâ—y were to be sayd according to our Aduersaries but it is far otherwise seing that for so doing they are commended by God himselfe If our Aduersaries know not this let them heere Hieremy the Prophet speaking in these words The word that Iâ—e 35. 1. was made to Ieremy from our Lord in the daies of Ioakim the Sonne of Iosias the King of Iuda saying Go to the house of the Rechabits speake to them and thou shalt bring them into the howse of our Lord into one chamber of the treasuries and thou shalt giue them wyne to drinke And I tooke â—ezonias the sonne of Ieremias the Sonne of Habsamias and his brethren and all his sonnes and the whole howse of the Rechabites And I brought them into the howse of our Lord c. And I set before the sonnes of the howse of the Rechabits gobletts full of wyne and cuppes and I said to them drinke wyne who answered we will not drinke wyne because Ionadab the sonne of Recab our Father commaunded vs saying you shall not drinke wyne you and your Children for euer And yow shall not build howses you shall not sow seede and you shall not plant vineyards nor haue any but yow shall dwell in tabernacles al your dayes that yow may liue many dayes vpon the face of the land wherein yow are strangers we therfore haue obeyed the voice of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab our Father in all things that he commaunded vs so that we drinke not any wine all our dayes we and our wiues our sonnes and our Daughters And we builde not howses to inhabit and vineyard and seild and seede wee haue not had but we haue dwelt in tabernacles and we haue beene obedient according to all things that Ionadab our Father commaunded vs c. And the word of our Lord was to Ieremy saying Thus sayth the Lord of Hosts the God of Israell go and say to the men of Iuda and to the inhabitants of Hierusalem VVhy will you not receaue discipline to obey my words sayth our Lord The words of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab haue preuailed which he commaunded his sonnes not to drinke wyne and they haue not drunke vntill this day because they haue obeyed the commaundement of their Father but I haue spoken to you early rising and speaking and you haue not obeyed me And I haue sent to you all my seruants the Prophets rising earely and sending and saying Returne ye euery one from his most wicked way and make your studies good c. And you haue not enclined your eare nor heard me The Children therefore of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab haue firmely kept the precepts of their Father which he commaunded them But this people haue not obeyed me Therefore thus sayth the Lord of hosts the God of Israell behould I will bring vpon Iuda and vpon all the inhabitants of Hierusalem all the affliction which I haue
according to the letter killeth which is as much to say it leadeth vs into errour So it killed the Iewes who vnderstood all those things which were foretould of Christ according vnto the bare letter and did not perceiue the inward sense thereof Of whom the Apostle speaketh saying for euen vntill this 2. Cor. 3. 15. day when Moyses is read a veile is put vpon their harts that is yet the Iewes do not vnderstand Moyses whom dayly they read by reason that they do not search into the inward sense and meaning of him but are satisfied with the bare letter Or els more plainly They do not acknowledg Christ who is hidden in Moyses from their sight vnder the externall ceremonies and sacrifices euen as vnder a couering veyle For euen yet they sticke in the veyle not considering what doth ly hid vnder it And this is it that Christ reprehendeth in saying Search the scriptures for you thinke in them to haue life euerlasting And the Ioan. 5. 39. same are they that giue testimony of me and you will not come to me that you may haue life As though he had sayd If you desire to know certainly that I am the Messias promised of God of whom Moyses and the Prophets haue written you must not only content your selues with reading of the scripture but also search diligently into the inward sense meaning which lieth hidden vnder the outward letter as vnder a certaine figure and shaddow But this hitherto you haue not practized For although you be perswaded that euerlasting life is to be found in the Scriptures yet in what particuler manner you are to seeke it there that you may find it hereof you are altogether ignorant It is not placed in the outward letter or in the externall figures and ceremonies as you imagin but in the spirit sense and secret misteries thereof There seeke me and you shall finde me But the letter killeth not only the Iewes but also the heretikes For many therefore haue died in their owne errours because they hauing forsaken the true sense of scripture which the holy Catholike Church doth follow tooke hold of another sense according to the outward bare letter The which I will breifly make plaine by setting downe some few examples The Sabellians held that there were not three diuine persons of the B. Trinity but one only to the which they gaue three diuers names in regard of three diuers offices or operations For they called the same person the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost but in a diuerse respect The Father for that he was the author of all creatures the Sonne because he tooke our humaine nature of the B. Virgin the holy Ghost for that he sanctified vs by his euerlasting grace Out of their own opinion therefore is necessarily inferred that God the Father did dye and suffer For if there be but one person which is called the Father Sonne and holy Ghost and that person did dye suffer it followeth thereupon that God the father did dye and suffer For this Aug. lib. de hâ—r cap. 41. opinion they are called by S. Augustine Patropassians but from whence procedeth this so great an errour Truly from the letter that killeth For according to the outward letter they vnderstood that place of S. Iohn I and the Father am one that Ioan. 10. 30. the Father and the Sonne and consequently the holy Ghost were one in person and yet in the sense of the holy Church although they be but one in nature yet they are two in person The Arians sayd that Christ was not God but inferiour to him But from whom had they this errour but because they forsaking the sense of the Church expounded the words of Christ Ioan. 14. v. 28. according to the letter The Father sayth he is greater then I as if he had meant to wit the Father is absolutly and in euery respect greater then he But the sense of Vide Athâ— ora 2. cont Arian Hila. lib. 5. de Trini August lib. 3. cont Maxi. cap. 24. 25. lib. de Trin. c. 7 the Church is that Christ according to his humaine nature only is lesse then God the Father but equall according to his diuine In the former sense is that to be vnderstood The Father is greater then I in the other this I the Father are one and so all do agree very well together The Macedonians did deny the holy Ghost to be God but out of what grouÌ„d Out of the killing letter for expounding that of the Apostle according to the law the spirit searcheth all things yea euen the profundities 1. Cor. 2. v. 10. of God Wherhence they inferred He that searcheth seeketh he that seeketh doubteth he that doubteth is ignorant he that is ignorant is not God See Theophilact D. Thomanâ— others vpon that place 1. Paral. 28. v. 9. Psal 7 10. Iere. 17. 10. Therefore the holy Ghost is not God But the Church interpreteth that place thus The spirit searcheth all that is doth penetrate orpiere and comprehend all In the which sense God the Father also is sayd to search all God doth search the harts of all God searching the harts and reynes I the Lord searching harts The Manichees did affirme that the ould Testament was contrary to the new and wherfore Because they squared all according to the outward letter into the which only if we looke the one may seeme to disagree with the Gen 1. 1. Ioan. 1. 3. Gen 1. 27. Ioan. 8. v. 44. Gen. 2. 2. Ioan. 5. 17. August lib. cont Adâ—mant other For the old sayth that God created all things the new that the VVord created all Againe the old sayth that God made man according to his image But the new that man is of the diuell In like manner the old sayth that God did rest the seauenth day from all his worke The new that God worketh vntill now But S. Augustine she weth out of the sense of the Catholike Church how all these places agree well together the which seeme to be contrary according to the letter For it doth not â—eâ—ugne that God made all notwithstanding that also all were made by the Word as by the arte and example of God Neither doth it repugne that man was made according to the image of God in respect of his nature and neuerthelesse was of the diuell in respect of his malice and that God did cease the seauenth day from the worke of creating the world yet now doth alwayes worke in gouerning and conseruing the world The Pelagians did deny originall sinne affirming that the sinne of Adam did only hurt himselfe but not his posterity But from whence do they proue this Out of the bare letter that killeth because it is written that the Ezech. 18. 20. child shall not carry the iniquity of his Father But the true sense of this place according to the exposition of the Catholike Vide Aug. in
lib. post collation cap. 7. Church is that the sonne who is not partaker of the sinne of his Father shall not carry the iniquity of his Father But if he be partaker of it he shall of necessity carry it But now it is certaine that all Adams posterity were partakers of his sinne according to that of S. Paul in whom all sinned But in what manner Rom. 5. 12 all sinned in Adam is to be taught in another place yet here in the meane tyme I say that all sinned in Adam because God conditioned with him as with the first origen common roore head of his whole posterity that if the commandement which God had giuen him to wit that he should not taste of the fruit forbidden both he and his posterity should remaine in Paradise but if not then both he and all his posterity being guilty transgressours of Gods law should be cast out of paradise which afterwards so fell out There were also some ancient Heretikes who altogether denied the resurrection of our flesh because they found it written It is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing Which place Ioan 6. 63 they vnderstanding only according to the outward letter not searching any Refert Tertull. in lib deresur car c. 37. further into the inward sense and meaning thereof argued in this manner To what purpose should the flesh rise at all sith it profiteth nothing And out of the selfe same place the Caluinists conclude against another verity To what purpose say they should Christ impart to vs his flesh in the Eucharist if the flesh profit nothing But truly they both are deceaued by looking only into the bare letter which killeth Otherwise one might conclude in like manner if the flesh doth profit nothing Vide Maldonatum in cap. 6. Ioan. at all to what end did Christ take flesh to redeeme man To what end was the word made flesh To what end did he suffer in it vpon the Crosse Certainly he did not all this to no purpose That the Scripture according to the sense and meaning thereof cannot be Iudge BVT this being sufficient about the former part where it is manifest both by the authority of the Apostles and also by diuers sundry examples that the Scripture if we respect only the bare and outward letter thereof cannot be the infallible Iudge in matters of Controuersy because that the bare letter killeth and bredeth great errours and heresies But now let vs proceed to the latter part of this our argument wherein I wil declare that if we regard the very sense and meaning of the Scripture the same can be noe competent Iudge of all Controuersies in matters of fayth and Religion The which I proue in this manner The Scriptures according vnto the true sense thereof often tymes is obscure and very hard to be vnderstood oftentymes about discerning the true sense and meaning of it great Controuersies do arise But euery Controuersy doth require some iudge to determine the same it is therefore necessary that some Iudge be appoynted who certainly may determine which is the true sense of the Scripture which cannot be the Scripture it selfe for of the sense and meaning thereof there is Controuersy and therefore it is necessary that some other be assigned besides the Scripture In this discourse are certain principles grounded which are to be explicated and proued in particuler one after another The first is That the Scripture often tymes according vnto the sense is obscure hard to be vnderstood THIS S. Peter doth testify in his later Canonicall Epistle where speaking of the Epistles of S. Paul he 1. Pet. 3. 16. Luc. 24. 27. vseth these wordes In the which sayth he there are some things hard to be vnderstood Also it may be confirmed diuers waies First by the example of the disciples going vnto Emaus who vnderstanding not the Scriptures were taught by Christ Secondly by the Eunuch in the 8. Chapter of the Acts 13. verse who being asked of S. Philip whether he vnderstood the Prophet Isay which he was then reading answered in this maÌ„ner How can I sayd he vnlesse some man shew Act. 8. 31. me Thirdly by the example of the Apostles who vnderstood not many Mat. 13. 36. things which Christ had taught them For his Disciples coming to him sayd Mat 16. 11. expound vs the Parable of the Cockle seede Againe why do you not vnderstaÌ„d that I sayd not Luc. 18. 34. of bread to you and they vnderstood none of these things and this word was hid from them they vnderstood not the things thâ—t were sayd Fourthly by the common consent of all the interpreters For if the Scripture were easy what neede were there of so many interpreters so many commentaries so many questions and controuersies Fiftly by many particuler places and bookes of Scripture I proue it hard For who doth not perceaue Ezechiels prophesy about the visioÌ„ of the foure beasts to be most obscure Moreouer it plainly appeareth Daniels prophesy of the 70. weekes and of the abhomination of desolation to be most hard sith that in the searching into it and in the explaining of it it hath hitherto euen yet doth put many to their wits end as concerning the which Christ himselfe sayd he that readeth let him vnderstand Mat. 24. 15. Furthermore euen in the whole Apocalips of S. Iohn many obscure places and full of secret mysteries may be found And S. Hierom also affirmeth in a certaine epistle of his to Paulinus that in it there are as many Sacraments or secret mysteries as wordes But that in the other bookes of Scripture also many obscure and difficult places are to be found is wel known to such as read them to omit others let them speake who in tymes past notwithstanding their daily reading of Scripture with great diligence coÌ„fessed themselues to haue beene very ignorant in many passages thereof in which to be instructed and resolued they had recourse to S. Augustine S. Hierome and other most learned Fathers of the Church Whereof the Epistles of the auncient Fathers themselues do giue ample testimony out of the which I will put downe some We reade then that Pope Damasus asked counsell of S. Hierome about these Questions 1. What signified this whosoeuer shall Gen. 4. 15. Epist 124. 125. inter Epist Hiero. Ibidem kill Cain shal be punished seauen fould 2. If all things which God had made were very good to what end did he commaund Noë to take into the Arke as well those beasts which were vncleane as those which were cleane sith that nothing can be good which is vncleane 3. Wherefore did Abraham receaue Circumcision for a signe or seale of his fayth And wherefore did Isaac though Ibid. a iust man and deare to God deceaued by errour blesse not whom he would but whom he would not 4. What was the interpretation of Isay Epist 142. the Prophets
about the true and lawfull sense of Scripture But now letting passe all those which haue beene set abroach in the tyme of Arius Macedonius Donatus and other auncient heretikes Infinite they are that occur in this present tyme of which I will set downe some as for example there is a controuersy 1. In what sense those words of Christ are to be vnderstood This is my body The Lutherans vnderstand it so this bread is my body The Caluinists this bread signifieth my body The Catholikes agree with neither of them 2. How that of S. Iohn is to be vnderstood Ioan. 3. 5â— Vnlesse a man be borne againe of the water and the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God The Catholikes and the Lutherans do vnderstand thereby the necessity of baptisme with water and also out of it do gather that infants without baptisme can in no wise be saued The Caluinists deny all this 3. What Christs meaning was when he spake these words to the young man of whom mention is made in S. Matthew If thou will enter into life keepe the comaundments Caluin interpreteth it to be spoken in iest the Catholikes hould it to haue beene sayd in earnest 4. Whether out of these words Iesus came the doores being shut and stood in the Ioan. 20. 26. midst of them may be gathered that Christ pierced the doores shut The Catholikes affirme it Others deny it And surely Oecolampadius he thinketh that whilest the doores were shut Christ crept in at the window others imagin I know not what chinkes by the which they say he entred in 5. Whether Christ spake of the Sacrament of the Eucharist when he sayd Vnlesse you eate the flesh of the sonne of Ioan. 6. 53. man and drinke his bloud you shall not haue life in you The Catholikes affirme it the Lutherans deny it 6. Whether Christ bindeth all lay men to receaue the Chalice when he saith Drinke yea all of this Caluin Cal. lib. 4. Instit c. 17. §. 47. §. 48. holdeth he doth There is a decree sayth he from the eternall God that all drinke And a little after They are wordes of him commaunding Drinke yee all of this Chalice But the Catholikes teach that these words only belonged to the Apostles as S. Marck declareth when he sayth Mark 14. 24. and they all dranke of it 7. Whether sinne he taken properly Rom. 6. 12. of the Apostle Let not sinne therefore raigne in your mortall body The Lutherans and the Caluinists hould that it is and from thence they gather that concupiscense of the which the Apostle there speaketh is originall sinne but the Catholikes teach that the word sinne is there improperly taken to wit for the cause of sinne because concupiscense though it be not properly a sinne yet it doth prouoke to sinne 8. Whether out of that place of S. Paul we account a man to be iustified by Rom. 3 28. fayth without the workes of the law may be gathered that only fayth iustifieth The Lutherans affirme it The Catholikes deny it 9. Whether that place of the Apostle But he shal be saued yet so as by fier be vnderstood of Purgatory fier The Catholikes do affirme it with S. Aug. vpon the 37. Psalme and other more ancient Fathers The Lutherans and the Caluinists deny it 10. Whether it may be gathered out of S. Paul that the Apostles had wiues where he sayth Haue we not 1. Cor. 9. 5. power to lead about a woman a sister as also the rest of the Apostles The Lutherans affirme it out of Luthers Glosse which is this of leading about a woman wiâ—e But truly the Catholikes will not admit this glosse 11. Of what fayth Christ speaketh when he sayth belieue only and she Luc. 8. 50. shal be safe The Lutherans interpret it to be iustifying fayth whose effect is the remission of sinne But the Catholikes vnderstand it of that fayth which Iarus Prince of the Sinagogue did beleeue that his daughter then dead could be raised againe by Christ 12. And what the sense of that place is Do good or euill if you can Out of Isay 41. 23. which Luther proueth that men haue not free will because they cannot do good and ill as they list The Catholikes laugh at this their argument because those words are not spoken to men but to the Idols of the Gentills which although they be worshiped of the Gentills as Gods yet they be not Gods because they can neyther profit their worshippers nor hurt their contemners 13. Whether out of that which is written of S. Iohn Baptist The infant in Luc. 1. 44. my wombe did leape for ioy may be gathered that all infants when they are baptized haue actuall fayth The Lutherans say yea the Catholikes no. 14. Whether God commaunded all to be maried when he sayd Increase Gen. 1. 28â— and multiply The Lutherans hould that in those words are implied a precept to marry But the Catholikes take it as Gen. 9. 1. a blessing giuen to mariage already contracted as appeareth in the text it selfe 15. Whether this place of S. Paul 1. Tim. 2. 5. There is one mediatour of God and men man Christ Iesus doth exclude the inuocation and intercession of Saints as the aduersaries affirme Or do not as we Catholikes maintaine and proue because it doth not exclude the inuocation of Saints vpon earth otherwise the Apostle world not haue sayd Brethren pray for vs. 1. Thess 3. 25. 16. Who are these two witnesses of whom is made mention in the 11. of the Apocalips And I will giue to my two wittnesses and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty daies clothed with sack-clothes Some of our aduersaries say that Luther and Caluin are meant thereby Others the old and the new testament but the Catholikes say Henoch and Helias or Moyses and Helias 17. What that signifieth which is written of Antichrist in the Apocalips And he did great signes so that he also made fier to come downe from heauen Our aduesaries do vnderstand by fier descending Pow. lib. 1. de Ant. cap. 26. Bald. in dispu de Antiâ—h cap. 6. from heauen the Pope his excommunication as Powell the Caluinist and Balduinus the Lutheran do hould and hereby they proue that the Pope is Antichrist The Catholikes contemne these follies The Scripture cannot be the Iudge of these and the like Controuersies IT is certaine that in these and such like Controuersies which are about the sense of the Scripture some certaine iudge is needfull who may decide the same and plainly pronounce that this is true and not the other But now I will proue with two arguments that the Scripture it selfe cannot be this iudge The first is drawne out of that which I sayd before in this manner The Iudge so ought to pronounce sentence that both parties at variance may well vnderstand it otherwise he should pronounce it to no purpose But the Scripture when
spoken against them because I haue spoken to them and they haue not heard I haue called them and they haue not answeared me but to the howse of the Rechabits Ieremy sayd Thus sayth the Lord of Hosts the God of Israell For that yow haue obeyed the commaundment of Ionadab your Father and haue kept all his commaundments and haue done all things that he coÌ„maunded yow Therefore thus sayth the Lord of Hosts the God of Israell There shall not want a man of the stocke of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab standing in my sight all dayes In this example three things are to be noted First that the precept which was giuen to the Rechabites was most hard For what is harder then that husbands and wiues young men and young maides not only for a short tyme as the Nazareans did but as long as euer they liued should abstaine from all kynde of wyne and neuer should dwell in howses nor sow their grounds nor plant any vineyards Secondly that this precept was not diuine but humane it appeareth by the opposition which God made For thus he argueth The Rechabits did obserue the precept which they receiued from man how much more ought the Iewes to keep the precept which they receiued from God Thirdly that the Rechabits not only did well and commendably in obseruing the precept of their Father Ionadab but also thereby deserued a peculiar blessing from God whereas contrare wise the Iewes deserued nothing but great punishment For it is sayd to the Rechabits There shall not want a man of the stocke of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab standing in my sight al daies But to the Iewes I will bring vpon you affliction Now from hence let our aduersaries if they be wise infer these few verities First that the Catholikes obseruing the precepts of the Church do no lesse well and laudably then did theRechabites by keeping the precept of their Father Ionadab For doubtlesse it is no lesse commendable to obey the Church our common mother then it was for them to obey a priuate man their Father And euen as the Rechabites did not sinne against that aforsaid place what I commaund you that only do to our Lord euen so neyther the Catholikes sinne against it Secondly the cause why Catholikes haue continued and do continue still is because they keep diligently the commaundments of the Church and how much more diligently one doth obserue them so many more benefits he shall receiue from God and that some others do not prosper because of the one side they contemne the precepts of the Church in the which they are not so perfect as the Rechabits were And on the other they do not obserue the tenne commaundments in the which they are like the Iewes But that they may pretend some kind of excuse for this their damnable lasinesse they hould that the ten commaundement are impossible to be kept In the which they make God a tyrant as though he would commaund man that which is not in his power to fullfill But this may suffice to ouerthrow their false interpretation The true interpretation therefor is this You shall not Deut. 4. 1. ad to the word that I speake to you neyther shall you take away from it Which is generally to be vnderstood of ceremoniall and iudiciall precepts which were giuen of God by Moyses And this is the sense I haue giuen ceremoniall precepts to you which prescribe the rites of worshiping God and Iudiciall which prescribe the rites of keeping iustice in Ciuill matters and those which belong to the Common wealth Both of which you ought perfectly and entirely to obserue for this is the signification of that You shall not ad nor take away Which truly in other words but in the same sense is explicated in another place where it is sayd do not decline eyther from the right Deut. 2â— 14. Deut. 17. 20. hand or the lest And againe That he may learne to feare our Lord his God and keepe his wordes and ceremonies nor decline to the right side nor to the left And a little after For I Deut. 31. 29. know that after my death you will do wickedly and will decline quickly from the way that I haue commanded you and like wise in the Iosue 7. booke of Iosue Take courage and be strong that thou keepe and do all the Law which Moyses my Seruant hath commaunded thee decline not from it to the right hand or to the left Therefore our of that place so vnderstood as truly it ought to be vnderstood the aduersaries cannot argue otherwise then thus The Iewes ought to obserue the precepts of God wholly and entirely not declining from them neyther to the right hand nor to the left therefore we Christians besides the Scripture ought not to admit any tradition which we haue receaued from the Apostles Spectatum admissi c. But that place in Deuteronomy Deut. 11. 32 VVhat I commaund thee this only do to our Lord neyther add any thing nor diminish is especially vnderstood of one ceremoniall precept to wit of the precept of sacrificing as appeareth Of which this is the sense and meaning When thou comest into the land of Palestine in the which thou goest and thou shalt offer a sacrifice to thy Lord thy God thou shalt not imitate the Gentills who offer their sonnes and daughters to false Gods by fyer But this only thou shalt offer the which I commaund thee as of Beasts Sheepe Goats Kidds Oxen Calues Pigeons Sparowes and Turtle-doues of fruits of the Earth Bread Meale Salt Frankincense a bundle of greene eares of Corne and wheat of Liquors Bloud Wyne Oyly and Water Do this only that is offer to our Lord Neyther ad any thing of the sacrifices of the Gentills nor diminish any thing of them which were now particulerly set downe Now out of this place the aduersaries can no otherwise conclud then in this manner The Iewes ought only to offer those things in sacrifice which were prescribed of God therefore we Christians may not keepe the precepts of the Church which is euen as foolish as the former THE II. TESTIMONY ISAY 8. 20. Rather to the law and to the testimony From hence the aduersaries gather that the Iewes in the old Testament when any controuersy did arise were sent presently to the law and testimony that is to the Scripture euen as to their iudge But they erre grosly First because it hath beene shewed before that the Iudge of controuersies in the old Testament was not the Scripture but the High Priest Secondly because those words to the law and testimony much other wayes are to be vnderstood then our aduersaries suppose as appeareth by the precedent words which are these And when they shall say to you Aske of Pythoâ—s and of Deuiners which whisper in their 1. cap. 8. 19. inchantements shall not the people aske vision of their God for the liuing of the dead To the law rather and to the
testimony And if they speake not according to this word they shall not haue the morning light Where it is plainly spoken against them who aske counsell of the Pythones and Deuiners about future euents and are remitted plainly to the law which forbiddeth it VVhen thou art entred the land which our Deut. 1â— â— Lord thy God shall giue then beware thou be not willing to imitate the abhominations of those nations Neither let there be sound in thee any that consulteth with Pythoâ—s or Deuiners and seeketh the truth of the dead partly to the testimony of the Prophets who where placed of God to foretell future things as in the third of Kings we may see And Iosaphat said is their not heer some Prophet Râ—g â— â—ap 22. v. 7. of our Lord that we may aske by him Therefore the sense of the words to the law and testimony is this If you will be certified of future euents yow ought not to aske Counsell of the Pythons as 1 Reg. 28. 7. Saul did because God hath forbidden this to be done by his law vnto the which I remit you but aske Counsell of the Prophets of our Lord whose office is to pronounce of future euents But what is this to the iudge of the Controuersies Verily nothing at aâ—l Vnlesse our aduersaries will argue in this manner As concerning future euents it is not lawfull to aske Counsell of the Pythones therefore only the Scripture is the iudge of Controuersies Truly most foolishly and yet which is to be admired their very cheife Rabbins of all are not ashamed to vse such manner of arguing of whom Christ himselfe hath forewarned vs sayiâ—g Let such followes alone for they are blind themselues and leaders of them that are blind THE III. TESTIMONY YOV haue made frustrate the commaundment Math. 15. â— Colos 2. â— 1. â—et 1. 18. of God for your owne tradition And the other place in S. Paul Beware least any man deceaue you by Philosophy and vaine fallacy according to the tradition of men And that in S. Peter You are redeemed from your vaine conuersation of your Fathers tradition From hence our aduersaries gather that all traditions are condemned of Christ and his Apostles and that Scripture alone is sufficient But it is not so For these cited places are vnderstood of the Iewes traditions which were obserued of the Pharisies but not of the traditions of Christ and his Apostles which our aduersaries oppugne and we defend But that there were diuers traditions of the Iewes appeareth out of the Scripture The first was that their hands were to be washed before taking of meat as in this place Then came to him from Hierusalem Math 15. Scribes and Pharisees saying why do thy disciples transgresse the traditions of the ancients For they wash not their hands when they eate bread The second is that this washing was often to be vsed whylst they were eating as in S. Mark The Pharisees and all the Iewes vnlesse they often wash their hands Mark 7. 3. eate not holding the traditions of the ancients Also at the marriage in Cana in Galilee six water pots were put according to the purification of the Iewes In the which water potts there was water wherewith they washed their hands at dinner The third was that vnlesse they ware washed they could not take meat coming from the market as S. Marck recordeth And from the market vnlesse they Mar. 7. 4. bee washed they eate not and many other things there be that were deliuered vnto them to obserue as the washing of Cupps and Cruses and of brazen vessells and Bedds The fourth is that meate was not to be taken with sinners as is written in S. Matth And the Pharisies seing this sayd Math. 9. 11. to his Disciples why doth your maister eate with Publicanes and sinners And in S. Luke Luk. 5. 30. The Pharisies and Scribes murmured saying to his Disciples why do you eate and drinke with Publicanes and sinners The fifth was that none should be permitted to be touched of sinners as S. Luke recordeth And the Pharisee that Luk. 7. 39. had bid him seing it spake within himselfe saying this man if were a Prophet would know certes who and what manner of woman she is which toucheth him that she is a sinner Where it manifestly appeareth that the Pharisee wondred that Christ should suffer himselfe to be touched of a woman that was a sinner because it was contrary to the custome and tradition of the Pharisees whose speach was this Depart from me thou shalt not came neere me because Isa 65. 5. thou art vncleane The sixt was that vpon the Sabaoth it was not lawfull to cure the sicke as S. Luke sayth The Scribes and Pharisees Luk. 6. 7. watched if he would cure on the Sabâ—th that they might find how to accuse him And likewise S. Iohn writeth that certaine of the Pharisees Iohn 9. 16. sayd This man is not of God that keepeth not the Saboath Where they spake of Christ who on the Saboath restored sight to a man that was blind from his natiuity The seauenth was that those who were hungry might not gather and eate eares of Corne on the Saboath as it is sayd in S. Matth. Iesus went through Math. 12. 1. the Corne on the Saboath and his disciples being hungry began to pluck the eares and eate And the Pharisies seing them said to him Lo thy Disciples do that which is not lawfull for them to do on the Saboath day The eight was that they should fast and pray often as is recorded in S. Math. VVhy do we and the Pharisees fast often Math. 9. 15. but thy Disciples do not fast And in S. Luke VVhy do the Disciples of Iohn fast often and make Luk 5. 35. obseruations but thine do eate and drinke The ninth was that the tythes of all things euen of the very least should be offered to God as we reade in S. Math. that Christ sayd VVo to you Scribes Math. 23. â—â— and Pharisees Hipocrits because you tith mint and anise and cummin and haue left the weightier things of the law iudgment and mercy and fayth these things you ought to haue done and not omitted those Heere to tyth is taken for to giue tythes and this is the true sense You Pharisees giue tythes of all thinges whatsoeuer euen of the very least of all which you do not as by a precept in the law of Moyses but by your one tradition which is not written and in the meane tyme you omit those things which are commaunded in the law these things you should do and not omit the other Where it is to be noted that there was no precept in the law of Moyses about giuing of tythes of the least things of which mention is here made but only of the tythes of wyne wheat and oyle Notwithstanding Deut. 14. 2â— the Pharisees in this had a peculiar custome and