importance It is sayth he quicke or liuely and mighty in working and operation for it pierceth and entreth throughe euen to the diuiding of the soule and the spirite in as muche as it moueth the whole manne after an incredible manner againe it discerneth the thoughtes and intentes of the hearte in asmuche as it findeth faulte with and iudgeth a man and bringeth hym to the knowlege of hymselfe and of God and compelleth him to humble hymselfe to confesse that he is a sinner and to flye vnfaynedly to Gods mercy The other howe that from the worde we maye passe sodainely to GOD hymselfe vnto whome all thinges thoughe neuer so secreate are wyde open and bare Therefore by the former pointe we must be moued to thinke and perswade oure selues that in the worde of GOD yea euen when it is read onelye or hearde there is a certaine maiestie and excellencie by reason whereof it deserueth to be imbraced of vs with all reuerence and lowlynesse of hearte And by this later it commeth to passe that wée belieue that God is not farre absent from his worde but when and so long as it pleaseth him worketh mightily by it as by a fit instrument accomplisheth most wonderfull things Not that the word as it consisteth of bare letters and sillables as it is written read pronoūced or heard is in it selfe of so great efficacie no verily our meaning is not so to perswade but we hold for truth that whilest the authour of the same word written read pronounced or heard is considered and whilest the things signifyed therein are diligently examined the diuine power in the meane season after a certaine imperceyueable manner approcheth wherewyth estsoones the mindes of readers or hearers are so moued pierced inflamed and enlightned that repētāce faith and other such like vertues do folow in them For we vnderstand that euen the very same consideration is to be had of the outward worde that all men do confesse to be had of the outward elementes in the Sacraments of CHRISTES Church The water if it be considered in it selfe is of no great force neyther can it in very déed wash away the filthinesse of the soule but as sone as the worde is added to the element according as CHRIST gaue in commaundemente it becommeth a Sacrament Howe be it in this word of the Sacrament we haue not so muche to marke the sillables and sounde of the letters as we haue to obserue the dignitie of him that first instituted that holy action the things signified by it especially the inuocation and calling vpon of the three persons in one diuine essence or substance of the Deitie And then forsooth so great is the power of the water through the working of the worde that it toucheth indéed the body but it washeth also the heart I vse the worde of S. Augustine in his treatise 80. vppon Iohn not bicause the word is spoke but bicause it is beleued for whereas GOD is thus called vpō by faith there he doth not disdaine by his power to worke heauenlie spirituall effectes in the heartes of those that are baptised We say then that euen in like case when the minde is wholly set vpon the word which is read heard or vnderstoode and hath regard vnto God the Author of the worde and besides weigheth in a iuste ballaunce the things signified in it that then the diuine power doeth wonderfully shewe forth it selfe and repentance faith hatred of sinnes endeuoure of true holinesse of life are stirred vp and euen the whole man both in body and in soule is chaunged and renued Of whych diuine workemanshippe there are proofes sette foorthe in the Sacred Scriptures verye playne and apparant to all men For Ezra read in the booke of the Lawe Nehemia 8. in the open streete that was before the watergate frō morning vntil midday in the presence of men and women that gaue heede vnto it and the eares of all the people hearkned vnto the Booke of the Law It foloweth a little after And al the people when they heard the words of the lawe The Apostle Peter Actes 2. rehearseth the Scriptures to the Iews and interpreteth them as touching Christ which being heard so many as were present were pricked in hearte and said vnto Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shal we do And vnto the Rom 10. But what sayth it The worde is neare thee euen in thy mouth and in thine hart This is the word of Faith which we preach to wit if thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus shalt beleeue in thine hearte that God raysed him vp from the dead thou shalte bee saued For with the hearte man beleeueth vnto righteousnesse and wyth the mouth manne confesseth to saluation Againe in the same place Fayth commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde of GOD. Moreouer Peter Act. 10. making a plaine declaration of the summe of Christian doctrine oute of the holy Scriptures in the house of Cornelius the Centurion To this CHRIST sayth he beare all the Prophets witnesse that throughe his name whosoeuer beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes While Peter yet spake these wordes the holy Ghoste fell on al them that hearde the worde Wée may therefore out of al question confirme this assertion namely that by the diligent and attentiue reading hearing and meditation of the worde of GOD a man is induced to the knowledge of GOD and of hymselfe to the detestation of his sinnes and to vnfayned repentaunce to Faith in Iesus Christe to the amendment of hys life and conuersation and to bée shorte receiueth the holy Ghoste and wyth hym most large and bountifull giftes That whyche wée knowe in tymes paste vsually befell to the readers or hearers of GODS word that the same also may happen nowe in these dayes wee flatly auouche wythout controlment For why if hée that beyng incensed with desire of profiting taketh in hand the holy Bookes do before al things craue the ayde of the holy Ghost thē next deuoutly reade or heare the word of GOD by which as by an instrument it pleaseth GOD to talke familiarly with vs after this also lifte vp his mind vnto GOD speaking by the Prophets or Apostles and duly discusse the things specified in thē there is no doubt but that God after his acustomed clemency putting to his hande will stirre vp purge teach and sanctifie the heart as well of the reader as the the hearer and graciously grante vnto him Repentance Faith the holy Ghost and other giftes and graces of hys spirite Furthermore to the intent that euery one furnished and affected in that sorte that we speake of maye in reading envre himselfe wisely and discretlye to note picke out and as by a certaine methode to distinguishe those things that may be profitable to all intentes and purposes and applyed to the attaynement of perfection and soule health we adde last of all that the very edge of
as well of all olde as newe sprung vp heresies from amongest them and laste of al so to ioyne and knit them togyther in one consent of the truth of his holy word and Sacraments as may be moste of all to the aduancement of his glorious kingdome and to the vtter ouerthrowe of Sathans outrage and Tyranny To the furtherance wherof bicause I was perswaded that this Booke of the famous and worthy man Andrew Hyperius woulde not a little auaile I thought it not amisse for my good brethren and Countrimens cause to turne the same into oure common language and to publish it in as plaine a stile and phrase as I possibly coulde Whyche being attentiuely read and pervsed wil minister I am sure not onely sufficient matter for the godly and Christian Reader to work vpon but also sounde and substantiall reasons to the satisfaction of al indifferent mindes and to the confusion of all scorners and cauillers whatsoeuer And forsomuche as I am not ignorant what great and speciall blessings of hys Spirite the Lord in mercy hath vouchsafed to bestowe vppon youre Ladiship and vpon your progenie whereby you are moued againe by apparant testimonies to expresse the godly loue and zeale whiche you beare to his infallible truth and Gospell I determined with my selfe amongst many other noble and worthy personages to make my speciall choice of youre L. as a meete patronesse of thys present worke and of my trauel and paines taken therein Wherevnto I was prouoked so muche the rather by cause that as you youre selfe are an earnest traueller in the holy Scriptures as well by publike hearing as by priuate reading so your example wil not a little help both to the coÌ„mending of this worke vnto posteritie also to the incouraging of many other of youre sexe and calling to the following of your steppes Albeit I must confesse one other cause there was of this my doing which I wil by no meanes conceale from your L. And that was the greate curtesie and friendly affabilitie which amongst many other vertues I noted in youre L. at what time you vsed commonly to resorte vnto oure parishe Churche to the exercise there But then especially appeared your curtesie most excellent in mine eie when you of your owne accorde to my great and singular rrioycing vouchedsafe to visite and adorne my poore house with your preseÌ„ce and to take wel in worth that simple entertainement whiche then throughe Gods goodnesse I was able to giue you And euen then doubtlesse conceiued I this imagination with my selfe that how soeuer you should be forgetfull of your friendlinesse offered yet I for my part could neuer be vnmindefull of your curtesy receyued but woulde testifye the same by one meanes or other so soone as time and oportunitie shoulde serue Thus Madam haue you hearde the principall causes that moued mee to putte forth this Booke vnder the title of youre name whiche if I may perceiue your L. to take in good parte as I doubte not but you will then haue I reaped the onely guerdon of my desire In the meane season to ende withal I commende the whole successe therof vnto the Lorde beseeching him so to multiply his mercies vpon you and vpon your whole familie as that you may liue many yeares a ioyfull and happy mother in Israel and finally reape the ende of youre hope euen endlesse ioy and immortalitie with all the sanctified in Christe Iesu AMEN Written at VVethersfeld the ninth of Iune 1579. Your Ladiships most humble in the Lord IOHN LVDHAM To the Reader I If toyes and trifles nowe adayes so wel accepted bee O Of all and euery wight in worth that doe them reade or see H How much more theÌ„ ought godly works wel weyed for to bin N No doubt the Lord wil none excuse that carelesse be herein L Let whose can coÌ„plaine and say I want good Bookes to view V Vndoubtedly this age of ours wil proue his plainte vntrew D Did euer any one as yet like store of bookes remember H Hath not the Lord vs greatly blest in these our days CoÌ„sider A AmoÌ„gst the rest this booke is one which if thou rightly read M May further thee to godlinesse and stand thee in greate stead I. L. Gentle Reader before thou enter into the reading of this discourse I pray thee vse some paines in correcting with thy pen these faults that haue escaped the Print In the Preface page 3. line 11. reade of the Psalmist page 5. line 28. 29. reade they are they that page 7. line 2. reade holy Scriptures ibid. line 3. reade any nevve matter page 8. line 3. reade and it shall In the Treatise page 6. line to reade as the insight page 7. last line read to the contemplation page 8. line 8. for Clemens Alexandrnus reade Clemens Alexandrinus ibid. line 11. for vvas reade vvere page 10. line 24. for our reade one ibid. line 29. for Ieremie reade Ierome page 14. line 25. read and function page 19. line 8. reade vacation page 20. line 29. reade same page 21. line 28. reade that euerye man page 26. line 11. for vnhearde of reade vnheard of ibid. line 15. reade in a readinesse page 29. line 31. reade at Thessalonica page 36. line 1. reade numbred page 38.10 reade moe vvitnesses page 40. line 12. reade in their ovvne houses page 54. line 22. for vvhere reade vvhich page 56. lin 8. reade Paulinus page 58. lin 26. reade Hedibia page 64. after the laste vvorde bring in these lines folovving vz. as touchyng the palme of knovvledge of things spirituall For verily I am oâ—t at minde that then there vvas no familie c. page 65. line 19. reade admonished page 66. line 7. reade buying ibid. line 26. reade Ichoiacim page 70. line 2. reade meanely page 74. line 7. reade he oftentimes ibidem line 10. reade Acts. 18. of Aquila page 75. line 23. reade as this page 77. line 17. reade to set forvvarde page 78 line 6. reade of the vvholsome ibid. line 25. reade booke 10. page 79. line 14. reade desolate Mergine line 4. for ought reade might page 18. line 18. reade oughte not to page 84. line 14. reade vnited page 85 line 9. reade begin page 86. line 5. reade a Iudge page 88. line 25. reade all their page 96. line 24. leaue out the tvvo commas at amplifications and at threatnings page 97. line 34 reade deriued page 98. line 14. leaue out good page 108 line 2. omit of ibid. line 28. reade distinguished page 111. line 16 for if reade of page 114. line 22. reade he hid page 120. line 13. reade vvhiche being c. page 129 line 4. reade comprehend page 134. line 20 for reading reade namely readers of c. page 135. line 17. for here reade hearde ibid. line 26. reade veritie page 149. for Tullius reade Tullies page 159. line 21. reade invvrapped page 160. line 30. for come reade runne page 161 line 6. reade propounded line 14. reade forbrorne
page 163. line 9. omit out page 166. line 1. for excused reade exercised page 167. line 23. for come reade came page 172. line 25. for all bookes reade al the bookes page 215. line 9. for stammered reade staggered page 218. line 22 for all the people vvhen reade all the people vvepte vvhen c. page 223. line 25. for all them reade and all of them page 177. line 22. for conuently reade conueniently FINIS To the most noble and renoumed Prince Lewis Duke of Bauier Countie Palatine of the Rhine c. his most gracious Lord Andrew Hyperius sendeth greeting THis is a common guise and practise among Christian Kings and Princes most noble Prince that in publishing and proclayming their Edictes and other monumentes of writing in theyr Coynes which by their Mintmen they cause to be coyned and now and then also in their buildings vpon statues or images curiously carued in theyr paynted tables againe on their clothes of estate on their gorgeous hangings of Tapistrie on their purple robes on their Couerlets of Arras and suche like precious ornamentes when they put to their name and function they discretely adde something whereby they professe themselues to haue obteyned THROVGH THE GRACE OF GOD all the honoures and dignities that are befalne them which custome commonly and euerye where receyued can neuer sufficiently be praysed and extolled for it putteth them in minde of most graue and weightie matters and such as ought alwayes worthily to be before their eyes First it teacheth them to confesse and acknowledge that kingdomes and common weales are at GODS disposition that they are most wisely gouerned by his prouidence and that one whyle forsooth they flourishe for the Godlies sake and another while are subuerted bycause of the wicked as testifye Iob Chap. 34. and Salomon Prouerb 28.29 and finally that wonderfull alterations far beyond all mens expectation witnessing Daniell Chap. 2. are brought to passe in them Secondly they are giuen to vnderstand that it is their partes and duties to ascribe all their honoures power and happinesse whatsoeuer beâ—ideth them on earth only and alone to GOD and to render thanks vnto him continually for the same in as much as of Dauid a most diligeÌ„t ponderer of GODS iudgemeÌ„ts they may all learne that it is GOD alone and none other that giueth happie successe and safetie vnto Kings Psalm 144. with whome his sonne Salomon in all poynts agreing pronounceth that he only by the benefite of GOD was installed in the soueraigne state of his kingly dignitie 2. Chronic. 1. And in the same place where the same Salomon craueth wisedome to be giuen him GOD hymselfe maketh answere That he would not only giue him wisedome whiche is a thing very necessary to a happye gouernemeÌ„t but also that he would franckly and bountifully adorne him with riches power glory and magnificence Moreouer it is méete and conueniente that they acknowledge GOD to be a most mightye Emperoure and Monarch in whose power and dominion it is to punish with horrible paines or euen vtterly to destroy and that iustly all those that refuse to submitte themselues and to do his commandements And for this cause it is that the said kingly Prophet Dauid sang Be wise nowe therefore yee Kings be learned ye Iudges of the earthe serue the Lord in feare reioyce in him with trembling Kisse the sonne least he be angrie and yee perishe in the way if his wrath be kindled but eueÌ„ a little To be short so many Kings and Princes as doe aduisedly consider that they BY THE GRACE OF GOD haue obteyned the highest degrée of honour should for many causes endeuoure themselues with all their power and inforcement to become as like vnto GOD as is possible imitating so farre forthe as they may his goodnesse iustice clemencie in al points It is most truly said of a certaine wise man That a Prince is the image of GOD that gouerneth all things Though euen this also ought not a little to moue them that in the holy Scriptures they are not seldome times called GODS Exod. 22. Psalme 82. Now héere vpon further it followeth that all Kings and Princes especially so manye as doe beare the worlde in hand that they knowe CHRIST by whome grace and truth is broughte downe to vs from Heauen and that they embrace and kisse hym from their hearts that I may vse the worde of Psalmist ought diligently with all dutifulnesse to perfourme and set forwarde all those things that tend to the aduancement of the glory of our true euerlasting GOD on earth who alone is the most mightie King of all Kings Lord of all Lords Apoc. 19. For héere vnto doth the diuine crier inuite all that are in authoritie Psal. 29. saying Giue vnto the Lord yee sonnes of the mightie giue vnto the Lorde glory and strength And surely if Kings and Princes would by any meanes go about to amplifie GODS glory they caÌ„not do it any better way than if they cause as many people as maye be to be brought to the knowledge and sincere worshipping of GOD the Father of hys son IESVS CHRIST For why GOD accompteth this to be hys greatest prayse and glory whiche also he challengeth to himselfe alone and will neuer yéelde it to anye other that all men shoulde haue the knowledge of hys power goodnesse righteousnesse that they shoulde receyue hys commaundementes worshippe and call vppon hym wyth their whole heart and finallie from hym looke for all good things and euen euerlasting saluation As touching which thing Moses Prince of al Prophets Deut. 10. saith And now ô Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to feare the Lord thy God to walke in all his wayes and to loue him and to serue the Lorde thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule And Esay 43. God himselfe sayeth Euery one shall be called by my name for I haue created him for my glory Again in the same place This people haue I formed for my selfe they shall shewe foorth my prayse And Chap. 48. For mine owne sake for mine owne sake will I do it rather than my name shoulde be polluted neyther wyll I giue my glory to another By no small number of suche sentences GOD declareth that he then excelleth in sound perfite glory when as of good meÌ„ he is honoured praysed worshipped but to what end is it to make any loÌ„ger rehearsall Howbeit least anye man should doubte that the chiefe happinesse consisteth in the true knowledge seruice of GOD and that therby men atteine vnto that place where with the blessed Saincts they shall enioy euerlasting felicitie Let vs hearken vnto GOD himselfe Ieremy declaring in this sort Let not the wise man saith he glory in his wisdome nor the strong man glory in his strength neyther the rich man glory in his riches but let him that gloryeth glory in this that he vnderstandeth and knoweth me for I am the Lord which
hée without anye knowledge of good letters hadde both perfitely learned withoute Booke the holy Scriptures by hearing them redde I vse the wards of Sainct Augustine in the beginning of his worke of Christian Doctrine and also wisely vnderstoode them by pondering and considering of them but it were no wisedome for others that are vtterly voyde of the knowledge of the Scriptures so to speake The summe therefore of the matter is this that in Nature are séene onely certayne pictures and as a man would say counterfettes of things in Scripture the thing and truth it selfe and therefore that all opinions as touching Religion whiche are to be accompted firme and stable ought to be ratifyed by the warrante and defence of the holye Scriptures THIRDELY Séeing men are to be taught and enstructed all must néedes graunte that the written Booke of GODS WORDE is most fitte for oure vnderstanding and capacitie For truly to marke the things that happen in thys visible worlde to ensearche the causes thereof Further to examine what signification they haue as touching the power the righteousenesse and goodnesse of god Agayne what thyngs ought to bée followed and imbraced in vndertaking of duties of functions is a thing very difficulte and gyuen to verye fewe men but sith these and suche lyke things are appararantly discussed in the monumentes of wryters and that in a simple and knowen phrase of speaking it can not bée but that euen the rude and playne readers or hearers maye spéedily atteyne vnto them And for this cause verily it is why the custome is commonlye receyued that the rules of euerie Arte and discipline are of Authoures penned and written in certayne Bookes Yea and Sainct Hierome in hys Preface to the waylings of Ieremy is bolde to saye That the doctrine of Bookes shall no sooner ceasse and haue an ende than wee in a better state of lyfe shall bee wyth Chryste and become lyke vnto the Angels Wherefore if so bée wée wyll vprightlye weygh and consider these thrée causes truelie they maye worthylie moue vs to loue and embrace the Booke of holy Scripture before all other Bookes and euen wyth earnest desyre to be occupyed in it daye and nighte Admitte if you wyll that the Booke of the nature of things is wonderfull and in manye respectes hyghly to bée estéemed yet no man is ignorante of thys that among dyuers Bookes offered that especiallye is to bée preferred before the reste whyche wée sée to excell both in weyghtynesse of the contentes in the methode and playnenesse of teachyng and for manye causes to bée most expediente for vs Good Scholemaysters are accustomed to propounde and commende to theyr hearers suche Bookes as they suppose to bée moste profitable for them and hée that is a thriftie Scholer despiseth not the iudgemente of hys Mayster but prouideth them desirously exerciseth hymselfe in them and maketh greate accompte of them considering that vnlesse hée so doe it wyll come to passe that hée shall with shame bée thrust out of the Schole and shall haue hys name vtterlye razed oute of the register of the learned Tell mée therefore séeyng GOD oure Scholemayster both most wyse and also most desirous of oure profiting dothe commende vnto vs more than canne bée vttered in wordes the Booke of holy Scripture and wée oure selues maye iudge the same farre to surmounte all other Bookes shall not gréeuous punishmente worthely bée alotted vnto vs if wée neyther prouide nor endeauour to reade the holye and sacred Bible Wherefore to the ende I maye stirre vppe as wyth a watchworde and an alarum gyuen all the professors of Christian Religion to the diligente reading of thys Booke wherein are written the verye wordes of GOD I wyll assay to sette downe in order certayne reasons as they shall come to hande hauyng this especiallye in my prayers that so manye as is possible whylest they shall giue themselues to the reading and meditation of the holye Scriptures maye both become greater fauourers of sincere Religion and also better giuen in their liues and conuersation For I am fully persuaded of this and I couet to haue all men persuaded of the lyke that it can not be that anye man shoulde oftentimes and attentiuely reade or heare redde the holye Scripture but that he shall féele himselfe dayly to goe forwarde and to profyte somewhat in amendmente of lyfe and in the exercises of goolinesse For why it is not for nothing that GOD himselfe in the Prophete Esay Chap. 55. sayth Like as the rayne and the Snow cōmeth downe from Heauen and returneth not thither agayne but watereth the earth and maketh it to bring foorthe and budde that it may giue seede to the sower and bread vnto him that eateth euen so shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth it shall not returne vnto me voyd but it shall accomplish that which I will and it shal prosper in the thyng whereto I sende it And truely experience teacheth vs that the matter is euen so as the Prophete sayeth For as muche as wée alwayes sée for the moste parte that oute of the heartes of those that vse reuerentlye to reade or heare the worde of GOD wonderfull not onely floures but fruites also of Faith and loue doe procéede As therefore wée shewed at the beginning that all the sorte of vs ought to learne matters of Diuinitie and the will of GOD for that we are men created of GOD so for bycause it is euidente that all that knowledge is to bée gotten out of that Booke wherein the wordes or Sermons of GOD are described and conteyned it is worthilie required of manne to whome alone it is gyuen to vtter distinctlye wordes of signification to write the same wordes to reade the same being written to heare and vnderstand to learne any thing by words sentences againe to teache it is worthily required I say of man that he shoulde with all possible diligence be occupied and conuersant in the saide Booke For truly by the power of speaking and vnderstāding of wordes man excelleth all other creatures Whiche benefite it is requisite that we acknowlege to be so much the more notable by howe muche more wee are all moued by nature to griefe so ofte as we looke vpon anye that are endued with the shape of men yet voyde of the vse of communication and reason For we make accounte of them to be in no better case than bruite beastes than stockes stones or dumbe images Therefore GOD who hathe created all things by his word would haue man whom he made ruler ouer all creatures in conceiuing of godlinesse to be exercised with a moste noble gifte that is to saye speache or vtteraunce of wordes and he himselfe woulde teach and enstruct him by words For this cause GOD the father suche is the greate loue he beareth to man is recorded oftentimes to haue talked very louingly with his electe the Patriarches and Prophetes And GOD the sonne who hathe greate delighte to be conuersant with
Vppon whiche occasion hée affirmeth that his worke De fide operibus tooke the beginning And that in those dayes the Laitie was accustomed of their owne accorde to handle the holy Scriptures that they had scarce anye néede of admonitions this may be a proofe suffcient that Augustine like as Hierome also before hym was often tymes â—nen of Virgins and women not only louers of the holy Scriptures but also expert in them earnestly called vpon by letters to resolue them in certaine doubtes and that for their sakes he one while declared hard and perplexed questions whiche they didde putte sooth an otherwhile did some other thing to prouoke and help forwarde the study of godlinesse Reade hys Epistles to Paulina Demetriades Fabiola Felicia Prota 〈◊〉 Edith Florentina a mayde and Maxima a widowe of Italy In his seconde Booke De anima â—â—â—â—igme hee telleth of one Peter an olde Prieste that he learned manye things of a young man of the Laitie and that hée reioyced excéedingly and gaue harty thanks vnto GOD therefore Seing then that by these and such like reasons S. Augustine witnesseth abundantlye that the studye of holy Scripture was in his tyme verye common and familiar among men and that the people of al sorts sexes and ages were able then godlye and expressely bothe to question and make aunswere as touching the affayres of religion it should be superfluous to enterlace in these our wrytings the exhortations to the same study whyche are to be founde in his workes verye frequent and forceable Verily out of one onely Sermon which is entituled Of the study of Wisdome meditation of Gods lawe as out of one bed I will gather certaine floures whereby euery manne maye easily coniecture what maner of posies of the same sorte are to be founde in the rest of hys Sermons We haue yet saith he a good comfort in reding the holy Scripturs bicause the reding of the holy Scripturs is no small foreknowlege of the diuine blessednesse For in them as in a certaine glasse a man maye consider of himselfe what hee is or whether he goeth Continuall reading purifyeth all things it causeth feare of hel sire it stirreth vp the heart of the reader to long after heauenly ioyes Hee that will alwayes be with GOD ought often to pray and reade For when we praye wee talke with GOD and when we read GOD talketh with vs The reading of the holy Scriptures bringeth with it a double commoditie either for that it instructeth the vnderstanding of the soule or bycause it leadeth a man froÌ„ the vanities of the world to the loue of GOD the labour bestowed in reading is commendable auayleth much to the clensing of the minde For like as the flesh is nourished with carnal meates so is the inner man nourished and fed with the diuine Oracles of GOD as sayeth the Psalmest How sweet are thy testimonies to my mouth oh Lord yea they are sweeter than hony and the honye combe But he is moste blessed of all that so readeth the holy scriptures as he turneth them into practise Hitherto hée Soothly these words are well worthy to be written of the godly in golden letters and to be painted in those bookes whych they dayly beare about them to the intente they maye oftentimes learne exactly to weygh and consider euery one of them Saint Ambrose whom whilest he liued S. Augustine most willingly hearde and reuerenced with all dutifulnesse in his Sermon 35 entituled Of the fasting of the Lord in the desert and that man liueth not by bread only againe where he expoundeth Psal. 118. in his SermoÌ„ 21. exhorteth al the faithful to the diligent reading of the Scriptures and in his booke of Offices Chapter 22. hée sayeth That our wordes and communications oughte chiefely to bee framed of the Scriptures We myghte moreouer call to remembraunce the notable sayings of other famous men as touching this matter but I feare me least these which we haste noted already may séeme to be ouer manye and too too tedious to the queysie stomackes of some How beit I could doe no lesse but out of those most excellent authours describe some things euen word for word and that partly to the intent we myght testifye to the world that we with all faithful sincerity and according to the iudgements of most holy men doe handle this cause partely to the ende we might stoppe the mouthes of some arrogant persons whiche as soone as they perceyue a man to differ from them in opinion do grinne by and by exclayme without measure and accuse him of heresie not considering in the meane time that whilest they condemne vs they condemne likewise the most excellent and antientest diuines whose voyces haue now bene heard But sithence they haue thus defined determined the were of all other in a maner as the coÌ„moÌ„ schoolemasters and teachers I meane Origen Chrisostome Hierome Augustine Ambrose it cannot be doubtfull to no man that all their Scholers in like manner maintained the selfe same opinion and wheresoeuer they became with incredible diligence commanded it and set it forth For that a gentle and discréete Disciple shoulde vary and disagrée from his faithfull Schoolemayster professing the truth is a thing verye rare or at leaste verye vncomely and vnciuill And vndoubtedly their Epistles written to Laye menne of diuers nations likewise vnto Virgins matrones widowes in al prouinces where they dwelte doe declare that there were a great number that applied themselues lustily to the reading fo the holye Scriptures Certes Hierome writing to Sunia and Fretela proueth that in Germany and eueÌ„ among the people called Gete where they inabited the common opinion is that the Getes towarde the North possessed the bancke of the riuer Fistula and Suedeland with the Marchesse adioyning wherein of the name of Getes came the Gothes the couetrey of Gothlande to bée so called to this daye the study of the holy Scriptures and likewise of the Gréeke and especiallye the Hebrewe tongues was at that time muche made of and highly estéemed Who would beleeue this sayth hée that the barbarous tonged Getes shoulde seeke after the trueth of the Hebrewe and that whilest the Greekes slepte naye rather laboured to the contrarye Germany woulde searche out the oracles of the holy Ghoste O good God what a Worlde was that wherein the Laitie bothe men and women were founde euerye where skilfull in Diuine matters How swéetely didde such reason and conferre togither of the doctrine of the Lawe and the Gospell and of all the dueties of godlinesse Certes I beléeue the godly in those dayes tried among themselues moste honeste maysteries as family to be founde in which there was not eyther the maister or mistresse eyther the sonne or the daughter or at leaste wise some one or other of the householde that coulde not at appointed times reade certaine Chapters of the holy Bible and indifferently wel expounde all the profitablest places in them The holy bookes were at
prouide remedies by reading of the holye Scriptures There foloweth more to the same effect but bicause I couet to be briefe I haue thought good to omit it He entreateth also more at large touching the self same matter in his 3. homily of Lazarus the rich man. And I knowe not whether those wordes of his as they are generally spoken will satisfye all men or no. For it is a very harde matter to stoppe the mouthes of curious and obstinate men with a short and generall kinde of speach and there wyll some complaine peraduenture such especially as desire to séeme sharpe witted beyond the reste that we haue not aunswered to euerye member of theyr obiection Wherefore I suppose it wil be grately to the purpose if I deuide the obiectioÌ„ aforegoing as it were into parts and speake somwhat more exactly of euery of them in order I will graunte them therefore first and formost yea and I will recken vp many causes also for the whiche it shal be necessary that so many as haue addicted themselues to the Ecclesiasticall function shoulde before all other Christians apply their diligence to the vnderstaÌ„ding of the misteries of the holy Scriptures Secondly I wil proue very plainely that for the rest whyche they call Laitie it is by no meanes lawful to caste from them the selfe same studye but rather as it behoueth the states of men to be diuided so there is prescribed to euery one in the holye Scriptures a certaine rule of godly liuing and that those alone finally do substantially performe their dueties that haue thoroughly learned out of the same scriptures how to fear and loue GOD and howe to behaue themselues in all the actions and dealings Thirdlye I will adde to the rest certayne reasons whych maye moue the conscience of euery one to confesse that there is no man that maketh any at least to Christian Religion that can liue altogither destitute and ignorant of the Trueth and Doctrine contained in the Scriptures Whyche thyngs beyng thus once declared may stand the godly in greate steade to confute other obiections also if any chaunce to be made and put forthe Therefore they do greatly erre and abuse contrary to our meaning all that hath of vs hitherto béen said whiche suppose that any that at least-wise acknowledge themselues to be Christians are excepted from the study and reading of the holy Scriptures But of all other wée doe leaste of al exclude them that prepare themselues to the Ministery of the Church or that are alreadye conuersaunte in it For why that of these is first and chiefly required the exacte knowledge of Gods holy will I take it to be so apparante vnto all men as that it néedeth not once to bée touched of vs For who knoweth not that it is the duety of a faithfull Shéepehearde to procure all thinges that are auaileable to the féeding and preseruation of the shéepe of hys folde whether we haue regarde to the pastures or waters or shadowings or curings of diseases or defeÌ„ce against Wolues or anye suche like thing else beside and that it behoueth the father or goodman of the house to goe before all his familie in wisedome and discreation in prouiding and disposing of thinges necessary and that the Schoolemayster ought to be better learned than his Scholers and to appoint vnto them a forme or methood of Doctrine and finally that the Emperoure or Capitayne of an haste shoulde excell in warlike knowledge al hys souldyors fighting vnder his standerd Herevppon forsooth it followeth that those also which are placed ouer the Churche if they couet wholsomly to féede the mindes of the people committed to their charge carefully to gouerne them truely to teache them directly to bring them to saluation oughte to bée farre better séene in the doctrine of the holy Scriptures than any other of the common sorte If any man yet doubteth lette him beléeue God who in Leuitic 10. and in other places moe gaue commaundement to the Priestes and Leuites that they shoulde faithfully teache the people the Lawe and Statutes whyche hée had deliuered vnto them Let hym heare Malachy the Prophet in hys seconde Chapiter saying The Priestes lippes shall kepe Knowledge and they shall requyre the Lawe at hys mouth Let hym credite Christe who calleth the teachers of the Gospell the Light of the worlde and the Salte of the earth Let hym credite the Apostle Paule who woulde haue euery Bishop and Minister of the Churche to be suche a one as were Didacticos that is to say apte to teache as hadde a forme and patterne of wholesome Doctrine as coulde rightly cutte and diuide the worde of Trueth as were able to holde faste the Worde which is according to Doctrine and to exhorte by sounde Knowledge and conuince the gaine-speakers 1. Tim. 3.2 Tim. 1. 2. Ch. vnto Tit. 1. for vndoubtedly as it standeth other in hand to heare learn the word of God so is it the chief part duty of those the haue the ouersight of Churches to expound teach the same and that not slightly for fashions sake but learnedly grauely so as many may reape profite thereby And therefore verye subtilly haue they abused the Worlde that wyth duckyng downe theyr heades and wyth their eyes countenaunce voice and gesture wholly set to semble and dissemble haue not bene ashamed to auouche that the Ecclesiasticall Ministery consisteth onelye in the bare recitall of certayne Psalmes Hymnes Proses and that written in a tongue knowen to very few and scarce also to the Singers themselues againe in the imitation of certain ceremonies which mans wisdome without the warrant of GODS word hath inuented one after an other doe no whit auaile either to the mouing of mens mindes or to the establishing of any order or decencie For nowe during certaine ages men haue thought the whole substaunce of ReligioÌ„ forsooth to stand in these two things Singings I say not vnderstoode colde ceremonies yea and those Churches to be very wel ordered wherein euen these alone haue with a cunning kinde of Hipocrisie bin practised of their craftsmaisters Truly it is to he maruailed that any men I saye not excellent and learned but euen so much as of the coÌ„mon sorte coulde be brought to that passe namely to beléeue those deceiuers when in the meane time they perceyued in very déede that al the sincere worshipping of GOD which â—s Christ his Apostles haue prescribed consisteth in true inuocation prayer in the pure preaching of the Gospell dispensation of the Sacrements haue vtterly in a manner thorough the preuailing of those shrill squeakings dumb ceremonies bin cast out of Churches and suppressed For howe coulde it otherwise be but that the handling of the Scriptures béeyng ouce driuen oute of Churches and Congregations the studies likewise of good letters in the Schooles shoulde vtterly fall downe decaye For what man would then séeme to bestowe hys trauel in sundry disciplines
truth both of sayings and doings maye appeare in all his actions which then chiefly commeth to passe when he inforceth himselfe to abide by his worde and couenant when hée dothe not counterfet or adulterate the wares broughte home from anye place but without vanitie withoute fraude or guile withoute the conceyte of filthy gayne vttereth and selleth the same But that any man should in this wise giue both vnto God that whiche is Gods and vnto men the things that are mens it is very vnlikely nay it is impossible except he shall firste déepely imprint in his mind the commaundements of God put forth in the holy Scriptures as touching buyings and sellings as touching diuers and sundry kindes of contractes or bargaynes Leuit. 25. and elsewhere of payments Leuit. 19. Deut. 24. of pawnes or pledges Exo. 22. of iustice and equitie in weightes and measures Leuit 19. Deut. 25. Prouer. 11.20 out of whiche oracles as out of welsprings doe flow all ciuill lawes deuised and made of like matters The selfesame iudgement is to be giuen of all artificers and craftesmen in generall Where if it were so nowe that husbandmen knewe howe greatly their state and condition is euery where commended in the holy Scriptures but who is able to recken vp the places wherein are propounded and put forthe examples sentences precepts comparisons parables taken and drawen from matters of husbandry if they knewe likewise what duties of godlynesse are prescribed vnto them towardes the pore and towarde strangers Leuit. 23. they woulde no doubt make muche of those Bookes and suffer no daye to escape wherein they would not bestow some time at home eyther euening or morning in reading and meditating the worde of god Doubtlesse the things that are conteyned in theÌ„ be farre more excellent than those whiche Chrysostome in hys 19. Homilie to the people of Antioch setteth downe as touching the honestie and vertuous conuersation of Husbandmen though I graunt his allegations are not to be despised yet for breuities sake I will not héere insert them And for so much coÌ„monly as these kind of men do inhabit and dwell farre off froÌ„ neybors and besides haue not alwayes the Ministers of theyr Churches néere hand vnto theÌ„ it caÌ„ not be but very requisite and necessarie that at leastwise the good man of the house himself especially where there is great store of children a seruants many workemen are dayly hired as it vâ—ually coÌ„meth to passe in husbaÌ„dry being for this cause very worthy of commendation should so profite go forward in the doctrine of ReligioÌ„ that he might be able to goe before his houshold and familie in inuocatioÌ„ prayer sometimes to opeÌ„ and declare the chief points principles of faith and in case anye casualtie or misfortune so require to lift vp him that is beaten downe with affliction or other necessitie to comfort those that be sicke and like to die whether they be in his owne or in his neyghbours house to arme and strengthen wyth places of holy Scripture the partie that wrastles in the last agonie of deathe to instructe his children in some measure in the wayes of godlynesse and when they of his housholde are letted by vuseasonable weather or other occasion wherby they can not resort to the Church to heare the worde of God expounded by the Minister then he to reade somethingâ— vnto them out of the holye Scriptures after whiche sort truly we knowe that the holy Patriarkes and innumerable others haue in olde time bin accustomed to do What shall I say further There is no house that can rightly be called a ChristiaÌ„ house except the worde of Christ dwell in it and something be dayly vttered hard as touching holy matters or points of Diuinitie Euery wel ordered true Christian familie ought to represent the forme similitude as well of the common weale as also inespecially of the Church and that most chiefly by the continuall haÌ„â—â—ing intreating of the word of god Neither caÌ„ it be preteÌ„ded that any person is vnapt or vnfit to be taught If it to fall out that euen little children doe soone perceyue wordes tending to laughter or otherwise vnprofitable lighte I will not say lewde and filthy and caÌ„ find the meanes readily ynough to râ—peate them agayne why shoulde they not as well learne nowe and then somewhat as touching godlynesse of life and Christian Religion wherefore Chrysostome in his 2. Homilie vpon Iohn with a very sharp and controlling kind of spéech ratleth vp parents saying That they do prouoke Gods wrath against themselues more than they would thinke when they count it to be troublesome and ouertimely to haue their children trayned vp in the exercise of sprituall things Do not so accompte it sayth he do not so esteeme it This age doth of all other stand most chiefely in neede of Spirituall admonitions it is greene and tender and quickly drincketh in the liquors that are dripped into it If any man wil go about to draw them euen from their cradles and as yee would say from the very traces of sinne vnto the way of vertue he shal confirme them in a certayne stayednesse and nature of godly liuing Neyther will they lightly of their owne accorde fall into a worser biasse where they haue with suche a custome as this bin allured from their tender yeares vnto vertue By this meanes also they shall the more willingly both honour and reuerence their elders Agayne they shall be made more fitte to deale in any worldly affayres Thus much hath he there I am compelled to adde heerevnto out of the same Authoure that is to say the golden wordes of his golden mouth written in his 21. Homilie vppon the Epistle to the Ephesians Wouldest thou haue sayth he thy sonne to be well nurtured bring him vp froÌ„ his youth in the feare and nourture of the lord Thinke it not to be superfluous if hee heare the holy Scriptures for there shall be first heare this Honour thy Father and thy Mother Therefore this is done for thy behoofe Say not it belongeth to Monkes to heare the Scriptures Shal I make my sonne a Monke No it is not needefull for him to be a Monke Why fearest thou that whiche is greatly for his profite Make him a Christian It is chiefely requisite for worldly folkes to knowe what things are taught them out of the Scriptures especially for children for there is muche folly in that age And that folly of children is muche encreased euen in outward things when they once know that those noble men also whome they haue in admiration are subiect to infirmities and afrayd of deathe Of which sort was this that Achilles when he saw that hee must now dye for his concubine repented him then of his deede of which sort is this also namely when one is drunke and manye other suche things are committed These medicines therefore are needefull For is it not to be thought a poynt of greate folly in