Mr. Ascham, a man greatly to be commended for his learning and good affection1 to piety, of this matter writes on this manner. These enchanters of Circes (saith he) brought out of Italy, mar mens manners in England, much by example of life, but more by precepts of fond books, translated out of Italian into English. Again, ten Sermons at Pauls Cross do not so much good for moving men to true doctrine, as one of those books doth harm with enticing to ill living. I say further, these books tend not so much to corrupt honest ⟨image 5⟩living, as they do to subvert true Religion: More Papists be made by your merry books of Italy, than by your earnest books of Louvain. This complaint ought wise men to consider well of, for that the world was never more full of Italian conceits, nor men more in danger for the long contempt of Gods truth to be Italianated. The diet and cure of souls afflicted is a very great mystery, wherein but few have travelled to reduce that matter into any good form of art, or to give us any good method of practise. M. Luther, M. Beza, Urbanus Rhegius, M. Taffin, and others, have very excellent forms of consolation; and many godly brethren in our times have ministered good help for the cure of souls afflicted: but wanting art and good experience, we conceive the danger to be great, and often (as blind Empirics) cause it to be greater; for that we rather guess uncertainly to apply good remedies, and speeches unto the sick, than know how to proceed by any certain rule of art, and well grounded practise. If the natural Physician might truly say, as touching his faculty, *Vita brevis, &c. much more assuredly may the spiritual Physician prefix such an Aphorism to all this mystery we have in hand. For herein the godly learned know it a matter far more difficult to judge what secret causes breed the hidden distemper of the soul: and here it is far more dangerous to proceed only by experience, without art and skill. And here we must as carefully respect all occasions and circumstances of time, place and persons: For a word spoken in due time, is like an apple of gold with pictures of silver: so the contrary, unseasonable and impertinent3 speeches be most dangerous.
Mr. Ascham, a man greatly to be commended for his learning and good affection1 to pietie, of this matter writes on this manner. These inchanters of Circes (saith hee) brought out of Italie, marre mens manners in England, much by example of life, but more by precepts of fond bookes, translated out of Italian into English. Againe, tenne Sermons at Paules Crosse doe not so much good for mouing men to true doctrine, as one of those bookes doth harme with inticing to ill liuing. I say further, these bookes tend not so much to corrupt honest ⟨image 5⟩liuing, as they doe to subuert true Religon: More Papists be made by your merrie bookes of Italie, than by your earnest bookes of Louaine. This complaint ought wise men to consider well of, for that the world was neuer more full of Italian conceits, nor men more in danger for the long contempt of Gods truth to be Italianated. The diet and cure of soules afflicted is a very great mysterie, wherein but few haue trauelled to reduce that matter into any good forme of art, or to giue vs any good method of practise. M. Luther, M. Beza, Vrbanus Rhegius, M. Taffin, and others, haue very excellent formes of consolation; and many godly brethren in our times haue ministred good helpe for the cure of soules afflicted: but wanting art and good experience, we conceiue the danger to be great, and often (as blind Empyrikes) cause it to be greater; for that wee rather gesse vncertainlie to applie good remedies, and speeches vnto the sicke, than know how to proceed by any certaine rule of art, and well grounded practise. If the naturall Physition might truly say, as touching his facultie, *Vita breuis, &c. much more assuredly may the spirituall Physition prefixe such an Aphorisme to all this mysterie wee haue in hand. For herein the godly learned know it a matter farre more difficult to iudge what secret causes breede the hidden distemper of the soule: and here it is farre more dangerous to proceede onely by experience, without art and skill. And here we must as carefully respect all occasions and circumstances of time, place and persons: For a word spoken in due time, is like an apple of gold with pictures of siluer: so the contrarie, vnseasonable and impertinent3 speeches be most dangerous.
- 1In his Schoolmaster.
- *[Greek or Hebrew]. Hip. lib. 1▪ Aphor. 1.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Hip. lib. 1▪ Aphor. 1.
- 3Pro. 25 11.
