Certain comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. John Hooper, Bishop of…Certeine comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. Iohn Hooper, Bishop of…

And as there is in the Scripture this double brightness, whereof the one lieth in the letter, and ⟨p. 103⟩many see what it meaneth by the external word, and the other lieth in the meaning of the letter, and is perceived only by such as have the spirit of God: so is there two kinds and sorts of darkness and obscurity in the Scripture: the one in the letter, and the other in the sense and taking of the letter. The outward obscurity is to be seen in such as contemn the word of God, and will not read it nor hear it. As the Turks and heathen, and also the common sort that bear the name of Christ, be christened in Christs name, and outwardly be taken to be very Christians in deed, and yet they know not so much as the letter of Christs laws, that prescribeth them what they should do, and what they should not do. And this obscurity is a brutish, beastly, and external darkness.

And as there is in the Scripture this double brightnesse, whereof the one lyeth in the letter, and ⟨p. 103⟩many sée what it meaneth by the externall word, and the other lieth in the meaning of the letter, and is perceiued onely by such as haue the spirit of God: so is there two kindes and sortes of darkenesse and obscuritie in the Scripture: the one in the letter, and the other in the sense and taking of the letter. The outward obscuritie is to be séen in such as contemne the word of God, and wil not read it nor heare it. As the Turkes and heathen, and also the common sort that beare the name of Christe, be christened in Christes name, and outwardly be taken to be very Christians in déede, and yet they know not so much as the letter of Christs lawes, that prescribeth them what they should doe, and what they should not doe. And this obscuritie is a brutish, beastly, and externall darkenesse.

The other is obscurity or darkness inwardly in the text.¹ For although the letter be well known, and the sound thereof seemeth to be plain: yet the sense is not so common nor so manifest as the letter soundeth. Whereupon S. Paul bindeth all men in the understanding of the letter, unto the Analogy and proportion of faith, that no one place be taken contrary to many places. Whereof was gathered the abridgement of our common Creed, accepted at all times and of all Christian men, for an infallible trueth: so that whosoever believed it, was accounted a good Christian man. And of this obscurity of the Scripture in the sense and spirit, is risen this troublesome contention about transubstantiation of bread and wine in the sacrament of Christs body and blood. For the ungodly sort would have no substance of bread and wine to remain in the Sacrament, and yet a corporal presence of body and blood: contrary, not only to the articles of our