For as much as ye say, part hereof is true, and part false, I trust, ye will give us leave freely to use the Truth, until ye shall find your self better able to prove the Falsehood. It seemeth not greatly to mislike you, that the people have some little liberty, to read some such part of the Scriptures, as you may best spare them, for the ordering of their lives. Whereby it appeareth, that for quieting of their Consciences in matters of Religion, and causes of Truth, ye think it best, they read nothing. And this, ye say, ye are able to answer before the dreadful seat of God's Judgement. Touching the Truth hereof, to say so much, as might be said, it would require great waste of time. S. Augustine saith, Si desit,1 aut ignoretur, quà eundum fit, quid prodest nosse, quò eundum fit? If ye have not, or know not, what way to go, 2what shall it profit you to know, whither to go? S. Hierome saith, Ut maius est, voluntatem Domini facere, quàm nosse, ita prius est nosse, quàm facere. Illud Merito praecedit: Hoc ordine: As it is more, to do the will of our Lord, then to know it: so the Knowledge of the same goeth before the Doing. In goodness, Doing goeth before: in order, Knowing. Again S. Augustine saith, Si Scripturas Divinas aut non legimus ipsi, aut legentes alios non libenter audimus, ipsa nobis medicamenta conuertuntur in vulnera: & inde habebimus Judicium, unde potuimus habere remedium: If we either read not the Scriptures our selves, or be not desirous to hear others read them, then are our Medicines turned into wounds: and then, where we might have had remedy, we shall have Judgement. Such sayings are common, and ordinary in S. Chrysostom. Thus he saith, 3Librum Divinum accipiat aliquis in manum: conuocatisque proxìmìs, per Divina eloquia riget & suam mentem, & conuenientium: ut sic Diabolicas insidias effugere valeamus: Let one of you take in hand the Holy Book: and let him call his Neighbours about him: and by the Heavenly words let him water, and refresh both their minds, 4and also his own. Again he saith, Poterimus & domi versantes, ante, & post Conuivium, acceptis in manus Divinis Libris, utilitatem inde caper, & Spiritualem Cibum animae praebere.
For as mutche as ye saie, parte hereof is true, and parte false, I truste, ye wil géeue us leaue fréely to vse the Truthe, vntil ye shal finde your selfe better hable to proue the Falshedde. It séemeth not greatly to mislike you, that the people haue somme little libertie, to reade somme sutche parte of the Scriptures, as you maie beste spare them, for the orderinge of their liues. Whereby it appeareth, that for quietinge of their Consciences in maters of Religion, and causes of Truthe, yée thinke it beste, they reade nothinge. And this, ye saie, ye are hable to answeare before the dreadful seate of Goddes Iudgemente. Touchinge the Truthe hereof, to saie so mutche, as might be saide, it woulde require greate waste of time. S. Augustine saithe, Si desit,1 aut ignoretur, quà eundum fit, quid prodest nosse, quò eundum fit? If ye haue not, or know not, what waie to goe, 2what shal it profite you to knowe, whither to goe? S. Hierome saithe, Vt maius est, voluntatem Domini facere, quàm nosse, ita prius est nosse, quàm facere. Illud Merito praecedit: Hoc ordine: As it is more, to doo the wil of our Lorde, then to knowe it: so the Knowlege of the same goeth before the Dooinge. In goodnesse, Dooinge goeth before: in order, Knowinge. Againe S. Augustine saithe, Si Scripturas Diuinas aut non legimus ipsi, aut legentes alios non libenter audimus, ipsa nobis medicamenta conuertuntur in vulnera: & inde habebimus Iudicium, vnde potuimus habere remedium: If we either reade not the Scriptures our selues, or be not desirous to heare others reade them, then are our Medicines turned into vvoundes: and then, vvhere vvee mighte haue had remedie, vvee shal haue Iudgemente. Sutche saieinges are common, and ordinarie in S. Chrysostome. Thus he saithe, 3Librum Diuinum accipiat aliquis in manum: conuocatisque proxìmìs, per Diuina eloquia riget & suam mentem, & conuenientium: vt sic Diabolicas insidias effugere valeamus: Let one of you take in hande the Holy Booke: and let him cal his Neighbours aboute him: and by the Heauenly vvoordes let him water, and refreashe bothe theire mindes, 4and also his owne. Againe he saithe, Poterimus & domi versantes, ante, & post Conuiuium, acceptis in manus Diuinis Libris, vtilitatem inde capere, & Spiritualem Cibum animae praebere.
- 1August. De Civita. Li. 11. Ca. 2. Hieronym. ad Demetriad. De Virginita tuenda.August. De Ciuita. Li. 11. Ca. 2. Hieronym. ad Demetriad. De Virginita tuenda.
- 2August. De Tempore, Sermo. 55.
- 3Chrysostom. in Genesim, Hom. 6.
- 4Chrysostom. in Genes. Homil. 10.
