But ye will say, The Scriptures are hard, and above the reach of the people. Even so said the Pelagian Heretic Julianus. And therefore S. Augustine thus reproveth him for the same: 1Exaggeras, quàm sit difficilis, paucisque conueniens erudiris Sanctarum cognitio Literarum: Ye enlarge, and lay out with many words, how hard a matter the knowledge of the Scriptures is, and meet only for a few learned men. S. Chrysostom saith, Scripturae & Servo,2 & Rustico, & Viduae, & Puero, & illi, qui valdè imprudens esse videatur, faciles sunt ad intelligendum: The Scriptures are easy to the Slave, to the Husbandman, to the Widow, to the Child, and to him, that may seem to be very simple of understanding. 3S. Augustine saithe, Modus ipse dicendi, quo Sacra Scriptura contexitur, &c. quasi amicus familiaris, sine fuco ad cor loquitur indoctorum, atque doctorū: The phrase, or manner of speech, wherein the Scriptures are written, &c. speaketh without colour as a familiar friend unto the hart, as well of the Unlearned, as of the Learned. S. ⟨p. 590⟩Cyril saith, 4Scripturae, ut omnibus essent notae, paruis, & magnis, Utiliter familiari sermone commendatae sunt, ita ut nullius captum transcendant: The Scriptures, that they might be easy to all men, as well small, as great, are profitably set abroad in familiar speech: so, that they overreach no mans capacity. S. Augustine saith, Sunt quidam homines,5 qui, cùm audierint, quo'd debent esse humiles, nihil volunt discere: putantes, quo'd, si aliquid didicerint, Superbi erunt, &c. Hos reprehendit Scriptura: Somme men, when they hear say, they must be lowly, will learn nothing: thinking, that, if they learn any thing, they shall be proud. But these are reproved by the Scriptures. Likewise again S. Augustine saithe, 6Ipsa ignorantia in illis, qui intelligere noluerunt, sine dubitarione peccatum est: In eis autem, qui non potuerunt, est poena peccati. Ergo, in utrisque non est excusatio, sed justa damnatio: Ignorance in them, that would not understand, without doubt is sin: But in them, that could not understand, it is the punishment of sin. Therefore neither of them both hath good excuse: but either of them hath just damnation.
But ye wil saie, The Scriptures are harde, and aboue the reache of the people. Euen so saide ye Pelagian Heretique Iulianus. And therefore S. Augustine thus reproueth him for the same: 1Exaggeras, quàm sit difficilis, paucisque conueniens erudiris Sanctarum cognitio Literarum: Yee enlarge, and laie out with many wordes, how harde a mater the knowledge of the Scriptures is, and meete onely for a fewe learned men. S. Chrysostome saith, Scripturae & Seruo,2 & Rustico, & Viduae, & Puero, & illi, qui valdè imprudens esse videatur, faciles sunt ad intelligendum: The Scriptures are easy to the Sclaue, to the Husbandeman, to the Widovve, to the Childe, and to him, that maie seeme to be very simple of vnderstandinge. 3S. Augustine saithe, Modus ipse dicendi, quo Sacra Scriptura cōtexitur, &c. quasi amicus familiaris, sine fuco ad cor loquitur indoctorum, atque doctorū: The phrase, or māner of speache, wherein ye Scriptures are writtē, &c. speaketh wtout coloure as a familiare frend vnto the hart, as wel of ye Vnlearned, as of the Learned. S. ⟨p. 590⟩Cyril saithe, 4Scripturae, vt omnibus essent notae, paruis, & magnis, Vtiliter familiari sermone commendatae sunt, ita vt nullius captum trāscendant: The Scriptures, that they might be easy to al menne, as wel smal, as greate, are profitably set abroade in familiare speache: so, that they ouerreache no mannes capacitie. S. Augustine saith, Sunt quidam homines,5 qui, cùm audierint, quo'd debent esse humiles, nihil volunt discere: putantes, quo'd, si aliquid didicerint, Superbi erunt, &c. Hos reprehendit Scriptura: Somme menne, when they heare saie, they muste be lowly, wil learne nothing: thinking, that, if they learne any thinge, they shalbe prowde. But these are reproued by the Scriptures. Likewise againe S. Augustine saithe, 6Ipsa ignorantia in illis, qui intelligere noluerunt, sine dubitarione peccatum est: In eis autem, qui non potuerunt, est poena peccati. Ergo, in vtrisque non est excusatio, sed iusta damnatio: Ignorance in them, that woulde not vnderstande, without doubte is sinne: But in them, that coulde not vnderstande, it is the punishement of sinne. Therefore neither of them bothe hath good excuse: but either of them hath iuste damnation.
- 1Augusti. Contra Julian. Li. 5. Ca. 1Augusti. Contra Iulian. Li. 5. Ca. 1
- 2Chrysostom. in Matth. Homil. 1.
- 3Augusti. Episc 3.
- 4Cyrillus contra Julian. Lib. 7.Cyrillus contra Iulian. Lib. 7.
- 5Augu. in Psal. 131
- 6Augu. In Senten. exceptis ex Augustino, Pa. 1067.Augu. In Sēten. exceptis ex Augustino, Pa. 1067.
