Now, though the people know not the Latin tongue, and albeit it were better they had the Service in their own vulgar tongue, for the better understanding of it: yet as it is, for as much as 851 it consisteth in manner altogether of the Scriptures: that great profit cometh both to the reader and to the hearer of it, Origen showeth at large in the twentieth homily upon Joshua. Because it were over long to bring all that he saith there to this purpose, the sum of the whole may thus be abridged. First, that the heavenly powers, and Angels of God, which be within us, have great liking in our utterance of the words of the Scripture. Though we understand not the 862 words we utter with our mouth, yet those powers, saith he, understand them, and thereby be invited, and that with delight to help us. And speaking of the powers that be within us, to whom charge of our souls and bodies is committed, he saith, that if the Scriptures be read of us, they have pleasure therein, and be made the stronger toward taking heed to us, yea, and that if we speak with tongues, and our spirit pray, and our sense be without fruit. And there he allegeth to that purpose the common place of S. Paul to the Corinthians, calling it marvellous, and in manner a mystery, showing how the spirit prayeth, the sense being without fruit. After this, he declareth the evil powers and our ghostly enemy the Devil by our reading, and hearing of the Scriptures, to be driven from us. As by enchantments, saith he, Snakes be stayed from doing hurt with their venom, so if there be in us any Serpent of contrary power, or if any Snake wait privily to mischief us: by virtue of the holy Scripture rehearsed, (so that for weariness thou turn not away thy hearing) he is put away. S. Augustine3 confirmeth the same doctrine,4 where he saith, Psalmus Daemones fugat, Angelos in adiutorium inuitat. The Psalm (read devoutly or heard) putteth Devils to flight, and provoketh Angels to help. At length Origen showing how by meat, or drink, we find remedy for sore eyes, though we feel no benefit forth with in eating, or drinking (he concludeth his special part of comparison with these words):
Novve, though the people knovve not the Latine tonge, and albeit it vvere better they had the Seruice in their owne vulgare tonge, for the better vnderstandinge of it: yet as it is, for as much as 851 it consisteth in manner altogeather of the Scriptures: that greate profite cometh bothe to the reader and to the hearer of it, Origen sheweth at large in the twentith homil•e vpon Iosue. Because it were ouer longe to bringe al that he saithe there to this purpose, the summe of the whole maye thus be abbridged. First, that the heauenly powers, and Angels of God, whiche be within vs, haue greate likinge in our vtterance of the woordes of the Scripture. Though we vnderstande not the 862 woordes we vtter with our mouthe, yet those powers, saithe he, vnderstande them, and thereby be inuited, and that with delite to healpe vs. And speakinge of the powers that be within vs, to whome charge of our soules and bodies is committed, he saithe, that if the Scriptures be readde of vs, they haue pleasure therein, and be made the stronger towarde takinge heede to vs, yea, and that if we speake with tongues, and our spirite praie, and our sense be without fruite. And there he allegeth to that purpose the common place of S. Paule to the Corinthians, callinge it marueilous, and in maner a mysterie, shewinge how the spirite praieth, the sense beinge without fruite. After this, he declareth the euil powers and our ghostly ennemie the Diuel by our readinge, and hearinge of the Scriptures, to be driuen from vs. As by enchauntementes, saithe he, Snakes be staied from dooinge hurte with their venime, so if there be in vs any Serpent of contrary power, or if any Snake waite priuily to mischiefe vs: by vertue of the holy Scripture rehearsed, (so that for weerines thou tourne not away thy hearinge) he is put away. S. Augustine3 confirmeth the same doctrine,4 where he saithe, Psalmus Daemones fugat, Angelos in adiutorium inuitat. The Psalme (readde deuoutely or hearde) putteth Deuilles to flight, and prouoketh Angels to healpe. At length Origen shewinge howe by meate, or drinke, we finde remedie for sore eyes, though we feele no benefite foorth with in eatinge, or drinkinge (he concludeth his special parte of comparison with these woordes):
- 1The .85. untruth. In the Romish Service there are infinite vanities, besides the Scriptures.The .85. vntruth. In the Romishe Seruice there are infinite vanities, bisides the Scriptures.
- 2The .86. untruth. For Origen speaketh of the ignorance of the Allegory, not of the words.The .86. vntrueth. For Origen speaketh of the ignorāce of the Allegorie, not of the vvoordes.
- 3S. Augu•••• speaketh of uttering the psalms in a known tongue.S. Augu•••• speaketh of vtteringe the psalmes in a knovven tongue.
- 4In prologo Psalmorum.
