In this place upon Joshua, 1he layeth this objection against him self. It may be said, The Scriptures be hard. He answereth, Yet, that not withstanding, if thou read them, they shall do thee good. For the Lord Jesus Christ, if he find us occupied in the Scriptures, and exercised in the study thereof, not only vouchsafeth him self to be refreshed, and fed in us, but also seeing such a banquet prepared, bringeth with him his Father unto us. In the end he concludeth thus: Haec idcirco diximus, ne fastidium capiamus audientes Scripturas, etiamsi eas non intelligamus. These things have I said, that we loth not to hear the Scriptures, although we understand them not. And thus much Origen spake, not of the Grammatical, or plain understanding of the Scriptures, that riseth of the letter, but of the Allegory, or profound sense, whereunto the unlearned can not well attain. For so he expoundeth his own meaning, writing upon the Gospel of S. Matthew. 2Etiam illi saluantur, qui Literam Evangelij, hoc est, simplicem narrationem sequuntur. Sola enim narratio simplex sufficit simplicioribus ad salutem. Even they be saved that follow the Letter, that is to say, The plain story of the Gospel. For only the simple story is sufficient unto the salvation of the simple. So far forth may the unlearned have profit by reading of the Scriptures, although he further understand them not. So likewise saith S. Augustine: 3Qui diligit Legem Dei, etiam, quod in ea non intelligit, honorar. Who so loveth the Law of God, honoureth in it even that thing, that he understandeth not. Likewise he confesseth of him self, that at his first entry into the Faith of Christ, he received great profit by reading the Epistle of S. Paul unto the Romans, 4although he were not then able throughly to conceive the meaning of it: And further that by the Counsel of S. Ambrose he read the Prophet Isaiah: 5And all though he fully understood him not, yet was he thereby made the meeter to receive the Grace of God. The like also writeth S. Hierome by way of Prophecy, of the later days before the coming of Christ. In aduentu Messiae populus elevabitur,6 & prophetabit, qui sub Magistris antè fuerat consopitus, & ibunt ad montes scripturarum: Ibi inuenient montes Mosen, & Joshua filium Nave, montes Prophe•as, montes Novi Testamenti, Apostolos, & Evangelistas:
In this place vpon Iosue, 1he layeth this obiection againste him selfe. It may be saide, The Scriptures be harde. He answeareth, Yet, that not withstandinge, if thou reade them, they shal doo thee good. For the Lorde Iesus Christe, if he finde vs occupied in the Scriptures, and exercised in the studie thereof, not onely vouchsafeth him selfe to be refreashed, and fedde in vs, but also seeinge suche a banket prepared, bringeth with him his Father vnto vs. In the ende he concludeth thus: Haec idcirco diximus, ne fastidium capiamus audientes Scripturas, etiamsi eas non intelligamus. These thinges haue I saide, that we lothe not to heare the Scriptures, although we vnderstande them not. And thus muche Origen spake, not of the Grammatical, or plaine vnderstandinge of the Scriptures, that riseth of the letter, but of the Allegorie, or profounde sense, whereunto the vnlearned can not wel atteine. For so he expoundeth his owne meaninge, writinge vpon the Gospel of S. Matthew. 2Etiam illi saluantur, qui Literam Euangelij, hoc est, simplicem narrationem sequuntur. Sola enim narratio simplex sufficit simplicioribus ad salutem. Euen they be saued that followe the Letter, that is to say, The plaine storie of the Gospel. For onely the simple storie is sufficient vnto the saluation of the simple. So farre foorth may the vnlearned haue profite by readinge of the Scriptures, although he further vnderstande them not. So likewise saith S. Augustine: 3Qui diligit Legem Dei, etiam, quod in ea non intelligit, honorar. Who so looueth the Lawe of God, honoureth in it euen that thinge, that he vnderstandeth not. Likewise he confesseth of him selfe, that at his first entrie into the Faithe of Christe, he receiued great profite by readinge the Epistle of S. Paule vnto the Romaines, 4although he were not then hable throughly to conceiue the meaninge of it: And further that by the Counsel of S. Ambrose he readde the Prophete Esaie: 5And al though he fully vnderstoode him not, yet was he therby made the meeter to receiue the Grace of God. The like also writeth S. Hierome by waie of Prophecie, of the later daies before the comminge of Christe. In aduentu Messiae populus eleuabitur,6 & prophetabit, qui sub Magistris antè fuerat consopitus, & ibunt ad montes scripturarum: Ibi inuenient montes Mosen, & Iosue filium Naue, montes Propheas, montes Noui Testamenti, Apostolos, & Euangelistas:
- 1Origen. in Joshua ho. 20.Origen. in Iosue ho. 20.
- 2Origen. in Matth. tract. 26.
- 3August. in Psalm. 119.
- 4August. Confess. li. 7. Ca. 12.
- 5August Confess. li. 9. Ca. 5.
- 6Hieronym. in Nahum Ca. 3.
