As it is noted by a Writer of late years, 1it was decreed in the First Council of Nice, that no Christian man should be without the Bilble in his house. S. Augustine saith unto the people, Nec solùm sufficiat, quòd in Ecclesia Divinas Lectiones auditis: Sed etiam in domibus vestris,2 aut ipsi legit, aut alios legentes requirite. Think it not sufficient, that ye hear the Scriptures in the Church: but also in your houses at home, either read your selves▪ or get some other to read unto you. S. Chrysostom saith unto his people, 3Admoneo, & rogo, ut libros comparetis: I warn you, and beseech you, to get books. Again he saith, Audite Saeculares omnes: Comparate vobis Biblia▪ animae Pharmaca. Si nihil aliud vultis, vel Novum Testamentum acquirite: Apostolum, Evangelia, Acta, continuos, & sedulos Doctores. Hear me, ye men of the World: get ye the Bible, that most wholesome remedy for the soul: If ye will nothing else, yet at the least get the New Testament, S. Pauls Epistles, and the Acts, that may be your continual, 4and earnest Teachers. Origen saith, Utinam omnes faceremus illud, quod Scriptum est, Scru•amini Scripturas: I would to God, we would all do, as it is written, Search the Scriptures. S. Hierome speaking of the Company of women, that was at Bethlehem with Paula, 5saith thus, Non licebat cuiquam Sororum, ignorare Psalmos, & non de Scripturis Sanctis quotidiè aliquid discere. It was not lawful for any one of all the Sisters, to be ignorant of the Psalms: nor to pass over any day, without learning some part of the Scriptures. In these Examples, notwithstanding some •avil perhaps might be made to the contrary, yet very reason will lead M. Harding to think, that these Fathers meant, the people should read the Scriptures in their own known, 6and Vulgar tongues. S. Basil saith, Quantum ferre potest humana natura, possumus esse Similes Deo: Similitudo autem illa sine cognitione nulla est: Cognitio autem constat ex Doctrina: Initium autem Doctrinae, Sermo est: Sermonis autem partes, Syllabae, & Voces. We may become like unto God, as far forth, as the weak nature of man can bear. But this likeness cannot be without knowledge: Neither this knowledge without Doctrine. And the beginning of Doctrine is speech: and the parts of speech be Words, and Syllables. The Resolution hereof is this:
As it is noted by a Writer of late yeeres, 1it was decréed in the First Councel of Nice, that no Christian man shoulde be without the Bilble in his house. S. Augustine saith vnto the people, Nec solùm sufficiat, quòd in Ecclesia Diuinas Lectiones auditis: Sed etiam in domibus vestris,2 aut ipsi legite, aut alios legentes requirite. Thinke it not sufficient, that ye heare the Scriptures in the Churche: but also in youre houses at home, either reade youre selues▪ or geate some other to reade vnto yowe. S. Chrysostome saith vnto his people, 3Admoneo, & rogo, vt libros comparetis: I warne yowe, and beseche yowe, to geate bookes. Againe he saith, Audite Saeculares omnes: Comparate vobis Biblia▪ animae Pharmaca. Si nihil aliud vultis, vel Nouum Testamentum acquirite: Apostolum, Euangelia, Acta, continuos, & sedulos Doctores. Heare me, ye menne of the Worlde: geate ye the Bible, that most holsome remedie for the soule: Yf ye wil nothinge els, yet at the least geate the Newe Testament, S. Paules Epistles, and the Actes, that maie be youre continual, 4and earnest Teachers. Origen saith, Vtinam omnes faceremus illud, quod Scriptum est, Scru•amini Scripturas: I woulde to God, we woulde al doo, as it is written, Searche the Scriptures. S. Hierome speakinge of the Companie of wemen, that was at Bethleem with Paula, 5saith thus, Non licebat cuiquam Sororum, ignorare Psalmos, & non de Scripturis Sanctis quotidiè aliquid discere. It was not lawfull for any one of al the Sisters, to be ignorant of the Psalmes: nor to passe ouer any daie, without learninge some parte of the Scriptures. In these Examples, notwithstandinge some •auil perhaps might be made to the contrary, yet very reason wil leade M. Hardinge to thinke, that these Fathers meante, the people shoulde reade the Scriptures in their owne knowen, 6and Uulgare tongues. S. Basile saith, Quantum ferre potest humana natura, possumus esse Similes Deo: Similitudo autem illa sine cognitione nulla est: Cognitio autem constat ex Doctrina: Initium autem Doctrinae, Sermo est: Sermonis autem partes, Syllabae, & Voces. Wee maie become like vnto God, as far foorth, as the weake nature of man can beare. But this likenes cannot be wthout knowledge: Neither this knowledge without Doctrine. And the beginninge of Doctrine is speache: and the partes of speache be Woordes, and Syllables. The Resolution hereof is this:
- 1Co•nel. Agrippa de Vani•ate Scientiarum.
- 2Augustin. in Capite Jeiunij.Augustin. in Capite Ieiunij.
- 3Chrysostom. in Johan. Chrysostom. in Epist. ad Coloss. homi. 9.Chrysostom. in Iohan. Chrysostom. in Epist. ad Coloss. homi. 9.
- 4Origen. in Isaiah. homi. 2.Origen. in Esai. homi. 2.
- 5Hieronym. in Epitaphio Pau••.
- 6Basilius de Spiritu Sancto. c. 1.
