For he knoweth,1 that God commanded every of the people to write the Words of the law in the posts of their doors, & in the Borders of their coats. Likewise God commanded, that, who so would put away his wife, should first write a bill of divorce, & so put her from him. If M. Harding will say, Some one, or other, of these learned Elders, or Doctors might write it for them, Yet it is written thus in the Book of the Maccabees,2 Coepit populus Israël Scribere in tabulis. The people of Israel began to Write in their tables. It is written of Mordecai, That he wrote all that happened: 3That Jeremiah wrote the plagues, that were coming: and, that Baruch wrote the words of Jeremiah. And in the Gospel, the wicked Steward saith unto the debtor, Take thy bill, sit down, and write. Now, let M. Harding consider, how could all these Write, onles they could Read: and if they could not Read, to what end should they Write? Verily it appeareth not, that any of these,4 was of the three score, and twelve Elders. Likewise King Josiah found the Book of the Law in a wall, and Read it. When Christ Read, and expounded the Prophet Isaiah in the Synagogue,5 the people marvelled not at his Reading, for that was common, but only at his Exposition. Philip said unto the Chamberlain, Intelligis ea, quae legis? Understandest thou that thou Readest? And when Christ suffered upon the Cross,6 S. John saith, Hunc titulum multi Judaeorum legerunt. Many of the Jews Read that Title. 7And wherefore did the Rabbins take order, that none of the Lay People, before they came to certain years of age should Read, either the first Chapter of Genesis, or the Book of Canticles, or certain Chapters of the prophet Ezekiel, if none of all the people understood the Pricks, or Vowels, nor •oulde Read any thing at all? If there were nothing else, yet this thing only is sufficient, to descry M. Hardinges error. The Rabbins say, that in every town within the whole country of Israel there was a School:8 & that in Jerusalem there were four hundred Schools. And will M. Harding have us believe, that in so many Schools there was not one Scholar able to know his letters? How be it, he taketh it for no inconvenience, what so ever may help to serve his turn.
For he knoweth,1 that God commaunded euery of the people to write the Woordes of the lawe in the postes of their doores, & in the Borders of their coates. Likewise God commaunded, that, who so woulde put awaie his wyfe, should first write a bille of diuorse, & so put her from him. If M. Hardinge wil saie, Some one, or other, of these learned Elders, or Doctours might write it for them, Yet it is written thus in ye Booke of the Machabees,2 Coepit populus Israël Scribere in tabulis. The people of Israel began to Write in their tables. It is written of Mardocheus, That he wrote al that happened: 3That Hieremie wrote the plagues, that were comminge: and, that Baruch wrote the woordes of Hieremie. And in the Gospel, the wicked Steward saith vnto the debter, Take thy bille, sitte downe, and write. Nowe, let M. Hardinge cōsider, howe could al these Write, onles they coulde Reade: and yf they coulde not Reade, to what ende shoulde they Write? Uerily it appeareth not, that any of these,4 was of the thrée scoare, and twelue Elders. Likewise Kinge Iosias founde the Booke of the Lawe in a walle, and Read it. When Christe Read, and expounded the Prophete Esai in the Synagoge,5 the people marueiled not at his Readinge, for that was common, but onely at his Exposition. Philip said vnto the Chamberlaine, Intelligis ea, quae legis? Vnderstandest thou that thowe Readest? And whē Christ suffered vpon ye Crosse,6 S. Iohn saith, Hunc titulum multi Iudaeorum legerunt. Many of the Iewes Read that Title. 7And wherefore did the Rabines take order, yt none of the Laye People, before they came to certaine yeeres of age shoulde Reade, either the first Chapter of Genesis, or the Booke of Canticles, or certaine Chapters of the prophete Ezechiel, if none of al the people vnderstoode the Prickes, or Uowelles, nor •oulde Read any thinge at al? Yf there were nothinge els, yet this thing onely is sufficient, to discrie M. Hardinges errour. The Rabines saie, yt in euery towne within the whole coūtrie of Israel there was a Schoole:8
- 1Deuteron. 11. Deuteron. 24.
- 2Machabaeor. 1•. Esther. 9.
- 3Hieremi. 51. Baruch. 1. […]16.Hieremi. 51. Baruch. 1. 〈…〉16.
- 42. Regum. 23.
- 5Lucas. 4. Actorum. 8.Luca•. 4. Actorum. 8.
- 6Johan. 19.Iohan. 19.
- 7Origen. in Cantica, in prologo.
- 8Paulus Phagiu• In Leviticum. cap. 23.Paulus Phagiu• In Leuiticum. cap. 23.
