Therefore the Apostles of Christ, and all other godly Fathers have evermore encouraged the people to read the Scriptures: and evermore thought the Church of God to be in best case, when the people was best instructed. S. Paul saith, Let the Word of God dwell abundantly amongst you.1 Polycarpus2 saith to the people, Confido vos bene exercitatos esse in Sacris Literis: My trust is, that ye be well instructed in the Holy Scriptures. Origen3 saith unto his people, Give your diligence, not only to hear God's Word in the Church, but also to be exercised in the same in your houses at home, and day and night to be studious in the law of the Lord. S. Augustine4 saith, Read ye the Holy Scriptures. For to that end God would have them written, that we might receive comfort by them. S. Hierome5 saith, as it is alleged before, Laici, non tantùm sufficienter, sed etiam abundanter Verbum Dei habere debent, & see inuicem docere: The Lay People ought to have the Word of God, not only sufficiently, but also abundantly, and to instruct one an other. S. Chrysostom6 willeth the Father with his Child, and the Husband with his Wife, at home in his house to talk, and reason of the Word of God. Theodoretus writeth thus, Passim videas haec nostratia dogmata, &c. Ye may commonly see, that not only the Teachers of the People, and Rulers of the Churches, but also Tailors, Smiths, and Clothe workers, and other Artificers do understand the Principles of our Religion: And further, that not only learned women, if there be any such, but also such Women as live by their labour, and Sewsters, and Maid servants, but also Husbandmen, and Ditchers, and Herdmen, and Graffers can reason of the Holy Trinity, and of the Creation of the world, and of the Nature of mankind, a great deal more skilfully, then either Plato, or Aristotle was ever able to do. Therefore Origen7 saith unto his hearers of the Lay People, Me dicente, quod sentio, vos decernite, & examinate, si quid rectum est, aut minùs rectum: While I speak, that I think meet, examine, and judge you, whether it be well, or otherwise. Thus in old times the Vulgar People, and such as M. Harding calleth Swine, & Rude, and Rash people, and Curious Busy Bodies, were able not only to understand the Scriptures, but also to judge of their preachers.
Therefore the Apostles of Christe, and al other godly Fathers haue euermore incourraged the people to reade the Scriptures: and euermore thought ye Churche of God to be in best case, when ye people was best instructed. S. Paule saith, Let the Woorde of God dwelle abundantly emongest yowe.1 Polycarpus2 saithe to the people, Confido vos bene exercitatos esse in Sacris Literis: My trust is, that ye be wel instructed in the Holy Scriptures. Origen3 saith vnto his people, Geue your diligence, not onely to heare Goddes Woorde in the Churche, but also to be excercised in the same in youre houses at home, and daye and night to be studious in the lawe of the Lorde. S. Augustine4 saith, Reade ye the Holy Scriptures. For to that ende God woulde haue them written, that we might receiue comforte by them. S. Hierome5 saithe, as it is alleged before, Laici, non tantùm sufficienter, sed etiam abundanter Verbum Dei habere debent, & se inuicem docere: The Laye People ought to haue the Woorde of God, not onely sufficiently, but also abundantly, and to instructe one an other. S. Chrysostome6 willeth the Father with his Childe, and the Husbande with his Wife, at home in his house to talke, and reason of the Woorde of God. Theodoretus writeth thus, Passim videas haec nostratia dogmata, &c. Ye maie commonly see, that not onely the Teachers of the People, and Rulers of the Churches, but also Tailers, Smithes, and Clothe woorkers, and other Artificers doo vnderstande the Principles of our Religion: And further, that not onely learned wemenne, yf there be any suche, but also suche Wemenne as liue by their laboure, and Sewsters, and Maide seruantes, but also Husbandmenne, and Ditchers, and Heardmenne, and Graffers canne reason of the Holy Trinitie, and of the Creation of the worlde, and of the Nature of mankinde, a greate deale more skilfully, then either Plato, or Aristotle was euer hable to doo. Therefore Origen7 saithe vnto his hearers of the Laye People, Me dicente, quod sentio, vos decernite, & examinate, si quid rectum est, aut minùs rectum: While I speake, that I thinke meete, examine, and iudge yow, whether it be wel, or otherwise. Thus in olde times the Uulgare People, and suche as M. Hardinge calleth Swine, & Rude, and Rasshe people, and Curious Busie Bodies, were hable not onely to vnderstande the Scriptures, but also to iudge of their preachers.
- 1Coloss. 3.
- 2Polycarpu• ad Philippen.
- 3Origen. in Levi▪ homi. 9.Origen. in Leui▪ homi. 9.
- 4Augustin. in Psalm. 33.
- 5Hieronym. in Epist. ad Coloss. cap. 3.
- 6Chrysostom. in Johan. homi. 1. Theodoretus De natura hominis. lib. 5.Chrysostom. in Iohan. homi. 1. Theodoretus De natura hominis. lib. 5.
- 7Origen. in Joshua homi. 21.Origen. in Iosue homi. 21.
