☞Eusebius. I will first declare, what is the true sense of the words of Christ,1 and then we shall see how well to the purpose thou haste alleged them. It is plain that by dogs & hogs, he doeth mean, all carnal, fleshly, cruel and bloodthirsty men: to whom in no respect appertaineth holy things, no more then pearls to hogs. And therefore the Lord willeth, that we do not wittingly manifest and declare the secretes of his Kingdom to such people, confirming the same by two pro••able arguments and reasons. The one, for the conservation of the word and doctrine. And the other for the preservation of the preachers & teachers of the same word. Least haply (saith he) they doe•reade them under their feet, and in returning do devour you. That which he speaketh of treading under their feet, is meant of the word of God, but that which he rehearseth of tearing or devouring, is meant of the ministers and preachers thereof. So that by these words his will is not, that the secrete mysteries of the Kingdom of GOD should not be published unto the world, ⟨image 34⟩or that we should not freely and expressly confess the verify of the Gospel of God before the Magistrates when we are called thereunto. As have done the Apostles & an infinite noun bre of martyrs before us. But rather, he doeth advise and persuade us by these sayings: that it is not good nor convenient rashly to declare unto wicked and carnal men, the mysteries of the christian faith, whereby commonly ensueth nothing else but contempt and derision of the same, with manifest danger of their lives. And to the same end & purpose he useth these words in the .x. of S. Matthew. Beware of men, and be wise as serpents. Doest not thou acknowledge and confess, Temporiser, that this is the true sense & meaning of the words of Christ?
☞Eusebius. I wyll fyrst declare, what is the trew sence of the wordes of Christ,1 and then we shall see howe well to the purpose thou haste alledged them. It is playne that by dogges & hogges, he doeth meane, all carnall, fleshely, cruell and bloudthurstye men: to whom in no respect appertayneth holy thinges, nomore then pearles to hogges. And therefore the Lorde wylleth, that we do not wittingly manifest and declare the secretes of his Kingdome to suche people, confyaminge thesame by two pro••able argumentes and reasons. The one, for the conseruation of the worde and doctryne. And the other for the preseruatiō of the preachers & teachers of thesame word. Least haplye (sayth he) they doe•reade them vnder theyr feete, and in retourning do deuoure you. That which he speaketh of treading vnder theyr feete, is meant of the worde of God, but that which he rehearseth of tenring or deuouring, is meante of the mynisters and preachers thereof. So that by these wordes hys wyll is not, that the secrete mysteries of the Kyngdomme of GOD shoulde not be publysshed vnto the worlde, ⟨image 34⟩or that we should not freely and expressely confesse the veryfie of the Gospell of God before the Maiestrates when we are called therunto. As haue done the Apostles & an infynite noū bre of martyrs before vs. But rather, he doeth adliyse and perswade vs by these sayinges: yt it is not good nor cōuenient rashely to declare vnto wicked and carnall men, the misteries of the christian fayth, whereby comenly ensueth nothing els but contempt and deri•io• of thesame, with manifeste daunger of theyr lyues. And to thesame ende & purpose he vseth these wordes in the .x. of S. Matheme. Beware of men, and be wyse as serpentes. Doest not thou acknowledge and confesse, Temporisour, that this is the trew sence & meaning of the wordes of Christ?
- 1Exposition upon the passage of S. Math. the. 7. cha.Expositiō vpon the passage of S. Math. the. 7. cha.
