Rainoldes. Then must you bid your Schoolmen now adieu, and agree with us in the division of the commandments; though we give you Clemens (whom father Robert citeth) and three or four voices more. Howbeit I can not urge you to do it, unless that you do it upon surer ground: because this ground is slabby, and the rule unsure for men to walk on. For, that the greater number of the Fathers expoundeth Scriptures worse sometimes then the lesser: it appeareth by the controversy between hAustin and iJerome, concerning the reproof of Peter: whether Paul rebuked him in earnest, as blameworthy; or dissembled with him, and made 1a dutiful lie, which Jerome termed 2an honest policy. For, kyour selves grant, that Austin (who thought that Paul reproved him in earnest) did judge therein more soundly & truly then Jerome did, who thought that he dissembled. Yet Jerome alleged more Fathers on his side▪ and made so great account of them, that lhe desired Austin to suffer him to err with such men if he thought him to err. Whereupon ⟨p. 78⟩mS. Austin replied, that peradventure he might find as many Fathers on his side, if he had read much. But I, saith he, have Paul the Apostle himself in stead of these all, and above these all. To him do I fly, to him I appeal from all the Doctors (his interpreters) who are of other minds. Of him do I ask, whereas he writeth to the Galatians, that he saw Peter not going with a right foot to the truth of the Gospel, and that he withstood him to his face for it, because by that dissembling he constrained the Gentiles to do like the Jews: whether he wrote true, or did lye perhaps *with I know not what politic falsehood. And I do hear him (a little before) making a very religious protestation, in the beginning of the same discourse, The things which I write unto you, behold, I witness before God, I lye not. Let them, who are of other minds, pardon me. I believe rather so great an Apostle, swearing in his own and for his own words, then any man be he never so learned, talking of the words of an other. A wise and free judgement, worthy of S. Austin. Whereby you may perceive that your rule of following the greater number of the Fathers in expounding the scriptures, is but a leaden rule, not fit which should be used to square out stones by, for building of the Lords temple.
Rainoldes. Then must you bidde your Schoolemen nowe adieu, and agree with vs in the diuision of the commandements; though we giue you Clemens (whom father Robert citeth) and three or foure voices more. Howbeit I can not vrge you to do it, vnlesse that you doo it vpon surer ground: because this ground is slabbie, and the rule vnsure for men to walke on. For, that the greater number of the Fathers expoundeth Scriptures woorse sometimes then the lesser: it appeareth by the controuersie betwéene hAustin and iIerom, concerning the reproofe of Peter: whether Paule rebuked him in earnest, as blameworthie; or dissembled with him, and made 1a duetifull lie, which Ierom termed 2an honest policie. For, kyour selues graunt, that Austin (who thought that Paule reproued him in earnest) did iudge therin more soundly & truely then Ierom did, who thought that he dissembled. Yet Ierom alleaged more Fathers on his side▪ and made so great account of them, that lhe desired Austin to suffer him to erre with such men if he thought him to erre. Whereupon ⟨p. 78⟩mS. Austin replyed, that peraduenture hee might finde as manie Fathers on his side, if he had read much. But I, saith he, haue Paule the Apostle himselfe in stead of these all, and aboue these all. To him do I flie, to him I appeale from all the Doctors (his interpreters) who are of other mindes. Of him do I aske, whereas he writeth to the Galatians, that hee sawe Peter not going with a ryght foote to the truth of the Gospell, and that hee withstood him to his face for it, bicause by that dissembling hee constrayned the Gentiles to doo lyke the Iewes: whether he wrote true, or did lye perhaps *with I know not what politike falshood. And I do heare him (a litle before) making a very religious protestation, in the beginning of the same discourse, The thynges whych I write vnto you, beholde, I witnes before God, I lye not. Let them, who are of other mindes, pardon me. I beleeue rather so great an Apostle, swearing in his owne and for his owne words, then anie man be he neuer so learned, talking of the words of an other. A wise and frée iudgement, worthie of S. Austin. Whereby you may perceiue that your rule of folowing the greater number of the Fathers in expounding the scriptures, is but a leaden rule, not fitte which should be vsed to square out stones by, for building of the Lords temple.
- hEpist. 19.
- iEpist. 11. inter epistolas August.Epist. 11. i•ter epistolas August.
- 1Mendacium officiosum. August.
- 2Hones•am. dispens•tionem. •ie•on.
- kConfess. Augustin. lib. 1. cap. 1. t•t. 1.Con•ess. Augustin. lib. 1. cap. 1. t•t. 1.
- lEpist. 11. inter epist. August.
- mEpist. 19.
- *Nescio qua dispensativa Falsitate.Nescio qua dispensatiua Falsitate.
