Yet their great Tostatus might have taught them, qthat this argument holdeth not: Such a one knoweth some conclusion, that Augustine did not know; therefore he is wiser then Augustine. Because, as a certain skilful Physician said, the men of our time being compared with the ancient, are like unto a little man set upon a Giants neck, compared with the Giant himself. For as that little man placed there, seeth whatsoever the Giant seeth, and somewhat more; and yet if he be taken down from the Giants neck, would see little or nothing in comparison of the Giant: even so we being settled upon the wits and works of the ancient, it were not to be wondered, nay it should be very agreeable unto reason, that we should see whatsoever they saw, and somewhat more. Though yet (saith he) we do not profess so much. And even to the same effect speaketh Friar Stella: that though it be far from him to condemn the common exposition given by the ancient holy Doctors; ryet he knoweth full well, that Pygmies being put upon Giants shoulders, do see further then the Giants themselves. Salmeron addeth, sthat by the increase of time, divine mysteries have been made known, which before were hid from many: so that to know them now, is to be attributed unto the benefit of the time, not that we are better then our Fathers were. Bishop Fisher, ⟨p. 34⟩tthat it cannot be obscure unto any, that many things, as well in the Gospels as in the rest of the Scriptures, are now more exquisitely discussed by latter wits, and more clearly understood, then they have been heretofore. Either by reason that the ice was not as yet broken unto the ancient, neither did their age suffice to weigh exactly that whole sea of the Scriptures: or because in this most large field of the Scriptures, even after the most diligent reapers, some ears will remain to be gathered, as yet untouched. Hereupon Cardinal Caietan, in the beginning of his Commentaries upon Moses, adviseth his Reader, unot to loath the new sense of the holy Scripture for this, that it dissenteth from the ancient Doctors: but to search more exactly the text and context of the Scripture; and if he find it agree, to praise God, that hath not tied the exposition of the Scriptures to the senses of the ancient Doctors.
Yet their great Tostatus might have taught them, qthat this argument holdeth not: Such a one knoweth some conclusion, that Augustine did not know; therefore he is wiser then Augustine. Because, as a certaine skilfull Physician said, the men of our time being compared vvith the ancient, are like unto a little man set upon a Giants neck, compared with the Giant himselfe. For as that little man placed there, seeth whatsoever the Giant seeth, and somewhat more; and yet if he be taken downe from the Giants neck, would see little or nothing in comparison of the Giant: even so we being setled upon the wits and workes of the ancient, it were not to be wondred, nay it should be very agreeable unto reason, that we should see whatsoever they saw, and somewhat more. Though yet (saith he) wee doe not professe so much. And even to the same effect speaketh Friar Stella: that though it be farre from him to condemne the common exposition given by the ancient holy Doctors; ryet he knoweth full well, that Pygmeis being put upon Gyants shoulders, doe see further then the Gyants themselves. Salmeron addeth, sthat by the increase of time, divine mysteries have beene made knowen, which before were hid from many: so that to know them now, is to be attributed unto the benefite of the time, not that we are better then our Fathers were. Bishop Fisher, ⟨p. 34⟩tthat it cannot be obscure unto any, that many things, as well in the Gospels as in the rest of the Scriptures, are now more exquisitely discussed by latter wits, and more clearely understood, then they have beene heretofore. Either by reason that the yce was not as yet broken unto the ancient, neither did their age suffice to weigh exactly that vvhole sea of the Scriptures: or because in this most large field of the Scriptures, even after the most diligent reapers, some eares will remaine to be gathered, as yet untouched. Hereupon Cardinall Caietan, in the beginning of his Commentaries upon Moses, adviseth his Reader, unot to loath the new sense of the holy Scripture for this, that it dissenteth from the ancient Doctors: but to search more exactly the text and context of the Scripture; and if he find it agree, to praise God, that hath not tyed the exposition of the Scriptures to the senses of the ancient Doctors.
- qSed nec ista argumentatio valet, see. Iste homo s•it aliquam conclusionem, quam nescivit Aug. e•go est sapientior Aug. Et sicut quidam peritus medicus dixit, homines nostri temporis ad antiquos comparantur, sicut pusillus homo positus collo Gigantis ad ipsum Gigantē Nam pusillus ibi positus videt quicquid vidit Gigas, & insuper plus; & tamen si deponatur de collo Gigantis, parùm aut nihil videbit ad Gigantem collatus. Ita & no• firmati super ingenia antiquorum & opera eorum, non esset admirandum, immo foret valde rationabile, si videremus quidquid illi viderunt, & insuper plus: licèt hoc adhuc non profitemur. Abulens. 2. part. D•fensor. cap. 18.Sed nec ista argumentatio valet, se. Iste homo s•it aliquam conclusionem, quam nescivit Aug. e•go est sapientior Aug. Et sicut quidam peritus medicus dixit, homines nostri temporis ad antiquos comparantur, sicut pusillus homo positus collo Gigantis ad ipsum Gigantē Nam pusillus ibi positus videt quicquid vidit Gigas, & insuper plus; & tamen si deponatur de collo Gigantis, parùm aut nihil videbit ad Gigantem collatus. Ita & no• firmati super ingenia antiquorum & opera eorum, non esset admirandum, immo foret valde rationabile, si videremus quidquid illi viderunt, & insuper plus: licèt hoc adhuc non profitemur. Abulens. 2. part. D•fensor. cap. 18.
- rBene tamen sci•us, Pygmaeos Gigantum humeris impositos, plusquam ipsos Gigantes videre. Stella, enarrat. in Luc. cap. 10.
- sPer incrementa temporum nota facta sunt divina mysteria, quae tamen anteà multos latuerunt: ita ut hoc loco nôsse, beneficium sit temporis, non quòd nos meliores simus, quàm Patres nostri. Salmeron. in epist. ad Roman. lib. 2. disput. •1.
- tNeque cuinquā obscurum est, quin posterioribus ingeniis multa sint, tam ex evangeliis, quàm ex scripturis caeteris, nunc excussa luculentiùs, & intellecta perspicaciùs, quàm fuerant olim. Nimirum, aut quia veteribus adhuc non erat perfracta glacies, neque sufficiebat illorum aetas, totū illud scripturarū pelagus ad amussim expendere: aut quia semper in amplissimo scripturarū campo post messores quantumvis exquisitissimos, spicas adhuc intactas licebit colligere. Rossens confutat. Assert. Lutheran. artic. 18.
