Mark here the difference betwixt the Monks of Saint Basil, and Pope Hildebrands breeding. The Novices of the former were trained in the Scriptures, to the end they might not be accustomed unto humane traditions: those of the latter, to the clean contrary intent, were kept back from the study of the Scriptures, that they might be accustomed unto humane traditions. For this, by the foresaid author, is expressly noted of those Hildebrandine Monks, that they qpermitted not young men in their Monasteries to study this saving knowledge: to the end that their rude wit might be nourished with the husks of devils, which are the customs of humane traditions; that being accustomed to such filth, they might not taste how sweet the Lord was. And even thus in the times following, from Monks to Friars, and from them to secular Priests and Prelates, as it were by tradition from hand to hand, the like ungodly policy was continued, of keeping the common people from the knowledge of the Scriptures; as for other reasons, so likewise that by this means they might be drawn to humane traditions. Which was not only observed by ⟨p. 44⟩rErasmus, before ever Luther stirred against the Pope: but openly in a manner confessed afterwards by a bitter adversary of his, Petrus Suitor, a Carthusian Monk; who, among other inconveniences for which he would have the people debarred from reading the Scripture, allegeth this also for one. sWhereas many things are openly taught to be observed, which are not to be expressly had in the holy Scriptures: will not the simple people, observing these things, quickly murmur, and complain that so great burdens should be imposed upon them, whereby the liberty of the Gospel is so greatly impaired? Will not they also easily be drawn away from the observation of the ordinances of the Church, when they shall observe that they are not contained in the Law of Christ?
Marke here the difference betwixt the Monkes of Saint Basil, and Pope Hildebrands breeding. The Novices of the former were trayned in the Scriptures, to the end they might not be accustomed unto humane traditions: those of the latter, to the cleane contrarie intent, were kept back from the studie of the Scriptures, that they might be accustomed unto humane traditions. For this, by the foresaid author, is expressely noted of those Hildebrandine Monkes, that they qpermitted not yong men in their Monasteries to studie this saving knowledge: to the end that their rude wit might be nourished with the huskes of divels, which are the customes of humane traditions; that being accustomed to such filth, they might not taste how sweet the Lord was. And even thus in the times following, from Monkes to Friars, and from them to secular Priests and Prelates, as it were by tradition from hand to hand, the like ungodly policie was continued, of keeping the common people from the knowledge of the Scriptures; as for other reasons, so likewise that by this meanes they might be drawne to humane traditions. Which was not onely observed by ⟨p. 44⟩rErasmus, before ever Luther stirred against the Pope: but openly in a maner confessed afterwards by a bitter adversarie of his, Petrus Sutor, a Carthusian Monke; who, among other inconveniences for which he would have the people debarred from reading the Scripture, alledgeth this also for one. sWhereas manie things are openly taught to be observed, which are not to be expressely had in the holy Scriptures: will not the simple people, observing these things, quickly murmure, and complaine that so great burdens should be imposed upon them, whereby the libertie of the Gospell is so greatly impaired? Will not they also easily be drawne away from the observation of the ordinances of the Church, when they shall observe that they are not contained in the Law of Christ?
- qQui ne pueros quidem vel adolescentes permittunt in monasteriis habere studium salutaris scientiae: ut scilicet rude ingenium •utriatur siliquis daemoniorum, quae sunt consuetudines humanarum traditionum: ut ejusmodi spurcitiis assuefacti, non possint gustare quam suavis est Dominus. Lib. de Unitat. Eccles. pag. 22•.Qui ne pueros quidem vel adolescentes permittunt in monasteriis habere studium salutaris scientiae: ut scilicet rude ingenium •utriatur siliquis daemoniorum, quae sunt consuetudines humanarum traditionum: ut ejusmodi spurcitiis assuefacti, non possint gustare quam suavis est Dominus. Lib. de Vnitat. Eccles. pag. 22•.
- rVerùm enimveró vereor, ne isti qui velint populum nihil attingere, non tam periculo commoveantur illorum quàm sui respectu: videlicèt ut ab istis solis, velut ab oraculis petantur omnia. Quid hâc de rescriptum est? hoc scriptum est Quem habet sensum, quod scriptum est? Sic intellige, sic senti, sic loquere. Atqui istuc est bubalum esse, non hominem. Fortassis movet & nonnullos, quoniam animadvertunt divinam scripturam parùm quadrare ad vitam suam. malunt eam antiquary, aut certé nesciri; ne quid hinc jaciatur in os. Et ad humanas traditiunculas populum avocant, quas ipsi ad suam commoditatem probé commenti sunt. E. asm in ena•rat. 1. Psalmi, edit. an. 1515.Verùm enimveró vereor, ne isti qui velint populum nihil attingere, non tam periculo commoveantur illorum quàm sui respectu: videlicèt ut ab istis solis, velut ab oraculis petantur omnia. Quid hâc de rescriptum est? hoc scriptum est Quem habet sensum, quod scriptum est? Sic intellige, sic senti, sic loquere. Atqui istuc est bubalum esse, non hominem. Fortassis movet & nonnullos, quoniam animadvertunt divinam scripturam parùm quadrare ad vitam suam. malunt eam antiquari, aut certé nesciri; ne quid hinc jaciatur in os. Et ad humanas traditiunculas populum avocant, quas ipsi ad suam commoditatem probé commenti sunt. E. asm in ena•rat. 1. Psalmi, edit. ann. 1515.
- sCùm multa palàm tradantur observanda, quae sacris in literis expressé non habentur: nónne idiotae haec animadvertentes facilè murmurabunt, conquerentes cur tantae sibi imponantur sarcinae, quibus & libertas Evangelica ita graviter elevatur? Nónne & facilè retrahentur ab observantiâ institutionum Ecclesiasticarum, quando •as in lege Christi animadverterint non contineri? Sutor de tralatione Bibliae cap. 22. fol. 96. edit. Paris. an. 1525.
