That from S. Jeromes age errors & corruptions have still increased & multiplied,1 you affirm to be very probable. This was something faintly and doubtfully spoken. That it may seem unto you probable, is not sufficient to cause you cast away the Hebrew text, and take in stead thereof a latin translation, which to be since S. Jeromes time shamefully corrupted, is not only probable, but very certain and evident, as shall appear. So although it could be proved not only by probable conjectures, but by clear and substantial demonstrations, that the Hebrew Bibles were somewhere corrupted; yet for all that, no reason have our adversaries to make greater account of their latin translation, then of the Hebrew fountain, seeing it may and ⟨p. 279⟩shall effectuall• be declared, that the same vulgar latin translation, which by them is preferred to the room of the authentical written word of God, before the Hebrew and Greek originals, is full of gross faults, errors, & corruptions. Where I demand how the Church can say she hath kept faithfully the word of god, if she have lost the original text thereof, Master Rainolds answereth she hath conserved the scriptures faithfully, although not in this, or that language. But why in the Latin language more, then in the Hebrew, Greek, or any other, hath she conserved the scriptures? what think you of the Greek Church? Did she lose the word of God in her own tongue, and kept it in the latin? And must she now, & all other Churches in the world, fetch their text of scripture out of the latin translation? must only latin among them be used in sermons, lectures, disputations, and all other such exercises, as your fathers of Trent in their late meeting have appointed? Or grant you them rather no use of the scriptures at all, nor judge them Christians, because they will not be obedient to your Pope? whatsoever you say, no reason can ⟨p. 280⟩you show, why the Church should keep the word of God and Testament of Christ her spouse in an other tongue rather, then that wherein it was written and delivered unto her: why in the latin more, then in some other language, and specially the Greek, seeing that Church ever was larger in number and circuit then the latin, and now not any latin Church at all in the world remaining?
That from S. Ieromes age errors & corruptions haue stil encreased & multiplied,1 you affirme to be very probable. This was something faintlie and doubtfullie spoken. That it maie seeme vnto you probable, is not sufficient to cause you cast awaie the Hebrew texte, and take in stead thereof a latine translation, which to be since S. Ieromes time shamefullie corrupted, is not onelie probable, but verie certaine and euident, as shal appeere. So although it could be prooued not onelie by probable coniectures, but by cleare and substantiall demonstrations, that the Hebrewe Bibles were somewhere corrupted; yet for al that, no reason haue our aduersaries to make greater account of their latine translation, then of the Hebrew fountaine, seeing it may and ⟨p. 279⟩shall effectuall• be declared, that the same vulgare latine translation, which by them is preferred to the rome of the authentical written word of God, before the Hebrew and Greeke originals, is full of grosse faults, errours, & corruptions. Where I demaund how the Church can saie she hath kept faithfullie the word of god, if she haue lost the originall text thereof, Master Rainolds answereth she hath conserued the scriptures faithfullie, although not in this, or that language. But why in the Latine language more, then in the Hebrewe, Greeke, or anie other, hath she conserued the scriptures? what thinke you of the Greeke Church? Did shee lose the worde of God in her owne tongue, and kept it in the latine? And must she nowe, & al other Churces in the world, fetch their text of scripture out of the latine translation? must onelie latine among them be vsed in sermons, lectures, disputations, and all other such exercises, as your fathers of Trent in their late meeting haue appointed? Or graunt you them rather no vse of the scriptures at all, nor iudge them Christians, because they will not be obedient to your Pope? whatsoeuer you saie, no reason can ⟨p. 280⟩you shewe, whie the Church should keepe the word of God and Testament of Christ her spouse in an other tongue rather, then that wherein it was written and deliuered vnto her: whie in the latine more, then in some other language, and speciallie the Greeke, seing that Church euer was larger in number and circuite then the latine, and now not anie latine Church at all in the world remaining?
- 1Pag. 345.
