First, because the Evangelist calleth them by no such names,1 which yet he would not have omitted, if the truth had been according to your tradition, considering ⟨p. 380⟩how this would have made for the honour of Christ, that so soon as he was borne, kings should have sought him far, and done unto him homage and worship. And when you maintain your opinion by this argument, for that it is honourable to the person of our saviour Christ that so we should think of them, you charge therein the holy Evangelist for omitting somewhat, that might have greatly advanced the honour of Christ, if he had truly and fully reported the same. Secondly, it is not credible, that Herods would have admitted into his kingdom and chief City three Kings with their troupes, especially there being enmity betwixt him and the kings of Persia: neither could they have so secretly come to our saviour Christ, and escaped out of the country again, but that being kings, and therefore no doubt accompanied in some princely sort, they must needs have been descried. Thirdly if they had been, as you imagine, kings, yea and Monarchs, as great as the king of France and Spain, or the great Sophie of Persia, which you suppose might be, then would they not have left our saviour Christ and his Mother in ⟨p. 381⟩that poor estate, that she was able to offer no more, but a pair of doves, according to the oblation of the poorest amongst the people. If you can remove the ground of these reasons, I will confess your opinion hath in it more probability then I thought, although to believe it, as you do, for a certain truth, I cannot, because thereof I know no sure reason can be alleged. The fathers I grant some of them speak of these wise men as of kings, taking that word in a larger sense, for great and honourable personages, such as may be thought that they were: but the ground of their opinion is a place of scripture misunderstood, in the 72. Psalm, concerning the kings of Tarshish, Arabia, and Sheba, that should bring gifts, which cannot be applied to these, for so much as those countries are not Eastward from Judea, and the scripture plainly saith, that these wise men came out of the East. Therefore whatsoever any father hath written to this purpose, is lightly to be regarded, having no better ground then a manifest wresting of scripture and turning South into East.
First, because the Euangelist calleth them by noe such names,1 which yet he would not haue omitted, if the truth had bene according to your tradition, considering ⟨p. 380⟩how this would haue made for the honour of Christ, that so soone as he was borne, kings should haue sought him far, and done vnto him homage and worship. And when you maintaine your opinion by this argument, for that it is honorable to the person of our sauiour Christ that so we should thinke of them, you charge therein the holy Euangelist for omitting somewhat, that might haue greatlie aduanced the honor of Christ, if he had truelie and fullie reported the same. Secondlie, it is not credible, that Herods would haue admitted into his kingdome and chiefe Citie three Kings with their troupes, especiallie there being enemity betwixt him and the kinges of Persia: neither could they haue so secretlie come to our sauiour Christ, and escaped out of the countrie againe, but that being kings, and therefore no dout accompanied in some princelie sorte, they muste needs haue bene discried. Thirdlie if they had bene, as you imagine, kings, yea and Monarches, as great as the king of France and Spayne, or the great Sophie of Persia, which you suppose might be, then would they not haue left our sauiour Christ and his Mother in ⟨p. 381⟩that poore estate, that she was able to offer no more, but a paire of doues, according to the oblation of the poorest amongst the people. If you can remooue the ground of these reasons, I will confesse your opinion hath in it more probability then I thought, although to beleeue it, as you do, for a certaine truth, I cannot, because thereof I know no sure reason can be alleadged. The fathers I graunt some of them speake of these wise men as of kings, taking that word in a larger sense, for great and honorable personages, such as may be thought that they were: but the ground of their opinion is a place of scripture misunderstoode, in the 72. Psalme, concerning the kings of Tharsis, Arabia, and Sheba, that should bring giftes, which cannot be applied to these, for so much as those countries are not Eastward from Iudea, and the scripture plainly saith, that these wise men came out of the East. Therefore whatsoeuer any father hath written to this purpose, is lightlie to be regarded, hauing no better ground then a manifest wresting of scripture and turning South into East.
- 1The wise me, that came to worship Christ, said to be kings against reason.The wise me, that came to worshippe Christ, said to be kinges against reason.
