Wherefore it were better they were taken from the unlearned, & reserved only for the reading of the learned. By the same reason also all holy scripture may be taken away. For Peter testifieth of them, that they are perverted of the unlearned, & those are unstable. What more reason is there why the use of holy scripture should be forbidden all men, because some by perverting of them have fallen to destruction, than that the use of fire & water should be debarred all men, because many have perished by them. Did the apostle write his epistles to the Bishops & other ministers of Christ only, & not rather to all faithful christians were at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Colossae, Philippos, Macedonia, &c? Did he write of such things only as appertained unto the learned, and not rather of such things as are necessary to be known of all, and concern the salvation of all? if he wrote to the learned only, why saith he? to all that be at Rome, and not rather to you learned Christians be at Rome. If he wrote of such things as concern the learned only (& yet wrote the gospel or glad tidings of salvation in Christ) why saith he?1 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, &c. But if both the holy man directed his writings unto all, & also the things contained in them do appertain unto all, why rob they the vulgar & common people or laity (as they term them) of that the holy ghost hath given unto them? I mean the light of the Apostolical doctrine & reading of the holy scriptures. Contrary to the mind of Chriso. Who vehemently exhorteth all christians,2 and specially the laity, that they should get them Bibles, or at the least the new Testament. Contrary to the mind of the holy Apostle, who saith, to the Colloss. Let the word of ⟨image 4⟩Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom,3 teaching & admonishing your own selves &c. Yea contrary to christ himself, who saith search the scriptures, &c. And yet they blush not, (how contrary soever they be to the pure doctrine of Christ & his apostles) to boast themselves for the only catholics of the world, & successors of Christ & his Apostles. But this is no new thing, for vice hath alway delighted in the cloak of virtue, superstition in the name of religion, and heretics in the name of catholics.
Wherefore it were better they were taken from the vnlearned, & reserued onely for the reading of the learned. By the same reason also all holy scripture may bee taken away. For Peter testifieth of them, that they are peruerted of the vnlearned, & those are vnstable. What more reason is there why the vse of holy scripture should bee forbidden all men, because some by peruerting of them haue fallen to destruction, thē that the vse of fire & water should be debarred al mē, because many haue perished by thē. Did the apostle write his epistles to the Bishops & other ministers of Christ only, & not rather to all faythful christiās were at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Collossa, Philippos, Macedonia, &c? Did he write of suche things only as apperteined vnto the learned, and not rather of such things as are necessarie to be knowen of all, and concerne the saluation of all? if he wrote to the learned only, why saith he? to all that be at Rome, and not rather to you learned Christians be at Rome. If he wrote of such things as concerne the learned only (& yet wrot the gospel or glad tidings of saluatiō in Christ) why saith he?1 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth, &c. But if both the holy man directed his writings vnto all, & also the thinges conteyned in them doe appertein vnto all, why rob they the vulgar & common people or laitie (as they terme them) of that the holy ghost hath giuen vnto thē? I meane the light of the Apostolicall doctrin & reading of the holy scriptures. Contrary to the minde of Chriso. Who vehemenly exhorteth all christians,2 and specially the laitie, that they should get them Bibles, or at the least the newe Testament. Contrary to the minde of the holy Apostle, who saith, to the Colloss. Let the worde of ⟨image 4⟩Christ dwel in you plēteously in al wisedom,3 teaching & admonishing your own selues &c. Yea contrary to christ himself, who saith search the scriptures, &c. And yet they blush not, (how contrary soeuer they be to the pure doctrin of Christ & his apostles) to boast thēselues for the only catholikes of the world, & successors of Christ & his Apostles. But this is no newe thing, for vice hath alway delited in the cloake of vertue, superstition in the name of religion, and heretikes in the name of catholiks.
- 1Rom. 1.5.
- 2Upon the epi. to the Collos. Hom. 9.Vpon the epi. to the Collos. Hom. 9.
- 3Colloss. 3.16. John. 5.39.Colloss. 3.16. Iohn. 5.39.
