Sin theoni en christoni the answer to the preface of the Rhemish Testament. By…Syn theōi en christōi the ansvvere to the preface of the Rhemish Testament. By…

yet it being kept close prisoner, that it could neither come ⟨p. 6⟩to the people, nor the people to it: it is all one in this question, whether there were none, or no use of them. And if they both were, and were used: yet for so much as, by their own confession, they were permitted to wring out of the peoples hands the translation whereby the Popish Church was besieged: it is evident, that you permit it not either in reverence to the holy scriptures, or love to the people; but rather as desperate enemies, which had rather kill with it, then that the head of your gainful errors should be stricken of by it. And it fareth altogether with you in this point, as with men which having a natural hatred of cheese, or some such food, in such sort as the very sight or touch of it doth offend them: yet being effamished, are content for the safety of their lives even to eat it. For abhorring from the scriptures in time of your peace: when it cometh that you and your state is plunged by such as you call baeretickes; you are glade to bite or ⟨p. 7⟩nibble upon the scriptures, if haply you can get any thing to serve the praesent need. But tell us (go•d sirs) is the reading of the scriptures by the people, like unto Strawberries, that are good only in some season of the year? is it physic when men are sick and not meat when they be whole? is it treacle to drive out poison, and not preservative to keep from it? hath it strength to put the enemy to flight, and hath it none to hinder his approach? finally is it good to weed, & not to plant? The contrary whereof is rather true. For if it be able to heal a sick man, it is much more able to keep him whole which is already in health: & if it be meet to give light to the simple, when the heavens are overcast with the mist and cloud of heresy; it is much more forcible to show the way, when they are not so clouded. It is therefore a sottish distinction which the Jesuits use, in making the peoples reading of the Scripture dangerous in time of peace, and profitable when th'enemy ⟨p. 8⟩(by heresy) hath made a broil. How beit admitting that the peoples harvest of reading the Scripture, is only in foul weather:

yet it being kept close prisoner, that it coulde neither come