Likewise there being a certain promise, that those which abide in the word which they have believed, shall know 1the truth: it cannot be, but that the people doing that aswell as the Minister, shall for their proportion, be partakers of the promise aswell as he. Hitherto belongeth the plain and most usual words, the phrase and manner of speech most frequented, the comparisons and similitudes most familiar, taken out of the shops, and out of the fields, from husbandry and housewifery, ⟨p. 29⟩from the flock, and from the heard, from the plough, and the mow. For notwithstanding that it had been easy for the Lord by his learned Prophets and Apostles, and our Saviour Christ especially, to have flown up into the heavens, and to have gone down to hell, for comparisons to set forth his doctrine with: yet we see how he creepeth as it were upon the ground, in taking that which is before mens feet to clear his doctrine with. Wherefore? but that thereby he would notify unto the sons of men, that he wrote the Scriptures for the capacity & understanding of th'unlearned. Last of all when the whole body of the Scripture, from the head to the foot thereof, is termed a light & lantern, they2 must needs be the children of darkness, which breath and bluster darkness & obscurity continually against them. And therefore if it be hidden to any, it is hidden to those whose understandings the God of this world hath blinded, that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should not shine unto ⟨p. 30⟩them. This judgement of th'easiness and facility of the Scripture, have the ancient fathers. Origen saith that they3 are shut against the negligent, and open to those which knock & seek. Another, that4 all is clear and plain in holy Scriptures: whatsoever is necessary for us is manifest. Another, that the Lord hath spoken by his 5Gospel, not that a few, but that all should understand it: that Plato wrote his writings, but not to the people, but to a few, scarce three understanding him. Last of all, Cyril saith, that the Scriptures are profitably 6recommended unto us in an easy speech that they should not go beyond the capacity of any. Wherefore it is no Catholic, but the Pelagian judgement, that the 7Scripture is hard and fit for a few learned men. Your own Pope saith, that they are like a flood wherein the lame may wade 8and th'elephant may swim.
Likewise there being a certain promise, that those which abyde in the word which they haue beleeued, shall knowe 1the truth: it cānot be, but that the people doing that aswell as the Minister, shall for their proportion, be partakers of the promise aswell as he. Hitherto belongeth the plaine and most vsuall words, the phrase and manner of speach most frequented, the comparisons and similitudes most familiare, taken out of the shops, and out of the fieldes, from husbandry and houswiferie, ⟨p. 29⟩from the flock, and from the heard, from the plowe, and the mowe. For notwithstanding that it had bene easy for the Lord by his learned Prophetes and Apostles, and our Sauiour Christ especially, to haue flien vp into the heauens, and to haue gone downe to hell, for comparisons to set forth his doctrine with: yet we see how he cree peth as it were vpon the ground, in taking that which is before mens feet to clear his doctrine with. Wherfore? but that thereby he would notifie vnto the sonnes of men, that hee wrote the Scriptures for the capacitie & vnderstanding of th'vnlearned. Last of al when the whole body of the Scripture, from the head to the foote therof, is tearmed a light & lantern, they2 must needes be the children of darknesse, which breath and bluster darknesse & obscuritie continually against them. And therefore if it be hidden to any, it is hiddē to those whose vnderstandings the God of this worlde hath blinded, that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should not shine vnto ⟨p. 30⟩them. This iudgement of th'easines and facilitie of the Scripture, haue the auncient fathers. Origen saith that they3 are shut against the negligent, and open to those which knock & seeke. Another, that4 all is cleare and plaine in holie Scriptures: whatsoeuer is necessary for vs is manifest. Another, that the Lord hath spoken by his 5Gospell, not that a few, but that all shoulde vnderstand it: that Plato wrote his wrytings, but not to the people, but to a fewe, scarce three vnderstanding him. Last of al, Cyrill saith, that the Scriptures are profitably 6
- 1Joh. 8. 31 32Ioh. 8. 31 32
- 2Psal. 119 Proverb. 6 2 Pet. 1 2. Cor. •Psal. 119 Prouerb. 6 2 Pet. 1 2. Cor. •
- 3In Exo•ū hom. 9In Exo•ū hom. 9
- 4Chrysost. in 2. Thessal. 2 hom, 5
- 5Hieron. in Psal. 86
- 6Contra Julian. lib. 7 medium circiter libContra Iulian. lib. 7 medium circiter lib
- 7August. con tra Jul. lib. 5. cap. 1August. cō tra Iul. lib. 5. cap. 1
- 8Gr•gor. mag. Epist ad Leand. in expositione JobiGr•gor. mag. Epist ad Leand. in expositione Iobi