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…

And if all the Scripture carry this light with it, it is clear that every book doth the same. Wherefore also the book of the Canticles of Solomon, entreating of our spiritual conjunction with our Saviour Christ, and that in most chaste, and ⟨p. 31⟩yet familiar speeches: it is meet for all ages. We agree that there may be a profitable discretion, of reading one book before another, and of reading one twice before another once. But forsomuch as the whole scripture is a letter sent from the almighty to his creature: there is no just cause why the¹ book of the Canticles, &c. should be plastered up, that young men & children should not read that part of the letter, as well as the rest. And howsoever Jerome in that place seem to allow the Jews devise which they saw, what time the veil was before their eyes: yet the same Jerome in another place, where he speaketh of th'education of a young maid of seven years old, sayeth, let her learn without book, the ²Psalter: and until she come to be marriageable, let her make the treasure of her heart, the books of Solomon, the Gospels, Apostles, and Prophets. Unless therefore you will deny, that the Canticles are amongst the books of Solomon; you shall be constrained to confess, that Jerome would not have the tender ages ⟨p. 32⟩shut out from the reading of them.³ Here the testimony of Josephus is notable, who affirmeth that if any asked any of the Jews concerning the law: they were aswell able to tell him, as their own names. And as for your argument, that the people should be no more loath to be ordered by their Pastors, in the reading of the Scriptures, then in th' use of the holy Sacraments: it is absurd. For the Lord commanded the father of the household, to teach his children at⁴ home, and by some opening to sharpen and set an edge of the doctrine of the law, that it might cut the deeper into their hearts: yet did not he suffer, that the householder should minister the Sacrament in his house. And your selves, which grant unto certain lay persons, leave to have th' use of the Bible: do you think it lawful also, that you may credit them with the administration of the Sacrament? Howbeit (indeed) you deal with the people much a-like, both in holding them from the reading of the Scriptures, and in excluding them