A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

¶ Of Monks.

¶ Of Moonkes.

If the name of Monks (that is to say solitary) be not sufficient to declare that those which at this day be named Monks, be nothing less then that which they be called, there be other reasons sufficient for to convince them. For ancient Monasteries were as Colleges, into the which men resorted for two causes. First, the better to be at quiet to study the Scriptures. The second to exercise patience, and austerity of life. Not withstanding, it was not to be strained and bound to one place during life without exception. But contrariwise ⟨p. 178⟩to be the more meet to serve the Churches, when they should be called and elected thereto, as it appeareth by Gregory Naziancene, Basil, and Chrysostom, and namely in Saint Augustine^a. To be idle, or not to work with the hands was intolerable: for on the contrary they lived only by the labour of their own hands, yea and they did give the rest of their labour to the poor. So that a Monk not travailing for his living, was esteemed as a Thief^b, according to the rule of saint Paul^c. And to put salvation partly or altogether in their abstinences, how extreme or hard so ever they were, they never thought it. For they knew very well what it was that Saint Paul had written of that point^d. Moreover Saint Augustine testifieth ^eand saith. Let none be oppressed above his power, least there be superstition in the abstinence of meat: for the weak refusing foolishly the use of Wine, were admonished brotherly, that by their superstition they brought them selves rather more