In Defense of the True Church of God, Treatise · Section 14
Of Hieronymus.
Hierome by his labour did much profite the Churche in his tranſlations:Sanctus Hie…onymus Stridonenſis per totum …errarum orbē notus in Bethleem illustris habitat, Anno 387. and though his interpretations vppon the Prophetes are but ſlender, yet the expoſition of the Hiſtories deriued from the auncient Fathers, is profitable. Touching doctrines hee wrote few things. Agaynſt Iouinian, he greatly confirmeth falſe & ſuperſtitious opinions touching mans traditions.Writing againſt Iouinianus he confirmeth ſuperſtitious doctrine, touching man… traditions. Hee diſprayſeth marriage, and inueigheth agaynſt it with reprochefull ſpeech, which is not … nor ſeming worthy for a Chriſtian ſo to do. He gathereth ſentēces of Scripture very euill wreſted as thogh they diſpraiſed marriage, as this one, namely, If you liue according to the fleſh, you ſhal die. Rom. 8. & ſuch others. And he ſayeth expreſſely, that the woman which marrieth agayne after ſhe hath been already twice married,His miſtaking of matrimony: nothing differeth from a whore. Alſo he affirmeth, That we muſt regarde, Not ſomuch what God graunteth vsus; but what hee will hauehave vsus doe, as though God woulde not hauehave marriage.
Finally after the manner of Ethni…es, hee collecteth common places of reprac…es agaynſt the feminine ſexe and agaynſt marriage, of whom a Chriſtian …ght …arre otherwiſe too iudge. Who knoweth, that the cauſe of infirnity in both ſexes, is the corruption of nature, And yet notwithſtanding wee muſte attribute a kynde of honor or dignity vntounto the ſexe, becauſe God hath ſo commaunded.
And ſeeing God hath not in vayne created both ſexe, we muſt acknowledge that it is the woorke of God, and an ordinaunce to be highly eſteemed of. Neyther is the infir…ty of mynd leſſe in the men, in accompliſhing ſuch thinges, which are enioyned them. But a Chriſtian ought for Gods ſake to beare withall and tollerate the imbecillity or weakenes in the ſociates or companions of this life, wt are adioyned by Gods ordinaunce, and as the Coheyres of eternall glory, & he knoweth that it is Gods will we ſhould care for them. as for part of mankinde: and that not through Diueliſhe pride we ſhoulde once deſpiſe, nor deiect them.
Theſe & ſuch others touching this opiniō, might rather hauehave byn ſpokē by way of Chriſtiā diſputation, thē thoſe vnreuerent reproches of the ſexe or kind & of Gods ordinance.
Touching difference of meates, hee commendeth ordinaunces inſtituted without the worde of God,His errors touching difference of meats. as if they were the commandements of God, yea hee eſteemeth them, for perfection of matter, too ſerue his purpoſe withall. It is a fooliſh ſpeeche which hee alludeth herevnto,Rom. 14. If thou wilte bee perfect, it is beſt for thee to drinke no wine, and to eate no fleſh, where he hath not well applyed that ſaying of Paule, where hee ſayeth: It is beſt for thee too eate no fleſhe, (he addeth) If the example thereof offend thy Brother. But ſeeyng it is needefull that ſuch ſuperſtitions ſhoulde be reprehended in the church, (for they bringfoorth many errours) we muſt therfore wiſely iudge of thoſe and ſuch like ſayinges ſo vnaduiſedly vttered.
In his Dialogue agaynſt Pelagius he doth rightly diſpute,His right opinion touching mans regeneration. That mans regeneration may not onelyonly be by force of free wil: but that it hath neede of the helpe of the holy Ghoſt. For hee rightly denieth that the holy ones of God are without ſinne, and hee alludeth one ſentence worthy of remembrance, which is this: Then are we iuſt, when we confeſſe our ſelues too be ſinners, and that our righteouſnes commeth not by any merite in vsus, but by the mercy of God. But afterwardes he ſpeaketh not ſufficiently to this purpoſe,His miſvnderſtanding of ſinnes. he vnderſtandeth the ſinnes of Sayntes ſo touching actuall ſinnes: as the burning flambes of luſtes or anger, and ſuch other like, hee vnderſtandeth them not, touching the inward and perpetuall doubting ſecurity and concupiſcence.In Hieromes wrytings are many and no ſmal errours. Therefore it is manifeſt that in the writings of Hierom there are many and no ſmall erroures.