Justification of the Religion Now Professed in England, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. Of the reading and expounding to the people the word of God, and not the Legends and fables of men.
Now it followeth to proceed to declare the like in the ſundry parts of Gods Seruice. The chiefe parts of diuine Seruice (as the Apoſtles teach, ſpeaking of their miniſtry to whom firſt the diſpenſation of Chriſtian Religion, and of the myſteries of God, and the whole adminiſtration of Gods Seruice then was committed) conſiſteth in the Word of God, whereunto belong the Sacraments as viſible words, ſetting out the ſame doctrine of the Goſpel; and in Prayer whereunto alſo thankſgiuing is to be referred. For thus are performed whatſoeuer the Miniſters are to declare vntounto the Church in Gods behalfe, and what duty and ſeruice the Church offereth vntounto God on their part. Wherefore all Diuine Seruice conſiſting in theſe two principall partes; and the former hereof b…ing the adminiſtration of the word, and that firſt in the reading and expounding of the Scriptures: the next thing to bee ſhewed is, that our Religion and ſeruice of God in England, in that concerneth the reading and expounding the word of God and no Legends or fables, is ſuch as was taught by Ieſus Chriſt and his Apoſtles.
For clearing whereof, it is fi…ſt to be vnderſtood, that in England it is appointed that the holy Scriptures, the writings of Moyſes, the Prophets, and Apoſtles, be read vntounto the people, and not any Legends of Saints (as they are called) or other like vncertaine or fabulous writings, as hauehave beene vſed and commanded to bee read in the churches ſubiect to the Sea of Rome. Now th…s to ſerue God, that our Sauiour Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, hauehave taught, may appeare by their doctrine and practiſe.
Luke 16.29, 31.Our Sauiour Chriſt ſaith by Abraham, They hauehave Moyſes and the Prophets, heare they them. And againe, If they heare not Moyſes and the Prophets, th…y would not bee perſwaded, no although one ſhould riſe from the dead. Againe, hee ſayth, Search ye the Scriptures, Iohn 5.39. Math. 22.29. Math. 12.3.7. & 21.1…, 4….& Ye are deceiued becauſe ye know not the Scriptures. And how often doth he ſay, HaueHave ye not heard, how reade you? and with many like ſpeeches referring them to the Doctrine of the Scr…ptures, declareth the ordinance of God, the duty of the people, and the practiſe of the Church at that time, to hauehave beene ſuch, as that in the publique aſſemblies that which was read and taught the people was the word of God, and not any fables of the Iewes.
Luke 4.16, 31Further alſo the practiſe of our Sauiour was agreeable thereunto, for it is noted to hauehave beene his manner and cuſtome, vponupon the Sabbath dayes, wherein Moyſes was read and expounded vntounto the Church, to enter into the Synagogues and to teach the people.
Now this cuſtome of his in one place, is ſo particularly r…ported, as that it is ſaid that hee came to Nazareth where hee had beene brought vp, and entered according as he had beene wont into the Synagogue vponupon the Sabbath day, and ſtood vp to reade; then there was deliuered vntounto him the booke of Eſay the Prophet, which he hauing vnfolded & opened, found the place where it was written, The Spirit of God, &c. verſe 17.Which text after hee had read, hee expounded vntounto them, and out of it preached the Goſpell of the kingdome of God vntounto them.
And it is further added, that the people heard him and the eyes of all that were in the Synagogue were faſtn…d vponupon him: By which place it is manifeſt that our Sauiour Chriſt by this example and cuſtome of his, did reade and expound the word of God,verſe 20. the writings of the holy Scriptures giuen by diuine inſpiration, which are the bookes that ought to be read and expounded and pre…ched vponupon in all Chriſtian Churches, and not vaine diſcourſes ſuch as the Apoſtle calleth old wiues tales.
This alſo was the doctrine and vſe of the Apoſtles: For being followers of Chriſt, all their Doctrine was out of the Scriptures, as it appeareth by that is ſayd Acts 2.4…. That the Church continued in the Doctrine of the Apoſtl…s.
And in the ſame Chap. the Apoſtle Peter, is ſhewed to hauehave taught the D…ctrine of the reſurrection of Chriſt, out of the Pſalmes: Likewiſe the ſame Apoſtle writing to the diſperſed Iewes, 2 Pet. 1.19.doth commend them for attending to the words of the Prophets.Ephe. 2.20. Likewiſe by the Apoſtle Paul, it is written, that the Church is builded vponupon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Ieſus Chriſt being the low cornerſtone; which is ſpoken, in reſpect of their Doctrine preached by them, in their time, and after for the ſubſtance of it ſet downe in writing by the will of God, for the vſe of the Church for euer.
This appeareth alſo, in that the Scripture giuen by the inſpiration of God,Rom. 15.4. is ſayd, to bee that which is written,2, Tim. 3.10.17. to teach vsus, to comfort, to reforme, to rebuke, and to inſtruct in all righteouſneſſe, to make a man wiſe to Saluation by faith in Chriſt, and to make the man of God perfect, fully furniſhed for any good worke. Therefore according to the auncient ordinance of God, Moyſes (that is,Act. 15.21. the Law and bookes written by Moyſes) were vſed to bee read (as the Apoſtle Iames teſtifieth) eueryevery Sabbath day in the Synagogues. The writings of the Prophets alſo were ſo read amongſt them, as it appeareth by that is written Acts 13. that after the reading of the Law, and of the Prophets, the Apoſtle Paul preached in the Synagogue at Antioche. And of the ſame Apoſtle it is ſayd, that he confirmed Ieſus to bee Chriſt; that is, the Meſſias promiſed of God, by proofes taken out of the Scriptures,Act. 26.…2. and is hee teſtifieth of him ſelfe, hee taught nothing beſides that, which had bin taught before in the Law, and in the Prophets.
Thus by all theſe euidences it is manifeſt, that our Religion in England, concerning this part of the Seruice of God, is the ſame which was taught by our Sauiour Chriſt, and by his Apoſtles, viz. in that the holy Scriptures are publiquely read vntounto the people, and alſo the people is taught Chriſtian Religion by the expounding and preaching of the ſame vntounto them; and that no fooliſh fables, nor old wiues tales, are read vntounto them, as they are read vntounto the people vnderunder the Popes gouernement, which ought not to bee.
Of this ſort are the Legends of Saints, and namely Legenda aurea, that is, the golden Legend, containing a report of the Liues and miracles of Saints. But howſoeuer they hauehave named it a golden booke, yet ſome of their owne writers of beſt iudgement, (as Ludouicus Vi…es) cenſure it for a booke written by a man of a leaden heart, (which is for the baſeneſſe of the reports, that are without wit or reaſon) and of a braſen forehead, which is for the ſhameleſſe and impudent boldneſſe, reporting things ſo fab…lous and incredible; It needeth not to proue this by ſundry particulars.
This is playne, by ſtrange deuiſes and reports, concerning perſons that neuer were, for any thing that appeareth by any ſtory of credit, as of St. George, St. Chriſtopher St. Catherine and ſuch like fictions, deuices for inſtructions of life, as Eſops Fables were for morals. It is likewiſe manifeſt in many other of ſuch as hauehave beene, and are mentioned by Hiſtoriographers, but the reports there made of them, are ſo incredible, ſo fabulous, ſo homely, and ſo ridiculous, as they are not tollerable to b…e read in any moſt baſe company, much leſſe in the Ecleſiaſticall aſſemblies, of a people profeſſing to come together to learne to know the will of God, and to offer vntounto him their ſeruice and prayers.
Now that ſuch things ought not to bee read in the Church, is manifeſt, becauſe the Lord forbiddeth to adde to his word,Deut. 4.2. and hee hath giuen no commandement of hearing any but his owne Sonne, of whom it is ſaid,Math. 17.5. Heare yee him. The Scriptures of Diuine inſpiration, are the onelyonly light that God hath giuen vsus to bee directed by, in things concerning his Seruice; For of them onelyonly it is ſayd, That they are a Lanterne vntounto our feet, Pſal. 19.and a light vntounto our ſteps. That they are written for our learning, Rom. 15.4. That by patience and conſolation of the Scripture, wee might hauehave hope. 2 Tim. 3.15.Likewiſe, wee are taught, That the Scriptures are able to make a man wiſe to ſaluation by faith which is in Chriſt Ieſus; and finally, that they are of vſe, for doctrine, reproofe, reformation, and inſtruction in righteouſneſſe, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. 1 Tim. 1.4. & 4.7. 2 Tim. 4.3 4. Tit. 1.14.that the man of God may bee made perfect, and fully accompliſhed for eueryevery good worke and duty. But on the contrary part, there is expreſſe Charge giuen, not to attend to fables, which are alſo called prophane fables, Iewiſh fables, and old wiues tales, whereof the Apoſtle giueth ſo much greater charge becauſe hee did foreſee and propheſie, that ſuch times would come in the Church, that men would turne away their eares from hearing ſound Doctrine, and would turne them to the hearing of tales and fables. And as this part of the myſtery of iniquities was then foreſhewed, ſo after it mightily preuailed, and yet doth in the Church of Rome, but not of many ages after the Apoſtles time. For Iuſtin Martyr reporting to the Emperour Antoninus, the order of diuine Seruice vſed by the Churches of Chriſt in his time, ſayth, that they read the writings of the Prophets and Apoſtles, and after had exhortations made vntounto them, grounded vponupon the ſame. Likewiſe Tertullian declareth after his report of the Prayers of the Church,Lib. apologet. that they met together alſo to heare the reading of the Scriptures, for ſaith hee, With ſuch holy voyces (meaning the Scriptures) wee feede our faith, raiſe our hope, faſten our confidence, and ſtrengthen good order by often mention of the precepts, and further ſaith, that they had alſo exhortation and reproofes, and exerciſe of diuine Cenſures.
After when by proceſſe of time ſ…ch corruptiō entered, as that other writings beſides the holy Scriptures began to bee read in the Church, a Councell held at Carthage for the reforming of ſuch diſorder;2. Coun. of Carthage, ca. 47. ordained That nothing beſides the holy Scriptures ſhould bee read in the Churches vnderunder the name of the holy bookes. Notwithſtanding the myſtery of iniquity ſo preuailed with time, that in the Churches ſubiect to the Sea of Rome, vnderunder pretence of the liues and miracles of Saints, moſt ſottiſh and fooliſh fables and tales were publiquely read in the Church vntounto the people, wherein it cannot bee vttered, what wrong was done to God, and to his Church. What hath chaffe to doe with wheate? ſaith the Prophet Ieremy, Ier. 23.28.Chap. 23. verſe 28. For the Lord hath ordayned, that his people ſhould bee fedd with his holy word as with the fineſt wheate, yea, as with Manna, the bread of heauen, and they withholding it from the people of God, and keeping it ſhut vp vnderunder a ſtrange language, feede the people with ſuch fables and follies as with chaffe, yea, as with draffe more fit for ſwine.
The word of God is alſo a fountaine of liuing water, at which the people of God may be refreſhed with comfort, but they filled vp thoſe Springes of life,Ior. 2.13 and ſent them to drinke at pits of their owne diggings which could hold no water, and as it were to the filthy channels of the ſtreets, to fetch their drinke there. Should not a people aske counſel of their God? ſhould they goe for counſell from the liuing to the dead.
Conſult they with the Law and the testimony (ſayth the Prophet Eſay) they which aduiſe otherwiſe, Eſay, 8.19, 20is there any ſparke of light in any of them? Now to conſult with the Scripture which is giuen by Gods inſpiration, is to conſult with God, neither is there now any other ordinary meanes to conſult with God but by his holy word. Therefore all other meanes to conſult are forbidden and reputed, as if a man that vſed them did aske counſell (as Saul pretended) of the dead.
I came vntounto you, ſayth our Sauiour, in my Fathers name, and you did not receiue mee, but if one come to you in his owne name,Ioh. 5.43. you will receiue him: And thus it is with thoſe that receiue not the holy Scriptures, that are the word of Chriſt, except it bee in an vnknowne tongue; but reade fables and tales to the people, in a ſpeech which they all vnderſtand. It is a maruaile that the Sea of Rome is not aſhamed of this enormity vntounto this day, but that in ſtead of Gods holy word, that conuerteth and comforteth the ſoule, they reade to the people ſuch ridiculous follies as peruert and deſtroy the ſoule: But howſoeuer they doe thus highly diſhonour God herein, it is manifeſt, by that which hath bin ſaid, that our R…ligion in England, in this poynt alſo of reading Gods word, and not ridiculous tales to the Church of God, is the ſame which was taught by our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles.