Touchstone to Determine the True Catholic Faith, Part 12
Of the scriptures read in the vulgar tongue.
IN Chrysostomes daies, in the Church of Antioch, Chrysost. ho. 1. ad populum Antiochthe scriptures were read in a tongue knowne to the people, and therefore after the reading of the Epistle to Timothy, he beginneth thus: You hauehave heard the voice of the Apostle, the heauenly trumpet, the spirituall harpe: you hauehave heard him to daie, discoursing to Timothy, of many and necessarie thinges, of elections, of drinking wine for his stomacke, of the obedience of seruants, and of many other things he hath discoursed to vsus this day, and seeing we cannot runne ouer them all, what will you of these things which hauehave beene rehearsed, I shall declare vntounto you (beloued?) For as in a great meadowe, I see many excellent flowers: (Nay not a meadowe; but euen Paradise it selfe, the garden of God, is the reading of the scriptures. Neither the flowers thereof hauehave pleasant and fragrant smels and sauours: but fruit to feede the soule.) What will you therefore, of the thinges before spoken, I should declare to you this day, will you that I speake of that, which seemeth of smallest accompt, and is most easie to be vnderstood of eueryevery man? (That thing we will handle) for it pleaseth me, and I knowe it will likewise please you: and what is that? but this: Vse a little wine for thy stomacke, &c. Thus far Chrysostome. Which place proueth plainely, that the people vnderstood the scriptures when they were read, and also the excellencie of them. They are as a meadowe, full of most swéete flowers: nay they are the paradise of God here on earth. And who is so simple, as will not desire to go into Paradise? Who is so foolish, as may goe in, and will not; In Gen. Ho. 35.that will banish himselfe from thence? And in another place he writeth thus: The cunning in the scriptures, is an excellent thing (my beloued.) This endueth the soule with good manners, this transporteth our minde into heauen, this maketh a man thankefull to God, this maketh vsus regard nothing in this world, but that we should hauehave our conuersation in heauen, and hauing an eie to God our reward, it maketh vsus doe all things, and ioyfully to attempt, euen the hard labours of vertue. By these we learne, the helpe of God, euen present and at hand, the courage of the iust, the goodnes of the Lord, the greatnes of his rewardes. Hereby we may bee stirred vp, to follow the liues of the best saints of God; not to be slouthfull in the combates of vertue, to be sure of Gods promises, euen before they come. Therfore with great diligence, let vsus giuegive our selues to the reading of the scriptures, for thereby we shall get great knowledge, if wee shall still hauehave recourse to those thinges which therein are set downe. Who will not now learne so many good lessons? And least anie man should blame the hardnesse and obscuritie of the scriptures, as many doe; thus it followeth: Neither is it possible, that he that giueth himselfe to the scriptures, with great studie, and earnest desire, shall alwaies be neglected: but although wee lacke a master to teach vsus, the Lord himselfe from aboue, entring our hearts, doth lighten our mindes, doth power his beames into our vnderstanding, doth reueale things hid, and doth teach vsus those thinges wee know not, if we only will bring, as much as in vsus lieth. For he saith, you shall call no man master vponupon earth: that is, in comparison of me, who am able and euer willing to teach. Therefore when we take this heauenly booke into our hands, all worldly cares being set aside; let vsus bend the force of our minde, and bridle it, that it be not distracted with vaine cogitations; and let vsus giuegive our selues to reading, with great deuotion and marking, that we may be lead by the holy spirit, to the true vnderstanding of the scriptures, and thereby reape much fruit. That same Barbarian and Eunuch of the Queene of Ethiopia, which was so honourable, and was caried in his chariot; at that time, did not omit the reading of the scriptures, but hauing the Prophet in his hands, he studied earnestly, and that being ignorant, what was contained in the booke: and he brought as much as was in him, that is, studie, a good will, and diligent marking. Marke I beseech you, what a matter this was, not to giuegive ouer his reading, no not in his iourney, and that sitting in his chariot. Therefore, they are iustly to be found fault withall, which being at home, cannot be persuaded to doe this, but thinke, that they neede not read the scriptures; either because they are married men, or souldiers, or hauehave care of children, and seruants, or other businesse: Therfore they thinke, it behooueth not them to reade the scriptures. Behold this man was an Eunuch, and a Barbarian (which both, had been enough to hauehave made him carelesse) and besides this, the greatnesse of his honour, and aboundance of his wealth, as also being in his iourney, and being caried in a chariot; and he that traueileth thus, it is not easie for him to reade, but verie troublesome: notwithstanding his great desire, and earnest studie, taking all lets away, made him reade still.This same doctrine he handles at large, ho. 2. in Mat. and ho. 9. ad Col. where he willeth his hearers, to buy them bibles, and if not bibles, yet at least the new Testament. Wherfore he did not say as many say now adaies, I vnderstand not these thinges which are written, I cannot vnderstand the depth of the scriptures, wherfore in vaine I should take paines, I hauehave none to guide me: He thought no such thing, being in language a Barbarian, but in heart a louer of wisedome; but he thought he should not be despised, but helped of Gods grace, if he brought that which was in him, that is, studie and diligence. Whom also let vsus followe; and what thinges hauehave beene read to vsus to daie, let vsus learne diligently. This place being long, I hauehave written it at large, because it is so excellent; it containeth the great fruite and profite we get by reading the scriptures, the meanes how to attaine the knowledge of them: and it taketh awaie, ye common obiection which now adaies manie make, That because they hauehave wife and children, they are not bounde to reade the scriptures: and ouerthroweth plainelie, the popish Catholique faith, which teacheth, that the vulgar people should not reade the scriptures, and teacheth the true catholique saith indéed. And this is no small or light matter, but the chiefe point of all religion; as euerie one maie perceiue, by the benefites which are reaped by reading the scriptures.
In psal. 146.The same catholique faith was also in Augustines daies: For thus he writes against those, that finde fault with the hardnesse of the scriptures, vponupon that verse of the Psalme: The Lord taketh vp the meeke, for example sake (saith he) Thou vnderstandest not the scriptures, thou vnderstandest but a little of them, thou knowest not what it meaneth: yet honour the scriptures of God, honour the word of God, although it be not manifest vntounto thee: defer, through deuotion thy vnderstanding. Be not froward to accuse, either the obscurity, or peruersitie of the scriptures. Here is nothing peruerse, or out of order, or crooked: but here is some thing obscure, not that thou shouldest not know it, but that it should exercise thee, before thou receiue it. Therefore when it is obscure, thy phisition hath done that, that thou mightest knocke; he would hauehave thee exercised in knocking, his will is that when thou knockest or praiest, he will open vntounto thee: By knocking, thou shalt be exercised, and by exercise thou shalt be made more strong, and more large: and being made wider, thou shalt be made capable of that which is giuen thee. Therefore be not angrie, that it is shut vp: be gentle, be courteous, do not kick against obscure places, and say it had better, hauehave beene said this, or thus. For how canst thou say or iudge, how it ought to be said? The patient may not finde fault with his phisicke, the Phisition knoweth how to temper it, trust him that cureth thee. Therfore what followeth: The Lord taketh vp the meeke, therfore resist not thou against the secrets of God: be gentle that he may take thee vp. Thus far Augustine.Oratione de laudibus Const. Eusebius also writes thus: What is so excellent to declare his diuinitie most euidentlie, not onelie to promise that hee would make them fishers of men (the which thing as hee spake in worde, so he performed in déed) but also, to giuegive them such vertue and power, that they should commit things to writing, and make bookes, and those bookes should hauehave such authoritie and great estimation amongst all men, that they should be turned into all tongues, as well of Barbarians as Grecians, which are in the whole world, and that they should put all their whole studie and labour in learning them, and should beleeue assuredlie, that Gods wordes were contained and deliuered in them. In Gen. ca. 26.Origen also verie excellentlie, that euerie man must studie and knowe the scriptures, writes thus: Let vsus trie to doe that (saith he) that wisedome admonisheth vsus: Drinke water out of thine owne fountaine, and out of thine owne wels, and let thy spring or fountaine be thine owne. Try thou (O hearer) to hauehave a well of thine own, and a fountaine of thine owne, that thou when thou shalt take in hand the booke of the scriptures, maiest begin of thine owne iudgement, to bring foorth some vnderstanding, some meaning. And according to those things thou hast learned in the Church, trie thou also, to drinke of thine own wel. There is within thee, the nature of the water of life, there are in thee vaines of water, which neuer faile, and watering streames of thy reasonable vnderstanding, if they be not earthie, and stopped vp with grauell. Sée, Origen would hauehave euerie man reade the scriptures at home, nay he plainly affirmeth, that euerie man hath in him some part of the water of life, some part of the holy ghost, whereby he is able to féede his owne soule, with this water out of the holie scriptures, and to flowe also to others. Euen the simplest husbandman, is able to yeelde a sence of the scriptures, and perchance to see that, which some great doctor could not espie, if hee would take the booke in his hand, and with earnest praier and studie giuegive his minde to the same: If his heart and minde be not …opt and choked with the grauell of this vile earth and worldly affaires. Dauid saieth, Psal. 87.7. God will in numbring his people, rehearse as well the singers as trumpetors: That is, as well …y which praise god by reading and vnderstanding his wonderfull workes, as they which like trumpets preach him. And least anie should say, how should we praise God? we lacke knowledge: The Prophet addeth, All my fresh springes shall be in thee, no man here maie complaine of want. And of euerie one of the faithfull, our Sauiour saith, Io. 4.14. That that water which hee shall giuegive him, shall be in him a well of water, springing vppe into euerlasting life. And this well hath euerie faithfull man in him, either deeper or shallower. Here we may sée how they which crie in certaine light matters of ceremonies, Fathers, Fathers; in this great point of religion dissent from the Fathers, and that both from the Gréeke and Latine Fathers. And how then can their faith be catholique?