The Answer to the Preface of the Rhemish Testament, Part 5
To the three next ſections, pag. 7. and 8.
We are well content that our Religion ſhould be condemned of them, that condemne the reading of the Scriptures: and as if they had to doe with a hand or foot ball, delyte in the taunting tearmes of toſſing and tumbling of them. And we waite patientlieIudas epiſt. vntill the Lorde come to giuegive iudgement of all theſe blaſphemous ſpeeches, which wicked ſinners ſpeake againſt him, in his worde. The triall of the cauſe by th' outward fruites, receiueth manie exceptions. Firſt, of foure ſorts of grounds ſowne by the ſeed of the Goſpell, there is but one fruitfull; the reſte beeing not bettered by the preaching therof, are worſe then whē they remained in their Popiſh ignorance, or other fallings from the truth Wherfore to praeiudice the fruit that the good ground yeldeth, by the barrenneſſe & vnprofitableneſſe of th' other three ſortes which hauehave receiued the ſeede aſwel as it: is not aequal, nor vpright iudgement. Secondly, this offenſiue and apparant wickedneſſe, euen in the hypocriticall profeſsion of the Goſpell, proceedeth of the negligence of the gouernors of the Church and common-wealth, which looſing the coarde of both Church and common-wealth diſcipline, ſuffer wicked men to ſpit out the poiſon of their hearts, which the wholeſome ſeuerity of commanded correction, woulde keepe ſealed vp in them. And therefore our Sauiour Chriſt, is not afraiedMatth. 24. 12. to confeſſe franckly that for th' abundance of iniquitie appearing in them that made profeſsion of the Goſpell: the louelove or zeall of manie, euen of thoſe which ſometimes were forward in the ſame, ſhould waxe cold. Nowe, to lay that faulte vponupon the Religion, which cleaueth vntounto the gouernours: is likewiſe an vn-aequall and vn-euen iudgement. When in the commonwealth and Church of Iſrael, euerie man did what he luſted: who knowethIudg. 17. …. not, that there were heathen common-wealths, wherein many vnlawfull things, by law and lawfull puniſhments were reſtrained. Yet we ſuppoſe the Ieſuites are not ſo forſaken, that they will thereof conclude, that the heathniſhe people were better then the people of Iſrael: and that the religion of thoſe Gentiles, was better then the religion amongſt the Iewes. Thirdlie, it ought to be remembred that although ſinne reigned in Poperie: yet it appeared not; there beeing no light of the law of God to ſhewe it by: for that the candle-light of knowledge, was cleane put out. Where in the preaching of the Goſpell, by the beames of trueth ſhyning ſo bright, that which in Poperie was holden for no ſinne, is now knowne to be ſinne: and that which ſeemed vnderunder it, a little ſinne, the Goſpell ſheweth it to be very great. To iudge therefore our mote, and gnat (which the light of our doctrine ſheweth) bigger then their beame and Camell, which the night of their ignorance woulde not ſuffer to bee ſeene: is not to holde an euen hand, and to goe with a ſtreight foote to the iudgement which is required. Further, it hath bene an olde practiſe of the Diuell, againſt the profeſſors of the Goſpell, to charge them with diſordered manners: and therefore it ought to offend no man, if it be now renewed, by th' aduerſaries of y• truth. And although our witnes in heauen, and witnes in heart might well content vsus; whileſt by your ſlanderous ſpeeches, you doe (as it were blowing in the duſte) raiſe it into your owne eies, to make you blinder: yet wee dare bee bolde with all the faultes of the profeſſors of the Goſpel, (mo manifoldlie then ought or woulde hauehave bene, if we had walked according to the light that we hauehave ſeene) to compare with ſuch black Mores as you be which beſide teeth and tongue, that is to ſay, vaunts and brags, hauehave no white about you. For what either vertue in men, chaſtitie in wemen, or obedience in children, &c. can there be amongſt you: which hauing learned no ſuch thing in the ſchole of the word, where they are onelyonly taught, knowe them not. Your men may hauehave the vertues that Turks and Iewes hauehave, your wemen and children the chaſtitie and obedience that is found amongſt thē: they may fight manfullie for their countrie, they may keep their bodies from outward pollution, they may do the things that their parents cōmand them, &c: yet is there heere neither true vertue; nor vndefiled chaſtitie, nor humble obedience: as thoſe which are not done for Gods cauſe, but either in ſeruile feare, vain-glorie, filthie lucre, or ſome ſuch by-reſpect. Whereupon wee reade that Seres a heathen and idolatrousEuſeb. d… praeparat. Euang. ex Bardiſan… Chalde…. people, had through ſeuerity of diſcipline neither fornicator nor adulterer amongeſt them. In which point with ſome others, howe Angellike we are in reſpect of you; there is occaſion to ſpeak afterwarde. It is a diſorder, if wemen do teach their husbāds, children their parents, &c, which you ſaying, and ſaying againe to be amongſt vsus, neither doe nor can proue it. But it is a greater confuſion, when neyther husband can teach his wife, nor parent his childrē, nor old the young, nor Prieſt the people. When the ſeer is blinde, and th' Embaſſadour dumb, & finallie when the guide of the way knoweth not the way himſelf: which how true it is in your kingdome; wee leaue it to be eſteemed of all indifferentlie. Singing of Pſalmes, hymnes, &1. Cor. 14. 26. Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. Beda Histor▪ Ang…. lib. 5 cap. 12. ſpirituall ſongs, the Scripture recommendeth vntounto vsus. Bede witneſſeth alſo, that diuerſe bookes of Scripture were tranſlated into Engliſh meetre. If any man abuſe this ſacred and holy exerciſe to wantonneſſe; the ſame ſhall beare his condemnation. But to meet with ſuch an euill, by taking away the good altogether: is like vntounto thoſe vnskilfull phyſicians, that ridde their pacients of no diſeaſe, vnles they take their liues from them.
In the laſte of theſe 3. ſections, are Scriptures and Doctors, idely & fooliſhlie alledged, to prove that which no man denieth; that Haeretickes abuſe the Scriptures, now thriſe in this praeface repeated: by the concluſiō, that therfore either the Scriptures ſhould not bee tranſlated, or beeing tranſlated ſhould not bee imparted to the common people; is naked and deſolate of all proofe: vnleſſe it be proofe, that becauſe hereticks ſhroud themſelues in the woll of the Scriptures, therefore Catholicks may not warm themſelues with their fleece: or that becauſe they drawe poiſon from them, therefore we may not ſuck honie at them: or finally for that they climbe into the Lordes armorie, to arme themſelues againſt vsus; therefore we ſhould not enter by the dore to prepare & appoint our ſelues againſt them. And if haeretickes impugning the trueth out of the Scriptures, hauehave ſuch force to baniſh them from the common people: why ſhould not the confutation of haereticks by the Scriptures, bring them home againe to the peoples handes. If euer therefore there were doting diſputers theſe are their brethren.