The praiſe of the holy Scriptures.
Later spelling with notes
But now what piety without truth? what truth (what saving truth) without the word of God? What word of God (whereof we may be sure) without the Scripture? The Scriptures we are commanded to search. John 5:39. Isa 8:20. They are commended that searched and studied them. Acts 17:11 and 8:28,29. They are reproved that were unskillful in them, or slow to believe them. Matt 22:29. Luke 24:25. They can make us wise unto salvation. 2 Tim 3:15. If we be ignorant, they will instruct us; if out of the way, they will bring us home; if out of order, they will reform us; if in heaviness, comfort us; if dull, quicken us; if cold, inflame us. Tolle, lege; Tolle, lege, Take up and read, take up and read the Scriptures [25], (for unto them was the direction) it was said unto S. Augustine by a supernatural voice. “Whatsoever is in the Scriptures, believe me,” saith the same S. Augustine, “is high and divine; there is verily truth, and a doctrine most fit for the refreshing of men’s minds, and truly so tempered, that everyone may draw from thence that which is sufficient for him, if he come to draw with a devout and pious mind, as true Religion requireth.” [26] Thus S. Augustine. and S. Jerome: “Ama scripturas, et amabit te sapientia etc.” [27] Love the Scriptures, and wisdom will love thee. And S. Cyril against Julian; “Even boys that are bred up in the Scriptures, become most religious, etc. [28] But what mention we three or four uses of the Scripture, whereas whatsoever is to be believed or practiced, or hoped for, is contained in them? or three or four sentences of the Fathers, since whosoever is worthy the name of a Father, from Christ’s time downward, hath likewise written not only of the riches, but also of the perfection of the Scripture? “I adore the fulness of the Scripture,” saith Tertullian against Hermogenes. [29] And again, to Apelles an heretic of the like stamp, he saith; “I do not admit that which thou bringest in (or concludest) of thine own (head or store, de tuo) without Scripture.” [30] So Saint Justin Martyr before him; “We must know by all means,” saith he, “that it is not lawful (or possible) to learn (anything) of God or of right piety, save only out of the Prophets, who teach us by divine inspiration.” So Saint Basil after Tertullian, “It is a manifest falling way from the Faith, and a fault of presumption, either to reject any of those things that are written, or to bring in (upon the head of them, ἐπεισάγειν) any of those things that are not written. [31] We omit to cite to the same effect, S. Cyril B. of Jerusalem in his 4::Cataches., Saint Jerome against Helvidius, Saint Augustine in his 3. book against the letters of Petilian, and in very many other places of his works. Also we forebear to descend to later Fathers, because we will not weary the reader. The Scriptures then being acknowledged to be so full and so perfect, how can we excuse ourselves of negligence, if we do not study them, of curiosity, if we be not content with them? Men talk much of εἰρεσιώνη, [32] how many sweet and goodly things it had hanging on it; of the Philosopher’s stone, that it turned copper into gold; of Cornucopia, that it had all things necessary for food in it, of Panaces the herb, that it was good for diseases, of Catholicon the drug, that it is instead of all purges; of Vulcan’s armor, that it was an armor of proof against all thrusts, and all blows, etc. Well, that which they falsely or vainly attributed to these things for bodily god, we may justly and with full measure ascribe unto the Scripture, for spiritual. It is not only an armor, but also a whole armory of weapons, both offensive and defensive; whereby we may save ourselves and put the enemy to flight. It is not an herb, but a tree, or rather a whole paradise of trees of life, which bring forth fruit every month, and the fruit thereof is for meat, and the leaves for medicine. It is not a pot of Manna, or a cruse of oil, which were for memory only, or for a meal’s meat or two, but as it were a shower of heavenly bread sufficient for a whole host, be it never so great; and as it were a whole cellar full of oil vessels; whereby all our necessities may be provided for, and our debts discharged. In a word, it is a Panary of wholesome food, against fenowed traditions; a Physician’s shop (Saint Basil called it) [33] of preservatives against poisoned heresies; a Pandect of profitable laws, against rebellious spirits; a treasury of most costly jewels, against beggarly rudiments; finally a fountain of most pure water springing up unto everlasting life. And what marvel? The original thereof being from heaven, not from earth; the author being God, not man; the inditer, the holy spirit, not the wit of the Apostles or Prophets; the Penmen such as were sanctified from the womb, and endued with a principal portion of God’s spirit; the matter, verity, piety, purity, uprightness; the form, God’s word, God’s testimony, God’s oracles, the word of truth, the word of salvation, etc.; the effects, light of understanding, stableness of persuasion, repentance from dead works, newness of life, holiness, peace, joy in the holy Ghost; lastly, the end and reward of the study thereof, fellowship with the Saints, participation of the heavenly nature, fruition of an inheritance immortal, undefiled, and that never shall fade away: Happy is the man that delights in the Scripture, and thrice happy that meditates in it day and night.
Original 1611 spelling
But now what pietie without trueth? what trueth(what ſauing trueth ) without the word of God? what word of God(whereof we may be ſure)without the Scripture? The Scriptures we are commanded to ſearch. Ioh.5.39.Eſa.8:20. They are commended that ſearched and ſtudied them.Act.17.11.and 8:28,29. They are reproued that were vnſkilful in them,or ſlow to beleeue them. Mat.22.29.Luk.24.25. They can make vs wiſe vnto ſaluation.2.Tim.3.15. If we be ignorant,they will inſtruct vs; if out of the way, they will bring vs home; if out of order, they will reforme vs; if in heauines,comfort vs; if dull, quicken vs; if cold,inflame vs. Tolle, lege; Tolle, lege, Take vp and read , take vp and read the Scriptures, ( for vnto them was the direction) it was ſaid vnto S. Augustine by a ſupernaturall voice. Whatſoeuar is in the Scriptures, beleeue me , ſaith the ſame S. Auguſtine, is high and diuine; there is verily trueth, and a doctrine moſt fit for the refreſhing of mens minds , and truly ſo tempered , that euery one may draw from thence that which is ſufficient for him , if he come to draw with a deuout and pious mind, as true Religion requireth. Thus S. Auguſtine. and S. Hierome: Ama ſcripturas, & amabit te ſapientia &c. Loue the Scriptures, and wiſdom will loue thee. And S. Cyrill againſt Iulian ; Euen boys that are bred vp in the Scriptures,become moſt religious, &c. But what mention wee three or foure vſes of the Scripture , whereas whatſoeuer is to be beleeued or practiſed , or hoped for , is contained in them? or three or foure ſentences of the Fathers, ſince whoſoeuer is worthy the name of a Father , from Chriſts time downeward, hath likewiſe written not onely of the riches,but alſo of the perfection of the Scripture? I adore the fulneſſe of the Scripture , ſaith Tertullian againſt Hermogenes. And againe, to Apelles an Heretike of the like ſtampw,he ſaith ; I doe not admit that which thou bringeſt in ( or concludeſt) of thine owne (head or ſtore, de tuo ) without Scripture. So Saint Iustin Martyr before him ; Wee muſt know by all meanse , ſaith hee,that it is not lawfull ( or poſſible) to learne (anything) of God or of right pietie , ſaue only out of the Prophets , who teach vs by diuine inspiration. So Saint Baſill after Tertullian , It is a manifeſt falling way from the Faith, and a fault of preſumption, either to reiect any of thoſe things that are written, or to bring in (vpon the head of them ἐπεισάγειν) any of thoſe things that are not written. Wee omit to cite to the ſame effect, S. Cyrill B. of Hieruſalem in his 4. Catacheſ. Saint Hierome againſt Heluidius , Saint Auguſtine in his 3. booke againſt the letters of Petilian, and in very many other places of his workes. Alſo we forebeare to deſcend to later Fathers, becauſe wee will not weary the reader. The Scriptures then being acknowledged to bee ſo full and ſo perfect, how can wee excuſe our ſelues of negligence,if we do not ſtudie them,of curioſitie, if we be not content with them? Men talke much of εἰρεσιώνη, how many ſweete and goodly things it had hanging on it ; of the Philoſophers ſtone , that it turned copper into gold ; of Cornu copia , that it had all things neceſſary for foode in it , of Panaces the herb,that it was good for diſeaſes ; of Catholicon the drugge, that it is in ſtead of all purges; of Vulcans armour, that it was an armour of proofe againſt all thruſts, and all blowes,&c. Well , that which they falſly or vainely attributed to theſe things for bodily god, wee may iuſtly and with full meaſure aſcribe vnto the Scripture,for ſpirituall. It is not onely an armor, but alſo a whole armorie of weapons, both offenſiue and defenſiue ; whereby we may ſaue our ſelues and put the enemie to flight. It is not an herbe,but a tree,or rather a whole paradiſe of trees of life, which bring foorth fruit euery moneth , and the fruit thereof is for meate , and the leaues for medicine. It is not a pot of Manna, or a cruſe of oyle,which were for memorie only,or for a meales meate or two,but as it were a ſhowre of heauenly bread ſufficient for a whole hoſt, be it neuer ſo great ; and as it were a whole cellar full of oyle veſſels ; whereby all our neceſsities may be prouided for , and our debts diſcharged. In a word, it is a Panary of holeſome food, againſt fenowed traditions; a Phyſions-ſhop ( Saint Baſill calleth it ) of preſeruatiues againſt poiſoned hereſies; a Pandect of profitable lawes,againſt rebellious ſpirits; a treaſurie of moſt coſtly iewels , againſt beggarly rudiments ; Finally a fountaine of moſt pure water ſpringing vp vnto euerlaſting life. And what maruaile? The originall thereof being from heauen, not from earth; the authour being God, not man; the enditer , the holy ſpirit,not the wit of the Apoſtles or Prophets ; the Pen-men ſuch as were ſanctified from the wombe, and endewed with a principall portion of Gods ſpirit ; the matter, veritie, pietie, puritie, vprightneſſe; the forme,Gods word, Gods teſtimonie, God’s oracles,the word of trueth,the word of ſaluation,&c.; the effects, light of vnderſtanding, ſtableneſſe of perſwaſion, repentance from dead workes, newneſſe of life,holineſſe, peace, ioy in the holy Ghoſt; laſtly,the end and reward of the ſtudie thereof,fellowſhip with the Saints, participation of the heauenly nature, fruition of an inheritance immortall,vndefiled, and that neuer ſhall fade away : Happie is the man that delighteth in the Scripture , and thrice happie that meditateth in it day and night.
Marginal Notes
[25] S. August. confess. lib.8.cap.12.
[26] S. August. de utilit. credendi cap. 6
[27] S. Hieronym. ad Demetriad.
[28] S. Cyril. 7 . contra Iulianum.
[29] Tertul. advers. Hermo.
[30] Tertul. de carne Christi.
[31] S. Baſil.περὶ πίστεως. ὑπερηφανίας κατηγορία.
[32] Εἰρεσιώνη σῦκα φέρει, καὶ πίονας ἄρτους, καὶ μέλι ἐν κοτύλῃ, &c. An oliue bow wrapped about with wooll, wherevpon did hang figs,& bread, and honie in a pot,& oyle.
[33] κοινὸν ἰατρεῖον. S. Basil in Psal. primum.