search for the well of life [John iv. 14.] in the books of the Old and New Testament, and not run to the stinking puddles of men's traditions (devised by man's imagina The Holy Scripture is a sufficient doc trine for our salvation. the Holy Scrip ture. tion) for our justification and salvation. For, in Holy Scripture is fully contained what we ought to do, and what to eschew, what to believe, what to love, and what to look for at God's hands at length. In these books we shall find the Father from whom, the Son by whom, and the Holy What things Ghost in whom, all things have their being we may learn in and keeping up; and these three Persons to be but one God, and one substance. In these books we may learn to know ourselves, how vile and miserable we be, and also to know God, how good he is of himself, and how he maketh us and all creatures partakers of his goodness. We may learn also in these books to know God's will and pleasure, as much as, for this present time, is convenient for us to know. And, as the great clerk and godly preacher, St. John Chrysostom, saith, "Whatsoever is required to salvation of man, is fully contained in the Scripture of God. He that is ignorant may there learn and have knowledge. He that is hardhearted, and an obstinate sinner, shall there find everlasting torments, prepared of God's justice, to make him afraid, and to mollify or soften him. He that is oppressed with misery in this world shall there find relief in the promises of everlasting life, to his great consolation and comfort. He that is wounded by the Devil unto death shall find there medicine, whereby he may be restored again unto health. If it shall be requisite to teach any truth, or reprove false doctrine, to rebuke any vice, to commend any virtue, to give good counsel, to comfort, to exhort, or to do any other thing requisite for our salvation; all those things," saith St. Chrysostom," we may learn plentifully of the Scripture." "There is," saith Fulgentius, "abundantly enough, both for men to eat, and children Holy Scripture to suck. There is whatsoever is meet for all ministereth suf- ages, and for all degrees and sorts of men." for all degrees These books therefore ought to be much in our hands, in our eyes, in our ears, in our mouths, but most of all in our hearts. For the Scripture What commo- of God is the heavenly meat of our souls dities and profits the knowledge (Matt. iv. 4.); the hearing and keeping of it ficient doctrine and ages. maketh us blessed (Luke xi. 28), sanctifieth of Holy Scripus (John xvii. 17), and maketh us holy; it ture bringeth. turneth our souls; it is a light lantern to our feet [Ps. cxix. 105]; it is a sure, stedfast, and everlasting instrument of salvation; it giveth wisdom to the humble and lowly hearts; it comforteth, maketh glad, cheereth, and cherisheth our conscience; it is a more excellent jewel or treasure than any gold or precious stone; it is more sweet than honey or honey-comb (Ps. xix. 7-11); it is called the best part, which Mary did choose, for it hath in it everlasting comfort (Luke x. 42). The words of Holy Scripture be called words of everlasting life; for they be God's instrument, ordained for the same purpose (John vi. 47, 63, 68). They have power to turn through God's promise, and they be effectual through God's assistance, and (being received in a faithful heart) they have ever an heavenly spiritual working in them: they are lively, quick, and mighty in operation, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and enter through, even unto the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, of the joints and the marrow (Heb. iv. 12). Christ calleth him a wise builder, that buildeth upon his word, upon his sure and substantial foundation (Matt. vii. 24). By this word of God we shall be judged: for the word that I speak, saith Christ, is it that shall judge in the last day (John xii. 48). He that keepeth the word of Christ, is promised the love and favour of God, and that he shall be the dwellingplace or temple of the blessed Trinity (John xiv. 23). This word whosoever is diligent to read, and in his heart to print that he readeth, the great affection to the transitory things of this world shall be minished in him, and the great desire of heavenly things (that be therein promised of God) shall increase in him. And there is nothing that so much strengtheneth our faith and trust in God, that so much keepeth up innocency and pureness of the heart, and also of outward godly life and conversation, as continual reading and recording of God's word. For that thing, which (by continual use of reading of Holy Scripture, and diligent searching of the same) is deeply printed and graven in the heart, at length turneth almost into nature. And moreover, the effect and virtue of God's word is to illuminate the ignorant, and to give more light unto them that faithfully and diligently read it, to comfort their hearts, and to encourage them to perform that which of God is commanded. It teacheth patience in all adversity, in prosperity humbleness; what honour is due unto God, what mercy and charity to our neighbour. It giveth good counsel in all doubtful things. It sheweth of whom we shall look for aid and help in all perils, and that God is the only giver of victory in all battles and temptations of our enemies, bodily and ghostly (1 Sam. xiv. 6, 12; 2 Chron. xx. 6, 15; 1 Cor. xv. 57; Who profit 1 John v. 4). And in the reading of God's most in reading word, he most profiteth not always that is God's Word. most ready in turning of the book, or in saying of it without the book; but he that is most turned into it, that is most inspired with the Holy Ghost, most in his heart and life altered and changed into that thing which he readeth; he that is daily less and less proud, less wrathful, less covetous, and less desirous of worldly and vain pleasures; he that daily (forsaking his old vicious life) increaseth in virtue more and more. And to be short, there is nothing that more maintaineth godliness of the mind, and driveth away ungodliness, than doth the continual reading or hearing of God's word, if it be joined with a godly mind, and a good affection to know and follow God's will. For without a single eye, pure modities the ig- intent, and good mind, nothing is allowed norance of God's for good before God. And on the other side, nothing more darkeneth Christ and the glory of God, nor bringeth in more blindness and all kinds of vices, than doth the ignorance of God's word (Is. v. 24; Matt. xxii. 29; 1 Cor. xiv. 37). What incom word bringeth. THE SECOND PART OF THE SERMON OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. In the first part of this sermon, which exhorteth to the knowledge of Holy Scripture, was declared wherefore the knowledge of the same is necessary and profitable to all men; and that by the true knowledge and understanding of Scripture, the most necessary points of our duty towards God and our neighbours are also known. Now as concerning the same matter you shall hear what followeth. If we profess Christ, why be we not ashamed to be ignorant in his doctrine? Seeing that every man is sciences. ashamed to be ignorant in that learning which he professeth. That man is ashamed to be called a philosopher which readeth not the books of philosophy, and to be called a lawyer, an astronomer, or a physician, that is ignorant in the books of law, astronomy, and physic. How can any man then say that he professeth Christ and his religion, if he will not apply himself (as far forth as he can or may conveniently) to read and hear, and so to know the books of Christ's gospel and doctrine? Although other sciences be good, and to be God's word learned, yet no man can deny but this is the excelleth all chief, and passeth all other incomparably. What excuse shall we therefore make, at the last day before Christ, that delight to read or hear men's fancies and inventions, more than his most holy gospel? and will find no time to do that, which chiefly, above all things, we should do; and will rather read other things than that, for the which we ought rather to leave reading of all other things? Let us therefore apply ourselves, as far forth as we can have time and leisure, to know God's word, by diligent hearing and reading thereof, as many as profess God, and have faith and trust in him. that have no good affection to God's word (to colour this their fault) allege commonly two vain and feigned excuses. Some go about to excuse them by their own frailness and fearfulness, feigning that they dare not read Holy Scripture, lest through their ignorance they should fall into any error. Other pretend that the difficulty to understand it, and the hardness thereof is so great, that it is meet to be read only of clerks and learned men. But they Vain excuses dissuading from God's word. the knowledge of The first. The second. As touching the first: ignorance of God's word is the cause of all error, as Christ himself affirmed to the Sadducees, saying, that they erred because they knew not the Scripture (Matt. xxii. 29). How should they then eschew error, that will be still ignorant? And how should they come out of ignorance, that will not read nor hear that thing which should give them knowledge? He that now hath most knowledge, was at the first ignorant; yet he forbare not to read, for fear he should fall into error: but he diligently read, lest he should remain in ignorance, and through ignorance in error. And if you will not know the truth of God (a thing most necessary for you) lest the Holy Scrip read. you fall into error; by the same reason you may then lie still, and never go lest (if you go) you fall into the mire; nor eat any good meat, lest you take a surfeit; nor sow your corn, nor labour in your occupation, nor use your merchandise, for fear you lose your seed, your labour, your stock; and so by that reason it should be best for you to live idly, and never to take in hand to do any manner of good thing, lest peradventure some evil thing How most com- may chance thereof. And if you be afraid to modiously, and fall into error by reading of Holy Scripture, without all peril, I shall shew how you you may read it withture is to be out danger of error. Read it humbly with a meek and lowly heart, to the intent you may glorify God, and not yourself, with the knowledge of it: and read it not without daily praying to God, that he would direct your reading to good effect; and take upon you to expound it no further than you can plainly understand it. For, as St. Augustin saith, 'the knowledge of Holy Scripture is a great, large, and a high place; but the door is very low, so that the high and arrogant man cannot run in; but he must stoop low, and humble himself, that shall enter into it.' Presumption and arrogancy is the mother of all error; and humility needeth to fear no error. For humility will only search to know the truth: it will search, and will bring together one place with another; and where it cannot find out the meaning, it will pray, it will ask of others that know, and will not presumptuously and rashly define any thing which it knoweth not. Therefore the humble man may search any truth boldly in the Scripture, without any danger of error. And if he be ignorant, he ought the more to read and to search Holy Scripture, to bring him out of ignorance. I say not nay, but a man may prosper with only hearing; but he may much more profit with both hearing and reading. This have I said as touching the fear to read, through ignorance of the person. Scripture in easy, and in to be under And concerning the hardness of Scripture; some places is he that is so weak that he is not able to brook some places hard strong meat, yet he may suck the sweet and tender milk, and defer the rest until he wax stronger, and come to more knowledge. For God receiveth the learned and unlearned, and casteth away none, but is indifferent unto all. And the Scripture stood. |