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The B. of Sarisburie.
M. Hardinge alloweth these, whom he calleth Curious Busy Bodies of the Uulgare sorte, to atteine to the vnderstandinge of Gods Woorde, not by readinge, but onely by Special Reuelatiō, and Miracle, and none otherwise: and that, with∣in the space of a thousande yéeres,* 1.1 one, or twoo onely, and no moe. For so S. An∣tonie atteined vnto the knowledge therof, vtterly without any booke, or Reading, or any other healpe of vnderstandinge. So that sicke man lieinge bedreade, of whom S. Gregorie maketh that woorthy mention. So that Barbarous, and vt∣terly vnlearned sclaue, that suddainely by Reuelation was taught to Reade.* 1.2 And so like wise perhaps M. Hardinge him selfe, beinge so longe a time, and so earnest a Preacher of the same Gospel, and Trueth of God, that he now so wilfully con∣demneth, without either Booke, or Readinge, or other conference, onely vpon the Change of the Prince, and none otherwise, vnderstoode that thinge, that before he coulde not vnderstande: and by Miracle, and Reuelation, vpon the suddaine was wholy altered vnto the contrary.
True it is, Fleashe, & Bloud is not hable, to vnderstande the holy wil of God,* 1.3 without special Reuelation: Therefore Christe gaue thankes vnto his Father, For that he had reueled his secretes vnto the little ones: And likewise, opened the hartes of his Disciples, that they might vnderstande the Scriptures. Without this special healpe, and promptinge of Goddes holy Sprite, the Woorde of God is vnto the Reader, be he neuer so wise, or wel learned, as the Uision of a sealed Booke. Bu•• ••••••s Reuela∣tion is not special vnto one, or twoo, but general to al them, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉members of Christe, and are endewed with the Sprite of God. Therefore 〈◊〉〈◊〉••hrysostome saithe generally vnto al the people,* 1.4 Audite, quotquot estis mundani, ••••xoribus prae∣estis ac liberis, quemadmodum vobis Apostolus Paulus Praecipiat legere ••cripturas, id{que} non simpliciter, ne{que} obiter, sed magna cum diligentia. Herken al yee men of the worlde, that haue wiues,* 1.5 and Children, how S. Paule the Apostle of Christe cōmaundeth you to Reade the Scriptures, and that not sleightly, or as by the way, but with greate diligence. Againe he saithe, Domi Biblia in manus sumite: Domi vacemus diuinarum Scripturarum lecti∣oni: Take the Bible into your handes in your houses at home. At home in our houses let vs applie the Readinge of the Holy Scriptures.* 1.6 So likewise saithe S. Hierome: Hîc osten∣ditur, verbum Christi, non sufficienter, sed abundanter etiā Laicos habere debere, & docere se inuicē, vel monere.* 1.7 Here wee are taught, that the Lay people ought to haue the Woorde of God, not onely sufficiently, but also with abundance, and to teache, and counsel others.
But emongest these Busy Bodies of the Uulgare sorte M. Hardinge findeth a greate number of Losels, Gluttons, and Dronkardes: whose belly is their God. Thus he nameth the parte: but he meaneth the whole.* 1.8 For euen so writeth Ho∣sius one of the Chiefe of that Companie. Non est Consilium in vulgo, non ratio, non discrimen: In this Vulgare sorte there is neither Counsel, nor reason, nor discretion. And farther he calleth the flocke of Christe, Beluam multorum Capitum, A Wilde beaste of many heades: As M. Hardinge also a litle before calleth them Swyne,* 1.9 and others calle them Filthy Dogges. Euen so the Phariseis iudged, and spake of the simple People that folowed Christe, Turbauista, quae non nouit Legem, maledicti sunt:* 1.10 These rabbles of rascalles, that (are Unlearned, and) know not the Lawe, are accursed. In suche regarde they haue thē, whom S. Paule calleth,* 1.11 Ciues Sanctorum, & domesticos Dei, Cittizens with the Sainctes, and of the Householde of God.
If loosenesse of life be a iust cause to bānishe the people from the Woorde of God, it is commonly thought, that the Cardinalles, and Priestes in Rome liue as loose∣ly as any others. S. Bernarde of the Priestes of his time writeth thus:* 1.12 Non est iam dicere, vt Populus, sic Sacerdos: quia nec sic Populus, vt Sacerdos. Wee may•• not