To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
THere were never any former ages which enjoy∣ed the like meanes of knowledge, as we which live at this day do: for besides the sacred Scriptures in a known tongue, how many volumes of heavenly truths, dropping from the mounthes, and pens, both
of ancient and moderne Divines, hath that most ex∣cellent, and exquisite Art of Printing conveyed to us? how many burning and shining lights do daily waste, and consume themselves to propagate saving knowledge unto others? & therefore to love darkness, or to live in darknesse under so great light, will much aggravate our condemnation: whence it is that we have great cause to bewaile with teares of blood, not only that woful ignorance which is still to be found in those kingdomes, wherein the more then Egyptian dark∣nesse of Popery hath overspread their Horizons, but which also is too rife & frequent amongst our selves: both which may in part be discerned by these ensuing Examples.
Ignorance is a sin, Lev. 4. 2, 13, 22, 27. & 5. 15, 18. Num. 15. 24, &c.
It's the cause of much sinne, Eph. 4. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 14. Isa. 56. 10. Wilful ignorance aggravates sin, 2 Pet. 3. 5.
Simple ignorance extenuates sin, Deut. 19. 4. 1 Tim. 1. 13. Luk. 12▪ 48. Num. 15. 28. Act. 17. 30. & 3. 17.
David chargeth himself with it, Psal. 73. 22. and Agur, Prov. 30. 2, 3.
The Apostles were accounted such. Act 4. 13.
How fooles are discovered, Prov. 10. 8, 23. & 12. 16. & 13. 16, 19. & 14. 16. & 15. 5. & 17. 10. & 18. 6, 7. and 20. 3. and 27. 3, 22. and 29. 11. Eccles. 2. 14. and 4. 5. and 5. 3. and 10. 2, 14. Prov. 1. 22.
Scriptural examples: The rich man, Luk. 12. 20. Nabal, 1 Sam, 25. 15. Some, Psal. 49. 13. 2 Tim. 3. 9. The Prophet, Ezek. 13. 7. Hos. 9. 7. Galatians, Chap. 3. 1, 3.
The Bishop of Dunkelden in Scotland thanked God [ 1] that he never knew what the Old and New Testament
was, affirming that he cared to know no more then his Portuis, and Pontifical. Act. and Mon.
At an Assembly of the States in Germany one Alber∣tus [ 2] a Bishop, lighting by chance upon a Bible, as he was reading therein, one of the States asked him what book it was? I know not, said the Bishop, but this I finde that whatsoever I read in it, is utterly against our Religion.
Doctor Bennet Chancellor of London objected it as [ 3] an hainous crime against one Richard Butler, that divers times he did erroneously, and damnably read in a great book of Heresie (meaning the Bible) certaine Chap∣t••rs of the Evangelists in English, containing in them divers erroneous, and damnable opinions, and conclu∣sions of heresie. Act. & Mon.
The Jesuites at Dole in France, set up an Edict [ 4] publickly, wherein they forbad all talke of God, either in good sort, or in bad.
Francis Ximenius Cardinal of Toledo in his preface [ 5] before the Bible set forth at Complutum, saith, that he set the vulgar Latine between the Hebrew, and the Greeke, as Christ was set betwixt two theeves.
Jeroboam made Priests of the vilest of the people: [ 6] and indeed the vilest of the people, if they were but men, were too good to make Priests for Jeroboams gods, which were but Calves.
Tecelius the Popes Agent in Germany perswaded the [ 7] ignorant, and common people, that assoone as their tenne shillings (which was the price of an indulgence) ting'd in the Basin, any friend they would name, should be immediately delivered out of Purgatory, eti∣amsi, per impossibile, matrem Dei vitiâsset.
Co•• O-Neale, Earle of Ulster in Ireland cur••ed all [ 8] his posterity in case they either learned to speake En∣glish, or sowed wheat, or built houses: often saying,
that by these meanes they would make themselves slaves to the English. Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 120.
The wilde Irish account it no shame to commit rob∣beries, [ 9] which they practise every where with exceed∣ing cruelty; and when they go to robbe, they power out their prayers to God that they may meet with a booty, and when they meet with it, they account it as Gods gift: neither will they be perswaded that God would present unto them the opportunity of rapine, vi∣olence▪ and murder, if it were a sinne: nay, a sinne it were (as they think) if they should not lay hold up∣on the opportunity. Camb. Brit. Irel▪ p. 144.
When one of these wilde Irish lieth ready to die, [ 10] certaine women hired on purpose to lament, standing in crosse wa••es, and holding their hands all abroade call unto him with certaine out-cries, reckoning up the commodities that he enjoyes of worldly goods, wives, beauty fame kinsfolk, friends, and horses: demanding of him why he will depart? whither? and to whom, &c? Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 147.
Stephen Gardiner speaking to one Marbeck, What the [ 11] Devil (said he) made thee meddle with the Scriptures? Act. & Mon.
In China the Inhabitants use to whip their gods, if [ 12] they help them not, when they pray unto them.
An old man above sixty yeares of age, who lived [ 13] and died in a parish, where besides the Word read, there was constant preaching almost all his time, both upon ordinary and extraordinary occasions, and himself a constant hearer, and one that seemed forward in the love of the Word: on his death-bed a Minister demanding of him what he thought of God? answer∣ed, that he was a good old man: And what of Christ? that he was a towardly young youth: And what of his soul? that it was a great bone in his body: And
what should become of his soul after death? that if he did well, he should be put into a pleasant green Med∣dow, &c. Pemb.
William Courtney Arch-bishop of Canterbury cited [ 14] certaine of his tenants, for an hainous, and horrible trespasse, (as he stiled it) which was, for that they brought straw to litter his horses, not on carts, as they ought, but in bags: for which hainous offence, after they had confessed their fault, and submitted themselves to him, he enjoyned them this penance: That going leasurely before the Procession barefoot, and barelegged, each of them should carry upon his shoulder a bag stuffed with straw, the straw hanging out: whereupon were made these verses.
This bag full of straw I bear on my back, Because my Lords horse his litter did lack: If you be not the better to my Lords Graces horse, Ye are like to go barefoot before the Crosse.
When the inhabitants of Ilium, anciently called [ 15] Troy, sent Ambassadours to Tiberius to condole the death of his father Augustus a long time after he was dead: the Emperour considering the unseasonableness of it, requited them accordingly, saying, And I also am sorry for your heaviness, having lost so valiant a Knight as Hector: who was slaine above a thousand yeares before.
Herodotus tells of the Psilli, a foolish people, who [ 16] being displeased with the South-winde for d••ying up their waters, would needs take up armes against it: but whilest they marched upon the sands to seek their ene∣my, it blew so strongly, that raising a drift of sand, it overwhelmed them, whereby in stead of a victory they met with their graves, as a just reward of their folly.
Cardinal Woolsey falling into disgrace with King Henry [ 17] the eighth, said, Had I been as wise, and careful to serve the God of heaven, as I have been to serve my great Ma∣ster on earth, he would never thus have left me in my gray haires.
Themistocles being banished Athens, fled to Artax∣erxes [ 18] King of Persia for refuge, who was wonderfully overjoyed that he had by this means gotten so gallant a man, praying to his gods, that his enemies might be alwayes so infatuated as to banish their worthiest men. Herod.
Caius Caligula the Romane Emperour had one of [ 19] his horses which he loved best, and called him Swift: he invited him to supper, and gave him his provender in a golden manger, and drank wine to him in golden bowles: He used to sweare by his health and fortune: He promised him to make him Consul, as before he had made him his Priest. He built him a Marble stable, an Ivory manger: cloathed him with purple: put a chaine of pearles about his neck: besides he built him an house, furnished it with housholdstuffe, and ser∣vants, that so they whom his horse invited, might have the better entertainment. Pez. Mel. Hist.
He pretended an expedition into Britaine, made [ 20] great warlick preparations, led his Army to the sea∣side, and then commanded them to gather cockleshells, with which he returned in triumph to Rome, as if they had been the spoiles of his conquered enemies. Sueto.
The Turks foolishly hold, that man so soone as he [ 21] comes out of his mothers womb, hath his destiny writ∣ten in his forehead by God: and therein all the good, & evil that shall befall him, and in particular what death he shall die: and hereupon they are desperate in the Wars, & fear not infection of the plague, so that if one
dies of the Plague, another presently weares his cloaths. Turk. Hist. p. 1302.
Sir Roger Williams hearing a Spaniard foolishly brag∣ging [ 22] of his Country-sallats, gave him this quick answer: You have indeed good sauce in Spaine, but we in England have dainty Beeves, Veale, and Muttons to eat with that sauce: And as God made Beasts to live on the grasse of the earth, so he made man to live upon them.
A poot begger in Paris stayed so long in a Cooks [ 1] shop, who was dishing up of meat, till his stomach was satisfied with the only smell thereof: the cholerick covetous Cook demanded of him to pay for his break∣fast: the poore man denied it, and the controversie was referred to be decided by the next man that went by, which chanced to be the most notorious Ideot in the whole City: He upon the relation of the whole matter determined that the poore mans money should be put betwixt two empty dishes, and the Cook should be recompenced with the gingling of the mans money, as he was satisfied only with the smell of the Cooks meat. Holy State. p. 182.
A Courtier having begg'd a rich-landed Fool, used to [ 2] carry him about to waite upon him: He coming with his Master to a Gentlemans house where the picture of a foole was wrought in a rich suit of Arras, cut the picture out with a penknife; and being chidden for so doing: You have more cause (said he) to thank me: for if my Master had seen the picture of the Fool, he would have begged your hangings of the King, as he did my land. Eodem.
The standers by comforting of a Natural that lay on [ 3] his death-bed, telling him that foure proper fellows
should carry his body to the Church: Yea, (quoth he) but I had rather by half go thither my self: and then prayed to God at his last gaspe not to require more of him then he gave him. Eodem.
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, throw the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindnesse of their heart,
The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent,