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WHat the common people seekes principally in the Scripture is some morrall instruction, certainly neces∣sary beyond what is spoken. But many beleeving that the Scripture ought not to containe any other thing, reduce it all in∣to morality, namely the Histories in which
they consider no other subject, but the ex∣amples either of vice, or of vertue. This ignorance which turnes the most elevated misteries into simple morall precepts in∣troduceth a thousand absurdities in the Scripture, in which we meet with divers narrations, which if taken only morrally, would be found very impertinent. The bargaine made between Lea and Rachel, Gen. 30.14. the contention betweene Sara and Hagar, the childish strife betwixt Isaac and Ismael, if we bring no other concep∣tions then those of the vulgar, these mat∣ters would be both frivolous and ridicu∣lous; certainly, these histories carry a dee∣per sence. And S. Paul, Gal. 4.24.) finding in these two last the Image of the most important truths which are in religion which shewes that the intention of the ho∣ly Ghost was cleare otherwise then only to paint forth simple moralities.
More faulty is as yet the stile of an in∣finite number of Preachers, who believe they handle the Scripture very well, so that they disguise all in Tropes. If they
handle the miraculous healing of the le∣prous, all their discourse will be of the spirituall Leprosie; If of the resurrecti∣on of one dead, they will speake only of regeneration; turning these histories out of their naturall sence, and omitting in the meane time the considerations which they furnish us to the true understanding of the place; Truly, its permitted to draw an instruction for manners from an article of the faith; but it is a great folly to lay hold of the concommitant of a subject, in stead of the principall, and make the body of their discourse thereof. When any will expresly handle a morall doctrine the Scripture abounds in formall passages for such matters, otherwise hee should both mock them, and his auditors to preach the decalogue in interpreting the Symbole. But it is easier for the ignorant to preach morality, then to handle a point more mi∣sterious, only for to bring it forth after their ordinary fashion in grosse equipage, and under triviall reasons; For to handle worthily a doctrine of manners one ought
to have provision of rare matters and con∣ceptions, elevated above the common, which belongs not but to a profound The∣ologian. The vulgar knowes the vertues by their habits, then in their essence. Po∣pular piety abounds so in certaine acts that it neglects the others, namely, all charity at this day is reduced into almes; Many love rather to nourish a poore man, then to convert an Idolater, although it be a greater worke of charity to save one soule, then to feed a hundred thousand bellies. Otherwise a man who had founded Hospi∣talls, should have done a farre more excel∣lent worke then all the labours of the Apostles.