NoPeacewltbRome. 623 A OrdersofCoventswethinke fittobeabolilhed; but,for the condition ofthat fingle and folitary life, let that be done, which Cajfonder, and Clingire the Francifc&n advife in thiscofe; rhat is, Let all falfe conceit,andprepofterousconfidence be removed from ic, that the truft which lbouldonely be put in themerit ofChrift, be not placed upon thefecourfes: and let noman thinke, that hereby hedeferves righteoufnelfe, remiffion, grace; and lafily1 (which I adde) remove but idleneiTe, fnperllition, necefGty, from this indeoflire, and we doenor, wewill nordifallow it: Neither doewe takeourColledgesfur anyother than cenaine !acred (<'•""'"•) Monafticall Academies,wherein according to the preceprofPeugi~tthr Pope, wemaybe maturely firred fOr thefe holy fervicesofGOd, and his Church: fc ehweretheMonafteries ofthe Ancient; infomnch as PolfitkniHJ can witnelfe, that Saint Auften, out ofone little PvfPd. ;,;.,;,. B houfe, fenr forth ten labourers into theChurch. ••:· SECT. Xllli. Concer!Jing tiK CanD?J ofthe Scripture. NOW(lefr I be too tedious) it is time for me,from thefc points which doedirectly concern our felves, to hafren unto rhofe whichdo more clofely touch the Majefry ofGod, and doe, as it were, fend plaine challenges intoheaven. And thofe doe, either refpell: the Scripture, which is his exprelfed word; or chr;p, which is his narurall and fubfrantiall word; or lafrly, theworlhip due unto his Name. And firfr, theScripture complaines jufrlyofchree main wrongs offered to it: The firfr, ofJddicion to the Canon; The fecond, ofderral.tion from the fufficiencyofir; C The chird,ofhanging a\1 the authority thereofupon the fleeve of theChurch; For of that corrupt Tranflation ofScripture,which the Tre111 Divines have made onely and fully authenticall, I furbeare purpofely ro fpeake; although it were eafie to!hew, (that which Keucbtine, following the freps of Hierome, bath averred) Tkatthe Hehrerm drink oflheWell-head, theGree~sofrhe fireame, and theLatinuofthe puddle : neither will I fo much as couch the injurious inhibition ofrhofe holy bookes to the Laiery.Whocan endure apeeceofnew cloth to be patched unco anoldgarment? Orwhat can fultow hence, but thatthe rent lhould beworfe? Who canabide, that againft the faithfull information ofthe Hehrerm, againfr the cleereTefrimoniesof Mtlilo, CJfil, Alh41lajius)Otigen, HilllrJ,Bierome~ Tl.1ifji1Ju1, Nazianz~IJ, againll: their owne Dotlors,both of themiddle and latefrage, fix whole bookes lhould, by their i D Fotherhoods ofTrewl , be under painofa curfe imperioufly obtruded uponGod and 1 his Church?Whereofyet, fomepropofero their Readersno better than magical jugling,, others bloodyfelfe·murdecs, others lying fables, andothersheathenifh rites, not without apublike applaufe in the relation: Thefe indeed, CajetaiJ, ingenuoufly, ashis falhion is, (according to that he had learnedof Hierome) would perfivade us to have beenadmittedonelyby theAncients,inro the Canon ofManners,not ofFaith. And furely therebemany p~ecepts in sracidu, the counte.rfeit Solomon, and EfdrtH, which favour ofexcellentWJfedome; but I wonderwhat kmde ofgood manners can be learned from fiJCh like hifrories, even by thofeNovices to whom Athanafius bequeaths rhefe bookes! Well may I fay of thefe, as thatChian fervanr ofhisMalter, E (which fold hiswine,and drank ~is lees)while they havegood, they feekfor naught: But let thefe bookes (howquefr10nable foever eo Eiphanius) be all facred, let them be(according torhemeaningofthe Councell of Carthage, andof A•fte,, fo oft cited ro this purpofe) afterCanonicall; yet what man or Angell dare prefume to undertake tomake them divine?We know full well,how gre•t impiety it is, to father upon the God ofHeaven the weake conceptions ofan humane wit; neithercan we beanywhit moved with the idle crackeof the Trident/ne curfe, whileswe heare God rhundring inour eares, Ifany man adde unro thefe words, God !hall adde unto him the plagues written in thisBooke. SECT• • Hitr·Ad'tJtrf. HllvidiJIIn. [ referr~tbe rf!~!Orthe citation ofd~c- ~R:lro~~: pety. Epiph.l.ftn. 1. i¥ Jf.t'/UI..t K.1(<1 1'41-ne;~o- , ,uu• • SJquUI.Htfltr, Date.Btmtt. E.ul]udirh, T11!J.Mamt.pr11 Canmmicis n11n r.ztiy.rit, Arutkma.fit.fifl+ "~"'·""·
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