1the Moon of it ſelf is Tenebroſe, and yet it is no leſſe lucid than
the Splendor of the Sun.
the Splendor of the Sun.
Hence it is manifeſt, that theſe kinde of Authors, in regard they
did not dive into the true Sence of the Scriptures, would (in caſe
their authority were of any great moment) have impoſed a neceſ
ſity upon others to believe ſuch Concluſions for true as were re
pugnant to manifeſt Reaſon, and to Senſe. Which abuſe Deus
avertat, that it do not gain Countenance and Authority; for if it
ſhould, it would in a ſhort time be neceſſary to proſcribe and in
hibit all the Contemplative Sciences. For being that by nature
the number of ſuch as are very unapt to underſtand perfectly
both the Sacred Scriptures, and the other Sciences is much great
er than that of the skilfull and intelligene; thoſe of the firſt ſort
ſuperficially running over the Scriptures, would arrogate to them
ſelves an Authority of decreeing upon all the Queſtions in Na
ture, by vertue of ſome Word by them miſonderſtood, and pro
duced by the Sacred Pen-men to another purpoſe: Nor would
the ſmall number of the Intelligent be able to repreſs the furious
Torrent of thoſe men, who would finde ſo many the more fol
lowers, in that the gaining the reputation of Wiſe men without
pains or Study, is far more grateful to humane Nature, than the
conſuming our ſelves with reſtleſs contemplations about the moſt
painfull Arts. Therefore we ought to return infinite thanks to
Almighty God, who of his Goodneſs freeth us from this fear, in
that he depriveth ſuch kinde of perſons of all Authority and, re
poſeth the Conſulting, Reſolving, and Decreeing upon ſo im
portant Determinations in the extraordinary Wiſdom and Can
dor of moſt Sacred Fathers; and in the Supream Authority of
thoſe, who being guided by his Holy Spirit, cannot but determin
Holily: So ordering things, that of the levity of thoſe other men,
there is no account made. This kinde of men are thoſe, as I be
lieve, againſt whom, not without Reaſon, Grave, and Holy Wri
ters do ſo much inveigh; and of whom in particular S. Hierom
writeth: (g) This (Scilicet the Sacred Scripture) the talking
old woman, the doting old man, the talkative Sophiſter, all venture
upon, lacerate, teach, and that before they have learnt it. Others
induced by Pride, diving into hard words, Philoſophate amongſt
Women, touching the Holy Scriptures. Others (Oh ſhame
ful!) Learn of Women what they teach to Men; and, as if this
were nothiug, in a certain facility of words, I may ſay of confi
dence, expound to others what they underſtand not themſelves. I
forbear to ſpeak of thoſe of my own Profeſſion, who, if after Hu
mane Learning they chance to attain to the Holy Scriptures, and
tickle the ears of the people with affected and Studied expreſſions,
they affirm that all they ſay, is to be entertained as the Law of God;
did not dive into the true Sence of the Scriptures, would (in caſe
their authority were of any great moment) have impoſed a neceſ
ſity upon others to believe ſuch Concluſions for true as were re
pugnant to manifeſt Reaſon, and to Senſe. Which abuſe Deus
avertat, that it do not gain Countenance and Authority; for if it
ſhould, it would in a ſhort time be neceſſary to proſcribe and in
hibit all the Contemplative Sciences. For being that by nature
the number of ſuch as are very unapt to underſtand perfectly
both the Sacred Scriptures, and the other Sciences is much great
er than that of the skilfull and intelligene; thoſe of the firſt ſort
ſuperficially running over the Scriptures, would arrogate to them
ſelves an Authority of decreeing upon all the Queſtions in Na
ture, by vertue of ſome Word by them miſonderſtood, and pro
duced by the Sacred Pen-men to another purpoſe: Nor would
the ſmall number of the Intelligent be able to repreſs the furious
Torrent of thoſe men, who would finde ſo many the more fol
lowers, in that the gaining the reputation of Wiſe men without
pains or Study, is far more grateful to humane Nature, than the
conſuming our ſelves with reſtleſs contemplations about the moſt
painfull Arts. Therefore we ought to return infinite thanks to
Almighty God, who of his Goodneſs freeth us from this fear, in
that he depriveth ſuch kinde of perſons of all Authority and, re
poſeth the Conſulting, Reſolving, and Decreeing upon ſo im
portant Determinations in the extraordinary Wiſdom and Can
dor of moſt Sacred Fathers; and in the Supream Authority of
thoſe, who being guided by his Holy Spirit, cannot but determin
Holily: So ordering things, that of the levity of thoſe other men,
there is no account made. This kinde of men are thoſe, as I be
lieve, againſt whom, not without Reaſon, Grave, and Holy Wri
ters do ſo much inveigh; and of whom in particular S. Hierom
writeth: (g) This (Scilicet the Sacred Scripture) the talking
old woman, the doting old man, the talkative Sophiſter, all venture
upon, lacerate, teach, and that before they have learnt it. Others
induced by Pride, diving into hard words, Philoſophate amongſt
Women, touching the Holy Scriptures. Others (Oh ſhame
ful!) Learn of Women what they teach to Men; and, as if this
were nothiug, in a certain facility of words, I may ſay of confi
dence, expound to others what they underſtand not themſelves. I
forbear to ſpeak of thoſe of my own Profeſſion, who, if after Hu
mane Learning they chance to attain to the Holy Scriptures, and
tickle the ears of the people with affected and Studied expreſſions,
they affirm that all they ſay, is to be entertained as the Law of God;
zoom in
zoom out
zoom area
full page
page width
set mark
remove mark
get reference
digilib