YOV Christians , that are perplexed in your minds amidst the controversies of this time , hovering betweene the choice of that which is Diuine , & that which is humane , of that which is Authenticall , and that which is Apocryphal , of that which is true and that which seemes to bee true , two only words out of the holy Gospell are able to put you out of doubt , and to cause you to see the difference betweene them . And behold , here is one of them for you ; Hunc au dite , Heare him . Him , and no other . Our Lord Iesus had nowe taken apart three of his disciples , Peter , Iames , & Iohn , & brought them vp into an high mountain . There had hee beene transfigured before them , his face shining as the Sun , his cloathes being become as white as snowe . which in this basenes were as pledges of his future glorie , of that glorie , which hee tooke againe , when it pleased him , and which hee had neuer put away . There were Moses & Elias seene by his disciples talking with him Moses and the Prophets : as in a manner giuing up there charge into his hands . his indeed which was the marke and the end , the perfection and accomplishment both of the law & the Prophets . Here Peter comes in , as it were , in opposition , Master it is good for vs to be here . Being already ravished and drunken with the shew of this glory , & these spirituall delightes . Let vs make here three Tabernacles , one for thee , and one for Moses , and one for Elias . And we doubt not , but in this first he reserued a roome for himselfe and his fellow-disciples . But as he spake , and knew not , saith both S. Mark and S. Luke , what he said , Mar. 9. v. 6 Luc. 9. God from heauen directed him . Out of a cloud , that shadowed them , came a voice saying , This is that my beloued sonne , in whome I am well pleased , Heare him . No longer Moses , no longer Elias : the old things are come to an end ; I bring you new tidings , good new tidings . There is here no longer any need of Tabernacles or that wee should passe from one figure to another . She hath from henceforth a place where shee may rest . She is to be built on the firme ground . Wilt thou Peter , wil yee , my disciples , one day enioy this glory , and possesse eternally that which you haue seene as in a glimpse , behold here the meanes , the only means , to wit , my welbeloved , your happinesse , and all my delight : But , Heare him . For it is he of whom Moses , the same which you haue scene talking with him , which did here come to render homage vnto him for the whole law , told you heretofore very neere two thousand yeares agoe . ( See how the Lord fulfilleth his sayings in their due time , Deut. 18.1.18 . ) The Lord said vnto mee , I will raise them vp a Prophet from amongst their brethren , like vnto thee , and will put my words in his mouth , and hee shall speake vnto them all that I shall command him : And whosoever will not harken vnto my words , which hee shall speake in my name , I will require it of him . It is then profit to heare him , and daunger to turne the eare from him . It is he of whom I spake vnto you by Esay my Prophet , Esay , 42. v 1. Behold my servant , hee is mine elect , I haue put my spirit vpon him . And do not stand vpon his lownesse , or his humiliation , in that he will not cause his voice to bee heard in the street , nor will not make much noise . For so much the rather ought you to harken vnto him ; whatsoeuer you see him to be , yet he shall bring forth iudgement in truth . And is not that it which you ought to looke for in these daies ? Hee shall not faile nor bee discouraged , Vers , 4. til he haue set iudgement in the earth : till he haue instructed the whole world . Finally , it is he of whom Iohn the Baptist , that Elias which you looked for , which you haue seene , spake vnto you in these daies : hee being not the worde made flesh , vnto the which you ought at this time to harken , but the voice which cryeth in the wildernesse , the forerunner of this word . Not that light which lighteth every man that commeth into the world , but a lamp that beareth witnesse of that light . This is he of whom I said , hee that commeth after mee was better than I : oh. 1.15 . for he was before me . Before me , in as much as hee is the everlasting word . After mee , in as much as hee is the word made flesh . V. 16. Of his fulnesse haue al we receiued , Moses , Elias , all the Prophets . V. 17 For the law was given by Moses ; the law that entertained vs with figures , vs euery one bound ouer also to sinne , & therefore to death ; Grace and truth is come vnto you by Iesus Christ . And againe therefore , Heare him : the rather truly , because no man hath seene God at any time . No man can tell you any thing concerning diuine matters , concerning things that appertaine to your salvation , but by him : But the only sonne , more then any other , and after another manner . For as much as he is from everlasting in the bosome of the father . Prov. 8. From euerlasting and before all ages . That eternall wisdome which was with him in the creation of all things , and in the which he took his delight . Shee which cryed so long agoe , Giue eare , for the opening of my lips shal teach thing , that be right , Prov 8. v. 6 & 7. my mouth shal speak the truth . But at this time condescending to our weaknesse , made bone of your bones speaketh vnto you mouth to mouth And therefore the Lord breaking through the thicke cloude of all these precedent witnesses spake thus vnto vs , ( And who will not giue heede vnto this voice ? ) Heare it . Heare him . The Lorde then will haue his sonne harkened vnto : Iesus our Lord ; his well beloued sonne , harkened vnto , as being the teacher of saluation , but farther , let vs see by whom . It is said , that hee had taken apart , Peter , Iohn , & Iames , the cheefest among the Apostles , for to make them partake of that vision , and by a consequent of this lesson ; & in their persons so much the more all the rest . Gal. 2.9 . Iames , Cephas , and Iohn , saith S. Paul , counted among the pillers of the Church . Taking them for afoundation of their doctrine this lesson , this word : Iames , & Iohn , those whome Christ himselft hath honoured with the name of Sennes of thunder , not being able to make a sound , nor to thunder , but according to the voice , which hee giueth vnto them . Peter himselfe , on whose confession he built his Church ; what greater honour could he receiue ? Bound by his Apostleship to heare him ; to heare him for to teach it vnto others , and not any thing of his owne . Otherwise being subiect to this Anathema pronounced by God ; Whosoever will not harken vnto my wordes , Deut. v. 19. which hee shall speake in my name , I will require it of him . And to harken is to obey ; for an Apostle and minister of the Gospell , it is to cause others to obey . An Anathema , which hath since been doubled and expounded by S. Paul euen in the cause of S. Peter . Gal. 1. & 9. Though that we , or an Angell from heaven , preach vnto you otherwise , then that which we hauepreached vnto you , let him be accursed , Anathema . And indeed when the heauen hath spoken , God through the heauen ; all the Angels of heauen what haue they to gainsay ? Yea what can they say ? Tou ching Gods matters , to speake after God , after the son of God which was sent and came down expresly to declare them vnto vs ? Who can doe this , but the king of pride , and the Angels of darknesse transformed into Angels of light ?

You wil say then , let vs heare him : but are you of opinion that wee ought to heare him alone ? Yea truly , alone : For it is not without a mystery , that it is noted by the Evangelist , that as the voice was a speaking , Iesus was left alone . Moses and Elias beeing retired and giving him place ; how much more al other reachers , all other men ? And if it be forbidden so expreslie vpon so high a paine to adde to or diminish from the law giuen by the ministery of Angels ; howe much the rather is it forbidden concerning the Gospell pronounced by the mouth of the Son of God , light of light , the word , the everlasting wisdome of the Father , whose doctrine cannot choose but bee perfect , perpetual , eternall ? Alone , more over , for who will be so presumptuous , as to dare set hand to his workmanship , and after him to teachvs any way of salvation ; to prescribe vs any rule thereof : & after him to disclos vnto vs any mistery of Religion , or any thing that might bee expedient for a heavenly life ? Lastly , alone , because there was but one Sonne , whom it behoved to set an end to all the Law givers of Iuda : & one Prophet by excellence poiuted out to Moses , by whom God might reveale himselfe to the world & open vnto vs the depths of his iustice and of his mercie . This Christ , said the Samaritan woman , Ioh 4.25 . which when he is come , will tell vs all things . And therefore saith this voice from heaven vnto vs , Hunc audite , pointing him vnto vs as it were with a finger , heare him . Him alone , whom so many former ages , so many herald , haue gon before , & haue continually by succession preached vnto you : if that wee ought to haue learned the way of salvation from any other , by what path so euer hee brought vs thereunto , to what purpose then neede wee haue come vnto him , vnto him alone without interruption ever since the beginning of the world ? if any one might put in never so smal an helping hand with him : to what end then is it , that the law and the Prophets doe aime at him alone ; that Moses & Elias were swallowed vp in him , & vanished out of sight before him ? This furniture of glory , this voice from heauen , God in his owne person being present at this charge , was al this for to tell vs some thing either common or communicable to another ? Heare him , my well beloved sonne ; Him , in whom I am well pleased , but for this time only , but without preiudice to them that shall come after , but with a reseruation of other rules of well beleeuing , and well doing , which shall from time to time be taught vnto you ; but if the meaning had bin , that they shoulde haue rested here , was there any need of this solemne transfiguration , of so maiestical a preface ? As therefore when S. Iohn saith vnto vs of Iesus ; Behold the Lambe of God ; we consider in this Lambe all the typicall and Sacramentall Lambes both ended and , accomplished : after this Lambe , we do no longer settle our mindes and hopes vpon any other , that can take away or beare the sinnes of the world . In like manner , and that farre more strictly , when God here saith vnto vs , heare him ; This Iesus , this Christ , this Emmanuel , God with vs , my well beloued long before promised , at this day exhibited , the teacher of saluation , the author of life , & that by his death for vs . Let vs thinke , that in this Teacher , in this Lawgiuer al others are accomplished and take an end : let no man presume so far , as to bring his lampe into the Christian church , if he haue not lighted it at the beames of this Sunne , all humane inuentions and rules being set aside ; as before times all strange fire was farre from the Lords Tabernacle , from his altar , from the censer , from the Priest , on paine of being deuoured .

A strange conclusion , will some man here say vnto vs , prevented by so many positiue laws , by so many new examples , & so many good rules . We will there fore let him heare the Fathers . Tertullian ; Let vs then hear him , Tertul. l. 3. advers. Marcioné cap. 22. of whom God had from the beginning declared that he ought to be heard in the name of a Prophet , because that for such an one hee was to bee esteemed among the people . But was he alone so to be esteemed ? S. Cyprian Tertullians scholler , and which verie likely had learned if from him , saith . That wee ought to heare Christ alone , the father hath recorded it from heaven , saying , Cypr ▪ ad Cicil. de sacrament Dom. calicis Ep. 63 in edit Pamelia na. &c. Heare him . Wherfore if we ought to heare Christ alone , then ought wee not to minde , what an other shall thinke fit to bee done before vs , but what Christ the first of all , which is before all , hath done ; because also we ought not to followe the customes of men , but the truth of God . And to the same purpose doth hee bring in many places out of the holy Scriptures both before and after . The reason thereof is to be sound in S. Ambrose . Ambr. de fide l. 1. c. 5. Because that no man commeth to the Father , but by the Son , be it what it will that thou meditatest concerning the Father . Chrysost Homil 57 in Matth. And likewise thou canst think nothing touching divine matters , but by the Sonne . Wherevpon Chrysost. saith , Heare him in all things . In all , without exception ; that from hence forth , Hiero Matt. 6.17 saith S. Hierome , we might no more pitch anie tabernacle but to him , obey none but him , no longer Moses , nor Elias ; they are but seruants ; it is no lesse their dutie then ours , to raise him up a tabernacle within their hearts . He that spake thus of them , what would he haue saide of such as are com since ? of all those founders of new orders ? vnto which notwithstanding we erect as well as to Christ , yea in some sort aboue Christ , temples , altars , and sacrifices : and obey them rather than the law , the Gospell , or the Sonne of God himselfe .

But passe we this ouer , not to anger the world . Yet truly we see that this lesson , as being engrauen with the finger of God in their souls , doth remain deep he imprinted in all there writings ▪ whereas Iames telleth vs ; there is one lawgiuer , I am . 4.12 . which is able to saue & distroy , who art thou that iudgest another man , that takest vppon thee to giue him a law ( how great so euer thou art ) that may binde his conscience , and giue or take from him life euerlasting . 1. Ioh. 1. And S. Iohn That which we haue seene and heard of that word of life , declare we vnto you . we haue learned it both for you and for our selfes ; that you might haue felloship with vs & that our fellowship might be with the father and with his son Iesus Christ . This is the reward of hearing him . Farre different from that which once they asked , to witt , his right hand or his left hand here on earth . S. Peter also alleadging for a reason this same vision ; 2. Pet. 1.8 16.17 . For we followed not deceauable fables whenwe opened vnto you the comming and power of our Lord Iesus Christ , but with our eies we saw his Maiestie , when there came such a voice to him sent from that excellent glory , This is my beloued sonne &c. & then making a difference betweene the doctrine of the law & that of the Gospell , between Moses and Elias , which he had seene , and that Iesus whome he was commanded to harken vnto : he goeth on thus , We haue the word of the prophets , V. 9. ● to the which ye doe well that yee take heed . But as to what ? as vnto a light , that shineth in a darke place . and how long ? vntil the day dawne , and the day starre arise in your harts . This Iesus the Sonne of righteousnes , the true light of our soules , of the which all the Prophesies are but litle sparkes ; this Iesus , of whom Peter said , when he had knowne him , To whom should we goe ? Lord , thou hast the words of everlasting life . Thou hast them , that is to say , none hath them , but thou , but by thee : thou art the only head-spring spring of them ; all others 〈◊〉 but stinking cisternes . In son● other place perhaps wee might find the words of life , but of a temporall life , of a mortall life , of an immortall death . Wordes of saluation and happinesse are not found but in Iesus onely , in my Iesus alone . And therefore with good reason was it told vs in the mountaine , Heare him . S. Paul was not at this vision , and yet stickes not to taker the same lesson for himself also , Heb. 1. v. 1 & 2. God ( saith he ) hauing at sundry times and in divers maners spoken in the old time to our fathers by the Prophets , in these last daies hath spoken vnto vs by his son . 2. I 16. In these last daies , saith hee , that is to say , for the last time , and for good reason , sith that by this sonne , the heire ( as he addeth ) of all things , by whom also hee made the worlds , that euerlasting wisdome that assisted him , when he ●epared the heavens , Prov. 8. v. 27. when hee ●et the compasse vpon the deepe . ●eing descended neuerthelesse ●ratiously from heauen , from ●he bosome of the father , for to set vs aright in his waies . For which cause also he relateth not ●nto vs these visions and reue●ations of his , which hee had seen , 2. Cor. 12. taken vp into the third heaven , into Paradise , those wordes which cannot be spoken . ( What could not he haue told vs , if hee would but haue entertained the time with such discourses ? ) But those things barely , which hee had learned of our Lord , for the saluation of the Churches , that is to say , of the assemb lies of the faithfull of all sortes , men , women , children , learned , and vnlearned , vnto which hee did write ; 1. Cor. 1 v. 23. & 1 v. 3. I haue ( saith hee ) receiued of the Lord that , which I haue delivered vnto you ; I haue delivered vnto you that which I received ; the Gospell whereby you are saved , if you keepe in memorie , after what manner I preached it vnto you . If you keepe it still the same , that I gaue it you , without adding therevnto any thing of your owne . And the rather , because I neither received it of man , Gal. 1. v. 12. nor was I taught it , but by revelation of Iesus Christ . Is not that man therefore very arrogant , that dares passe beyond that , within which these great Apostles doe keepe themselues , & bound both their preaching and writings ? And after , yea & besides , this well beloued Son , this Sonne in whom the Father is well pleased , to teach and expound vnto vs , what the pleasure of God is , and with what service he is pleased ; and therevpon to adde somewhat of his owne minde , and display his owne fancies and inuentions ? Doth not this deserue that God should say vnto vs ? Who hath required these thinges at your hands ? Not to bee allowed , not to bee approued in your accounts ? It is in vaine that you serue me to please men , and according to the inventions of men ? He are him , whome I haue sent you , him of whom I haue told you long since , that whosoever will not harken vnto his words , I will require it of him . Deut. 18. v. 19. & 20 For the Prophet that shall presume to speake a word in my name , which I haue not commaunded him to speake , even the same Prophet shall die , shal incurre everlasting damnation . And here let these looke to themselues , which against their own knowledge & conscience doe preach vnto the simple people so many things , which they haue not heard from our Lord Iesus Christ , no nor from his Apostles ; which are grounded only vpon visions in the aire , vpon pretended reuelations , and certaine tales farre worse then Apocryphall . These notwithstanding are articles of beleefe , more to be beleeued & observed , nay more indeed beleeued and obserued , then the worde of Christ and the holy Scriptures .

But it may be that this is spoken to those three onely , those three , which were taken apart by our Lord , & were to learne some particular mystery thereby . But that which is only spoken to one of them ( saith our Lord ) is spoken vnto all . The mysteries and the secrets of God are not of the same nature that others are of ; They are spoken in the eare , but to bee preached on the house tops . And indeed thou seest , that S. Paul did not sticke to apply these wordes to himselfe , and the fathers haue told thee that it concernes all the Apostles . And if all the Apostles , then also all their disciples and successors , all such as haue beleeued their word , and haue receiued from them their calling to teach the word , wee may say , all Christians , all the faithfull , all the sheepe of our great sheepheard . For ( saith he ) my sheep heare my voice , Ioh. 10. they vnderstand not the voice of a stranger , they flie backe from him . We may say , the very Catholike & vniuersall Church : For it is said vnto her , Harken ô daughter , Ps. 45.10 . & consider and incline thine eare . And how often hath it bin told vs , that that which is said to Peter , is said to all his successours , and to the whole Church ? And for what reason should it not hold herein also ? To bee short , when our Lord saith vnto his Apostles , Hoc facite , do this , thou drawest from thence a perpetuall institution of a Sacrament , of a sacrifice : when God therefore saith here solemnly , Hunc audite , Heare him ; What right hast thou to restrain it to these few , and to some peculiar mystery , to the end that all thinges may be lawfull vnto you ? With what face canst thou deny , that these words doe containe a lesson , which is to bee continuall and vniuersall vnto the ende of the world , how to limit the faith and life of a Christian within the compasse of Christ his voice , of Christ his lawe , of Christ his schoole , which is the only Lawgiuer , the only Master and only teacher in his Church ?

But there is more in it yet , for this lesson is more necessary for vs , then it was then for them or at any other time whatsoeuer since his Apostles . For vs , I say , on whome the last ages are come ; for vs , whom so many ages , & by a consequent so many forestalled in their iudgement , haue preuented by anticipat opinions , by inueterated customs , by presidents of antiquitie , by renowne and maiestie , which wil offer to part stakes with the Godhead . and make themselues to be heard aboue the sonne of God , aboue the Father himselfe . For is there almost any age , that hath not brought forth its own teachers ? Any teacher , that would not haue his priuat opinions , his owne inuentions ? I might say , heresies . And is there any of them , that hath not built his own stubble on Christs foundation , & sowne his owne tares in Christs field ? And how may al this be remedied ? Onely by this word alone , Heare him , heare none other ; let euery other voice be suspected by you . Vnto him that searcheth for the truth , doubteth of his way , and seeketh life ; he , who is the truth , the way and the life , which also wil teach them , doth of his own accorde offer himselfe . And where then shall wee seek him ? This againe was an easie matter for his Apostles ▪ which had him at hand . which were dayly in his company , and did as it were draw it out of his breast . For S. Paul likewise , to whom it was yet graunted to heare him , though in lightning & in thunder . But whither sendest thou vs to heare him ? He which is ascended into heauen , and fitteth at the right hand of the Father , will not descend from thence , vntill he comes to iudge the worlde . And in the mean time what shal become of our doubtings ? Await patiently ; our Lord is not so farre from thee as thou imaginest . Say not in thy heart , Rom. 10. v. 6 7. & 8. who shall ascend into heaven ? That is to bring Christ from aboue . Or , who shall descend into the deepe ? That is to bring Christ againe from the dead . The word is neere thee . This is the word of faith . The Gospell which we read by the grace of our God , & which we preach . Iesus Christ hath not left vs Orphans . Hee hath not beene preuented by death , hauing death in his owne power ; He is not dead without making a Testament , nor gon from earth vp into heauen without a last will . By his Testament he speaketh yet at this day , and did speake in all the ages past , and giueth his law to his family . A Bastard he is or vnthankful , that doth not heare him ; It is his Gospell , and his holy Scriptures , in the which he liueth , and teacheth , and iudgeth , and beareth rule in his Church . This Gospel , by whose rule hee directeth the faithfull , correcteth and reproueth the hereticks and vnbeleeuers , and putteth a difference between the one and the other ; Of which S. Ireneus tels thee ; That Gospell which the Apostles haue preached , haue they since given and delivered vnto vs , tradiderunt , in the Scriptures by the will of God , to bee the foundation of our faith . Then is it not by occasion only , or by their owne instinct , as some would make vs Beleeue , August de ●on●en● . ●vang . l. 1. S. Augustin ; All that ; which our Lord would that wee should haue concerning his ●●tiens and his sayings , he hath commanded , saith he , to his Apostles to write it , as with his owne hands . As if therefore hee had writtten it himselfe , if wee read it , wee heare himselfe . And S. Cyrill addeth ; All that , Cyril . l. 12 in loh c. 68. which they haue thought to suffice as well for manners as for doctrine : Will we bee more able then they ? S. Iohn also the beloued Disciple of our Lord ; Ioh. 20. v. 31. These things are written not casually , not by humane instinct , but that you might beleeue that Iesus is that Christ that son of God , and that in beleeving yee might haue life through his name . And this beleeuing truely presupposeth hearing , according to the wordes of the Apostle : Faith is by hearing , and hearing by the word of God . The Gospell hath succeeded the law , but as the truth succeedeth the shadow , and manhood infancie , that the doctrin might be made cleane , and the condition of the Church amended . God not being content that his lawe had bin written with his owne finger , commaunded also that it should bee written in a booke , that they should look in it , that euery houshold from their first yeares should bee instructed in it . Truly Christ the son of God , our only lawgiuer , hath in like manner prouided for his Gospell ; being to leaue this world & to withdraw his voice together with his flesh from vs . , hee hath perpetuated it vnto vs in his Gospell . He hath giuen vs Euangelists & Apostles , whose pens he hath inspired . In them , & by them , if thou wilt , hee speaketh vnto thee , thou needest not climbe vp into a mountaine for it , or enter into a cloud , or be ouertaken with feare ; thou needest only his bountifulnesse and grace alone ; of him , I say , speaking in these Euangelists , his heauenly father telleth thee as well now as then ; Heare him , ●●are him in them . As well as our Lord at euery table where his Sacrament is celebrated according to his institution , telleth thee yet throughout the whole world , Hoc facite . Doe this . And communicateth vnto thee on the one part his Spirit in his word , on the other his body , his flesh , and his blood in his holy table . Which also is the reason , why every one of these good ancient fathers in al those conflicts of heresies did in times past betake themselues to this testament , did therein take counsaile from the mouth of Iesus , as in old time from God in the Arke and did therehence carie awaie healthfull answers to the peace of their conscience , and the pacification of the Church . Miserable men , that we are , if some men had said vnto vs , heare Plato , hearken vnto Aristotle , wee would vnderstand it so , Opt S. Aug. that he had directed vs to their books , and would goe to buy them at the Stationers : nor would wee any way trouble our selues to seeke their persons either in Hell or in their feined Elisian fieldes . But when it is said vnto vs , Heare Christ , we begin to wauer make as if we were very idiors , but indeed are malicious , & aske where hee is ? Herevpon marke what Optatus saith , that great African Doctour , contesting against the Donatists . Opt. Milevit . l. 5. contra Parmen. You Donatists say , yea : we Catholiks say , Nay . In the midst of your yea and our nay , mens soules are in doubt . None will beleeue you , nor . vs also ; because therefore that we are at ods , we must seeke iudges . The Christians , saith he , are the parties themselues , the heathen cannot conceiue our mysteries . And therfore can there be found no iudgement on earth . Must wee seeke it in heaven ? Note here the question , & marke how hee answeres it . But what go wee to seeke for in heaven , seeing we haue a Testament in the Gospell ? So long as the father is present , hee chargeth every one of his children , what they are to do . There is as yet no need of any testament . And so Christ gaue to these Apostles their charge , whilest yet he was on earth . But as an earthly Father seeing himselfe to be neere the graue maketh his will , for to preuent and end all controversies betwixt his children ; & then men goe not to seeke him in his tombe , but in this will , wherein he speaketh as if he liued , and though dumbe yet is vnderstood : so indeed , Christ , he , that hath made the Testament , is in heaven , but let vs seeke his will in his Gospell , as in his testament . For even these very things , which some of you do now , hee did euen at that time see you do them . And as at that time he did foresee them , as being God euerlasting , vnto whom all things are knowne from eternity , so without doubt hee hath manifestlie prouided against them ; he hath preuented all chances , and anticipated all tricks and cauils . heare also S. Augustin , Optatus his Country-man , which either had learned it of the other , or was inspired by the same spirit . We are brethren , why striue wee one with another ? Our father died not without a Testament ; he made a will , and then died ; died & rose againe . Men do pleade concerning the succession of the dead , vntill the will be brought forth ; It being brought forth , every one is silent , that it may be opened & rehearsed . The Iudge harkeneth at tentiuely , the Advocates holde their peace , the Cryers cause silence , the people stands in suspense , whilest that the wordes of the deceased are a reading , who lyeth in his tomb● without feeling , and yet his words haue their force . Christ is seated in heaven , & shall he bee contradicted in his Testament ? August . in Psal. 21. Open then , and let vs read ▪ we are brethren , why are we at variance ? Let vs appease our anger : our father hath not left vs without a Testament . His Gospels ; A Testament . saith S. Basill , Basil . de Fide . vnto which nothing ought to be added . It would be false ; nay sacriledge . The Apostle , saith he , by a worldly example forbiddeth vs exprestie to adde any thing to the holy Scripture , when he saith ; And notwithstanding no man reiecteth the Testament of a man , or addeth any thing therevnto , if it hath once beene established . Wherefore we haue alwaies knowne , that we must flie from every voice and all meanings , which are beside the doctrin of our Lord . Beside , saith he , and not against . And now in the mouth of these three witnesses , shall not our speech be confirmed vnto you ? God will haue it , & hath appointed that his well beloued Son should be heard . Heard here beneath , so long as he conuersed here in his owne person : and heard in his holy Gospell , sealed vnto vs by his Apostles by the will of the Father , and the commandement of the Sonne , since that he hath been lifted vp from this world .

Heard , doe you tell vs , in his Gospell ? I & you to heare him . Then behoveth it vs to reade . May we do so , without being excommunicated or anathematised ? A book so dangerous , full of ambushes , full of snares ? HOW the world is changed , nay euen the very voice of the Church since the time of these good fathers ? That the law of our Lord , which is to decide all our controuersies should be esteemed of in these daies as a matter of question ; and this Testament which ought to bring to an agreement the most contentious brethren , as a bundle of contradictorie clauses . Could this Testament euer haue beene altered ? Seeing that we agree in this , that it could not , what remaines then , but that this alteration proceeds not from the truth of the thing , but from the malice of the persons ? Thy father hath made a wil : doth it not concern thee to see what hee leaueth thee ; and vnder what title ; to know also what things he chargeth thee to doe ? Were hee the greatest stranger in the world , wouldst thou not be so curious as to reade it ? Hee that would conceale it from thee , yea and keepe thee from reading it , couldst thou beleeue he did this without fraud ? And being curious in euery other thing , wilt thou be negligent in this ? Thou that seemst to bee a quicke fellow , and wouldst bee esteemed of for such a one in all thy businesse ; wilt thou in this bee an idiot , & lesse then a babe ? Canst thou doe this without a contempt to God ? Canst thou doe this if Gospell , and an eternall life ? Tell mee in thy conscience , if thou hadst lived in the time that our Lord conversed here in his flesh , and hadst had the grace to acknowledge him to bee that Christ that Sonne of the living God ; wouldst thou haue made any difficultie , or thought it to be any grievous fault , or an execrable deede to heare him preach ? Wouldst thou not on the contrary , haue gon to seeke after this divine worde , euen in the midst of the wildernesse ( Whatsoever the Scribes and the Pharises had said vnto thee ) wouldst not thou haue had thine attentiue care linked to his sacred mouth ? And behold , when he was to ascend vp into heaven , for to lift you vp thither after him , hee hath sealed the same vnto you in his Scriptures , in his Gospels , which for the greater part are nothing but his Sermons ; his speeches set downe by writing , that thou maist read them and read them againe more distinctly & more cleerely , chew and chew them againe at your ease ; written expresly by sundry Evangelists , that for thine instruction the one may giue light & serue for an interpreter to the other . And yet shall men make you beleeue that the pen and stile of his Evangelists and Apostles , though ledde by the same Spirit , by that Spirit , which was promised vnto them , was to bring into their memory all that which he had told them , hath connected this sauing , this quickning word , into a dead letter , a murthering and condemning letter ; that thou mightest abhor it , and flie from it , and cast it into the fire , I & thy selfe because of it ? why then what needed this worde haue bin giuen vnto vs in writing by the will of God , as S. Ireneus told vs before , and by the commandement of Christ , as S. Augustin repeated it , but that it might be reade ? And why should it be read lesse , then the law and the Prophets , by al beleeuers . S. Peter called Prophesying a candle , but the Gospel a Sun , a full midday , such a lighte as can admit no increase . Truely our Sauiour wrought miracles enough , in the which his diuinity appeared both effectually and euidently ; And for all this yet sendeth he the Iewes to the law & the Prophets . Search saith he , the Scriptures . Ioh. 5. And we finde not that they reply vnto him : we are forbidden them . S. Paul also exercising his Apostleship among the Iewes commeth into a Synagogue of the citie of Berea ; Act. 17. & as he was powerfull in the holy scriptures , hee preached vnto them that Iesus is the Christ . What doe then those of Berea ? They were not ignoraunt of that so notorious vision which S. Paul saw in the way to Damascus , they might likewise haue laid a foundation on such signes and miracles , as confirmed his sayings . And neverthelesse the Euangelist Saint Luke telleth vs , that they received the word with all readinesse , but by what meanes ? Searching the Scriptures daily , whether those things were so : to wit , as S. Paul had preached vnto them . And this is the reason , why S. Luke telleth vs , that they were more noble men then those , which were at Thessalonica : by this liue lie faith , which they with a zeal mixed with knoweledge , did draw out of the reading of the holy Scriptures . Whence also it is that hee addeth that many of them beleeved , and of honourable women which were Grecians . Women therfore at that time were not reproued , but commended by the Euangelist , by the holie Ghost himself , for hauing read , conferred , and searched the holy Scriptures ; And that also , that they might iudge of the doctrin and preaching of S. Paul that excellent Apostle . Now what is it that the Gospell coulde since haue done vnto vs , what euill hath it done to Christendome , that we should feare or abhorre the reading thereof ? Truly when as S. Iohn telleth vs , these things are written that ye might beleeue : Ioh. 20. v. 31. He telleth vs consequently , that they are written , that yee might read them , and read them for to beleeue them , and therfore they may be vnderstoode of vs , they are not ambiguous , they are fit of themselues to perswade vs , and to make vs beleeue . Whenas also S. Paule directed his Epistles , to the churches of Rome , of Corinth , of Galatia , of Ephesus , of Philippi , & c ? which consisted of al ages , sexes , and conditions ; his purpose was not to exclude any one from them , he hath admitted al of vs thereunto : vnto those Epistles notwithstanding , in the which hee treateth most deeplie and profoundly of the deepest and profoundest articles of the Christian faith ; and none of vs wil wrong him so far as to thinke , that his intent was thereby to destroie them , he being so powerful and so zealous in their instruction . The like is also to bee thought of S. Peter , and S. Iames , & the other Apostles . But speake wee also of the church in these primitiue times . Of what folly doe we accuse her , which tooke so great a care , to cause the newe testament to be translated into all languages , that all men might be able to vnderstand it ? Into the Latine , the Syrian , the Arabian , the Egyptian , the Ethiopian , the Persian , the Indian , the Scythian , the Sauromaticke , & the Gothes language . And for what manner of men shall wee take S. Hierome , and S. Chrysostome , which turned it into the Sclavonian and Armenian tongues , commending so expresly the reading thereof vnto all persons ? Chrysost. Hom. 3. de Lazaro . In Ioh. Hom 29. De verbo Esay Hom 2. In opere Imperf. Homil 42 In Matt. Hom. 2. In Ioh. Homil. 16 In Genes. Hom. 12.13.21 . The one of them so farre as to say , that they are the instruments of every Christian mans trade , that hee ought , and can no lesse want them , then an artificer the implements of his shop , that he must spare no cost for to buy them , that hee ought to haue them alwaies in his hand , and not referre himselfe either to Monke or Clergie man ; but on the contrary hee ought to preiudice and iudge the sermons of the Preachers , I and his own too , Ad Col. Hom 9 & ad Thess. Hom. 3. by reading before hand the same place , which is expounded vnto them : ought also to arme himselfe against the Arrians , & all other hereticks , because it shall so happen ( saith he , and repeats it at sundry times ) that then when Antichrist shall bee come with his army of heresies , there shall bee left no other meanes to knowe the truth or true Christianitie by , but onely , tantummodò , Chrysost. in Opere Imperf. Hom 9 by the Scriptures : No more at all by visions , nor by miracles . The reader may find on that same subiect many homilies , in the which hee can never bee cloid , almost whole ones together , which wee need not bring in here . Origen , S. Basil , S. Ambrose , S. Augustine , S. Hierom , say euery one the same also . When as then men spake of of the Scriptures quite otherwise at this day ; and vse as many inhibitions for to remoue vs from them , as these good Fathers had exhortations for to bring vs neere them : when as men tell vs , as vnto little children , take heed therof , the wolfe is there : can we heare this , and not haue cause to suspect them ? And what then is more likely , then to beleeue rather that our Church is much changed , sith that the voice of our teachers is quite different from that of these holy Fathers : & that they set our candlesticke vnder abushel , for feare we should perceaue these deformities & gaps , or seeke after a reformation , or call them into the law , at least to repentance ?