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In Philosophical Controversies.
439
the Moon of it self is Tenebrose, and yet it is no lesse lucid than 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 necessity upon others to believe such Conclusions for true as were repugnant 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 inhibit 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 greater than that of the skilfull and intelligent; those of the first sort superficially running over the Scriptures, would arrogate to themselves an Authority of decreeing upon all the Questions in Nature, by vertue of some Word by them misunderstood, and produced 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 followers, 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, reposeth the Consulting, Resolving, and Decreeing upon so important Determinations in the extraordinary Wisdom and Candor 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 believe, against whom, not without Reason, Grave, and Holy Writers do so much inveigh; and of whom in particular S. Hierom writeth: (g)Hanc (Scilicet Sacram Scripturam) garrula anus, hanc delirus senex, hanc Sophista verbosus, hanc universi præsumunt, lacerant, docent, antequant discant: Alij, adducto supercilio, grandia verba trutinantes, inter mulierculas, de Sacris Litteris Philosophantur. Alij discunt, proh pudor! à fæminis, quod viros docent, & ne parum hoc sit, quadam facilitats verborum, insi audaciâ, edisserunt aliis, quod ipsi non intelligunt. Taceo de mei similibus, qui si fortè ad Scripturas Sanctas, post seculares litteras venerint, & sermone composito, aurem populi mulserint; quicquid dixerint, hoc legem Dei putant: nec scire dignantur, quid Prophetæ, quid Apostoli senserint, sed ad sensum suum, incongrua aptant testimonia: Quasi grande sit, & non vitiscissimum docendi genus, depravare sententias, & ad voluntatem suam Scripturamtrahere repugnantem. Jeron. Epist. ad Paul. 103.(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 shameful!) Learn of Women what they teach to Men; and, as if this were nothing, in a certain facility of words, I may say of confidence, expound to others what they understand not themselves. I forbear to speak of those of my own Profession, who, if after Humane 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;and
