Page:The Holy Bible faithfvlly translated into English ovt of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greek, & other Editions in diuers languages.pdf/4

Rh but in the three sacred only, for further declaration of this, and other like points we remit you to the Preface before the New Testament. Only here, as by an Epitome, we shal repeat the summe of al that is there more largely discussed. To this first question therefore we answer, that both just reason and highest authority of the Church, judge it not absolutely necessary, nor alwayes convenient, that holy Scriptures should be in vulgar tongs. For being as they are, hard to be understood, even by the learned, reason doth dictate to reasonable men, that they were not written nor ordained to be read indifferently of al men. Experience also teacheth, that through ignorance, joyned often with pride and presumption, many reading Scriptures have erred grosly by misunderstanding Gods word. Which though it be most pure in it-self, yet the sense being adulterated is as perilous (saith Tertul.) as the stile corrupted. S. Amb. observeth, that where the text is true, the Arians interpretation hath errors. S. August. also teacheth, that heresies and perverse doctrines entangling soules, and throwing them downe headlong into the depth, doe not otherwise spring up but when good (or true) Scriptures are not wel (and truly) understood, and when that which in them is not wel understood, is also rashly and boldly avouched. For the same cause, S. Hierome utterly disallowed, that al sorts of men and women, old and yong, presumed to read and talke of the Scriptures: wheras no artizen, no trads-man dare presume to teach anie facultie, which he hath not first learned. Seing therfore that dangers and hurts happen in manie, the careful chief Pastours in Gods Church have alwayes moderated the reading of holy Scriptures, according to persons, times, and other circumstances; prohibiting some, and permitting some, to have and read them in their mother tongue. So S. Chriso. translated the Psalmes and some other parts of holy Scriptures for the Armenians, when he was there in banishment. The Slavonians and Goths say they have the Bible in their languages. It was translated into Italian by an Archbishop of Genva. Into French in the time of King Charles the Fift, especially because the Waldensian heretikes had corruptly translated it, to maintaine their errours. We had some parts in English translated by Venerable Bede, as Malmesburie witnesseth. And Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canturburie, in a Councel holden at Oxford, strictly ordained, that no heretical translation set forth by Wicliffe and his complices, nor anie other vulgar Edition should be suffered, til it were approved by the Ordinarie of the Diocese Rh