2 Corinthians — Chapter 11

3. From the simplicitie.) As Eue by the Serpent, so the people are seduced by Heretikes. People far from their first faith, virginitie, and simplicitie in Christ, not by sodain reuolt, but by litle & litle, in giuing eare to the subtil persuasion of the Serpent, speaking to them by the sweet mouths & allurementes of Heretikes. Of which kind of seduction he giueth Eue for an example, who was by her greedy desire of knowledge and the Diuels promise of the same, drawen from the natiue simplicitie and obedience to God. As at this day, promise and pretense of knowledge driueth many a poore soul from the sure, true, sincere, and only beleefe of God's Church.

6. Rude in speach.) Heretikes sometime eloquent. Hereby we se that the seditious and false Teachers haue often the guift of eloquence wherby the simple be easily beguiled. Such were Core and Dathan, as Iosephus writeth Ant. li. 4. c. 2. for the same, S. Augustin (li. 5. Confes. c. 3. & 13.) calleth the Heretike Faustus Manichæus, magnum laqueum Diaboli, a great snare of the Diuel, saying that he passed the glorious Doctor S. Ambrose in shew of words, but farre inferiour to him (without al comparison) in substance and matter. Knowledge better then gay words. In which sort the Apostle here is glad to compare himself with the false Apostles, whom the Corinthians did follow and extol farre aboue him by reason of their eloquence; granting to them that guift, but chalenging to himself superioritie in knowledge, which al wise men preferre before vaine words. Yong Oratours among Heretikes preferred before the ancient Doctours. And it is the bane of our poore countrie, that the people now a-daies giue credit rather to new Oratours and foolish yonkers, for their sweet speaches; then to the glorious Doctours of Christes Church, for their singular knowledge and more graue eloquence.