2 Timothy — Chapter 3

The Heretikes vpon this commendation of holy Scriptures, pretend (very simply in good sooth) that therfore nothing is necessarie to iustice and saluation but Scriptures. As though euery thing that is profitable or necessarie to any effect, excluded al other helpe, and vvere onely ynough to attaine the same. By vvhich reason a man might as vvel proue that the old Testament vvere ynough, and so exclude the new: or any one peece of al the old, and thereby exclude the rest. For he affirmeth euery Scripture to haue the foresaid vtilities. and they might see in the very next line before, that he requireth his constant perseuêrance in the doctrine vvhich he had taught him ouer and aboue that he had learned out of the Scriptures of the old Testament, vvhich he had read from his infancie, but could not thereby learne al the mysteries of Christian religion therein. Neither doth the Apostle affirme here that he had his knowledge of Scriptures, by reading onely, vvithout helpe of maisters and teachers, as the Aduersaries herevpon (to committe the holy Scriptures to euery mans presumption) do gather: but affirmeth onely that Timothee knevv the Scriptures and therfore had studied them by hearing good readers and teachers, as S. Paul him self did of Gamaliel and the like, and as al christian students doe, that be trained vp from their youth in Catholike vniuersities in the studie of Diuinitie.

2. Men shal be.) Al these wordes S. Cyprian expoundeth of such as by pride and disobedience resist Gods Priests. Let no faithful man, saith he, that keepeth in minde our Lordes and the Apostles admonition, maruel if he see in the later times some proud and stubburne fellowes and the enimies of Gods Priests, goe out of the Church or impugne the same: vvhen both our Lord and the Apostle foretold vs that such should be. Cypr. ep. 55. nu. 3.

6. Women loden.) Women easily seduced by heresie. Women loden with sinnes, are for such their deseruings, and through the frailtie of their sexe, more subiect to the heretikes deceites, then men: the enemie attempting (as he did in the fall of our first parents) by them to ouerthrovv men. See S. Hierom vpon the 3 chapter of Ieremie, where he addeth that euery heresie is first broched propter gulam & ventrem, for gluttonie and belly-cheere.

9. Folly manifest.) The folly of Heretikes in time appeareth. Al heretikes in the beginning seeme to haue some shew of truth, God for iust punishment of mens sinnes permitting them for some vvhile in some persons and places to preuaile: but in short time God detecteth them, and openeth the eies of men to see their deceites: in so much that after the first brunt they be mainteined by force onely, al wise men in maner seing their falshod, though for troubling the state of such common weales vvhere vnluckely they haue been receiued, they can not be so sodenly extirped.

12. Al that wil liue.) Persecution. Al holy men suffer one kinde of persecution or other, being greeued and molested by the vvicked, one way or an other: but not al that suffer persecution, be holy, as al malefactors. The Church and Catholike Princes persecute heretikes, and be persecuted of them againe, as S. Augustine often declareth. See ep. 48. 13. Prosper.) Though heresies and the authors of them be after a while discouered & by litle and litle for saken generally of the honest, discrete, and men careful of their owne saluation, yet their authors and other great sinners proceede from one errour and heresie to an other, and finally to plaine Atheisme and al Diuelish disorder. 16. Al Scripture.) Besides the Apostles teaching and tradition, the reading of holy Scriptures is a great defense and helpe of the faithful, aud specially of a Bishop, not onely to auoid and condemne al heresies, but to the guiding of a man in al iustice, good life and vvorkes. The great profit of reading the Scriptures. Vvhich commendation is not here giuen to the bookes of the new Testament onely (vvhereof he here speaketh not, as being yet for a great part not vvritten) but to the Scripture of the old Testament also, yea and to euery booke of it. For there is not one of them, nor any part of them, but it is profitable to the end aforesaid, if it be read and vnderstood according to the same Spirit vvherewith it vvas vvritten. The Heretikes foolish argument: Al Scripture is profitable, ergo only Scripture is necessarie & sufficient. The Heretikes vpon this commendation of holy Scriptures, pretend (very simply in good sooth) that therfore nothing is necessarie to iustice and saluation but Scriptures. As though euery thing that is profitable or necessarie to any effect, excluded al other helpe, and vvere onely ynough to attaine the same. By vvhich reason a man might as vvel proue that the old Testament vvere ynough, and so exclude the new: or any one peece of al the old, and thereby exclude the rest. For he affirmeth euery Scripture to haue the foresaid vtilities. and they might see in the very next line before, that he requireth his constant perseuêrance in the doctrine vvhich he had taught him ouer and aboue that he had learned out of the Scriptures of the old Testament, vvhich he had read from his infancie, but could not thereby learne al the mysteries of Christian religion therein. Neither doth the Apostle affirme here that he had his knowledge of Scriptures, by reading onely, vvithout helpe of maisters and teachers, as the Aduersaries herevpon (to committe the holy Scriptures to euery mans presumption) do gather: but affirmeth onely that Timothee knevv the Scriptures and therfore had studied them by hearing good readers and teachers, as S. Paul him self did of Gamaliel and the like, and as al christian students doe, that be trained vp from their youth in Catholike vniuersities in the studie of Diuinitie. Old Testament Genesis Exodvs Leviticvs Nvmeri (or Nvmbers) Devteronomie Iosve Ivdges Rvth I Kinges II Kinges III Kinges IV Kinges I Paralipomenon II Paralipomenon I Esdras II Esdras Tobias Ivdith Esther Iob Psalmes Proverbes Ecclesiastes Canticles of Canticles Wisdom Ecclesiasticvs Isaie Ieremie Lamentations Barvch Ezechiel Daniel Osee Ioel Amos Abdias Ionas Micheas Nahvm Habacvc Sophonias Aggevs Zacharias Malachias I Machabees II Machabees

13. Prosper.) Though heresies and the authors of them be after a while discouered & by litle and litle for saken generally of the honest, discrete, and men careful of their owne saluation, yet their authors and other great sinners proceede from one errour and heresie to an other, and finally to plaine Atheisme and al Diuelish disorder.

16. Al Scripture.) Besides the Apostles teaching and tradition, the reading of holy Scriptures is a great defense and helpe of the faithful, aud specially of a Bishop, not onely to auoid and condemne al heresies, but to the guiding of a man in al iustice, good life and vvorkes. The great profit of reading the Scriptures. Vvhich commendation is not here giuen to the bookes of the new Testament onely (vvhereof he here speaketh not, as being yet for a great part not vvritten) but to the Scripture of the old Testament also, yea and to euery booke of it. For there is not one of them, nor any part of them, but it is profitable to the end aforesaid, if it be read and vnderstood according to the same Spirit vvherewith it vvas vvritten. The Heretikes foolish argument: Al Scripture is profitable, ergo only Scripture is necessarie & sufficient. The Heretikes vpon this commendation of holy Scriptures, pretend (very simply in good sooth) that therfore nothing is necessarie to iustice and saluation but Scriptures. As though euery thing that is profitable or necessarie to any effect, excluded al other helpe, and vvere onely ynough to attaine the same. By vvhich reason a man might as vvel proue that the old Testament vvere ynough, and so exclude the new: or any one peece of al the old, and thereby exclude the rest. For he affirmeth euery Scripture to haue the foresaid vtilities. and they might see in the very next line before, that he requireth his constant perseuêrance in the doctrine vvhich he had taught him ouer and aboue that he had learned out of the Scriptures of the old Testament, vvhich he had read from his infancie, but could not thereby learne al the mysteries of Christian religion therein. Neither doth the Apostle affirme here that he had his knowledge of Scriptures, by reading onely, vvithout helpe of maisters and teachers, as the Aduersaries herevpon (to committe the holy Scriptures to euery mans presumption) do gather: but affirmeth onely that Timothee knevv the Scriptures and therfore had studied them by hearing good readers and teachers, as S. Paul him self did of Gamaliel and the like, and as al christian students doe, that be trained vp from their youth in Catholike vniuersities in the studie of Diuinitie.