To the Reader.
though not in vertue, yet in power: and by his power and wiſdome he built a Temple to the Lord, ſuch a one as was the glory of the land of Iſrael, and the wonder of the whole world. But was that his magnificence liked of by all? We doubt of it. Otherwiſe, why doe they lay it in his ſonnes diſh, and call vnto him for ǁσεισάχθειαν. eaſing of the burden, Make, ſay they, the grieuous ſeruitude of thy father, and his ſore yoke, lighter.1.King.12.4. Belike he had charged them with ſome leuies, and troubled them with ſome cariages; Hereupon they raiſe vp a tragedie, and wiſh in their heart the Temple had neuer bene built. So hard a thing it is to pleaſe all, euen when we pleaſe God beſt, and doe ſeeke to approue our ſelues to euery ones conſcience.
The higheſt perſonages haue been calumniated.If wee will deſcend to later times, wee ſhall finde many the like examples of ſuch kind, or rather vnkind acceptance. The C.Cæſar.Plutarch.firſt Romane Emperour did neuer doe a more pleaſing deed to the learned, nor more profitable to poſteritie, for conſeruing the record of times in true ſupputation; then when he corrected the Calender, and ordered the yeere according to the courſe of the Sunne: and yet this was imputed to him for noueltie, and arrogancie, and procured to him great obloquie. So the Conſtantine.firſt Chriſtened Emperour (at the leaſtwiſe that openly profeſſed the faith himſelfe, and allowed others to doe the like) for ſtrengthening the Empire at his great charges, and prouiding for the Church, as he did, got for his labour the name Pupillus,Aurel. Victor. as who would ſay, a waſtefull prince, that had neede of a Guardian, or ouerſeer. So the Theodoſius.beſt Chriſtened Emperour, for the loue that he bare vnto peace, thereby to enrich both himſelfe and his ſubiects, and becauſe he did not ſeeke warre but find it, was iudged to be no man at armes,Zoſimus. (though in deed he excelled in feates of chiualrie, and ſhewed ſo much when he was prouked) and condemned for giuing himſelfe to his eaſe, and to his pleaſure. To be ſhort, the Iuſtinian.moſt learned Emperour of former times, (at the leaſt, the greateſt politician) what thanks had he for cutting off the ſuperfluities of the lawes, and digeſting them into ſome order and method? This, that he hath been blotted by ſome to bee an Epitomiſt, that is, one that extinguiſhed worthy whole volumes, to bring his abridgements into requeſt. This is the meaſure that hath been rendred to excellent Princes in former times, euen, Cum benè facerent, malè audire, For their good deedes to be euill ſpoken of. Neither is there any likelihood, that enuie and malignitie died, and were buried with the ancient. No, no, the reproofe of Moſes taketh hold of moſt ages; Numb.32.14. You are riſen vp in your fathers ſtead, an increaſe of ſinfull men. Eccles.1.9.What is that that hath been done? that which ſhall be done: and there is no new thing vnder the Sunne,His Maieſties conſtancie, notwithſtanding calumniation, for the ſuruey of the Engliſh tranſlations. faith the wiſeman: and S. Steuen, Acts 7.51.As your fathers did, ſo doe you. This, and more to this purpoſe, His maieſtie that now reigneth (and long, and long may he reigne, and his offpring for euer, ἁυτὸς, καὶ παῖδες, καὶ μαίδων πάντοτε παῖδες.Himſelfe and children and childrens children alwayes) knew full well, according to the ſingular wiſedome giuen vnto him by God, and the rare learning and experience that he hath attained vnto; namely that whoſoeuer attempteth any thing for the publike (ſpecially if it pertaine to Religion, and to the opening and clearing of the word of God) the ſame ſetteth himſelfe vpon a ſtage to be glouted vpn by euery euil eye, yea, he caſteth himſelfe headlong vpon pikes, to be gored by euery ſharpe tongue. For he that medleth with mens Religion in any part, medleth with their cuſtome, nay, with their freehold; and though they finde no content in that which they haue, yet they cannot abibe to heare of altering. Notwithſtanding his Royall heart was not daunted or diſcouraged for this or that colour, but ſtood reſolute, Suidas. ὥσπερ τις ἀνδριὰς ἀπερίτρεπτος καὶ ἄκμων ἀνήλατοςas a ſtatue immoueable, and an anuile not eaſie to be beaten into plates, as one ſayth; he knew who had choſen him to be a Souldier, or rather a Captaine, and being aſſured that the courſe which he intended made much for the glory of God, & the building vp of his Church, he would not ſuffer it to be broken off for whatſoeuer ſpeaches or practiſes. It doth certainely belong vnto Kings, yea, it doth ſpecially belong vnto them, to haue care of Religion, yea, to know it aright, yea, to profeſſe it zealouſly, yea to promote it to the vttermoſt of their power. This is their glory before all nations which meane well, and this will bring vnto them a farre moſt excellent weight of glory in the day of the Lord Ieſus. For the Scripture faith not in vaine, 1.Sam 1.30.Them that honor me, I will honor, neither was it a vaine word that Euſebius deliuered long agoe, that θεοσέβειαpietie towards God was the weapon, and the onely weapon that both preſerued Conſtantines perſon, and auenged him of his enemies.Euſebius lib.10 cap.8.
The praiſe of the holy Scriptures. But now what pietie without trueth? what trueth (what ſauing trueth) without the word of God? what word of God (whereof we may be ſure) without the Scripture? The Scriptures we are commanded to ſearch. Ioh.5.39. Eſa.8.20. They are commended that ſearched & ſtudied them. Act.17.11. and 8.28,29. They are reproued that were vnskilful in them, or ſlow to beleeue them. Mat.22.29. Luk.24.25. They can make vs wiſe vnto ſaluation. 2.Tim.3.15. If we be ignorant, they will inſtruct vs; if out of the way, they will bring vs home; if out of order, they will reforme vs, if in heauines, comfort vs, if dull, quicken vs, if colde, inflame vs. S.August. confeſſ.lib.8.cap.12Tolle, lege, Tolle, Lege, Take vp and read, take vp and read the Scriptures, (for vnto them was the direction) it was ſaid vnto S. Augustine by a ſupernaturall voyce. S.Auguſt. de vtilit. credendi cap.6.Whatſoeuar is in the Scriptures, beleeue me, ſaith the ſame S.Auguſtine, is high and diuine; there is verily trueth, and a doctrine moſt fit for the refreſhing and renewing of mens mindes, and truely ſo tempered, that
