Why do you pursue the great but uncertain and perilous gains of the ocean, when you may till the earth in safety ?" Orat. xxvi. T. 1. p. 450.-“ Truly, there should have been a law among us, whereby-as among the Jews, young men were not allowed to read certain books of Scripture-not all men, and at all times, but certain persons only, and on certain occasions should be permitted to discuss the points of Faith.” Ibid. p. 462.--" If these heretics may freely teach and promulgate their opinions, who does not see, that the doctrine of the Church will be condemned, as if truth were on their side? But two opposite doctrines on the same point, cannot possibly be true.” Orat. xlvi. p. 722.
ST. EPIPHANIUS, G.C.-See the passage, p. 19.
ST. JEROM, L. C.—“These things (some passages of Scripture) I have lightly touched on, that you may be convinced how necessary a guide is, when you enter on the study of the Scriptures. I say nothing of grammarians, rhetoricians, philosophers, and of other learned professions, the knowledge of which is so useful, and the rules of which are laid down. Let me speak of menial arts, such as are learnt not by lectures, but by practice. In all these, however, there must be some one to shew the way.—The art of understanding the Scriptures alone is open to every reader! Here, learned or unlearned, we can all interpret. The tattling old woman, the doating old man, the wordy sophist, all, all here presume; they tear texts asunder, and dare become teachers before they have learned. Some you may see, surrounded by a female circle, weighing out with a solemn brow their pompous phrases, and discussing the import of these sacred oracles; while others, oh shame! are taking lessons from the women, that they may be able to instruct the men. I speak not of those who, like myself, coming to the study of the holy Scriptures from profane authors, and the exercises of worldly eloquence, vainly fancy all they utter to be the law of God; not deigning to learn what the
