[17] Cum quem pœnitet peccasse pene innocens est: maxima purgationum pars est voluntaria pœnitentia delictorum. Scal. Thes. p. 742. Facilius iis ignoscitur qui non perseverare sed ab errato se revocare, moliuntur; est enim humanum peccare, sed belluinum in errore perseverare. Cic. in Vat. Even Aristotle could say, that he that believed as he ought of the gods, should think as well of himself, as Alexander that commandeth so many men. Plutarch, de Tranquil. Anim. p. 155. Nullus suavior animo cibus est, quam cognitio veritatis. Lactant. Instit. 1. 1. c. 1. It is a marvellous and doleful case to think how ignorant some people live, even to old age, under constant and excellent teaching. Some learn neither words nor sense, but hear as if they heard not: some learn words, and know the sense no more than if they had learned but a tongue unknown; and will repeat their creed and catechism, when they know not what it is that they say. A worthy minister of Helvetia told me, that their people are very constant at their sermons, and yet most of them grossly ignorant of the things which they most frequently hear. It is almost incredible what ignorance some ministers report that they have found in some of the eldest of their auditors. Nay, when I have examined some that have professed strictness in religion, above the common sort of people, I have found some ignorant of some of the fundamentals of the christian faith. And I remember what an ancient bishop about twelve hundred years ago saith, Maximus Taurinensis in his homilies, that when he had long preached to his people, even on an evening after one of his sermons, he heard a cry or noise among the people, and hearkening what it was, they were by their outcry helping to deliver the moon, that was in labour and wanted help. His words are, Quis non moleste ferat sic vos esse vestræ salutes immemores, ut etiam cœlo teste peccetis? Nam cum ante dies plerosque cum cupiditate pulsaverim, ipsa die circiter vesperam tanta vociferatio populi extitit, ut irreligiositas ejus penetraret ad cœlum. Quod cum requirerem quid sibi clamor his velit? dixerunt mihi quod laboranti lunæ vestra vociferatio subveniret; et defectum ejus suis clamoribus adjuvaret: Risi equidem et miratus sum vanitatem, quod quasi devoti Christiani Deo ferebatis auxilium. Clamabatis enim ne tacentibus vobis perderet elementum. tanquam infirmus enim et imbecillis, nisi vestris adjuvaretur vocibus, non posset luminaria defendere quæ creavit. It is cited also by Papirius Massonus in vita Hilarii Papæ, fol. 67. Therefore popery is suitable to the children of darkness, and unsuitable to the children of light, because it greatly befriendeth ignorance, hindering the people from the Holy Scriptures, and quieting them with the opiate of an easy implicit faith, in believing as the Roman church believeth, though they know not what it believeth, or mistake, and think it believeth that which it doth not. Ockam. lib. de Sacram. Altar. cap. 1. citeth Innocent.