Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	law_n	moses_n	people_n	3,133	5	5.0838	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62519	A defence of humane learning in the ministry, or, A treatise proving that it is necessary a minister (or preacher) should be skill'd in humane learning by H. Th., St. Ch. Ch.	Thurman, Henry, d. 1670.	1660 (1660)	Wing T1139; ESTC R22554	31,340	79

least from thence they might perswade the Gentiles to Christian holynesse That so being destitute of all eloquence they might be lesse able to winne upon the minds of the Gentiles Lastly As to the Civil Law it refers especially to the Scripture and without it a divine can't well and clearly explain adoption justification the power of the keys and very many heads in divinity And how much it is necessary the Prudent learned and pious Mr. Barlow now Provost of Queens Coll. in Oxford has judiciously pointed out in a Manuscript that I have seen very frequent in the hands of others I will not now speak of its prayses that it whets directs cleares and confirmes our reason It is the Seminary of wisdome and the storehouse of all prudence and of so neer affinity to divinity that they who take degrees in it before they doe in Theology have according to ancient custome higher priviledges then others I am confident Mr. Calvin had never arrived to that maturity without it In conclusion I contend not for the knowledge of the whole Encyclopedy to be in a minister as though none were to enter into that office but what runne through it all But I say it prepares men for divinity and is to be premised In a word Every one should be initiated in secular learning It is a stock to graft divinity on a better blue to the taking of the right black And I wish all first well studied Humanity that so they may be the abler Doctors in Divinity whom their formalities may minde of what the dyers thereof doe who first dye their cloath i th some inferiour Colour that it may be a more perfect Purple Now after all If any aske me how far we should enter into the study of the Tongues Arts Philosophy History and the rest before we take upon us the function of the ministry and with what conditions we should study them it would require a longer consideration and is more then I can or dare take upon me to prescribe And we have in this nation most learned men that are able and ready to advise and direct Dr. Wilkins Ecclesiastes and others But if it may be lawful for me to speak s●ne praejudicio alterius aut paris aut melioris intelligentiae as one speakes upon the same matter you may be pleased to call to mind that ancient distinction of knowledge in eminentem sufficintem mediocrem Now for that knowledge which they call eminentem It is more then is necessary for a minister Then That which they call sufficient however the word seem tolerable yet as they understand it is too little A mediocrity is the best which may as well be required in a minister as Castalio in a Courtier or Tully in an orator or Vitruvins in a Architect Whom we expect not to be a most excellent Grammarian as was Aristarchus nor yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not an absolute Musitian as was Aristoxenus neither yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not an excellent Painter as Apelles neither yet imperitus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor a Physitian as Hippocrates nor yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus in a minister is required not singular excellency in the Sciences but a convenient mediocrity And in order to this it is lawfull and necessary to study prophane learning with this condition resectis unguibus Capillis setting aside all vanities and superfluities For that there is both good and bad in those writings the most heathen Poet of them all confesses who deserves especially to be castrated Cum legis Aedipodem caligantemque Thyesten Colchidas Scyllas quid nisi monstra legis Quid te vana juvant miserae ludibria chartae Hoc lege quod possis dicere jure Tuum est Martial So that as we read in Exodus c. 4. How Zepphora circumcised her children which the Angel else had slain according to Gods command and by that meanes preserved them alive So the Carnale praeputium as I may say of secular learning being taken away what remaines may be Israëliticall Thus you may gather the roses only whilst you let alone the briars and bushes and imitate the Bee that though she fall upon bitter as well as sweet tasted flowers she leaves what is unsavoury behind and sucks out nothing but the hony part 4. By the Examples of 1. Moses Daniel and Solomon in the old Testament Whether the Philosophers borrowed their Sciences from the Scripture or that they had them otherwise taught them by the Holy Ghost whose gifts and most excellent gifts no doubt they are is not greatly materiall But this we finde which may serve for our instruction that Moses and Daniel were instructed in them Sure it is Moses had a most Noble Education in a Princes Court and was brought up in all kind of good literature says one of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in the Acts of the Apostles c. 7. v. 22. it is said of him Moses was learned in all the learning of the Aegyptians and was mighty in word and deed Here we have first his intellectuall perfections described in that he was learned in all the learning of the Aegyptians and secondly his Civill morall and religious perfections a mighty man for oratory a mighty man for action His book of Genesis is full of naturall philosophy and that he as skild in Astrology and Physicks does often appear from his lawes And Iosephus tells us Moses had a speciall care of the education of Children in good literature and we find some evidence of it in Scripture where he commandeth the people to teach the words of the law diligently unto their Children Deut. 6.7 And as to Daniel 'T is mentioned to his honour and his three Companions that God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdome Dan. 1.17 meaning as appears v. 4. of the same chap. the Caldeans learning Shall I speak of Solomon no doubt but David had a speciall care of his education And I think none ever arived to a higher pitch in learning His Proverbs witness his Ethicks Oeconomicks and Politicks And in his Ecclesiastes 't is apparent he was a most excellent naturalist as we read in the booke of Kings And these are the copies that Preachers should transcribe that so they might bring great reputation to Religion 2. Paul Stephen Apollos Nathaniel and Nicodemus in the new Testament Paul he was brought up at the feet of a most learned Lawyer instructed in Philosophy and Poetry as is manifest from his writings And he quotes even Heathen Poets sayings in the holy Scripture As Act. 17.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of Aratus And 1 Cor. 15.33 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of Menander and Titus 1.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. out of Epimenides Apollos is commended in that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stephen is said to have been of so poverful a reason that he stopt his Adversaries mouthes as we may read it