you have others that the Scripture speaks not any otherwise then by the * Rev. 17.3 names of blasphemy But for the power and worke of the Ministry which you say is answerable to that of the Apostles by your gathering of the Saints together taking it for granted that you say from what do you convert them If from the power of darknesse as you would seem to imply into the Kingdome of Christ as ‡ Col. 1.13 did the Apostle then by your own grant in the power of darknesse you found them and the truth is that where you found them there you leave them when you found them before their conversion you professed of them that they were regenerate and born anew to what then do you convert them or have you conversion after regeneration you also bade these persons before to take and eate in remembrance that Christ dyed for them and foâ—give them the seales of life and salvation and yet after all this you being ministers to them come to justifie the truth of your Ministry by your conversion of these people that have by these things no need of amendment and yet when all is done that you plead for they still abide in the same Church under the same Ministry in the same worship that they were conversant in before whenas I have declared before that whenas the Apostles converted any those converts left their former places turning from dumb Idols to serve the living God Now it hath been long since acknowledged and professed that the Worship of your Church and the Ministry of it came out of the Popes shop and must needs be reformed or else the judgement of God cannot but light upon you as hath bin manifested in the first and second admonition to the Parliament in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth and all know that yet it continues the same that then it was and if it were so bad then as it is reported that a thousand Ministers said it was small cause have any to plead conversion whenas they shall continue in such abhominations as that the plagues of God cannot by their own confession be withheld seeing that the Scriptures and Spirit of God teacheth us that the * Psalm 119.101 feare of the Lord teacheth mâ—n to refrain their feet from every evill way and to cleanse our selves from alâ— filthinesse both of flesh and spirit and to grow up unto full holinesse in the feare of God or the worship of God as our Saviour ‡ Mat. 4. 2 Cor. 2.1 interprets it and to hate the very ‡ Iude 23. garment spotted by the flesh Now these things well considered it will appeare that the several Scriptures that are continually brought for the maintenanc of your Ministry are but as so many flourishes by which the word of truth is wrested and wringed like to a nose of wax contrary to their proper intents and scopes to serve your own turnes which who they be of you or others that are the perverters of them God knows and one day will judge betwixt the righteous and the wicked and give to every one according as his workes shall be In the mean while to me it appeares plain that men destitute of Gods holy Spirit be they as learned as may be in Mans-Learning yet they do pervert all Scriptures to their own destruction whenas the unlearned one simple men and women having the Spirit of truth in them shall rightly know them and Gods mind in them for their great comfort 4 Vse Again seeing this is so that such men do thus pervert the Scriptures this should provoke all that are made able Ministers of the Spirit as saith the § 2 Cor. 3.2 Apostle that they take the same Apostles †1 Tim. 4.6 advise saying if thou put the Bretheren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Iesus Christ If thou put the Bretheren in remembrace of these things What things those things mentioned ‡̶ from the 1. verse before how that the Spirit hath foretold of Doctrines of Devils how that men should speeake lyes through hypocrisie c. as Zachary also foretold that the * Zach. 13.3 Father and Mother of the Prophet should say that he told them lyes in the name of the Lord If thou put the Bretheren in remembrance of these things because they are subject to forget them and thou shouldest be their remembrancer which if thou do thou shalt be a good Minister of Iesus Christ which hast bin nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine then marke these things are not errors nor lyes nor he a false-teacher that speakes of them but a good Minister that hath bin nourisht up in faith and good doctrine which was continually taught of Paul and heard of Timothy and to this is to be added what the Apostle * Tim 6.3.4 saith further in this matter declaring that he that consenteth not to wholsome doctrine that is according to godlines is puft up and knows nothing but dotes about words and is such a one as is so farre corrupted by the flesh as that he is to be separated from Therfore Gods good Ministers as we see should be carefull of these things as knowing of whom they shall receive their reward and what shal also be their portion from men of the world in that which is ‡ Rev. 11.7 death in the world but ‡ Rev. 14.13 life with the Lord Be Faithfull therfore to the death and you shall have a § Rev. 2.10 5 Vse crown of life declaring the power of the Spirit of the Lord in you Now in the last place I will conclude with the exhortation of the †2 Pet. 3.17.18 Apostle in the words following Ye therfore beloved seeing ye know these things before what things among others those that worldly learned men are Gods unlearned men being destitute of his Spirit beware and take heed least ye also aswell as others you being subject to it be plucked away before you be aware into the errour of the wicked to thinke that Gods Mysteries cannot be attained to by mans learning and so you fall from your own stedfastnes which is ‡ Rom. 11. through Faith for by Faith ye stand and by the Spirit for by it ye are also ‡ Psalm 51. establisht and for a preservative against this errour as opposite to it grow and increase in the grace of God and the knowledge of the Lord Iesus Christ which is that that will preserve you from errour Now to Him be glory not to us nor to Man but to Him our Lord Iesus Christ both now and for evermore Amen I SAY 44.25 The Lord frustrateth the tokens of the lyars and maketh diviners mad turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolishnesse FINIS
of all such as love and know the truth not doubting but there will be some found that out of love will reprove what is amisse and so turne the sinner out of the errour of his way though some others as * Iob. 13.4 Job saith forge lyes as I could name divers who are Physitians of no value For God who knows the hearts of all men knows that it was not my intent at all at that time to have medled in this Argument nor with this Scripture not till the night before I spake of it and all because I knew if I did it would be offensive as it hath proved and and what I did herein it was by the advice of Friends But now I see that Gods hand was in it and I doubt not but for good though it is and may be my portion deeply to suffer for it and for men to be offended at the truth and such as declare it is no new thing even for the ‡ Psa 118.22 Act. 4.11 Isay 8.14.15 builders themselves to stumble at the stumbling stone But leaving all such to stand or fall to their own Lord. Somthing remaines to be spoken concerning the matter following for the preventing of such things as may further be objected against it 1. Though the matter be the same in substance that it was at the first delivery yet somwhat may be wanting and is which was then said and more is added in other respects then at that time was spoken which I thought fit to give notice of 2. Another exception and that of great moment is that I have blâ—sphemed against Jesus Christ in saying that He was without Humane-Learning Now besides what is answered hereunto in the first Objection belonging to the first Doctrine if any yet remain unsatisfied and will affirme the contrary Let them declare as the ‡ Rom. 11.34.35 Apostle saith who was his Councellour and who taught him and he shall be recompenced The Scripture tells us that He grew in Wisdome and Stature and so couples them alike together Now none will affirme that He Learned his Stature then from the like will I affirme that He Learned not His Wisdome no more then He did His Stature and so if none taught him then must it needs follow that He was without Humane-Learning for we in common speech call them unlearned which were never taught as did the * Joh. 7.15 Acts 4.13 Jewes and Learning presupposeth one to Teach so that me thinks it is but requisite if any do so affirme that they should declare his Teacher which if they cannot doe why then should they affirme Him to have Humane-Learning And me thinks the matter being rightly considered it will be found blasphemy for any to affirme that He had Humane-Learning seeing that in so doing they call in question the perfection of His Manhood as if there were others that could adde unto Him seeing all grant that the Master is above the Scholler and the Scripture witnesseth for me that at ‡ Luke 2.46 47. 12 yeares old such was His Wisdome observed amonst the Doctors as that they were astonished at his understanding and answers and doubtlesse this was a part of their great wonder seeing that He never Learned as it was the Councels wonder also concerning ‡ Acts 4.13 Peter and John Therfore for any to affirme Him to be by men taught is to take that glory from Him which He had of His own and so they are most like to be them that blaspheme 3. It is also very likely that pride and vain-glory wil be imputed to me as it hath been already that I being as I am should undertake to maintaine that which all godly and learned men are contrary to me in Answere I Answere that it is no strange thing for the Servants of God to meet with such hard measure even for declaring of the truth for so was Joseph § Gen. 37.8.10 11. dealt by even of his Father and Brethren and so was †1 Sam. 17.28 David used for speaking for the Lord. And Paul you shall find was ‡̶ Act. 17 18. scoffed at by the learned Athenians And seeing that it hath alwayes bin so with Gods Servants why should not I affirme with the * 1 Cor. 4.3 Apostle not to passe to be judged of men whatsoever they be though godly wise learned seeing that as the Apostle saith it makes no matter to me God is no ‡̶ Gal. 2.6 accepter of persons And therfore I hold it a defence sufficient with David to say ‡ 1 Sam. 17.29 Is there not a Cause seeing that there is none that I know of that will stand up for the Lord against those that defie the host of Israel because that they be not Goliah-like Men of stature having Boots of brasse and such like furniture as that the fleshly hearts of men dare not looke such in the face and all because that they bee so strongly furnished with Mans strength Though that the Souldiers of the Lord of hosts may with one blast of a Rammes horne through the might of God * Josh 6.20 blow down the strong Wall of this spirituall Jericho seeing that the Lord hath said that by the ‡ Mat. 21.16 mouth of babes and sucklings he will perfit his praise and this if Babes should neglect to doe the stones would cry whence is to be observed our Saviour descends from Babes to Stones and not from Babes to Learned men for he hath Chosen such to bring forth His Righteousnesse as the light for He himselfe doth not despise the day of ‡ Zach. â— 10 small things Now these things considered why should any with the proud § Mâ—â—â— 1.15 Pharisees disdaine at what the Lord will doe but lay their hands upon their mouthes and say nothing because He Psal 39. doth it And seeing it is the Lords ‡̶ Psal 118.23 doing why should it not be Merveylous in our eyes Though I doubt not but the Lord will in his good time bring forth one learned Moses and another as excellent that wayes as was Paul and cause them disclayming that Humane excellencie to magnifie the foolishnesse of God * 1 Cor. 1.25 to be wiser then the wisdome of men and so every way convince men of their folly this way to his prayse And in the meane while let them that can receive this for Truth receive it and let none be so conceited of Learned-men as if the word of God came onely to them and from them as Paul said to ‡ 1 Cor. 14.36 37. some that were puffed up But let such as are spirituall know that the Lord reveales his Mysteries to whom he pleaseth and where he will and therfore the eye of none should be evill because he is good but we should learne as the Wiseman saith that ‡ Eccles 9.11 the race is not alway to the swift nor the battell to the strong but it may so prove that
as poore and yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things These ye see are the marks by which Paul approves himselfe with his fellow labourers to be the Ministers of Christ Now the quite contrary may be read in those that professe themselves so to be They disprove themselves to be the Ministers of Christ in all these things where is their patient bearing with the contrary minded as Paul saith the * 2 Tim. 2.24.25 servants of God should doe and where are their afflictions which they suffer with their necessities and distresses are they not for the most part full of all outward necessaries What are they in distresse for How many stripes do they suffer or shall have need so to doe be they but observant of their Canonicall obedience How many nay where are any imprisonments that they suffer or at least need to doe if they live according to their own Laws And for tumults they are so farre from abiding any as that they be farre more ready to make them against others then to indure them themselves and for their labours which what he means you may perceive by 1 Cor. 4.12 and that to be sure they are guiltlesse of and so for their watchings and fastings and all the rest being duly considered of we may read the quite contrary fulfill'd in them so that of necessity there will appeare as voyd a difference as is betwixt light and darknesse and those persons more fitly futing that description belonging to the * Rev. 9. from 7. to 11. Locusts then with this description here of the ‡ 2 Cor. 6 feom 3. to 11. Apostle so farre are they from what they pretend themselves to be as that the words of the Prophet come truly to be fullfild in them that their ‡ Isay 47 10. wisdome and their knowledge perverts them or causes them to erre and is the wickednesse they trust unto and this is it that lifts them up in their own conceits so farre as that they think in their hearts and stick not to say also with their tongues that they are for the ministration of the word and none else and the Lord saith that their wisdome and knowledge is the cause of this their errour and they say it is the meanes of right understanding now whether is to be beleeved God or they let all judge especially when as we see that the Lord himselfe is against them for it in denying others he denyes them saying therfore shall evill come upon thee and thou shalt not know where it ariseth c. all which declares the depth of the woe they lye under for is not this a wofull thing that of that which God hath made a curse men should make a blessing and that against his will and say that his mind cannot be known what can be more against him In the next place that being so 2 Vse that men taught by Gods spirit are through it sufficiently made able to know his mind in word then it teacheth us not to account any man any whit the nearer to understand the Scriptures by any humane excellencies but rather let us be suspitious of him that hath them for the same especially if he make use of them in those things for as we have seen they be dangerous to be leaned unto It is his high time that now we should all awake from sleep and watch in the Spirit Rom. 11.19 and so let the Lord have all the prayse and glory of his own grace Not unto us Not unto us but to his name be all the glory seeing it is he onely that doth great things Also it may teach all men to cease pinning of their faith upon the sleeves of learned men for there is no good cause why we should so doe but to see with our own eyes seeing that the just is to live by his own Faith and to beleeve what the Lord hath said which is that he hath * Luk. 10 2◠hid those things that is the mysteries of the Gospell among which this which now is declared is one from the wise and learned and this I verily beleeve is the wholsome doctrine of the Gospel and which hath against it the wise and learned opposing and denying of it to be so and so confirming the words of our Saviour therfore need we not to wait for their witnesse to it but to be glad and rejoyce to see his saying made true That he will reveale them to Babes that is simple things in the worlds eye and account and with this consideration to overlooke all contempt that can be cast upon us for the same For so is it now with men that they judge that nothing is hid from such and such when as we are to expect the fullfilling of the Prophecie of * Zach. 13.2 Zachary that the Lord will cut off the names of the Idols and the uncleane spirits of the Land and that while they Prophecie their Father and Mother that begat them shall run them through with the sword of the Spirit and say that they shall not live because they told lyes in the name of the Lord and then shall they be ashamed of their vision and it then shall be known that their garments by which they be known and taken knowledge of to be Ministers are garments of deceit and at that day such Prophets shall be ashamed of themselves as that they shall disclaime themselves for very shame to stand in any relation to such Prophets as ‡ Zach. 13.4.5 there the Prophet shews whenas their nearest friends with contempt shall refuse them and run them through saying thou toldest us lyes in the name of the Lord such light it seems shall then appeare as that they themselves shall count him no Prophet that is so made by mans teaching Now this teaching in question is but mans teaching and therfore whenas the cleare light appeares they shal be ashamed of it though now they preferre it This Consideration also ministers matter of thankefullnesse to God on our parts 3 Vse for his exceeding kindnesse towards us in Christ Iesus for that he is pleased to reveale these great Mysteries to such meane and simple things as we are whenas he conceales them from the wise and prudent This use ‡ Mat. 11.29 Christ Iesus himselfe makes and gives us to understand the true cause why and that he makes not any excellencie in them more then was in others but onely according to the nature of the Gospell the grod pleasure of God which is indeed the onely ground of all our happinesse and blessed must needs all those be that can with our Saviour truly conclude with the same And so I come to the next point for having found out who be the Learned-men that Peter here intends which is they that are taught by the Spirit of God then it must needs follow that they that are not such are the perverters of these and all
can benefit him and if nothing then not this thing in question but that it must needs be that we must be fooles to it and what is the true marke of a foole but to be ignorant and without knowledge therfore we call them fooles in the world and so is it here the best way for a man not to deceive himselfe is to know nothing of this learning nor any other fleshly excellencie that so he may learn true wisdome and the Apostle doth me thinks sufficiently confirme this advice of his against all exceptions the Lord knows saith he that the thoughts of men be vaine Men think highly of their own conceits this way yet if no man will take this his councell for wisdome in this kind yet the Lord concludes the truth of it and he knows the thoughts of men to be vaine that think Humane-Learning some helpe but let them think what they will the Lord is against them in it for he knows that it is sure that they are deceived for his thoughts be not as mans thoughts Now another Cause that confirmes me in this Conclusion is because that wheresoever the Apostle honours the Spirits teaching 5 Reason and preferres it usually he at the same time casts contempt upon this learning as is to be seen in many places ‡ 1 Cor. 1.17.18 Christ saith he sent me to preach the Gospell not with the wisdome of words least I should make the crosse of Christ or the Gospel of Christ of none effect where we see that for good reason he rejects the very wisdome of words in preaching of the Gospel and that 〈◊〉 least if he should have done otherwise he should have made it of no effect because he was to declare the sincere word without the least mingling as if he should say such manner of pâ—eaching is a foolish preaching but it is so onely to them that perish but to such as are saved it is the power of God without what man expects and therfore he * 2 Cor. 11.2.3 saith againe he was jealous over them with a godly jealousie for he had prepared them a pure Virgin for Christ but saith he I feare that as the Serpent beguiled Eve but how through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupt that is putrified and infected from the sincerity that is in Christ This we see was Pauls feare that while he was absent their minds should be withdrawn from the foolishnesse of the Gospell and the simplicity sincerity and truth thereof and this they should be withdrawn from by the subtilty of Satan that old Serpent in his instruments the false teachers this he feares because of their fleshlynesse that was in them which was ready to yeeld to their wiles by reason of their subtilty that way for by faire words and flatteries they deceived the “ Rom. 16.18 hearts of the simple and with this their craftinesse they lye in wait to ‡ Ephe. 4.14 deceive thus contemptuously doth Paul speake of these things in opposition to the true learning as is further to be seen in many places of which I will name one more and that from the Apostle Peter in his second Epistle chap. 1. verse 16. For we saith he followed not deceiveable Fables when we opened unto you the power and comming of our Lord Iesus Now such names as these are doth the Apostle choose to cast on mans excellencies as in divers other § 1 Tim. 1.4 and 4.7 Tit. 3.9 places which declare what contempt is cast on such learning in opposition to the Spirit of God Now one thing more which I conceive observable for the proofe of this point in hand 5 Reason is drawn from the 2 Cor. 2.10 The Spirit searches the deep things of God and 14. The spirituall man discernes all things if then the Spirit searcheth the deep things of God and that discernes all things what need we more and with this agrees the Apostle Iohn †2 Ioh. 2.27 saying And ye need not that any man teach you save as that Anoynting teacheth you Then I conclude That we need not that any man teach us not the Master nor any of his followers for the Disciples of Jesus Christ doe learne as the truth is in him and of him and they have received the Spirit of God that they might know the things of God therfore we may well be without any mans learning and have no need of it and so the point is cleare and plain That such as are taught by Gods Spirit without that Learning do truly understand the Word I judge it necessary also to be understood of the Reader what I doe understand by human wisdome as well as Human-Learning by human wisdome I doe understand whatsoever appeares excellent in mans understanding as he is left without Gods spirits teaching this the more excellent it is to him that is carnall so much the worse it is therfore it is said of such by the Apostle that whenas they professed themselves to be wise then they became fooles Rom. 1.21 And saith our Saviour If the light which is in thee which I mind to be meant of mens understanding and wisdome be darknesse Mat. 6.23 how great is that darknesse So that by mans wisdome I understand whatsoever seems excellent to him with which he would honour God withall that he is not the Author of as eloquence and faire speeches and any thing in that way such as the Greeks sought after as men doe now adayes This I do the rather differ from Haman-Learning 1 Cor. 1.22 because it seems to me that the Scripture differenceth them Acts 22. and the difference rightly understood may prevent just exception and give light to the right understanding of the whole matter for this wisdome is made by the Apostle and that rightly Rom. 6.7 to be enmity to the Spirit of God and impossible to submit to it it is so contrary Now followes to be answered such Objections as are made against it as first Object 1 That of Paul in 1 Tim. 3.6 That a Bishop must be no young Scholler lest he being puffed up fall into the condemnation of the Devil Answer The Scholership Paul means here is the teaching of the Spirit whereby the man is made sound in the Faith for that learning onely will make men low in their own eyes as is before declared and he that is unsound in the faith will ever be found the most lofty and puffed up in his own conceit and so be rejected of God as the Devil was though he was in heaven with God yet being puffed up he was rejected of God and so * 2 Pet. 2.4 cast down to hell to which example Paul here alludes as I conceive and that rightly for a Bishop in the Church is in respect of his spirituall state and place in favour and fellowship with God and that in Heaven as the whole Book of the Revelation describes the Church to be Now such
as by the Church should be chosen to that state being young Scholers that is not soundly taught in the truth by the Spirit he is in great danger the more other learning that he hath so much the more to be puffed up This I beleeve was the cause of Diotrephes * 3 Ioh. 9.10 pride he wanted this Scholership and that caused him to seek the preheminence And this whatsoever our great Scholers think of themselves is the cause of the high conceits that they have of themselves and their knnowledge and understanding above others that want their learning even this because they be but young Scholers if that in the Schole of Christ and thene is it they are so puft up with the vain glory of their fleshly learning that they think that none that are not as themselves are fit to be their fellowes and so know not now that they be wretched poore miserable blind and naked though they conceive themselves to be rich and have need of nothing as did the ‡ Rev. 3.17 Laodiceans and so indeed are fallen into the condemnation of the Devil as being rejected of God for he resists the proud and such as are puft up and gives grace to the ‡ 1 Pet. 5.5 humble and such as are low in their own eyes Now whether these men Humanly learned be they that are puft up or low in their own eyes as meane as he that is unlearned I leave to all that have eyes to see to looke into it and so to judge whether they are not yet to learne Pauls Scholership Further I say it is here to be minded that if it should be Human-Lerning that is here meant then Paul should teach Timothy for to teach the Church to chuse such Scholers as had more learning then had their Master Christ Iesus Now this some say is blasphemy and threaten me sorely for it Answer I Answer them that considering Christ Iesus as God according to the Divine nature so he is God over all and so gives all things Acts 17.25 and so he is the § Iam. 1.17 giver of every good gift and so Human-Learning and wisdome are †Rom. 11.37 of him and through him and so much but that men are maliciously bent they might discerne that I in this argument had not to deale with him as God but as the Minister of God administring for the good of his body according to that Luke 4.18 where he saith the spirit of the Lord hath Anoynted me that I should Minister c. and so in this argument he is by the Apostle set forth as a Man ‡̶ Act. 2 22. Iesus of Nazareth a man approved of God and as such a man so administring I doe-still affirme and that with great confidence that He was unlearned in this consideration and without the learning that we speake of Isay 50.4 and so the tongue of the Learned that was said to be given Him is * Isay 61.1 interpreted by the same Prophet to be the Spirit of God for saith He the Spirit of the Lord hath Anoynted me that I should preach from whence is plaine that Christ Iesus was learned of the Father to preach by the Spirit without Human-Learning See further of this in the Epistle noted with this marke ‡ ̶ and so much is plain to them that can beleeve the Scriptures from Iohn 7.15 where the Jews admire saying How comes this man to know the Scriptures seeing that he was never learned from whence it is plain that as he was a Man he was unlearned in the letters of the Scriptures though as God he knew all things and by a divine power not Human-Learning so much as his own naturall tongue by letter Luk. 4.7 as in the Synagogue he could take the Book and read and this doubtlesse was one cause why the Jewes are said to be astonished at the bearing and seing of Him as appeares Math. 13.54 c. Luke 4.22 so that from all this my affirmation remaines true and good that if Human-Learning should be it that is there meant by the Apostle then he was to teach the Servant to be above his Myster whenas Christ Iesus himselfe * Mat. 10.5 saith It is enough for the Disciple to be as his Lord and he being destitute of Human-Learning his Disciples may well be without it also without any offence and yet preach the Gospel too Now if notwithstanding all this there be them that will take ‡ Act 6.11 Stephens accusers place and still accuse me of Uasphemy as they did him c. though it may be they may say true words as that I said that Iesus Christ was without Human-Learning and so apply it to him as God whenas I spake of him as Man they may there see themselves ranked among the number of them that are called by the Spirit of God false witnesses as walking in the steps of those envious persons even such as were alwayes the murtherers and betrayers of Christ Iesus and his servants and they that are such may be likened to them that being full of envy ‡ Act. 13.45 spake against those things that were spoken of Paul contrarying them and rayling on them Marke it they denyed what he taught but disproved it not but spake against it and rayled on the person and so left not till they had bin a meanes to expell them out of their Coasts so was he and such like measure is still to be expected to befall such as tread in his steps but it is to be minded that envious ones are the movers of it and so leaving of it I come to another exception which is Object 2 How such as are unlearned wil be able to stoppe the mouthes of gainsayers seeing the Apostle requires of a § Tit. 1.11 Bishop that he should be able so to doe Answ I Answer that it is not the Apostles intent that the mouthes of gainsayers should be stopped by the knowledge of tongues and arts but that way that himselfe directs 1 Titus 9. which is by sound doctrine or by wholsome doctrine so then to goe any other way then thus stoppe their mouthes is both an unsound and an unwholsome course and it were farre better in my judgement and that according to Paul that their mouthes should be left open then that they should be stopt after that manner and it hath not profited them in the spirituall meaning of the word that have bin exercised therin so now it is high time that we honouring the teaching of the Spirit should refuse to meddle with such as goe another way to work then by it to declare Gods mind to us because it alone is sufficient to stoppe the mouthes of all gainsayers * Act. 6.10 They were not able to resist the Spirit not the tongues and arts by which he spake for he used none of them for the weapons of our warfare are not carnall and so are tongues and arts and such like
the wise be them that God hath chosen for it is not so for he hath chosen the foolish to confound the wise and therfore such as are godly wise should choose Gods wise but the worlds foolish things for His serve before the worlds wise ones and so I come to another exception which is Object 5 If it be sanctified it must needs be a good helpe to the right understanding of the Truth Answ It is true if it be sanctified so it is But how or where doth that appeare that ever it was sanctified Hath not the Lord long agone told us by his * Isay 19.15 Prophet and wished his to behold it that he would doe a marveylous worke and then he doubles it againe even a marveylous worke and a wonder and then all comes to this that he would cause to perish and destroy the wisdome of the wise and cast away the understanding of the prudent and here if we could see we might all of us stay our wondering at this strange thing and consider the Lord tells us it is a marveylous worke and a wonder and so our wondering and marveyling how these things come so to be is but a fulfilling of Gods word and men might rest in it and see in the next words that it is a wo to them for the former abuse of the same and so now as * Mal. 2.2 Malachy saith that he would curse their blessings and that he had done it already to both which ‡ 1 Cor. 1.19 Rom. 8.7 agrees the Apostle from Isay and concludes also that God hath destroyed it and in another place tells us that it is emnity with God How shall any dare say then it is sanctified whenas so plain a curse is on it as that we are wished to beware of being ‡ Col. 2.8 spoyled by it Now are we wished any where to beware of being spoyled by that which is sanctified to us in a spirituall way Now these things can be sanctified no further then they are of use and that is but in a worldly way for a spirituall use they be accursed from it Object 6 Now another exception from these things thus minded is That by this all Humane-Learning seems utterly to be condemned Answ I Answer that it followes not because it is not to be allowed in this way that therfore it is not of any use for I doe acknowledge it in it selfe to be a good thing and good in its proper place * Gen. 11. from 6. to 10. which is for the repayring of that § decay which came upon man for sinne so I say it is of good use for the repayring of that losse and so fit for States-men Physicians Lawyers and Gentlemen yea all men so farre as they can attaine to it are as men beyond and above others that are without it yea and beyond all other excellencies that this world can afford but bring it once to be a help to understand the mind of God in the holy Scriptures and there it is detestable filth drosse and dung in that respect and so good for nothing but †1 Tim. 6.21 destroy and cause men to erre as we have seen before It fares with it as I perceive as it doth with Fire keep it in the Chymney and it serves as a good blessing of God for good and necessary uses but let it once come into the roofe of the house and it destroyes all because it is not in its proper place so it is here for this thing among men for humane and worldly imployments it is good But bring it once to the perfiting of the Gospel and it will be found to be the spoyling of it And yet further so farre doe I acknowledge tongues to be of use as to yeeld us the translation of the Scriptures out of one language into another without which we that are unlearned could not come to have the letter of the word and so farre there as a necessity of it for that use but that man which can foe doe is ever the more able to understand the spirituall meaning iof the word thereby that I deny and withall doe affirme that an understanding man may through the teaching of the Spirit know the mind of God which the other may never reach unto according to that * Mat. 13.11 saying of our Saviour To you it is given to know the Mysteries the secrets of the Kingdome of heaven to you his simple Disciples it is given but to others the learned Scribes and Pharisees it was not given But in this case it may fare as it did with those that built Noahs Arke they made a place of safeguard for others but were drowned themselves so these men may prepare a good helpe for others but themselves be altogether without the benefit of it A Lantherne you know is of good use to contain the Candle but let one carry it in a darke night and it will doe him no pleasure without a Candle lighted in it of the same use is the letter of the word it is but as a Lautherne or Candle without light Now the Spirit is the light of the letter and so is the Apostles ‡ 2 Cor. 3◠opposition such men then in that respect may be a help to others and yet when all is done be but castawayes themselves seeing as we have before seen the Aegyptians and Babylonians in this kind of learning did excell And it is none other blessing then what the Pope Cardinalls and other professed enemies of the truth as all for the generall confesse them to be have in as great a measure and beyond many others that professe to know the truth and stand stifly for this as a speciall helpe to understand the true meaning of the Lord in the word which if it be so then by their own grants they have the advantage of them and so are to be reverenced of themselves to have more knowledge in it then they so then they are to acknowledge their errour in counting themselves wise above what is meet or else must be forced to confesse that that learning is inavayleable for finding out of the mind of God Neither for all this would I have any to conclude of me as some affirme that I hold all Learned men to be excluded from the spirituall meaning of the Word God forbid for Though the Apostle ‡ 1 Cor. 1.26 say not many of severall rankes yet he saith not there is none but yet not many There was one Ioseph of § Mar. 15.43 Arimathea One †Nicodemus One Deputy * Ioh. 3.1 Act. 13.7 Surgeus Paulus a prudent man and divers of ‡ Act 6.7 the Priests But this was not ususuall for it is hard for such men to entertaine the truth Gods ordinary way is among the foolish ‡ 1 Cor. 1.27.28 Iam. 2.5 with Mat. 11.5 weake and vile so that when as the wise rich noble and learned come to receive the Gospel they