lesser would be spoyled by the greater sort without any compassion For what keepeth these Pronounes in vse Meum and Tuum and maketh euery one owner of his owne but the power of good Lawes Why are wee rather Christians than Albinians Nigrians Cassians That is religious rather than rebellious but onely for such sacred sanctions sake as are set before vs What diuideth and distinguisheth persons according to degrees that they skull not and skudde not confusedly together as fishes without difference but onely such good lawes as are prouided in such cases The Poets faine that Thenus the mother of all honestie and vertue had three daughters 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Good Lawes 2. Iustice the consequent of good Lawes 3. Peace an indiuided follower of them both I finde them all hand-fast together in this peece of Psalmodie Giue thy iudgements Psalm 7.2.1.2.3 O Lorde vnto the King and thy righteousnesse vnto the Kings sonne then the mountaines shall bring forth peace and the little hilles righteousnesse vnto the people These alter our nature and propertie very much and by these some sort are ouer-awed sufficiently though the behauiour of some cannot bee bounded but it will flowe as Iordaine ouer the banckes counting as Theodosius Theodos that onely lawfull which the Lawe doth permit There is also another fashion which would be left which was taken from fishes and that is our pleasure which wee take in the worlde as fishes in the water But therein fishes are not to bee blamed for they holde their right course For the deepes are their dwelling places and they liue no longer then they are in them But Christians by Christ are chosen out of the worlde and their conuersation with the Apostle is in heauen and they are crucified to the world that they might bee glorified with Christ What felicitie can bee in those things which are giuen vs for a Iudgement If there were not a iudgement in them they would not bee called Thornes Mark 4.7 1. Tim. 6.9 Phil. 3.8 as they are by our Sauiour If they were not a deathfull daunger to some they woulde not haue beene called snares as they are by the Apostle If they were not of the basest reckning that might bee Paul would haue giuen a better name than doong vnto them But he gaue that name which was worst of al to that thing which he himselfe esteemed worst of all If the world were our proper Element as the waters are to the fish we had reason for our selues to bee worldly minded But seeing Christ hath sayd vnto vs Yee are not of the world For the loue of Christ wee must forsake the worlde Math. 9.9 as Mathew forsooke his custome when he was called to a better condition as the Samaritan woman forsooke her watter-pot hauing drawne waters from the welles of saluation Ioh 4.28.29 Acts. 9.20 22. Matth. 4.19 20 21 22. by conference with Christ as Saul forsooke all when he was made a Paul and betooke himselfe to Christ as the Apostles wound vp their worldly nets when the draw-net of the Gospel by the gracious hand of Christ his dispensation was put into their hands It is euery way commodious to the life of the fishe to bee wholly in the water But it is euery way hurtfull to the soule of man to be giuen vp wholy to the world For to get worldly gaine the body would faine liue but the desire of heauenly glory maketh it glad to die Worldly cares maketh a man very vnrestie with himself the comforts of the Spirit are a supersedeas to them all Acts 2.2 and giue them his absolute Quietus est so that as the holy Ghost filled the house so grace peace and ioy in the holy Ghost fulfilleth his heart As he that may walke in the warme Sun â—â—uer desireth the light of the Moone so he that walketh in the way to heauen wil neuer force of his worldly wayes more The fish liueth onely by the water but man liueth not by the world only but by euery worde of God Matth. 4.4 As that picture is more cunning curious which the maister painter himselfe draweth and casteth into colours than that which is but done by his Apprentises so our life is more liuely vnder God his protection thaÌ„ with al whatsoeuer worldly prouision The water sufficeth the fishes in their appetites but when we haue whatsoeuer the world can afford vs wee are not contented For when Alexander had coÌ„quered the whole world Alexander he was cast into a melancholly passion because he had not any other world to warre withall The world rather feedeth than slacketh our appetites as oyle doth the fire The worldling riseth early and goeth to bed late and eateth the bread of sorrowe Psal 127.2 labouring to labour and caring to take care plowing vpon the rockes Herod lib. 4. Psylli Democritus Heraclytu and rowling the stone of Sysiphus and is neuer at rest He is likned by one to a people in Africa called Psylli that are at great warres with the windes Democritus Abdorites had in derision the whole estate of the world and Heraclitus wayled and lamented the course of it Salomon gaue a blowe to the worlde on both cheeks when he doubled the word Vanitie vpon it Ecclesiast 1 2. and when hee trebled hee hee shewed that hee knew what he spake and that hee would not repeale it Iona. 2.8 And Ionas doth not nick-name them at all when hee termeth all the delights of it Tysing vanities It is Iehouah onely which is his Name for euer that sufficeth vs for euer The Rabbins The Rabbins doe obserue that all the letters in that his Name are Literae quiescentes from whence they expressed this mysticall meaning that all creatures haue from God their rest And the Prophet countenanceth not a little that construction saying Psal 11.1 In the Lord put I my trust how say you then vnto my soule Flie to your mountaine as a bird Wee say with Bernard Bernard in Catâ—c serm 4. Sane esse omnium dixerim deum non quod illa sunt quod est ille sed quia ex ipse per ipsum in ipso sunt omnia Hee is God of all not that those things are of that nature as hee but because of him by him and in him are all things So that a stone that is cast out of a sling or bowe neuer resteth vntill it commeth to his center so God whose center is euery where and circumference no where is our onely rest and without him onely infinite our desires are neuer satisfied that are infinite 5. Further if wee consider of men and fishes in their naturall stoliditie wee shall finde agreeable correspondencie betweene them Whereas other creatures aswell birdes in the ayre as such as walke vpon the ground giue many outwarde shewes and tokens of witte onely the fish
they may daunce and sometimes to mourne to make them lament Mat. 11.17 Cor. 4.21 sometimes with the Apostle Paul to come in loue and sometimes with a rodde of which more shall bee said in the following discourse There is no kind of learning holy or prophane but may pleasure vs sometimes in our fishing affaires I forbeare to censure such as are of contrarie iudgement Of the vse of humane reading and would shredde and strip a diuine of all humane reading but because they would stoppe my free passage of fishing and hinder mee in this course that is delightsome gainfull vnto me I will pleade my cause as well as I can as I may deliuer my opinion from their seuearer repreheÌ„sion Gregorie NazianzeÌ„ yet Gregorie Nazianzen casteth their water and giueth this iudgement of them in the cause we haue in hand Non vlla despicienda disciplinae cognitio cum de genere bonorum scientia siâ—â—mnis quin potius ipsam spernentes et rusticos et plane ignauos existimare debemus qui cupiunt vt omnes sint ignorantes ne ignorantia eorum inter communem perspiceretur si philosophia non respiceretur ideo quia quidam per philosophiam errarunt tunc nec Solet Luna quia nonnulli ea pro dijs suis habuerunt Wee are not to despise any disciplimatie knowledge for that al learning is in the rancke of good things rather the scorners thereof are to be thought to bee as ignorant as themselues that their ignorance might not appeare in its proper likenes If this bee enough to put downe Philosophy because some haue bin misled thereby wee may by like reason vrge that the sunne should bee taken from the firmament the moone should bee done away inasmuch as some haue worshipped them as Gods But we list first to conclude our iudgement by suffrages of scriptures The inhibition and promise of the lawe for the not marrying of a capture womaÌ„ Deu. 21.11.12 was voide with these conditions that her superfluities were done away her head was shauen her nayles pared her garments burned These rites being performed she an Isralite might be coÌ„tracted The reddition and consequence hereof is made by Hierome in this wise Hierome what maruel is it then saith he If I wedde my selfe to the wisedome of the worlde for the beautie comlines of speech that I find it hath and of a captiue woman make her fredenizen in Israel cutting off whatsoeuer is in her superstitious voluptuous erroneous and begette children to the Lord of hostes by her Osea 1.3 For so did Oseas take to himselfe a wife of fornication Gomer the daughter of Diblaim by whome he had a sonne named Isreel which is by interpretation the seed of the Lorde Acts 7.22 Moses was a man learned in all the wisedome of the Egyptians Daniel was a great man in the learning of the ChaldeaÌ„s Iob was very well seene in astronomie Dan. 1.4.17 Iob. 38.31.32.33 Ieromie was studious in the statute laws of the realme Dauid could handle the harpe out of crie and sing songes of Sion sweetly Paul tooke great pleasure in reading of poetrie 1. Sam. 16.16.18.23 Psa 57.7.8 1. Cor. 15.32.33 Tit. 1 1.2.13 Act. 17.28 and had all manner of learning both of Iewes and Gentiles and he brought three Poems of Menander Aretas Epimenides into the bodie of holy scripture when the tabernacle was to be builded with the Arke of the testimonie mercie seate and their appurtenances Exod. 31.2.3.4.6 Bezaleel by name was called out from the rest and qualified for that worke filled with the spirite of God in wisedome and in vnderstanding and in knowledge and in all workmanship as assistiaÌ„s vnto him were Aholiab and all that were wise hearted adioyned wherefore how much more is it expedient that such as should build vppe his heauenly Hierusalem should bee furnished and accomplished with all necessarie induments Exod. 12.35.36 The Isralites were dispensed with to borrow of the Egyptians their ornaments of gold their costly Iewels plate Augustine and to vse them as their owne from whence Augustine disputeth it to bee as lawfull for vs to robbe the Gentiles and heathens of the ornaments and rare inuentions of their wittes and serue our turnes with them Eloquence and humane learning serueth diuines as that parte of the Carpenters wimble which is wreathed round about and by degrees draweth in the iron The wodden handle entreth not into the wood but it helpeth in the pearser so arts are helpers to preachers in their studies In which respect Socrates compareth them to midwiues Socrates that are helpers to women in their trauailes they serue notablie for the ease of such as trauaile in the spirituall profession This is the vse Augustine maketh of them saying Solo vomere terra profunditur sed vt hoc fieripossit etiam caetera aratri membra necessaria De ciuit Dei lib. 16. cap. 2. The share onely deuideth the ground but to set it forward are the other partes of the plough requisite By making such vse as worldly learning doth afford we may thrust thorough the Pagan Infidel with his own weapoÌ„s For which cause doth Lactantius so much desire to haue this so great an aduaÌ„tage ouer them Lib. 3. Inst cap. 1. I would saith he haue the gift of eloquence either because they might sooner yeeld to the truth when it is thus garnished or else because infidels might the readier bee slaine by their own swords What need wee care from whence wee haue the hearbe or who did first set it or bring it if it bee medicinable and healeth vs Let vs bee like the diligent Bee which from a netle can drawe hony A tree though neuer so laden with fruit is graced by her leaues though wee be neuer so fruitfull in diuine knowledge worldly learning that are as the leaues of this tree will countenance it well enough Fullers before they will die a purple will lay a ground colour Diuinitie is the royall purple colour artes are but the grounds thereof To learne to handle a weapon skilfullie men haue their beginnings in the fence schoole we are trained vp in commoÌ„ schooles where the artes are taught to make vs more apt and readie for diuinitie In the building of a house though the master Mason his seruice is the chiefest yet are his inferiour seruers needfull Such as would get themselues authoritie by their ignorance of the artes and boast themselues to bee followers of fishermen are deceiued in thinking that the Apostles were more holy the more they were vnlearned Augustine Augustine wrote to his friend to aduise Calphumius not to maligne such as haue teeth because hee had none himselfe I will insist no longer in this point least I should seeme too much to digresse from the point we come to the former matter As wee hold them not worthie to be called fishers that haue not their netts and
is holy vnto dogges neither cast yee your pearles before swine least they tread them vnder their feet and turning againe al to rent you But yet as wise fishermen wee must discreetly distinguish of sinners and way wel their affections if there bee any hope of hooking them or tolling them to our nets we are to lay for them wee must trie before wee doe distrust and proue what may bee done and though the water be somewhat rough yet there may be some doings we are to doe our best though we feare the worst we are to deale as we may with him before wee finally despaire of any what thou shouldst doe with such faith charitie will tell thee better than any Augustine in his ConfessioÌ„s writeth of Alypius that was wholy dedicated to theatrical pastimes and vaine games and was reclamed from them by Augustine his biting inuectiue against them at which hee grew into an anger with himselfe Of the best and worst places to fish in and euer after very feruently fancied him But the deeper cleerer and stiller waters are the best for fishers shallow muddie riuers giue no sport for there is no roome for a flote of an angle to sinck or for a net to bee laid out besides that the fishes there mudding themselues they cannot be got out Such as are not of deepe deuotion but of shallow vnderstanding in heauenly thinges such as plodde wholy in the mudde and myre of the worlde will neuer rise vp to the sword of the water that the net might goe vnder them For as beasts that feede grosly doe neuer flie high so grosse minded men haue neuer high thoughts in heauenly thinges Also the mudde of this place doth pollute the nette snarâ—e it and hurte it the glorious gospell of the son of God is defiled contradicted rent by the puddle of couetous minded men drunkards swinish Epicures heretiques schismatiques and the flockes of their companions of which the Church hath had too wofull experience I wil vrge this allegorie no further nor suffer it to goe further with mee than the hande of the scripture guideth it therefore let this bee sufficient that hath beene said of the sorts of waters that are best for our angling occupation and spirituall fishing THE THIRD CHAPTER Of the nets and angle-rod that are for this fishing THe instrument of out angelicall angling and fishing is the worde of God preached which by Christ in the Gospell is compared to a net Mat. 13.47 which is of that making as it sweepeth as it goeth and therefore the Latines cal it verriculum because as a beesome thorow what so is in the way it maketh cleane worke It may as well bee likened to the angling pole or to any other inuention for the catching of fishe Luke 5.6 The vse of the fishers mans nette-chiefly serueth to restraine the exorbitant passage of fishes vncertainly skudding vp downe without any order hemming them in and keeping them at a bay within the compasse of it The power the working of the preached word and the great hope that is to be had of suâ—h as wiâ—â— beâ—e Acter 9.2 4.6.17.19.20 Of this effect and working is the preached worde as intercepting our extrauagant affections wandering wide out of the way without gouernance of the spirite and streightning our libertie keeping vs by the obedieÌ„ce of faith within the limmits of Gods law Let vs take our vagaries neuer so much as fishes in their element if euer we come to the nets way we may bee stayed in our waie So was Paul when hee was a Saul posting to Damascus with high commission to trouble those that were of the religion in the midde way being stayed in his course the word of God countermaunding him and he obeying it resting vppon the direction of it Iude 11. Num. 22.23.32 2. Pet. 2.15.16 saying Lord what wilt thou haue mee doe Though Balaam the son of Bosor loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse and loued the golde of Moab as his life yet he durst not for his life doe otherwise than he was warranted by God and so he answered the Lords that stayed vppon him Num. 22.18 and 24.13 saying If Balaak woulde giue me his house full of siluer and gold I cannot goe beyond the word of my Lord God to doe lesse or more Gods word to him was a hooke to his nose and a net to stoppe his progresse Achab looked that Micheah shoulde haue spoken leasings 1. King 22. 15.17.19.25 pleasings vnto him but the word of God had such sure hold of him as hee might haue sooner his head than his help Num. 9.15.17.18 c. The children of Israel in al their wide and wearisome trauailes went on by degrees as the word of God directed them I despayre not of any mans calling if hee will but come within the reach of the nette of Gods word howsoeuer he hath no meaning to bee taken in it for hee may bee caught and brought vp to heauenly shore whether hee will or no. Ieh 7.32.45.46 The good that may be had by comming to Sermons I haue read of as great an acte as this done at Hierusalem vpon the high Priests seruants sent out by their master for the attachment of Christ who finding him in his pulpit hearing his preaching their heartes melted away as droppes of water they had no power ouer him but returned as they came thus answering their maisters 1. Sam. 19.12.20.21.22.23 Neuer any man spake as that man Thus was Saul and his seruants serued Saul sent seruants to apprehend Dauid who finding him amoÌ„g the Prophets they were immediatly in the vaine of prophecie And when Saul came himselfe hee sermoned in such sort Laban neuer searched so narrowly Iacobs houshould-stuffe Gen. 31.33.34 as the worde of God searcheth our inner parts reforming theÌ„ and conforming them thereunto Heb. 4.12 As Simeon abiding in the temple Luke 2.27.28.29 Rom. 1.16 1. Cor. 1.18 found Christ so many but by coming to the church haue found saluation There is a hidden vnspeakable power in the word preached to draw Disciples after it and to gain soules to God Luke 3.10.12.14 Iohn Baptist had but one night laid out his net he found innumerable souls takeÌ„ in it of al sorts 1. The meÌ„nowes and meaner sorte the croude of common people 2. Publicans and sinners verie slipperie eales that had long lien in the mudde of their misdoings 3. Sanguinarie souldiers the Pike and water-wolues of the Ocean of this worlde a people naturally diseased with the bloodie issue Al these came trauelling into the net at once hee no sooner angled for them but had them It was not the contention of his spirites or the inuention of his wits or the intention of his good wil that won them but it was God that had a nette for the nones for them and a hooke that entred thorowe them and held them Acts
for it The mopish monkish short are all such who will wincke at any wickednes so it toucheth no way their credite commoditie But if it concerneth their Free-hold and questious affaires the whole crowde of them come together Acts 19.24 25 26 28 29. c. as Demetrius and all that appertained to the forge came against Paul when in the pulpit at Ephesus hee declaymed against that Image for which that company did make shrines All humane flesh is fish that is for our spirituall angling or fishing not one is more to bee neglected then another For Christ without restitution of persons sealed a generall graunt to his Apostles to fish in all streames Matth. 28 19.20 and to cast their nettes ouer all Nations by the Preaching of the Gospel Hee willed them not to fish for the Iewes onely or to lay a hooke for a Pharisee Priest or the vulgar sort peculiarly but for all men generally rich or poore wise or vnwise despitable or honorable saying Matth. 4.19 I will make you fishers of men All mankind absolutely are vnder the charge of the Euangelicall Fishermen to be drawne out of the tempestuous sea of this world to the kingdom of grace It is a manifest marke of a false fisherman of a barterer and purloyner of the worde of God Matth. 17.27 to runne vp and downe ferreting the richer sort and in a sordide obsequie to attende such onely as may bring them to dignitie The Pharisees were such and such were the Pseudo-apostles of all times whose resort was onely to the the rich hanging at euery Noblemans sleeue Who so is a wise merchant will not vnbundle his seuerall wares to such as hee obserueth to bee more curious in viewing them than willing to buy them So the Preacher should more respect such as will be benefited by his preaching and are ready to buy such commodities of him as he shall bee ready to expose vnto them It is good angling for fishes when they list to bite For what comfort can an Angler haue barely to beholde fishes floating vp and downe and compassing the hooke and putting their noses to it and nibling vpon the baites not fancying to swallow it I haue euer had more comfort in my spirituall angling of the poorer sorte who haue swallowed downe the blessed bayte of Gods word readily and greedily Math. 11.5 when as Knights and Gentlemen haue but gaped vpon it and so passed away from it as they came When Ionas cast his preaching nette ouer Niniuch the common assembly were his at the first wherefore it is sayd The word came vnto the King of Niniueh Ionas 3.6 That is to say it came from one to another vntill at last it came to the King It is the commendation Christ giueth the poore to Iohns Ambassadours that they were the forwardest to receiue the Gospell The poore receiue the Gospell Luc. 7.22 That such are the first fruites of the Church of God and the fittest to set forward his worke The Apostle witnesseth when he saith God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weake to confound the mightie c. The natiuitie of Christ by Gods heauenly Herauld was first published to the poore shepheards The sicke 1. cor 1.27 Luke 2.8 9 10 11 12. 1. Sam. 30.11 12 13 14 15 16. faint hunge-starued Amalechite seruant to an Aegyptian was the messenger that brought good tydings vnto Dauid so Christ the secōd Dauid hath instituted ordained poor Apostles to bring to the worlde the glad tydings of saluation and most commonly such now are the poorer sort and the poorer sort most followeth thē As Gedeon Iud 7.2.22 23 c. but with a weak meane retinue surprised the whole vnited force of Median so Christ with a fewe despised fishermen hath wonne a great part in al parts of the world This hath euer been the wont of this world and the course almost of all kings courtes and pallaces of princes They should bee in the forward in obedience to the word according to that which is required of them Be wise O ye kings Psal 2.10 11 12. be learned ye that are iudges of the earth serue the Lord with feare and reioyce vnto him with reuerence Kisse the sonne least he be angry and so ye perish from the right way But as if Religion were no part of their professiō they are in the rereward and in hunting hauking feasting building bestow their whole liues And such haue their A thists Parasites and Sycophants to enchaunt their soules with a supine securitie and to stir them vp into all presumption soothing them vp in their euils already done and giuing them libertie to doe more For which cause they will capitulate and indent with preachers and prescribe them a course of speaking and inhibite the printing of such books and prouide that such billes come not to the Kings hands which they haue not first examined and allowed Wherefore Princes are much to be pittied and prayed for that in such slipperie pathes they may keepe their feete and among so many Syrens winde themselues out of the bias of the world and come to the hooke and net of Gods word But of these men-fishes that we are to bayt for are many sundry sorts I list not to diuide them into their seuerall kindes by way of comparison but I wil diuide thē as they were of olde in the Iewish policie into these two natures Luit 11.9 10 11 12. 1. Cleane 2. Vncleane Vnderstanding hereby First the Regenerate Secondly and the naturall man Absolutelie by the name of a Fish the Aegyptian cleargie vnderstoode whatsoeuer was prophane and abominable wherfore they did so we will shew in his place In this signification wee may fitly put mankinde in general grounding our comparison vpon this part of Psalmodie They are all become abominable in their doings there is not one that doeth good Psal 14.13 and 53.1.3 no not one But yet there is that difference among men as wee haue made before of fishes wee distinguish of both kindes by these two markes of knowledge 1. Their sinnes and scales 2. Their defect of them The cleane haue them both the vncleane want them both Their finnes as it appeares serue as wings vnto them to raise them vp on high to the height of the water which serue to shadow out a sanctified man whose conuersation is in heauen who secketh those things that are aboue and who lifteth vp his minde by heauenly contemplation aboue all earthly things The scales betoken as Gregorie Nazianzen insinuateth the doing off the old man and the putting on the newe or as the Latines would haue it the doing away their stiffenesse and hardnesse of minde and their tractabilitie and conformitie vnto God which are the two termes of a true conuert called in the Schooles 1. Terminus a quo 2. Terminus ad quem An auersion from sinne a conuersion to God the
is a foolish creature altogether indocible So as by the sir-name of a fish they vnderstood a man of absolute follie among the Aegyptians If wee giue man his right Ephe. 2.11 12. Psal 32.9 Of the folly of man as he is without God And of true wisdome Isaâ— 1.3 1. Cor. 1.20 3.19 as hee is without God hee is as foolish as the fish For the horse and Mule without vnderstanding to whome Dauid compareth him by the iudgement of God in the mouth of the Prophet is of better vnderstanding than hee The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his masters cribbe but Israel hath not known my people hath not vnderstood I grant they haue the wisedome of the worlde which the spirite of God calleth foolishnesse Exod. 1.10 The wisedome of the world is foolishnesse with God Pharoah saide Let vs worke wisely when hee wrought most foolishly The Apostle maketh a great enquirie after the wise and would faine finde him out 1. Cor. 1.20 Where is the wise where is the cribe where is the disputer of this world hath not God made the wisedome of this world foolishnes Christ calleth such Wizards Dizzards wise without vnderstanding Matth. 11.25 when as he saith I giue thee thanks O Father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of vnderstanding and hast opened them vnto babes And the wisest of men the Sonne of man only excepted calleth them starke fooles Prou. 1.22 saying O yee foolish how long will yee loue foolishnesse Hee is no more to be admired that can make much matter by inuention of wit of a slender subiect than the shoomaker is that can make a great shoe for a little foote How can they be wise whose whole cogitations and actions are foolishnesse For there is no true wisdom but that which is heauenly which is the word of God or Christ the sonne of God the onely subiect and argument of the worde who is made vnto vs by God his Father Wisedome Righteousnesse 1. Cor. 1.30 Col. 2.3 Sanctification and Redemption In whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge But this wisdome is of little woorth with those who in the eyes of the world seeme of most worthe who stoppe their eares with waxe when this wisedome is spoken off and thinke themselues wiser than any of their teachers But they are but wise after a sort Luk 16.8 in their generation as Christ distinguisheth wherein indeed they haue eyes as broade as the Moone and haue a priuiledge aboue their betters But such aduantage hath the Owle of a man whose sight is better in the night-time than a mans In deedes of darknesse such Owles faces are better sighted than the children of light So is the Catte cunninger than a man to beguile a Mowse in wilie craftinesse the rudest rusticke easilie circumuenteth the greatest Scholler But hee is but an Asse in the shape of a man who hath not learned Christ and whose bringing vp hath not beene in Gods Schoole That is Moses iudgement when hee sayth Keepe the ordinances and Lawes which I haue taught you Deut. 4 6. for that is your wisedome and your vnderstanding in the sight of the people which shall heare all these ordinances shall say Only this people is wise and of vnderstanding When Saul started from the wisedome of the worde Psal 78.57 like a broken bowe he was but a sotte for it and Samuel doubted not to befoole him to his face saying in broad words 1. Sam. 13.13 Thou hast done foolishly Salomon I assure you left his wisedome behinde him when by marriage of strange women he worshipped strange gods doing as foolishly as I heard of any as the consequent thereof euen to the common calamitie of his Countrie it being beside the scandall of example 1. King 11.1.2.3.4.5.14.23 25 26.31 c. Ierem. 8.9 the ocasion of the rupture and mangling of his monarchie too lamentably confirmed Ieremy wondered how he should be a wise man that is not a Gods-man saying How doe ye say we are wise yee haue reiected the word of the Lord and what wisedome is in you As Ezechiel calleth them Ezech. 13.3 foolish Prophets and denounceth a woe as bitter as worme-wood to such as take not their text from Gods mouth but broach their owne fancies so folly is with them and they haue no lesse woe that are wise in their owne conceits onely The Turkes and wise to the world and not to Godward Though it bee a rascall religion that the Turkes professe yet they haue that grace as they command that religion by the leuell of their actions For their Professor of the Lawe standeth vp and in his charge especiall commandeth that before they beginne to sit in counsell they consult of nothing derogatorie to religion insinuating religion to the foundation of all wisedome Heathenish men to drawe on the popular applause to those Lawes which they should propound to them did beare the people in hand that they were grounded vppon the rules of Diuinitie and that they were warranted by their owne Gods Numa in a generall assembly at Rome Of Aegria and Numa Iuuen. Sad. 3. metam l. 15. sab 1. 44. liu 1. ab vâ—b condit Plutar. in Numa Solon Lyâ—urgus Minos Chaâ—ondas Osyrus Zamolxis alleaged that hee had conference with the Nymph Aegeria in the scrowle of those statutes that he then set out Solon suggested direction of authority from Minerua in like case Lycur gus of Lacedemon pleaded his commission from Apollo Minos in Creete sayd he came from Iupiter Charondas of Carthage tooke counsell of Saturne as he suggested Osyrus of Aegypt with Mercurie Zamolxis of Sythia with Vesta And the people of those times vpon such supposals yeelded became obedient vnto them wherein they plainly distrusted their own wisedome and thought it the best wisedome to anchor themselues vpon heauenly wisedome wherein they were misled with the blindnesse of those times ignorance as a hand-kerchiefe couering their eyes But sure we are Exod. 19.16 18 20.1 2 3. c. and 31.18 that Moses had his lawes deliuered him from God vpon the mountaine Sinai which haue beene since confirmed vnto vs by the oracles of Prophets and by Christ the Law-giuer and life of them himselfe To this beare all the Apostles witnesse and the Martyrs haue set their redde waxe thereunto Wherefore stultorum omnia sunt plaena The worlde runnes quicke with fooles the children thereof sauouring and fanouring nothing lesse than Gods worde the wisedome of the spirit For if wee take a suruey of mens natures wee may place them all in one of these 3. 3. Ranks or classes ranckes and classes 1. First of such as are simple by nature and of shallowe capacitie who are made to dwell in their home-borne stoliditie by such as are about them of a peruerse subtiltie These doe not so much as wet