a meere naturall man may be a great worldly Learned man as were the Aegyptians and Babylonians and as are many of the Romish Priests and Jesuites therfore for this cause that is not the learning here meant 4. Because such of Gods servants as have had such kind of learning when as they came to know Christ they forsook it all 4 Reason as Moses when he came to age though he was ‡ Act. 7.22 learned in all the wisdome of the Aegyptians yet by Faith he forsooke all the treasures of Aegypt and this being one of Aegypts treasures he forsooke this also for when he saith treasures there none is excepted therfore in asmuch as learning was one aswell as riches and honours he forsook that also as seeing by Faith a better treasure in the worst condition among the people of God then in the best condition in the world suppose it be learning The like is to be seen in Paul who counted all things losse and dung that he might winne Christ even the righteousnesse of the Law it selfe which is farre beyond all this and all this he did that he might know him Wherein the Apostle gives me to understand that all such things were but hinderances to keep him from the knowledge of Christ to salvation which is it that here I mind also therfore likewise this is not the learning here meant seeing it was rejected of them therfore it was no help nor furtherance to them to know Christ by but lets and hinderances and so much appeares by those converts in Acts 19.18 19. Who when they beleeved are said such of them as used curious Arts to burn their Books declaring that now they had met with learning of farre greater worth then their curious Arts and therfore now they burn their Books declaring that now they had no more need of them and so I conclude that such as this is not the learning here meant What Learning it is I now come to manifest what Learning it is the Apostle here intended Now the learning here intended by the Apostle it is as I understand That sound knowledge and sure information that every Christian hath in Iesus Christ Col. 2.7 whereby he is so deeply rooted and so surely grafted into him by Faith as that he abides unmoveably setled in him Ephe. 3.17.18 as therby he abides stable in the sure knowledge and understanding of the word of Christ and so much here me thinks the Apostle gives us to understand 1 Pet. 2.6 how that the unlearned they be unstable then on the contrary the learned they are stable beleeving and being layd on the true Foundation they shall never be confounded or ashamed Now such as these are that are learned as the truth is in Iesus these may well say to the greatest worldly learned ones as Philip said to the Eunuch Vnderstandest thou what thou readest and not onely so but such may teach them the understanding of the mystery saying these are taught and instructed by the teachings of the Spirit of God agreeable to these Scriptures * 1 Cor. 2.10 That it hath not entred into the heart of man to conceive of that which God by his Spirit which searcheth the deep things of God hath reavealed unto us And this the Apostle further explaines that as no man knows the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him so the things of God knows no man no not a worldly learned man but by the Spirit of God and so he goes on to difference the spirit of the world from Gods Spirit and shewes that that is it wherby the things of God are known and also manifested to others so that all the things of God both for matter and manner flow from the wisdome of Gods Spirit and not what mans wisdome teacheth which is to compare spirituall things and carnall things together as tongues and arâ—s and such like but Gods Spirit teacheth us to compare spirituall things with spirituall things and so he goes on and declares that onely such that are taught by the Spirit are capable of true discerning of spiritual things without being justly condemned of any as truly having the mind of Christ rightly and truly knowing the things that are of God and with this agrees the witnes of Iohn * 1 Ioh. 2.26.27 saying these things have I written unto you concerning them that deceive you wherby it appeares they had deceivers about them and those things were written concerning such But saith the Apostle in opposition to their deceivings ye have received the Anoynting of him that dwells in you and this anoynting that they had received doth he oppose to their deceiving as being able throughly to teach them so as that they needed not that any man teach them save as that anoynting taught them then seeing that that anoynting never did teach them such tongues or arts as were humane therfore the Saints by the Apostles grant had not need of any such learning and yet this anoynting taught all truth and obedience in it also And yet further our ‡ Ioh. 16.7 with 13. Saviour himselfe concludes this point shewing that when he hath sent the Comforter the Spirit of Truth to them that then he shall leade them into all truth whence I doe conclude that for the Disciples knowledge of the truth there was no more necessary according to the mind of him that was Truth but the Spirit of God to lead them into all truth without all errour teaching by no humane meanes the Reason why is rendered because it is sufficient and that is because it speakes from the Father agreeable to that of our Saviour taken from the Prophet that ‡ Ioh. 6.45 we shall be all taught of God and so indeed being taught of the Spirit we are taught of the Ftther and the Sonne also which are all one and so our learning comes to us being taught of the Father Sonne and Spirit for all our Instructers and Councellers and this is all the learning that we need to know the things that are of God by agreeable to his will so from these words thus interpreted the Conclusion comes to this Proposition That such as are taught by the Spirit of God destitute of Humane-Learning are the Learned ones that truly understand the Scriptures according to Peters mind I say such as are taught by the Spirit without Humane-Learning are such persons as rightly understand the Word And this me thinks the whole Councel of Ierusalem as wicked as they were did in effect conclude § Act. 4.13.14 considering Peter and Iohn though unlearned men yet they knew they had been with Iesus by their boldnesse and so they had nothing to say against it and yet though men should oppose it Christ Iesus our Lord * Luk. 10.21.24 Justifies it with great thankfullnesse to his Father that having hid these sâ—ings from the wise and prudent he had revealed them to babes Now that
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
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
in effect have affirmed as I heare of me for the Scripture is against it as is already before declared from the * 1 Cor. 1.26 Apostle though there be not many But yet this for certaine is the worst worke that a carnall man can undertake to meddle with the Scriptures seeing that he abuseth them and that to his own destruction for the word is a Sword with two edges which whosoever that is carnall meddles with it will run into his heart to ‡̶ Rom. 2.5 harden it against the day of wrath And so I conceive the point is cleare and plain That men without Gods Spirit though furnisht with Human-Learning doe wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction Object 1 But here it will then be demanded how shal we know whether we have the Spirit of God or the spirit or Errour Answ I Answer that the Spirit of God is a sufficient witnesse to it selfe seeing that the Spirit is Truth Now this agreeing as it doth with the word needs not any other testimony of it selfe because it is the witnesse of God and that is the greatest as saith Iohn the †1 Ioh. 5.6 Spirit beareth witnesse for the Spirit is Truth and againe ‡ 1 Ioh. 3.24 hereby we know that he abidoth in us even by the Spirit that he hath given us Next it is to be known by its operations and works as first it savours spirituall things they that are after the flesh saith the Apostle †Rom. 8.5 savour the things of the flesh and they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit And againe the “ vers 10. Spirit is life for righteousnesse sake and is said to be of a § vers 11. quickning and an enlivening nature for righteousnesse The fruits of it are further manifested in ‡̶ Gal. 5.22.23 other places Now these things being sound in us do witnes for God against errour though it set it selfe up with never so high a hand And yet here methinks I heare the worldly Object 2 learned men saying to me as did * 1 King 22.24 Zedekiah when went the Spirit of God from them to such as I speake of Answer To this I Answer That with Zedekiah such persons doe but begge the question and take for granted like him that which they never had for that could never depart from him which was never with him therfore though he were great and his companions many * vers 6. as is ‡ shewed and that Micaiah was but one poore Prophet alone and hateâ— of the King yet he had the Spirit of God whenas all the other were led and ruled by the lying Spirit and though Iesus Christ and his learned ones cannot be beleeved of the great and honourable Prophets of the world but by Zedekiahs shall be smitten on the Cheek when by them this question is demanded of the Lords Prophets yet this answer may be given them that whenas they come to hide themselves in secret and to be ashamed of their visiâ—n and that the ‡ Rev. 15.1 seaven last plagues come to be fulfilled spoken of in the Revelations then they shall find the truth of the testimony that is borne against them though in the meane time the servants of the Lord be committed to prison there to eate the bread of affliction and the water of affliction for their testimony Object 3 But though it be granted that Human Learning is no helpe to underst and the mind of God yet is it not usefull to furnish us with words to expresse our selvs in the delivery of the Gospel Answer I Answere with Paul that the whole Scripture is given of God and is profitable to make the man of God absolute and throughly § 2 Tim. 3.16 furnished to every good worke whence I conclude that if the Scripture be perfect and absolute for every good worke then it is so for that so that then there is no need of mans wisdome to helpe the Ministers of God And so yet further saith the Apostle that he †1 Cor. 1.17 preached the Gospel not with wisdome of words if not with wisdome of words then I conclude they were needlesse and so much the next words declare least saith he I should make the Crosse of none effect And againe I Bretheren saith he when I came unto you came not with the * 1 Cor. 2.1 excellencie of words or of wisdome shewing unto you the Councel of God but frees himselfe from it denying that his preaching stood in the “ vers 4. inticing speech of mans wisdome but on the contrary in the plaine evidence and demonstration of the Spirit And afterwards he gives the ‡ vers 5. Reason for it that their Faith should not be in the wisdome of men by which it seems it is subject so to be if that were used And so we find that indeed it is and not in the power of God by the plain demonstation of the Spirit and though in all this one would think the Apostle had said enough in this matter for the manner of the delivering of the truth yet for all this he hath not done with it but minds it yet * 1 Cor. 2.13 againe saying Which things as we know them so we also speak not with words which mans wisdome teacheth And so againe he ‡ Cor. 4.19 slightly passeth over the words of the false teachers as not worth the knowing or regarding therfore he saith when he comes he will know not their words but their power And so againe he condiscends to the false teachers so farre as to confesse that he was “ Cor. 11.6 rude in speaking but not so in knowledge by all which places it plainly appeares that mans wisdome is to be rejected even in speaking the word of God and that none are to affect any excellence that way but to content themselves even with the use of the naturall abilities they have without any art or skill in learning further Object 4 But Apollas is said to be an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 Answ And so doubtles was Paul and Moses and those mentioned in Acts 19. and yet as I have before manifested that whenas all these came to receive the faith they left forsooke and contemned all that so do I beleeve was it here with this man that whenas he came to be taught further in the knowledge of Christ that he then became more and more sutable to the rudenesse and simplicity of preaching the Gospel aswell as Paul for never afterwards do we reade that he was commended by that term for such manner of excellencie was proper to the Law and not to the Gospell in any degree But Secondly take it for granted that he persisted in his eloquence yet it appeares that it was such as he had obtained by being mighty in the Scriptures and this also further justifies a former Answer that the Scripture alone is sufficient
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
little David without Sauls Armour onely with a Sling and a Stone through the Name of the Lord may so wound great Goliah of Gath the enemy of God and his people as that he may receive his deadly wound and ly groveling on the ground to the dismayment of all the Host of the Phylistims and great rejoycing of the Israel of God and this the Stone that is hewen out of the Mountaine without hands is onely able to doe Therfore let all that feare the Lord take heed that they leane not to their own Wisdome but so much the more that any of us have Wisdome and Vnderstanding Memory and such like naturall parts above other so much the more let us be watchfull and carefull over our selves as knowing that the § Rom. 8.7 Wisdome of the flesh is enmity against God and is ready to but against the Spirit and now to draw to a Conclusion of all in the words of the Prophet †Isay 44.25 The Lord frustrateth the tokens of the lyars and maketh the Diviners madde turneth wise-men backward and maketh their Knowledge foolishnesse If any shall except against the matter for the rudenesse of it as that it is without forme or Learning all such are to know that it is but sutable to the whole argument and that if it should be otherwise I should condemn that in practise which I justifie in words and so make my selfe a trespasser Thus I commit this my labour with all those that out of love to the Truth shall seek information in this matter to the blessing of the most High and remaine an unfeigned welwiller of all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity The 25 day of the First Moneth 1639. SAMUEL HOW THE SVFFICIENCIE OF THE SPIRITS TEACHING WITHOUT HVMAN-LEARNING The text 2 PETER 3.16 As one that in all his Epistles speakes of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are Vnlearned and Vnstable wrest as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction THESE Words that I am alotted to speake from at this time have respect as it should seeme to such things as the Apostle had spoken of Before which things seeme to me to be those that are contained from the beginnning of the second Chapter to the end of the thirteenth verse of this third Chapter and the foureteenth verse containes Peters exhortation strengthened in the fifteenth verse by his Brother Pauls writings who in all his Epistles speaks of these things as of the comming of the Lord Iesus and other things such as are herein contained among the which that is Pauls writings in his Epistles some things were hard to be understood and so indeed was the comming of Christ Iesus which it should seem was hard of them to be understood and that appeares by his earnest writing to the * 2 Thes â—2 at the beginning Thessalonians where he exorts them that they should not suddenly be moved neither by Word nor Epistle as it were from him as if the day of Christ were at hand for there were many things to be fulfilled first as a departure from the Faith the rising up the perfection and the consumption of the Man of sinne and this it should seeme though he had told them of it before yet to them it was hard to be understood which had the true Learning here meant which things they that were Unlearned and Unstable perverted as they did other Scriptures to their own destruction Therfore the great thing here to be minded is to find out what this learning is that Peter here intends And Secondly who they be that are the unlearned ones and by that we shall easily find who they be that are the perverters of the Scriptures to their owne destruction For this end therfore I will consider what this learning is not and then what it is What Learning it is not It is not Humane-Learning That I may not be misconceived about it I will here lay down my understanding in it and by Humane-Learning I doe not mind the knowledge and understanding of our own language which every man of what tongue soever he be might in some measure be taught of another as the Parents teach their Children and they learne of them of this there is a naturall necessity as the Apostle saith How shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard Rom. 10.14 now the hearing there mentioned must needs be a naturall hearing seeing it is set before Faith and this hearing must needs be the understanding of the sound of words spoken Now thus Peter and Iohn and all the rest learned the foolish things spoken of 1 Cor. 1.21 and thus I acknowledg that there is none but in some measure have this learning and must of necessity have it to understand Gods mind in an ordinary way But by Humane-Learning all along in this matter which I oppose It is the knowledge of Arts and Sciences divers Tongues and much reading and a persisting in these things soe as there-by to be made able to understand the mind of God in his Word this is it that I condemn from the word of Truth for being that by which any is made able spiritually to understand the mind of God which the Aposte saith cannot be attained to by the words which mans wisdome teacheth all which these excellencies are said to be 1 Cor. 2.13 So that by Humane-Learning I doe here understand that whereby certain men doe excell and are farre above and beyond other ordinary men and in this sense doe I understand that the Councel Judged Peter and Iohn to be no such learned men Act. 4.13 For we in common speech doe oppose a learned man to one that otherwise can read and write in his own tongue though he doe not understand the grounds of his own speech as the other man that is learned doth as may appeare by the Booke called the English School-master And so such learning doe I not conceive to be here meant which I conclude for these Reasons 1. Because that then Peter must of necessity condemn himselfe 1 Reason for he was a Man that in the * Act. 4 13. Councels knowledge was such an unlearned man and so must needs himselfe lye under that blame that he laves upon others therfore Humane-Learning is not here that which he intends 2. Because Humane-Learning is a ‡ Col. 2.8 rudiment of this world 2 Reason hence is it that our Saviour acknowledgeth that his Mysteries were hid from the ‡ Luk. 10.21 Learned but they were not hid from his Disciples for unto them it was § Mat. 13. Col. 2.8 given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdome And the rudiments of this world are not after Christ the Apostle tells us therfore Humane-Learning cannot be it that Peter here minds 3. Because the naturall man cannot †1 Cor. 2.14 perceive the things of God 3 Reason but
revealing must needs be by the Spirit according to that 1 Cor. 2.10 And on this manner is it that our Lord comfort his Disciples telling them that all things were given him of his Father to reveale and so in that regard he tells them that blessed are the eyes that see that that they saw which was as the Apostle saith God manifested in the flesh which many wise men and Kings desired to see but could not see it and so that was now made manifest to them which before was hid from Wise-men and Scribes and so was at the present also for few of the Wise could attaine to the knowledge of Him and his Doctrine as they did Now with this also agrees what our †Mat. 22.23.29 Saviour further affirmes to the Sadducse who by reason of their Wisdome and Learning thought to have intangled him he tells them that they erred not knowing the Scriptures for all their great Learning being destitute of Gods Spirit Now by these Scriptures this poynt being thus confirmed good Reason also may by Gods word be brought for the futher justifying of it as First 1 Reason Because it is the good pleasure of God to place our salvation in great contempt and enmity to mans wisdome hence is it that the Apostle saith that he preached Christ crucified to the Iewes a ‡ 1 Cor. 1.23.24 stumbling blocke and to the Gretians foolishnesse for the Jewes we read in great contempt refused him as Pilate bid them behold their § Ioh. 19.19.21 King presently they cry away with him away with him Crucifie him and so when Pilate had wrote on the Crosse that he was King of the Jewes they tooke it as a great prejudice to them and therfore wished him to write that he said he was the King of the Iewes And so as Peter tells them in Acts 3. they denyed him and desired a murtherer to be given them and to this agreed the Gentiles for they had their hands also in his death and we find that whenas Paul preached him at Athens Act. 17.18.23 that then this saying of the Apostle here is made good both of Jewes and Gentiles and indeed they both agree to hang him betwixt heaven and earth as being in their esteem worthy of neither and yet even in this Crucified Iesus lyes contained the salvation of ‡̶ Act. 4.12 all both Jewes and Gentiles that are saved and in this despised Ieâ—us are all to rejoyce with the * â— Cor. 2.2 Gâ—â— 6.14 Apostle to salvation for in him thus dishonourable and unmeet in mans wisdome lye hid all our heavenly * Col. 2.3 1 Cor. 1.20 treasures of wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption for he is the wisdome of God and power of God 1 Cor. 1.24 Another Reason why such as have Gods Spirit destitute of Humane-Learning come thus to know Gods mind is 2 Reason that as the ‡ 1 Cor. 1.29 Apostle declares no flesh should rejoyce in Gods presence now this learning is but fleshly and carnall Now the Apostles advise is though we had known ‡ 2 Cor. 5.16 Christ Iesus after the flesh yet now comming to be after God we should henceforth know him so no more and here is a sufficient Reason because knwledge is subject to puffe us up as saith the § 1 Cor. 2.8 Apostle Whenas love and the Learning of the Spirit keeps us low in our own eyes and causeth as Solomon saith our minds to be good making us sutable to the Apostles exhortations †Rom. 12.16 saying Be not high minded but make your selves equall to them of the lower sort be not wise in your selves but ‡̶ Phil. 2.3 let every man esteem others better then himselfe and if any glory let him * 1 Cor. 1.31 glory in the Lord. Now he that hath these things as Humane-Learning and Wisdome more then another let him weigh and consider duly with himselfe whether he doth not think and conclude that he in regard of these things is not more to be respected then they that are without them now then ‡ 1 Cor. 5.6 this rejoycing is not good for it is a rejoycing in the flesh and sutable to ‡ Rom. 4.2 works and so not of God and yet so is it that for our hearts we cannot but think better of our selves for these things then of others without them so we may see the Apostles words fulfild that the wisdome of the § Rom. 8.7 flesh that is whatsoever the flesh is excellent in it is enmity to God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Anotder Cause why the Spirits teaching is sufficient without Humane-Learning is because as the Apostle saith 3 Reason we are compleat in him that is perfect and full in him and this he strengthens yet further from this consideration that he is the head of all Principalities and Powers so that if there were any thing else to make us compleat he being the Head of all we should have it but he hath given nothing but his †1 Cor. 12.7 Spirit to profit withall therfore we are compleat by it alone and therfore is it that Paul * 1 Tim. 6.20.21 exhorts Timothy to keep that which was committed to him which was the Faith taught by the Word and Spirit and wisheth him to avoyd and beware of Science that is all knowledge naturall which is comprehended under ,, Col. 2.8 phylosophy learned prophane and vaine bablings and oppositions to the Faith of Christ and so much is by the Apostle there declared saying which while some have lusted after they have erred from the Faith so that it is most plain and cleare that these things are so farre from perfecting men or helping of them in the knowledge of the truth as that they hinder and cause such as professe them to erre from the Faith even all the seaven Liberall Sciences for all be but Science and all this Science or knowledge is falsly sayd to be of use in the Gospell Profane and vaine bablings are farre better names for them and oppositions according to Pauls teaching and he saith of himselfe I thinke I have the Spirit of God and so indeed he had without doubt and so our ground remaines good that we are compleat in Christ Iesus Another consideration confirming this Conclusion 4 Reason is from the Apostles * 1 Cor. 3.18 advise let no man deceive himselfe and that in the true way of attaining wisdome he declares what it is in these words that such a one is to become a foole that he may be wise and how â—s that but by knowing that indeed there is nothing in all mans wisdome to be any whit helpfull but hurtfull to him in attaining and comprehending the wisdome of God in Christ Now what is more foolish to a man then to know that there is nothing that all the wits of man can reach unto that
it doth further appeare by the 13th Chap. and the 3. verse that it was so great power and glory as that all the world wondered and admired it and yet this Iesus Christ accounts a great wo and plague to them Rev. 16.10.11 Now part of this woe I beleeve is this learning which we have here in question for as we have before manifested the Sun light of the Gospel of Iesus Christ alows not for the glory of Christs Doctrine is that it is of the Spirits teaching for when we behold the glory of the Lord in the most perfectest measure 2 Cor. 3.12 so as we are changed thereinto from glory to glory yet all is from the Spirit of the Lord seeing that he is the promised Comforter that is to teach us all good things belonging to our perfection Then it must needs follow that is a smokey power and glory flowing from the Kingdome of Sathan and so a part of the tayle that the § Rev. 12.4 Dragon drew the Starres withall after him and hence comes it to passe that now instead of the Spirits teaching according to Peters prophesie here are a generation that doe arise 2 Pet. 2.1 which privily bring in damnable errours and so for that end forsaking the Spirit of truth they speake lyes through hypocrisie 1 Tim. 4.2 as Paul also witnesseth they should doe pretending now that the true and right way for understanding the Scriptures and mind of God was that men for that end must learne a part from others onely for that worke and so to be taught in Tongues and divers Languages and have their wits exercised in Arts and Sciences humane and so such a flourish beares this in mans conceit as that it seems the onely way that can be for a man to be made fit for this worke so that before while the Angels kept their station in heaven the Spirits simple teaching was judged sufficient without these things for this worke they now being fallen from thence to the earth Rev. 9.2 and having the key of the bottomlesse pit thence it being opened now ariseth up * See Iohn Bale on Rev. 9.1 Plato and Aristotle and a multitude more of Heathen Philosophers These are the foure Angels that stand on the foure corners of the earth holding the foure winds that they should not blow on the Earth neither on the Sea neither on any Tree Rev. 7.1 as being those that have the whole power of Preaching in their hand not suffering any to blow but who they please and so doe withold the truth in unrighteousnesse Rom. 1.18 declalaring thereby they be under the wrath of God and they seem to yeeld these Starrey Principles very fitting in their own understanding better to furnish them with fitnesse to open the mind of God then His Spirit can doe whereas before whenas the perfect teachings of the holy Spirit was in force these men of all others were by reason of their learning and wisdome the most untutablest men that were in the world for the receiving of the truth as appeares by the testimony of Luke Act. 1.18 and is not yet for all the great Sun light of the glorious Gospel of Christ which these men professe they have these blacke smokey principles still so stiffly stood for as that there is no removing of men from the high conceit that they have of them And doth not this sufficiently declare as the Apostle saith that God hath blinded the minds of men so as they cannot see but are so much the blinder because they say they see and hence came it to passe 2 Cor. 4.4 Ioh. 9.41 that I for mentioning Plato and Aristotle and such like was demanded how I came by the knowledge of that Object if not by Human-Learning with contempt cast upon it as if that which I had from them being Humane Learned Men was of it selfe sufficient to overthrow the matter which I had there delivered Answ I answered then as I doe still it was none other but as Paul mentioned to the Athenians their own Poets and yet for all that he was as great an enemy to Human-Learning as I and greater too Act. 17 And it is to be minded as I have before declared that I doe not oppose the knowledge of Humane things nor yet deny but that we may be acquainted with their sayings as the Apostle himselfe and our Saviour was yea and that somtimes we make use of them too as occasion requires as I have done here though sparingly and but seldome and when it is that it be of great use as it was at those 3 times that Paul did use them and no more Act. 17.28.1 Cor. 15.33 Tit. 1.12 that I remember in all the Scripture Now this you see the Spirit teacheth and therefore it cannot properly be called Human-Learning especially in my sence that I have to doe withall which is to oppose that which is maintained to make men fitting to open the mind of God in his word which is by the learning of tongues and arts as of necessity wheras this is used but by the by and not to find out the Truth with but it being sufficiently before proved by themselves also It is the Spirits order to gaine there acknowledgement of it and this is no other learning but what every man without any Scholership as ye call it may attaine unto wheras that that is so much gloryed in is that a man is able aptly to speak according to art and knowledge in the Sciences and this is it by which men yet still are hatched and bred up Rev. 12.16.1 Tim. 6. to 12. Rev. 12.4 and this I beleeve was the meanes of bringing in all those abhominable errours that the Earth hath drunke in both in Doctrine and Practise and so have occasined those noysome lusts that drown men in perdition that the man of God is to flie as best beseeming the tayle of the Dragon and suting with this great woe which is further manifested by comparing the Ministers of Iesus Christ and those together Now what marks they be known by you may read in 2 Cor. 6. from the the 3. to the 11. verse where as in a Looking-glasse you may behold the true picture both of the one and of the other By them we approve our selves as the Ministers of Christ and give none occasion why our Ministry should be reprooved saith Paul In much Patience in Afflictions in Necessities in Distresses in strips in Imprisonments in Tumults in Labour in Watchings in Fastings by purenes by knowledge by long-suffering by kindnesse by the Holy Ghost by love unfeigned by the word of truth by the power of God by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left by honour and dishonour by evill report and good report as dâ—ceivers and yet true as unknown and yet known as dying and yet behold we live as chastened and not killed as sorrowfull and yet alway rejoycing