know the things that are of God by agreeable to his will So from these words thus interpreted the conclusion comes to this That such as are tought by the Spirit of God Proposition 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 methinks the whole Council of Jerusalem as wicked as they were did in effect conclude m Act. 4.13 14. considering Peter and Iohn though unlearned men yet they knew they had been with Jesus by their boldnesse and so they had nothing to say against it and yet though men should oppose it Christ Iesus our Lord n Luke 10.21 to 24. justifies it with great thankfulnesse to his Father that having hid these things from the wise and prudent he had revealed them to Babes Now that revealing must needs be by the Spirit according to that 1 Cor. 2.10 And on this manner is it that our Lord comforts his Disciples telling them that all things were given him of his Father to reveal 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 attain to the knowledge of him and his doctrine as they did Now with this also agrees what our o Mat. 22.23.29 Saviour affirmes to the Sadduces 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 point being thus confirmed good reason also may by Gods Word be brought for the further justifying of it As Reason 1 First 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 Jews a p 1 Cor. 1.23 24. stumbling block and to the Grecians foolishnesse For the Jews we read in great contempt refused him as Pilate bid them behold your q John 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 Jews they took it as a great prejudice to them and therefore wished him to write That he said he was King of the Jews And so as Peter tells them in Acts 3. They denied 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 when as Paul preached him at Athens Act. 17.18.23 that then this saying of the Apostle here is made good both of Jews 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 Jesus lies contained the salvation of r Act. 4.12 all both Jews and Gentiles that are saved and in this despised Jesus are all to rejoyce with the Å¿ 1 Cor. 2.2 Gal. 6.14 Apostle to salvation for in him thus dishonourable and unmeet in mans wisdome lye hid all our heavenly t 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 Reason 2 Another reason why such as have Gods Spirit destitute of Humane Learning come thus to know Gods mind is That as the u 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 x 2 Cor. 5.16 Christ Iesus after the flesh yet now coming to be after God we should henceforth know him so no more and here is a sufficient reason because knowledge is subject to puffe us up as saith the y 1 Cor. 2.8 Apostle When as 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 suitable to the Apostles exhortations z 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 a Phil. 2.3 let every man esteem others better then himself and if any glory let him b 1 Cor. 1.31 * Here glorying in the Lord is opposed to vain-glory or haughtinesse glory in the Lord. Now he that hath these things as Humane Learning and Wisdom more then another let him weigh and consider duly with himself 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 c 1 Cor 5. this rejoycing is not good for it is a rejoycing in the flesh and suitable to d Rom. 4. 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 and so we may see the Apostles words fulfill'd that the wisdome â—f the e Rom. 8.3 flâ—sh that is whatsoever the flâ—sh is excellent in it is enmity to God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Reason 3 Another cause why the Spirits teaching is sufficient without Humane Learning is because as the Apostle saith 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 f 1 Cor. 12.7 Spirit to profit withal therefore we are compleat by it alone and therefore is it that Paul g 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 avoid and beware of Science that is all knowledge naturall which is comprehended under h Col. 2.8 Phylosophy learned prophane 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 clear that these things are so far 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 seven Liberall Sciences for all is but Science
David without Sauls Arm or only 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 lye groveling on the ground to the dismayment of all the Host of the Philistins and great rejoycing of the Israel of God and this the Stone that is he wen out of the Mountain without hands is only able to do Therefore let all that fear the Lord take heed that they lean not to their own wisdome but so much the more that any â—f us have wisdome and Understanding Memory and such â—ike naturall parts above other so much the more let us be watchfull and carefull over our selves as knowing that the h Rom. 8.7 Wisdome of the flesh is enmity against God and is ready to butt against the Spirit And now to draw to a conclusion of all in the words of the Prophet i Esay 44.25 The Lord frustrateth the tokens of the lyars and maketh the Diviners mad turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolishness If any shall except against the matter for the rudeness of it as that it is without form or learning all such are to know that it is but suitable 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 self 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 remain an unfaigned well-willer of all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity The 25. day of the first moneth 1639. WHat How how now hath How such learning found To throw Arts curious Image to the ground Cambridge and Oxford may their glory now Vail to a Cobler if they know but Hâ—w Though big with Art they cannot over-top The Spirits teaching in a Coblers shop Reader if thou an humane Artist be Let Humane Learning be no Judge for thee Lay down thine Arts then try this Coblers end And see if it be by the Spirit pen'd Mean time adue ye Arts and Artists all The Spirits teaching may attend the Aul And thou brave Cobler blow another blast Upon their learning though thou blow thy LAST R. O. THE SVFFICIENCY OF THE SPIRITS TEACHING WITHOUT HVMANE LEARING The Text 2 PETER 3.16 As one that in all his Epistles speaks of these things in which ar some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction THese words that I am * By J.G. and S.B. Ministers of London allotted to speak from at this time have respect as it should seem to such things as the Apostle had spoken of before which things seem to me to be those that are contained from the beginning of the second Chapter to the end of the 13. verse of this third Chapter and the 14. verse contains Peters exhortation strengthened in the 15. verse by his Brother Pauls writings who in all his Epistles speaks of these things as of the †Christ second coming mentioned in all Pauls Epistles coming of the Lord Jesus 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 coming of Christ Iesus which it should seem was hard of them to be undersood and that appears by his earnest wâ—iting to the a 2 Thes 2. at the beginning Thessalonians where he exhorts 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 Sin and this it should seem 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 unstalbe perverted as they did other Scriptures to their own destruction therefore 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 own destruction For this end therefore 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 do not mind the knowledg 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 learn of them of this there is a natural necessity as the Apostle saith How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard Now the hearing there mentioned Rom. 10.14 must needs be a natural 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 John and all the rest learned the foolish things spoken of 1 Cor. 1.21 And thus I acknowledge 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 so as thereby 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 Apostle saith cannot be attained to by the words which mans wisdome teacheth all which these excellencies are said to be â—or 2.13 So that by Humane Learning I do here understand that whereby certain men do excell and are far above and beyond other ordinary men and in this sense do I understand that the Councel judged Peter and John to be no such learned men Act. 4.13 For we in common speech do oppose a learned man to one that otherwise can read and write in his own Tongue though he do not understand the grounds of his own speech as the other man that is learned doth as may appear by the Book called the English Schoolmaster and so such learning do I not conceive to be here meant which I conclude for these reasons 1. Because that then Peter must of necessity condemn himself 1 Reason for he was a man that in the b Act. 4.13 Councels knowledge was such an unlearned
Tit. 1.12 and therefore it cannot properly be called Humane Learning especially in my sense that I have to do 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 whereas 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 gain their acknowledgement of it and this is no other learning but what every man without any Scholarship as ye call it may attain unto whereas that that is so much gloried 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 and this I believe was the means of bringing in all those abominable errors that the earth hath drunk in Rev. 12.16 1 Tim. 6. to 12. Revel 12.4 both in Doctrines and Practice and so have occasioned those noysome lusts that drown men in perdition that the man of God is to fly as best beseeming the tail of the Dragon and suiting 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 third to the 11. Verse where as in a Looking-glass 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 Ministery should be reproved saith Paul In much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labour in watchings in fastings by purenesse by knowledge by long-suffering by-kindnesse by the Holy Ghost by love unfaigned by the Word of Truth by the power of God by the Armor of Righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left by honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers 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 as poor and yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things * Distinguishing marks of the true Ministers These ye see are the marks by which Paul approves himselfe with his fellow labourers to be the Ministers of Christ now selves 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 f 2 Tim. 2.24 25. servants of God should do 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 do be they but observant of their Canonical obedience How many â—ay where are any imprisonments that they suffer or at least need to do if they live according to their own Laws And for â—umults they are so far from abiding any as that they be far more ready to make them against others then to endure 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 fulfilled in them so that of necessity there will appear as void 〈◊〉 difference as is betwixt light and darknesse and those persons more fitly suiting that description belonging to the g Rev. 9. from 7. to 11. Locusts then with this description here of the h 2 Cor. 6. from 3. to 11. Apostle so far are they from what they pretend themselves to be as that the words of the Prophet came truly to be fulfilled in them That their i Isa 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 far 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 knowledg is the cause oâ— this their error and they say it is the means of right understanding now whether is to be believed God or they let all judge especially when as we see that the Lord himself is against them for it in denying others he denies them saying therefore shall evill come upon thee and thou shalt not know where it ariseth c. all which declares the depth of the woe they lie 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 knowne what can be more against him Vse 2 In the next place that being so that men taught by Gods Spirit are through it sufficiently made able to know his minde 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 fame especially if he make use of them in those things for as we have seene they be dangerous to be leaned unto It is his high time that now we should all awake from sleepe and watch in the Spirit and so let the Lord have all the praise and glory of his owne grace Not unto us not unto us but to his name be all the glory Rom. 11.19 seeing it is he only that doth great things Allso 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 owne 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 k Luke 10.21 hid those things that is the mysteries of the Gospel among which this which now is declared is one from the wise and learned and this I verily believe is the wholesom 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 therefore need we not to wait for their witness 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 overlook 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 fulfilling of the
Prophecy of l Zach. 13.2 3. Zachary that the Lord will cut off the names of the Idols and the unclean Spirits of the Land and that while they Prophecy their Father and Mother that begat them shall run them through with the Sword of the Spirit and say Thou shalt not live because they told lies 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 taken knowledg of to be Ministers are garments of deceit and at that day such Prophets shal be ashamed of themselves as that they shall disclaim themselves for very shame to stand in any relation to such Prophets as m Zach. 13.4 5 there the Prophet shews when are their neerest friends with contempt shall refuse them and run them through saying Thou toldst us lies in the name of the Lord such light it seems shall then appear as that they themselves shall count him no Prophet that is made so by mans teaching Now this teaching in question is but mans teaching and therefore when as the clear light appears they shall be ashamed of it though now they prefer it Vse 3 This Consideration also ministers matter of thankfulnesse to God on our parts for his exceeding kindnesse towards us in Christ Jesus for that he is pleased to reveal these great Mysteries to such mean and simple things as we are when as he conceals them from the wise and prudent This n Mat. 11.29 use Christ Jesus himself makes and gives us to understand the true cause why and that he makes not any excellency in them more then was in others but only according to the nature of the Gospel the good pleasure of God which is indeed the only 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 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 other Scriptures to their own destruction and so this is another Observation That such as are destitute of the Spirits teaching * Here he set out the perverters of Scripture though furnisht with Humane Learning are the perverters and wresters of these and all other Scriptures to their own destruction The truth of this Conclusion appears plainly confirmed to us in the o Mat. 5.21 Pharisees as our Saviour declares in many particulars plainly discovering the * Mat. 23. from 16. to 19. blindnesse of these learned Teachers in esteeming and preferring of things lesse in themselves above such as were far greater as the proportion is made betwixt the Gold of the Temple and the Temple and the Altar and that which was offered thereon and so blind were they that they counted that most holy which the Temple and the Altar made to be holy and the same p Mat. 15. from 3. to 7. elswhere appears that for all their learning they taught directly against the mind of God in his Word We may see the same further commended to us Barjesus one full of all q Acts 13.6 subtilty in this kind but a turner from the Faith and not to it and a perverter of the straight wayes of God The like is to be observed in r 1 Tim. 1.7 those of whom Paul speaks that would be Doctors of the Law and yet knew not what they said nor whereof they affirmed so wise their Humane Learning did help to make them Reason 3 Now from the World of God good Reasons may be observed further to confirm this As first Because nothing but the Spirit of God can bring any to the true knowledge of the Word of God and so saith the Å¿ Cor. 2.12 Apostle We have received the Spirit of God that we may know the things that are given us of God * The Spirit of God though in Coblers Pedlers Tinkers or Chimney-sweepers is better thou all the worlds learning though in Popes Councils Cardinals Bishops or Presbyters and Peter t 2 Pet 1.20 21. tells us that no Scripture is of any private interpretation but in opposition to that the Apostle sets the Spirit and opposes it to the will of man and so declares that the Spirits interpretation where it is is a publike interpretation and not private and that men though indued with great learning having not the Spirit of God can give but a private interpretation according to the Apostles intent let men judge what they will though it be the Pope and all his Councils of Cardinals and Bishops and the rest of that learned Robble yet they being destitute of the Spirit can give but a private interpretation according to the Apostles mind whereas if a man have the Spirit of God though he be a Pedler Tinker Chimney-sweeper or Cobler he may by the help of Gods Spirit give a more publike interpretation then they all for as u Cor. 15.1 2 Paul saith of love the same is to be said of the Spirit Though men did speak with the tongues of men and Angels and knew all secrets and had all knowledge yet this is but as a sounding brasse or tinkling Cymball without the Spirit Reason 2 Another reason is because this was one end of Jesus Christ his coming into the world that they that x John 9.39 see might be made blinde and this clearly appears in the Pharisees * The learned aceounted the common people accursed those learned wise men that counted the common people as accursed because not knowing the Law and they themselves seeing blessed ones and therefore y Joh. 7.48 say they Do any of the Rulers or Pharisees believe in him as touching that the Rulers and Pharisees must needs know the truth when as these were blind guides as our Saviour saith and so much z Joh. 9.40 these took notice of that he so accounted them and so also those that were blind in mans sight as was the blind man there spoken of He sees the gift of God and believes in Jesus Christ for his salvation and yet they refuse the knowledg and light of this seeing a Ver. 29. man and upbraid him for being born in sins and for going about to teach them scorning that such learned men as they should be taught of such as he was though Jesus Christ hath made him learned and given himself for him Reason 3 Another Reason is rendered out of the words Because such are unlearned and unstable ones for as before we have seen such persons are destitute of the * The unlearned of the Spirit are the unstable ones true learning so also are they in an unsetled and unstable condition seeing as the Prophet b Psal 51. witnesseth That the Spirit is the establisher neither
can they be rooted and established in the Faith according to the Apostles c Col. 2.7 saying seeing they be not founded on the Rock Christ Jesus but on the Sands of Humane Learning arising from a sleshly mind destitute of the Spirit of Truth for they have not learned as the truth is in Jesus Reason 4 Again it must needs be so that such must pervert the Scriptures because it is impossible for them to go beyond their principle Now their principle is error as the following words declare and by it they be guided †They that heaped Teachers to themselves were led to fables and led even the whole heap of them as big as it is and these shall satisfie mens lusts and turn them from the Faith unto Fables as the d 2 Tim. 4 4.5 Apostle long ago hath foretold for such as are themselves of the flesh turn all things to fleshlinesse for that is it which they savour for to the unclean all things are unclean their consciences being defiled as e Tit. 1.15 witnesseth the Apostle Hence was it that when as our Saviour f Joh. 2.29 bad the Jewes to destroy this Temple meaning his g Ver. 29. body they themselves being carnall understood him to speak of the Temple of Jerusalem And so the Capernaits when as Jesus Christ tells them He will give them h Joh. 6. of his flesh to eat they being carnal cannot bear it Verse 53.60.63 and all because they be destitute of the Spirit for it was in a spirituall sense that he intended it And the like is to be seen in Nicodemus a Pharisee Joh. 5.1 3 4. and so a learned man being a Teacher and a Ruler of the Jews this man for all this when as Jesus Christ tells him That he must be born again otherwise he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God he seeing no further then into the natural birth demands how that could be That a man when he is old should enter into his mothers womb and be born again so destitute was he of the spirituall meaning of the minde of Jesus Christ in his Word Reason 5 Another Reason methinks included in the words is Because such persons are usually vessels of wrath prepared to destruction * Those to whom the Gospel is a savour of death would have it go in their way therefore they drive all to the same end to which themselves belong The Gospel is the savour of life to life in them that are saved but is the savour of death to them that perish Yet would I not from hence have any to conclude that I deny salvation to learned men as some in effect have affirmed as I hear of me for the Scripture is against it as is already before declared from the i 1 Cor. 1.26 Apostle though there be not many But yet this for certain is the worst work 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 k Rom. 2.5 harden it against the day of wrath And so I conceive the point is clear and plain That men without Gods Spirit though furnisht with Humane Learning do wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction Object 1 But here it will then be demanded how shall we know whether we have the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Error Answ I answer that the Spirit of God is a sufficient witnesse to it self seeing that the Spirit is Truth Now this agreeing as it doth with the Word needs not any other testimony of it self because it is the witnesse of God and that is the greatest as saith John the l 1 Joh. 5.6 Spirit beareth witnesse for the Spirit is Truth And againe m 1 Joh. 3. Hereby we know that he abideth in us even by the Spirit that he hath given us Next it is to be knowne by its operations and works as first it savours spirituall things They that are after the flesh saith the Apostle n Rom. 8.5 Gods Spirit is known by his mighty works savour the things of the flesh and they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit And again the o Verse 10. spirit is life for righteousnesse sake and is said to be of a p Verse 11. quickning and an enlivening nature for righteousnesse The fruits of it arc further manifested in q Gal. 5 22 23 other places Now these things being found in us do witnesse for God against Error though it set it self up with never so high a hand Object 2 And yet here methinks I hear the wordly learned men saying to me as did r 1 Kin. 22.24 Zedekiah When went the Spirit of God from them to such as I speak of To this I answer that with Zedekiah such persons do but beg the question Answ and take for granted like him that which they never had for that could never depart from him which was never with him therefore though he were great and his companions many as is Å¿ Verse 6. shewed and that Micajah was but one poor Prophet alone and hated of the King yet he had the Spirit of God when as all the other were led and ruled by the lying Spirit and though Jesus Christ and his learned ones cannot be believed 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 when as they come to hide themselves in secret and to be ashamed of their Vision and that the t Rev. 15.1 seven last plagues come to be fulfill'd spoken of in the Revelations then they shall find the truth of the testimony that is born against them though in the mean time the servants of the Lord be committed to prison there to eat the bread of affliction and the water of affliction for their testimony Object 3 But though it be granted that Humane Learning is no help to understand the mind of God yet is not usefull to furnish us with words to expresse our selves in the delivery of the Cospel Answ I answer with Paul that the †The whole Scripture is given of God whole Scripture is given of God and is profitable to make the man of God absolute and throughly u 2 Tim. 3.16 furnished to every good work Whence I conclude that if the Scripture be perfect and absâ—lute for every good work then it is so for that so that then there is no need of mans wisdome to help the Ministers of God And so yet further saith the Apostle that he x 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
doctrines of devils how that men should speak lies through hypocrisie c. as Zachary also foretold that the x Zach. 13.3 Father and Mother of the Prophet should say that he told them lies in the name of the Lord If thou put the Brethren 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 Jesus Christ which hast been nourished up in the words of Faith and good Doctrine then mark these things are not error nor lies nor he a false Teacher that speaketh of them out a good Minister that hath been 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 y 1 Tim. 6.3.4 saith further in this matter declaring that he that consenteth not to wholesome doctrine that is according to godlinesse is puft up and knows nothing but dotes about words and as such a one as is so far corrupted by the flâ—sh as that he is to be separated from therefore Gods good Ministers as we see should be carefull of these things as knowing of whom they shall receive their reward and what shall also be their portion from men of the world in that which is z Rev. 11.7 death in the world but a Rev. 14.13 life with the Lord Be faithful therefore to the death and you shall have a b Rev. 2.10 Crown of Life declaring the power of the Spirit of the Lord in you Vse 5 Now in the last place I will conclude with the exhortation of the c 2 Pet. 3.16.18 Apostle in the words following Yea therefore beloved seeing ye knew 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 lest ye also as well as others you being subject to it be plucked away before you be aware into the error of the wicked to think that Gods Mysteries can be attained to by mans learning and so you fall from your own stedfastnesse which is d Rom. 11. through Faith for by Faith ye stand and by the Spirit for by it ye are also e Psal 51. establisht and for a preservative against this error as opposite to it grow and encrease in the grace of God and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ which is that that will preserve you from error Now to him be glory not to us nor to man but to him our Lord Jesus Christ both now and for evermore Amen ESAY 64.25 The Lord frustrateth the tokens of the Lyars and maketh Diviners mad turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolishnesse FINIS POSTSCRIPT HAving before the death of this Author been well acquainted with him and tasted that Spirit of Light and Truth which God in his day did more then ordinary powre out upon him by which he was inabled to minister seasonable words to the refreshing of many weary souls and also to contend against those corruptions and inventions which men brought into the Worship of God raging like the mighty waters against all the Servants of God which opposed them in the same I mean the power of Prelacy which ruled them in that day the weight of whose persecuting hand this Author while he lived had his share and when he died not suffered by them to have that which they called Christian Buriall but his friends were forced to lay his body in the high way as one which was numbred amongst the Transgressors of whom I may say the world was not worthy But my intent in writing this 〈◊〉 word is not to commend the Author but to tender to thy review the matter of this foregoing Book the bent thereof is to advance the Teachings of the Spirit of Christ in the unfolding of the mystery of the Gospel to the hearts of men as the choice Revealer of that glory of truth to the soul which will change from glory to glory into its own likeness a truth much opposed by men of corrupt minds in this day and therefore it becomes all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity to stand upon their watch and be earnestly beging of the Father of Lights that Spirit which may help them to judg of things that differ and may lead into strait paths trying all things and holding fast that which is good Thou wilt find in this Tract the Spirit of the Author strongly and zealously contending for the advancement of the Spirit of Christ which if therein thou meet'st with any words that may seem harsh against that which men advance let it not be an offence to thee but try whether it be agreeable to the form of found words or no. I shall detain thee no longer but my desires to the Lord is that all his Israâ— may more and more know the truth as it is in Jesus shining as the Sun more to their perfect clearnesse knowing the night is far past and the day neer approaching that so we may walk as the Children of the Light waiting for the glorious appearing of him that will come and not tarry Yours in the love of Christ William Kyffen
SUFFICIENCY OF THE SPIRITS TEACHING WITHOUT Humane Learning Or a Treatise tending to prove Humane Learning to be no help to the Spirituall Understanding of the Word of God Written if it may be for the silencing of such false and scandalous Reports as have been rumoured about concerning this matter and also for the information of all such as desire to know the Truth By SAMUEL HOVV Prov. 14.5 A faithful Witness will not lie but a false Record will speak lies Esay 57.14 Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people Mal. 2.1 2. And now ô ye Priests this Commandment is for you if ye will not hear it nor consider it in your heart to give glory to my Name saith the Lord of Hoasts I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not consider it in your heart Mat. 11.25 26. At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee ô Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of understanding and bast revealed them unto Babes even so Father because thy good pleasure is such Luke 16.15 Then he said unto them ye are they that justifie your selves before men but God knows your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God Seen allowed and first printed by some friends of the Author 1639. Newly printed and are to-be sold by William Larnar at the Blackmore neer FLEET-BRIDGE 1655. To all such as love the truth in Sincericerity Light and Understanding be multiplied through JESUS CHRIST GOds Gracions Promise it is Christian Reader that by the a 2 Thes 2.8 breath of his mouth and the brightness of his coming he will reveal the Man of Sin and Son of Perdition Yet thus witnesseth the Spirit that when it shall so come to pass That the Vial of Gods wrath shall be b Rev. 16.10 11. poured upon the Throne of the Beast to the darkning of his Kingdome and discovering of those strong Delusions whereby he hath long deluded the World that then the men of that throne shall gnaw their tongues for sorrow and shall blaspheme the God of Heaven All which to me appears to be fulfilled and made good concerning this following Treatise 1. That when as the Lord by his Word the breath of his month hath blown out some smoak of the Bottomless Pit which I conceive to be Humane Learning which is so much magnified as being a help whereby to understand the mind of God This matter hath so vexed and tormented the men of that Throne that even * J. G. He himself at whose request I was moved to open this portion of Scripture 2 Pet. 3.16 hath as I am credibly informed reported about this City that I made a Calf meaning a false and unsound exposition and when I had done danced about it herein exposing not only me but the very Truth it self which I in this point delivered to the derision and contempt and Table-talk of such as had rather be deceived and believe their learned Teachers as men call them on their bare word having the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory with respect of Person then to receive and justifie the Truth of God if the Messenger be weak and contemptible and his message in power much plainness and demonstration of the Spirit and not beautified with the excellency of speech and swelling words of mans wisdom which is enmity to God it crosseth and opposeth the simplicity of his way in the dispensation of the glorious Mystery of the Gospel And therefore God hath said of it as Simon Peter said to Simon Magus c Act. 8.21 1 Cor. 1.19 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter But yet methinks such men d Ephes â— 4 as would carry the shew of godlinesse should remember the counsel of the Apostle That such carriages are things not seemly though for my own part I blesse the Lord for it being to me a more strong confirmation that I have the Truth on my side For thus was e Luâ—â—â— 14. Iesus Christ our Lord served by the wise and learned Pharisees when as he taught them such a Doctrine as pleased them not And thus was Paul the Preacher of Righteousness dealt by of the learned f Act. 17.18 Athenians even for preaching Iesus and the Resurrection Likewise I read in Heb. 11. that this in former times was part of the Tryal that the Lord exercised his Witnesses withall even mockings verse 36. And therefore as our Saviour teacheth me I have in this case great cause to be glad and rejoyce for they having so served Iesus Christ my Lord and his faithful followers then what am I that I should be one of that number that have so large g â—â—t 5.12 incouragement and reward promised I shall therefore quietly passe by all such things and onely h Job 21.3 with Iob in his distressed condition crâ—ve that he and all you that have done this thing will suffer me to speak and when I have spoken mock on seeing as the i Job 12.2 Servant of God said Indeed because ye are the people only Wisdome must die with you so will I make bold to say to you also Yet for all his understanding and such others as heard me they failed of their zeal for God and his glory in that they sought not to suppress and throw down that Calf of dishonor which must needs being an Idol be a very high provocation in the eyes of his Glory which he that put me upon this Exercise having excepted against it when it was finisht and with much passion manifested his great dislike thereof before many witnesses ought especially and was obliged to have done being then lovingly requested by a friend that was there present for the satisfaction of all that Assembly to instance if not in all yet at least in some particular Scripture wherein I had perverted it seeing he had openly cast an aspersion on all that I had said but neither he nor any of his Profession though many were then present did undertake this task nor yet to this day hath he or any of them endeavoured it So it may appear my Error was not so great or none at all that they could prove or else their zeal to God and his Truth and their charity to me and others very small And if there were a Calfe it was their Humane Learning and Wisdome which the men of this Throne set up and themselves danced about it whilest I to their great grief and discontent was labouring with all the power and might that God assisted me with utterly to cast down grind it to ponder and to blow it away with the Word of God with the breath of his mouth Whether it be thus or no I commend now to the
man and so must needs himself lie under that blame that he layes upon others therefore Humane Learning is not here that which he intends 2. Because Humane Learning is a c Col. 2.8 rudiment of this world 2 Reason hence it is that our Saviour acknowledgeth that his Mysteries were hid from the d Luk. 10.21 learned but they were not hid from his Disciples For unto them it was e Mar. 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 therefore Humane Learning cannot be it that Peter here minds 3. Because the * Or carnal natural man cannot f 1 Cor. 2.14 perceive the things of God 3 Reason but a meer natural man may be a great worldly learned man as were the Aegyptians and Babylonians and as are many of the Romish Priests and Jefuits therefore for this cause that is not the learning here meant 4. Because such of Gods Servants 4 Reason as have had such kind of learning when as they came to know Christ they forsook it all As Moses when he came to age though he was g Act. 7.32 learned in all the wisdome of the Aegyptians yet by Faith he forsook all the treasures of Aegypt and this being one of Aegypts treasures he forsook this also for when he saith treasures there is none excepted therefore in as much as learning was one as well 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 win Christ even the righteousnesse of the Law it self which is far 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 therefore likewise this is not the learning here meant seeing it was rejected of them therefore it was no help nor furtherance to them to know Christ by but lets and hinderances and so much appears by those Converts in Acts 19.18 19. Who when they believed are said such of them as used curious Arts to burn their Books * The price whereof was fifty thousand pieces of silver declaring that how they had met with learning of far greater worth then their curious Arts and therefore now they burn their Books declaring that now they had no more need of them and so I conclude that such as this was 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 whereby he is so deeply rooted Col. 2.7 and so surely grafted into him by Faith as that he abides unmoveably setled in him Ephes 3.17 18. Pet. 2.6 as thereby he abides stable in the sure knowledge and understanding of the Word of Câ—rist and so much here methinks the Apostlâ— gives us to understand how that the unlearned they be unstable then on the contrary the learned they are stable believing and being laid on the true foundation they shall never be confounded or ashamed Now such as these are that are learned as the truth is in Jesus these may well say to the greatest wordly learned ones as Philip said to the Eunuch Vnderstandest thou what thou readest and not only 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 b 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 revealed unto us And this the Apostle further explains 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 * A difference between the teaching of Gods Spirit and the worlds artificial Tongues from Gods Spirit and shews that that is it whereby 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 Arts 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 spirituall 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 witnesse of John i 1 John 2. â—6 27. saying These things have I written unto you concerning them that deceive you whereby it appears 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 Anointing of him that dwells in you and this anointing 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 anointing taught them Then seeing that that anointing never did teach them such Tongues or Arts as were humane therefore the Saints by the Apostles grant had not need of any such learning and yet this anointing taught all truth and obeâ—iâ—nâ—e in it also And yet further k John 16.7 with 13. our Saviour himselfe concludes this point shewing that when he hath sent the Comforter the Spirit of Truth to them that then he shall lead them into all truth Whence I do 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 means the reason why is rendred because it is sufficient and that is because it speaks from the Father agreeable to that of our Saviour taken from the Prophet That l John 6.45 we shall be all taught of God and so indeed being taught of the Spirit we are taught of the Father and the Son also which are all one and so our learning comes to us being taught of the Father Son and Spirit for all our Instructers and Councellors and this is all the learâ—ing that we need to
and all this Science or knowledge is falsly said to be of use in the Gospell prophane and vain bablings are far better names for them and oppositions according to Pauls teaching and he saith of himself I think I have the Spirit of God and so indeed he had without doubt and so our ground remains good that we are compleat in Christ Jesus Reason 4 Another consideration confirming this conclusion is from the Apostles i 1 Cor. 3.18 advise Let no man deceive himself 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 fool that he may be wise and how is 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 can benefit him and if nothing then not the thing in question but that it must needs be that we must be fools to it and what is the true mark of a fool but to be ignorant and without knowledge therefore we call them fools in the world and so is it here The best way for a man to deceive himself is to know nothing of this Learning nor any other fleshly excellency that so he may learn true wisdome and the Apostle doth methinks sufficiently confirme this advice of his against all exceptions The Lord knows saith he that the thoughts of mâ—â— be vain Men think highly of their own conceits this way yeâ— if no man will take this his counsell for wisdome in this kinde yet the Lord concludes the truth of it and he knows the thoughts of men to be vaine that thinke Humane Learning some help but let them thinke what they will the Lord is against them in it for hee knows that it is sure that they are deceived for his thoughts be not as mans thoughts Reason 5 Now another cause that confirmes mee in this Conclusion is because that wheresoever the Apostle honours the Spirits teaching and preferres it usually he at the same time casts contempt upon this learning as is to be seen in many places k 1 Cor. 1.17.18 Christ saith he sent me to preach the Gospell not with the wisdome of words lest 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 is lest 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 preaching 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 therefore he l 2 Cor. 11. â— 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 fear that as the Serpent beguiled Eve but how through his subtiltie so your minâ—s should be corrupt that is putrified and infected from the sinceritie that is in Christ This we see was Pauls feare that while he was absent their minds should be withdrawn from the foolishness of the Gospel and the simplicitie sinceritie and truth thereof and this they should be withdrawn from by the subtiltie of Satan that old Serpent in his instruments the false Teachers this he feares because of their fleshlinesse that was in them which was ready to yeeld to their wiles by reason of their subtiltie that way for by faire words and flatteries they deceived the m Ro. 16.18 hearts of the simple and with this their craftinesse they lie in wait to n Eph. 4.14 deceive thus contemptuously doth Paul speake of those 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 coming of our Lord Iesus Now such names as these are doth the Apostle chuse to cast on mans excellencies as in divers other o 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 Reason 6 Now one thing more which I conceive observeable for the proof of this point in hand is drawn from the 2 Cor. 2.10 The spirit searches the deep things of God and verse 14. The spiritual man discerns all things if then the spirit searcheth the deep things of God and that discerns all things what need we more And with this agrees the Apostle John saying And ye need not that any man teach you save as that Anointing teacheth you p 1 Iohn 2.27 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 do learn 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 therefore we may well be without any mans learning and have no need of it and so the point is clear 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 do understand by Humane Wisdome as well as Humane Learning by Humane Wisdome I do understand whatsoever appears 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 therefore it is said of such by the Apostle That when as they professed themselves to be wise then they became fools Rom. 1.21 Mat. 6.23 And saith our Saviour If the light which is in this which I mind to be meant of mens understanding and wisdome be darknesse 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 fair speeches and any thing in thaâ— way such as the Greeks sought after as men do now adays this I do the rather differ from Humane Learning 1 Cor. 1.22 because iâ— seems to me that the Scripture differenceth them Acts 22. and the difference rightly understood may prevent just exceptionâ— and give light to the right understanding of the whole matterâ— for this wisdome is made by the Apostle Rom. 6.7 and that rightly to be enmity to the Spirit of God and impossible to submit to it it iâ— so contrary Now follows 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 Scholar lest he being puffed up fall into the condemnation of the Devil Answ The Scholarship Paul means here is the teaching of the Spirit whereby the man is made sound in the Faith for that learning only 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 q 2 Pet. 2. 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 spiritual 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 Scholars 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 believe was the cause of Diotrephes r 3 Ioh. 9.10 pride he wanted this Scholarship and that caused him to seek the preheminence and this whatsoever our great Scholars think of themselves is the cause of the high conceits that they have of themselves and their knowledg and understanding above others that want their learning even this because they be but young Scholars if that in the School of Christ and thence 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 fellows and so know not how that they be wretched poor miserable blind and naked though they conceive themselves to be rich and have need of nothing as did the Å¿ Rev. 3.17 Laodiceans and so indeed are fallen into the condemnation of the Devill as being rejected of God for he resists the proud and such as are puft up and gives grace to the t 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 mean as he that is unlearned I leave to all that have eyes to see and look into it and so to judge whether they are not yet to learn Pauls Scholarship Further I say it is here to be minded that if it should be Humane Learning that is here meant then Paul should teach Timothy for to teach the Church to chuse such Scholars as had more learning then had their Master Christ Jesus Now this some say is blasphemy and threaten me sorely for it Answ I answer them that considering Christ Jesus 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 u Jam. 1.17 giver of every good gift and so Humane Learning and Wisdome are x Ro. 11.37 of him and so much but that men are maliciously bent they might discern that I in this argument had not to deal with him as God but as the Minister of God administring for the good of his body according to that Luke 24.18 * What learning Christ had where he saith The Spirit of the Lord hath Anointed me that I should Minister c. and so in this argument he is by the Apostle set forth as a Man y Act. 2.22 Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God and such a man so administring I do still affirme and that with great confidence that he was unlearned in this consideration and without the learning that we speak of and so the Tongue of the z Isa 5.1 learned that was said to be given him is a Isa 61.1 interpreted by the same Prophet to be the Spirit of God For saith he The Spirit of the Lord hath Anointed me that I should preach from whence is plain That Christ Jesus was learned of the Father to preach by the Spirit See further of this in the Epistle noted with without Humane Learning and so much is plain to them that can believe the Scriptures from John 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 Humane Learning so much as his own naturall Tongue by letter as in the Synagogue he could take the Book and read Luke 4.17 and this doubtlesse was one cause why the Jews are said to be astonished at the hearing and seeing of him as appeares Matth. 13.54 c. Luke 4.22 so that from all this my affirmation remains true and good that if Humane Learning should be it that is there meant by the Apostle then he was to teach the Servant to be above his Master when as Christ Jesus himself b Mat. 10.5 saith It is enough for the Disciple to be as his Lord and he being destitute of Humane Learning his Disciples may well be without it also without any offence and yet preach the Gospell too Now if notwithstanding all this there be them that will take c Act. 6.11 Stephens accusers place and still accuse me of blasphemy as they did him c. though it may be they may say true words as that I said that Iesus Christ was without Humane Learning and so apply it to him as God when as 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 * Chief Priest chief in spilling innocent blood 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 d Act. 13.45 spake against those things that were spoken of Paul contrarying them and railing on them Mark it they denied what he taught but disproved it not but spake against it and railed on the person and so left not till they had been a means 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 will be able to stop the mouths of Gain-sayers seeing the Apostle requires of a e Tit. 1.11 Bishop that he should be able so to do Answ I answer that it is not the Apostles
intent that the mouths of Gain-sayers should be stopped by the knowledge of Tongues and Arts but that way that himself directs * The way to stop Gain-sayers mouths 1 Titus 9. which is by sound Doctrine or by wholesome Doctrine so then to go to any other way then thus to stop their mouths is both unsound and an unwholesome course and it were far better in my judgment and that according to Paul and that their mouths should be left open then that they should be stopt after that manner and that it hath not profited them in the spirituall meaning of the word that have been exercised therein So now it is high time that we honouring the teaching of the Spirit should refuse to meddle with such as go another way to work then by it to declare Gods minde to us because it alone is sufficient to stop the mouths of all Gain-sayers f 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 but yet mighty not by man but through God to g 2 Cor. 10.4 cast down holds therefore this Weapon only is sufficient to stop the mouth of all gain-sayers and for such as think it not sufficient much good let their Humane Learning do them and the good Lord give me of his holy Spirit only to do this work And so I come to the next exception which is Object 3 That there was the use of Tongues in the Apostles times in the Churches Acts 2. Acts 8. Acts 10. Acts 19. 1 Cor. 12. and 1 Cor. 14. Answ This I grant was true but there we find that they were the immediate gifts of God freely given and bestowed on them as other spirituall gifts were without their industry or paines as appears in divers h Act. 2.2.8.27.10.44.19.6 Scriptures Now wheresoever such gifts are to be found them will I freely acknowledg as being indeed suitable to the Gospel which brings to us freely all good gifts without any labour or pains of ours and therefore all is said to be of gift least any man should boast But if the Tongues that are pleaded for are such as are attained to by industry and paines taking of our own then they better suit with works then grace and so are more meet for * Arts for Aegypt and Babylon Aegypt and Babylon then for the Church of Jesus Christ †Gracious gifts for the Church which comes by all her precious gifts gratis and therefore such as plead for these things as suitable to the Ministers become in effect suitable with i Act. 8.18 Simon Magus who would have obtained the gift of the Spirit by money which there was the gift of Tongues and if these Tangus pleaded for be the same they are all attained by money and if this be so good a way now why doth Peter so evilly intreaâ— him for desiring that for money which all afterwards by thesâ— pleas were thereby to obtain But Peter we see perceives him to be in the gall of bitternesse and the bond of iniquity that should offer to seek to obtain the gift of Gods Spirit that way and iâ— they be humane excellencies then of necessity the course is to bâ— repented of also that any should offer to bring any humanâ— thing to Gods Word when as it is so expresly forbidden uâ—â— That we put nothing thereto Deut. 12.32 Pro. 30.6 nor take any thing therefrom Pâ—â— nothing to his Word lest he reprove thee and thou be found a lyâ—â—â— Now there is nothing but the Word and Spirit go together therefore they are lyable to Gods reproof which is k Ps 50.21.22 tearing iâ— pieces Therefore let all such as stand for such learning tâ— bring men to the knowledge of Gods Word mind whetheâ— Peters exhortation to Simon Magus ought not to take place with them namely to l Act. 8.22 repent of this their wickednesse c. and acknowledge the Spirit of God freely bestowed to be the alone furnisher of us to that which is right in his sight without which none have part or fellowship of this businesse in understanding and unfolding of the things of God and so I come to another exception Object 4 Suppose two men both alike indued with grace from God and alike gifted by his Spirit the one a learned man and the other an unlearned man which of these two should be chosen into the Ministery of Christ in his Church The unlearned man For these Reasons Answ First Because m Gal. 2.6 * God no respecter of persons when be chused the unlearned for Ministers God respects no mans person Now if God should take the learned man then he must be respected above the other for it if he be of right and due to be preferred which is wickednesse once to think of him for all are alike in that respect But the Scripture tells us and that for good reason That without any respect at all he of his good pleasure and that no flesh should glory hath chosen the foolish things and the vile things in mans account he hath chosen the n 1 Cor. 1.27 foolish things of this world to confound the wise Then if God have so chosen let him have his own choice it is meet he should for his choice is the best and the end why he hath so chosen is that he might confound the wise and so o Isa 29.13 fulfill his Word as Paul p 1 Cor. 1.19 expresseth and thus he chuseth not only for Salvation but for Ministration the q 1 Cor. 4.10 foolish in mans account Paul it seems was so foolish in theirs and others account in his administration of the Word as that they could scarce suffer it and this sense must needs be good though the place be understood of Gods voice to salvation only which cannot be the meaning because as we may see Pauls argument about r 2 Cor. 11.17 preaching the Gospell going onwards in opposing the Scribe and Disputer of this World to them that were not such and so comes to declare among whom it was that the Lord made his choice and that was among the foolish in the worlds eyes But as I said before take the other for the sense and the point remains true because that of such as God chuseth to salvation of them he chuseth Ministers and for salvation it is granted he chuseth the foolish then it must needs follow that out of the foolish also he chusâ—th Ministers Secondly And this indeed is most suitable to the Gospell Å¿ 1 Cor. 11.3 which is it self simplicity and appeares to the wisdome of man so to be and it is not meet our Saviour saith to put contraries together as a new piece into an old garment nor new wine into old vessels but to have all things suitable
like a candle without light or a Lanthorn without a candle 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 Babylonian in this kind of learning to excell and it is none other blessinâ— then what the Pope Cardinals and other professed enemies 〈◊〉 the truth as all for the generall confesse them to be have 〈◊〉 as great a measure and beyond many others that professe tâ— know the truth and stand stifly for this as a speciall help to uâ—derstand the true meaning of the Lord in the Word which if 〈◊〉 be so then by their own grants they have the advantage 〈◊〉 them and so are to be reverenced of themselves to have moâ—â— knowledge in it then they so then they are to acknowledâ—â— their errour in counting themselves wise above what is meeâ— or else must be forced to confesse that that learning is inavailâ—ble for finding out of the mind of God Neither for all thâ— would I have any to conclude of me as some affirm that I hoâ— all learned men to be excluded from the spirituall meaning the Word God forbid for Though the Apostle h 1 Cor. 1.26 say not many of severall ranks 〈◊〉 he saith not there is none but yet not many There was 〈◊〉 Joseph of i Mar. 15.34 Arimathea one k John 3.1 Act. 13.7 Nicodemus one Deputy l Act. 6.7 Sergius Paulus a prudent man and divers of m 1 Cor. 1.27 â—8 the Priests But this was not usual for it is hard for such men to entertain the truth Gods ordinary way is among the foolish 2 Jam. 2.5 weak and vile so that when as the wise rich noble and learned come to receive the Gospel they then come to make themselves equal with them of the o â—â—h Mat. 11.5 Rom. 12.26 lower sort the foolish vils and unlearned for those be the true p Isa 61.1 heirs of it and therefore it was not in vain that Iames said q Jam. 2.5 Harken my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poor he well saw that the rich and carnall were dull of hearing of this matter but yet he tells them God hath chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and upon this consideration it is that he wisheth the r Brother of high degree to rejoyce in that he was made low that is Jam. 1.9 10. brought in his mind and account equal with the poor accounting himself never the higher for any such excellencies and so the Brother of low degree to rejoyce in that he is exalted that is that he was made a Å¿ Revel 1.6 King and Priest unto God and was set in heavenly places with Iesus Christ so as the one is made low in respect of any fleshly confidence he hath in such things the other is exalted being outwardly poor by being in Christ Iesus and so they both meet in one but now by reason of the smoak that is risen out of the bottomlesse Pit and that the Devil is t Ephes 2.6 cast out of heaven and all his Angels with him to the earth which Angels were the faln u Rev. 2.61 Stars that he drew after his tail that now he hath by reason of them * Pride and haughtinesse is a Religion of the devils hatching hatched since a Religion in the world as that he would have the wise the rich the noble the learned the onely ones and the poor must be beholden to them when as this is like himself directly to oppose Iesus Christ so as that we may truly say with the Prophet Lord who hath believed our report or to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed Object 7 But it is yet further objected to be the manner of such as cannot themselves attain to that excellency that is in another to disparage that in them that so they might advance themselves Answ This I confesse is a carnal course that such as are themselves fleshly are subject to take and it may as well be my fault as anothers but yet I professe in the presence of the Lord that I do not allow my self in any such course neither doth such an exception as this beseem a man that is led by the Spirit of Truth for to make against any servant of God that professeth opposition to such things as professing to be led thereto by the Word and Spirit of Truth * Carnall advancement is got by disparaging others for it savours strongly of the flesh and is too suitable to the practise of reprobates whose practise is to take things in the evill pâ—rt whereas love by which all the Saints should judge judgâ—s the best of things till such time it can espie any cause so to do And for the lifting up of my selfe to be sure if I so doe Gods word it is that he will pluck the mighty from his seat and then you may be sure that according to his word my fall will be far greater then my exaltation can possibly be and therefore it were best for all such as so conceive to commit the judgment to the Lord and themselves judge nothing before the time nor speake no more presumptuously let not arrogancie come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him enterprisâ—s are established But yet after this manner of reasoning carnall men may overthrow the whole Gospel For whereas the Scripture shews that Jesus Christ was without form or beauty or any such thing wherefore he should be desired the carnall man will soon say no other but such a one would be so foolish as to part from honours riches credit and such like to endure so much sorrow and need not and whereas the Apostle x Phil. 2. saith That he took on him the form of a servant they would soon answer and good reason why because he could not be a Master and whereas it is said He chose the poor that will they say he must needs do and the foolish for none of the rich and wise would be so simple as to follow him and whereas he saith Love not the world nor the things in it good cause why will they say for such fools as you know not how to get it or else to be sure you would love it as well as others And thus have I given you a glimpse how that by this manner of carnall arguing we might overthrow our own Salvation and sit down in the very vale and shadow of death as full of darknesse as this argument is destitute of truth And thus having answered to such exceptions as I know of made against this truth I come now to such Uses as it shall afford us The first is To discover to us the depth of the great Woe that the world lyes under Vse 1 set forth and y Rev. 9. from 1.10 11. revealed to us in which the
he saith himselfe should please him though it will not give carnall men content Likewise are not the Scriptures alledged frequently by these learned men for the Nation and people for being the Church of God and for the same end Nationall observances as the High Priests consecrated and set apart for the services of the Church and so under him the rest of the holy Priests with their holy garments and tithes and such like for â—heir maintenance and for this purpose the Scriptures alledgâ—d in a most plentifull manner both from the Law and â—he Prophets for the justifying of their names orders and â—dministrations when as if it be spirituall discerned and â—he Scripturs not wrestâ—d nor perverted it will be found â—rue as Peter o Act. 10 14 15 saith that not every Nation nor any more any Nation but in every Nation them that fear the Lord and none other are accepted of him Whereas Christ Jesus himself p Rev. 13.7 with Rev. 16 19. hath told us that the q Psa 125. Psal 1. beasts should have power over every Kindred Nation and Tongue and that the National Cities should fall whereas Mount Sion the City of God shall never be moved as saith the r Heb. 12. Prophet and also the Apostle by this then it appears that all such Scriptures as are alledged for the maintenance of a National Church are perverted being that long since the Lord hath rejected it now accounting a company of Saints in fellowship with himself to be Mount Å¿ Rev. 14.1 Psa 14 9 from 6. to 9. Sion that shall never be moved and these he hath made t Rev. 1.6 5.10 1 Pet. 2.9 Kings and Priests to God The like we may see in the Ministers of the Church seeing that they were of old times in that Church to be honorable persons in outward honor and esteem for their names Priests for their callings above the rest of the people a distinct body of themselves for their apparel different in their administrations from other of the people and so for their maintenance by tythes and offerings all which had a respect to Christ and were in him to have their end as the Apostle u Gal. 4.12 declares as being but worldly rudiments Yet these men though they professe themselves Ministers of Jesus Christ and under the Gospel yet Child-like as under Tutors and Governors do yet observe these things after the rudiments of the world and so suitably to the Gospel cannot abide to approve themselves to be Ministers of Christ by such marks as his Word affords as we have x 2 Cor. 6. from 4. to 10. before considered but they must be men of Honour and such as be distinct from others in their apparel maintenance and such like dishonor and reproach and nakednesse and living on meet Alms they cannot brook but they be so far from working with their own hands for their own necessities as the Apostle requires that the y Act. 2.33 34 35. Ministers of the Gospel should do as that they wrest the Scriptures of the Law and the Prophets haling in as it were by the hair of the head the Scriptures to speak for them and their delicious living faring like Dives deliciously every day whereas the Elders of Jesus Christ should z 1 Pet. 5.1 2 feed the Flock of God not caring for it for filthy lucre but of 〈◊〉 ready mind But leaving these things and such as these are which declare them to be more suitable for Moses and the Law which tends unto wrath and bondage then such as are Ministers of Christ and made partakers of the liberty of the servants of God 1 Object with the Answer I will speak of some few things that are in difference among them and us You know it is usually objected against us because of our departure out of the a Joh. 6.68 words of Peter to our Saviour being these Whether shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life From whence is concluded against us if the Text be not perverted that we in leaving them do forsake Jesus Christ wherein they take it for granted that he is with them and not with those that forsake them whereas the Text is clear to prove that the words of eternall life are in him as b John 6. himself saith also The words that I speak are Spirit and Life and this who denies but that he that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath no life But let not the Text be wrested yet what proof is here that Antichrist hath the words of eternall life and that there is no forsaking of him and yet all that know wherein the difference lies know that this is the controversie and how that these persons thus forsakeing go to Christ and to the word of Eternal Life seeing that the Lord c Isa 8.16 binds the testimony and seals up the Law among his Disciples so that till it can be proved that these leave Christ and forsake the words of Eternal Life the Text must be taken for none other but to be perverted and a Vail drawn over it to beguile the simple Object 2 Upon this same head hangs another great exception against us which is Where we had our conversion if we have any if not among them and so taking it for granted that we had it among them a great out cry is made against us as if we had stoln their gods and done them great wrong and for this purpose this amongst other things is alledged that that Church which is able to beget is able to bring up Now for answer hereunto it is to be minded that conversion doth properly belong to the d Psal 19.7 Rom. 1.16 1 Pet. 1.3 23. Word of the Lord Now this word by which we are all begotten is the proper portion of the Church of God as e Ps 147.19 20. Mat. 13.11 1 Cor. 3.22 divers Scriptures declare Hence then must it needs follow that whosoever are converted to the Lord those by vertue of their conversion belong to the true Church * Converts belong to the true Church because as is before said the word is hers and therefore they are to cleave to her and forsake those places where they were converted and that for this reason because the Lord himself is f Psa 78.6 said to count when as he writes the people that this man was born there that is in Sion the Church of God though that the man were converted in mans account in Babel and Palestina yet the Lord when he counts shall write the converted man to be born in Sion his Church Now all Gods people should count and write as God doth and give Babel no honour at all of their conversion because the Lord doth not give her any and the same thing is abundantly seen in the Converts that they are g Act. 2.40 exhorted to leave those places where they were
word of the Lord is fulfilled and men see it not and this you know the Scripture in sundry places makes the depth of a judgement as in Hosea Ephraim is said to have here and there gray hairs and yet he saw them not and in this we know was the strength of that z 2 Thes 2.11 great Judgement that men should confidently take lyes for truth this is there made the depth of their woe And the like is manifested * 1 Tim. 4.2 elswhere by the same Apostle declaring That though they speak lies yet they were so scared in their consciences as that they felt nor feared no danger that they were in no more then the man that lying drunk did though he lay sleeping on the top of the Mast and so ready to be drowned yet he feared it not Pro. 23.34 35. Woe to those men that take darknesse for light and live in the smoak of the worldly Temples and yet such is the case the Sun and the Ayr being darkened their condition must needs be wofull and yet this is the case of the Inhabitants of the earth that they cannot be brought to believe but that they are in a very good case though that the light of the glorious Gospel which is the Image of God do not shine unto them as a 2 Cor. 4 4.6 saith the Apostle Now that by which this Sun is said to be darkened is the smoak of the bottomlesse Pit and that we shall find to be the glory and power of the false Church called by the name of the Bottomlesse Pit And that this may the better appear we find many b Isa 6.4 2 King 8.11 12. with 15. Rev. 8. places in the Scriptures manifesting the glory of God and his power to be his smoak Now because God hath smoak in his Temple so hath Gods Adversary in his Temple also or rather his bottomlesse Pit After his smoak in Rev. 9 2 3. there follows power and if you look in the 7.8 and 9. verses there is their glory and it doth further appear by the thirteenth Chapter and the third verse that it was so great power and glory as that all the world wondered and admired it and yet this Iesus Christ â—ccounts a great woe and plague to them now part of this woe Rev. 16 10 11. I believe is this learning which we have here in question for as we have before manifested the Sun light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ allows not for the glory of Christs Doctrine is that it is of the Spirits teaching 2 Cor. 3 12. for when we behold the glory of the Lord in the most perfect measure 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 smoaky power and glory flowing from the Kingdom of Satan and so a part of the Taile that c Rev. 12.4 the Dragon drew the Stars withall after him And hence comes it to passe that now instead of the Spirits teaching 2 Pet. 2.1 according to Peters Prophesie here are a generation that do arise 1 Tim. 4.2 which privily bring in damnable errors and so for that end forsaking the Spirit of Truth they speak lies through hypocrisie As Paul also witnesseth they should do pretending now that the true and right way for understanding the Scriptures and mind of God was that men for that end must learn a part from others only for that work 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 bears this in mans conceit as that it seems the only way that can be for a man to be made fit for this work so that before while the Angels kept their station in heaven the Spirits simple teaching was judged sufficient without these things for this work they now being fallen from thence to the earth and having the key of the bottomlesse Pit Rev. 9.4 thence it being opened now ariseth up d See John Bale on Re. 9.1 Plato and Aristotle and a multitude more of Heathen Phylosophers * Phylosophers are the Angels that hinder the Spirits four winds to blow on the four corners of the earth These are the four Angels that stand on the four corners of the earth holding the four Winds that they should not blow on the earth neither on the Sea neither on any Tree as being those that have the whole power of preaching in their hand not suffering any to blow but who they please and so do withhold the truth in unrighteousnesse declaring thereby they be under the wrath of God and they seem to yeeld these starry Principles very fitting in their own understanding better to furnish them with fitnesse to open the mind of God Rev. 7.1 then his Spirit can do Rom. 1.18 whereas before when as the perfect teachings of the holy Sâ—â—â— was in force these men of all others were by reason of them learning and wisdome the most unutterablest men that were in the world for the receiving of the truth as appears by the testimony of Luke Acts 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 black smoaky principles still so stifly 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 2 Cor. 4.4 John 9.41 so as they cannot see but are so much the blinder because they say they see And hence came it to passe that I for mentioning Plato and Aristotle Object and such like was demanded how I came by the knowledge of that if not by Humane Learning with contempt cast upon it as if that which I had from them being Humane learned men was of it self sufficient to overthrow the matter which I had there delivered Answ I answered then as I do still it was none other but as Paul mentioned to the Athenians their own Poets Acts 17. and yet for all that he was as great an enemy to Humane Learning as I and greater too And it is to be minded as I have before declared that I do not oppose the knowledge of humane things nor yet deny but that we may be acquainted with their sayings as the Apostle himself and our Saviour was yea and that sometimes 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 three times that Paul did use them and no more that I remember in all the Scripture Now this you see the Spirit teacheth Acts 17.28 1 Cor. 15.33