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
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
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
words declare Lest saith he I should make the Crosse of none effect And again I Brethren saith he when I come unto you came not with the y 1 Cor 2 1â— excellency of words or of wisdom shewing unto the Councell of God but frees himself from it denying that his preaching stood in the z Verse 4. inticing speech of mans wisdome but on the contrary in the plain evidence and demonstration of the Spirit And afterwards he gives the a Verse 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 finde that indeed it is and not in the power of God by the plain demonstration 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 b 1 Cor. 2.13 again saying Which things as we know them so we also speak not with words which mans wisdome teacheth And so again c 1 Cor. 4.19 slâ—ghtly passeth over the words of the false Teachers as not worth the knowing or regarding therefore he saith When he comes he will know not their words but their power And so againe he condiscends to the false Teachers so far as to confesse that he was d 1 Cor. 11.6 rude in speaking but not so in knowledge By all which places it plainly appears â—hat mans wisdome is to be rejected even in speaking the Word of God and that none are to affect any excellency 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 Apollo is said to be an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 Answ And so doubtlesse was Paul and Moses and those mentioned in Acts 19. and yet as I have before manifested that when as all these came to receive the Faith they left forsook â—nd contemned all that so do I believe was it here with this â—an that when as he came to be taught further in the knowâ—edge of Christ that he then became more and more suitable â—o the rudenesse and simplicity of preaching the Gospel as well â—s Paul for never afterwards do we read that he was comâ—ended by that term for such manner of excellency was â—roper to the Law and not to the Gospel in any degree But â—â—condly take it for granted that he persisted in his eloâ—uence yet it appeares that it was such as he had obtained â—â—â—y being mighty in the Scriptures And this also further justifies a former Answer that the Scripture alone is sufficient to furnish us with expression So now the point remaining true for all this That men destitute of the Spirit having Humane Learning doe pervert the Scriptures to their owne destruction This in the first place may teach Vse 1 All men that are without Gods Spirit how wise and learned otherwise they seeme to be to beware of medling with the Scriptures it is the worst work that possibly they can undertake for in so doing they meddle with that in which they have no skill and so wound themselves for it is a sharp two edged sword and they having no skill to handle it to be sure it will dangerously wound them to their own destruction but seeing the truth is so as that they have neither eares to heare nor hearts to understand it therefore I will thus passe it over and Vse 2 In the next place take notice that such persons without Gods Siprit what ever they be else yet they be both unlearned and unstable men according to the mind of God so the e 1 Cor. 14.24 unbeliever is called of Paul an unlearned man and so much in effect f Jam 1 6 7 8 James tells us of a Faithlesse mans inconstancy that he is tost about like a wave and is unstable in all his ways of Religion for indeed wanting the Spirit to establish him he is driven hither and thither of every blast and breath of mans wisdome and so much experience without any more Scriptures daily proves upon every change of Orders and Ordinances of Religon how confident have many wise worldly leaâ—ned men been of their stability for being brought to yeeld to this or that when as the raging wave of the Sea hath roared but a little how have these men fallen from their supposed stabilitie and sledfastnsse so that instances I need not name every ones small experience can bring forth enough but from all this there is given us to see the Scriptures fulfilled before our eyes for our confirmation and their just convicton Vse 3 Now in the next place I will manifest in some few particulars how these learned men but according to Peters intent unlearned men doe pervert the Scriptures making their interpretations as carnall as themselves for when as thâ— Scriptures speak of learning and so by it doe for the mosâ— part commend unto us the learning of the Spirit of Truth aâ— before we have seene from this Text and many more places these persons presently apply them to Humane Learning and the Texts are all by them wrested and perverted and in this kinde many instances might further be alledged First concerning the Church whereas the Scriptures doe Authorize Christians to gather themselves together in Christs name and-so have the g Mat. 18.20 promise of Gods presence in so doing This they presently deny to be the intent of the place and say it is to be meant of two or three come together in performance of prayer or such like contrary to the scope of the place which treats only of such as are in Church Order and have committed to them the power of binding and loosing which the promise of Christ Jesus his approving of the same by them and besides where in the Scriptures is Christ Jesus said to be in the midst of any but his h Levit. 16.11 12. 2 Cor. 7.16 Ps 132.13.14 Rev. 13.1 Rev. 2.1 Churches And further whereas the Scriptures speake of the Church Temple and House of God applying these sayings to beleevers and such as are i 2 Cor. 6.16 with Heb. 3.6 with 1 Pet. 2.5 buâ—lded upon Christ by faith these they rest and pervert in applying these titles to their houses of lime and stone calling them the houses of God and Temples for him to dwell in though the Scriptures be plain to the contrary as Stephen declared to the k Act 7.47.28.50 Councel long agoe and that from the Testimony of the l Isay 66.1 Prophet long before and so our m Iohn 4.21 Saviour himselfe to the woman of Samaria denying for the time to come any such places as the Jews and Samaritans doted on but tells her and us that spirituall service in n Mat. 18.20 any place as
converted and so they did as the h Act. 2.44 17.4.34 Scripture manifests in many places which might be noted Again it is to be minded that God himself counts all the faithful to belong to the i Rev. 12.4 5 Woman the Church of God as appears in the Revelations where the Man-child as is evident by k Exod. 4.23 23. other places contains all the faithful even the whole Church of God This Son of God and his Man-child is called his l Exod. 5.1 people The like appears in Isay 66.7 8. where the Man-child is interpreted to be a whole Nation of Children including all the faithful Now this Woman is said to be in Travail crying and if yours be that Church that is in this Travail crying and in pain according to the Scriptures I am content the Child shall be acknowledged yours but if it be in jollity and without sorrow putting the others to pain and ready to cut the living Child in pieces how then can I acknowledge it for the true Mother when as also the Apostle saith That Jerusalem that is from above is the m Gal. 4.24 Mother of us all and she is not one that gendreth to bondage but to freedome as saith the Apostle and therefore methinks it appears that every ones conversion strongly binds him to make speed to that Church which consists of such as are faithful in Jesus Christ as being the proper inheritance to which they all belong and to know that all such places as are alledged to conclude otherwise be but wrested and perverted though never so fair a glosse be set upon them for God ever since the beginning hath put enmity betwixt the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent and accuâ—sed shall all they be that joyne those together that God hath so far separated and therefore let none of Gods servants stand with one foot on Mount Sion and another on Babylon lest that which is halting be turned out of the way Heb. 12. Object 3 Another Objection against us is brought in the defence of your Ministery after this manner That Ministery that doth the work of the Ministery of Jesus Christ spoken of in Ephes 4. for the perfecting of the Saints is a true Ministery but your Ministery you say doth the same work c. Answ Was it the work of the Ministery of the Apostles c. to read Divine Service Church women Marry and bury the Dead and such like services as these are Did the Apostles perfect the Saints after this manner For who knows not but that this is the substance of what your office of Ministery binds you unto as for Preaching that may be dispensed withall and a little now and then may serve the turn Besides as is granted your offices are not the same there mentioned that Jesus Christ from on high gave gifts unto for you have others that the Scripture speaks not any otherwise then by the n Rev. 17.3 names of blasphemy But for the power and work of the Ministery 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 Kingdom of Christ as o 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 boâ—â—â— anew to what then do you convert them or have you conversion after regeneration you also bade these persons before to take and eat in remembrance that Christ died for them and so give them the Seals of Life and Salvation and yet after all this you being Ministers to them come to justifie the truth of your Ministery by your conversion of the people that 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 Ministery in the same worship that they were conversant in before whereas I have declared before that when as the Apostle converted any those converts left their former places turning from dumb Idols to serve the living God Now it hath been long acknowledged and professed that the worship of your Church * Ministers that now are saith be come of Rome and the Ministery of it came out of the Popes Shop and must needs be reformed or else the judgment of God cannot but light upon you as hath been manifested in the first and second admonition to the Parliament in the daies 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 when as they shall continue in such abominations 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 p Psa 119.101 fear of the Lord teacheth men to refrain their feet from every evil way and to cleanse our selves from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit and to grow up unto full holinesse in the fear of God or the worship of God as our Saviour q Mat. 4. 2 Cor. 2.1 interprets it and to hate the very r Jude 23. garment spotted by the flesh Now these things well considered it will appear that the several Scriptures that are continually brought for the maintenance of your Ministery are but 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 their own turns which who they be of you or others that are the perverters of them God knows and one day will judg betwixt the righteous and the wicked and give to every one according as his works shall be In the mean while to me it appears plain that men destitute of the Spirit of God be they as learned as may be in mans learning yet they do pervert all Scriptures to their own destruction when as 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 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 Å¿ 2 Cor. 3.2 Apostle that they take the same Apostles t 1 Tim. 4.6 advise saying If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Jesus Christ If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things What thing those things mentioned u From the 1 Verse before how that the Spirit hath foretold of
Therefore seeing the Gospel is t 1 Cor. 1.25 foolishnesse therefore it is meet he should have * Foolish in the worlds account was the Lords choice foolish Ministers in the wise worlds account yea and in his servants too when as they see as man sees and not as doth the Lord. For thus was it of old subject to Samuel the Lords Prophet when as the Lord sent him to the House of Isâ—ay to anoint him a King he seeing as a man doth he said u 1 Sam. 16.6 7. Surely the Lords Anointed is before me but we finde that the Lord corrects that and tells him It was not so the more unlikely man and the unthought of one was he that God had chosen to himself and so is it here we are not to see as man sees but as the Lord directs us Thirdly God chuseth these things in opposition to others to astonish the wisdome of man When the x Acts 4.13 Council perceived Peter and John were unlearned men and without knowledge they marvelled and were amazed And so saith the Apostle He y 1 Cor. 3.19 catcheth the wise in their own craft they think that all knowledge lies in their breasts now the Lord he comes and makâ—s fools wise and so catcheth them manifesting that their thoughts be but vain in thinking that the wise are them that God hâ—â—â—â—hosen for it is not so for he hath chosen the foolish to confound the wise and therefore such as are godly wise should chuâ—e Gods wise but the worlds foolish things for his serve before the worlds wise ones and so I come to another exception which is Object 5 If it be sanctified it must needs be a good help to the right understanding of the truth Answ It is true if it be sanctified so it is But how or where doth that appear that ever it was sanctified Hath not the Lord long agone told us by his z Isa 29.14 Prophet and wished his to behold it That he would do a marvellous work and then he doubles it again even a marvellous work and a wonder and then all comes to this that he would cause to perish and destroy the wisdome of the wise and cast away the understanding of the prudent * A curse threatened because the people were led by the precâ—pis of men verse 13. and here if we could see we might all of us stay our wondering at this strange thing and consider the Lord tells us it is a marvellous work and a wonder and so our wondering and marvelling how these things come so to be is but a fulfilling of Gods Word and men might rest in it and see in the next words that it is a woe to them for the former abuse of the same and so now as a Mal. 2.2 Malachy saith that he would curse their blessings and that he had done it already to both which b 1 Cor. 1.19 Rom. 8.7 agrees the Apostle from Isay and concludes also that God hath distroyed it and in another place tells us that it is enmitie with God How shall any dare say then * The worlds learning not sanctified in a spiritual way it is sanctified when as so plain a curse is on it as that we are wished to beware of being c Co. 2.8 spoiled by it Now are we wished any where to beware of being spoiled by that which is sanctified to us in a spirituall way Now these things can be sanctified no further then they are of use and that is but in a worldly way for a spirituall use they be accursed from it Object 6 Now another exception from these things thus minded is That by this all Humane Learning seems utterly to be condemned Answ I Answer that it follows not because it is not to be allowed in this way that therefore it is not of any use for I doe acknowledge it in it selfe to be a good thing * Humane and good in its proper place Learning is good in its proper place which is for the repairing of that d Gen. 11. from 6. to 10. decay which camâ— upon man for sin so I say it is of good use for the repairing of that losse and so fit for Statesmen Physitians Lawyers and Gentlemen yea all men so far as they can attain to it are as men beyond and above others that are without it yea and beyond all other excellencies that this world can afford but bring it once to be a help to understand the minde of God in the holy Scriptures and there it is detestable filth drosse and dung in that respect and so good for nothing but e 1 Tim. 6.21 destroy and cause men to erre as we have seen before It fares with it as I perceive * But out of its place is like fire out of the Chimney and in the roof of the house it doth with fire keep it in the chimney and it serves as a good blessing of God for good and necessary uses but let it once come into the roofe of the house and it destroys all because it is not in its proper place so it is here for this thing among men for humane and worldly imployments it is good but bring it once to the perfecting of the Gospel and it will be found to be the spoiling of the right understanding thereof And yet further so far doe I acknowleg †Tongues a help in Translation Tongues to be â—â—â—se as to yeeld us the translation of the Scriptures our of one language into another without which we that are unlearned could not come to have the letter of the Word and so far there is a necessity of it for that use but that man which can so do is ever the more able to understand the spirituall meaning of the word thereby that I deny and withall do affirm that an understanding man may through the teaching of the Spirit know the mind of God which the other may never reach unto according to that f Mat. 13.11 saying of our Saviour To you it is given to know the mysteries the secrets of the Kingdome of heaven to you his simple Disciples it is given but to others the learned Scribes and Pharisees it was not given But in this case it may fare as it did with those that built Noahs Ark they made a place of safeguard for others but were drowned themselves So these men may prepare a good help for others but themselves be altogether without the benefit of it A Lanthorn you know is of good use to contain the candle but let one carry it in a dark night and it will do him no pleasure without a candle lighted in it of the same use is the letteâ— of the Word it is but as a Lanthorn or candle without light * Learning Now the Spirit is the light of the letter and so is the Apostleâ— g 2 Cor. 3. opposition without the Spirit is
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
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