Schools partly to their own private use and partly to slatterers many good men contributed of their own substance to the maintenance of Students who being content with a little defended true Doctrine stoutly against the Priests of Baal Object Doth not Beza in his marginal Note on Acts 6.9 call Universities Flabella Satanae Satan's slaps to keep away slyes Doth not Luther call them Cathedras pestilentiae Antichristi luminaria the seats of pestilence and lights of Antichrist Doth not another call them the Synagogues of perdition the pits of the Abyss by the smoak whereof the sun of the Gospel is obscured Answ What some worthy men have spoken of Jewish and Popish Universities See Dr. Arrowsmiths Orat. 1. Antiweigel pag. 3. that others have out of little Candor and great fury transferred to Universities reformed as what Beza spake of the Jewish Academies his words are Academiae jamolim falsis Doctoribus addictae and what Luther and others spake of the Pontifician or Popish Academies But the corruptions of some will not prejudice the Usefulness of Universities in general or of others Reformed and free from the same infection SECT III. Of Religion flourishing when Learning abounded THe second Argument Argum. 2. to prove the usefulness of Learning Learning hath not been in the same state in all Ages since Christ but ebbing and flowing like the water waxing and waning like the Moon But this is observable that in those Ages wherein Learning abounded most Religion hath flourished and the Truth of God hath had most Champipions Defenders and Witnesses of it and for it The fourth Century was as it is called Chronol ad Annum 365. a Learned Age. Hoc tempore fulserunt in Ecclesia Dei clarissima lumina saith Bucholcer Many famous Lights shone in the Church of God in this time who were the Hammers of Heretics The fifth Century was the like These two Centuries for choice of Learned men were compared to the golden Age and are stiled the two Learned Ages In the sixth and seventh Century there was as Authors observe a great decay in knowledge and scarcity of able men to defend Truth and furnish the Church withall There were few in Italy then as Baronius observes haud in promptu esset Annal. Tom. 8. Aâ—n 593. num 62. qui utriusque linguae peritus esset who were skilled both in Greek and Latine Yea Gregory the Great who lived in the seventh Century who was In his Critic Sacr. lib. 4. cap. 29. as Rivet saith Primus Papa ultimus Episcopus Romanus the last Bishop of Rome and the first Pope or the last of the good Bishops of Rome and the first of the bad ones This Gregory professeth that he was ignorant of the Greek Tongue Gregor Tom 2. 1 pâ—st lib. 9. lib. 6. Epist 29. Nam nos nec Graecum novimus That ignorant Age was a declining age wherein men came short of their Predecessors in some Truths as even Gregory himself did therefore it affords few and those not full Testimonies of the truth The Ages of the Church saith a learned man resemble the stars of the sky Dr. Featly Of the Names of visible Protest in all Ages In some Ages we may see many and glorious lights likestars of the first and second Magnitude in other Ages there are few Authors of any Note or bright lustre whose writings have come to Posterity and in some Ages none but obscure and unknown Authors The same Author saith that after we have passed the eighth Age of the Church we fall into Cimmerian darkness Of the ninth Age Bellarmine cannot speak with patience Saeculo hoc nullum extitit indoctius Lib. 4. De Romano pontifice cap. 12 ad linem aut infeliciuâ—â— in quo qui Mathematicis aut Philosophiae operam dabat vulgo Magus putabatur There was no Age more unlearned or unhappy then this in which whosoever studied the Mathematics or Philosophy was commonly accounted a Magician This is called an unhappy Age empty of men famous for wit or learning in which the light of knowledge was not to be found no not in Popes Bishops or Princes but this Age was full of palpable Egyptian darkness and it may be said of this Age that it yielded no eminent men Catholics or Heretics As this ninth Age so the tenth and some other after were barren of Learned Writers Dr. â—eatly and therefore no marvel saith my Author if the Harvest we gather in these Ages of the Professors of the Truth and defenders thereof by writing be very thin In the tenth Century Learning was decayed by the fall of the Roman Empire great corruption grew in this Century or thousandth year Biâ—ck Pâ—â—â—est 〈…〉 wherein as some think Satan was let loose For at this time Rev. 20.3 they of Rome forbad to marry and indulged uncleanness themselves they also devised a carnal presence of Christ in the Sacrament This ignorant Age was a Monkish Age much cumbred with Monkery or with the dotages of Monks and Legendary Fables wherein the Monks devised subtile tricks to delude the people as the Oracles of the Holy Rood c. and that illiterate herd of Monks and Friers bore the greatest sway and the blind led the blind into the pit In the fourteenth Century as some compute it Learning began to revive Idem there being a general Resurrection of all good Learning a little before the receiving of the Gospel at which the Monks were mad For as in the first Plantation of the Gospel in Europe Mellificâ—i Theolog. pag. 716. as Mr. Trap observes God shipped the Arts before into Greece that they might be as Harbingers unto it as Tertullian speaketh so in these latter Ages the Lord intending a Reformation of Religion set up the Turk to over-run Greece and by the cruelty of the Turks used against the Grecians such as they abhorred and by God's Providence over-ruling it divers learned men among the Greeks left as exiles those parts and fled into these Western parts and by their means the knowledge of Letters and study of Tongues especially the Greek and Latine began to spread abroad through diverse parts of the West These were God's first Instruments saith Mr. Trap to restore humane Learning that was almost lost out of the world as Chrysoloras Trapezuntius Gaza Argyrophylus Chalcondylas Cydonius and other In like sort also afterwards John Capnio brought the use of the Greek and Hebrew Tongues into Germany In the beginning of this Age Hebrew was first taught in Oxford Isaacson's Chronol ad Ann. Christ 1314. In this Age knowledge increased very much by the means of Printing ☞ which Art is said to be first invented at Strasburg in Germany by John Guttenburg Hereby the Languages were divulged and good Learning was generally communicated and Books were more easily dispersed then formerly the Manuscrips could be Shortly after there were printed at Paris Venice Antwerp and divers other places the
Works of sundry Learned men stirred up by God to fetch the Arts back out of banishment Pag. 716 and 717. Mr. Trap names divers of them After that Humane Learning began thus to reflourish and lift up the head Divinity also that had been shamefully obscured and slurried with needless and endless Doubts and Disputes was vindicated and illustrated by the knowledge of Latine Greek and Hebrew In this fourteenth Age as also in the fifteenth and sixteenth Ages God raised up divers Worthies who by their Confessions Writings and Martyrdom gave a great and glorious Testimony to the Gospel of Christ and the Truths thereof as Wickliff Huss Hierom of Prague after them Luther Zuinglius Oecolampadius and many others Then grew up that golden Age of gracious and excellent Divines famous and matchless for depth of Learning and heighth of Holiness If the Times of greatest Ignorance Neglect and Contempt of humane Learning were the Times wherein Errors most prevailed Superstition and Idolatry was advanced and Truth suppressed and Popery did not fall till Learning did rise and if Religion flourished and was best defended when Learning most abounded then Learning is useful and needful for the Ministers of the Gospel SECT IV. Learning qualifies for all public Employments HUmane Learning qualifies Argum. 3. and is needful for all Persons in publick Places and Imployments as Kings Counsellors Judges Magistrates Lawyers Physicians for who would not take advice of Learned Lawyers about their Estates and of Learned Physicians for their Bodies and indeed for every ingenuous Imployment Henry the First King of England was bred up in Learning and such a Prizer of it as he used to say ☞ That An unlearned King was but a crowned Ass Then Learning is most needful for a Minister to fit and furnish him throughly for the work of the Ministery considering that no calling requires more abilities or acquired parts then the Ministry which work I. Is most Important Weighty and Worthy for it is the Minister's office to be conversant in the Matters of God and of Souls of Heaven and of Eternity which are of the greatest Interest and highest Concernment and of the largest and longest Consequence II. Is most comprehensive and manifold As 1. To give the Sense clear the Difficulties reconcile the Differences and seeming Repugnancies of the Scriptures 2. To handle positively all Points of Religion and to discuss and determine Controversies and Doubts about them 3. To resolve and satisfie Cases of Conscience and Scruples 4. Eph. 4.24 Gal. 5.1 To detect false Teachers and discover the many Evils Artifices Cheats Fallacies and Sophistries of Seducers and Impostors and of Satan in them whereby many poor simple Souls are deluded Therefore saith Paul Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.6 Do not they call for the best accomplishments SECT V. Satan makes use of Learning to oppose the Truth LEarning is necessary to the Ministers of the Gospel Argum. 4. for defence of the Truth because Satan makes much use of Learning to oppose the Truth and fight against Religion to maintain his Cause uphold and promote his Kingdom and Satan makes choice and use of Learned men to be his Agents and Champions Advocates for Error and Adversaries to the Truth of God To this end 1. Satan stirred up Heathens who were endued with Learning to write books against the Christian Religion as Porphyry who was one of Julians bosom-birds Celsus Symmachus and others 2. Then Satan raised up Heretics within the Church men of corrupt minds destitute of the Truth but of Parts and Learning to devise defend and spread Errors Heresies and Blasphemies and resist the Truth of God with all their might as Arrius Nestorius Macedonius Donatus Pelagius and many others 3. How many learned Men hath Satan imployed and ingaged since in later times to be defenders of Popery or Romish-Idolatry as Jesuits and many others of Arminianism Socinianism Antinomianism Anabaptism Familism Libertinism and of several old Heresies newly raked up and revived It hath been the Jesuits brag that Imperium literarum est penes Jesuitas the Empire of Learning is within their Dominion and that we have not a Scholar Protestant 4. How hath Satan excited the Papists those friends of Antichrist and builders of Babylon to be at great pains cost and charges to advance Learning with them that they may the better overthrow the Truth of God with us Hence it is that they have errected so many Universities in Spain France Italy How are the Colledges of the Jesuits throughout the Pope's Dominions promoted so as to allure even foreiners thereunto Then do not the Protestant Reformed Churches stand in great need of Men eminently Learned to be able Defenders of the Faith and strenuous maintainers of the Truths of Christ against all Heathenish Heretical and Schismatical Adversaries thereof whether secret underminers or open opposers to convince and confute Learned Subtile Witty Adversaries as Heretics Jesuits and divers others May not Learning being well used be as great a help or advantage to the Truth and Cause of God as Learning abused is an hinderance to it an Engine or Bulwark for Errors Learning as one saith is part of the defensive Arms of true Religion Did not the Israelites need Smiths to make them Weapons to defend themselves against the Philistines as the Philistines did to offend Israel It is very observable how God accomplished some of his servants in all ages with excellent Gifts Graces and Learning to refute silence and non-plus the most acute and learned Adversaries of God's Truth and Grace which those times produced as Moses to withstand the learned Egyptians Athanasius to confute Arrius and Austin that learned Father to oppose Pelagius Jewel Whitaker Rainolds Cartwright Fulk Perkins men of great Learning to refute the Jesuits Moulin Ames Twiss to confute Arminius Yea the Devil can and doth sometime make use of Learning himself to serve his turn as he did in his speaking out of the possessed man See Mr. Rich. Rothwel's life in Mr Clark's Book of Lives John Fox in Nottinghamshire to Mr. Richard Rothwel he quoted many Scriptures out of the Old and New Testament both in Hebrew and Greek he cavilled and played the Critic and backed his Allegations with Sayings out of the Fathers and Poets in their own languages which he readily quoted So that the Company trembled to hear such things from the Man who understood not Learning nor moved either tongue or lip or rather from the Devil in the Man But Mr. Rothwel being not onely a gracious Man but a great Scholar was enabled by God to detect the Devil's Sophistry Was not his Humane Learning then of use to him SECT VI. Satan seeks by obstructing Learning to undermine Religion THe Necessity and Utility of Learning doth further appear by another Design of Satan Argum. 5. which is to undermine Religion by the obstructing of Learning and discouraging thereof This he hath practised by his Instruments
exact all Truth by the scant measure of our own comprehension and set our seal to none which is not modelled to and just of the same size with our capacities to prescribe to an Infinite Understanding and not suffer his Conceptions in any case to be above our reach nor allow him any Reasons to guide his Determinations by but what we are acquainted with is extremely arrogant and supercilious For though it be most certain that God offers nothing to be credited by us which is contrary to the sound dictates of Reason whereof he is the Author or which would destroy the clear and indubitable evidence of those discerning faculties which God hath bestowed upon us seeing one Truth can be no more contrary to another Scriptural to Rational Supernatural to Natural then God who is the source of both can be adverse to himself or be guilty of self-contradiction Yet it is as certain that he can present some Truths of so vast a bigness as that to take the full dimensions thereof would be difficult above what the shortness of the most raised mind in this present state can hope to attain to No understanding but that which is so large as that nothing can escape it can warrantably argue from an ignorance either of the nature cause mode or end of any thing to the non-existence of the thing it self And to conclude that not to be at all concerning which we understand not either how or why it should be so is no less absurd in Theology then in Physics and Politics For this consequence in Naturals would annihilate the greatest part of the world and destroy all that which poseth humane sagacity our very selves not excepted In Civils it would annul all public Decrees Appointments Transactions when people have no prospect into the breasts of their Governors to see the springs that turn the wheels of State by being made partakers of the reasons thereof As to Divine matters it takes away all mysteries and will not permit the Kings of Kings his Secrets nor that priviledge of earthly Princes to have a heart unsearchable Prov. 25.3 when indeed it becomes both Prudence and Majesty sometimes to be reserved ☞ and excellent purposes may be served by concealment the nurse of humility veneration observance and an inquisitive diligence God may keep secret the reasons of some things which he requires to be done as of divers in the Levitical Law and also the modes of others of which several in the Gospely that he would have to be believed to the end he may teach us rightly to value his Soveraignty and Infallibility his Authority and Testimony and to account the one of it self alone a sufficient obligation to Obedience and the other to Faith Besides that the understanding might have somewhat to exercise its submission as well as the will And sure it can never submit to a better judgement nor more securely credit then where God relates for though it cannot circumscribe the thing in its whole latitude nor discern how it should be what it is represented yet supposing the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it is so to be certainly revealed and attested by God the clearness of the assertion will acquit our faith of blindness and the infallibility of the Assertor together with our own imperfection and liableness to mistake vindicate it from unreasonableness For not the evidence or demonstration of what is testified but the unquestionable credit of the testifier is the onely ground and reason of Faith I say reason because believing is a rational act an assent to some truth as proved by certain authority Believing without good reason is not Faith but credulity Not that it 's necessary we should know the reason of the thing but onely of our belief of that thing of which no greater can be found then his attestation who is all-knowing and infallible in whom infinite Wisdom Truth and Goodness meet and engage for our security the first placing him as much beyond the possibility of a mistake as the other two free us from the danger of a delusion while we sincerely embrace his witness In doing which we need not fear being any time driven upon the belief of contradictions or impossibilities For it is as eternally repugnant to his Nature to affirm an impossibility ☞ as to perpetrate any iniquity Yet there want not those who either make or feign absurdities and contradictions in divine Doctrine some make them by taking Scripture-expressions in an incongruous and inconsistent sense as those who by introducing a corporal presence make the Doctrine of the Sacrament self-repugnant and diametrically opposite to the most solid evidence both of Sense and Reason Others feign absurdities by the errors of their argumentations For either they judge of some sacred Verities by wrong Principles with which they have no connexion or affinity or else charge them with strange and horrid Consequences of which they are wholly innocent Either they mistake the circumstances and state of the case and so proceed upon a false Hypothesis or else their deductions are unnatural wilde and impertinent and so it is not the article but their arguing that is unreasonable which makes nothing against the singular advantage of Reason in its sober and circumspect use assisted by a superior direction for finding out and maintaining Truth and hindring the triumphs of Error To which Learning also doth not a little contribute as being the improvement and accomplishment of Reason as that which advanceth and embellisheth our better faculties which relieves the imperfections of our understandings and helps to vindicate them from that darkness and confusion that hath been the sad concomitant of mans degenerdâ—â—â— by which means they become more quick and piercing and we less liable to be imposed on Upon which accounts the Devil hath a great spight at it and hath sufficiently exprest it of late by working with so great a number of men to decry and vilifie it and cast dirt upon those that were furnish'd with it which was the ready way to procure entertainment for all delusions as the consequence two apparently proved For then men committed their actions to the guidance of a wilde instinct and counted it a great attainment to be beside themselves A phrensie then became desirable for its lucid intervals the eyes of many were darkened and their heads ak'd with light ☞ they grew blind with Revelations and unable to see for Visions Then was the season that by an overheat in the pursuit of some extravagant opinion disposed men to religious Agues and put their piety into shaking sits Then to swell with Inspiration to converse with strange amusements to be full of Extasie and possess'd with rapture were esteemed the chief indications of a sanctified temper And if in others Religion were not acquainted with such impetuous concitations but were more sweet and calm more sedate and composed or if conscious to â—â—dgement and discretion to consideration and â—â—visement it was censured
amongst the Stars of the first honor but their irregular motion proved them very much deprest and in stead of the vigorous splendor of Truth you could perceive nothing but a long tail projected from a disheveled blaze How great things so ever they boasted of yet that their performances were a shame to their pretences is sufficiently known Seeing then the qualifications requisite to the understanding and dispensation of the Gospel are not now bestowed on a sudden they must either be attained by little and little or not at all by the ordinary assistance of the Spirit in the way of an industrious diligence and artificial improvements by advising with the Tongues about the Words with Grammar and Rhetoric about the Sense with Logic about the argument of Scripture with History about Customs and with the several Sciences about those things which are of Philosophical Consideration Concerning which I shall say nothing having already slip'd into too great a prolixity but shall conclude with this vote That since Learning is now grown into credit again those that own it would not suffer any stain and disreputation to be cast upon it by the neighborhood of a vitious practise nor maintain a separation between Knowledge and Piety but present them to the World embracing each other in the fastest closure and discover the light of their minds in the lustre of their lives It is to do a great disservice to God and a real pleasure to the envious one to set two excellent Daughters of the same Father at variance in putting on Learning to deride Grace or Grace to despise Learning It is no offence for humane Knowledge to clear the way where divine Obedience is to walk That may be allowed to hold the Candle while this doth its work It is a most amiable sight to behold the greet of science and innocence the Arts and Vertues mingling their splendors in a happy conjunction to see a minde no less fraught with excellent qualities then rare notions and as eminent for a gracious disposition as a piercing conceit to observe a well ordered demeanor attend upon a well furnished understanding and the fruits of righteousness ripen by the bright beams of ingenuous Literature Which sight that it may be as ordinary as it is excellent is the earnest wish of An Honorer of true Goodness and good Learning J. Reyner A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS SECTIONS In the following TREATISE CHAP. I. THat the Knowledge of the Languages is of great Use to a Minister of the Gospel Page 1. Sect. 1. Of the Languages in general ibid. Sect. 2. Of the Hebrew and Greek in common Page 3 Sect. 3. Of the Hebrew Page 14 Sect. 4. Of the Greek Tongue Page 22 Sect. 5. Of the Latine Page 24 Sect. 6. Of the Chaldee and Syriac how they differ Page 25 Sect. 7. The Usefulness of the Chaldee Page 29 Sect. 8. Of the Syriac Page 31 Sect. 9. 〈…〉 Page 35 An Appendix concerning the Usefulness of the Arabic added by another hand Page 36 CHAP. II. Of the Usefulness of Rhetoric Page 50 Sect. 1. Of Rhetoric in general ibid. Sect. 2. Of Tropes Page 60 Sect. 3. Of Figures Page 72 CHAP. III. Of the Usefulness of Logic. Page 81 CHAP. IV. Of the Usefulness of Natural Philosophy Page 90 Sect. 1. Usefulness of Natural Philosophy declared and proved ibid. Sect. 2. Objections refuted Page 100 CHAP. V. Of the Usefulness of Moral Philosophy or Ethics Page 108 CHAP. VI. Of the Usefulness of History Page 110 Sect. 1. Of History in general as useful to understand Scripture ibid. Sect. 2. Of Jewish History Page 113 Sect. 3. The History of other Eastern Nations Page 115 4. Of Egyptian History Page 120 5. Of Grecian History Page 123 6. Of Roman History Page 126 7. Of Christian or Church-History under the Gospel Page 127 8. Of History as useful to know God's Works Page 129 9. Of History as useful to know the Examples of Men. Page 131 CHAP. VII Of the Usefulness of Chronology Page 132 CHAP. VIII Of the Usefulness of Arithmetic Page 141 CHAP. IX Of the Usefulness of Geometry Page 147 CHAP. X. Of the Usefulness of Astronomy Page 151 CHAP. XI Of the Usefulness of Geography Page 158 CHAP. XII Of the Arguments which prove the Usefulness of Learning Page 163 Sect. 1. Seven Arguments propounded Pag. 163 Sect. 2. Of God's affording means of Learning as Schools c. Pag. 164 Sect. 3. Of Religion flourishing when Learning abounded Pag. 179 Sect. 4. Learning qualifies for all Public Employments Pag. 185 Sect. 5. Satan makes use of Learning to oppose the Truth Pag. 186 Sect. 6. Satan seeks by obstructing Learning to undermine Religion Pag. 190 Sect. 7. Testimonies concerning Learning Pag. 194 Sect. 8. Of the Learning of the Antient Fathers Pag. 201 Sect. 9. Of the Learning of the first Reformers Pag. 216 Sect. 10. The After-Promoters of Reformation were Learned Pag. 227 CHAP. XIII Objections against Learning answered Pag. 234 Sect. 1. That the People may be the better for the Learning of their Ministers ibid. Sect. 2. That the Prophets Christ and his Apostles were learned Pag. 236 Sect. 3. That Joel 2.28 and 1 John 2.27 make not at all against the need of Learning Pag. 244 Sect. 4. An Objection drawn from the ill effects of Learning answered and it shewn to be good in it self Pag. 252 Sect. 5. An Objection against Rhetoric from 1 Cor. 1.17 answered Pag. 256 Sect. 6. Of Paul 's desire to know nothing but Christ Pag. 258 A Determination of this Question Whether Grace be Essential to a Minister of the Gospel by the same Author Pag. 259 Objection 1. From Tit. 1.8 answered Pag. 289 Objection 2. From Psal 50.16 17. answered Pag. 294 Objection 3. From Dan. 12.3 answered Pag. 304 THE USEFULNESS OF THE LANGUAGES CHAP. I. That the Knowledge of the Languages is of great Use to a Minister of the Gospel SECT I. Of the Languages in general THe Tongues or Languages are the Boxes or Cabinets wherein all Sciences or sorts of knowledge the Jewels of all Truths both Divine and Humane Theological Moral and Natural are laid up Skill in the Languages is a Key that unlocks and opens all these and lets a man into the knowledge of them all It is as one saith that to a Minister which the Sea is to an Haven-town to bring in all sorts of Provision from foreign parts to replenish and enrich the same Every Tongue hath a peculiar Idiome or form of Speech or innate Emphasis Elegancy and Perspicuity which cannot be so fitly and fully expressed in a Translation without some Circumlocution Diminution or Alteration Hence it is that every Book is best in its own Tongue wherein it was originally written by the Author thereof that is the soundest and the clearest The Knowledge of Hebrew Greek and Latine is requisite because the Superscription of our Saviors Title on the Cross was in these three Languages Luk. 23.38 for three Reasons 1. That
know the order and distinction of times and of deeds done in them III. To know the several ages of the Church of God 1. Under the Law and the various states thereof and what Prophets lived in each of them 2. Under the New Testament the several ages and states of the Churches of Christ their beginnings continuance decay and dissolution and what Apostles or Ministers of Christ lived in them To know the parts of Christ's life private and publick and the years of his Ministery and what he did or suffered in every one of them To know the times of the Passovers while Christ lived upon earth for the years of Christ's Ministery are reckoned according to the same IV. To know the particular times wherein the several books of the Holy Scripture were written by the Pen-men thereof which conduceth much to a right understanding of several passages therein and to reconcile seeming repugnancies in the Scriptures Distingue tempora concordabunt Scripturae The distinction of the times wherein Paul writ his several Epistles is of much use to shew why the Apostles wrote so variously about the same things as Circumcision and other Ceremonies For to the Romans chap. 14.1 he exhorts that they should receive them that are weak in the faith c. i. e. about Ceremonies and indifferent things But to the Galatians and Colossians he utterly condemns the use of Circumcision Gal. 5.2 c. Col. 2. the reason is the difference of times as Chrysostom hath noted Ceremonies were alwayes in themselves mortal at Christ's death they became mortuae dcad but after that they became mortiferae deadly to them that used them V. To know the times of fulfilling Prophesies and Promises of things that are now 1. Past 2. To come First Past as those that were made concerning 1. Particular persons as Josiah the Prphecy of him foretold by the man of God Piscator 330. years before he was born 1 King 13.2 and concerning Cyrus by name about 220. years before he was born Isa 44.28 which are so punctually performed as if these Prophecies concerning them had been a Narrative of things past rather then a prediction of things to come 2. Concerning people as 1. Gen. 15.13 To the Israelites about their bondage which was 400 years beginning the account from Ismael's mocking and persecuting of Isaac Gal. 4.29 which fell out 30. years after the promise Gen. 12.3 which promise was 430. Gal. 3.17 years before the law and about their coming forth of Egypt out of bondage Answorth which was 430. years after that promise Exod. 12.41 God kept time to a day 2. To the Jews concerning their Captivity in Babylon and Reduction thence after 70. years Jer. 29.10 Concerning the coming of the Messiah in fulness of time Gal. 4.4 exactly answering and fulsilling the prophecies thereof as to Christ's birth and death Gen. 49.10 Dan. 9.24 God is punctual for time in all his performances of his Prophecies and promises even to a day or hour and for things to a title Whatever God promised to Israel at any time with his mouth he performed with his hand to the utmost 1 King 8.56 Jer. 33.14 A clear demonstration of his veracity and fidelity and of the verity of his word The same may be said of the times of God's fulfilling of Prophecies and Treatnings of Evils past both to God's people and to the wicked their enemies whether Persons or Nations Secondly To know the times of God's fulfilling of Prophecies and Promises and Threatnings of things yet to come which are expressed in the Prophets especially in Daniel in the Apostles Epistles but especially in the Revelations Concerning 1. The Calling of the Jews and of the Ten Tribes in the latter days 2. The Prophesying and slaying of the Witnesses and their reviving Rev. 11.3 7 11. 3. The downfall of Antichrist and Babylon 4. The ruine of the Turks Of Gog and Magog VI. To know the Epochas the terms of Account or the beginning of times in Computation from which times and things are restoâ—ed in Scripture or the intervals in which the measures of times are termined as From the Creation to the slood See Perkins in his Introduction to his Digest Alsted Chron. cap. 1. 1656 years From the Flood to the Promise made to Abraham 367 years From the Promise to the going out of Egypt 430 years Exod. 12.40 From the children of Israel's coming out of Egypt when they began to be a free people and a Nation of themselves to the Temple 1 King 6.1 480 years From the building of the Temple to the destruction of it 427 years in which is included the time of the Captivity From the beginning of Daniel's weeks to the death of Christ as Mr. Perkins thinks 490 years where they end VII The knowledge of Chronology is necessary to the disposing of the Bible into an Harmony or to the transposing of the order of Books and Chapters of the holy Scriptures for the reducing of all into a continued History See Mr. Samuel Torshel's design which some have endeavoured and Dr. Lightfoot hath performed in his Harmony for the New Testament VIII The study of Chronology is needful to know and evince the verity and certainty of the holy Scriptures and to confirm the Conscience against Satan's Attempts to overthrow mens Faith by casting in suspicions of the truth of Scripture because it doth not agree in the Account of Time with other Histories of the world written by the most prudent men of all Ages And with this Tentation Funccius in his Epistle Dedicatory before his Chronology reckoning up the advantages of the diligent observation of History and times affirms himself to have been assaulted which was the cause that moved him to undertake his Chronology though otherwise unwilling to it Vossius speaks of his meeting with some not versed in the Doctrine of Times De scient Mathem cap. 39. though else learned men who could not be so soon induced to question the truth of Scripture by any thing as the Discrepancy of Times in it whom he by answering their Objections convinced of the use of Chronology From the Premises it appears that Chronology is of great use to the understanding of the Scriptures which are exact in the Computation of times and to the clear and distinct referring of Occurrences or passages in Scriptures to their proper Times The knowledge of the Times when as well as of the Places where persons lived and things were done tends much to the elucidating of them and is very delightful As God made every thing beautiful in his time Eccles 3.11 so there is beauty satisfaction and pleasure in the knowing the times and seasons wherein things were done or came to pass The ignorance of times leads men into mistakes about passages of Scripture Thus some have thought that the shipwrack at Melita Act. 27. was one of the three mentioned by Paul 2 Cor. 11.25 whereas the second Epistle to the
three especially scil Julian Antichrist and Opinionists 1. Julian the Apostate who endeavored to suppress all Christian Religion by repressing the Schools of Learning forbidding to Christians the use of humane Authors of Philosophy and the Liberal Arts telling them in scorn that their own sublime Learning might suffice He prohibited the Children of Christians to be educated in Learning He decreed none should study in any School who would not adore Idols to deprive Men of Learning and Abilities to preach and defend the Christian Faith and confute the Heathens for by this means saith he Theodor. lib. 3. cap. 8. propriis pennis configimur ex nostris enim libris arma capiunt c. We are beaten with our own Weapons This is like the Philistines Design upon Israel that there should be no Smith in all the Land of Israel to make them Swords or Spears 1 Sam. 13.19 2. Antichrist Satan's eldest Son this was one of his Projects to banish Arts and Tongues and to overspread all with Barbarism which abandoneth Religion and excludes Learning and succeeds it as Darkness doth the Light There was a time when Graece nosse suspectum erat Hebraice fere Haereticum to understand Greek was a matter of suspicion but to know Hebrew was almost Heresie Pope Paul the second pronounced them Heretics See Platina in vita Paul◠2. who should commemorate the Name of Academy vel serio vel joco either in jest or in earnest he exhorted the Romans not to bring up their Children in the Studies of Learning telling them it was sufficient if they could write and read he so hated Humane Learning c. How vigorously have the Papists driven on this Design to hinder Learning as much as they could among the Protestants of purpose to disable them and disarm them of Weapons to defend the Truth of Christ and to oppugn their Romish Doctrines and Tenets but they have by all means promoted Learning in all kinds among themselves to defend themselves and offend us to oppose yea to overcome the Truth if they could but that is great and will prevail That it is a Jesuitical Design to decry Learning and Universities and thereby to extirpate the Protestants Religion appears by Adam Contzen a subtil Jesuite in his Politics lib. 2. cap. 18. sect 6. who prescribes this among divers others Means for the introducing of Popery to banish Protestant Ministers out of the Common-wealth and that at once if it can conveniently be if not insensibly and by degrees For the Truth when it wants Patrons will fall without striking a stroke Antiministerial Designs are Antichristain Designs into which many are seduced and which are carried on by Jesuitical craft that there should be no learned men to detect Popish Impostures and refute their Errors 3. This Design Satan carries on by Enthusiasts also and tumultuous Opinionists mis-led and acted by a spirit of Error Delusion and Faction giddiness and perversness as those Anabaptists Familists and Libertines in Germany who abased and abandoned humane Learning and burnt all Books save the Bible Should not all the Reformed Churches indulge and encourage the Universities and Nurseries of good Learning as much as they can for the Advancement of Learning and indeed of Religion thereby Ought not all that would approve themselves the Builders of Sion be active to the utmost of their power to countermine these dangerous Designs of Satan and his Instruments Dr. Arrowsm Orat. 1. Antiweigel It is a glory to the Transylvanians that they lately founded Alba Julia and to the Hollanders that they erected an illustrious School and Colledge Collegium Auriacum at Breda and to the Germans that they restored or renewed the Academy at Heidelberg Is it not an Honor to the English to uphold and maintain the two famous Universities of Cambridge and Oxford in their just Priviledges due Revenues Honor and flourishing State to give all the Encouragement they can to Learning and not to detract or diminish the least of any of these from them Did not the Parliament acknowledge that for the Propagation of the Gospel in New-England Universities Schools and Nurseries of Literature must be setled there for instructing and civilizing them See the Act for promoting the Gospel in New-England Even Leo the first ☞ Emperor professed that he would rather have Philosophers then Soldiers in his Pay SECT VII Testimonies concerning Learning LEarning hath been highly esteemed Argum. 6. and much commended by the ancient Fathers and all the Christian Reformed Churches and by the most learned orthodox godly judicious Modern Divines and by others also for the necessity commodity and excellency thereof Luther speaks thus Luther Epist Tom. 1. Vehementer toto coelo errare censeo qui Philosophiam Naturae cognitionem inutilem putant Theologiae I make account they err exceedingly who think Philosophy and the knowledge of Nature useless to Divinity And in another place he saith Epist Tom. 2. Ego persuasus sum sine literarum peritia prorsus stare non posse sinceram Theologiam sicut hactenus ruentibus jacentibus literis miserrime cecidit jacuit Quin video c. I am perswaded that pure or sincere Divinity can in no wise stand without the Skill of Learning as hitherto Learning salling and lying it scil Divinity hath most miserably both faln and lain Yea saith he I see there was never a remarkable revelation of the Word of God made but first as by Baptists Forerunners of it he prepared a way by Tongues and Learning rising and flourishing In his Book of the Institution of Children Luther thus commends the Tongues Tom. 7. pag. 442. a. Vaginarum vice sunt Linguae in quibus Gladius ille Spiritus c. Arcae sunt c. The Tongues are as it were the Scabbards in which the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God is sheathed They are the Chests or Cases which keep this precious thing this noble Jewel The Storehouses out of which a Preacher may fetch Gospel-provision The Cups wherein we carry about this wholesom Potion and the Baskets in which the loaves with the fishes and the very fragments are kept that they be not lost He adds Pag. 444. ◠Quanquam nobis obscurum non est Spiritu Dei omnia prorsus fieri tamen nisi suppetias mihi tulissent Linguae per hoc quod literarum sacrarum certo infallibili me constabilissem intellectu sane priore in salebra misero mihi cum inimicis Evangelii etiamnum haerendum foret In which and the following words he declares That if he had not been helped out by the Tongues he had still stuck where he was with the Enemies of the Gospel in the mire of Popery and in pag. Pag. 445. a. 445. he seriously bewails it that he had not read more Poets and Historians Quanta nunc ducor poenitentia ob non plures Poetas Historiographos a me lectos Melancthon
he was at first a Platonist and learned became both a Christian and a Martyr He labored and suffered much for the Religion of Christ He writ a book against all Heresies and famous Volumes against Marcion the Heretic he writ also Apologies for the Christians He was renowned in all ancient Histories for his great knowledge both in Religion and Philosophy Irenaeus was educated from his childhood in Philosophy and Arts. He was admired of all for his excellent learning and skill in humane and in divine things Tertullian calls him Omnium doctrinarum curiosum exploratorem an exquisite searcher out of all learning He was an exact resuter of Heresie He confuted the Valentinians and Gnostics who were the inventers as one saith of the most Chymical Divinity that ever came into the fancy of man He was laborious and prosperous in his Ministery and converted almost the whole city of Lyons in France from Paganism Clemens Alexandrinus Jerom saith of him Meo judicio fuit omnium eruditissimus quid in illius libris indoctum c. That in his opinion he was the most learned Daniel Heinsius saith In the Dedication of Clemens his Works to Gustavus Adolphus He was second to few in Antiquity to none in Learning and that he labored to be an healer of the superstition of the Greeks which at that time invaded the world Cui primo omnium errori vir sanctissimus gravissimo volumine medetur His writings contain a treasure of divine and humane learning and are full of eloquence He excell'd in History and in confutation of heresie Tertullian was skill'd in all kind of learning Lactantius and of chiefest esteem amongst the Latine Authors Jerom saith that his books against the Gentiles contain cunctam saeculi doctrinam all the learning of his age or all sorts of learning Pamelius in vita Tertulliam He was diligently conversant in the Mathematics and in Histories Scult Medull He opposed in those times with great zeal the Heretics as Marcion the Valentinians Praxeas Hermogenes as also the Jews He wrote a learned Apology in behalf of the Christians who were then falsly accused and persecuted and he demonstrated to the very Heathen the verity of Christian Religion and the innocency of Christians Origen was as is reported of him from In the third Century his infancy throughly grounded in all Learning and he was accounted a Mirror of Piety and Learning of all sorts Humane and Divine He had a great acuteness in confuting the Philosophers and those Arabians who would have Souls to die with their Bodies and Berillus the Heretic who denied the Eternity of Christ whom at length he reduced to the Truth as he did Ambrose from the error of the Marcionites He was a great honorer of Martyrdom a comforter of Martyrs His whole life was a continual study he would read at his Meals Cyprian was first a Rhetorician after a Learned godly Bishop and at length a glorious Martyr of Christ He confuted Novatus the Heretic whom he stiles in his Epistles an importunate Innovator a murtherer of Penitence Lactantius excelled all the Writers of the Church in Elegance In the fourth Century and lustre of Language Jerom saith of him that he was as it were a flood of Tullian Eloquence He wrote many Treatises which may be read with profit and pleasure Athanasius was educated in all sorts of learning He was a vigorous Opposer of the Arrians therefore he was called The Hammer of the Arrian Heretics by whom he was extreamly hated because they perceived the acuteness of his wit Learning and industry in confuting of Heresies in the Nicene Council therefore he was exposed to great trouble Theodoret calls him The Bulwark of Truth Naziazen stiles him The great Trumpet and pillar of the Church He was great for his Learning labors sufferings and constancy and courage even when not onely Bishops but Emperors Kingdoms Armies and Nations were set against him yet the Emperor Constantine gave this character of him Virum plane divinum existimo I hold him to be indeed a divine man Hilary was a man of excellent parts In his Epistle presixed to his works Erasmus saith that he was Ob vitae sanctimoniam insignem eruditionem Eloquentiam admirabilem aevi sui Lumen the light of his Age for sanctity of life eminent Learning and admirable Eloquence quanto stomacho saevit in Arrianos c. He was a great Antagonist to the Arrians whom he called Devils Antichrists blasphemers pests he writ several books against them Jerom calls him The Trumpet of the Latine Tongue perhaps because he was the first that confuted the Arrians in Latine and the Confessor of our time Cyril of Jerusalem a man of great Learning Prudence and Piety Ecclesiastical Writers testifie of him that he was Fortissimus Christi Athleta Orthodoxae fidei assertor constantissimus A most valiant champion of Christ and most constant defender of the Orthodox faith He suffered many persecutions through the rage of the Arrians Basil called Magnus Greg. Nazianz in vita Bahlii he was great every way as in wit and Learning in omni doctrinae genere summus saith Suidas skilful in all the liberal Sciences and in all the Mathematics Summus in cunctis apparuit he was so excellent in every one as if he had studied that onely one Great in eloquence Erasmus calls him the Christian Demosthenes great in contending for and in defending the truth in confuting and convincing Heretics Gregory Nazianzene was Learned in Grammar Vita Greg. Nazianz a Greg. Presbytero conscripta Rhetoric Philosophy both Natural and Moral Poetry Arithmetic Geometry Astronomy in all the Liberal Arts in the study of which he spent many years He was a man of great Authority and use in the Greek Churches that who so opposed his testimony was suspected of Heresie He is called A living Library of Philosophy and Divinity Epiphanius had great knowledge in the Hebrew being educated by one Tryphon a Jew He was a learned pious Divine Cornarius Medicus saith Cornarius who translated him out of Greek into Latine which work he undertook propter Authoris praesâ—ntiam operis raritatem for the excellency of the Author and rarity of the work He was a man saith one of a very good honest John Daille and plain nature He was semper Haereticorum acerrimus oppugnator alway a sharp opposer of Heresies He wrote a Learned book against 80 Heresies which contains variety of story in it He purged all Cyprus from Heresies and having obtained an Edict from Theodosius the Emperor he cast all the Heretics out of the Island Ambrose was Learned in the Liberal Arts and excellent in Eloquence He was very couragious for the truth He denied the Emperor Theodosius entrance into the Church until he had publickly confesed his fault scil that miserable slaughter caused by him at Thessalonica Daille saith he was one of the most firm Pillars of the
Church in his time He was called saith another orbis Terrarum oculus the eye of the world an eye as bright as any other in the world's orb in his time Gregory Nyssen a famous man as Suidas omnique doctrina exuberans abounding with all Learning and as excellent in Rhetoric as any of the Antients He was the light and ornament of the Nyssen Church a strenuous opposer of Eunomius his Heresie he was a diligent reverent studious reader of the holy Scriptures having a special eye to the proper and genuine sence of them Theodoret made such proficiency in Learning and piety by his own ingenuity and industry through God's blessing that he was made Bishop of Cyrus a Town in Syria while he was yet a young man One calls him Orthodoxae pietatis amantissimus propugnator haereticaeque pravitatis fortissimus oppugnator A most loving propagator of Orthodox piety and a couragious opposer of Heretical pravity He wrote much against the Heretics He of himself condemned Nestorius and put stop to his Heresie He reduced many in his Diocess to the truth with great labor and hazzard of life who were infested with the pest of Marcion He wrote a volume against all Heresies and an Ecclesiastical History which is very useful to the Church Bellarmine calls him virum plane doctissimum a very Learned man Another saith he had multifarium in omni disciplinarum genere scientiam manifold knowledge in all kind of Learnings Jerome was instructed at Rome then the only Nursery of Learning where he profited much in all sorts of Learning and afterwards travelled over the greatest part of Europe to encrease his knowledge by viewing several Libraries and conferring with the most Learned men He was a great Linguist hence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 excellent in Hebrew well skil'd in the Chaldee and Syriac His stile is elegant He was vir in saecularibus valde eruditus Trithemius well versed in secular Learnings Erasmus calls him facundissimum Ecclesiae doctorem the most Eloquent Doctor of the Church He was the boldest and most judicious censurer of the Ancients John Dailie and he happily improved a critical faculty upon them He wrote against the Pelagians and was an extirpator of Heretics and defender of the truth he read over all his Library and learned Scriptures to a word and translated the Bible out of the Original into Latine Chrysostome studied hard the liberal Sciences and Philosophy and afterwards Divinity and Piety Erasmus he was famous for Eloquence and zeal He was called os aureum mellitissimus Christi concionator praecoque indefatigabilis a most hony sweet unwearied Preacher of Christ for his eloquent wisdom and wise eloquence throughout his works Sanctity and Scholarship are joyned in one He was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most copious writer of any of the Greek Fathers now extant A judicious man saith of him A man cannot easily take Chrysostome amiss any where especially in his Moral Discourses He was a zealous propagator of the Gospel to dark places and opposer of Idolatry and Heresie and Heretics as of the Marcionites and the Arrians He was bold in reproving sin and not fearing sufferings as appears by his speeches to Eudoxia the Empress Nil inli peccacatum tunco Theodoret styles him eximium orbis terrarum luminare The eminent light of the whole world He was so beloved and reverenced of all men that when he was like to be silenced the people cried out Satius est ut sol non luceat quam ut non doceat Chrysostomus We had better want the shining of the Sun then the preaching of Chrysostome Augustine was educated in Learning In the fifth Century Lossidius alias Possidonius to the weakning of his Parents estate He learned Grammar in his own city and Rhetoric at Carthage He was saecularibus literis eruditus apprime c. very learned in all the liberal Sciences he writ of the Arts as Grammar Rhetoric Logic Music Philosophy c. He defended the truth against the Arrians Manichees Pelagians Circumcellians Donatists Priscillianists and whatsoever error else prevailed in his time He had several sharp conflicts with them and confuted them by many Learned writings as also by word of mouth in Disputations as he did Fortunatus and Placentius both stiff Arrians and thereby he convinced and converted one Felix a Manichee that he recanted his error and joyned to the Church as he did also one Firmus a rich Merchant and a Manichee by a digression in his Sermon when he was out and forgot the subject he thought to prosecute and fell upon a confutation of the Manichees this Firmus came afterwards to him with tears renouncing his error and promising reformation Augustine was called Malleus Haereticorum The Hammer of the Heretics Erasmus calls him acerrimum fidei Christianae propugnatorem the most sharp and valorous defender of the Christian Faith Another calls him The fairest flower of Antiquity He was an instrument in God's hands of gaining many Pagans to the knowledge of the truth Dr. Sibbs saith of him that he challenged the doctrine of Gods Predestination out of the hands of the enemies of Grace and flatterers of Nature as being a man fitted with grace learning and wit for such a conflict No Scriptures are more faithfully handled by him then those that were wrested by his opposites and such as made for the strengthning of his own cause in other writings he took more liberty His Scholars Prosper and others interessed themselves in the same quarrel Prosper retaining Augustine's Doctrine learnedly confuted the Pelagian Heresie Daniel Tossanus saith that the Palmary or Master-piece of Augustine was that he above all the other Fathers and almost alone being provoked by the Pelagians diligently discussed the Doctrine of Predestination and of Original Sin He onely of all the Ancients wrote Books of Retractations for as he professeth in his seventh Epistle he wrote by profiting and profited by writing He always kept Scholars in his house quoad victum amictum with food and raiment His usual Prayer was that when Christ came he might finde him aut precantem aut praedicantem either praying or preaching Cyril of Alexandria was famous for Piety and Learning he was President in the Council at Ephesus in which he condemned Nestorius and Pelagius with their Errors very learnedly and judiciously he spake many elegant Sentences he was so renowned that the Grecian Bishops as it is reported gat some of his Homilies by heart and rehearsed them to their people Fulgentius was Augustine's Scholar In the sixth Century and followed him foot by foot especially in ad Monimum ad Petrum the two best of his Works he had great knowledge in the Greek and Latine Tongues he contended earnestly against the Arrians whose Opinion then had overspred all Africa and other Heretics and he suffered much for defending the Orthodox Faith He was extremely persecuted by the Arrians yet would not seek revenge
no not when he had opportunity but would say Plura pro Christo sunt toleranda We must suffer more for Christ then so and as he answered Felix the Arrian that dealt so ill with him Christiani est non ulcisci sese Deus enim ulturus injuriam suis illatam Isidore was called by Casaubon In the seventh Century pius eruditus Scriptor a godly learned Writer he was admired for his Learning and Eloquence he could fitly accommodate his speech both to the learned and to the ignorant it 's said He led an Angelical and Evangelical Life in the flesh Venerable Bede was very learned in Philosophy Astronomy Poetry in Greek Arithmetic Rhetoric but especially very conversant in and studious of the holy Scriptures he was said to be the Honor of England and the Mirror of his Time for Learning so famous for it and for Piety that he was sent for to Rome to help to settle the Churches peace Damascen was educated in Learning In the eighth Century got the knowledge of all the Liberal Sciences then he studied the Scripture and Divinity he was a diligent Preacher and Propagator of the Faith and Truth of Christ and a great Opposer of Heretics he was called a great Star in the Churches Firmament in that time when there was great darkness but he by his life and doctrine illuminated many Bernard had pregnant and admirable parts for wit memory and understanding a great Proficient in Learning and had an excellent faculty in preaching His Sentences were stuffed as one saith omni amoenitate pietate with all amoenity and piety he was in great repute for his sanctity of life and doctrine Thus I have given a brief Account of the ancient Fathers that they were learned whom God made eminently useful in and to his Church Let me add two things by way of Caution 1. Though they were learned and pious yet they had their infirmities and blemishes and were subject to errors and failings even in their Writings as hath been observed by many See Daille's Treatise They were not acted with an infallible spirit as the Pen-men of sacred Writ were therefore they must be read with consideration and discretion their Writings must be tried by the Touchstone of God's Word To be altogether exempt from Errors is the Priviledge of the holy Scriptures Divers Divines have given Rules for the right understanding of the Fathers See Scultet Medull Patr. Dan. Synops de Legendis Patribus John Daille in his Treatise concerning the right use of the Fathers 2. Lest any should think these ancient Fathers had no need of their humane Learning or might have been as well without it it 's true they stood in need of more Learning in some kinde then they had attained the want whereof was the Cause of their Errors and Mistakes Ex. gr Augustine by reason of his good insight into the Hebrew and Greek Tongue fell short and failed much of solid Interpretation in his Expository Books Luther instanceth in his Comment upon the Psalms he mentioned Hilary too Ambrose also by reason of his Ignorance in the Tongues erred oft in his Expositions See Luther in libello de Instit pueris where he shews that Patrum Errores in sacra Scriptura provenerunt ex Linguarum ignorantia pag. 442 443 444. The Errors of some of the Fathers grew from their Ignorance of the Tongues Had it not been better for them to have had more knowledge thereof So much of the Learning of the Fathers SECT IX Of the Learning of the first Reformers Secondly Now I shall shew briefly the Learning of the Modern Divines which may be cast into two Ranks I. Those former who were the happy Reformers of Religion or honored by God as Master-Builders to lay the Foundation and begin the Work of Reformation II. These later who vigorously carried on the Work of Reformation I. The Learning of those former Divines whom God raised up in pity to his poor Church when the Apostacy of Popery had so far overspread and prevailed They were many of them learned men of great skill in Arts and Tongues and others competently learned and all men of invincible courage and indefatigable pains excited and qualified by God to be the Restorers of the true Christian Religion from its bondage in Ignorance and Superstition and strong and stout Opposers of the Pope and Popery in the Points of Doctrine Worship and Practice These lived in or about the fourteenth and fifteenth Centuries Berengarius lived in the dismal darkness and depth of Popery Century 14. Ussertus de Christ Eccles succes cap. 7. pag. 196 197. he profited in the School above his Equals and was well-skill'd in the Liberal Arts an excellent Logician of great account for his Learning and Piety He was expert in the Scriptures and also in the Writings of the ancient Fathers He was a Champion for the Truth in the Point of Transubstantiation opposing the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament He had almost drawn all Italy France and England to his Opinion He was of a bold undaunted spirit and courage His Life and Conversation was so unblameable that therein as one saith he starved the Malice of all his Adversaries Fuller Petrus Waldus though he was not one of the Modern Divines yet something is observable in his Story which is useful to our purpose Alsted Chronol He was a rich Citizen of Lions in France ☞ converted by seeing one fall down dead in the streets upon which he betook himself to teach and admonish his House and Friends to repent and to study the Scriptures himself and he profited so well therein that he translated divers parts thereof out of Latine into French Friar Rainer an Adversary to the Truth and to the Waldenses saith That Waldus being tolerably learned taught those that resorted to him the Text of the New Testament in their Mother's Tongue and that the Waldenses who were his Followers and Auditors had above forty Schools In Dioeceli Pataviensi and divers Churches all within one Diocess yea they were as others witness of that ability that they had divers Conferences and Disputations with the Romanists and had the better Vide Usserium cap. 6 8. As for the Doctrines and Tenets of the Waldenses Vide Usserium in cap. 6 ad cap. 10. Protest Evidences they preached against the Doctrines and Practises of Rome as the Pope's Power Transubstantiation the Adoration of Images and of the Cross against Prayers for the dead Purgatory Invocation of Saints extreme Unction Auricular Confession with many more John Wickliff was brought up in Merton Colledge in Oxford he was famous both for life and learning he excell'd in the knowledge of the Arts and School-Divinity he was admired of all for his singular abilities and sweetness of demeanor he was Divinity-Reader in Oxford he was a diligent faithful Preacher of the Gospel under King Edward the third who always favored and protected
him against the rage of his Adversaries He denied the Pope to be the Head of the Church Mr. Fuller Mr. Clark and pronounced him to be Antichrist he confuted and condemned his Doctrines about Bulls and Indulgences Masses Transubstantiation c. He was a great Enemy to the swarms of begging Friars He wrote above two hundred fair Volumes most of which were burned by Subinck Arch-Bishop of Prague in Bohemia he wrote many Books of Philosophy and some of Metaphysics Dr. Featly The University of Oxford crowned his person and doctrine with a fragrant Garland of Praises whose doctrine was not onely favored by divers Nobles but also by the third part of the Clergy of England In all his sufferings he shewed an undaunted spirit John Huss was educated in Learning at Prague in Bohemia he was a great Scholar and a famous Preacher in that University he was converted by reading of John Wickliff's Books Mr. Fuller which Queen Ann's Courtiers who brought her being Sister to Wenceslaus King of Bohemia over into England to Richard the second King of England did here light on and carried them into their own Countrey which Huss had the happiness to read approve and disperse which proved a means of the Conversion of Bohemia for Wickliff's Books first discovered the Romish Superstitions unto them he stoutly opposed the Pope's proceedings and gave a blow to the man of sin under the fifth rib which in Scripture is always observed to be mortal The Gentry and Nobility of Bohemia did highly favor him Jerom of Prague had his first breeding there but he much enriched himself in Learning by his travels abroad to the most principal parts and Staple-places of learning At Paris he commenced Mr. of Arts and in the University of Colen and Heidleberg had the same degree confirmed unto him He was a man of admirable learning Eloquence Memory Courage and Zeal He was converted as John Huss by reading one of Wickliff's books by which he perceived the abominable superstitions then used in the Church and began by degrees first in his judgment to dislike them after in his practice to disuse them and lastly in his preaching to confute them He earnestly contended for the Truth against the enemies of it and openly opposed the doctrine of Purgatory and Prayers for the dead and thundered against the ill lives of the Monks and Friers He proclaimed and defended the innocency of John Huss and condemned his false accusers After his great and grievous sufferings being brought before the Council he so learnedly vindicated himself and refell'd his enemies that they were astonished at and silenced by his Oration which he concluded thus That all such Articles as Wickliff and Huss had written against the enormities pomp and disorder of the Prelates he would firmly hold and defend even to death Martin Luther born 1483. Century 15. at 14. years of age went to Magdeburg from thence his Parents removed him to Isenak a famous School there he perfected his Grammar-learning He went thence to the University of Erford Anno 1501. where he profited much in the knowledg of Logic and other Learning and read over Cicero Livy Virgil and other Latine Authors When he was twenty years old he was made Mr. of Arts and read as Professor Aristotle's Physics Ethics and other parts of Philosophy After his Conversion he began to read Augustine's works Mr. Fuller he also read over the Schoolmen especially Occam whom he esteemed for acuteness of wit before Aquinas and Scotus and he studiously perused Gerson In these Studies he spent five years in the Colledge at Erford When Luther was twenty six years old John Staupicius who endeavoured to promote the University of Wittenberg then lately begun removed Luther thither where at first he explained Aristotle's Logic and Physics yet intermitted not his study When he was 30. years old he was made Doctor in Divinity after the maner of the Schools at the charge of Duke Frederic Elector of Saxony The Prince hearing him preach admired his excellent parts Then he betook himself to the study of the Greek and Hebrew Afterwards Luther published his Propositions against Indulgences and opposed the Pope's Supremacy Purgatory and other Tenets of Popery Luther also confuted Nicholas Stork Mr. Fuller Thomas Muncer and other fanatical Ring-leaders broaching new Doctrines who pretended Revelations Angelical and conferences with God and denied the Baptism of Infants The Pope's Advocates promised Erasmus a Bishoprick of rich revenue if he would write against Luther but he answered that Luther was a man too great for him to write against and that he learned more from one short page of Luther's Writings then from all Thomas Aquinas his Books Bucer called Luther the first Apostle of the reformed Doctrine not simply for Wickliff Huss and those forenamed preached the same before but Luther was the first who in Bucer's age and memory publickly and successfully set on foot a general Reformation of the Church in these Western parts John Huss bare a torch before Luther and shewed him his way See more of Luther in his life Huldericus Zuinglius was sent to School at Basil at 10. Born 1487. years of age where he exceeded his School-fellows in learning At Bern he learned Rhetoric Poetry Oratory and Logic. At Vienna in Austria he studied Philosophy and perfected his former parts At Basil he taught others what himself had learn'd He commenced Master of Arts and studied School-divinity and Greek wherein he excell'd He was chosen Pastor at Zuric anno Christi 1521. where beside his Ministerial labors he studied Hebrew and was able to expound those two major Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah He prevailed with the Senate at Zuric to erect a School for Latine Greek and Hebrew He was admired in Switzerland and famous at Zuric as Luther in Germany and at Wittenberg He was solid in all maner of learning and a diligent searcher of the Scriptures being expert in the Original Tongues He was so great an opposer of the Pope's Pardons Indulgences and proceedings that the Cardinals themselves as is reported sought by great gifts to allure him to their side At Zuric he disputed with Franciscus Lambertus a Frier about the Intercession of the Saints and the sacrifice of the Mass and convinced him of his error so that he confessed and forsook his error and gave glory to God Then crept in the opinion of the Anabaptists which he opposed with all his might His works are large witnesses of his gifts and graces parts and pains Oecolumpadius he was educated in Religion and Learning first at a School in Germany call'd Heelbronna then at Heidelberg Here he attained to that perfection in learning that at the age of 14 years he was made Batchelor of Arts with great approbation and continued there till he was Master of Arts. Afterwards he fell close to the study of Divinity and read the Schoolmen Aquinas Gerson and others with indefatigable pains and much profit He
118. pag. 375. speaking of Learning and Eloquence saith Contra illa non aliter disputat Apostolus c. The Apostle disputeth no otherwise against these then as they obscure the Cross of Christ and it must be granted saith he that eloquence and wisdom are good things in themselves and the gifts of God and if they be rightly used they adorn piety and may profit wonderfully SECT VI. Of Paul 's desiring to know nothing but Christ Obj. 6. PAul desired to know nothing but Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 Ergo not Arts and Tongues Answ 1. He knew humane Learning already being educated at Gamaliel's feet and he was a Pharisee and they excelled in knowledge and were great teachers thereof in Christ's time 2. Yet he valued it not in comparison of Christ and the knowledge of him Phil. 3.7 8. he counted it but dung 3. He desired to profess or teach no other skill but the knowledge of Christ This was his main yea his sole design which doth not hinder but that he might make use of Learning so far as it would be subservient to the advancing of it And indeed so we find him doing in the fifteenth Chapter of this Epistle verse 33. where he cites a Heathen Poet as was before observed The earnest intention of some one end doth not oblige to a neglect of any means that may conduce thereto A DETERMINATION OF THIS QUESTION Whether Grace is Essential to a Minister of the Gospel By the same Author Question WHether Grace be Essential to a Minister of the Gospel or Wwhether the want of Grace doth annul his Admission or be a sufficient cause of Ejection Answ Though Grace be a most desirable Qualification of a Gospel-Minister and a most excellent help and furtherance eminently useful to the work of the Ministery both for performance of the Duty and for success of Labors and I wish Oh that God would that all the Ministers of the Gospel were Preachers from Grace as well as from Gifts from conscience and experience as well as from science from their hearts as well as from their heads yet it appears not to me that Grace is Causa sine qua non or of so absolute necessity to the Ministery as without which a man cannot be or should not be allowed or continued to be a Minister of the Gospel To make good this Assertion I will give three Grounds I. Ministerial Gifts and saving Graces are things distinct in themselves and separable in the subject II. The Ministery of the Gospel is ordained by Christ principally for the good of others III. The Testimonies of eminent Divines in the Case First Ground Grace is not Essential to a Minister of the Gospel because Ministerial Gifts and saving Graces are things distinct in themselves and separable each from other in the subject Here I will first clear three things scil 1. What these Ministerial Gifts are 2. That they qualifie men for the work of the Ministery 3. That God is the Author and Doner of these Gifts to that end And afterwards I will shew the Distinction and Separability of Gifts and saving Graces First What these Ministerial Gifts are which dispose men for that work and are adequate to the end of the Ministery now these are the ordinary 1. Gifts of common Illumination Of Common Illumination and the effects thereof see Pemble's works pag. 60. and Dickson on the Hebr. 6.4 5 9. pag. 93. and knowledge of Religion and the Matters thereof which is attainable either by inward sense and experience or by intellectual Speculation and though both these do more exactly accomplish a man for the Ministery yet the latter onely may in some cases suffice especially considering that experience can assure us of nothing that I am to press upon others which Scripture also doth not suggest and confirm 2. The Gift of Preaching Prophecy or Interpretation of the Scripture of opening or unfolding and applying the same 3. The Gifts of utterance and of prayer 4. The Gifts of Arts and Tongues which are useful as handmaids to Divinity and to the Ministery 5. The Gift of Argumentation or reasoning to confirm or defend the Truth to confute errors and convince Gainsayers c. The second is that these Ministerial abilities do qualifie men for the work of the Ministery as they make them suitable and competent thereunto and fit them to perform their office and the several acts thereof by Gifts as to pray by a Gift of prayer to preach by a Gift of preaching and to dispute by a Gift or faculty of Disputation and not to preach other mens Sermons or say other mens prayers only Hence a man endowed with good parts natural and acquired by diligent reading study discourse and prayer to God for Illumination Direction Assistance c. 1. May attain to a large clear distinct knowledge of Religion and the several Principles and Points of it 2. May be able to teach the same plainly soundly and profitably to others to instruct convince reprove confirm and comfort others 3. May be through God's blessing instrumental for the good of others for edifying the body of Christ for building up in knowledge faith holiness and obedience for carrying on the work of the Lord promoting Reformation and furthering the salvation of others and for information of some who have Grace really of some things they knew not before and for resolution of some doubts and scruples 4. May be useful in the Church of God to defend and maintain the Christian Religion and all the Points of it especially Controversal against the Adversaries of the Truth and Grace of God as Papists Arminians Socinians and others that are Heterodox which some men of great Learning parts and studies but it 's questionable by their lives and ways whether they had true saving Grace have done more soundly and strenuously even to the convincing of Gainsayers and to the silencing or stopping the mouths of Adversaries then many who have true Grace but want such Gifts are able to do Probatum est For there are many real Christians who have good experience of the practical part of Religion yet want abilities for the Controversal part or defence of the Truth against the oppugners of it Hence also I infer that datur Medium or there is a Mean between a Ministers Preaching from Experience of the New Birth or work of Grace c. in his own soul which is indeed the most comfortable and effectual and a Ministers taking a Sermon out of a book which he never made and getting it by heart and saying or preaching it The mean between them is a Ministers making of a Sermon by a Gift God hath given him and by study and preaching it afterwards though he hath not the Experience of it in himself As there is a Mean between praying by the Spirit or the Spirit of Prayer and reading of a prayer out of a book or using a bare form of prayer and that Mean is praying by