a meere naturall man may be a great worldly Learned man as were the Aegyptians and Babylonians and as are many of the Romish Priests and Jesuites therfore for this cause that is not the learning here meant 4. Because such of Gods servants as have had such kind of learning when as they came to know Christ they forsook it all 4 Reason as Moses when he came to age though he was ‡ Act. 7.22 learned in all the wisdome of the Aegyptians yet by Faith he forsooke all the treasures of Aegypt and this being one of Aegypts treasures he forsooke this also for when he saith treasures there none is excepted therfore in asmuch as learning was one aswell as riches and honours he forsook that also as seeing by Faith a better treasure in the worst condition among the people of God then in the best condition in the world suppose it be learning The like is to be seen in Paul who counted all things losse and dung that he might winne Christ even the righteousnesse of the Law it selfe which is farre beyond all this and all this he did that he might know him Wherein the Apostle gives me to understand that all such things were but hinderances to keep him from the knowledge of Christ to salvation which is it that here I mind also therfore likewise this is not the learning here meant seeing it was rejected of them therfore it was no help nor furtherance to them to know Christ by but lets and hinderances and so much appeares by those converts in Acts 19.18 19. Who when they beleeved are said such of them as used curious Arts to burn their Books declaring that now they had met with learning of farre greater worth then their curious Arts and therfore now they burn their Books declaring that now they had no more need of them and so I conclude that such as this is not the learning here meant What Learning it is I now come to manifest what Learning it is the Apostle here intended Now the learning here intended by the Apostle it is as I understand That sound knowledge and sure information that every Christian hath in Iesus Christ Col. 2.7 whereby he is so deeply rooted and so surely grafted into him by Faith as that he abides unmoveably setled in him Ephe. 3.17.18 as therby he abides stable in the sure knowledge and understanding of the word of Christ and so much here me thinks the Apostle gives us to understand 1 Pet. 2.6 how that the unlearned they be unstable then on the contrary the learned they are stable beleeving and being layd on the true Foundation they shall never be confounded or ashamed Now such as these are that are learned as the truth is in Iesus these may well say to the greatest worldly learned ones as Philip said to the Eunuch Vnderstandest thou what thou readest and not onely so but such may teach them the understanding of the mystery saying these are taught and instructed by the teachings of the Spirit of God agreeable to these Scriptures * 1 Cor. 2.10 That it hath not entred into the heart of man to conceive of that which God by his Spirit which searcheth the deep things of God hath reavealed unto us And this the Apostle further explaines that as no man knows the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him so the things of God knows no man no not a worldly learned man but by the Spirit of God and so he goes on to difference the spirit of the world from Gods Spirit and shewes that that is it wherby the things of God are known and also manifested to others so that all the things of God both for matter and manner flow from the wisdome of Gods Spirit and not what mans wisdome teacheth which is to compare spirituall things and carnall things together as tongues and arâ—s and such like but Gods Spirit teacheth us to compare spirituall things with spirituall things and so he goes on and declares that onely such that are taught by the Spirit are capable of true discerning of spiritual things without being justly condemned of any as truly having the mind of Christ rightly and truly knowing the things that are of God and with this agrees the witnes of Iohn * 1 Ioh. 2.26.27 saying these things have I written unto you concerning them that deceive you wherby it appeares they had deceivers about them and those things were written concerning such But saith the Apostle in opposition to their deceivings ye have received the Anoynting of him that dwells in you and this anoynting that they had received doth he oppose to their deceiving as being able throughly to teach them so as that they needed not that any man teach them save as that anoynting taught them then seeing that that anoynting never did teach them such tongues or arts as were humane therfore the Saints by the Apostles grant had not need of any such learning and yet this anoynting taught all truth and obedience in it also And yet further our ‡ Ioh. 16.7 with 13. Saviour himselfe concludes this point shewing that when he hath sent the Comforter the Spirit of Truth to them that then he shall leade them into all truth whence I doe conclude that for the Disciples knowledge of the truth there was no more necessary according to the mind of him that was Truth but the Spirit of God to lead them into all truth without all errour teaching by no humane meanes the Reason why is rendered because it is sufficient and that is because it speakes from the Father agreeable to that of our Saviour taken from the Prophet that ‡ Ioh. 6.45 we shall be all taught of God and so indeed being taught of the Spirit we are taught of the Ftther and the Sonne also which are all one and so our learning comes to us being taught of the Father Sonne and Spirit for all our Instructers and Councellers and this is all the learning that we need to know the things that are of God by agreeable to his will so from these words thus interpreted the Conclusion comes to this Proposition That such as are taught by the Spirit of God destitute of Humane-Learning are the Learned ones that truly understand the Scriptures according to Peters mind I say such as are taught by the Spirit without Humane-Learning are such persons as rightly understand the Word And this me thinks the whole Councel of Ierusalem as wicked as they were did in effect conclude § Act. 4.13.14 considering Peter and Iohn though unlearned men yet they knew they had been with Iesus by their boldnesse and so they had nothing to say against it and yet though men should oppose it Christ Iesus our Lord * Luk. 10.21.24 Justifies it with great thankfullnesse to his Father that having hid these sâ—ings from the wise and prudent he had revealed them to babes Now that
can benefit him and if nothing then not this thing in question but that it must needs be that we must be fooles to it and what is the true marke of a foole but to be ignorant and without knowledge therfore we call them fooles in the world and so is it here the best way for a man not to deceive himselfe is to know nothing of this learning nor any other fleshly excellencie that so he may learn true wisdome and the Apostle doth me thinks sufficiently confirme this advice of his against all exceptions the Lord knows saith he that the thoughts of men be vaine Men think highly of their own conceits this way yet if no man will take this his councell for wisdome in this kind yet the Lord concludes the truth of it and he knows the thoughts of men to be vaine that think Humane-Learning some helpe but let them think what they will the Lord is against them in it for he knows that it is sure that they are deceived for his thoughts be not as mans thoughts Now another Cause that confirmes me in this Conclusion is because that wheresoever the Apostle honours the Spirits teaching 5 Reason and preferres it usually he at the same time casts contempt upon this learning as is to be seen in many places ‡ 1 Cor. 1.17.18 Christ saith he sent me to preach the Gospell not with the wisdome of words least I should make the crosse of Christ or the Gospel of Christ of none effect where we see that for good reason he rejects the very wisdome of words in preaching of the Gospel and that 〈◊〉 least if he should have done otherwise he should have made it of no effect because he was to declare the sincere word without the least mingling as if he should say such manner of pâ—eaching is a foolish preaching but it is so onely to them that perish but to such as are saved it is the power of God without what man expects and therfore he * 2 Cor. 11.2.3 saith againe he was jealous over them with a godly jealousie for he had prepared them a pure Virgin for Christ but saith he I feare that as the Serpent beguiled Eve but how through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupt that is putrified and infected from the sincerity that is in Christ This we see was Pauls feare that while he was absent their minds should be withdrawn from the foolishnesse of the Gospell and the simplicity sincerity and truth thereof and this they should be withdrawn from by the subtilty of Satan that old Serpent in his instruments the false teachers this he feares because of their fleshlynesse that was in them which was ready to yeeld to their wiles by reason of their subtilty that way for by faire words and flatteries they deceived the “ Rom. 16.18 hearts of the simple and with this their craftinesse they lye in wait to ‡ Ephe. 4.14 deceive thus contemptuously doth Paul speake of these things in opposition to the true learning as is further to be seen in many places of which I will name one more and that from the Apostle Peter in his second Epistle chap. 1. verse 16. For we saith he followed not deceiveable Fables when we opened unto you the power and comming of our Lord Iesus Now such names as these are doth the Apostle choose to cast on mans excellencies as in divers other § 1 Tim. 1.4 and 4.7 Tit. 3.9 places which declare what contempt is cast on such learning in opposition to the Spirit of God Now one thing more which I conceive observable for the proofe of this point in hand 5 Reason is drawn from the 2 Cor. 2.10 The Spirit searches the deep things of God and 14. The spirituall man discernes all things if then the Spirit searcheth the deep things of God and that discernes all things what need we more and with this agrees the Apostle Iohn †2 Ioh. 2.27 saying And ye need not that any man teach you save as that Anoynting teacheth you Then I conclude That we need not that any man teach us not the Master nor any of his followers for the Disciples of Jesus Christ doe learne as the truth is in him and of him and they have received the Spirit of God that they might know the things of God therfore we may well be without any mans learning and have no need of it and so the point is cleare and plain That such as are taught by Gods Spirit without that Learning do truly understand the Word I judge it necessary also to be understood of the Reader what I doe understand by human wisdome as well as Human-Learning by human wisdome I doe understand whatsoever appeares excellent in mans understanding as he is left without Gods spirits teaching this the more excellent it is to him that is carnall so much the worse it is therfore it is said of such by the Apostle that whenas they professed themselves to be wise then they became fooles Rom. 1.21 And saith our Saviour If the light which is in thee which I mind to be meant of mens understanding and wisdome be darknesse Mat. 6.23 how great is that darknesse So that by mans wisdome I understand whatsoever seems excellent to him with which he would honour God withall that he is not the Author of as eloquence and faire speeches and any thing in that way such as the Greeks sought after as men doe now adayes This I do the rather differ from Haman-Learning 1 Cor. 1.22 because it seems to me that the Scripture differenceth them Acts 22. and the difference rightly understood may prevent just exception and give light to the right understanding of the whole matter for this wisdome is made by the Apostle and that rightly Rom. 6.7 to be enmity to the Spirit of God and impossible to submit to it it is so contrary Now followes to be answered such Objections as are made against it as first Object 1 That of Paul in 1 Tim. 3.6 That a Bishop must be no young Scholler lest he being puffed up fall into the condemnation of the Devil Answer The Scholership Paul means here is the teaching of the Spirit whereby the man is made sound in the Faith for that learning onely will make men low in their own eyes as is before declared and he that is unsound in the faith will ever be found the most lofty and puffed up in his own conceit and so be rejected of God as the Devil was though he was in heaven with God yet being puffed up he was rejected of God and so * 2 Pet. 2.4 cast down to hell to which example Paul here alludes as I conceive and that rightly for a Bishop in the Church is in respect of his spirituall state and place in favour and fellowship with God and that in Heaven as the whole Book of the Revelation describes the Church to be Now such
little David without Sauls Armour onely with a Sling and a Stone through the Name of the Lord may so wound great Goliah of Gath the enemy of God and his people as that he may receive his deadly wound and ly groveling on the ground to the dismayment of all the Host of the Phylistims and great rejoycing of the Israel of God and this the Stone that is hewen out of the Mountaine without hands is onely able to doe Therfore let all that feare the Lord take heed that they leane not to their own Wisdome but so much the more that any of us have Wisdome and Vnderstanding Memory and such like naturall parts above other so much the more let us be watchfull and carefull over our selves as knowing that the § Rom. 8.7 Wisdome of the flesh is enmity against God and is ready to but against the Spirit and now to draw to a Conclusion of all in the words of the Prophet †Isay 44.25 The Lord frustrateth the tokens of the lyars and maketh the Diviners madde turneth wise-men backward and maketh their Knowledge foolishnesse If any shall except against the matter for the rudenesse of it as that it is without forme or Learning all such are to know that it is but sutable to the whole argument and that if it should be otherwise I should condemn that in practise which I justifie in words and so make my selfe a trespasser Thus I commit this my labour with all those that out of love to the Truth shall seek information in this matter to the blessing of the most High and remaine an unfeigned welwiller of all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity The 25 day of the First Moneth 1639. SAMUEL HOW THE SVFFICIENCIE OF THE SPIRITS TEACHING WITHOUT HVMAN-LEARNING The text 2 PETER 3.16 As one that in all his Epistles speakes of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are Vnlearned and Vnstable wrest as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction THESE Words that I am alotted to speake from at this time have respect as it should seeme to such things as the Apostle had spoken of Before which things seeme to me to be those that are contained from the beginnning of the second Chapter to the end of the thirteenth verse of this third Chapter and the foureteenth verse containes Peters exhortation strengthened in the fifteenth verse by his Brother Pauls writings who in all his Epistles speaks of these things as of the comming of the Lord Iesus and other things such as are herein contained among the which that is Pauls writings in his Epistles some things were hard to be understood and so indeed was the comming of Christ Iesus which it should seem was hard of them to be understood and that appeares by his earnest writing to the * 2 Thes â—2 at the beginning Thessalonians where he exorts them that they should not suddenly be moved neither by Word nor Epistle as it were from him as if the day of Christ were at hand for there were many things to be fulfilled first as a departure from the Faith the rising up the perfection and the consumption of the Man of sinne and this it should seeme though he had told them of it before yet to them it was hard to be understood which had the true Learning here meant which things they that were Unlearned and Unstable perverted as they did other Scriptures to their own destruction Therfore the great thing here to be minded is to find out what this learning is that Peter here intends And Secondly who they be that are the unlearned ones and by that we shall easily find who they be that are the perverters of the Scriptures to their owne destruction For this end therfore I will consider what this learning is not and then what it is What Learning it is not It is not Humane-Learning That I may not be misconceived about it I will here lay down my understanding in it and by Humane-Learning I doe not mind the knowledge and understanding of our own language which every man of what tongue soever he be might in some measure be taught of another as the Parents teach their Children and they learne of them of this there is a naturall necessity as the Apostle saith How shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard Rom. 10.14 now the hearing there mentioned must needs be a naturall hearing seeing it is set before Faith and this hearing must needs be the understanding of the sound of words spoken Now thus Peter and Iohn and all the rest learned the foolish things spoken of 1 Cor. 1.21 and thus I acknowledg that there is none but in some measure have this learning and must of necessity have it to understand Gods mind in an ordinary way But by Humane-Learning all along in this matter which I oppose It is the knowledge of Arts and Sciences divers Tongues and much reading and a persisting in these things soe as there-by to be made able to understand the mind of God in his Word this is it that I condemn from the word of Truth for being that by which any is made able spiritually to understand the mind of God which the Aposte saith cannot be attained to by the words which mans wisdome teacheth all which these excellencies are said to be 1 Cor. 2.13 So that by Humane-Learning I doe here understand that whereby certain men doe excell and are farre above and beyond other ordinary men and in this sense doe I understand that the Councel Judged Peter and Iohn to be no such learned men Act. 4.13 For we in common speech doe oppose a learned man to one that otherwise can read and write in his own tongue though he doe not understand the grounds of his own speech as the other man that is learned doth as may appeare by the Booke called the English School-master And so such learning doe I not conceive to be here meant which I conclude for these Reasons 1. Because that then Peter must of necessity condemn himselfe 1 Reason for he was a Man that in the * Act. 4 13. Councels knowledge was such an unlearned man and so must needs himselfe lye under that blame that he laves upon others therfore Humane-Learning is not here that which he intends 2. Because Humane-Learning is a ‡ Col. 2.8 rudiment of this world 2 Reason hence is it that our Saviour acknowledgeth that his Mysteries were hid from the ‡ Luk. 10.21 Learned but they were not hid from his Disciples for unto them it was § Mat. 13. Col. 2.8 given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdome And the rudiments of this world are not after Christ the Apostle tells us therfore Humane-Learning cannot be it that Peter here minds 3. Because the naturall man cannot †1 Cor. 2.14 perceive the things of God 3 Reason but
THE SVFFICIENCIE OF THE SPIRITS TEACHING WITHOUT HVMANE-LEARNING OR A TREATISE TENDING TO PROUE HVMANE-LEARNING TO BE NO HELP TO the Spirituall understanding of the Word of GOD Written if it may be for the Silencing of such false and scandalous reports as have been rumored about concerning this Matter and also for the affording of true information to all such as desire to know the Truth By SAMUEL HOW Prov. 14.5 A Faithfull witnesse will not lye but a false record will speake lyes Esay 57.14 Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling blocke out of the way of my people Mal. 2.1 2. And now ô ye Priests this Commandement is for you if ye will not heare it nor consider it in your heart to give glory to my name saith the Lord of hosts I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not consider it in your heart Mat. 11.25.26 At that time Iesus answered and said I thanke thee ô Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of understanding and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father because thy good pleasure was such Luk. 16.15 Then he said unto them ye are they that justify your selves before men but God knowes your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God Mat. 11.6 And Blessed is he that shall not be offended in me See also Esay 29.14 and Rev. 2.24.25 Seen Allowed and Printed by us c. 1640. TO ALL SVCH AS LOVE THE TRUTH IN SINSERITY LIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING BE MULTIPLYED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST GODS Gracious Promise it is Christian Reader that by the * 2 Thes 2.8 breath of his mouth and the brighnesse of his comming he will reveale the Man of Sin and Sonne of Perdition Yet thus witnesseth the Spirit that when it shall so come to passe that the Viall of Gods wrath shall be ‡ Reve. 16.10 11. powred upon the Throne of the Beast to the darkening of his Kingdome and discovering of those strong Delusions whereby he hath long deluded the world that then the men of that throne shall gnaw their tongues for sorrow and shall blaspheme the God of heaven All which to me appeares to be fulfilled and made good concerning this following Treatise 1. that when as the Lord by his Word the breath of his mouth hath blown out some smoake of the bottomlesse pit which I conceive to be Humane-Learning which is so much magnified as being a helpe whereby to understand the mind of God This matter hath so vexed and tormented the men of that Throne that even He himselfe at whose request I was moved to open this portion of Scripture 2 Pet. 3.16 hath as I am credibly informed reported about this City that I made a Calfe meaning a false and unsound exposition and when I had done danced about it herein exposing not onely me but the very Truth it selfe which I in this point delivered to the derision and contempt and Table-talke of such as bad rather be deceived and beleeve their Learned Teachers as men call them on their bare word having the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory with respect of Persons then to receive and justifie the Truth of God if the Messenger be weake and contemptible and his message in power much plainesse and demonstration of the spirit And not beautified with the excellency of speech and swelling words of mans wisdome which is enmity to God It crosseth and opposeth the simplicity of his way in the dispensation of the Glorious Mystery of the Gospell And therfore God hath said of it as Symon Peter said to Symon Magus * Act. 8 21 1 Cor. 1.19 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter But yet me thinks such men ‡ Ephes 5.4 as would carry the shew of Godlinesse should remember the Councel of the Apostle that such Carriages are things not seemly though for my owne part I blesse the Lord for it being to me a more strong confirmation that I have the Truth on my side For thus was ‡ Luk. 16.14 Jesus Christ our Lord served by the Wise and Learned Pharisees when as he taught them such a Doctrine as pleased them not And thus was Paul the Preacher of Righteousnesse dealt by of the leareed § Act. 17.18 Athenians even for preaching Jesus and the Resurrection Likewise I read â—n Heb. 11. that this in former times was part of the tryall that the Lord exercised his Witnesses withall even mockings vers 36. And therfore as our Saviour teacheth me I have in this case great cause to be glad and rejoyce for they having so served Jesus Christ my Lord and his faithfull followers then what am I that I should be one of that number that have so large †Mat. 5.12 incouragement and reward promised I shall therfore quietly passe by all such things and onely * Iob. 21.3 with Job in his distressed condition crave that he and all you that have done this thing will suffer me to speake and when I have spoken mock on seeing as the ‡ Iob. 12.2 Servant of God said Indeed because ye are the people onely Wisdome must dye with you so will I make bold to say to you also Yet for all his understanding and such others as heard me they fayled of their zeale for God and his glory in that they sought not to suppresse and throw down that Calfe of dishonour which must needs being an Idol be a very high provocation in the eyes of his Glory which he that put me upon this Exercise having excepted against it when it was finisht and with much passion manifested his great dislike thereof before many witnesses ought especially and was obliged to have done being then lovingly requested by a friend that was there present for the satisfaction of all that Assembly to Instance if not in all yet at least in some particular Scripture wherein I had perverted it seeing he had openly cast an Aspertion on all that I had said but neither he nor any of his Profession though many were then present did undertake this taske nor yet to this day hath He or any of them endeavoured it So it may appeare my Errour was not so great or none at all that they could prove or else their zeale to God and his Truth and their Charity to Me and othes very small And if there were a Calfe It was their Humane-Learning and wisdome which the men of this Throne set up and themselves danced about it whilest I to their great griefe and discontent was labouring with all the power and might that God assisted me with utterly to cast down grind it to powder and to blow it away with the word of God with the breath of his mouth Whether it be thus or no I commend now to the judgement
in effect have affirmed as I heare of me for the Scripture is against it as is already before declared from the * 1 Cor. 1.26 Apostle though there be not many But yet this for certaine is the worst worke that a carnall man can undertake to meddle with the Scriptures seeing that he abuseth them and that to his own destruction for the word is a Sword with two edges which whosoever that is carnall meddles with it will run into his heart to ‡̶ Rom. 2.5 harden it against the day of wrath And so I conceive the point is cleare and plain That men without Gods Spirit though furnisht with Human-Learning doe wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction Object 1 But here it will then be demanded how shal we know whether we have the Spirit of God or the spirit or Errour Answ I Answer that the Spirit of God is a sufficient witnesse to it selfe seeing that the Spirit is Truth Now this agreeing as it doth with the word needs not any other testimony of it selfe because it is the witnesse of God and that is the greatest as saith Iohn the †1 Ioh. 5.6 Spirit beareth witnesse for the Spirit is Truth and againe ‡ 1 Ioh. 3.24 hereby we know that he abidoth in us even by the Spirit that he hath given us Next it is to be known by its operations and works as first it savours spirituall things they that are after the flesh saith the Apostle †Rom. 8.5 savour the things of the flesh and they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit And againe the “ vers 10. Spirit is life for righteousnesse sake and is said to be of a § vers 11. quickning and an enlivening nature for righteousnesse The fruits of it are further manifested in ‡̶ Gal. 5.22.23 other places Now these things being sound in us do witnes for God against errour though it set it selfe up with never so high a hand And yet here methinks I heare the worldly Object 2 learned men saying to me as did * 1 King 22.24 Zedekiah when went the Spirit of God from them to such as I speake of Answer To this I Answer That with Zedekiah such persons doe but begge the question and take for granted like him that which they never had for that could never depart from him which was never with him therfore though he were great and his companions many * vers 6. as is ‡ shewed and that Micaiah was but one poore Prophet alone and hateâ— of the King yet he had the Spirit of God whenas all the other were led and ruled by the lying Spirit and though Iesus Christ and his learned ones cannot be beleeved of the great and honourable Prophets of the world but by Zedekiahs shall be smitten on the Cheek when by them this question is demanded of the Lords Prophets yet this answer may be given them that whenas they come to hide themselves in secret and to be ashamed of their visiâ—n and that the ‡ Rev. 15.1 seaven last plagues come to be fulfilled spoken of in the Revelations then they shall find the truth of the testimony that is borne against them though in the meane time the servants of the Lord be committed to prison there to eate the bread of affliction and the water of affliction for their testimony Object 3 But though it be granted that Human Learning is no helpe to underst and the mind of God yet is it not usefull to furnish us with words to expresse our selvs in the delivery of the Gospel Answer I Answere with Paul that the whole Scripture is given of God and is profitable to make the man of God absolute and throughly § 2 Tim. 3.16 furnished to every good worke whence I conclude that if the Scripture be perfect and absolute for every good worke then it is so for that so that then there is no need of mans wisdome to helpe the Ministers of God And so yet further saith the Apostle that he †1 Cor. 1.17 preached the Gospel not with wisdome of words if not with wisdome of words then I conclude they were needlesse and so much the next words declare least saith he I should make the Crosse of none effect And againe I Bretheren saith he when I came unto you came not with the * 1 Cor. 2.1 excellencie of words or of wisdome shewing unto you the Councel of God but frees himselfe from it denying that his preaching stood in the “ vers 4. inticing speech of mans wisdome but on the contrary in the plaine evidence and demonstration of the Spirit And afterwards he gives the ‡ vers 5. Reason for it that their Faith should not be in the wisdome of men by which it seems it is subject so to be if that were used And so we find that indeed it is and not in the power of God by the plain demonstation of the Spirit and though in all this one would think the Apostle had said enough in this matter for the manner of the delivering of the truth yet for all this he hath not done with it but minds it yet * 1 Cor. 2.13 againe saying Which things as we know them so we also speak not with words which mans wisdome teacheth And so againe he ‡ Cor. 4.19 slightly passeth over the words of the false teachers as not worth the knowing or regarding therfore he saith when he comes he will know not their words but their power And so againe he condiscends to the false teachers so farre as to confesse that he was “ Cor. 11.6 rude in speaking but not so in knowledge by all which places it plainly appeares that mans wisdome is to be rejected even in speaking the word of God and that none are to affect any excellence that way but to content themselves even with the use of the naturall abilities they have without any art or skill in learning further Object 4 But Apollas is said to be an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 Answ And so doubtles was Paul and Moses and those mentioned in Acts 19. and yet as I have before manifested that whenas all these came to receive the faith they left forsooke and contemned all that so do I beleeve was it here with this man that whenas he came to be taught further in the knowledge of Christ that he then became more and more sutable to the rudenesse and simplicity of preaching the Gospel aswell as Paul for never afterwards do we reade that he was commended by that term for such manner of excellencie was proper to the Law and not to the Gospell in any degree But Secondly take it for granted that he persisted in his eloquence yet it appeares that it was such as he had obtained by being mighty in the Scriptures and this also further justifies a former Answer that the Scripture alone is sufficient