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
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
revealing must needs be by the Spirit according to that 1 Cor. 2.10 And on this manner is it that our Lord comfort his Disciples telling them that all things were given him of his Father to reveale and so in that regard he tells them that blessed are the eyes that see that that they saw which was as the Apostle saith God manifested in the flesh which many wise men and Kings desired to see but could not see it and so that was now made manifest to them which before was hid from Wise-men and Scribes and so was at the present also for few of the Wise could attaine to the knowledge of Him and his Doctrine as they did Now with this also agrees what our †Mat. 22.23.29 Saviour further affirmes to the Sadducse who by reason of their Wisdome and Learning thought to have intangled him he tells them that they erred not knowing the Scriptures for all their great Learning being destitute of Gods Spirit Now by these Scriptures this poynt being thus confirmed good Reason also may by Gods word be brought for the futher justifying of it as First 1 Reason Because it is the good pleasure of God to place our salvation in great contempt and enmity to mans wisdome hence is it that the Apostle saith that he preached Christ crucified to the Iewes a ‡ 1 Cor. 1.23.24 stumbling blocke and to the Gretians foolishnesse for the Jewes we read in great contempt refused him as Pilate bid them behold their § Ioh. 19.19.21 King presently they cry away with him away with him Crucifie him and so when Pilate had wrote on the Crosse that he was King of the Jewes they tooke it as a great prejudice to them and therfore wished him to write that he said he was the King of the Iewes And so as Peter tells them in Acts 3. they denyed him and desired a murtherer to be given them and to this agreed the Gentiles for they had their hands also in his death and we find that whenas Paul preached him at Athens Act. 17.18.23 that then this saying of the Apostle here is made good both of Jewes and Gentiles and indeed they both agree to hang him betwixt heaven and earth as being in their esteem worthy of neither and yet even in this Crucified Iesus lyes contained the salvation of ‡̶ Act. 4.12 all both Jewes and Gentiles that are saved and in this despised Ieâ—us are all to rejoyce with the * â— Cor. 2.2 Gâ—â— 6.14 Apostle to salvation for in him thus dishonourable and unmeet in mans wisdome lye hid all our heavenly * Col. 2.3 1 Cor. 1.20 treasures of wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption for he is the wisdome of God and power of God 1 Cor. 1.24 Another Reason why such as have Gods Spirit destitute of Humane-Learning come thus to know Gods mind is 2 Reason that as the ‡ 1 Cor. 1.29 Apostle declares no flesh should rejoyce in Gods presence now this learning is but fleshly and carnall Now the Apostles advise is though we had known ‡ 2 Cor. 5.16 Christ Iesus after the flesh yet now comming to be after God we should henceforth know him so no more and here is a sufficient Reason because knwledge is subject to puffe us up as saith the § 1 Cor. 2.8 Apostle Whenas love and the Learning of the Spirit keeps us low in our own eyes and causeth as Solomon saith our minds to be good making us sutable to the Apostles exhortations †Rom. 12.16 saying Be not high minded but make your selves equall to them of the lower sort be not wise in your selves but ‡̶ Phil. 2.3 let every man esteem others better then himselfe and if any glory let him * 1 Cor. 1.31 glory in the Lord. Now he that hath these things as Humane-Learning and Wisdome more then another let him weigh and consider duly with himselfe whether he doth not think and conclude that he in regard of these things is not more to be respected then they that are without them now then ‡ 1 Cor. 5.6 this rejoycing is not good for it is a rejoycing in the flesh and sutable to ‡ Rom. 4.2 works and so not of God and yet so is it that for our hearts we cannot but think better of our selves for these things then of others without them so we may see the Apostles words fulfild that the wisdome of the § Rom. 8.7 flesh that is whatsoever the flesh is excellent in it is enmity to God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Anotder Cause why the Spirits teaching is sufficient without Humane-Learning is because as the Apostle saith 3 Reason we are compleat in him that is perfect and full in him and this he strengthens yet further from this consideration that he is the head of all Principalities and Powers so that if there were any thing else to make us compleat he being the Head of all we should have it but he hath given nothing but his †1 Cor. 12.7 Spirit to profit withall therfore we are compleat by it alone and therfore is it that Paul * 1 Tim. 6.20.21 exhorts Timothy to keep that which was committed to him which was the Faith taught by the Word and Spirit and wisheth him to avoyd and beware of Science that is all knowledge naturall which is comprehended under ,, Col. 2.8 phylosophy learned prophane and vaine bablings and oppositions to the Faith of Christ and so much is by the Apostle there declared saying which while some have lusted after they have erred from the Faith so that it is most plain and cleare that these things are so farre from perfecting men or helping of them in the knowledge of the truth as that they hinder and cause such as professe them to erre from the Faith even all the seaven Liberall Sciences for all be but Science and all this Science or knowledge is falsly sayd to be of use in the Gospell Profane and vaine bablings are farre better names for them and oppositions according to Pauls teaching and he saith of himselfe I thinke I have the Spirit of God and so indeed he had without doubt and so our ground remaines good that we are compleat in Christ Iesus Another consideration confirming this Conclusion 4 Reason is from the Apostles * 1 Cor. 3.18 advise let no man deceive himselfe and that in the true way of attaining wisdome he declares what it is in these words that such a one is to become a foole that he may be wise and how â—s that but by knowing that indeed there is nothing in all mans wisdome to be any whit helpfull but hurtfull to him in attaining and comprehending the wisdome of God in Christ Now what is more foolish to a man then to know that there is nothing that all the wits of man can reach unto that
other Scriptures to their own destruction and so this is another observation That such as are destitute of the Spirits teaching though furnish with Human-Learning are the perverters and wresters of these and all other Scriptures to their own destruction The truth of this Conclusion appeares plainly confirmed to us in the * Math 5.21 Pharisees as our Saviour declares in many particulars plainly discovering the “ Math. 23. from 16. to 19. blindnesse of these learned teachers in esteeming and preferring of things lesse in themselves above such as were farre greater as the proportion is made betwixt the gold of the Temple and the Temple and the Altar and that which was offred thereon and so blind were they that they counted that most holy which the Temple and the Altar made to be holy and the same ‡ Math 15. from 3. to 7. else â—here appeares that for all their learning they taught directly against the mind of God in his word We may see the same farther commended to us in Bartesus one full of all * Acts 13.6 suâ—â—â—â—â— in this kind but a turner from the Faith and not to it and a perverter of the straight wayes of God The like is to be observed in ‚‘‚ 1 Tim. 1.7 those of whom Paul speaks that would be Doctors of the Law and yet knew not what they said nor whereof they â—ffirmed so wise their Humane-Learning did helpe to make them Now from the word of God good Reasons may be observed further to confiâ—â—e this as first Reas 1 Because nothing but the Spirit of God can bring any to the true knowledge of the word of God and so saith the ‘‚ 1 Cor 2.12 Apostle We have received the Spirit of God that we may know the things that are given us of God and Peter * 2 Pet. 1.20 21. tells us that no Scripture is of any private interpretation but in opposition to that the Apostle sets the Spirit and opposes it to the will of Man and so declares that the Spirits interpretation where it is is a publique interpretation and not private and that Men though indued with great learning having not the Spirit of God can give but a private interpretation according to the Apostles intent let men judge what they will though it be the Pope and all his Councels of Cardinals and Bishops and the rest of that learned rabble yet they being destitute of the Spirit can give but a private interpretation according to the Apostles mind whereas if a Man have the Spirit of God though he be a Pedler Tinker Chimney-sweeper or COBLER he may by the helpe of Gods Spirit give a more publique interpretation then they all for as “ 1 Cor. 15. â—â— 2. Paul saith of love the same is to be said of the Spirit though men did speake with the tongues of Men and Angels and knew all secrets and had all knowledge yet this is but as a sounding brasse or tinckling Cymball without the Spirit Reas 2 Another Reason is because this was one end of Iesus Christ His comming into the world that they that * Ioh. 9.39 see might be made blind and this clearely appeares in the Pharisees those learned wise men that counted the common people as accursed because not knowing the Law and they themselves seeing blessed ones and therfore “ Ioh 7.48 say they Do any of the Rulers or Pharises beleeve in him as touching that the Rulers and Pharises must needs know the Truth whenas these were blind guides as saith our Saviour and so much ‡ Ioh. 9 4â— these took notice of that he so accounted hem and so also those that were blind in mans sight as was the blind man there spoken of He sees the gift of God and beleeves in Iesus Christ for his salvation and yet they refuse the knowledge and light of this seeing § ver 29. man and upbraid him for being born in sins and for going about to teach them scorning that such learned men as they should be taught of such as he was though Iesus Christ hath made him learned and given himselfe for him Another Reason is rendered out of the words 3 Reason Because such are unlearned and unstable ones for as before we have seen such persons are destitute of the true learning so also are they in an unsetled and unstable condition seeing as the Prophet †Psalm 51. witnesseth that the Spirit is the establisher neither can they be rooted and established in the Faith according to the Apostles * Col. 2.7 saying seeing they be not founded on the rock Christ Iesus but on â—he sands of Human-Learning arysing from a fleshly mind destitute of the Spirit of Truth for they have not learned as the Truth is in Iesus Againe 4 Reason it must needs be so that such must pervert the Scriptures because it is impossible for them to goe beyond their pronciple Now their principle is errour as the following words declare and by it they be guided and lead even the whole heape of them as bigge as it is and these shall satisfie mens lusts and turne them from the Faith unto Fables as the “ 2 Tim 4.4.4 Apostle long agoe hath foretold For such as are themselves of the flesh turn all things to fleshlinesse for that is it which they savour for to the uncleane all things are uncleane their Consciences being defiled as ‡ Tit. 1.15 witnesseth the Apostle hence was it that whenas our Saviour § Ioh 2.29 bade the Jewes to destroy this Temple meaning his †ver 29. body they themselves being carnall understood him to speake of the Temple of Ierusalem And so the Capernaites whenas Iesus Christ tells them He will give * Ioh. 6. them of His flesh to eate they being carnall cannot beare it and all because they be destitute of the Sririt vers 53.60.63 Ioh. â— 1.3.4 for it was in a spirituall sense that he intended it And the like is to be seen in Nicodemus a Pharisee and so a learned man being a Teacher and a Ruler of the Jewes this man for all this whenas Iesus Christ tells him that he must be borne againe otherwise he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God he seeing no further then into the naturall birth demands how that could be that a man when he is old should enter into his Mothers wombe and be borne againe so destitute was ne of the spirituall meaning of the mind of Iesus Christ in his word Another Reason me thinks included in the words is Because such Persons are usually vessels of wrath 5 Reason prepared to destruction therfore they drive all to the same end to which themselves belong the Gospell is the savour of life to life in them that are saved but it is the savour of death to them that perish Yet would I not from hence have any to conclude that I deny salvotion to learned men as some
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
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
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
you have others that the Scripture speaks not any otherwise then by the * Rev. 17.3 names of blasphemy But for the power and worke of the Ministry which you say is answerable to that of the Apostles by your gathering of the Saints together taking it for granted that you say from what do you convert them If from the power of darknesse as you would seem to imply into the Kingdome of Christ as ‡ Col. 1.13 did the Apostle then by your own grant in the power of darknesse you found them and the truth is that where you found them there you leave them when you found them before their conversion you professed of them that they were regenerate and born anew to what then do you convert them or have you conversion after regeneration you also bade these persons before to take and eate in remembrance that Christ dyed for them and foâ—give them the seales of life and salvation and yet after all this you being ministers to them come to justifie the truth of your Ministry by your conversion of these people that have by these things no need of amendment and yet when all is done that you plead for they still abide in the same Church under the same Ministry in the same worship that they were conversant in before whenas I have declared before that whenas the Apostles converted any those converts left their former places turning from dumb Idols to serve the living God Now it hath been long since acknowledged and professed that the Worship of your Church and the Ministry of it came out of the Popes shop and must needs be reformed or else the judgement of God cannot but light upon you as hath bin manifested in the first and second admonition to the Parliament in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth and all know that yet it continues the same that then it was and if it were so bad then as it is reported that a thousand Ministers said it was small cause have any to plead conversion whenas they shall continue in such abhominations as that the plagues of God cannot by their own confession be withheld seeing that the Scriptures and Spirit of God teacheth us that the * Psalm 119.101 feare of the Lord teacheth mâ—n to refrain their feet from every evill way and to cleanse our selves from alâ— filthinesse both of flesh and spirit and to grow up unto full holinesse in the feare of God or the worship of God as our Saviour ‡ Mat. 4. 2 Cor. 2.1 interprets it and to hate the very ‡ Iude 23. garment spotted by the flesh Now these things well considered it will appeare that the several Scriptures that are continually brought for the maintenanc of your Ministry are but as so many flourishes by which the word of truth is wrested and wringed like to a nose of wax contrary to their proper intents and scopes to serve your own turnes which who they be of you or others that are the perverters of them God knows and one day will judge betwixt the righteous and the wicked and give to every one according as his workes shall be In the mean while to me it appeares plain that men destitute of Gods holy Spirit be they as learned as may be in Mans-Learning yet they do pervert all Scriptures to their own destruction whenas the unlearned one simple men and women having the Spirit of truth in them shall rightly know them and Gods mind in them for their great comfort 4 Vse Again seeing this is so that such men do thus pervert the Scriptures this should provoke all that are made able Ministers of the Spirit as saith the § 2 Cor. 3.2 Apostle that they take the same Apostles †1 Tim. 4.6 advise saying if thou put the Bretheren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Iesus Christ If thou put the Bretheren in remembrace of these things What things those things mentioned ‡̶ from the 1. verse before how that the Spirit hath foretold of Doctrines of Devils how that men should speeake lyes through hypocrisie c. as Zachary also foretold that the * Zach. 13.3 Father and Mother of the Prophet should say that he told them lyes in the name of the Lord If thou put the Bretheren in remembrance of these things because they are subject to forget them and thou shouldest be their remembrancer which if thou do thou shalt be a good Minister of Iesus Christ which hast bin nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine then marke these things are not errors nor lyes nor he a false-teacher that speakes of them but a good Minister that hath bin nourisht up in faith and good doctrine which was continually taught of Paul and heard of Timothy and to this is to be added what the Apostle * Tim 6.3.4 saith further in this matter declaring that he that consenteth not to wholsome doctrine that is according to godlines is puft up and knows nothing but dotes about words and is such a one as is so farre corrupted by the flesh as that he is to be separated from Therfore Gods good Ministers as we see should be carefull of these things as knowing of whom they shall receive their reward and what shal also be their portion from men of the world in that which is ‡ Rev. 11.7 death in the world but ‡ Rev. 14.13 life with the Lord Be Faithfull therfore to the death and you shall have a § Rev. 2.10 5 Vse crown of life declaring the power of the Spirit of the Lord in you Now in the last place I will conclude with the exhortation of the †2 Pet. 3.17.18 Apostle in the words following Ye therfore beloved seeing ye know these things before what things among others those that worldly learned men are Gods unlearned men being destitute of his Spirit beware and take heed least ye also aswell as others you being subject to it be plucked away before you be aware into the errour of the wicked to thinke that Gods Mysteries cannot be attained to by mans learning and so you fall from your own stedfastnes which is ‡ Rom. 11. through Faith for by Faith ye stand and by the Spirit for by it ye are also ‡ Psalm 51. establisht and for a preservative against this errour as opposite to it grow and increase in the grace of God and the knowledge of the Lord Iesus Christ which is that that will preserve you from errour Now to Him be glory not to us nor to Man but to Him our Lord Iesus Christ both now and for evermore Amen I SAY 44.25 The Lord frustrateth the tokens of the lyars and maketh diviners mad turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolishnesse FINIS