can they be rooted and established in the Faith according to the Apostles c Col. 2.7 saying seeing they be not founded on the Rock Christ Jesus but on the Sands of Humane Learning arising from a sleshly mind destitute of the Spirit of Truth for they have not learned as the truth is in Jesus Reason 4 Again it must needs be so that such must pervert the Scriptures because it is impossible for them to go beyond their principle Now their principle is error as the following words declare and by it they be guided †They that heaped Teachers to themselves were led to fables and led even the whole heap of them as big as it is and these shall satisfie mens lusts and turn them from the Faith unto Fables as the d 2 Tim. 4 4.5 Apostle long ago hath foretold for such as are themselves of the flesh turn all things to fleshlinesse for that is it which they savour for to the unclean all things are unclean their consciences being defiled as e Tit. 1.15 witnesseth the Apostle Hence was it that when as our Saviour f Joh. 2.29 bad the Jewes to destroy this Temple meaning his g Ver. 29. body they themselves being carnall understood him to speak of the Temple of Jerusalem And so the Capernaits when as Jesus Christ tells them He will give them h Joh. 6. of his flesh to eat they being carnal cannot bear it Verse 53.60.63 and all because they be destitute of the Spirit for it was in a spirituall sense that he intended it And the like is to be seen in Nicodemus a Pharisee Joh. 5.1 3 4. and so a learned man being a Teacher and a Ruler of the Jews this man for all this when as Jesus Christ tells him That he must be born again otherwise he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God he seeing no further then into the natural birth demands how that could be That a man when he is old should enter into his mothers womb and be born again so destitute was he of the spirituall meaning of the minde of Jesus Christ in his Word Reason 5 Another Reason methinks included in the words is Because such persons are usually vessels of wrath prepared to destruction * Those to whom the Gospel is a savour of death would have it go in their way therefore they drive all to the same end to which themselves belong The Gospel is the savour of life to life in them that are saved but is the savour of death to them that perish Yet would I not from hence have any to conclude that I deny salvation to learned men as some in effect have affirmed as I hear of me for the Scripture is against it as is already before declared from the i 1 Cor. 1.26 Apostle though there be not many But yet this for certain is the worst work that a carnall man can undertake to meddle with the Scriptures seeing that he abuseth them and that to his own destruction for the Word is a Sword with two edges which whosoever that is carnall meddles with it will run into his heart to k Rom. 2.5 harden it against the day of wrath And so I conceive the point is clear and plain That men without Gods Spirit though furnisht with Humane Learning do wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction Object 1 But here it will then be demanded how shall we know whether we have the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Error Answ I answer that the Spirit of God is a sufficient witnesse to it self seeing that the Spirit is Truth Now this agreeing as it doth with the Word needs not any other testimony of it self because it is the witnesse of God and that is the greatest as saith John the l 1 Joh. 5.6 Spirit beareth witnesse for the Spirit is Truth And againe m 1 Joh. 3. Hereby we know that he abideth in us even by the Spirit that he hath given us Next it is to be knowne by its operations and works as first it savours spirituall things They that are after the flesh saith the Apostle n Rom. 8.5 Gods Spirit is known by his mighty works savour the things of the flesh and they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit And again the o Verse 10. spirit is life for righteousnesse sake and is said to be of a p Verse 11. quickning and an enlivening nature for righteousnesse The fruits of it arc further manifested in q Gal. 5 22 23 other places Now these things being found in us do witnesse for God against Error though it set it self up with never so high a hand Object 2 And yet here methinks I hear the wordly learned men saying to me as did r 1 Kin. 22.24 Zedekiah When went the Spirit of God from them to such as I speak of To this I answer that with Zedekiah such persons do but beg the question Answ and take for granted like him that which they never had for that could never depart from him which was never with him therefore though he were great and his companions many as is Å¿ Verse 6. shewed and that Micajah was but one poor Prophet alone and hated of the King yet he had the Spirit of God when as all the other were led and ruled by the lying Spirit and though Jesus Christ and his learned ones cannot be believed of the great and honourable Prophets of the world but by Zedekiahs shall be smitten on the Cheek when by them this question is demanded of the Lords Prophets yet this answer may be given them that when as they come to hide themselves in secret and to be ashamed of their Vision and that the t Rev. 15.1 seven last plagues come to be fulfill'd spoken of in the Revelations then they shall find the truth of the testimony that is born against them though in the mean time the servants of the Lord be committed to prison there to eat the bread of affliction and the water of affliction for their testimony Object 3 But though it be granted that Humane Learning is no help to understand the mind of God yet is not usefull to furnish us with words to expresse our selves in the delivery of the Cospel Answ I answer with Paul that the †The whole Scripture is given of God whole Scripture is given of God and is profitable to make the man of God absolute and throughly u 2 Tim. 3.16 furnished to every good work Whence I conclude that if the Scripture be perfect and absâ—lute for every good work then it is so for that so that then there is no need of mans wisdome to help the Ministers of God And so yet further saith the Apostle that he x 1 Cor. 1.17 preached the Gospel not with wisdome of words if not with wisdome of words then I conclude they were needlesse and so much the next
SUFFICIENCY OF THE SPIRITS TEACHING WITHOUT Humane Learning Or a Treatise tending to prove Humane Learning to be no help to the Spirituall Understanding of the Word of God Written if it may be for the silencing of such false and scandalous Reports as have been rumoured about concerning this matter and also for the information of all such as desire to know the Truth By SAMUEL HOVV Prov. 14.5 A faithful Witness will not lie but a false Record will speak lies Esay 57.14 Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people Mal. 2.1 2. And now ô ye Priests this Commandment is for you if ye will not hear it nor consider it in your heart to give glory to my Name saith the Lord of Hoasts I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not consider it in your heart Mat. 11.25 26. At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee ô Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of understanding and bast revealed them unto Babes even so Father because thy good pleasure is such Luke 16.15 Then he said unto them ye are they that justifie your selves before men but God knows your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God Seen allowed and first printed by some friends of the Author 1639. Newly printed and are to-be sold by William Larnar at the Blackmore neer FLEET-BRIDGE 1655. To all such as love the truth in Sincericerity Light and Understanding be multiplied through JESUS CHRIST GOds Gracions Promise it is Christian Reader that by the a 2 Thes 2.8 breath of his mouth and the brightness of his coming he will reveal the Man of Sin and Son of Perdition Yet thus witnesseth the Spirit that when it shall so come to pass That the Vial of Gods wrath shall be b Rev. 16.10 11. poured upon the Throne of the Beast to the darkning of his Kingdome and discovering of those strong Delusions whereby he hath long deluded the World that then the men of that throne shall gnaw their tongues for sorrow and shall blaspheme the God of Heaven All which to me appears to be fulfilled and made good concerning this following Treatise 1. That when as the Lord by his Word the breath of his month hath blown out some smoak of the Bottomless Pit which I conceive to be Humane Learning which is so much magnified as being a help whereby to understand the mind of God This matter hath so vexed and tormented the men of that Throne that even * J. G. He himself at whose request I was moved to open this portion of Scripture 2 Pet. 3.16 hath as I am credibly informed reported about this City that I made a Calf meaning a false and unsound exposition and when I had done danced about it herein exposing not only me but the very Truth it self which I in this point delivered to the derision and contempt and Table-talk of such as had rather be deceived and believe their learned Teachers as men call them on their bare word having the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory with respect of Person then to receive and justifie the Truth of God if the Messenger be weak and contemptible and his message in power much plainness and demonstration of the Spirit and not beautified with the excellency of speech and swelling words of mans wisdom which is enmity to God it crosseth and opposeth the simplicity of his way in the dispensation of the glorious Mystery of the Gospel And therefore God hath said of it as Simon Peter said to Simon Magus c Act. 8.21 1 Cor. 1.19 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter But yet methinks such men d Ephes â— 4 as would carry the shew of godlinesse should remember the counsel of the Apostle That such carriages are things not seemly though for my own part I blesse the Lord for it being to me a more strong confirmation that I have the Truth on my side For thus was e Luâ—â—â— 14. Iesus Christ our Lord served by the wise and learned Pharisees when as he taught them such a Doctrine as pleased them not And thus was Paul the Preacher of Righteousness dealt by of the learned f Act. 17.18 Athenians even for preaching Iesus and the Resurrection Likewise I read in Heb. 11. that this in former times was part of the Tryal that the Lord exercised his Witnesses withall even mockings verse 36. And therefore as our Saviour teacheth me I have in this case great cause to be glad and rejoyce for they having so served Iesus Christ my Lord and his faithful followers then what am I that I should be one of that number that have so large g â—â—t 5.12 incouragement and reward promised I shall therefore quietly passe by all such things and onely h Job 21.3 with Iob in his distressed condition crâ—ve that he and all you that have done this thing will suffer me to speak and when I have spoken mock on seeing as the i Job 12.2 Servant of God said Indeed because ye are the people only Wisdome must die with you so will I make bold to say to you also Yet for all his understanding and such others as heard me they failed of their zeal for God and his glory in that they sought not to suppress and throw down that Calf of dishonor which must needs being an Idol be a very high provocation in the eyes of his Glory which he that put me upon this Exercise having excepted against it when it was finisht and with much passion manifested his great dislike thereof before many witnesses ought especially and was obliged to have done being then lovingly requested by a friend that was there present for the satisfaction of all that Assembly to instance if not in all yet at least in some particular Scripture wherein I had perverted it seeing he had openly cast an aspersion on all that I had said but neither he nor any of his Profession though many were then present did undertake this task nor yet to this day hath he or any of them endeavoured it So it may appear my Error was not so great or none at all that they could prove or else their zeal to God and his Truth and their charity to me and others very small And if there were a Calfe it was their Humane Learning and Wisdome which the men of this Throne set up and themselves danced about it whilest I to their great grief and discontent was labouring with all the power and might that God assisted me with utterly to cast down grind it to ponder and to blow it away with the Word of God with the breath of his mouth Whether it be thus or no I commend now to the
word of the Lord is fulfilled and men see it not and this you know the Scripture in sundry places makes the depth of a judgement as in Hosea Ephraim is said to have here and there gray hairs and yet he saw them not and in this we know was the strength of that z 2 Thes 2.11 great Judgement that men should confidently take lyes for truth this is there made the depth of their woe And the like is manifested * 1 Tim. 4.2 elswhere by the same Apostle declaring That though they speak lies yet they were so scared in their consciences as that they felt nor feared no danger that they were in no more then the man that lying drunk did though he lay sleeping on the top of the Mast and so ready to be drowned yet he feared it not Pro. 23.34 35. Woe to those men that take darknesse for light and live in the smoak of the worldly Temples and yet such is the case the Sun and the Ayr being darkened their condition must needs be wofull and yet this is the case of the Inhabitants of the earth that they cannot be brought to believe but that they are in a very good case though that the light of the glorious Gospel which is the Image of God do not shine unto them as a 2 Cor. 4 4.6 saith the Apostle Now that by which this Sun is said to be darkened is the smoak of the bottomlesse Pit and that we shall find to be the glory and power of the false Church called by the name of the Bottomlesse Pit And that this may the better appear we find many b Isa 6.4 2 King 8.11 12. with 15. Rev. 8. places in the Scriptures manifesting the glory of God and his power to be his smoak Now because God hath smoak in his Temple so hath Gods Adversary in his Temple also or rather his bottomlesse Pit After his smoak in Rev. 9 2 3. there follows power and if you look in the 7.8 and 9. verses there is their glory and it doth further appear by the thirteenth Chapter and the third verse that it was so great power and glory as that all the world wondered and admired it and yet this Iesus Christ â—ccounts a great woe and plague to them now part of this woe Rev. 16 10 11. I believe is this learning which we have here in question for as we have before manifested the Sun light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ allows not for the glory of Christs Doctrine is that it is of the Spirits teaching 2 Cor. 3 12. for when we behold the glory of the Lord in the most perfect measure so as we are changed thereinto from glory to glory yet all is from the Spirit of the Lord seeing that he is the promised Comforter that is to teach us all good things belonging to our perfection Then it must needs follow that is a smoaky power and glory flowing from the Kingdom of Satan and so a part of the Taile that c Rev. 12.4 the Dragon drew the Stars withall after him And hence comes it to passe that now instead of the Spirits teaching 2 Pet. 2.1 according to Peters Prophesie here are a generation that do arise 1 Tim. 4.2 which privily bring in damnable errors and so for that end forsaking the Spirit of Truth they speak lies through hypocrisie As Paul also witnesseth they should do pretending now that the true and right way for understanding the Scriptures and mind of God was that men for that end must learn a part from others only for that work and so to be taught in Tongues and divers Languages and have their wits exercised in Arts and Sciences humane and so such a flourish bears this in mans conceit as that it seems the only way that can be for a man to be made fit for this work so that before while the Angels kept their station in heaven the Spirits simple teaching was judged sufficient without these things for this work they now being fallen from thence to the earth and having the key of the bottomlesse Pit Rev. 9.4 thence it being opened now ariseth up d See John Bale on Re. 9.1 Plato and Aristotle and a multitude more of Heathen Phylosophers * Phylosophers are the Angels that hinder the Spirits four winds to blow on the four corners of the earth These are the four Angels that stand on the four corners of the earth holding the four Winds that they should not blow on the earth neither on the Sea neither on any Tree as being those that have the whole power of preaching in their hand not suffering any to blow but who they please and so do withhold the truth in unrighteousnesse declaring thereby they be under the wrath of God and they seem to yeeld these starry Principles very fitting in their own understanding better to furnish them with fitnesse to open the mind of God Rev. 7.1 then his Spirit can do Rom. 1.18 whereas before when as the perfect teachings of the holy Sâ—â—â— was in force these men of all others were by reason of them learning and wisdome the most unutterablest men that were in the world for the receiving of the truth as appears by the testimony of Luke Acts 1.18 and is not yet for all the great Sun-light of the glorious Gospel of Christ which these men professe they have these black smoaky principles still so stifly stood for as that there is no removing of men from the high conceit that they have of them And doth not this sufficiently declare as the Apostle saith That God hath blinded the minds of men 2 Cor. 4.4 John 9.41 so as they cannot see but are so much the blinder because they say they see And hence came it to passe that I for mentioning Plato and Aristotle Object and such like was demanded how I came by the knowledge of that if not by Humane Learning with contempt cast upon it as if that which I had from them being Humane learned men was of it self sufficient to overthrow the matter which I had there delivered Answ I answered then as I do still it was none other but as Paul mentioned to the Athenians their own Poets Acts 17. and yet for all that he was as great an enemy to Humane Learning as I and greater too And it is to be minded as I have before declared that I do not oppose the knowledge of humane things nor yet deny but that we may be acquainted with their sayings as the Apostle himself and our Saviour was yea and that sometimes we make use of them too as occasion requires as I have done here though sparingly and but seldome and when it is that it be of great use as it was at those three times that Paul did use them and no more that I remember in all the Scripture Now this you see the Spirit teacheth Acts 17.28 1 Cor. 15.33