Works of sundry Learned men stirred up by God to fetch the Arts back out of banishment Pag. 716 and 717. Mr. Trap names divers of them After that Humane Learning began thus to reflourish and lift up the head Divinity also that had been shamefully obscured and slurried with needless and endless Doubts and Disputes was vindicated and illustrated by the knowledge of Latine Greek and Hebrew In this fourteenth Age as also in the fifteenth and sixteenth Ages God raised up divers Worthies who by their Confessions Writings and Martyrdom gave a great and glorious Testimony to the Gospel of Christ and the Truths thereof as Wickliff Huss Hierom of Prague after them Luther Zuinglius Oecolampadius and many others Then grew up that golden Age of gracious and excellent Divines famous and matchless for depth of Learning and heighth of Holiness If the Times of greatest Ignorance Neglect and Contempt of humane Learning were the Times wherein Errors most prevailed Superstition and Idolatry was advanced and Truth suppressed and Popery did not fall till Learning did rise and if Religion flourished and was best defended when Learning most abounded then Learning is useful and needful for the Ministers of the Gospel SECT IV. Learning qualifies for all public Employments HUmane Learning qualifies Argum. 3. and is needful for all Persons in publick Places and Imployments as Kings Counsellors Judges Magistrates Lawyers Physicians for who would not take advice of Learned Lawyers about their Estates and of Learned Physicians for their Bodies and indeed for every ingenuous Imployment Henry the First King of England was bred up in Learning and such a Prizer of it as he used to say ☞ That An unlearned King was but a crowned Ass Then Learning is most needful for a Minister to fit and furnish him throughly for the work of the Ministery considering that no calling requires more abilities or acquired parts then the Ministry which work I. Is most Important Weighty and Worthy for it is the Minister's office to be conversant in the Matters of God and of Souls of Heaven and of Eternity which are of the greatest Interest and highest Concernment and of the largest and longest Consequence II. Is most comprehensive and manifold As 1. To give the Sense clear the Difficulties reconcile the Differences and seeming Repugnancies of the Scriptures 2. To handle positively all Points of Religion and to discuss and determine Controversies and Doubts about them 3. To resolve and satisfie Cases of Conscience and Scruples 4. Eph. 4.24 Gal. 5.1 To detect false Teachers and discover the many Evils Artifices Cheats Fallacies and Sophistries of Seducers and Impostors and of Satan in them whereby many poor simple Souls are deluded Therefore saith Paul Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.6 Do not they call for the best accomplishments SECT V. Satan makes use of Learning to oppose the Truth LEarning is necessary to the Ministers of the Gospel Argum. 4. for defence of the Truth because Satan makes much use of Learning to oppose the Truth and fight against Religion to maintain his Cause uphold and promote his Kingdom and Satan makes choice and use of Learned men to be his Agents and Champions Advocates for Error and Adversaries to the Truth of God To this end 1. Satan stirred up Heathens who were endued with Learning to write books against the Christian Religion as Porphyry who was one of Julians bosom-birds Celsus Symmachus and others 2. Then Satan raised up Heretics within the Church men of corrupt minds destitute of the Truth but of Parts and Learning to devise defend and spread Errors Heresies and Blasphemies and resist the Truth of God with all their might as Arrius Nestorius Macedonius Donatus Pelagius and many others 3. How many learned Men hath Satan imployed and ingaged since in later times to be defenders of Popery or Romish-Idolatry as Jesuits and many others of Arminianism Socinianism Antinomianism Anabaptism Familism Libertinism and of several old Heresies newly raked up and revived It hath been the Jesuits brag that Imperium literarum est penes Jesuitas the Empire of Learning is within their Dominion and that we have not a Scholar Protestant 4. How hath Satan excited the Papists those friends of Antichrist and builders of Babylon to be at great pains cost and charges to advance Learning with them that they may the better overthrow the Truth of God with us Hence it is that they have errected so many Universities in Spain France Italy How are the Colledges of the Jesuits throughout the Pope's Dominions promoted so as to allure even foreiners thereunto Then do not the Protestant Reformed Churches stand in great need of Men eminently Learned to be able Defenders of the Faith and strenuous maintainers of the Truths of Christ against all Heathenish Heretical and Schismatical Adversaries thereof whether secret underminers or open opposers to convince and confute Learned Subtile Witty Adversaries as Heretics Jesuits and divers others May not Learning being well used be as great a help or advantage to the Truth and Cause of God as Learning abused is an hinderance to it an Engine or Bulwark for Errors Learning as one saith is part of the defensive Arms of true Religion Did not the Israelites need Smiths to make them Weapons to defend themselves against the Philistines as the Philistines did to offend Israel It is very observable how God accomplished some of his servants in all ages with excellent Gifts Graces and Learning to refute silence and non-plus the most acute and learned Adversaries of God's Truth and Grace which those times produced as Moses to withstand the learned Egyptians Athanasius to confute Arrius and Austin that learned Father to oppose Pelagius Jewel Whitaker Rainolds Cartwright Fulk Perkins men of great Learning to refute the Jesuits Moulin Ames Twiss to confute Arminius Yea the Devil can and doth sometime make use of Learning himself to serve his turn as he did in his speaking out of the possessed man See Mr. Rich. Rothwel's life in Mr Clark's Book of Lives John Fox in Nottinghamshire to Mr. Richard Rothwel he quoted many Scriptures out of the Old and New Testament both in Hebrew and Greek he cavilled and played the Critic and backed his Allegations with Sayings out of the Fathers and Poets in their own languages which he readily quoted So that the Company trembled to hear such things from the Man who understood not Learning nor moved either tongue or lip or rather from the Devil in the Man But Mr. Rothwel being not onely a gracious Man but a great Scholar was enabled by God to detect the Devil's Sophistry Was not his Humane Learning then of use to him SECT VI. Satan seeks by obstructing Learning to undermine Religion THe Necessity and Utility of Learning doth further appear by another Design of Satan Argum. 5. which is to undermine Religion by the obstructing of Learning and discouraging thereof This he hath practised by his Instruments
118. pag. 375. speaking of Learning and Eloquence saith Contra illa non aliter disputat Apostolus c. The Apostle disputeth no otherwise against these then as they obscure the Cross of Christ and it must be granted saith he that eloquence and wisdom are good things in themselves and the gifts of God and if they be rightly used they adorn piety and may profit wonderfully SECT VI. Of Paul 's desiring to know nothing but Christ Obj. 6. PAul desired to know nothing but Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 Ergo not Arts and Tongues Answ 1. He knew humane Learning already being educated at Gamaliel's feet and he was a Pharisee and they excelled in knowledge and were great teachers thereof in Christ's time 2. Yet he valued it not in comparison of Christ and the knowledge of him Phil. 3.7 8. he counted it but dung 3. He desired to profess or teach no other skill but the knowledge of Christ This was his main yea his sole design which doth not hinder but that he might make use of Learning so far as it would be subservient to the advancing of it And indeed so we find him doing in the fifteenth Chapter of this Epistle verse 33. where he cites a Heathen Poet as was before observed The earnest intention of some one end doth not oblige to a neglect of any means that may conduce thereto A DETERMINATION OF THIS QUESTION Whether Grace is Essential to a Minister of the Gospel By the same Author Question WHether Grace be Essential to a Minister of the Gospel or Wwhether the want of Grace doth annul his Admission or be a sufficient cause of Ejection Answ Though Grace be a most desirable Qualification of a Gospel-Minister and a most excellent help and furtherance eminently useful to the work of the Ministery both for performance of the Duty and for success of Labors and I wish Oh that God would that all the Ministers of the Gospel were Preachers from Grace as well as from Gifts from conscience and experience as well as from science from their hearts as well as from their heads yet it appears not to me that Grace is Causa sine qua non or of so absolute necessity to the Ministery as without which a man cannot be or should not be allowed or continued to be a Minister of the Gospel To make good this Assertion I will give three Grounds I. Ministerial Gifts and saving Graces are things distinct in themselves and separable in the subject II. The Ministery of the Gospel is ordained by Christ principally for the good of others III. The Testimonies of eminent Divines in the Case First Ground Grace is not Essential to a Minister of the Gospel because Ministerial Gifts and saving Graces are things distinct in themselves and separable each from other in the subject Here I will first clear three things scil 1. What these Ministerial Gifts are 2. That they qualifie men for the work of the Ministery 3. That God is the Author and Doner of these Gifts to that end And afterwards I will shew the Distinction and Separability of Gifts and saving Graces First What these Ministerial Gifts are which dispose men for that work and are adequate to the end of the Ministery now these are the ordinary 1. Gifts of common Illumination Of Common Illumination and the effects thereof see Pemble's works pag. 60. and Dickson on the Hebr. 6.4 5 9. pag. 93. and knowledge of Religion and the Matters thereof which is attainable either by inward sense and experience or by intellectual Speculation and though both these do more exactly accomplish a man for the Ministery yet the latter onely may in some cases suffice especially considering that experience can assure us of nothing that I am to press upon others which Scripture also doth not suggest and confirm 2. The Gift of Preaching Prophecy or Interpretation of the Scripture of opening or unfolding and applying the same 3. The Gifts of utterance and of prayer 4. The Gifts of Arts and Tongues which are useful as handmaids to Divinity and to the Ministery 5. The Gift of Argumentation or reasoning to confirm or defend the Truth to confute errors and convince Gainsayers c. The second is that these Ministerial abilities do qualifie men for the work of the Ministery as they make them suitable and competent thereunto and fit them to perform their office and the several acts thereof by Gifts as to pray by a Gift of prayer to preach by a Gift of preaching and to dispute by a Gift or faculty of Disputation and not to preach other mens Sermons or say other mens prayers only Hence a man endowed with good parts natural and acquired by diligent reading study discourse and prayer to God for Illumination Direction Assistance c. 1. May attain to a large clear distinct knowledge of Religion and the several Principles and Points of it 2. May be able to teach the same plainly soundly and profitably to others to instruct convince reprove confirm and comfort others 3. May be through God's blessing instrumental for the good of others for edifying the body of Christ for building up in knowledge faith holiness and obedience for carrying on the work of the Lord promoting Reformation and furthering the salvation of others and for information of some who have Grace really of some things they knew not before and for resolution of some doubts and scruples 4. May be useful in the Church of God to defend and maintain the Christian Religion and all the Points of it especially Controversal against the Adversaries of the Truth and Grace of God as Papists Arminians Socinians and others that are Heterodox which some men of great Learning parts and studies but it 's questionable by their lives and ways whether they had true saving Grace have done more soundly and strenuously even to the convincing of Gainsayers and to the silencing or stopping the mouths of Adversaries then many who have true Grace but want such Gifts are able to do Probatum est For there are many real Christians who have good experience of the practical part of Religion yet want abilities for the Controversal part or defence of the Truth against the oppugners of it Hence also I infer that datur Medium or there is a Mean between a Ministers Preaching from Experience of the New Birth or work of Grace c. in his own soul which is indeed the most comfortable and effectual and a Ministers taking a Sermon out of a book which he never made and getting it by heart and saying or preaching it The mean between them is a Ministers making of a Sermon by a Gift God hath given him and by study and preaching it afterwards though he hath not the Experience of it in himself As there is a Mean between praying by the Spirit or the Spirit of Prayer and reading of a prayer out of a book or using a bare form of prayer and that Mean is praying by
Melancthon in his Epistle before this book of Luther's delivers himself thus Linguas profecto praecidi oportet iis qui pro concionibus passim a literarum studiis imperitam juventutem dehortantur Nam admissa Barbarie c. They deserve saith he to have their Tongues cut out who dehort youth from the study of learning For we see that when Barbarism hath been admitted Religion hath been weakned And I greatly fear lest things come to the same pass except we with all our might defend learning that most excellent gift of God Quantum Ratio dat Homini saith Casaubon tantum Literatura dat Rationi Casaubon Religio Literaturae Religioni Gratia What Reason doth give to a Man ☞ that doth Learning give to Reason Religion to Learning and Grace to Religion Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs gives this testimony to Learning Burtough's Heart-Divisions upon Hosea 10.2 p. 88 89. There is saith he a great delusion in many mens hearts that makes them think it to be half Popery to give any respect to learning Although the abuse of learning hath done much evil against that much hath been and may be said yet I dare avow this that never since the beginning of the world could a man be found to speak against learning but an ignorant man Neither is it like nay I may aver it is impossible that any but such will be found to the end of the world Learning hath so much of God in it that it never had nor will have any enemy but ignorance Dr. Rainolds saith Rainolds in his Funeral Sermon for Mr. Langley in Acts 7.22 Humane Learning is a noble gift of God and a great honor and ornament to the most excellent men All Secular Learning is the knowledge of God's works aeternae veritatis particula a small emanation from eternal verity Philosophical and Mathematical Learning is the knowledge of his works of Creation Historical and Political leaâ—ning the knowledge of his works of Providence Moral Oeconomical and Civil learning is the knowledge of those remainders of his image and law which are left in the mind of men for their direction and conviction Grammatical Rhetorical and Logical learning is the knowledge of the use of that Reason which God giveth us for imparting our minds and evidencing our conceptions one unto another In regard of the Church and Truths of Religion learning is useful as an Handmaid in a way of attendance thereupon and subserviency thereunto Dr. Gauden Gauden saith The excellent Gifts of all sorts of good learning are as the string to the bowe and as feathers to the arrows of Truth herewith Satan hath found himself much galled hampered and chained Learning is a Glass wherein the fair faces and beauty of Religion and Reason are best represented It is an intellectual beauty and a mean of knowing something daily more excellent in the Creature or Creation then it did before Pitsaeus saith Pitsaeus in Procemio Relat. retum Anglic. pag. 23. Homines quo magis ignari a bonis literis disciplinis alieni c. The more men are ignorant and estranged from all Arts and Sciences the nearer they come to the life of beasts and savages For unless the powers of the mind by which we are distinguished from brutes be by liberal Sciences ordered and modified all their vertue will degenerate not only into a likeness to but into a degree of rudeness beyond beasts That of the Poet is true Didicisse fideliter artes Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros Sigismund the Emperor as some relate was much affected that neither he Bucholcer Chronol Anno 1437. nor any of his Courtiers or Counsellers were able at the Council of Constance to answer a foreign Embassador in the Latine Tongue therefore he began to learn Latine when he was old And when some of his Nobles that had no learning and therefore hated it disdain'd that he preferr'd some men of mean degree before them meerly for their learning he answered that he had good reason to honor Scholars as those that were singularly graced and gifted by God Knights and Lords said he I can make in a day as many as I list but Scholars God only can make from whom cometh every good and perfect Gift It 's true many in these days decry Learning and lay it as low as they can as unnecessary if not dangerous and they disesteem and dishonour the learned But are they not divers of them at least fanatic persons who speak evil of the things they know not both Tongues and Sciences or do not some of them sometimes use it or rather abuse it as I have heard even when they speak against it and discommend others wares to get the better price for their own silly stuff Usually they that speak against learning decry Reason which they may as well do seeing learning is but the improvement of reason when they are not able to speak one word of sense against it without its help Just as those that defame Logic must be beholding to it to frame their Arguments for them But such men by disclaiming reason tie themselves to oppose learning without any reason and so disoblige others regard to what they say They are like those Tradesmen who keep their shops dark on purpose that they may better put off their bad wares These are Fauxes as one calls them with dark lanthorns to blow up all ☞ It is accounted the character of wicked men to hate learning and design the ruine of it and some observe that they never read in any Histories of any but evil men that were opposers of it Enemies to learning are no friends to the learned for they ordinarily bespatter and vilifie them nor to Religion as hath been declared no nor to Reason or to natural gifts and abilities which are much improved heightned and perfected thereby For what are Arts but reason refined rightned and ripened or well regulated and well ordered as far as the subjects and capacity of them doth extend SECT VIII Of the Learning of the Ancient Fathers GOd hath used such as the greatest instruments of his glory of good in his Church and of service in their Generation who have been indued with yea excelled in humane learning as I. The Ancient Fathers II. The Modern Divines I. The Ancient Fathers were strenuous defenders of the Truth justifiers of Christian Religion against the Jews and against the Heathen discovering to the world the vanity of their gods the absurdity and impiety of Paganism and against proud Heretics and the vindicators of it from unjust aspersions and injurious calumnies They were all learned men or bred and brought up in learning I will set down some hints hereof which I find in several Authors concerning some of them in reference to the Centuries or ages after Christ in which they lived as the Writers of their lives have placed them Justine Martyr In the second Century of a Philosopher for
Jer. 8.7 to read a Lecture to his people against disregard of God and non-observance of his dealings with them Christ sends his Disciples to school to the Birds of the air and to the Lilies of the field to be taught Reliance upon the Providence of God Mat. 6.26 c. Many other Lessons may be learn'd from the Creatures if we know their Natures and properties See instances hereof in the several sorts of Creatures in Alsted's Theologia Naturalis ☞ Therefore if God hath made other beings as Glasses as One saith to represent as his own excellency so our duty we may safely conclude he would have us look in them Where God teacheth we must learn and have an eye there where the finger of God pointeth to us scil in his works which because all men cannot study and search into it 's necessary some should namely Ministers that declare them to others as David did The Creatures will not read Ethics to him that hath no insight into Physics Skill in Naturals may help to make good Morals Reas 7. From Examples which shew God to be the Author of Philosophy and it to be of great use and excellency That David was well acquainted with the works of Nature as well as with that of Grace may be gathered from divers passages in the Psalms especially from Psalm 104. if that be his as it seems to be because it begins and ends as the former Psalm doth which is his How often do we finde him contemplating the works of God and admiring him in them Solomon was a great Philosopher 1 King 4.33 and full of humane as well as of divine Learning Therefore it is said he spake or discoursed of all kinds of Plants that grow out of the earth from the Cedar to the Hyssop that springeth out of the wall He spake also of Beasts Fouls of creeping things and of Fishes Philosophy was part of that wisdom which God gave unto him and made him wiser then all men Solomon's wisdom excell'd the wisdom of all the children of the East Country Mat. 2.1 1 King 4.30 who were reputed the wisest in the world Dan. 2.2 Such were the Chaldeans and Arabian Philosophers and Astronomers and his wisdom excell'd all the wisdom of Egypt The Egyptians were famous for wisdom and knowledge in all Sciences Annot. Isa 19.11 12. Many famous Philosophers went to Egypt for increase of learning and wisdom The wisest among the Grecians professed they had their grounds of Philosophy from the Egyptians But some Authors conceive the Grecians Philosophy to have been but the Jews Cabala with a new Name and that other Nations derived their Philosophical knowledge from the Hebrews especially the Phenicians Phoenicia is sometimes put for Canaan who were their Neighbors and with whom Abraham sojourned from whom Learning was by Cadmus carried to the Grecians and received from them by the Latines and so spread into these Western parts of the world Yea it is probable that by means of Solomon's wisdom and knowledge Philosophy was improved and Physiology flourished even in Egypt Arabia Chaldea For it is said 1 King 4.34 that there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon from all Kings of the earth which had heard of it especially from Egypt because of his alliance with that King having married his daughter and from Arabia because the Queen of Sheba came thence who brought her hard Questions to him and carried away his Resolutions Thus must his knowledge needs be spread in those Countries where being cherished it raised their fame and invited those Grecians who after proved the most eminent Philosophers to undertake long journeys in pursuit of Learning Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians Acts. 7.22 that is in Philosophy and in all the ingenuous and liberal Arts of the Egyptians Job who is stiled the greatest of the sons of the East Job 1.3 and his friends were eminent for profound knowledge Their discourse evinced their acquaintance with Philosophical as well as Theological knowledge God gave Daniel Dan. 1.17 and his three Associates knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom that is as Calvin saith in the liberal Arts not in Magical Arts and in natural knowledge Nebuchadnezzar commanded they should be taught the learning and the Tongue ver 4. of the Chaldeans that is as some expound it the knowledge of Natural Moral and Rational things They were trained up through God's providence by their Chaldean Instructers in commendable learning scil of Arts and Sciences wherein they attained unto a greater perfection then any in so short a time as the space of three years and they were preserved from the corrupt and unlawful Arts the Chaldeans used as Magic Inchanting Judiciary Astrology and such like As they would not defile themselves with the King's meat so they would not be corrupted with the vain Arts of the Chaldeans or the superstitious precepts of their Teachers Daniel was the Master or superintendent of the wise men in Babylon Dan. 2.48 with 4.9 SECT II. Objections refuted Obj. 1. DOth not Paul condemn Philosophy when he cautioneth the Colossians against it Col. 2.8 Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy that is rob you of your souls or your souls of Christ or his Truth and Grace Ans The Apostle meaneth not all Philosophy but that which is vain and deceitful an imposture or seducement therefore said to be vain deceit by way of Explication or as a restraint as Calvin Zanchy Davenant and many others interpret the words Philosophy may be taken in a triple sense The first sense For the knowledge of the Natures and properties of the Creatures and the Rules concerning the same as also of Moral Vertues This is the most true proper and genuine signification thereof This Philosophy is lawful and useful for two Reasons Reas 1. It is the birth of right Reason or as one cals it the child of rectified reason it is the knowledge of Truth invented by the light of natural Reason which is put into man's mind by God himself Res Dei Ratio saith Tertullian True Philosophy is the Truth of God or a branch plucked from the eternal verity as some phrase it It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which is to be known of God much of whom may be seen in the Creature Rom. 1.19 Psal 19.1 Acts 14.17 The book of Job is full of Arguments from things Natural to dictate and manifest the infinite wisdom and power of God Doth not the Word of God send us sometimes to the teachings of Nature and of natural things Reas 2. The knowledge of the Creatures or of natural things and of Moral Vertues may help in the knowledge of things spiritual and heavenly as a spectacle wherewith they may be better discerned and serve as a step to ascend to the clearer discovery thereof True Philosophy helps grace saith one better to apprehend Bains in Col. 2.8 and more fitly
the Jews used to give a cup of wine with frankincense or (u) See Amam Antibath Bibl. in Prov. 31.6 myrrh to condemned persons before their execution grounding this Custom on Prov. 36.1 Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish c. SECT VII Of Christian or Church-History under the Gospel THus much may suffice to evidence the History both of the Jews and Gentiles to be useful for explicating many passages in Scripture The same may be affirmed of the Christian History or the History of the Church in the times of the Gospel from which we must receive information about that usage of being baptized for the dead mentioned 1 Cor. 15.29 and about the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Feasts of charity Jude 12. the understanding of which is of use to clear the meaning of 1 Cor. 11.21 22. And concerning the Nicolaitans who they were and what their Doctrine Rev. 2.6 15. It is Ecclesiastical History that must give light to those places of Scripture which foretell of Antichrist or which concern the Church all along since the first publishing of the Gospel From hence also must we be instructed in those Cases wherein it is requisite to know the custom of the Churches 1 Cor. 11.16 Ecclesiastical History is one of the nearest attendants to Divinity and therefore hath always experienced the same fate with it Simul floruerunt simul jacuerunt both flourished and both were out of respect together as Isaac Casaubon shews in his Prolegomena to his Exercitations on Baronius's Annals Who so desires to see the use of this sort of History largely pursued may read Grynaeus's Preface to the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius ☞ c. rendred into Latine SECT VIII Of History as useful to know Gods works SEcondly History is useful to a Minister for knowing the works of God which are great and manifold and declared by it History is the Theatre and representation of God's providence or divine dispensations as it exerciseth and manifesteth it self in managing the affairs of the world but especially in reference to his children and to his cause in the preservation of his Church and Truth notwithstanding the cruelty of Tyrants and subtilty of Hereticks designing the extirpation of the one and corruption of the other Herein are legible God's wonderful mercies and deliverances of his servants and his judgements upon the wicked in special upon the opposers of his Truth and the persecuters of his servants and the constancy of those many Martyrs who sealed the Truth with their blood All which may contribute much to the confirming of our belief of it and the convincing of others Without History how much of the manifestation and appearances of God in the world how many eminent and signal instances of his wisdom power and goodness would be lost The declaring of God's doings among the people is that the Scripture calls for Psal 9.11 and to whom doth this belong if not to God's Ministers and what greater help to this next the word of God then History sure he that is furnished with it will be a Scribe better instructed and more able to bring forth of his Treasury things both new and old Men are ordinarily more awakened and affected with the Historical Relations and lively Descriptions because they come nearest to sensible representations of such passages or providential dispensations to any wherein the mercy or displeasure of God is conspicuous then if they only hear promises or threatnings It would strike the minde with far more horror to hear of the dreadful calamity brought upon the Jews by the Romans after they had crucified Christ and to have the particulars of their misery recounted then only to read Christ's words where he denounceth destruction against them Luke 19.43 SECT IX Of History as useful to know the Examples of men THirdly For knowing and improving the examples of men their vertues and vices By Historical relations we have the benefit of others good examples and the comfort of their experiences which may be improved as well as the various passages of God's providence both mercies and judgements by the Ministers of the Gospel to the exciting or supporting of others as occasion is offered And since men are so apt to be led by examples he that is a good Historian hath a great advantage for the drawing and working upon others to make an apt application of stories and examples providential and personal which is often much moving and taking with the auditors This use of History approacheth very near Christ's way of teaching by Parables in many of which there is as it were an application of an Historical passage to divine and spiritual purposes Histories are Pictures or Glasses Mr. Part in Rom. 11.2 saith one wherein we may discern both what is good and bad and what we may expect as a reward either of our vertues or vices and it is very profitable to be acquainted with the Histories of the Bible and to make use of them Our Savior and Paul approve this by their practice Mat. 12.3 5. Have ye not read saith Christ 1 Cor. 10.1 c. I would not that ye should be ignorant saith Paul scil of the Old Testament-stories So also practised James Peter Jude John as appears in their Epistles There was never any man of note for wisdom who was a stranger in story Lege Historiam ne flas Historia saith one Read History that you may not be made an History CHAP. VII Of the Vsefulness of Chronology CHronology is of great use for a Minister of the Gospel to know eight things I. The several Ages of the world exactly and the Times of Generations and of Nations of Governments Kingdoms and Commonwealths the rise growth changes and periods of them And of Governors of Kings and Rulers and the times of their reigns especially of the Kings of Judah and Israel both absolutely and comparatively which have some knots difficulties and seeming repugnancies in them and what fell out therein as Christ's birth in the days of Herod the King Mat. 2.1 and so John Baptist's birth Luke 1.5 13. It may be needful to know the times of the reigns of Heathen Kings and Emperors because some passages of Sacred story refer to them as Christ's birth the coming up of Joseph and Mary to Judea to be taxed in the dayes of Cesar Augustus Luke 2.1 to 8. the great dearth which Agabus prophesied that came to pass in the days of Claudius Cesar the Emperor Acts 11.28 It 's said in Dan. 2.44 Will. t. In the days of these Kings that is of Syria and Egypt as some conceive or rather of the Roman Empire as others shall the kingdom of the Messiah be set up II. To know the particular times and seasons 1. Wherein Persons of Note lived and who were contemporary or what distance of time was between them 2. Wherein such and such remarkable things were done by God or man reported in the Old or New Testament To
Church in his time He was called saith another orbis Terrarum oculus the eye of the world an eye as bright as any other in the world's orb in his time Gregory Nyssen a famous man as Suidas omnique doctrina exuberans abounding with all Learning and as excellent in Rhetoric as any of the Antients He was the light and ornament of the Nyssen Church a strenuous opposer of Eunomius his Heresie he was a diligent reverent studious reader of the holy Scriptures having a special eye to the proper and genuine sence of them Theodoret made such proficiency in Learning and piety by his own ingenuity and industry through God's blessing that he was made Bishop of Cyrus a Town in Syria while he was yet a young man One calls him Orthodoxae pietatis amantissimus propugnator haereticaeque pravitatis fortissimus oppugnator A most loving propagator of Orthodox piety and a couragious opposer of Heretical pravity He wrote much against the Heretics He of himself condemned Nestorius and put stop to his Heresie He reduced many in his Diocess to the truth with great labor and hazzard of life who were infested with the pest of Marcion He wrote a volume against all Heresies and an Ecclesiastical History which is very useful to the Church Bellarmine calls him virum plane doctissimum a very Learned man Another saith he had multifarium in omni disciplinarum genere scientiam manifold knowledge in all kind of Learnings Jerome was instructed at Rome then the only Nursery of Learning where he profited much in all sorts of Learning and afterwards travelled over the greatest part of Europe to encrease his knowledge by viewing several Libraries and conferring with the most Learned men He was a great Linguist hence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 excellent in Hebrew well skil'd in the Chaldee and Syriac His stile is elegant He was vir in saecularibus valde eruditus Trithemius well versed in secular Learnings Erasmus calls him facundissimum Ecclesiae doctorem the most Eloquent Doctor of the Church He was the boldest and most judicious censurer of the Ancients John Dailie and he happily improved a critical faculty upon them He wrote against the Pelagians and was an extirpator of Heretics and defender of the truth he read over all his Library and learned Scriptures to a word and translated the Bible out of the Original into Latine Chrysostome studied hard the liberal Sciences and Philosophy and afterwards Divinity and Piety Erasmus he was famous for Eloquence and zeal He was called os aureum mellitissimus Christi concionator praecoque indefatigabilis a most hony sweet unwearied Preacher of Christ for his eloquent wisdom and wise eloquence throughout his works Sanctity and Scholarship are joyned in one He was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most copious writer of any of the Greek Fathers now extant A judicious man saith of him A man cannot easily take Chrysostome amiss any where especially in his Moral Discourses He was a zealous propagator of the Gospel to dark places and opposer of Idolatry and Heresie and Heretics as of the Marcionites and the Arrians He was bold in reproving sin and not fearing sufferings as appears by his speeches to Eudoxia the Empress Nil inli peccacatum tunco Theodoret styles him eximium orbis terrarum luminare The eminent light of the whole world He was so beloved and reverenced of all men that when he was like to be silenced the people cried out Satius est ut sol non luceat quam ut non doceat Chrysostomus We had better want the shining of the Sun then the preaching of Chrysostome Augustine was educated in Learning In the fifth Century Lossidius alias Possidonius to the weakning of his Parents estate He learned Grammar in his own city and Rhetoric at Carthage He was saecularibus literis eruditus apprime c. very learned in all the liberal Sciences he writ of the Arts as Grammar Rhetoric Logic Music Philosophy c. He defended the truth against the Arrians Manichees Pelagians Circumcellians Donatists Priscillianists and whatsoever error else prevailed in his time He had several sharp conflicts with them and confuted them by many Learned writings as also by word of mouth in Disputations as he did Fortunatus and Placentius both stiff Arrians and thereby he convinced and converted one Felix a Manichee that he recanted his error and joyned to the Church as he did also one Firmus a rich Merchant and a Manichee by a digression in his Sermon when he was out and forgot the subject he thought to prosecute and fell upon a confutation of the Manichees this Firmus came afterwards to him with tears renouncing his error and promising reformation Augustine was called Malleus Haereticorum The Hammer of the Heretics Erasmus calls him acerrimum fidei Christianae propugnatorem the most sharp and valorous defender of the Christian Faith Another calls him The fairest flower of Antiquity He was an instrument in God's hands of gaining many Pagans to the knowledge of the truth Dr. Sibbs saith of him that he challenged the doctrine of Gods Predestination out of the hands of the enemies of Grace and flatterers of Nature as being a man fitted with grace learning and wit for such a conflict No Scriptures are more faithfully handled by him then those that were wrested by his opposites and such as made for the strengthning of his own cause in other writings he took more liberty His Scholars Prosper and others interessed themselves in the same quarrel Prosper retaining Augustine's Doctrine learnedly confuted the Pelagian Heresie Daniel Tossanus saith that the Palmary or Master-piece of Augustine was that he above all the other Fathers and almost alone being provoked by the Pelagians diligently discussed the Doctrine of Predestination and of Original Sin He onely of all the Ancients wrote Books of Retractations for as he professeth in his seventh Epistle he wrote by profiting and profited by writing He always kept Scholars in his house quoad victum amictum with food and raiment His usual Prayer was that when Christ came he might finde him aut precantem aut praedicantem either praying or preaching Cyril of Alexandria was famous for Piety and Learning he was President in the Council at Ephesus in which he condemned Nestorius and Pelagius with their Errors very learnedly and judiciously he spake many elegant Sentences he was so renowned that the Grecian Bishops as it is reported gat some of his Homilies by heart and rehearsed them to their people Fulgentius was Augustine's Scholar In the sixth Century and followed him foot by foot especially in ad Monimum ad Petrum the two best of his Works he had great knowledge in the Greek and Latine Tongues he contended earnestly against the Arrians whose Opinion then had overspred all Africa and other Heretics and he suffered much for defending the Orthodox Faith He was extremely persecuted by the Arrians yet would not seek revenge
no not when he had opportunity but would say Plura pro Christo sunt toleranda We must suffer more for Christ then so and as he answered Felix the Arrian that dealt so ill with him Christiani est non ulcisci sese Deus enim ulturus injuriam suis illatam Isidore was called by Casaubon In the seventh Century pius eruditus Scriptor a godly learned Writer he was admired for his Learning and Eloquence he could fitly accommodate his speech both to the learned and to the ignorant it 's said He led an Angelical and Evangelical Life in the flesh Venerable Bede was very learned in Philosophy Astronomy Poetry in Greek Arithmetic Rhetoric but especially very conversant in and studious of the holy Scriptures he was said to be the Honor of England and the Mirror of his Time for Learning so famous for it and for Piety that he was sent for to Rome to help to settle the Churches peace Damascen was educated in Learning In the eighth Century got the knowledge of all the Liberal Sciences then he studied the Scripture and Divinity he was a diligent Preacher and Propagator of the Faith and Truth of Christ and a great Opposer of Heretics he was called a great Star in the Churches Firmament in that time when there was great darkness but he by his life and doctrine illuminated many Bernard had pregnant and admirable parts for wit memory and understanding a great Proficient in Learning and had an excellent faculty in preaching His Sentences were stuffed as one saith omni amoenitate pietate with all amoenity and piety he was in great repute for his sanctity of life and doctrine Thus I have given a brief Account of the ancient Fathers that they were learned whom God made eminently useful in and to his Church Let me add two things by way of Caution 1. Though they were learned and pious yet they had their infirmities and blemishes and were subject to errors and failings even in their Writings as hath been observed by many See Daille's Treatise They were not acted with an infallible spirit as the Pen-men of sacred Writ were therefore they must be read with consideration and discretion their Writings must be tried by the Touchstone of God's Word To be altogether exempt from Errors is the Priviledge of the holy Scriptures Divers Divines have given Rules for the right understanding of the Fathers See Scultet Medull Patr. Dan. Synops de Legendis Patribus John Daille in his Treatise concerning the right use of the Fathers 2. Lest any should think these ancient Fathers had no need of their humane Learning or might have been as well without it it 's true they stood in need of more Learning in some kinde then they had attained the want whereof was the Cause of their Errors and Mistakes Ex. gr Augustine by reason of his good insight into the Hebrew and Greek Tongue fell short and failed much of solid Interpretation in his Expository Books Luther instanceth in his Comment upon the Psalms he mentioned Hilary too Ambrose also by reason of his Ignorance in the Tongues erred oft in his Expositions See Luther in libello de Instit pueris where he shews that Patrum Errores in sacra Scriptura provenerunt ex Linguarum ignorantia pag. 442 443 444. The Errors of some of the Fathers grew from their Ignorance of the Tongues Had it not been better for them to have had more knowledge thereof So much of the Learning of the Fathers SECT IX Of the Learning of the first Reformers Secondly Now I shall shew briefly the Learning of the Modern Divines which may be cast into two Ranks I. Those former who were the happy Reformers of Religion or honored by God as Master-Builders to lay the Foundation and begin the Work of Reformation II. These later who vigorously carried on the Work of Reformation I. The Learning of those former Divines whom God raised up in pity to his poor Church when the Apostacy of Popery had so far overspread and prevailed They were many of them learned men of great skill in Arts and Tongues and others competently learned and all men of invincible courage and indefatigable pains excited and qualified by God to be the Restorers of the true Christian Religion from its bondage in Ignorance and Superstition and strong and stout Opposers of the Pope and Popery in the Points of Doctrine Worship and Practice These lived in or about the fourteenth and fifteenth Centuries Berengarius lived in the dismal darkness and depth of Popery Century 14. Ussertus de Christ Eccles succes cap. 7. pag. 196 197. he profited in the School above his Equals and was well-skill'd in the Liberal Arts an excellent Logician of great account for his Learning and Piety He was expert in the Scriptures and also in the Writings of the ancient Fathers He was a Champion for the Truth in the Point of Transubstantiation opposing the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament He had almost drawn all Italy France and England to his Opinion He was of a bold undaunted spirit and courage His Life and Conversation was so unblameable that therein as one saith he starved the Malice of all his Adversaries Fuller Petrus Waldus though he was not one of the Modern Divines yet something is observable in his Story which is useful to our purpose Alsted Chronol He was a rich Citizen of Lions in France ☞ converted by seeing one fall down dead in the streets upon which he betook himself to teach and admonish his House and Friends to repent and to study the Scriptures himself and he profited so well therein that he translated divers parts thereof out of Latine into French Friar Rainer an Adversary to the Truth and to the Waldenses saith That Waldus being tolerably learned taught those that resorted to him the Text of the New Testament in their Mother's Tongue and that the Waldenses who were his Followers and Auditors had above forty Schools In Dioeceli Pataviensi and divers Churches all within one Diocess yea they were as others witness of that ability that they had divers Conferences and Disputations with the Romanists and had the better Vide Usserium cap. 6 8. As for the Doctrines and Tenets of the Waldenses Vide Usserium in cap. 6 ad cap. 10. Protest Evidences they preached against the Doctrines and Practises of Rome as the Pope's Power Transubstantiation the Adoration of Images and of the Cross against Prayers for the dead Purgatory Invocation of Saints extreme Unction Auricular Confession with many more John Wickliff was brought up in Merton Colledge in Oxford he was famous both for life and learning he excell'd in the knowledge of the Arts and School-Divinity he was admired of all for his singular abilities and sweetness of demeanor he was Divinity-Reader in Oxford he was a diligent faithful Preacher of the Gospel under King Edward the third who always favored and protected
him against the rage of his Adversaries He denied the Pope to be the Head of the Church Mr. Fuller Mr. Clark and pronounced him to be Antichrist he confuted and condemned his Doctrines about Bulls and Indulgences Masses Transubstantiation c. He was a great Enemy to the swarms of begging Friars He wrote above two hundred fair Volumes most of which were burned by Subinck Arch-Bishop of Prague in Bohemia he wrote many Books of Philosophy and some of Metaphysics Dr. Featly The University of Oxford crowned his person and doctrine with a fragrant Garland of Praises whose doctrine was not onely favored by divers Nobles but also by the third part of the Clergy of England In all his sufferings he shewed an undaunted spirit John Huss was educated in Learning at Prague in Bohemia he was a great Scholar and a famous Preacher in that University he was converted by reading of John Wickliff's Books Mr. Fuller which Queen Ann's Courtiers who brought her being Sister to Wenceslaus King of Bohemia over into England to Richard the second King of England did here light on and carried them into their own Countrey which Huss had the happiness to read approve and disperse which proved a means of the Conversion of Bohemia for Wickliff's Books first discovered the Romish Superstitions unto them he stoutly opposed the Pope's proceedings and gave a blow to the man of sin under the fifth rib which in Scripture is always observed to be mortal The Gentry and Nobility of Bohemia did highly favor him Jerom of Prague had his first breeding there but he much enriched himself in Learning by his travels abroad to the most principal parts and Staple-places of learning At Paris he commenced Mr. of Arts and in the University of Colen and Heidleberg had the same degree confirmed unto him He was a man of admirable learning Eloquence Memory Courage and Zeal He was converted as John Huss by reading one of Wickliff's books by which he perceived the abominable superstitions then used in the Church and began by degrees first in his judgment to dislike them after in his practice to disuse them and lastly in his preaching to confute them He earnestly contended for the Truth against the enemies of it and openly opposed the doctrine of Purgatory and Prayers for the dead and thundered against the ill lives of the Monks and Friers He proclaimed and defended the innocency of John Huss and condemned his false accusers After his great and grievous sufferings being brought before the Council he so learnedly vindicated himself and refell'd his enemies that they were astonished at and silenced by his Oration which he concluded thus That all such Articles as Wickliff and Huss had written against the enormities pomp and disorder of the Prelates he would firmly hold and defend even to death Martin Luther born 1483. Century 15. at 14. years of age went to Magdeburg from thence his Parents removed him to Isenak a famous School there he perfected his Grammar-learning He went thence to the University of Erford Anno 1501. where he profited much in the knowledg of Logic and other Learning and read over Cicero Livy Virgil and other Latine Authors When he was twenty years old he was made Mr. of Arts and read as Professor Aristotle's Physics Ethics and other parts of Philosophy After his Conversion he began to read Augustine's works Mr. Fuller he also read over the Schoolmen especially Occam whom he esteemed for acuteness of wit before Aquinas and Scotus and he studiously perused Gerson In these Studies he spent five years in the Colledge at Erford When Luther was twenty six years old John Staupicius who endeavoured to promote the University of Wittenberg then lately begun removed Luther thither where at first he explained Aristotle's Logic and Physics yet intermitted not his study When he was 30. years old he was made Doctor in Divinity after the maner of the Schools at the charge of Duke Frederic Elector of Saxony The Prince hearing him preach admired his excellent parts Then he betook himself to the study of the Greek and Hebrew Afterwards Luther published his Propositions against Indulgences and opposed the Pope's Supremacy Purgatory and other Tenets of Popery Luther also confuted Nicholas Stork Mr. Fuller Thomas Muncer and other fanatical Ring-leaders broaching new Doctrines who pretended Revelations Angelical and conferences with God and denied the Baptism of Infants The Pope's Advocates promised Erasmus a Bishoprick of rich revenue if he would write against Luther but he answered that Luther was a man too great for him to write against and that he learned more from one short page of Luther's Writings then from all Thomas Aquinas his Books Bucer called Luther the first Apostle of the reformed Doctrine not simply for Wickliff Huss and those forenamed preached the same before but Luther was the first who in Bucer's age and memory publickly and successfully set on foot a general Reformation of the Church in these Western parts John Huss bare a torch before Luther and shewed him his way See more of Luther in his life Huldericus Zuinglius was sent to School at Basil at 10. Born 1487. years of age where he exceeded his School-fellows in learning At Bern he learned Rhetoric Poetry Oratory and Logic. At Vienna in Austria he studied Philosophy and perfected his former parts At Basil he taught others what himself had learn'd He commenced Master of Arts and studied School-divinity and Greek wherein he excell'd He was chosen Pastor at Zuric anno Christi 1521. where beside his Ministerial labors he studied Hebrew and was able to expound those two major Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah He prevailed with the Senate at Zuric to erect a School for Latine Greek and Hebrew He was admired in Switzerland and famous at Zuric as Luther in Germany and at Wittenberg He was solid in all maner of learning and a diligent searcher of the Scriptures being expert in the Original Tongues He was so great an opposer of the Pope's Pardons Indulgences and proceedings that the Cardinals themselves as is reported sought by great gifts to allure him to their side At Zuric he disputed with Franciscus Lambertus a Frier about the Intercession of the Saints and the sacrifice of the Mass and convinced him of his error so that he confessed and forsook his error and gave glory to God Then crept in the opinion of the Anabaptists which he opposed with all his might His works are large witnesses of his gifts and graces parts and pains Oecolumpadius he was educated in Religion and Learning first at a School in Germany call'd Heelbronna then at Heidelberg Here he attained to that perfection in learning that at the age of 14 years he was made Batchelor of Arts with great approbation and continued there till he was Master of Arts. Afterwards he fell close to the study of Divinity and read the Schoolmen Aquinas Gerson and others with indefatigable pains and much profit He
a Gift or a Gift of prayer As there is a difference between a Scholars pronouncing an Oration which he hath onely gotten by heart and his uttering one he made himself according to the Rules and Art of Oratory The third thing is That God is the Author and Donor of all Ministerial Gifts to that end that they may qualifie Men for the Work of the Ministery whether they be extraordinary Gifts as in former times or ordinary as in our days which God bestows on some men not on others as appears by some Scriptures which I shall endeavor to explane As Ephes 4.8 Ephes 4.8 When Christ ascended on high he gave Gifts unto Men that is Church-Gifts or Ministerial Abilities suitable and needful for the Work of the Ministery both in the Primitive Times and to the End of the World and upon the variety and diversity of these Gifts Christ founded the several Offices and Officers in his Church He gave some Apostles some Prophets Verse 11. some Evangelists these were extraordinary Officers to be and continue in the Church but for a time God hath set forth us saith Paul 1 Cor. 4.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the last Apostles which implies there should be no Apostles after them none should succeed them in Apostleship but onely in the Ministery of the Gospel and some Pastors and Teachers which are to continue as standing Officers in the Church Verse 13. till we all come in the Unity of the Faith c. unto a perfect man that is till we all come in Heaven Quoties a Deo vocati sunt homines dona necessario conjuncta sunt officiis saith Calvin on Ephes 4.11 Herein commemorat discrimina donorum in Ecclesiae Doctoribus saith Piscator Diversitatem donorum Ministerii Ecclesiastici saith Rollock Dr. Hammond in Ephes 4.7 calls these Gifts capacities and qualifications for the serving of Christ in the Church which are given by Christ severally and in divers degrees not in the same maner and measure to all To this end Christ ascended Annot. in Eph. 4.10 that he might fill all things that is replenish the Church with his Gifts The next Scripture is 1 Cor. 12.4 1 Cor. 12.4 to 12. to 12. Now there are diversities of Gifts but the same Spirit c. The diversity of Gifts the Apostle speaks of in this place seems to be not saving Graces bestowed on God's Elect for the Salvation of their own Souls but Ministerial Gifts conferred by God on Men for the discharge of Church-Offices or Administrations for the propagation and confirmation of the Gospel unto others for the edification of the Church These Gifts were of two sorts 1. Some were extraordinary suited to those Times Verse 9. as Faith not that we call saving Faith which is proper to God's Elect but the Faith of Miracles and the Gifts of Healing Verse 10. the working of Miracles Prophecy that is the foretelling of things to come from extraordinary Revelation discerning of spirits Gifts of Tongues Verse 6. These Paul calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diversities of Operations or distinctions of Actions as Beza renders it the doing of which exceeds all natural power yet it is the same God that worketh all in all 2. Some were ordinary Verse 8. to continue in the Church as the word of wisdom to the Pastor to enable him to apply the Word to the people and the word of knowledge to the Teacher to handle Doctrinal Truths Verse 5. There are diversities of Administrations or Ministeries which Beza expounds Sic signate vocat Apostolus functiones Ecclesiasticas toti coetui Ecclesiae formando nutriendo destinatas The Gifts are divers as the Offices and Functions in the Church are divers yet they all flow from one and the same Fountain that is Verse 7 11. the Spirit of God who divideth and dispenseth all these to every man severally for kinde and measure more or less as he will the Will of the Spirit of God being the Rule of this Distribution and they are all referred to the same end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the profit of all scil the edification of the Church Having declared and cleared these three things I must proceed to shew and prove That Ministerial Gifts and saving Graces are distinct in themselves and separable in the Subject which I shall endeavor to do by three Arguments Argum. I. God gives Ministerial Gifts to many men as those five fore-named scil of common Illumination of Preaching of Prayer Utterance of Arts and Tongues of Argumentation to whom he gives not saving Grace Even common Experience is a plain Evidence and full Proof hereof Ergo Grace is not essential to make a Minister of the Gospel As on the contrary God gives Grace to many to whom he gives not Ministerial Gifts Ergo These are not necessary to make a Christian. But God gives both Ministerial Gifts and saving Graces to some of his servants who are thereby most accomplished and throughly furnished unto all good Works 2 Tim. 3.16 17. that is to all the Services of their Ministerial Function and made most able Ministers of the New Testament 2 Cor. 3.6 not of the Letter but of the Spirit This is appropriated or peculiar but to some Ministers of the Gospel not extended or common to them all In former Times God gave Gifts extraordinary for kinde to many to whom he gave no saving sanctifying Grace to bad as well as good A man might have them yet miscarry and perish might want them yet be saved Paul's words in 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. hold forth the distinction or separability of extraordinary Gifts and saving Graces each from other A man may have the Gift of Prophecy to prophesie truly and not be truly godly and of Tongues c. A man may understand all mysteries and all knowledge and have all faith that is all the degrees of a Miracle-working faith and yet want love that is saving Grace and so perish Baalam prophesied particularly of Christ to come and spoke of many things concerning Israel foretelling their excellency Numb 23.9 their multiplication ver 10. Piscator and happy death and he is called a Prophet 2 Pet. 2.16 because sometimes he had Revelations from the true God Num. 23 and 24. and uttered Divine Oracles as from the mouth of God And he desired to die the death of the righteous yet he would not live their life he was a wicked man a Soothsayer and a Sorcerer he loved the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 and he was rebuked by the dumb Ass for his iniquity and madness Caiphas prophesied Joh. 11.51 52. of Christ that he should die c. though he spake it out of his own malicious sense thinking it better that Christ should rather perish then their Nation Many will plead their extraordinary Gifts Mat. 7.22 23. and Works as Prophecy Ejection of Devils c. as done in Christ's Name yet Christ will