THE REASONABLENESSE OF WISE AND holy truth and the absurditie of foolish and wicked Errour ECCL 7. 27. I haue compassed about both I and mine heart to knowe and to enquire and to search wisdome and reason and to knowe the wickednesse of folly and the foolishnesse of madnesse MATTH 11. 19. But wisdome is iustified of all her children AC OX AT OXFORD Printed by Iohn Lichfield and William Wrench Printers to the famous Vniversitie 161â— TO THE RIGHT REVErend Father in God ARTHVR Lord Bishop of BATH and WELLES Vice chancellour of the Vniversitie of Oxford and Warden of New Colledge IOHN TERRY wisheth all increase of that Glory and Vertue wherevnto you are called by our most glorious holy Lord. 2. Pet. 1. 2. MY duety bindeth me right Reuerend and my very Good Lord to offer vp to God for you the sacrifices of thankesgiuing and prayer Some of the Heathen offred sacrifice to the sunne rising for benefits to come and other to the Sunne setting for such as were already receaued VVherefore it being a great shame for a Christian to be out gone in any good dutie by an Heathen I cannot but offer vp to our most blessed Sauiour Christ the true Sonne of righteousnesse the sacrifice of thanksgiuing first for causing such a bright starre as your Lordship is to appeare aboue our Horizon in the west and secondly for causing you to set with leauing much good to that Colledge whereof my selfe was once a member And how can I also but offer vp prayer to God first that the fresh memorie of your renowned learning and religious life may instill such a sweet influence of celestiall grace into the hearts of all the members of that societie that they may bee effectually stirred vp to walke in your waies and to devote themselues by your example to the publike good as secondly I am to beseech him that walketh in the midst of the seauen golden Candlesticks and holdeth the starres in his right hand that he would hold vphold you long to his owne glory and to the edification and comfort of his people among whom hee hath now placed you to hold out the word of life And thus commending you to God the Father of light and to the word of his grace the most worthie instrument thereof with all humble thanks vnto your Lordship for your louing acceptance of this small paper present I rest Your Lordships in all Christian loue and dutie JOHN TERRY IOHN 17. 17. Sanctifie them with thy truth thy word is truth THis Chapter containeth a most divine and heavenly prayer of our most blessed Saviour Christ wherein hee requesteth of his Father that hee would by the gracious word of his Gospell make more and more manifest the glorious worke of mans redemption For that hereby he and his father should be most glorified and all such as his father had giuen him should be made partakers of life everlasting For this is everlasting life saith he to know thee the only true God and whom thou hast sent videlicet to accomplish the worke of the redemption of all the elect Iesus Christ For the cleere doctrine of the Gospell laying open the glorious worke of mans redemption doth make manifest the light of Gods countenance shining in Christ and doth giue vnto all that are truely lightned therewith the holy eie of sauing faith whereby they assuredly apprehending and most certainely beleeuing the vnspeakable loue of God towards them that do cleaue vnto Christ and are made one with him and by him haue communion and fellowship with God and so are made partakers of life everlasting And verily the true sauing faith wrought by the Gospell is nothing else but such a sure and certaine knowledge of Gods vnspeakable loue in Christ as is accompanied with all manner of holy and heavenly graces And therefore as v. 8. our Saviour testifieth that he had given his Fathers words to them which he had giuen vnto him and they had receaued them and had surely knowne that hee came from the Father had beleeued that the Father had sent him so in this verse hee prayeth to his Father that the would sanctifie them with the truth that was contained in the same word In the which petition of our Saviour Christ we are to obserue these two points first the thing that our Saviour requesteth at his Fathers hands that hee would bestow vpon all those that he had giuen him which is Sanctification Secondly the meanes whereby it is wrought which is the truth of his owne word Sanctifie them with thy truth thy word is truth Now the sanctification that our Saviour here prayeth for is not maymed wanting any essential part but totall and whole even such a sanctification as doth sanctifie the minde with sauing knowledge faith the will and the affections with all other graces and gifts of the holy Ghost and so doth sanctifie the whole man Neither is this whole and total sanctification bestowed onely vpon some principall persons in the Church of Christ but even vpon the meanest also As the Apostle testifieth 2. Cor. 3. 18. Wee all saith he behold as in a mirrour the glory of God with open face there is the subiection action obiect clerenesse of faith and are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord there is the inseparable effect of sauing and sanctifying faith one and the same in substance though not in circumstance in all the faithfull And verily how can it otherwise bee but that all such as by faith are engraffed into Christ Rom. 11. 17. should immediatly be made good trees so consequently be enabled to beare good fruit Mat. 7.17 How can it otherwise be but that all such as by the linely word of God Heb. 4. 12. are quickned to a liuing faith Gal. 2. 20 should shew themselues to be aliue to God Rom. 6. 11. by the exercise of al holy and godly works For nature is never idle much lesse grace Gal. 5. 6. and therefore as the body without the operatiue spirit is dead so faith without workes is dead also Iac. 3 26. And therefore the same Apostle in the same chapter willeth Natura est nunquam otiosa all such as lay claime to a true faith to make proofe thereof by their good workes after the example of Abraham the father of the faithfull For after that he had shewed himselfe readie at the commandment of God to offer vp in sacrifice his most deare sonne Isaac then he made it manifest that he so firmely apprehended by an assured faith the incomprehensible loue of God in Christ Eph. 3. 19. towards himselfe that he preserred it before his most intire loue towards his own most deare sonne and then was the Scripture fulfilled Abraham beleeued God and it was imputed to him for righteousnes Wherefore it was not without cause that S. Peter writing to such as had obtained like pretious faith with himselfe willeth them to
effectuall arguments and reasons for the rooting vp of all errors and vntruths for the opening confirming of all doctrines of faith and godlinesse and for the edifying of the spirituall Scriptura est â—ons rationalis temple of God Let vs saith S. Hierome ascend into the reasonable mount and seeking of the testimonies of Scripture choice and fit timber for every severall point of doctrine let vs cut it downe and there with build the house of wisdome Hier. in Hagg. Neither doth this word of God minister choice timber onely for the building vp of the Lords Temple but all maner of wholsome food also for the sustenance of all such as are of the Lords houshold For in it there is both milk for children strong meat for such as are men Heb. 5 12. The principles of this word are the childrens milke which is by S. Peter called a doctrine standing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vpon so sure and sound reason that hee that rightly apprehendeth the same cannot bee deceaued 1. Pet. 2. 2. whereby he doth distinguish it from the principles of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Pet. 1. 16. all other religions which being not Logicall but Sophisticall as happely hauing in them a shew but not the substance of sound reason cannot but deceaue and destroy all such as drinke downe the venomous poison thereof Now if the first rudiments of the word of God stand vpon such sound reason that they cannot deceaue then the stronger meat thereof which is all such reasons and arguments which are set downe for the further lightning and strengthning of these principles must needs bee of greater light and strength And so no doubt they are seeing they are of power to make the meÌ„ of God which are long exercised therein able so throughly to discerne betweene good evill errour and truth that they can both purely and zealously performe vnto the Lord that reasonable service 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is acceptable vnto him Rom 12. 1. The which reasonable service what is it else but the puritie of a true saith and of all oather divine vertues with all holy workes that issue from them all Ioh. 6. 29. 1. Tim. 6. 11. Now faith as the Apostle defineth it Heb. 11. 1. is the ground of things hoped for the demonstration of things not seene which principally are the vnspeakable loue and goodnesse of God demonstrated not onely in the worke of the creation Rom. 1. 20. but especially in the worke of the redemption 2. Cor. 3. 12. For this is such a demonstration of Gods vnspeakable goodnesse and loue that as Austine saith it doth convince the iudgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and after a sort force the minde to yeeld her assent thereto Aug. in Ioh. hom 79. 95. So God loued the world saith out blessed Saviour that he gaue his only begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life everlasting Ioh. 3. 16. So Saint Iohn In this appeared the loue of God towards vs in that God sent his only begotten sonne into the world that wee might liue through him Ioh. 4. 9. And againe Herein is loue not that we loued God but that God loued vs gaue his Sonne to be an attonement for our sinnes And againe in the very next verse If God so loued vs c. As if hee would haue vs throughly to vnderstand that such a person giuen for such persons to worke such a worke is such a demonstration of Gods loue that the like is no where to be found no not in all the Bookes of Aristotles Demonstrations When I was here a scholler I heard a most reverend Father namely Mr. Fox preaching on these words of the Apostle If one bee dead for all then we were all dead 2. Cor. 5. 14. say here is such an ergo that all the Schooles cannot shew the like And yet this ergo demonstration whereof we now speake is a more forceable ergo a more compelling demonstration as the same Apostle teacheth in the former part of the same verse For verily if we could attaine to all riches of the full assurance of vnderstanding to knowe the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ Col. 2. 2. Then we should attaine to the full assurance of faith Heb. 10. 22. even to the full assurance of Gods loue If wee were able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth length depth and height of the loue of Christ that passeth knowledge then should wee bee filled with all fulnesse of God Eph. 3. 18. In the meane season all such as haue attained to some measure of this faith which is grounded vpon so strong demonstration are called by S. Chrysostome hom 9. in Epist ad Coll. sheepe indued with reason for that they are or should bee able to giue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answer to every one that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them 1. Pet. 3. 15 And verily all such Christians as rightly vnderstand the grounds of their faith are esteemed by the Apostle to bee worthie of the name of reasonable men whereas all that doe not are by him branded with the note of men wicked and vnreasonable Furthermore saith he bretheren pray for vs that the word of the Lord may haue a full current be glorified as it is with you and that we may be delivered from vnreasonable and evill men for all men haue not faith 2. Th. 3. 1. Neither is this first and principall part of Gods seruice only grounded vpon most sure sound reason but also the other part thereof consisting in the exercise of all holy works proceeding from al the divine graces and gifts of the holy spirit of God For if they be not done after that manner and by the inducement of such reasons as God in his word requireth Deus non exigebat quae siebant sed propter quod fiebant Tert. 1 3 cont Marc. them to be performed they are not allowed and approued of Christ Mat. 6. 1. 1. Cor. 13. 1. For that may bee said of all good workes which Tertullian avoucheth of the Iewes sacrifices Viz that God did not in them require the thing done but the reasons for the which they were to be done so God doth not require our bare workes but will haue them done vpon such reasons and motiues as they ought to be done So then the very rudiments and principles of this word of Christ are reasonable milke the service therein prescribed is a reasonable service and the faith therein commanded is grounded vpon a most strong demonstration and the workes therein required are squared by the squier of exact reason and the persons that embrace this faith are only and alone esteemed to be endued with right reason therefore we rightly conclude that this word of Christ set downe in the holy Scriptures of the Prophets Apostles is the only vnerring word of
truth And verily vnlesse the holy Scriptures were furnished with all varietie of arguments and reasons to convince all errors and to confirme all truths how could the professors of the Christian faith be enabled thereby to convert or confound all heathenish persons and all heretickes and schismatikes and to instruct and strengthen the faithfull themselues For if we will deale with Ethnikes we must not produce the bare testimonies of the Prophets and Apostles as of witnesses immediatly instructed sent into the world by God to giue an vndeniable evidence to truth for that were to begge that as granted which is by them not only questioned but also peremptorily denied but they must be dealt withall by arguments and reasons as being a plea allowed by all as are or thinke themselues to be indued with right reason And among the great varietie of arguments and reasons where by all questions are handled and discoursed of wee must not at the least principally vse such of them as most prevaile with the affections and will but rather such as doe instruct the vnderstanding and the minde For as Tertullian saith Truth perswadeth by teaching that veritas dâ—câ—ndâ— suadet is it teacheth the vnderstanding so prevaileth with Falsitas suadendo docet the affections and will Whereas Falsehood doth teach by perswading that is perswadeth the affection will and so moueth the mind to assent vnto error The truth of both which positions is verified by the experience of all ages For what prevaileth most with the affections but the ensamples of our Ancients custome a good intent and an outward peace and plentie of all temporall blessings And haue not these beene vsed as principall arguments by Schismarikes Heretikes Idolaters and Ethnikes Our Fathers said the schismatical Samaritans worshipped in this mount Ioh. 4. 20. I haue so receaued from my Progenitors was the plea of that infamous heretike Eutiches In this faith was I borne and consecrated to God and in this I desire to die Concil Chalced. act 1. So Dioscorus in the same place I doe find the doctrine of the ancient Fathers not cursorily deliuered but handled of set purpose in their bookes I am reiected with them So the Idolatrous Iewes said that they would doe whatsoever went out of their owne mouthes as to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to powre out drinke offerings to her as they had done both they and their fathers their Kings and Princes in the cities of Iudah in the streets of lerusalem for then said they they had plentie of victuals and were well and felt no evill Ier. 44. 17. So the hereticall and idolatrous Papists cry out both generally for the Fathers the Fathers the Church the Church Antiquitie Vnity Vniversalitie particularly vnto his Maiestie your holy progenitors your deare mother were professours of our Romane religion Lastly so the old Idolatrous Ethnikes That which is more ancient cannot be false Aug. de Civ Dei l. 39. But how did the ancient Fathers themselues reply herevnto What wilt thou doe quoth Lactantius writing in defence of the Christian faith against the Idolatrous Ethnikes wilt thou follow thine Ancestors or reason rather Lact. de vero Dei simulachro cap. 20. So Cyprian ep 7. cent Quint We are not to prescribe by custome but to coÌ„vince with reason So Tertullian We are not to esteeme of faith by the persons but of the persons by the faith Yea this kind of reasoning reason it selfe hath taught even the naturall wise men I am thus resolued said Plato in Nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri Critone not now but alwaies that I am not to enthral my iudgement vnto any of my freinds but to reason yea to that reason which by discord appeareth to bee best Whose opinion was seconded by the chiefest of all his schollers Plato is my friend but truth is more my friend Arist. Mor. l. 1. c. 3. For the efficacy of reason is better then all authorities Zalm in c. 5. ep ad Otherwise why doe all learned men of all professions call for a generall disputation that they may iustifie all their positions by logicall syllogismes Yea why doth God himselfe call the Idolatrous Ethnikes standing in defence of their heathenish Gods to this manner kind of triall as Isa 41. 21. 22. 23. Stand to your cause saith the Lord bring forth your strong reasons saith the God of Iacob Let them bring them forth and let them tell vs what shall come let them shew the former things what they be that wee may consider them and knowe the latter end of them either declare vs things to come Shew the things that are to come hereafter that wee may knowe that yee are Gods Yea doe good or doe evill that we may declare and behold it together In which wordes are set downe two reasons whereby the true God may be discerned whereof the one is the doing good or evill The other the declaring of things past and of things to come And verily the true God is goodnesse it selfe and hath declared himselfe to be so by the creation of the world and by communicating some portion of his owne goodnesse to every creature therein And therefore as Pythagoras said if any besides one God say I am God let them shew a world like to this and say thereof this is mine For the creation of this one world is so sure an evidence to proue that there is but one God that this one God willeth his people to say to the Ethnikes that shall stand in defence of their Idoll Gods The Gods that made not the heavens the earth shall perish from the earth and from vnder the heavens Ier. 10. 11. And verily the Gods of the heathen are but Idols for it is the Lord that made the heavens Psal 96. 5. Now if the heathenish Gods shall assume to theÌ„selues the glory of this great worke of the creation then saith the Lord in the place before alleaged Let them shew it to be so either by revealing things passed froÌ„ the beginning of the world or things that are to come to passe even to the end For vndoubtedly knowne vnto God are all his owne workes from the beginning of the world Act. 15. 18. and as certainely hee knoweth what shall become of them to the end yea what shall come to passe for ever and ever As it is vndoubtedly true that the heathenish Gods cannot tell what shall come to passe in time to come concerning such things as are to be effected by such causes as are set on worke by their owne wills and therefore are no true Gods For if it be replyed that the Priests and Prophets of their heathenish Gods haue declared such things before hand as namely their Prophetesses called Sybillae haue set down some as distinct particulars concerning our Saviour Christ and the works of redemption wrought by him as were foretold by Moses and the Prophets wee answer that as Plato did