made sensible but is as it were a meer Trunk or Engine for the Soul to Act in We know less of the way of the Spirit then of other things but since what was written Eccles 11. 5. there hath morâ— Revelation come forth What appears from thence and manifest reason is to be laid open that we may know how to Labour after our proper Happiness We should have been very much in the dark if not for the Law and Testimony and the light in them yet still we are shut in a narrow Room closely coâ—fined within the Walls of thick Clay so we must not expect a perfect knowledge thereof till this shall be made glorious and transparent For now we see through a Glass darkly but then face to face Now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known 1 Cor. 13. 12. It is no small inconsiderable thing for observe with what it is ranked The Lord stretcheth forth the Heavens and layeth the Foundation of the Earth and formeth the Spirit of Man within him Zech. 12. 1. It being the manner of his wonderful working to comprize a great matter in a small place And this argues the Excellency of spiritual things that they are of equal with material though these seem as much greater as the Ocean is to a single drop and therefore are as worthy to be sought after as what may be seen or handled now with the outward Senses Such is the Wisdom and Contrivance of God that those things are declared unto us whilst in the Flesh and in a World of sensible Carnal things That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life for the life was manifested 1 John 1. 1 2. Now these cannot be Eat nor Drunk nor keep Warm but yet are recâ—ived in and as sensible to the Soul as they are to the Body And also have the aid of Sense to convey them in And tend equally â—o her bettering growth and Establishment The Soul may be known by its Operations which may be distinguished as we give Names to the several parts of the Body by the Understanding Will and Affections By the first we have the knowledge of Good and Evil Truth Of the Understanding and Falshood to follow the one and â—schew the other which we naturally and readily do For though the Practise of the World discovers that Men are Wise to do evil and to do good have no knowledge Jer. 4. 22. they forsake the Truth and greedily run after Errour yet not apprehending them such but through counterfeit and disguise appear to them as good and true Their understanding being darkened doth not see throughly in things and they looking through a false Glass judge according to the outside and mistake appearances for good and delusions for truth Men are deceived by false Notions for they follow after what is seemingly best and convenient If the mind did see clearly into the things separate from the deceitful Varnish they have put on if the Fogs were dispelled within and without they would not miss of the good and right way If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not because he seeth the the light of this World But if a man walketh in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him John 11. 9. And this is the Condition of People at first though it is hard to let so much light into some Men that they may just discern their own state It is certain mankind did as little know what they most ought the things of God and another World their own future Happiness and how to secure it as those now in the dark night see of the things of this World. That Revelation which he hath made in Scripture doth discover it all as plainly as the Sun shineth in the Firmament to see the things before us And if those be made appear to concern us as much as these do then a like understanding of them will be found altogether necessary Every one knoweth that barely to see signifieth not much without Reason or Sense within manifesting their Nature whether good or evil unto us for otherwise Poison might be received in as wholsome Food He is reckoned a Fool who cannot put a difference in things of common Life between what is for his Welfare and Harm He is thought a heedless Fellow and next to madness who hath no regard to what may preserve or what may destroy He is reputed stubborn and wilful and unpitied when he falls into Misery who would not suffer himself to be forewarned thereof nor would use means when he might to prevent it All this is exactly so as to the World to come The Holy Ghost doth often use the similitude of light and darkness by the former signifying that manifestation of the Will of God to us Men what he would have us to know and more particularly for that which came by the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is in order to recovering of sight to the blind Luke 4. 18. see Isa 9. 12. 60. 1 2 3. Mal. 4. 2. Luke 1. 78 79. John 1. 4 5. The Condition of those before and the refusal of it is darkness They know not neither will they understand they walk on in darkness Ps 82. 5. Even at this very day This is the Condemnation that light is come into the World and Men love darkness rather then light because their Deeds are evil for every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh Eph. 5. 13. to the light least his Deeds should be reproved John 3. 19 20 But alas What siguifieth this pitiful shift For no Mans sins are to another but to God only and he knoweth them as well with their utmost Sinfulness and Aggravation as if committed openly before all the World. The darkness hideth not from thee Ps 139. 12. The light is not manifested to make our Sins known for they are before but for the Prevention and avoiding of them Gods Will would be done on Earth as it is in Heaven if his ways were as much known For they who know him will not offend against him Our Souls would escape out of the Snare of the Fowler if we did see it laid for us We should not yield to Satans Temptation if we did know the utmost in it no more then a Wise man Acts against his Reason and Interest for the alone Promise of a Rattle or Childish Toy If he had not to do with Fools and Blind he could not drill them on with such Toys and Vanities The Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life Pleasures Riches and Honour are the baits he uses which make a Glorious shew and pretence to be the good things allotted to the Sons of Men. At first sight they dazzle our Eyes we perceive nothing but Beauty and Loveliness in them yet
At first perhaps these will give God thanks declare how Gracious he hath been unto them and this for fear of a Relapse but when perfectly recovered they are soon won over by the Scoffs and Enticements of old Companions they fall to the like course of iniquity and it is happened unto them according to the true Proverb The dog is returned to his own Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 22. Not only to habituated Sinners but unto all too much Company ceases to delight is a distraction and prejudicial to Happiness How can he converse with God which is Mans greatest Honour who spends all the time with his Creatures Those short intervals allowed for Devotion signifie nothing for even then their Thoughts are taken ofâ— from the most sublime and excellent Object How can he throughly understand Gods Law in whose knowledge and observation all our Happiness consists who deprives himself of the leisure to study it How can he ever know himself Who makes it his only business to be known unto others He cannot be Good or Holy who keeps all sorts of Company The greater part of mankind are wicked so he who seeks out for all Acquaintance will meet with those who by Evil Communications corrupt good Manners It becomes a snare to most and when in the midst thereof If any Man do not decline or offend not in word the same is a perfect Man Jam. 3. 2. But thousands hereby have been betrayed into the ways of wickedness Every Speech at the Gallows is a warning against evil Company and the damned in Hell will for ever curse those that were the occasion of their coming there many of good and honest Principles of Rustick simplicity when once they come into Babylon a Cage of every unclean Bird they are well pleased with the abundance of her Delicacies and so become Partakers of her Sins The Devil hath his Agents who use all means to make others such as themselves Who sollicit mightily for the Advancement of his Kingdom Through Envy they are not willing others should be more Happy then themselves and therefore Labour to seduce them They Laugh inwardly to see into what a Fools Paradise they lead young Schollars the Pleasures will vanish and disappear to them also and they are for making others as much Children of Hell as themselves Wickedness through the multitude of its Followers hath crept into the Fashion of every place Even under the Light of the Gospel more gross Deeds of Darkness are committed then whom the day Spring from on high hath not yet so fully visited The Devil is most busie here and must use more then ordinary diligence knowing the others are already Captive and easily retained There are so many of his servants gone forth into the World that they intermix with all Companies In too many they make up the majority so the rest shall be subject unto their rules and discourse which is wicked and filthy befitting the sons of Belial If a godly Man is amongst them they keep close and mark his Steps When he reproves according to Eph. 5. 11. if he doth with meekness they slight it but if with boldness and power then they are enraged like so many Wasps They will dispute against him with reproach and evil speaking And do get the victory if multitude of words carry it however the prejudiced hearers conclude for that side which talks most and sutable to their own corrupt inclinations Indeed seldom any good comes of this kind of reproof and it were to be desired few or none occasions hereof did happen for every one that feareth God should not keep such Company but if he lights among them casually let him behave himself as God's Word and his own Conscience shall direct him The rule is concerning doubtful Sins to refrain is the safer way so of controverted duty it is the sure side to perform Here is some obligation from Lev. 19. 17. None ought silently suffer Iniquity to bear down all before it or to let words against faith and good-manners pass uncontradicted He must not be afraid nor ashamed to speak out for God and Religion knowing what is written of the fearful Rev. 21. 8. and of the shameful Mark 8. 38. if he should get hatred by reproving a Scorner Pro. 9. 7. yet therefore he should not decline the promise of Jesus Blessed are ye when Men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their Company shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Mans sake Luke 6. 22 23. If one is among wicked people he doth either comply with them which is Sin or reprove and then he is grievous unto them For what fellowship hath Righteousness with Vnrighteousness and what communion hath Light with Darkness and what concord hath Christ with Belial 2 Cor. 6. 14. An unjust Man is an Abomination to the Just and he that is upright in the way is Abomination to the Wicked Pro. 29. 27. My Son if Sinners entice thee consent thou not Pro. 1. 10. It is more to be feared they will corrupt him then he reform them Many who begun well have turned aside from the good way and by seeing it made contemptible as is daily done by malicious Tongues have changed their minds and having been in the counsel of the Ungodly themselves at length stepped up to the Seat of the Scornful Their former Righteousness is turned into Wormwood so bitter are they against it Let none who are established run into unnecessary danger for it is folly to venture when there is no occasion which is rarely done without diminution of Love and Zeal if not to overthrow the Foundation It is indeed possible to retain uprightness and a good Conscience amongst the worst but least they should be an occasion of falling for no Temptation is so strong as bad Company it is godly discretion not to have intimate acquaintance with them but only such as business and common civility doth require Sincere Friendship is to be reserved for the Faithful an exaample hereof is the Man after God's own Heart In the Saints that are in the Earth and the excellent is all my delight Ps 16. 3. I am a Companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy Precepts Ps 119. 63. The Conversation of good Men doth instil principles of Honesty and Truth into the mind settlâ— the doubtful recalls those that were going back to their own crooked ways and establishes all in the right The Holy Ghost recordeth even what seems lesser things which serve for our use and instruction All that believed were together Acts 2. 44. The Apostles went about from place to place confirming the Souls of the Disciples Acts 14. 22. There is both profiting of himself and others by good Company The Talent is not given to hide in a Napkin but every one is to communicate according to that measure of Grace
put before the means for the Apostle speaks of Gods principal intention and here mentions the way how they may accomplish it by knowledge of the Truth which whosoever doth sincerely and universally as any one may do this will quicken and stir him to arise and be saved It is the same as if in ordinary Conversation one would have his Servant go to such a place and then shews him the way Truth is distinct from Man for it is the very Nature of things without the Connexion between themselves and how they pertain Of Reason to us whether Divine or Common for so they are distinguished to us when properly all things are Gods. There is a Power implanted in us to know them many of them are hidden which we discern by searching and inferring one thing from another which is the proper Office of our understanding and commonly called Reason Some have been offended at this word because it is so little mentioned in Scripture Whereas it is 1 Sam. 12. 7. Isa 1. 18. Acts 17. 23. Acts 24. 25. and in innumerable places by other words to the same purpose as Knowledge Wisdom and Understanding and the great necessity of them is pressed throughout the whole Book of God. He appeals to us Ezek. 18. Whether his ways are not equal Implying we have some Capacity to think thereof I speak as to Wise men judge ye of what I say 1 Cor. 10. 15. And then what he saith concerning the Gentiles That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hâ—th shewed iâ— unto them for the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and God-head so that they are without excuse Because that when they knâ—w God they glorified him not as God Rom. 1. 19 20 21. Their way of knowing him was by inferring it was some one who made this Beautiful House of the World and he that Built all things is God. They had but a dim knowledge of him just believed he was but for want of Grace and Revelation knew not how to come unto him nor seek him aright This is our advantage above theirs we have now blessed be his Divine Majesty the Old and New Testament compleated the sum whereof is a rational way of pleasing God see Mat. 23. 16 17. Isa 44. 19. All our duty to him is a reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. Here is to be seen his law for the Government of the World which at first was given in short as well becomes Sovereign and infinite power as the ten Commandment which contain great equity The Writings of the Prophets are as so many Expositions on them who did exhort to the observance and reprove for the Transgression of them all which may be observed to be reasonable inference and conclusion from them applicable to those particular acts as even the heart of Man might judge Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servant Isa 50. 10. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son Heb. 1. 1. In whose Gospel the things to be done are most agreeable unto the Sons of Men the precepts given us are worthy of the Son of God and came from above for the Wisdom of Ages could not contrive so excellent He whom the Jews did stile a Carpenter hath outdone all who were ever before him his worst and implacable Adversaries could not say any thing against what he Taught and those sent to apprehend him did confess never Man spake like this Man John 7. 46. The malicious world could not find fault with his Doctrine Of all those Antichrists and Hereticks who have done so much mischief to the Church of God none have either wrote or spoken against the rules of Life unless some mad prophane Persons in a scurrilous Language which prevailed nothing upon Wise and considering Men and never made any Proselites but such as were before led that way by their corrupâ— Lusts and Affections Nothing can be said against them â—oâ— they aâ—â— pâ—re 〈◊〉 and even the perfection of reason All do approve of their Excellency that do admit them into full and due consideration If reason were stretched out to the utmost and suffered to have its perfect work to look out every way and â—ow far this would dictate This Star being now assisted by the Son of Righteousness would direct to the right Path though it be a small Light in comparison to the other yet it will lead to the greater by direction of both we may go on securely Religion without reason is Superstition and Folly God is not pleased with the Sacrifice of Fools and reason without Religion doth argue Man more ungrateful to his Maker so liable to a greater Condemnation Well is it where they meet together and each assist the other remembring still which is subject and must keep close to the other The natural understanding prompts to do nothing prejudicial to our Happiness and to follow after what conduces thereto if it be further unable that hinders not seeing it is offered help from above Gods Grace is sufficient and that is never wanting to any who desire and seek after it which every one may do And therefore let none say if he becomes Miserable that it is through God he is so for I have no pleasure in the Death of him Deut. 8. 20. that dieth saith the Lord God wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 22. That we may know how to do this we are shewed and also required to follow after Him who is the Way the Truth and the Life God hath given us Knowledge and Power to be Happy and hath done all things that can be well conceived seeing he hath been pleased to make us as we are to put us to a free Choice and Obedience We are not Gods but the Work of his Hands he may do what he will with his own if God should force us to do our Duty that would be like the Sacrifice of a Beast against his Will. We ought to praise our God that he hath made us capable of serving him who hath provided so much for our Good that we may live for ever if we will he doth press us forward to the things which are for our Peace he Neh. 9. 29. doth testifie against us that he might bring us again unto his Law this is done by the Spirit he hath given us Conscience is called the first Spirit of Man 1 Cor. 2. 11. Prov. Of Conscience 20. 27. It is the most excellent part of the reasonable Soul which being assisted from above make Application of the Mans actions to himself He that is wise is wise unto himself and this bringing all things home is most useful for accomplishment of the great end of Happiness
accept of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you 1 Pet. 1. 4. if you perform the conditions required As for that you have already must fade away for if you think the Lands are yours for ever yet your selves are not so they may remain somewhat longer but you shall be taken away before Their inward thought is that their Houses shall continue for ever and their dwelling places to all Generations they call their lands after their own Names this their way is their folly yet their posterity approveth their sayings Psal 49. 11 13. When many times they do not long enjoy their lands for these change owners and seldom continue in the same Family for two or three hundred years much less for ever Nay if they were secured from Folly Prodigality Forfeiture Injustice as that is in defeating the 1 Kings 21. 3. next Heir of the Blood of the inheritance of his Fathers and of firm Title and furthest from Inundation of the Sea yet this would not endure for ever for the time draweth near when the Earth shall be burnt up and all the Works thereof so the goodliest Estate now seen is but temporal which fades away He that hath the best tenure and most indefeasible right yet hath no perpetuity but himself is tenant at will to the great Landlord of Heaven and Earth now t is the wisest way of such an one to feather his nest to provide well against the time he shall be turned out Agreeable hereunto is the Counsel of the Lord Jesus And I say unto you make to your selves Friends of the mammon of Vnrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations Luke 16. 9. It is strange that those who have such an advantage of Worldly outward prosperity of which they must be one day eternally deprived should not take care against that fails to be provided of an Happiness in the highest Heavens for evermore especially if they miss thereof they must fall down into opposite Misery One of these two must be your condition there is no avoiding of it if you should be miserable it will be in a worse degree then the common sort of mankind because of your manifold transgressions and mighty sins Amos 5. 12. They are against great Love and Mercy and when those which should have been Examples unto others of obedience and righteous living have most of all sinned and contemned the Almighty Vengeance may be taken upon them seven-fold and when the day of their calamity is come that pride and pleasure in which now they so much trust shall be all vanished and gone and serve to torment them yet more by sad reflections of what they have been For as the benefit is great if they use Riches and Honour as instruments to set forth the Glory of God and maintain good Works so likewise is the danger great if thence they be proud and rebellious turning them into an occasion to fulfill the lusts of the â—â—esh it would have been better not to have had then thus to have abused them It is not only because such an one is in a higher Seat in the World therefore he shall be so in that to come for there will be changes and those that are exalted shall be abased Yet to him that rightly managed the ten Talents authority was given over ten Cities and he that did five had proportionably So Luke 19. 17 18. contrariwise he that is unfaithful in most shall receive the greater condemnation and if he that received but one Talent went and digged in the Earth and hid his Lords Money was cast into outer Darkness as an unprofitable Servant What will become of him who received ten or five and used them to rebel against his Lord Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy Now things are so set that extremity and eternity of joy or sorrow must be the final condition of every one it may seem impertinent to bid him choose whether he will have as if ten thousand Talents were laid on an heap and the other side a single farthing to make long perswasion that he would be sure to make choice of the first Or if there was offered unto him a glass of the most pleasant Wine and a cup of deadly Poyson and he knew before which was so Neither of these come up to the present Case for the good of the one is more beyond the evil of the other then in any two things that can be compared Although there is such a vast difference yet commonly the evil part is chosen and those who call themselves Men yea Men of Honour and Renown are worse then Children in understanding They greedily catch at toyes and trifles they are careful to learn all the punctilios of Honour niceties of Pride modes of Breeding and things which belong to their Quality but in the mean while are negligent of the things that belong to their peace They run after every imaginary pleasure are for every thing which hath the name of it yet they will not seek after true and real Happiness they run on still in their course not considering for what end they came into the World or what will become of them when gone out This is not a Gentlemans business he is to go in the Fashion carry himself obligingly in Company understand his Estate this is sufficient for him What should he mind any thing else for Let him do what his inclinations lead him unto such is the language of Pride and Modishness But what saith the Holy Spirit thereto Do ye thus requiâ—e the Lord O foolish People and unwise is not he thy Father that hath bought thee Hath he not made thee and established thee Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful and hast forgotten God that formed thee Deut. 32. 6. 18. Wilt thou obliterate the notions of him who hath spread thy Table and made thy Cup to overflow Is this the return he is to make to his Almighty Benefactor He may turn Mercies into Disobedience yet he shall not go unpunished forsooth it is not his business to work the work God hath sent him to do he is too good for it in his own conceit The Lord saith them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. Some may not care if they are so for as yet they find no harm come by it but what will become of the most scornful and exalted Sinner when God shall pluck thee out of the land of the living and there shall be none to deliver thee Even here though thine house of defence be very high he can bring thee down make thee a mock and by-word as he hath done by some but he doth generally suffeâ— Mens evil Deeds in this World letting them go on as they will as he did the manners of the Israelites fourty years in the Wilderness Acts
he in for doing only what he is Commanded to do It is secretly conceived that Religion is prejudicial to the Happiness of mankind in that it is the disturber of Society and an hindrance to the Peaceableness thereof This medling vexing Humour spoils all What Reproof is to private Persons that is faithful Preaching to the publick They fancy it serves only to terrifie and disquiet Men. But as all Government and Community is founded on Religion the difference of Good and Evil right and wrong These would be meer Words only if not attended with Rewards and Punishments And these would not restrain neither if not for God and the Conscience of Men as also their Concern of a succeeding Eternity for otherwise Rapine and Injustice discontent and weariness of Life would Attempt strange things And therefore the Wise Politicians and ungodly Men of the World would just have so much Religion as to prevent this and no more But what unworthy thoughts have such People of Almighty God that his Service must be brought down only to their purposes his Kingdom and Dominion over Men must come under theirs whereas it is now in its due place of Subordination unto that of God. How do a small number of Grashoppers here in the Earth think of and would do towards the Great Lord of the World How do Men that shall die and must appear before him in Judgment demean themselves towards him now they are but a little while in the way It is strange there should be any such Pride or Rebellion of Heart in Christendom yet there is more here as may be perceived by the wicked Talk of some then in the Nations which have not known God. To silence the Blasphemy of these and to allay the thoughts of Heart Consider That all ungodly Deeds and all hard Speeches against Jude 15. the Lord are for want of a perfect understanding of him and his ways Let them reflect who it must be that made the World and all things therein and then speak lightly of him if they can Let them observe that great Order which is in every part thereof and then they can never conclude him to be a disturber of Affairs here below 'T is only the abuse and non complyance with Religion that is the disturber of the World. Those who do violence to the Law Zeph. 3. 4. and pervert the Gospel Gal. 1. 7. Bring in confusion and every evil work There is an inclination in the Nature of Man to accept of Gods terms to arise and be saved and he not giving way throughly unto that is vexed and troubled 'T is Hypocrites Partial Christians and those convictions of wicked ungodly Men not knowing what to do which is the Disturbance of the Inhabitants of the Earth Let God be true and every Man a Lyar surmise what we will all the evil is from our selves but we have that abominable disingenuous way of taking it off from our selves and would with our Fore-fathers impute it somewhere else by this owning we are the Children of him and partakers of his Corruption Whom would we plead Gen. 3. 12. with or excuse our selves before Are we not to supplicate to God for his Mercy And is this the way by false unjust insinuations to provoke him yet more At last these things will be discerned plainly as they may be at present known out of that Book by which all are to be judged Righteous art thou O Lord and true are thy Judgments they are ordained to give Peace on Earth and good-will towards Men. If it happens contrary it is because horribly abused or not observed It tends to the Happiness and benefit of Society for what doth more then those Duties of Love Justice and Mercifulness as they are strictly enjoyned by the Son of God What can be more endearing then to strive together and help one another forward to the common Salvation In the natural body each part is joyned and doth depend upon the whole and the good of this again upon the good and order of each part so in the Soul as to things invisible but to her sensible there is an happy connexion of them One tends to the good of her in this Capacity another to that according to its several workings and all together for the benefit of the whole Gods Power and Wisdom is to be seen in such a contrivance and order of things 1 Cor. 12. To Nature and the dictates thereof he hath superadded Grace and Commandments both to will and to do further He that hath done so far will certainly bring us to Happiness at last We can well judge of the goodness of his Nature by what he doth He who hath given Being and ordered all things for our well being if we do comply with and not resist his Will shall also perfect the same at last Lord thou wilt â—ordain peace for us for thou also hâ—st wrought all our Works in us Isa 26. 12. And whosoever doth not find it so in him it is by reason of what the Prophet adds further O Lord our God other Lords besides thee â—ave had dominion over us verse 13. There is some other reigning sin but whosoever will give up himself wholly to the guidance of our God shall find this blessed effect I say again he shall certainly find this blessed effect All his Commandments even as this present time belong to our Peace which is begun and imperfect here but will be finished and throughly consummated in Jerusalem that is above the vision of Peace CHAP. XIII Of WISDOM and PRUDENCE I need not spend many words to shew that Wisdom tends to the Happiness of Mankind for this is acknowledged but the enquiry will be Whether Religion be this true Wisdom or not and if this can be made to appear to them who know not much more then the talk and rumour thereof For there are some who think all is but prate and that things happen at all peradventure and therefore are for catching what good they can and bear the evil when it comes for there is no remedy But none reasons after this manner as to the Actions and what are esteemed Accidents of this Life It is evident that things are and may be obtained by prudent care and foresight and by a wise management So the miscarriages we fall into might have been avoided if we had done such and such things All Transactions and Affairs whether of greater or smaller moment depend upon sore going means It is the Office of Wisdom to make choice of the right and best and of Prudence to make diligent use of them accordingly He that discerns not thus much is a Fool and knows nothing and to go about to convince such an one with Arguments is what Solomon saith To bray a Fool in a Morter amongst What with a Pestil yet will not his foolishness depart from him Prov. 27. 22. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge but Fools despise Wisdom