Dr. S t B B s his judgement ofthe Author ofthis COMMENTARY: in a preface to the Expofition of the firfi Chapter , publifhed divers yeares agoe. Otwithftanding the worldscomplaint,of the furfeit ofBooks (hatywits being over forward to vent theirunripeand mif- (hapen conceits ) yet in all ages there hathbeene,and will be neceffaryufes ofholy Treatifes , applyable to the varietyof occafions ofthe time ; becaufemen ofweaker conceirs,can- not fo eafily ofthemfelves difcerne how one truth is infer- red from another, and proved by another, efpecially when truth is controverted by men ofmore fubtile and flronger wits. Whereupon, as Godstruth hath in all ages beene oppofed in fome bran- ches of it ; fo the divine providence that watcheth overthe Church, raifed up fome to fence the truth, and make up the breach. Mengifted proportionably to the time,and as well futnifhed to fight Gods barrels, as Satans champions have beene to (land for him : neither have any points ofScripture beene more exaû- ly difcuffed, then thofe that have been mot} fharply oppugned, oppofition whet- tingbothmens wits and induflry, and in feverall ages, men havebeene feveral- lyexercifed. The ancienteft of the Fathers had todeale with themwithout,(the Pagans) andefpeci ally withproud Hereticks, that made their owneconceits the meaCureofholy truth, believing no more then they couldcomprehend in the ar- ticles ofthe Trinity , and natures ofChrift, whence they bent their forces that way, and for their matter wrote moreCecurely. Not long after, theenemies of grace, and flatterersofnature, flirted up S.augufline tochallenge the doéfrine ofGods predeflination and grace our of their hands , which he did with great fucceflè, as fitted with grace, learning and wit, for fuel' a conflia, and no Scrip- turesare more faithfully handled by him, then thole that were wrefted by his oppoli tes, and Inch as made for the.ffrengthening ofhis owne cauCe ; In other writingshe tooke more liberty, his Scholars Profer, Futgentius andothers, ¡me- read them (-elves in the fame quarrell. In proceffeoftime, mendeirous ofquiet, and tiredwith controvertes, began to lay afide the (lady ofScriptures , and hearken after an eafier wayof ending ffrife, by the determinationofone man, (the Snapof Rome) whom virtually they made the wholeChurch ; Co the people were (hut up under ignorance and implicite faith, which pleafed themwell, as eating themof labour of fearch, as upon the fame irkefomeneffe oftrouble,in the Eafleme parts, they yeilded to the confufionand abomination ofMahometifme. And left Scholars fhould have nothingto doe, theywere let to'tye, and untie Schoole knots,and f pin quetfions out oftheirownbraine,inwhich brabbles they were fo takenup, that theyNightly lookedtoocher matters; as for queflions of weight they were fchooled co refolve all into the decifive fensence of the Sea Apofiolicke ; the authorityofwhichtheybent their wits toadvance ; yet then Wifdome found childrento juflifie her : for Scriptures that made forauthority ofPrinces, and again(' ufurpationofPopes, were well clearedby Ocean, Mar/1- lius, `Patavinus,and others,as thofeof Predeflination and Grace by ariminuufss, Bradwardine, and their followers , againti Pelagianifine, then nitwit prevailing. At lengththe Apoftafie ofPopery fpread fofar , that God in pitty to his poore Church, railed upmenofinvincible courage, unweariedpains, and great skill in Tongues and Arts, to free Religion, fodeepelyinchralled; from whence it is that we have fo many judicious Tradtates andCommentaries in this latter Age; Andyet will there be neceflàry ufe offurther fearch into the Scriptures, as new heretics J
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