98 Reafonsmouing to thecontempt ofworldylearning. who more learned then thofegreat Clerkes,andprofound Do&ors,which vphold(vpon the firengthoftheirfhoulders) thedeclining Monarchic oftheBabylonifh Antichril, and yet whomore licentious in their lines? whomore malicious oppofers againfi the kingdome and truth of Iefus Chrifi? whomore crueli pert-centers of theSaintsofGod ? But let vs defcend to more particulars, this worldly learning doth not at all inlighten our minds with fallingknowledge, nor in- richeth ourvndcrflanding with fpirituall wildome ; as may altoappeare by the formerexamples; for there was neuer a. ny in their times excelled thofe before named in thislear. ping; and neuer any more blindly ignorant,euen in the rudi- mentsand firfi principlesoftrue religion. In which refpe&, theymay fitly be compared to Batter and Ovules, which fee very acutelyin the darke,but are dim -lighted andpur-blind when theSun= fhineth:fo thefe remaining in natural dark- neffe, fee very cleerely the vnprofitable andnicequiddities ofvaine Philofophie,but when the lightof the Gofpel deer- Iy fhineth, theyarenot therebyinlightned, for their Owle. like eyescannot endure thisbrightnes,neither doth it helpe their fight,butmakes them morepur-blind thenbefore. So alto it dothnot profit vsfor the attaining offaith,yea rather itconfirmeth and encreafeth naturali infidelitie; forwhereas Nebr.!x.r. faith id ofthingsnot (eene,andnot groundedonlènfe,butrefl. eth vpon Gods word and promifes, as being truth it felfe which cannot deceiue, there learned world!ings credit no more then they fee,nor beleeue any thingwhich maynot be demonfirared bythe rulesofthcir learning. And for this we haue the Pharifies reflimonie againfi themfelucs, where fpeaking to their feruants,who were afionill edwithChrifis john 9.qß. do&rine, theydemand,ifanv ofthe 'Riders andPhartfirs k. ¡roueinChrtft? But (fay they) thispeople that know not the laware curfed,And fowe !hall find that the do&rineoffaith Aß.17.r8.32. taught by the Apofile `Paul, was neuer more vnprofitable and vnfruitfull, then among the Athenians, neuer more op- poled, normore derided, nor euer fewer in anyplacebyfo much preaching conuerted to the faith, then among thefe learnedPhilofophers.The like might be laid ofall other fan- @ifying
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=