Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

94 `I, ctfonamowing to the contempt of *aridly learning. felfe with a cotnpetentportion of this fpiritual food oflear- ning and knowledge; the which being exceeded, caufeth a furfet,which cafleth the mincie into diuers and dangerous difeafes which are hardly cured. And another demandeth,if he be to be reproued, which gathereth needleffe fuperflui- ties, and in his houle fetteth out to the Phew an outward pompe of precious things,and he to be excufed which is too much occupied,in gathering fuperfluous abundance oflear- ning & humane knowledge ?Yea(faith he)to delire to know Plus fare velle more then enough, is to be reprehended, as being a kind of quartz fit fatto, intemperance.Laffly,this learning is abuled when we ouer- ost a `er nt a value and efleeme it, as when wee place therein our chicle eoose1.,8s. happineffe,or preferre it before the knowledge ofGod and his true religion, or the rat of his fantiifying and fauin. graces, aduancing the handmaidcs aboue their milirtffe, and elleeming the confufed languages of Babel,aboue that excellent language of the fpirituall Canaan. 4.Seai.3. In which refpetfs when learning is abufed,it degenera- That worldly tech from his owne narure,and becommeth unto vs cuill, tearningir to In worldly and wicked, and is therefore of all Gods feruants contemnedafrs to be contemned and defpifed,loathed and abhorred.Now not proofs vr, that wee may contemne this worldly and wicked !earning, which is fo much admired among carnal] men who haue attained vnto it,let vs confider,firfi,that it bringeth with it no true profit; and then,that it is the caufe of much hurt. That this learning of carnal! worldlings proficeth them not, it may appeare by indut&ion ofparticulars.For what doth it auaile them to be good Logicians,when as they are neither skilful! in finding out what the good and perfeti will of God is,nor able to fudge betweene that which is good and euill,nor to confute the fübtill fophiflrie and dangerous pa- ralogifinesofour f irituall enemie the diuell, whereby out of falfe premifes lie frameth againf} their foules moil dam- nable conclufion.s? What doth it profit them to bec good Rhetoricians in perfwading ofochers vnto what they lifl,by letting a faire glofle vpon a falfe caufe, if they haue not found eloquence enough,to perfwade and aflure themfelnes of their owne faluation? What Both it helpe them to bec good