55o Molter greenhorns `Readings Verle r oo. twofer/badmore then the attmient, hecaufeIkeptthyprecepts. ITfolloweth :'wader/teedmore thenthe auncient,&c. As wee hauehearde of theglorious effcas of theword in this manofGod,how he excelled his foesin policie, and histea- chers in wifedome; fonow hefheweth,how hewent beforehis Eldersin prudence andvn- derftanding. Hewasviler thenhis enemies.Wby? becaufein all hisattempts, bee delibe- ratednot with flefh andblood,butasked counfaile of theLord,by the wordand byprai- ;ote, er. He excelled this teachersin good learning: wherefore? becaufe bee contented not him- felfe toflayon the naked rules by themdeliuered , but furtherlaboured with his conlci- ence,to snake thevfe ofthemprofitable to himfelfe. He ouer-reached hisauncients: why? becaufeheeeuerhadafpeciallcaretokeepeatruefaith ,.andagoodconfcience, whereof maniehad madefhipwracke. Whereof then commeth it topalTe, thatthe fcholler is often 'betterthenhismaifter? commeth it notfrom hence, bccaufc theLordworketh according tohiswill,and befloweth likeeffeéfs wherelike meanes are vied, bleach and curleth, &- preach andraifeth vp,accordingto the vfing,and not vfng'ofneceflàrie meanes? Byme- sntóanicalt ditatinnthelodgementofthegod licisfined, bymufhngthe wickedgrowby high degrees inucntions. u tothe myfterieof iniquitie. For as they be touch giurnto thiskinde of occupyingtleir ,, mindes: fo Sathan clothtnoft therebyconoeyhimlèlfe into them, putting fuckplatformes and deuifes into theirheads, that otherwifewere wonderfull to come into a mortall mans miede. Sothen they,that doenot reft inhearing and reading, but endeuourby meditati- on to finde and drawoutan vfe ofit in thcmfelues,wonderfullie doeprofit, and mightily excell others. Letvs notreft inour ouet lights, but antevp andprouoke cur affeaions to takea new viewe ofthofe thinges which wee haue heard, whereby wee may gather more vnto our felues, then that which wee haue heard. And why? Man is a creature n reafonable, andby the light of. nature can thus real'on with hindelfe; ifthis bee true, then the contrarie is falle; ifit holdeth inthe greater, then it holdeth in the Inffer. If this good thing bath good effecîes, then the contrarie culll bath ill sffera. See howknow- ledge by meditation clothincrea(e. Agrine, becaulecuery member ofChrila is annoin- tedwith knowledge, according to that meafurewhich the fpirit worketh, as well the hearer as the fpeaker mayprpfitbyvfln the messes. For bymeditatioa thejudgement isfiued,thewit helped, thememorieffrengthet ,andflirtcthvpaffeaions,asthus: Is this good ?I will do it: is this sheobedience rewarded ? I will obeyit: Is this forbidden ? I will auoydit :Is this threat. ncd with fo fearefull iudgements? l qsalie andtremble sothinkeofit. Bythe helpe of this,ma- nywill fpeake ona fudden; becaufetheyfpeakeoutof ;heexperience of their ovine confeiences, whenthelearning.of othersisin their teachers head, or elfe in their booke. Ir is then the righte- ous lodgement ofGod, that we are fovnaptto pratTife, wanting dextentieof wit,bereauedof found judgement,betides manyoiherpunii]imenis,dtrc to ihr contempt of Godsword, when our owneconfcience than accufe vs, laying: that Thisgood thou mighteflhauehad,this cont. fort thoumightefl haue enjoyed. Itadfl thou meditatedon the word. There remaineth the thirdof ea,w hich is in their words,Iam triflethen.the ancient, &c. Oh notablewifedome I that madehimwifcr t hen gray haires, which areof longer experience. Hee cloth nor compare himfelfe with dotifh old men , but thewife Ancients its snlrom thought not thequicknesofwit,yet the Pithand marrowof knowledgeremayneth. Neincerdothhefpeake this fomuch soprayfehimfelfe,asto flirrev s others. If then weThal fee a comelyold man,fpea- king lawon thebench, anddeliretoheateflomewifeexperience, themanofGodhere telletbvs the way, how before thofe timeswee may attaine unto ic.' Arid through the blelfng of God on chofe meanes, the gracesofGod fermegreater inyoung yeeres,ifwe labourforknowledge, and with knowledge ioyneconfciencc, and with confciencepraéìife. For the high way toknow- ledge is to meditate withour knowledge, asdto trembleinour hearses, at the Maieflieof the wotd,not ceaing to labour with our lelues,vnril by mufrng wehauefelt fomecomfort. Hereof it n prooct a,that they%hich haue heard the wordof Godbut ayerre, are moreprofited then they whichhaueheardlixeyceres. Forvnto him that bath, motefhallbegiucn , and frent hint that hashnot, euesthat whichher hashfoal! be taken from him. Ifwee obferue it, wtefhallfind profane
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