Ep:flleofS. Paulto ri:ue. CHAPd13. ay nature;that is, not the lawewritten, but a certaine generali and ob- (cureknowledge,concerning God, and theinfelues,whereby they were conuinced ofthofe general notions; that there is one God;chat thisone God is to be wor(hipped >the which euen idolatry it felfeprooueth;that thisworfhip mull rather be in fpirit then bodily;that they might not do to others, that which they would not fuller of others; that euery one fhould haue his own giuen him; that adulterieand vnchafl lulls were to be auoided;chefe things they knew,called thelawes ofGod. eft. But doe you afcribe the knowledge of God to the natural] man, are not many Scriptures againfi it ? Anf. Seeing the Scripture at- tributeth both knowledgeand ignorance ofGod , to the naturall man, we (hall vnderfland both thebetter by diflinguifhiug the knowledge of God: which is r. eithernaturali and general], or 2. fupernaturall and re- uealed. The former is gotten and encreafed by the light of nature, and things created : the latter is made knowne in the word: the former a man mayhaue,and yet vanish away in his imaginations,andbe nobetter then a flat Acheifi, without God in the world : the latter is neither idle nor vanilhing, but forceth to glorifieGod as God , by louing, fearing, invocating, andobeying him. The vfeof the former is onely to make men excufeles in their iufl damnation, Rom.r. zo. of the latter, to raife vp men to the fight and fruition oftheir faluation: bothmentioned,Gal. 4.8,9. The former the Scripture fcarfe vouchfafech the name of know- ledge: and fo denying knowledge to the naturali man it fpeaketh of that fupernaturail knowledge , which Salomon faith is toohigh for a foolé; which onely deferucth the nameof knowledge: t.Cor.z.t 7. The naturall man knoweth not the things ofGod,nor con &,Howe them becaufe they orefpiritnalydifcerned. The fecond thing which inwardly witneffeth again(+ the naturafman,, is his natorallconfcience, whereby eucn theheathen not onely knew , but did the things. ofthe lass; not that any ofthem could yeeld perfeti obedi- ence to the lawe, by the tlrength ofnature : but that without the help of the Lawe written , the Gentiles had a certaine kinde of difcipline, whereby they were refirained from manynotorious vices : for he faith nor, that they were iufl, but did certaine things ofthe lawe,proceeding hence,that with the light of Tome common notions concerning God, they hadalfo a f nfe ofhis iul ice,whichwas ready to return to them ac- cording to their works. Now both thefe, namely, naturali knowledge, and confcience, were Rill according to the workingof their corruption, either more quickeand flirting in them,or more dull and deadcd : and yet neuer infuffic,ent to condemne them. lrfe. t. Hath the Lord Co many witneffes aeaina the heathen , who 239 What know- ledge natural] men haue of Rom,,.,4> neacr
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