CHAP.I.13 v9Commentarle vponthe X41 refiacd the word they heard , by lewd and graceleffe lines and behaui- ours. z. Let no man fay,my (inne fhalllie hid , and it is in fecret , or twi- light: no,no, there is witneffe inough to convince thee of the molt fe- crec of them all,theeles ofGori,thevoice ofthy own confcience,which will be as a thoufand witneffes ; yea the Lord ( who hash moewales to thewood then one) bath giuen to all creatures ton ues,cares,eyesÿ and handsagainfl (inners. The flied bloodof thy brother (hall call for ven- geance, the timber and {lone in thewall cryeth out of opprefflon and cruelties the rufl of thegold and filuer againfl the wretched couetoufnes ofmiferable men,and fo in the refl. Not (iimplyvn. DoE. 2. The fecond thing to be obferued in this preface is, that lawb,ll toal. this teflimoniewas not fetched from any of Gods Prophets , but from ledge the fay. ing ofapro. one of their owne. Whence we learne , that it is not limply vnlawfull phane man m. a toalleadge the laying ()faprofane man in a fermon, For , r. all truth is Lemon. Renfons, theLords,and where it may ferue for his glory , it may not be reicEled;' E neither skilleth it fomuch in what ground the hearb grow,or what gar- diner let & planted it,fo as it heale:we grant that iftheKingofAmmons crowne be fit for theKing of lerufalem, that he may take it and weare it. z. There maybe fometimes neccflìty of the teflimony of profane Cafes nflawfnll writers, and quotation of Fathers As r. in of , that the allcadgina pro. a : , cafe fancanchors. true fence andmeaning ofa word, phrafe, or fentence may be the clea- rer : which if it cannot be fo eafily done out of the Scriptures them- pu natbn& op. felues, then may a Minifler defcend ro humanity, and by earthlymeans propugnabunr, tcaCh things heavenly. a. In cafe of conuielion oferror,whether in do- q u m ,ent hs &fine, or manners.IndòEirrine,when any conrrouerfall point is hartlled, rapt,nrisx - Itoepatisaii- well may we free the truthof noueltie, by Chewing the coufent of it ad c, with the ancient Church : for hereby t the weake and new conuerts ad (scram hanc a ' militiam,veluti aremore confirmed : z. the calumnies ofthe aduerfaries are cut of, who tvnr,pr u quo. commonly boafl that all antiquitie ilancleth for and with them. Inman- dam,prolule- Y 9 rint.rilenus. neri, theconui6tion is of I. Chriftians : or, a. Heathens. If of Chrifli- lulianforbad the Chrilhans a11S ,then fuch allegations may be vfed by wayofexprobation, or (harpe the reading of reproofe; fo the Lordhimfelfe fetideth his people to the Iles ofChaim, , heathenPoets and Orators, andKedar, ro fee ifany of the nations dealt fo with their gods : yea to lealtthey (hold theoxe,affe, crane florke pifmire, &c. Ifwe be to dealewith Heathens alleadge their authoritie a. or Atheifls,who arenot eafily moonedwith theauthority of the Scrip- gainit she hea. tires ; then can we conuince them no orherwife then by fuel) teflimo- cnens.For,faith he,they chruf} nies oftheir owne,which they make moi accountof : and fo the Apo- nothroughwith ale dealing a with Athenians > Epicures > Stoiks,&Cretians bytheteflimo- our owne fa. thrrs. nie of cMenander, e.4ratae, Epimenider, convinced their wickedneffe. °r t a' Thus for theclearing ofGods glory,andhis trutb,as Paul faith,aIl things are Gen 4. klab.i.it. lam.s.1.4.
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