Epif leofS. Pau/ to Tittal. CHAP.I.I 2 1 are oars: Scripture,art, nature, &c. Now becauCe there accreweth a great 243 hurt to the Church by the abufe of this example, we muff carefully ob- Cautions in (uch allcáad. fettle tomecautions in fuchallegations: I will name three. ons. I. Whereas the former cafes are not frequent, fuch allegations muff be rare and (paring : As Paul in all hisbookes, adding vnto his 14. Epi- ales (if that of the Hebrewes be his) his fermons and defences in the I Aetsof the Apo(fles, vied onely three fhort Aphorifines; neitherout of the iuff carries prealledged. Neither did euere'f1ofes,though learned in all the learning oftheEgyptians, vie any; nor Abraham, nor lob; nor Da- niel mixed any oftheir Chaldean knowledge, nor any of the Prophets. Not Chrid, nor anyother of the Apoflles, but onely Paul thedottor of the Gentiles, who were better acquainted withHeathen writers , then the Scriptures, before whomalone he vfcd them, wounding themwith their owne weapons. a. Thefeallegations muff bevied foberiy, without affetlation. Paul 2 himfelfe teachingvs, that the right manner ofpreaching,ffandethparr- r.cor.s.s,.ex. ly in concealment ofhumane skil,&partly in demonffration of the fpirit. Pounded. And hereof he rendreth two reafons: r . Becaufe the dotlrineof the Go- fpel muff favour aill of thecrofl'e, be abie&, and delpicable, and fo re- fembie Chriff himfelfe theauthor of it, whoneuer fought his owneglo- ry, but departed from it for the faluation of his body. 2. Leaf the faith of beleeuers fhould be in the wifedotneofmen, and not in the power of God, that is, leaf men Ihould afcribe that to humane eloquence, and wifedome,and gifts ofinen,which is proper to the i mplicitieof the Go- fpel. True it is, as the Apoftle obferued; the morepompe,the leffe pow- er, and the more earthen the veffels areknowne to be, the better is the treafure knowne to beheauenly. 3. Theymay not be vied toprooue points ofdotlrine, or manners : for the word is a fufficient and lure ground for proofeof ail fuchpoints; but rather illuflrate, andgiue a more euident declaration of the truth, and more clearely to reprooue, and conuince falfhood , and error. For to viemens authoritie toprooue Gods truth, were to let vp a candle a- gainf the tonne ; or as if a cryer ofa proclamation figned by theKings hand and feale,fhould fay thus will the Kinghaue it,and Each and fuck of his guard. 3 Thefccautions quiteouerthrowe the commonvie of Inch allegations at this day, whereinmen are immoderate, yea infinite in euery ferinon, vpon all occafions, and to euery purpofe , and people. Hence it is that Arbanah and Pharphar riu_rs of Damafcas, are more frequented then all the waters of Ifrael: Fathers, Philofophers , andPoets , are lowdc in many Sermons, when the Prophets, Apoffles, and the Sonpe.of God =.xtn.s.u. Q...1 "himfelfe
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=