VerC 3. the Epïßle ta the Romans. bid,) Icommand, Ienjoyn, as the man- =. t. nerof theLatine is to put(dico for juhee,) fo as this is no indifferent thing which menmay do or not, but a neceffary pre- cept which may not at any hand be omitted without fin. We are further to mark, that whereas the Miniffers of Ch riffmay fometimes fpeak mildely out of love, as in verf. r. fo fometimes they may command precifely out of that power which Chtifi hath given, as here, and t 7ím.6. 17. 2 Tim.4. i. The fecond thing to be noted, is the univerfity of this precept, that is is to all and every one; it reacheth throughout to every member or Officer of the Church what - foever his office or gift be, there is none exempted, be he high or low, learned or unlearned, they are bound to fub- mit themfelves to this precept, cancer. ping humility in ufing rightly their gifts and offices. If they be : inferiour perfons and have mean gifts, they have need of it for to keep them from envy ing them which have better. If fnperiors and have more excellent graces then they have need of it to keep them from pride, and difdaining them which have leffe. Laffly, whatfoever they be they (hall never turn their gifts to the profit of others, and of publick good, únleffe they be modell and lober minded. The next thing to be noted in this preface is, that Paul doth bring forth his Apoflo- licall calling and fun&ion to warrant his precept. For (grace) in this place fignifies neither the gift of holy elo- quence, or power in fpeech, nor yet the gifts of wifdome, as fome think, but (by a Metonymic of the caufe for the effe &) it is put for the Apollolicall vocation, as allo Rom. I. 7. & t 5.13. which is therefore called (grace) becaufe he received it freely, being put into this office when he thought not of it ; yea, he was-a blaf= phemerand perfecutor of the Church, 9.1.Tim.r.r9. And this he doth to Phew he was no intruder or ambitious ufurper,which thrufl in himfelf, doing more then hemight well do, in giving precepts to Churches ; as al fo to draw the/Zomanr, and them all Chriffians to yeeld itnto the praEÈife of this precept with all good reverence and fubmiffion, that they be not found to Drive and fight again}} the Lord jefits,fpeaking to us by the Apoffle Faul,whom to hearken to, and to reverence, is to receive and hearken unto Chrifl, Mat. r o. T r M. Now to the exhortation what it the firjfpart ofit? S r L. Not to underftand above that which is meet, or not to prefume to be wife overmuch. T r M. But how can ary be wife overmuch, feeing none can have too much xrifdome, nor can undorf}and enough ? how then }hall any offend by underflanding above that which it meet ì fin- we are bid to be wife asferpentr, Mat. r o. S. Ephef.5. 15. S r L. It is true, therefore here is not condemned the exceffe of wifdonte, (for God will have his children flrive to per - fèEìion) but the proud opinion of inch men as challenge to themfelves all wif- dome and knowledge, who both are proud of that which they have,and alto arrogate to themfelves underftanding and gifts which they have not, to the contempt of others,thinkingthemfelves to know all, and to be the only wife men, none to be like them, or fit to be compared with them. This attributing too much to our own conceit, and de- tra&ing from others, is the main vice here forbid and condemned, out of which (as out of a noyfome root) there do fpring three noyfome branches, all comprehended under this part : as an itching define to invent new do- &rines, forfaking the beaten path,and fimplicity of the known and received truth, to r into new and flránge opi- nions. Anhat this pride and over- weening of wit,is the Mother of herefie and damnable errors, both Scriptures, r Tim. 6. 3,. 4. and l'amentabl'e experi- ence hath confirmed unto us, that Tome to be thought wifer then others hash hatched errors. Secondly, a too great confidence of ou r underftandrrg, as if it were Tharp and quick enough to pierce into the moti ferret things of God, which arel untraceable and pall- finding out. Whence 515
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