The arrogancy of reason against divine revelations, repressed, or, Proud ignorance the cause of infidelity, and of mens quarrelling with the word of God
         Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
      
       
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             The arrogancy of reason against divine revelations, repressed, or, Proud ignorance the cause of infidelity, and of mens quarrelling with the word of God
             Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
          
           77 p.
           
             Printed by T.N. for Tho. Underhil,
             London :
             1655.
          
           
             Written by Richard Baxter. Cf. BM.
             Reproduction of original in Yale University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Bible -- Evidences, authority, etc.
           Revelation.
        
      
    
       A26869  R17483  (Wing B1192).  civilwar no The arrogancy of reason against divine revelations, repressed. Or, Proud ignorance the cause of infidelity, and of mens quarrelling with the Baxter, Richard 1655    23658 539 0 0 0 0 0 228 F  The  rate of 228 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the F category of texts with  100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 
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           THE
           ARROGANCY
           OF
           REASON
           AGAINST
           Divine
           Revelations
           ,
           Repressed
           .
        
         
           OR
           ,
           Proud
           Ignorance
           the
           cause
           of
           Infidelity
           ,
           and
           of
           Mens
           Quarrelling
           with
           The
           Word
           of
           God
           .
        
         
         
           
             LONDON
             :
          
           Printed
           by
           
             T.
             N.
          
           for
           
             Tho.
             Underhil
             .
          
           1655.
           
        
      
       
       
       
         
           
             Rom.
             11.
             33
             ,
             34.
             
          
           
             
               O
            
             The
             depth
             of
             the
             riches
             ▪
             both
             of
             the
             Wisdom
             and
             Knowledge
             of
             God!
             How
             unsearchable
             are
             his
             Judgments
             ,
             and
             his
             Ways
             past
             finding
             out
             !
             For
             who
             hath
             known
             the
             minde
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             or
             who
             hath
             been
             his
             Counsellor
             ?
          
           
             Rom.
             9.
             20.
             
          
           
             Nay
             but
             ,
             O
             man
             ,
             who
             art
             thou
             that
             repliest
             against
             God
             ?
             shall
             the
             thing
             formed
             say
             to
             him
             that
             formed
             it
             ,
             Why
             hast
             thou
             made
             me
             thus
             ?
          
           
             Job
             37
             :
             23.
             
          
           
             Touching
             the
             Almighty
             ,
             we
             cannot
             finde
             him
             out
             ,
             He
             is
             excellent
             in
             Power
             ,
             and
             in
             Judgment
             ,
             and
             in
             plenty
             of
             Justice
             .
          
           
             Job
             40.
             8
             ▪
          
           
             Wilt
             thou
             also
             disannul
             my
             Judgments
             ,
             wilt
             thou
             condemn
             me
             ,
             that
             thou
             maist
             be
             righteous
             ?
          
           
             Psal.
             73.
             16
             ,
             17.
             
          
           
             When
             I
             thought
             to
             know
             this
             ,
             it
             was
             too
             painful
             for
             me
             ;
             until
             I
             went
             into
             the
             Sanctuary
             of
             God
             ,
             then
             I
             understood
             their
             end
             .
          
           
             Job
             42.
             2
             ,
             3.
             
          
           
             I
             know
             that
             thou
             canst
             do
             everything
             ,
             and
             that
             no
             
             thought
             can
             be
             with-holden
             from
             thee
             :
             Who
             is
             he
             that
             hideth
             counsel
             without
             knowledge
             ;
             therefore
             have
             I
             uttered
             that
             I
             understood
             not
             ,
             things
             too
             wonderful
             for
             me
             which
             I
             knew
             not
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             3.
             18
             ,
             19.
             
          
           
             Let
             no
             man
             deceive
             himself
             ;
             if
             any
             man
             among
             you
             seemeth
             to
             be
             wise
             in
             this
             world
             ,
             let
             him
             become
             a
             fool
             ,
             that
             he
             may
             be
             wise
             .
             For
             the
             wisdom
             of
             this
             world
             is
             foolishness
             with
             God
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             1.
             25
             :
          
           
             The
             foolishness
             of
             God
             is
             wiser
             then
             men
             ,
             and
             the
             weakness
             of
             God
             is
             stronger
             then
             men
             .
          
        
         
           Read
           
             Isai.
             40.
             12
             ,
             13
             ,
             14
             ,
             15
             ,
             16
             ,
             17.
             
          
        
      
    
     
       
       
         
           THE
           Arrogancy
           of
           REASON
           against
           
             Divine
             Relations
             ,
          
           Repressed
           .
        
         
           
             JOHN
             3.
             9.
             
          
           
             
               Nicodemus
            
             answered
             and
             said
             unto
             him
             ;
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
        
         
           IN
           the
           beginning
           of
           this
           Chapter
           you
           have
           a
           Lecture
           read
           by
           the
           Great
           Teacher
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           to
           a
           Scholar
           that
           was
           newly
           entring
           into
           his
           School
           He
           is
           yet
           but
           a
           
             Catechumenus
          
           in
           preparation
           to
           be
           a
           
             Christian
             ,
          
           rather
           then
           
             one
          
           indeed
           ;
           having
           good
           thoughts
           of
           Christ
           ,
           but
           not
           believing
           in
           him
           as
           the
           
             Messiah
             ,
          
           nor
           engaged
           by
           Baptism
           to
           be
           one
           of
           his
           Disciples
           :
           And
           accordingly
           doth
           Christ
           suit
           his
           Doctrine
           to
           his
           condition
           ,
           and
           teach
           him
           first
           the
           great
           Principle
           of
           Christianity
           .
           What
           success
           it
           had
           at
           first
           ,
           we
           finde
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           but
           not
           
           what
           was
           the
           issue
           at
           last
           :
           Though
           by
           other
           Texts
           we
           may
           probably
           conjecture
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           The
           Schollar
           is
           by
           name
           ,
           
             Nicodemus
             ;
          
           by
           Sect
           ,
           a
           Pharisee
           ;
           by
           place
           ,
           a
           Ruler
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           or
           one
           of
           their
           great
           Council
           .
           For
           the
           frame
           of
           his
           minde
           ,
           the
           degree
           of
           his
           preparatory
           knowledge
           or
           belief
           ,
           you
           may
           discern
           it
           ;
           1.
           
           By
           the
           season
           of
           his
           coming
           ;
           2.
           
           By
           the
           motive
           that
           prevailed
           with
           him
           to
           come
           ;
           And
           3.
           by
           the
           confession
           that
           he
           makes
           of
           his
           belief
           .
           From
           all
           which
           you
           may
           see
           ,
           first
           ,
           that
           he
           believed
           that
           there
           was
           a
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           belonged
           to
           God
           to
           teach
           mankinde
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           was
           his
           way
           to
           teach
           by
           men
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           was
           mans
           duty
           to
           seek
           after
           Gods
           teaching
           from
           his
           Messengers
           ,
           and
           come
           to
           them
           and
           request
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           who
           ever
           could
           give
           sufficient
           evidence
           of
           his
           Mission
           from
           God
           ,
           should
           be
           heard
           by
           men
           ;
           and
           that
           Jesus
           Christ
           did
           truly
           and
           undoubtedly
           work
           Miracles
           ;
           and
           that
           such
           Miracles
           as
           Christ
           wrought
           ,
           were
           an
           undoubted
           proof
           ,
           that
           God
           was
           with
           him
           .
           All
           these
           things
           it
           is
           apparent
           he
           did
           believe
           by
           these
           words
           ,
           Vers.
           2.
           
           [
           
             Rabbi
             we
             know
             that
             thou
             art
             a
             Teacher
             come
             from
             God
             ;
             for
             no
             man
             can
             do
             th●se
             miracles
             that
             thou
             dost
             ,
             except
             God
             be
             with
             him
             .
          
           ]
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           From
           hence
           also
           you
           see
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           the
           evidence
           of
           Christs
           Miracles
           ,
           that
           had
           thus
           far
           convinced
           him
           ,
           and
           drove
           him
           to
           Christ
           ,
           as
           a
           Teacher
           come
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           consequently
           one
           that
           was
           to
           be
           credited
           :
           But
           that
           he
           was
           the
           Messiah
           ,
           here
           is
           yet
           no
           confession
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           And
           as
           his
           belief
           was
           but
           preparatory
           ,
           so
           this
           change
           upon
           his
           heart
           doth
           appear
           to
           be
           
           no
           better
           :
           For
           he
           hath
           ●●t
           yet
           learned
           the
           lesson
           of
           Self-denial
           ,
           and
           preferring
           the
           known
           truth
           and
           duty
           (
           of
           seeking
           after
           the
           minde
           of
           God
           from
           his
           Messengers
           )
           before
           the
           credit
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           or
           his
           life
           ;
           and
           therefore
           he
           comes
           to
           Jesus
           but
           by
           night
           ,
           as
           being
           afraid
           to
           own
           him
           in
           the
           face
           of
           his
           enemies
           .
        
         
           Yet
           doth
           not
           Christ
           cast
           this
           cowardize
           in
           his
           teeth
           to
           his
           discouragement
           ,
           but
           fitteth
           his
           medicine
           to
           the
           strength
           of
           the
           Patient
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           to
           the
           disease
           :
           For
           there
           was
           more
           malice
           and
           raging
           zeal
           against
           the
           truth
           ,
           among
           the
           Jews
           ,
           then
           among
           the
           Gentiles
           ;
           and
           so
           more
           dangers
           and
           sufferings
           ,
           which
           a
           novice
           might
           not
           be
           so
           fit
           to
           encounter
           with
           .
           And
           therefore
           
             Paul
          
           when
           he
           went
           up
           to
           
             Jerusalem
             ,
          
           did
           Preach
           the
           Gospel
           privately
           to
           them
           of
           worldly
           reputation
           ,
           which
           among
           the
           Gentiles
           ,
           and
           inferior
           Jews
           ,
           he
           preacheth
           publickly
           ;
           lest
           through
           the
           prevalency
           of
           mens
           pride
           or
           cowardize
           ,
           his
           physick
           should
           not
           do
           its
           work
           ,
           but
           he
           should
           run
           or
           labor
           in
           vain
           ,
           
             Gal.
          
           2.
           2.
           
        
         
           The
           first
           and
           great
           thing
           that
           Christ
           presently
           falls
           upon
           ,
           is
           to
           let
           this
           man
           know
           ,
           that
           this
           much
           will
           not
           serve
           his
           turn
           (
           to
           confess
           the
           Miracles
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           Divine
           Mission
           of
           Christ
           ;
           )
           but
           that
           he
           must
           also
           truly
           believe
           the
           office
           that
           he
           is
           sent
           upon
           ,
           even
           to
           be
           the
           Messiah
           ,
           the
           Mediator
           ;
           and
           the
           Redeemer
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           must
           openly
           be
           engaged
           to
           him
           as
           such
           a
           one
           by
           Baptism
           ,
           and
           so
           own
           him
           and
           confess
           him
           before
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           receive
           his
           renewing
           Spirit
           ,
           for
           the
           illumination
           of
           his
           understanding
           ,
           the
           purifying
           and
           quickening
           
           of
           his
           heart
           ,
           and
           th●reforming
           ,
           and
           afterguidance
           of
           his
           life
           .
        
         
           This
           work
           Christ
           calleth
           by
           the
           name
           of
           the
           New-Birth
           or
           Regeneration
           ,
           and
           tells
           
             Nicodemus
             ,
             [
             That
             except
             he
             be
             born
             again
             of
             water
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             he
             cannot
             enter
             into
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             .
          
           ]
           Not
           that
           there
           is
           the
           same
           necessity
           of
           the
           washing
           by
           water
           ,
           and
           the
           purifying
           by
           the
           Spirit
           .
           For
           by
           [
           
             water
          
           ]
           is
           principally
           meant
           that
           Covenant
           which
           Baptism
           did
           sign
           ;
           even
           the
           confession
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           dedication
           to
           him
           in
           the
           relation
           of
           redeemed
           Ones
           ,
           Children
           ,
           Disciples
           ,
           and
           Subjects
           ,
           on
           our
           part
           ;
           and
           his
           re-engagement
           and
           relation
           to
           us
           :
           Yet
           [
           
             water
          
           ]
           it self
           is
           the
           thing
           nearly
           signified
           in
           the
           Word
           ,
           and
           the
           use
           of
           it
           is
           of
           Divine
           appointment
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           be
           neglected
           where
           it
           may
           be
           used
           ;
           but
           the
           necessity
           to
           Salvation
           is
           placed
           in
           the
           relation
           or
           thing
           signified
           .
           As
           its
           common
           to
           say
           to
           a
           Souldier
           of
           the
           enemies
           ,
           [
           
             If
             thou
             wilt
             change
             thy
             General
             ,
             and
             take
             the
             Princes
             Colours
             and
             fight
             for
             him
             ,
             th●●
             maist
             have
             pardon
             for
             thy
             rebellion
             .
          
           ]
           Where
           [
           
             taking
             Colours
          
           ]
           is
           a
           duty
           ;
           but
           the
           necessity
           is
           placed
           in
           the
           change
           of
           his
           relation
           and
           practice
           ;
           for
           if
           there
           were
           no
           Colours
           at
           hand
           to
           give
           him
           ,
           yet
           if
           he
           be
           listed
           as
           a
           Soldier
           (
           or
           if
           not
           listed
           ,
           yet
           if
           by
           open
           profession
           and
           action
           ,
           joyned
           to
           them
           )
           it
           will
           be
           accepted
           ;
           or
           else
           as
           
             Gr●tius
          
           expoundeth
           it
           ,
           by
           [
           
             Water
             and
             the
             Spirit
          
           ]
           is
           meant
           ,
           a
           washing
           ,
           clensing
           Spirit
           ;
           of
           which
           ,
           see
           him
           in
           
             Lo●
             .
          
        
         
           This
           change
           that
           is
           here
           called
           the
           [
           
             New
             birth
          
           ]
           is
           not
           the
           new
           Creation
           of
           a
           substance
           ,
           or
           destruction
           of
           our
           former
           substance
           ,
           or
           faculties
           :
           For
           
           we
           have
           still
           the
           same
           natural
           powers
           of
           understanding
           and
           willing
           ;
           But
           it
           is
           the
           change
           of
           the
           Disposition
           ,
           Habits
           ,
           and
           Acts
           of
           those
           faculties
           :
           And
           (
           with
           submission
           to
           the
           contrary
           minded
           ,
           I
           conceive
           that
           )
           it
           is
           not
           onely
           our
           real
           qualitative
           change
           that
           is
           here
           called
           
             the
             New-birth
             ;
          
           but
           that
           the
           word
           is
           more
           comprehensive
           (
           as
           I
           before
           exprest
           )
           including
           our
           new
           relation
           to
           God
           in
           Christ
           ,
           as
           Sons
           and
           Disciples
           to
           Christ
           ,
           and
           Servants
           ,
           Subjects
           ,
           or
           Soldiers
           under
           him
           ;
           with
           a
           removal
           from
           our
           former
           relations
           which
           we
           were
           in
           by
           corruption
           ,
           and
           are
           inconsistent
           with
           these
           :
           So
           that
           it
           comprehendeth
           both
           our
           new
           relations
           to
           God
           ,
           to
           the
           Redeemer
           ,
           and
           to
           his
           Church
           ;
           where
           we
           have
           a
           new
           Father
           ,
           Husband
           ,
           Lord
           ,
           and
           Fellow-servants
           ;
           new
           Brothers
           ,
           and
           Sisters
           ,
           and
           Inheritance
           (
           though
           yet
           we
           renounce
           not
           our
           Natural
           Brethren
           ,
           Parents
           ,
           and
           Inheritance
           ,
           as
           the
           Popish
           Monastical
           Votaries
           conceive
           ,
           any
           further
           then
           as
           they
           are
           contrary
           to
           the
           Interest
           of
           Christ
           .
           )
        
         
           The
           Reasons
           that
           perswade
           me
           to
           take
           Regeneration
           in
           this
           extent
           ▪
           are
           ,
        
         
           First
           ,
           Because
           it
           is
           the
           entrance
           into
           our
           whole
           New
           State
           that
           is
           here
           so
           called
           ,
           without
           any
           limiting
           expression
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           Because
           we
           are
           said
           to
           be
           born
           of
           [
           
             Water
          
           ]
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Spirit
           :
           And
           certainly
           Baptism
           doth
           as
           nearly
           and
           truly
           signifie
           our
           Justification
           ,
           and
           Relative
           Change
           ,
           and
           new
           Covenant
           Engagements
           ,
           and
           Adoption
           ,
           and
           Church
           Membership
           ,
           as
           it
           doth
           our
           Qualitative
           Renovation
           .
           Nor
           do
           I
           see
           how
           any
           fair
           Exposition
           can
           be
           given
           
           of
           that
           saying
           [
           
             Except
             a
             man
             be
             born
             of
             Water
          
           ]
           which
           shall
           not
           include
           the
           change
           of
           our
           relations
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           of
           our
           dispositions
           .
           And
           the
           like
           I
           may
           say
           of
           other
           Texts
           ,
           which
           mention
           Regeneration
           ,
           which
           I
           will
           not
           now
           so
           far
           digress
           as
           to
           recite
           .
        
         
           Having
           seen
           what
           Christ
           teacheth
           
             Nicodemus
          
           first
           ,
           let
           us
           next
           see
           the
           success
           of
           his
           doctrine
           .
           
             Nicodemus
          
           fastening
           too
           much
           upon
           the
           Metaphorical
           term
           of
           being
           [
           
             born
             again
             ,
          
           ]
           and
           withal
           not
           understanding
           the
           meaning
           of
           it
           ,
           nor
           the
           scope
           of
           Christ
           ,
           he
           presently
           expresseth
           his
           ignorance
           and
           unbelief
           by
           this
           question
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             a
             man
             be
             born
             when
             he
             is
             old
             ?
             Can
             he
             enter
             the
             second
             time
             into
             his
             mothers
             womb
             ,
             and
             be
             born
             ?
          
           ]
           Hereupon
           Christ
           returning
           an
           Explicatory
           Answer
           ,
           telling
           him
           not
           onely
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           
             new
             birth
             ,
          
           but
           also
           the
           mysteriousness
           of
           its
           causes
           in
           the
           effecting
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           shewing
           a
           plain
           reason
           from
           Natural
           Agents
           ,
           Why
           the
           mysteriousness
           of
           this
           should
           not
           make
           it
           seem
           incredible
           ;
           yet
           doth
           
             Nicodemus
          
           return
           a
           second
           Answer
           like
           the
           first
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
           Which
           words
           do
           import
           not
           an
           absolute
           unbelief
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           what
           Christ
           had
           said
           ,
           but
           a
           great
           ignorance
           of
           his
           meaning
           ,
           and
           a
           not
           discerning
           of
           that
           evidence
           fully
           ,
           which
           should
           have
           caused
           full
           belief
           ;
           but
           a
           strong
           apprehension
           of
           the
           improbability
           of
           the
           thing
           affirmed
           ,
           and
           thereupon
           a
           great
           doubting
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           affirmation
           .
        
         
           And
           note
           here
           the
           aggravations
           of
           
             Nicodemus
          
           his
           fault
           ,
           first
           ,
           They
           were
           the
           words
           of
           one
           that
           he
           himself
           confessed
           to
           be
           a
           teacher
           come
           from
           
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           sealed
           his
           Doctrine
           by
           such
           Miracles
           as
           none
           could
           do
           ,
           except
           God
           were
           with
           him
           .
           And
           doth
           God
           send
           any
           Messenger
           with
           a
           lie
           ?
           or
           any
           Teacher
           that
           knoweth
           not
           what
           he
           teacheth
           ?
           or
           will
           he
           seal
           untruths
           ,
           or
           senseless
           absurdities
           ,
           with
           such
           unquestionable
           miracles
           ?
           Sure
           a
           man
           that
           was
           once
           convinced
           ,
           that
           God
           sent
           the
           Messenger
           ,
           and
           sealed
           the
           message
           ,
           should
           be
           confident
           ,
           that
           the
           matter
           of
           it
           is
           divine
           ,
           and
           should
           never
           once
           suspect
           it
           of
           untruth
           !
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           Though
           Christ
           did
           with
           frequent
           asseverations
           ,
           aver
           the
           truth
           of
           his
           Doctrine
           ,
           yet
           did
           
             Nicodemus
          
           stagger
           through
           unbelief
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           It
           was
           the
           very
           Catechism
           and
           Rudiments
           of
           Piety
           ,
           and
           Christianity
           which
           was
           so
           strange
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           The
           term
           by
           which
           Christ
           expresseth
           
             Spiritual
             things
             ,
          
           he
           understandeth
           all
           in
           a
           carnal
           sense
           ;
           yea
           ,
           and
           after
           that
           Christ
           had
           told
           him
           plainly
           what
           birth
           he
           means
           ,
           not
           carnal
           ,
           producing
           a
           fleshly
           Creature
           ,
           but
           of
           Water
           and
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           producing
           a
           Spiritual
           Creature
           ,
           yet
           doth
           not
           
             Nicodemus
          
           understand
           him
           for
           all
           this
           .
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           Yet
           was
           this
           man
           a
           Ruler
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           even
           one
           of
           the
           great
           Sanedrim
           ,
           and
           one
           reputed
           skilful
           in
           the
           Law
           ;
           one
           that
           professed
           himself
           a
           guide
           of
           the
           blinde
           ,
           a
           light
           of
           them
           which
           are
           in
           darkness
           ,
           an
           instructer
           of
           the
           foolish
           ,
           a
           teacher
           of
           Babes
           ,
           which
           had
           the
           form
           of
           knowledge
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           truth
           in
           the
           Law
           ;
           one
           of
           those
           that
           boasted
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           
             Rom.
          
           2.
           17
           ,
           18
           ,
           19
           ,
           20.
           
           Yet
           he
           that
           should
           teach
           others
           ,
           had
           not
           learnt
           these
           Rudiments
           himself
           .
        
         
         
           Sixthly
           ,
           And
           when
           Christ
           used
           a
           familiar
           instance
           ,
           to
           shew
           him
           that
           things
           are
           not
           therefore
           incredible
           ,
           because
           invisible
           ,
           or
           because
           we
           know
           not
           the
           nature
           ,
           cause
           ,
           and
           end
           of
           them
           .
           We
           may
           know
           
             that
             it
             is
             ,
          
           when
           we
           cannot
           know
           
             what
             is
             it
             ,
          
           or
           
             whence
             ,
          
           or
           
             why
          
           it
           is
           ,
           or
           
             whether
          
           it
           tends
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           blowing
           of
           the
           wind
           is
           evident
           ;
           yet
           doth
           not
           
             Nicodemus
          
           cease
           his
           doubting
           ,
           on
           this
           account
           ,
           but
           asketh
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
           the
           spirituality
           ,
           and
           mysteriousness
           of
           the
           thing
           ,
           made
           it
           seem
           improbable
           to
           his
           uninformed
           intellect
           ;
           and
           the
           seeming
           improbability
           made
           him
           doubt
           of
           the
           verity
           .
           Because
           it
           was
           past
           his
           apprehension
           to
           conceive
           ,
           
             how
          
           it
           should
           be
           ,
           therefore
           he
           doubted
           ,
           whether
           it
           were
           true
           ,
           or
           not
           :
           He
           had
           not
           so
           much
           rational
           consciousness
           of
           his
           own
           ignorance
           ,
           or
           so
           much
           confidence
           in
           a
           Teacher
           sent
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           sealing
           his
           Doctrine
           by
           Miracles
           ,
           as
           to
           acquiesce
           as
           a
           Learner
           in
           his
           Teachers
           credit
           ,
           concerning
           the
           verity
           of
           the
           thing
           ,
           while
           he
           was
           seeking
           to
           get
           a
           clearer
           discovery
           of
           its
           nature
           ,
           rise
           ,
           and
           ends
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           here
           were
           all
           these
           sins
           together
           manifested
           in
           this
           answer
           ,
           Great
           ignorance
           ,
           even
           in
           a
           Ruler
           ,
           unbelief
           ,
           doubting
           of
           the
           conclusion
           ,
           when
           he
           had
           acknowledged
           the
           premises
           ;
           an
           unteachableness
           (
           in
           part
           )
           when
           he
           professed
           himself
           to
           come
           to
           learn
           ;
           an
           arrogant
           conceit
           of
           the
           capaciousness
           of
           his
           understanding
           ,
           as
           if
           Christs
           words
           ,
           or
           the
           plain
           truth
           should
           be
           sooner
           suspected
           ,
           then
           his
           shallow
           capacity
           .
        
         
           From
           this
           Picture
           we
           may
           well
           conclude
           what
           is
           the
           ordinary
           shape
           of
           mans
           corrupted
           disposition
           ;
           
           and
           we
           may
           all
           know
           our selves
           by
           knowing
           
             Nicodemus
             .
          
           And
           from
           hence
           I
           may
           raise
           this
           Observation
           of
           us
           all
           .
        
         
           
             Doct.
          
           The
           corrupt
           nature
           of
           man
           is
           more
           pron●
           to
           question
           the
           truth
           of
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           then
           to
           se●
           and
           confess
           their
           own
           ignorance
           and
           incapacity
           ;
           and
           ready
           to
           doubt
           ,
           whether
           the
           things
           that
           Christ
           revealeth
           are
           true
           ,
           when
           they
           themselves
           do
           not
           know
           the
           nature
           ,
           cause
           ,
           and
           reason
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           They
           will
           make
           every
           thing
           which
           they
           understand
           not
           ,
           to
           seem
           improbable
           ;
           and
           all
           such
           improbabilities
           will
           make
           it
           seem
           incredible
           ;
           and
           the
           incredibility
           of
           a
           part
           ,
           makes
           the
           whole
           seem
           incredible
           :
           And
           thus
           men
           will
           be
           Infidels
           ,
           or
           seed
           their
           infidelity
           by
           every
           thing
           that
           themselves
           are
           ignorant
           of
           ;
           and
           make
           it
           the
           chief
           reason
           why
           they
           will
           not
           believe
           or
           learn
           ,
           because
           they
           do
           not
           already
           know
           ,
           and
           fully
           understand
           the
           things
           to
           be
           learnt
           and
           believed
           .
           And
           so
           God
           must
           be
           accused
           in
           every
           thing
           that
           Moles
           and
           Worms
           are
           ignorant
           of
           .
        
         
           When
           the
           Jews
           acknowledged
           the
           Prophets
           to
           be
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           sometime
           would
           profess
           to
           receive
           and
           obey
           any
           message
           that
           God
           should
           send
           by
           them
           ;
           yet
           when
           they
           heard
           what
           it
           was
           in
           particular
           which
           he
           sent
           ,
           then
           if
           it
           did
           not
           suit
           with
           their
           interest
           and
           carnal
           Reason
           ,
           they
           would
           not
           believe
           it
           ,
           or
           obey
           it
           ,
           but
           rather
           persecute
           the
           Messenger
           ,
           and
           think
           that
           ,
           sure
           such
           a
           message
           could
           never
           come
           from
           God
           .
           So
           that
           they
           must
           
           like
           the
           particular
           matter
           ,
           before
           they
           would
           believe
           that
           it
           was
           of
           God
           .
           And
           so
           Gods
           Word
           shall
           not
           be
           Gods
           Word
           ,
           unless
           it
           please
           the
           blinde
           and
           carnal
           Reason
           of
           man
           .
        
         
           So
           you
           may
           finde
           they
           used
           the
           Prophet
           
             Jeremy
             ,
             Jere.
          
           42.
           
           They
           intreat
           the
           Prophet
           to
           go
           for
           them
           to
           God
           ,
           by
           prayer
           ,
           and
           for
           advice
           ,
           and
           binde
           themselves
           with
           seeming
           resolution
           to
           obey
           ,
           saying
           ,
           [
           
             The
             Lord
             be
             a
             true
             and
             faithful
             witness
             between
             us
             ,
             if
             we
             do
             not
             even
             according
             to
             all
             things
             ,
             for
             the
             which
             the
             Lord
             thy
             God
             shall
             send
             thee
             to
             us
             :
             Whether
             it
             be
             good
             ,
             or
             whether
             it
             be
             evil
             ,
             we
             will
             obey
             the
             voice
             of
             the
             Lord
             our
             God
             ,
             to
             whom
             we
             send
             thee
             ,
             that
             it
             may
             be
             well
             with
             us
             when
             we
             obey
             ,
             &c.
          
           ]
           One
           would
           have
           thought
           that
           these
           men
           would
           have
           believed
           ,
           and
           obeyed
           any
           thing
           that
           God
           should
           send
           to
           them
           ,
           after
           such
           a
           vow
           as
           this
           :
           And
           yet
           when
           they
           heard
           that
           the
           message
           was
           contrary
           to
           their
           own
           mindes
           and
           opinions
           ,
           Chap.
           43.
           1
           ,
           2.
           its
           said
           ,
           That
           [
           
             all
             the
             proud
             men
          
           ]
           gave
           this
           answer
           [
           
             Thou
             speakest
             falsly
             ,
             the
             Lord
             our
             God
             hath
             not
             sent
             thee
             to
             say
             this
             .
          
           ]
        
         
           A
           full
           instance
           you
           have
           of
           the
           like
           corrupt
           disposition
           ,
           in
           
             John
          
           6.
           
           When
           Christ
           doth
           but
           tell
           them
           that
           he
           is
           the
           Bread
           that
           came
           down
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           the
           Jews
           murmur
           ,
           Vers.
           41.
           
           But
           when
           he
           insisted
           on
           it
           ,
           that
           [
           
             He
             was
             the
             Living-Bread
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             would
             give
             his
             Flesh
             for
             the
             life
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             that
             eateth
             him
             ,
             should
             live
             for
             ever
             .
          
           ]
           These
           Spiritual
           things
           they
           did
           not
           understand
           ,
           but
           understood
           him
           carnally
           ;
           and
           thereupon
           reject
           the
           truth
           ,
           because
           they
           understood
           it
           not
           .
           So
           that
           Vers.
           52.
           they
           fall
           a striving
           among
           
           themselves
           against
           Christs
           words
           ,
           saying
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             this
             man
             give
             us
             his
             flesh
             to
             eat
             ?
          
           ]
           Even
           like
           
             Nicodemus
             [
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
             ]
          
           they
           will
           not
           believe
           it
           
             is
             true
             ,
          
           or
           that
           it
           
             can
             be
             ,
          
           till
           they
           know
           themselves
           ,
           
             How
             it
             can
             be
             ?
          
           And
           when
           Christ
           yet
           pressed
           home
           the
           same
           mystery
           further
           ,
           even
           some
           of
           his
           own
           [
           
             Disciples
             when
             they
             heard
             this
             ,
             said
             ,
             This
             is
             an
             hard
             saying
             ,
             who
             can
             hear
             it
             .
          
           ]
           Vers.
           60.
           
           And
           though
           Christ
           proceed
           to
           open
           the
           mystery
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           speak
           that
           more
           plainly
           which
           he
           had
           spoken
           Allegorically
           ;
           yet
           it
           s
           said
           ,
           Vers.
           66.
           
           That
           [
           
             From
             that
             time
             many
             of
             his
             Disciples
             went
             back
             ,
             and
             walked
             no
             more
             with
             him
             ;
          
           ]
           insomuch
           ,
           as
           he
           asketh
           the
           twelve
           ,
           whether
           they
           would
           go
           also
           ?
           intimating
           the
           greatness
           of
           the
           number
           of
           revolters
           ,
           upon
           this
           sleight
           occasion
           ;
           forsooth
           ,
           because
           he
           spake
           that
           which
           they
           understood
           not
           ,
           and
           would
           have
           taught
           them
           what
           they
           had
           not
           ,
           humility
           and
           patience
           enough
           to
           learn
           ;
           and
           because
           they
           did
           not
           reach
           it
           at
           the
           first
           hearing
           ,
           therefore
           they
           thought
           it
           improbable
           and
           incredible
           :
           Many
           more
           such
           instances
           we
           might
           give
           you
           from
           Scripture
           ,
           but
           alas
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           truth
           that
           needs
           no
           further
           proof
           ;
           there
           are
           as
           many
           living
           witnesses
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           there
           are
           men
           on
           earth
           ;
           the
           unregenerate
           being
           conquered
           by
           this
           corruption
           ,
           and
           the
           regenerate
           weakned
           ,
           and
           hindered
           much
           by
           the
           remnants
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           further
           improvement
           of
           this
           Observation
           ,
           I
           shall
           ,
           first
           ,
           open
           further
           the
           nature
           and
           workings
           of
           this
           corruption
           ;
           secondly
           ,
           and
           then
           
           shew
           the
           Reasons
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           lastly
           ,
           make
           some
           Application
           of
           all
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Sometime
           the
           weak
           intellect
           of
           man
           ,
           is
           stalled
           at
           the
           quiddity
           or
           nature
           of
           things
           ;
           and
           then
           being
           arrogant
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           ignorant
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           believe
           that
           there
           is
           such
           a
           thing
           ,
           because
           he
           cannot
           reach
           to
           know
           what
           it
           is
           .
        
         
           On
           this
           account
           some
           question
           ,
           whether
           man
           have
           an
           Immortal
           Soul
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           reach
           to
           know
           (
           as
           they
           expect
           )
           what
           that
           Soul
           is
           .
           And
           some
           will
           not
           believe
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           dwelling
           in
           his
           people
           ,
           because
           they
           know
           not
           what
           that
           Spirit
           is
           :
           And
           some
           think
           that
           there
           is
           no
           such
           thing
           as
           inheren●
           sanctifying
           Grace
           ,
           or
           the
           Image
           of
           God
           renewed
           upon
           the
           Souls
           of
           the
           regenerate
           ;
           but
           that
           all
           talk
           of
           these
           Spiritual
           supernatural
           changes
           ,
           are
           meer
           fancies
           and
           conceits
           ;
           and
           all
           ,
           because
           they
           know
           not
           what
           this
           sanctity
           and
           gracious
           inclination
           is
           .
           They
           think
           there
           is
           no
           such
           thing
           as
           Communion
           with
           God
           ,
           because
           they
           know
           not
           
             what
             it
             is
             ;
          
           nor
           any
           such
           thing
           as
           a
           Spirit
           of
           Prayer
           ,
           because
           they
           know
           not
           
             what
             it
             is
             .
          
        
         
           And
           indeed
           ,
           if
           this
           were
           a
           wise
           and
           right
           reasoning
           ,
           then
           there
           should
           be
           nothing
           in
           Being
           ,
           but
           what
           we
           know
           the
           formal
           nature
           of
           ;
           which
           is
           as
           gross
           a
           conceit
           ,
           as
           most
           in
           the
           World
           .
           What
           if
           you
           know
           not
           what
           an
           Angel
           or
           Spirit
           is
           ?
           doth
           it
           follow
           that
           there
           is
           none
           ?
           What
           if
           you
           know
           not
           what
           is
           beyond
           the
           visible
           Creatures
           out
           of
           sight
           ?
           doth
           it
           follow
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           beyond
           our
           sight
           ?
           By
           this
           Rule
           ,
           you
           may
           say
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           God
           ;
           nay
           ,
           all
           the
           World
           must
           needs
           
           say
           so
           ,
           if
           this
           were
           right
           reasoning
           ;
           for
           no
           man
           hath
           a
           true
           formal
           knowledge
           of
           Gods
           Essence
           ;
           and
           therefore
           must
           say
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           God
           ,
           because
           they
           know
           not
           
             what
             God
             is
             :
          
           Nay
           ,
           it
           s
           a
           great
           question
           ,
           Whether
           such
           men
           must
           not
           deny
           the
           Being
           of
           almost
           all
           Gods
           Creation
           .
           For
           it
           is
           but
           little
           that
           we
           know
           of
           the
           forms
           of
           things
           ,
           in
           comparison
           of
           what
           we
           are
           ignorant
           of
           .
           You
           know
           not
           what
           the
           fire
           is
           ,
           nor
           what
           the
           light
           is
           ,
           nor
           what
           the
           air
           and
           wind
           is
           ;
           for
           all
           the
           great
           pretences
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           men
           are
           ignorant
           of
           the
           formal
           nature
           of
           these
           .
           And
           will
           you
           therefore
           say
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           such
           thing
           as
           fire
           ,
           or
           light
           ,
           or
           air
           or
           wind
           ?
           You
           know
           not
           the
           formal
           nature
           of
           the
           Sun
           or
           Moon
           ;
           is
           there
           therefore
           no
           Sun
           or
           Moon
           .
           Alas
           ,
           there
           is
           not
           a
           pile
           of
           grass
           ,
           nor
           the
           smallest
           creeping
           thing
           ,
           that
           you
           throughly
           know
           ,
           and
           yet
           you
           know
           that
           such
           things
           there
           are
           .
           A
           Beast
           knows
           not
           what
           a
           Man
           is
           ,
           and
           yet
           he
           apprehendeth
           that
           there
           is
           such
           a
           Creature
           :
           And
           no
           man
           throughly
           knoweth
           what
           he
           is
           himself
           ,
           and
           yet
           he
           knoweth
           that
           he
           is
           .
        
         
           And
           for
           the
           Soul
           it self
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           most
           easie
           and
           obvious
           truth
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           such
           a
           Soul
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           not
           so
           easie
           to
           give
           a
           definition
           of
           it
           .
           A●
           the
           way
           to
           know
           that
           you
           have
           eyes
           in
           your
           head
           ,
           and
           eye-sight
           ,
           is
           not
           by
           seeing
           those
           eyes
           or
           eye
           sight
           ;
           but
           by
           seeing
           other
           things
           by
           them
           .
           For
           the
           eye
           was
           not
           made
           to
           see
           it self
           ,
           nor
           do
           we
           see
           the
           sight
           of
           the
           eye
           ;
           but
           by
           that
           eye
           and
           sight
           we
           see
           other
           things
           ,
           and
           thereby
           know
           that
           we
           have
           eyes
           and
           sight
           .
           For
           he
           that
           hath
           not
           eyes
           and
           eye-sight
           ,
           can
           see
           nothing
           at
           all
           ;
           so
           the
           intellective
           Soul
           was
           
           not
           made
           directly
           to
           understand
           it self
           ,
           and
           it●
           own
           intellection
           ;
           but
           to
           understand
           other
           things
           ,
           and
           thereby
           to
           know
           that
           we
           have
           an
           intellectual
           Soul
           .
           For
           he
           that
           understandeth
           ,
           doth
           understand
           something
           ,
           and
           thereby
           he
           understandeth
           that
           he
           doth
           understand
           ,
           and
           so
           ,
           that
           he
           hath
           an
           intellectual
           faculty
           :
           For
           he
           that
           hath
           not
           an
           intellectual
           Soul
           ,
           can
           understand
           nothing
           at
           all
           ;
           (
           yet
           I
           will
           not
           presume
           to
           determine
           the
           controversie
           ,
           Whether
           the
           Intellect
           do
           know
           its
           own
           ,
           and
           the
           Wills
           elicit
           acts
           ,
           by
           direct
           intuition
           of
           the
           act
           it self
           ?
           )
           It
           s
           as
           unreasonable
           a
           thing
           then
           ,
           to
           doubt
           whether
           we
           have
           such
           intellectual
           Souls
           ,
           because
           they
           know
           not
           themselves
           directly
           o●
           fully
           ;
           as
           long
           as
           they
           know
           other
           things
           ,
           as
           it
           i●
           to
           doubt
           ,
           whether
           we
           have
           eyes
           ,
           because
           they
           s●●
           not
           themselves
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           they
           see
           external
           Objects
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Moreover
           ,
           this
           corruption
           doth
           often
           di●cover
           it self
           ,
           in
           that
           men
           will
           not
           believe
           the
           
             tru●●
          
           of
           the
           thing
           revealed
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           rea●●
           to
           understand
           the
           
             causes
          
           of
           it
           ;
           so
           many
           w
           〈…〉
           question
           Gods
           decrees
           of
           Predestination
           and
           P
           〈…〉
           terition
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           reach
           the
           
             cau
             〈…〉
          
           And
           many
           will
           deny
           the
           very
           work
           of
           Creatio
           〈…〉
           because
           they
           cannot
           know
           the
           way
           of
           Creatio
           〈…〉
           They
           will
           question
           ,
           whether
           they
           have
           immor
           〈…〉
           Souls
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           tell
           how
           they
           ●●●
           caused
           ;
           whether
           by
           seminal
           traduction
           and
           p
           〈…〉
           ▪
           pagation
           ,
           or
           by
           immediate
           Creation
           ?
           They
           〈◊〉
           deny
           the
           work
           of
           Gods
           differencing
           effect
           〈…〉
           Grace
           ,
           because
           they
           know
           not
           how
           it
           is
           given
           o
           〈…〉
           or
           wrought
           in
           the
           Soul
           .
        
         
         
           And
           as
           well
           might
           they
           deny
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           flesh
           or
           bones
           ,
           till
           they
           better
           know
           how
           they
           were
           caused
           in
           the
           Womb
           :
           And
           they
           may
           as
           well
           deny
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           any
           blood
           in
           their
           bodies
           ,
           any
           nutrition
           or
           augmentation
           ,
           till
           they
           better
           know
           the
           mystery
           of
           Sanguification
           ,
           and
           other
           n●tri●ive
           works
           :
           And
           as
           well
           may
           they
           say
           ,
           That
           the
           Sun
           doth
           not
           shine
           ,
           or
           warm
           us
           ,
           till
           they
           know
           how
           it
           is
           that
           these
           are
           caused
           by
           the
           Sun
           .
           They
           know
           not
           how
           the
           Plants
           are
           animated
           ,
           and
           specified
           ,
           nor
           how
           they
           suck
           their
           nutriment
           from
           the
           Earth
           ,
           and
           yet
           they
           know
           that
           such
           things
           are
           :
           They
           know
           not
           how
           the
           silly
           Snail
           doth
           form
           her
           Shell
           ,
           or
           Nature
           for
           her
           ;
           nor
           how
           the
           Fe●thers
           of
           the
           Peacock
           are
           so
           beautified
           ;
           and
           the
           several
           sorts
           of
           Birds
           ,
           Beasts
           ,
           Plants
           ,
           Fruits
           ,
           are
           so
           diversified
           and
           adorned
           ;
           and
           yet
           they
           know
           that
           such
           things
           are
           :
           Or
           as
           Christ
           telleth
           
             Nicodemus
          
           here
           ,
           [
           
             The
             wind
             ▪
             bloweth
             where
             it
             listeth
             ,
             and
             you
             hear
             the
             sound
             thereof
             ,
             but
             know
             not
             whence
             it
             cometh
             &c.
          
           ]
           And
           do
           we
           therefore
           say
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           no
           win●
           ,
           because
           we
           know
           not
           whence
           it
           cometh
           ,
           or
           what
           is
           the
           inferior
           cause
           of
           it
           ?
           Will
           you
           say
           ,
           That
           the
           Sea
           doth
           not
           ebbe
           and
           flow
           ,
           or
           there
           are
           no
           Earthquake
           ,
           Thunder
           ,
           and
           Lightning
           ,
           because
           men
           do
           so
           little
           know
           the
           causes
           of
           them
           .
           
             Faelix
             qui
             potuit
             &c.
          
           It
           is
           not
           every
           mans
           lot
           to
           reach
           such
           causes
           ;
           nor
           any
           mans
           on
           Earth
           to
           know
           the
           causes
           of
           all
           things
           which
           he
           knoweth
           to
           be
           ;
           nor
           fully
           the
           causes
           of
           any
           one
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Moreover
           ,
           This
           folly
           of
           mans
           heart
           doth
           discover
           it self
           thus
           :
           In
           ,
           that
           men
           will
           not
           believe
           the
           
             truths
          
           revealed
           by
           God
           ,
           because
           they
           
           cannot
           see
           Gods
           Ends
           and
           Reasons
           ,
           and
           the
           use
           of
           the
           things
           .
           Many
           an
           evident
           Truth
           is
           rejected
           by
           the
           proud
           wit
           of
           foolish
           man
           ,
           because
           God
           hath
           not
           told
           them
           why
           he
           hath
           so
           determined
           and
           ordered
           the
           business
           ;
           or
           if
           he
           have
           told
           it
           ,
           yet
           they
           understand
           it
           not
           :
           So
           many
           Infidels
           and
           Socinians
           do
           deny
           Christs
           Satisfaction
           as
           a
           Ransom
           ,
           and
           Sacrifice
           for
           sin
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           see
           any
           reason
           for
           it
           ,
           or
           necessity
           of
           it
           :
           They
           cannot
           see
           ,
           but
           God
           may
           pardon
           sin
           without
           satisfaction
           .
           And
           then
           ,
           what
           need
           of
           all
           this
           ado
           ?
           or
           ,
           what
           likelihood
           ,
           that
           God
           would
           lay
           so
           much
           on
           his
           Son
           ,
           or
           make
           so
           great
           a
           business
           of
           this
           work
           ,
           for
           our
           good
           ,
           and
           his
           glory
           ,
           if
           all
           was
           needless
           ?
           And
           thus
           many
           deny
           the
           Universal
           extent
           of
           his
           satisfaction
           ,
           as
           being
           for
           all
           mankinde
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           not
           able
           to
           see
           the
           reason
           and
           use
           of
           it
           .
           They
           thrust
           in
           their
           dead
           
             quorsum
          
           as
           a
           sufficient
           answer
           to
           the
           most
           express
           words
           of
           God
           :
           And
           ask
           ,
           what
           good
           will
           it
           do
           men
           to
           be
           ransomed
           ,
           and
           not
           saved
           ?
           They
           fear
           not
           to
           say
           ,
           That
           this
           is
           a
           thing
           unbeseeming
           God
           ,
           and
           such
           a
           weakness
           ,
           as
           men
           would
           not
           be
           guilty
           of
           :
           So
           that
           if
           we
           can
           prove
           that
           such
           a
           thing
           there
           is
           ▪
           they
           will
           not
           fear
           to
           charge
           it
           on
           God
           as
           his
           unreasonable
           weakness
           .
           The
           like
           we
           might
           shew
           in
           many
           other
           points
           .
        
         
           And
           must
           God
           unlock
           to
           us
           the
           Reasons
           ,
           Ends
           ▪
           and
           Uses
           ,
           of
           his
           Truths
           and
           Works
           ,
           before
           we
           will
           believe
           that
           such
           things
           are
           ?
           We
           will
           allo●
           Parents
           to
           conceal
           the
           Reasons
           and
           Ends
           of
           many
           precepts
           from
           their
           Children
           ;
           and
           a
           Prince
           to
           conceal
           the
           Reasons
           of
           many
           Laws
           ,
           and
           to
           kee●
           
           to
           himself
           the
           
             A●cana
             Imperii
             ,
          
           the
           mysteries
           of
           State
           ;
           and
           must
           God
           open
           all
           before
           he
           can
           be
           believed
           ?
           Is
           not
           the
           Wisdom
           ,
           and
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           most
           satisfying
           Reason
           in
           the
           World
           ?
           Must
           you
           have
           proper
           Reasonings
           and
           Intentions
           in
           God
           ?
           or
           will
           you
           have
           a
           cause
           of
           the
           first
           cause
           ,
           or
           an
           end
           of
           the
           ultimate
           end
           of
           all
           ?
           Al●s
           ,
           how
           little
           do
           the
           wisest
           men
           know
           of
           the
           use
           and
           ends
           of
           many
           a
           Creature
           ,
           over
           their
           heads
           ,
           and
           under
           their
           feet
           ,
           which
           their
           eyes
           behold
           ?
           yea
           ,
           how
           little
           know
           they
           of
           the
           use
           and
           ends
           of
           many
           a
           part
           of
           their
           own
           bodies
           ?
           And
           yet
           they
           know
           that
           such
           things
           there
           are
           .
        
         
           What
           abundance
           of
           
             why's
          
           hath
           an
           Arrogant
           Infidel
           ,
           upon
           the
           reading
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           
             Gene●●s
          
           to
           the
           end
           of
           the
           
             Revelation
             ;
          
           which
           must
           all
           be
           satisfied
           before
           he
           will
           believe
           ?
           Of
           all
           which
           ,
           God
           will
           one
           day
           satisfie
           them
           ;
           but
           not
           in
           the
           manner
           as
           they
           would
           have
           prescribed
           him
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Another
           expression
           of
           this
           Arrogant
           Ignorance
           ,
           is
           ,
           When
           men
           will
           not
           believe
           the
           several
           truths
           of
           God
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           not
           able
           to
           reconcile
           them
           ,
           and
           place
           each
           one
           in
           its
           own
           order
           ,
           and
           see
           the
           Method
           and
           Body
           of
           Truth
           in
           its
           true
           Locations
           and
           Proportion
           :
           Nay
           ,
           perhaps
           they
           will
           believe
           none
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           discern
           the
           harmony
           .
        
         
           What
           abundance
           of
           seeming
           contradictions
           in
           Scripture
           do
           rise
           up
           in
           the
           eyes
           of
           an
           Ignorant
           Infidel
           ?
           as
           strange
           apparitions
           do
           to
           a
           distracted
           man
           ;
           or
           as
           many
           colours
           do
           before
           the
           inflamed
           or
           
           distempered
           eye
           .
           These
           self-conceited
           ignorant
           S●uls
           ,
           do
           imagine
           all
           to
           be
           impossible
           which
           exceedeth
           their
           knowledge
           ;
           and
           because
           they
           cannot
           s●e
           the
           sweet
           consent
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           how
           those
           places
           do
           suit
           ,
           and
           fortifie
           ●●ch
           other
           ,
           which
           to
           them
           seemed
           to
           contradict
           each
           other
           ,
           therefore
           they
           think
           that
           no
           one
           ●ls●
           can
           see
           it
           ;
           no
           not
           ●od
           himself
           They
           are
           like
           an
           ignor●nt
           fellow
           in
           ●
           Watch-makers
           sh●p
           ,
           that
           thinks
           no body
           can
           ●●●
           all
           the
           loose
           ●eeces
           together
           ,
           and
           make
           a
           Wat●h
           of
           them
           ,
           because
           he
           cannot
           .
           When
           he
           hath
           tryed
           many
           ways
           ,
           and
           c●●●ot
           hit
           it
           ,
           he
           casts
           all
           by
           ,
           and
           concludeth
           ,
           that
           its
           impossible
           .
        
         
           And
           upon
           this
           account
           many
           cast
           away
           particular
           
             truths
             ▪
          
           though
           they
           will
           not
           c●st
           aw●y
           all
           .
           Some
           cannot
           reconcile
           the
           efficiency
           of
           the
           ●p●●i●
           ,
           with
           that
           of
           the
           Word
           ,
           in
           the
           Conversion
           and
           Confirmation
           of
           sinners
           ;
           and
           therefore
           s●me
           exclude
           one
           ,
           and
           some
           the
           other
           ,
           or
           own
           but
           the
           empty
           names
           ;
           some
           cannot
           reconc●le
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           the
           Gospel
           :
           And
           too
           great
           a
           part
           of
           the
           Teachers
           ,
           in
           the
           Christian
           World
           ,
           have
           been
           so
           troubled
           to
           reconcile
           Gods
           grace
           ,
           with
           mans
           ●reewill
           ,
           that
           of
           old
           ,
           many
           did
           too
           much
           exclude
           Grace
           ;
           and
           of
           late
           too
           many
           exclude
           the
           natural
           liberty
           of
           the
           will
           ,
           upon
           a
           supposition
           of
           the
           inconsistency
           ;
           onely
           the
           names
           of
           both
           were
           still
           owned
           .
        
         
           Many
           cannot
           reconci●e
           the
           sufficiency
           of
           Christs
           satisfaction
           ,
           with
           the
           necessity
           of
           mans
           endeavors
           ,
           and
           inherent
           righteousness
           ;
           and
           therefore
           one
           must
           be
           straitned
           or
           denied
           .
           Many
           cannot
           reconcile
           common
           love
           and
           grace
           ,
           with
           that
           which
           
           is
           special
           and
           proper
           to
           the
           Elect
           ;
           and
           therefore
           some
           deny
           one
           ,
           and
           some
           another
           .
           The
           like
           might
           be
           said
           of
           many
           other
           cases
           ,
           wherein
           the
           Arrogancy
           of
           mans
           wit
           hath
           cast
           out
           Gods
           truth
           :
           If
           both
           parts
           be
           never
           so
           express
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           upon
           this
           unbelieving
           questioning
           strain
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
           How
           can
           these
           agree
           together
           ?
           How
           can
           both
           be
           true
           ?
           when
           yet
           its
           evident
           ,
           that
           God
           hath
           owned
           both
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           the
           Truths
           of
           Gods
           Word
           are
           one
           perfect
           well
           joynted
           Body
           ;
           and
           the
           perfect
           symmetry
           or
           proportion
           ,
           is
           much
           of
           its
           beauty
           :
           It
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           Method
           is
           an
           excellent
           help
           in
           knowing
           Divine
           things
           :
           and
           that
           no
           man
           can
           know
           Gods
           truths
           perfectly
           ,
           till
           he
           see
           them
           all
           as
           in
           one
           Scheam
           or
           Body
           ,
           with
           one
           view
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           and
           so
           sees
           the
           Location
           of
           each
           Truth
           ,
           and
           the
           respect
           that
           it
           hath
           to
           all
           the
           rest
           ;
           not
           onely
           to
           see
           that
           there
           is
           no
           contradiction
           ,
           but
           how
           every
           Truth
           doth
           fortifie
           the
           rest
           .
           All
           this
           therefore
           is
           exceeding
           desirable
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           not
           every
           mans
           lot
           to
           attain
           it
           ,
           nor
           any
           mans
           in
           this
           world
           perfectly
           ,
           or
           near
           to
           a
           perfection
           :
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           that
           the
           sight
           of
           all
           Gods
           frame
           of
           the
           Creation
           ,
           
             uno
             intuitu
             ,
          
           in
           all
           its
           parts
           ,
           with
           all
           their
           respects
           to
           each
           other
           ,
           would
           acquaint
           us
           with
           abundance
           more
           of
           the
           glory
           of
           it
           ,
           then
           by
           looking
           on
           the
           Members
           peace-meal
           we
           can
           attain
           :
           But
           who
           can
           see
           them
           thus
           ,
           but
           God
           ?
           at
           least
           ,
           what
           mortal
           eye
           can
           do
           it
           ?
           And
           we
           shall
           never
           in
           this
           life
           attain
           to
           see
           the
           full
           Body
           of
           Divine
           Revealed-Truths
           ,
           in
           that
           method
           and
           due
           proportion
           ,
           as
           is
           necessary
           to
           the
           knowledge
           of
           its
           ful●
           beauty
           .
           
           It
           is
           a
           most
           perfectly
           melodious
           Instrument
           ;
           but
           every
           man
           cannot
           set
           it
           in
           tu●e
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           pe●ce●ve
           the
           delectable
           harmony
           .
        
         
           What
           then
           ?
           because
           we
           cannot
           know
           all
           ,
           shall
           we
           know
           nothing
           ,
           or
           deny
           all
           ?
           Because
           we
           cannot
           see
           the
           whose
           frame
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           in
           its
           junctures
           and
           proportion
           ,
           shall
           we
           say
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           no
           world
           ,
           or
           ,
           that
           the
           parts
           are
           not
           rightly
           situated
           ▪
           or
           ●e●gn
           one
           to
           be
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           rest
           ?
           We
           must
           rather
           receive
           first
           ▪
           that
           which
           is
           most
           clear
           ,
           and
           labor
           by
           degrees
           to
           see
           through
           the
           obscurities
           that
           beset
           the
           rest
           .
           And
           if
           we
           first
           finde
           from
           God
           ,
           that
           both
           are
           truths
           ,
           let
           us
           receive
           them
           ,
           and
           learn
           how
           to
           reconcile
           them
           after
           ,
           as
           we
           can
           :
           And
           if
           we
           cannot
           reach
           it
           ,
           its
           arrogancy
           therefore
           to
           think
           that
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           so
           highly
           conceited
           of
           our
           own
           understandings
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           Another
           way
           by
           which
           this
           Arrogant
           I●sidel●ty
           worketh
           ,
           is
           this
           ,
           When
           men
           will
           not
           believe
           any
           revealed
           ●ruth
           of
           God
           ,
           unless
           they
           can
           see
           a
           possibility
           of
           accomplishing
           the
           matter
           by
           natural
           means
           .
           And
           therefore
           ,
           when
           ever
           in
           reading
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           they
           come
           to
           a
           work
           that
           ●ass●th
           the
           power
           of
           the
           Creature
           ,
           the
           N●●●dem●tes
           stagger
           at
           it
           through
           unbelief
           ,
           and
           s●y
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
           And
           the
           fixed
           Infidels
           with
           
             Julian
          
           deride
           it
           :
           When
           they
           read
           of
           the
           Scripture
           miracles
           ;
           they
           cannot
           believe
           them
           because
           they
           are
           miracles
           .
           Is
           this
           a
           likely
           matter
           ,
           say
           th●●
           that
           such
           and
           such
           things
           should
           be
           ?
           And
           why
           is
           it
           unlikely
           ?
           Because
           it
           is
           too
           hard
           for
           God
           ?
           What
           I
           doth
           his
           Creature
           know
           his
           
           infinite
           power
           ?
           And
           can
           you
           set
           him
           his
           bounds
           ,
           and
           say
           ,
           Thus
           far
           God
           can
           go
           ,
           and
           no
           further
           ?
           Thus
           much
           God
           can
           do
           ,
           and
           no
           more
           ?
           Is
           it
           ever
           the
           more
           difficult
           to
           God
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           impossible
           to
           such
           as
           we
           ?
           Will
           you
           say
           ,
           That
           a
           horse
           cannot
           carry
           you
           on
           his
           back
           ,
           because
           a
           flie
           cannot
           ?
           Creatures
           may
           be
           compared
           to
           Creatures
           ;
           but
           between
           the
           Creator
           ;
           and
           the
           Creature
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           comparison
           .
           Have
           you
           read
           how
           God
           posed
           
             Job
          
           in
           point
           of
           power
           and
           knowledge
           ?
           (
           
             Job
          
           38.
           39
           ,
           40
           ,
           41.
           )
           But
           who
           is
           he
           that
           hath
           posed
           God
           ?
           What
           is
           that
           work
           that
           should
           be
           difficult
           to
           him
           ,
           that
           by
           his
           Word
           or
           Will
           did
           make
           all
           the
           Worlds
           ?
           Are
           they
           greater
           works
           then
           those
           which
           he
           hath
           certainly
           done
           ,
           that
           you
           speak
           of
           so
           incredulously
           ?
           If
           you
           had
           never
           seen
           the
           Sun
           ,
           or
           Moon
           ,
           or
           Stars
           ,
           or
           Earth
           ,
           or
           Sea
           ,
           and
           had
           meerly
           found
           it
           written
           ,
           that
           God
           made
           such
           a
           World
           ,
           it
           is
           like
           you
           would
           as
           doubtingly
           have
           said
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
           If
           you
           had
           no
           more
           seen
           the
           Light
           or
           Sun
           ,
           then
           you
           have
           seen
           the
           Angels
           ,
           or
           Souls
           of
           men
           its
           like
           you
           would
           have
           as
           little
           believed
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           Light
           or
           a
           Sun
           ,
           as
           you
           now
           do
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           Angels
           and
           Immortal
           Souls
           .
           But
           I
           hope
           you
           are
           satisfied
           in
           the
           things
           you
           see
           ;
           and
           may
           not
           they
           shame
           your
           incredulity
           of
           the
           things
           you
           do
           not
           see
           ?
           You
           see
           there
           is
           a
           Sun
           ,
           and
           Moon
           ,
           and
           Firmament
           ,
           and
           Earth
           ;
           you
           know
           these
           had
           either
           a
           Maker
           and
           Cause
           ▪
           or
           else
           were
           eternal
           ▪
           and
           as
           an
           eternal
           cause
           to
           themselves
           .
           If
           they
           were
           eternal
           ,
           or
           made
           themselves
           ,
           then
           they
           are
           the
           first
           Being
           and
           Cause
           ,
           and
           so
           are
           gods
           .
           
           And
           is
           it
           not
           more
           reasonable
           to
           believe
           one
           God
           ,
           then
           so
           many
           ?
           And
           to
           believe
           that
           God
           is
           a
           perfect
           incomprehensible
           ,
           superin-tellectual
           Being
           ,
           then
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           the
           s●nseless
           Earth
           is
           a
           god
           ?
           Is
           it
           not
           more
           ●easonable
           to
           conclude
           ,
           That
           this
           one
           Perfect
           Eternal
           God
           made
           all
           things
           ,
           then
           that
           every
           Stone
           did
           make
           it self
           ?
           or
           ,
           That
           the
           Sun
           or
           Moon
           ,
           or
           any
           Creature
           made
           it self
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           ?
           If
           you
           believe
           ,
           That
           all
           things
           are
           the
           Works
           of
           God
           ,
           then
           you
           see
           that
           with
           your
           eyes
           that
           may
           shame
           your
           foolish
           dark-incre●ulity
           .
           Do
           you
           see
           a
           greater
           Work
           ,
           and
           think
           it
           unlikely
           ,
           that
           the
           same
           power
           should
           do
           a
           lesser
           ?
           Do
           you
           see
           so
           much
           of
           the
           World
           that
           was
           m●d●
           by
           a
           word
           ,
           and
           do
           you
           ask
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
           when
           you
           read
           of
           any
           miracle
           or
           unusual
           work
           ?
           If
           it
           were
           your self
           ,
           or
           such
           as
           you
           ,
           that
           had
           been
           the
           doer
           of
           such
           works
           ,
           you
           might
           well
           say
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
           But
           God
           is
           not
           as
           man
           in
           his
           Works
           ,
           or
           Word
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           Yea
           ,
           many
           times
           when
           men
           do
           but
           hear
           ,
           read
           ,
           or
           think
           of
           some
           Objection
           against
           the
           Truth
           of
           Gods
           revelations
           ,
           which
           they
           cannot
           tell
           how
           to
           answer
           themselves
           ,
           they
           presently
           begin
           to
           stagger
           at
           the
           whole
           Truth
           ,
           and
           question
           it
           on
           every
           such
           slight
           occasion
           .
           If
           any
           new
           difficulty
           arise
           in
           their
           way
           ,
           they
           are
           in
           the
           case
           of
           
             Nicodemus
             ,
          
           saying
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
           Though
           they
           have
           heard
           never
           so
           many
           Arguments
           to
           confirm
           them
           ,
           and
           have
           been
           long
           receiving
           them
           ,
           and
           seen
           an
           evidence
           of
           Truth
           in
           them
           ,
           yet
           every
           new
           cavil
           or
           hard
           Objection
           doth
           seem
           to
           enervate
           all
           this
           evidence
           .
        
         
         
           If
           men
           were
           as
           foolish
           and
           incredulous
           in
           the
           matters
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           their
           folly
           would
           easily
           appear
           to
           all
           men
           :
           When
           a
           man
           hath
           studied
           Physick
           seven
           years
           ,
           or
           twenty
           years
           ,
           he
           shall
           meet
           with
           many
           new
           difficulties
           ,
           and
           doubtful
           c●ses
           ;
           and
           many
           old
           difficulties
           will
           never
           be
           ov●rco●e
           :
           And
           yet
           he
           will
           not
           therefore
           throw
           away
           all
           ,
           and
           forsake
           his
           study
           or
           profession
           .
           W●●l
           a
           Student
           in
           Law
           give
           over
           all
           his
           study
           ,
           upon
           e●ery
           occurring
           difficulty
           ,
           or
           seeming
           contradiction
           in
           the
           Laws
           ?
           If
           any
           Students
           in
           the
           Universities
           should
           follow
           this
           example
           ,
           and
           doubt
           of
           al
           that
           they
           have
           learned
           ,
           upon
           every
           Objection
           which
           they
           are
           unable
           to
           answer
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           bu
           〈…〉
           Proficie●●s
           :
           Or
           if
           every
           Apprentice
           that
           is
           learning
           his
           trade
           ,
           will
           forsake
           it
           every
           time
           that
           he
           is
           sta●led
           ,
           and
           at
           a
           loss
           ▪
           he
           would
           be
           long
           before
           he
           set
           up
           shop
           :
           On
           this
           course
           all
           men
           should
           lose
           all
           their
           time
           lives
           ,
           and
           labor
           ,
           by
           doing
           all
           in
           v●i●
           ,
           and
           undoing
           again
           ,
           by
           going
           forward
           and
           backward
           ,
           and
           so
           know
           nothing
           ,
           nor
           resolve
           of
           any
           thing
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           most
           certain
           ,
           that
           all
           men
           are
           very
           imperfect
           in
           knowledge
           ,
           and
           especially
           in
           the
           highest
           mysteries
           ;
           and
           there
           is
           none
           so
           high
           as
           those
           in
           Theology
           ,
           about
           God
           ,
           and
           Mans
           Soul
           ,
           and
           our
           Redemption
           ,
           and
           our
           Everlasting
           State
           .
           And
           doubtless
           where
           men
           are
           so
           defective
           in
           knowledge
           ,
           there
           must
           still
           be
           difficulties
           in
           their
           way
           ,
           and
           many
           knots
           which
           they
           cannot
           untie
           ▪
           Can
           you
           expect
           till
           you
           are
           perfect
           in
           knowledge
           ,
           to
           see
           the
           whole
           frame
           of
           Truth
           so
           clearly
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           able
           to
           answer
           every
           Objection
           that
           is
           made
           
           against
           it
           ?
           Why
           do
           you
           not
           lay
           together
           the
           evidences
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           and
           consider
           which
           of
           the
           two
           is
           the
           clearer
           case
           ?
           What
           if
           you
           cannot
           answer
           all
           that
           is
           brought
           by
           the
           Devil
           and
           Cavillers
           ,
           against
           the
           Truth
           ?
           Can
           you
           answer
           all
           that
           Christ
           and
           his
           Servants
           say
           for
           it
           ?
           I
           dare
           say
           you
           cannot
           ,
           unless
           you
           take
           every
           impertinent
           vanity
           or
           falshood
           for
           an
           answer
           .
           God
           needs
           not
           you
           to
           be
           the
           Defenders
           of
           his
           Truth
           :
           He
           is
           able
           to
           vindicate
           it
           himself
           against
           all
           the
           enemies
           in
           the
           World
           ?
           Otherwise
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           called
           you
           chiefly
           to
           this
           work
           ,
           he
           would
           have
           furnished
           you
           for
           it
           .
           But
           he
           first
           calleth
           you
           to
           be
           Schollars
           to
           learn
           that
           truth
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           help
           you
           over
           all
           difficulties
           in
           his
           time
           and
           way
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           next
           to
           shew
           the
           Causes
           of
           this
           unhappy
           distemper
           ;
           why
           it
           is
           ,
           or
           whence
           it
           comes
           to
           pa●s
           ,
           that
           men
           are
           so
           prone
           to
           doubt
           of
           Gods
           Truth
           ,
           upon
           every
           difficulty
           or
           mysterie
           ▪
           that
           is
           in
           their
           way
           ?
           And
           to
           question
           all
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           stalled
           in
           any
           thing
           ;
           and
           to
           deny
           the
           very
           things
           that
           are
           certain
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           puzzled
           ,
           and
           at
           a
           loss
           ,
           but
           about
           the
           Manner
           ,
           Cause
           ,
           Reason
           ,
           or
           Ends
           of
           them
           .
           And
           among
           others
           ,
           the
           Causes
           of
           this
           great
           Sin
           ,
           are
           these
           following
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Man
           is
           naturally
           desirous
           of
           Knowledge
           ,
           and
           to
           see
           things
           in
           their
           own
           Evidence
           And
           therefore
           ,
           he
           is
           oft
           an
           unmannerly
           impatient
           suiter
           to
           be
           presently
           admitted
           into
           the
           presence
           Chamber
           of
           Truth
           ▪
           and
           to
           see
           her
           naked
           without
           delay
           .
           Nature
           will
           hardly
           be
           satisfied
           with
           believing
           ;
           which
           is
           a
           receiving
           of
           Truth
           upon
           trust
           from
           another
           ,
           no
           ,
           though
           he
           give
           us
           the
           most
           convincing
           
           Arguments
           of
           his
           Veracity
           ;
           no
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           God
           himself
           :
           Nothing
           will
           satisfie
           Nature
           ,
           but
           
             se●ing
             .
          
           I●
           the
           wisest
           men
           in
           the
           World
           tell
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           
             see
          
           it
           ,
           or
           know
           it
           ;
           if
           the
           workers
           of
           miracles
           ,
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           tell
           them
           that
           
             they
             see
             it
             ;
          
           if
           God
           himself
           tells
           them
           that
           
             he
             sees
             it
             ;
          
           yet
           all
           this
           doth
           not
           satisfie
           them
           ,
           unless
           they
           may
           
             see
             it
             themselves
             .
          
           They
           think
           this
           is
           but
           to
           be
           kept
           at
           a
           distance
           ,
           without
           door
           ,
           and
           what
           may
           be
           within
           ,
           they
           cannot
           tell
           :
           Every
           man
           hath
           an
           understanding
           of
           his
           own
           ,
           and
           therefore
           would
           have
           a
           sight
           of
           the
           evidence
           himself
           ;
           and
           so
           have
           a
           nee●er
           knowledge
           of
           the
           thing
           ,
           and
           not
           onely
           a
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           thing
           by
           the
           Testimony
           of
           another
           ,
           how
           infallible
           soever
           .
           And
           therefore
           we
           are
           all
           prone
           ,
           when
           difficulties
           seem
           great
           ,
           to
           say
           with
           
             Thomas
             ,
             [
             Except
             I
             see
             ,
             I
             will
             not
             believe
             .
             ]
             John
          
           20.
           25.
           
           Bu●
           [
           
             blessed
             are
             they
             that
             have
             not
             seen
             ,
             and
             yet
             have
             believed
             .
             ]
             v.
          
           29.
           
           How
           far
           this
           desire
           of
           knowledge
           is
           in
           nature
           as
           from
           .
           God
           ,
           and
           how
           far
           it
           is
           in
           Nature
           ,
           as
           corrupted
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           stand
           to
           debate
           ;
           but
           that
           it
           is
           in
           us
           we
           feel
           :
           And
           this
           is
           a
           preparative
           Reason
           of
           our
           doubting
           and
           dis-satisfaction
           ,
           if
           not
           a
           proper
           cause
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           This
           nature
           of
           man
           is
           yet
           so
           much
           more
           desirous
           to
           know
           ,
           that
           though
           it
           do
           see
           things
           in
           their
           own
           proper
           evidence
           ,
           yet
           is
           it
           not
           satisfied
           ,
           unless
           it
           also
           see
           the
           whole
           ,
           and
           comprehend
           all
           things
           with
           all
           their
           Reasons
           ,
           Causes
           ,
           and
           Modes
           .
           Man
           affecteth
           a
           certain
           infiniteness
           in
           knowledge
           ;
           he
           would
           know
           all
           that
           is
           knowable
           ;
           and
           so
           would
           be
           as
           God
           in
           knowing
           .
           
           And
           if
           he
           be
           ignorant
           of
           any
           part
           ,
           he
           remaineth
           unsatisfied
           ,
           and
           so
           is
           ready
           to
           quarrel
           with
           all
           ;
           and
           like
           froward
           children
           that
           throw
           away
           their
           meat
           or
           cloaths
           ,
           or
           what
           else
           they
           have
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           have
           what
           more
           they
           would
           have
           .
           Every
           little
           childe
           will
           be
           asking
           you
           ,
           not
           onely
           
             what
             is
             this
             ?
          
           or
           ,
           
             what
             is
             that
             ?
          
           but
           also
           ,
           
             why
             is
             this
             so
             or
             so
             ?
          
           and
           ,
           
             to
             what
             use
             is
             it
             .
          
           And
           so
           do
           men
           in
           the
           matters
           of
           God
           :
           And
           if
           you
           satisfie
           them
           not
           in
           all
           ,
           they
           will
           scarce
           be
           satisfied
           in
           any
           thing
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           Besides
           this
           ,
           there
           is
           indeed
           a
           great
           dependance
           of
           one
           truth
           upon
           another
           ;
           and
           they
           are
           (
           in
           Morality
           )
           as
           a
           well
           framed
           Building
           ,
           or
           as
           a
           Clock
           or
           Watch
           ,
           or
           the
           like
           Engine
           ,
           where
           no
           one
           part
           can
           be
           missing
           without
           g●e●t
           wrong
           to
           the
           whole
           .
           Now
           when
           these
           men
           cannot
           see
           all
           ,
           they
           do
           indeed
           want
           those
           helps
           that
           are
           necessary
           to
           the
           perfect
           seeing
           of
           any
           part
           ;
           and
           then
           they
           have
           not
           the
           skill
           of
           making
           use
           of
           an
           imperfect
           knowledge
           ,
           but
           are
           ready
           to
           take
           it
           for
           none
           ,
           till
           they
           conceit
           it
           full
           and
           perfect
           ;
           and
           thus
           are
           still
           detained
           in
           unbelief
           ,
           and
           quarrelling
           with
           that
           which
           they
           did
           ,
           or
           might
           know
           ,
           because
           of
           that
           which
           they
           did
           not
           ,
           or
           could
           not
           know
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           Moreover
           ,
           it
           is
           most
           certain
           that
           when
           God
           calls
           us
           at
           first
           to
           the
           knowledge
           of
           his
           truth
           ,
           he
           findeth
           us
           in
           darkness
           ;
           and
           though
           he
           bring
           us
           thence
           into
           a
           marvellous
           light
           (
           
             Acts
          
           26.
           18.
           1
           
             Pet.
          
           2.
           9.
           
           )
           yet
           he
           doth
           this
           by
           degrees
           ,
           and
           not
           into
           the
           fullest
           light
           or
           measure
           of
           knowledge
           at
           the
           first
           ;
           so
           that
           we
           are
           at
           the
           beginning
           
           but
           Babes
           in
           knowledge
           .
           It
           cannot
           be
           expected
           ,
           that
           a
           man
           that
           was
           born
           blinde
           ,
           with
           an
           indisposition
           of
           understanding
           to
           spiritual
           things
           ,
           and
           that
           hath
           lived
           in
           blindness
           long
           ▪
           should
           presently
           know
           all
           things
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           he
           is
           converted
           :
           They
           do
           not
           so
           come
           to
           knowledge
           in
           earthly
           things
           ,
           which
           they
           are
           more
           disposed
           to
           know
           ,
           and
           which
           are
           nearer
           to
           them
           ,
           much
           less
           in
           heavenly
           things
           .
           The
           
             Disp●sitive
          
           blindness
           of
           the
           best
           Convert
           ,
           is
           cured
           but
           in
           part
           ,
           much
           less
           his
           
             actual
          
           blindness
           .
           For
           (
           as
           I
           have
           said
           before
           )
           if
           a
           man
           have
           his
           eyes
           never
           so
           perfectly
           opened
           ,
           who
           before
           was
           blinde
           ,
           yet
           he
           will
           not
           see
           any
           more
           then
           is
           near
           him
           ,
           within
           sight
           :
           If
           he
           will
           see
           other
           Countries
           ,
           places
           ,
           or
           persons
           ,
           he
           must
           be
           at
           the
           pains
           and
           p●tience
           of
           travelling
           to
           them
           .
           And
           so
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           when
           God
           hath
           opened
           the
           eyes
           of
           the
           blinde
           ,
           they
           must
           yet
           expect
           to
           know
           ,
           but
           by
           degrees
           :
           O
           what
           abundance
           of
           things
           are
           yong
           Converts
           ignorant
           of
           ,
           that
           are
           fit
           to
           be
           known
           ?
           They
           are
           but
           entred
           into
           Christs
           School
           to
           learn
           ;
           and
           can
           they
           think
           to
           know
           all
           the
           first
           day
           or
           year
           :
           But
           alas
           ,
           many
           that
           are
           nominally
           entered
           ,
           bring
           not
           with
           them
           the
           true
           disposition
           of
           Disciples
           ,
           and
           therefore
           quarrel
           with
           their
           Master
           and
           his
           Teaching
           ,
           in
           stead
           of
           diligent
           seeking
           after
           knowledge
           .
           Men
           have
           not
           the
           patience
           to
           stay
           at
           School
           ,
           and
           wait
           on
           Christs
           teaching
           till
           they
           have
           got
           so
           much
           knowledge
           ,
           as
           might
           dispel
           their
           doubts
           .
           They
           must
           be
           taught
           all
           at
           once
           ,
           though
           they
           are
           uncapable
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           must
           know
           all
           presently
           ,
           or
           in
           a
           little
           time
           ,
           and
           with
           little
           pains
           ;
           or
           else
           ;
           they
           will
           not
           believe
           that
           Christ
           can
           teach
           
           them
           .
           And
           so
           they
           run
           away
           from
           him
           ,
           like
           foolish
           ,
           impatient
           Schollars
           ,
           because
           he
           did
           not
           bring
           them
           to
           more
           knowledge
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           stay
           the
           time
           that
           their
           own
           ignorance
           doth
           naturally
           require
           ,
           for
           so
           great
           a
           work
           .
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           And
           there
           is
           also
           much
           
             Diligence
          
           necessary
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           time
           and
           patience
           ,
           before
           men
           ca●
           come
           to
           so
           much
           understanding
           in
           the
           heavenly
           Mysteries
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           able
           to
           resolve
           the
           difficulties
           that
           occur
           .
           If
           you
           stay
           never
           so
           long
           in
           Christs
           School
           ,
           and
           yet
           be
           Truants
           and
           Loyterers
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           take
           pains
           ;
           no
           wonder
           if
           you
           remain
           ignorant
           .
           And
           yet
           these
           men
           will
           expect
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           know
           all
           things
           ,
           and
           be
           satisfied
           in
           the
           answer
           of
           every
           Objection
           ,
           or
           else
           they
           will
           suspect
           the
           Truths
           of
           Christ
           .
           Will
           sitting
           still
           in
           Christs
           School
           ,
           help
           you
           to
           learning
           ?
           do
           you
           look
           that
           he
           should
           teach
           you
           ,
           when
           you
           will
           not
           take
           pains
           to
           learn
           what
           he
           teacheth
           ?
           You
           know
           in
           Law
           ,
           in
           Physick
           ,
           in
           the
           knowledge
           of
           any
           of
           the
           Sciences
           or
           Languages
           ,
           no
           man
           can
           come
           to
           understand
           them
           ,
           much
           less
           to
           defend
           them
           against
           all
           opposers
           ,
           and
           to
           resolve
           all
           Objections
           ,
           without
           so
           long
           diligence
           and
           pains
           taking
           in
           his
           Studies
           ,
           as
           the
           greatness
           of
           the
           work
           requires
           .
           And
           shall
           every
           yong
           lazy
           Student
           in
           Theology
           ,
           or
           every
           dull
           ,
           unlearned
           Professor
           ,
           think
           to
           see
           through
           all
           Scripture
           difficulties
           so
           easily
           ?
           or
           else
           will
           he
           suspect
           the
           Truth
           which
           he
           should
           learn
           ?
           It
           may
           be
           you
           have
           been
           Professors
           of
           Christianity
           long
           ;
           but
           have
           you
           studied
           the
           Scriptures
           day
           and
           night
           ,
           and
           consulted
           with
           men
           of
           judgment
           in
           such
           things
           ,
           and
           diligently
           read
           the
           writings
           
           that
           should
           unfold
           them
           to
           you
           ,
           and
           held
           on
           in
           this
           way
           ,
           till
           you
           came
           to
           a
           ripeness
           of
           understanding
           ,
           and
           ability
           to
           defend
           the
           truth
           against
           gain-sayers
           ?
           If
           not
           ,
           what
           wonder
           ,
           if
           every
           difficulty
           do
           puzzle
           you
           ,
           after
           all
           your
           unprofitable
           duties
           and
           profession
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           Moreover
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           other
           knowledge
           necessary
           to
           the
           through-knowing
           of
           the
           sence
           of
           Scriptures
           .
           Though
           the
           unlearned
           may
           know
           so
           much
           as
           is
           of
           absolute
           necessity
           to
           salvation
           ,
           (
           and
           will
           save
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           heartily
           believed
           and
           improved
           ;
           )
           yet
           there
           is
           much
           learning
           necessary
           to
           the
           fuller
           understanding
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           resolving
           of
           all
           doubts
           and
           difficulties
           that
           may
           occur
           .
           And
           this
           is
           not
           because
           Christ
           hath
           delighted
           to
           speak
           obscurely
           ;
           but
           because
           our
           distance
           and
           imperfection
           ,
           and
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           thing
           ,
           doth
           make
           such
           learning
           to
           be
           necessary
           .
           For
           if
           Christ
           speak
           in
           the
           Syriack
           tongue
           ,
           and
           if
           the
           Scriptures
           be
           written
           in
           Hebrew
           and
           Greek
           ,
           (
           which
           were
           then
           fittest
           to
           divulge
           it
           ;
           )
           how
           can
           it
           be
           expected
           ,
           That
           Englishmen
           ,
           Frenchmen
           ,
           Germans
           ,
           or
           any
           that
           understand
           not
           those
           Languages
           ,
           should
           understand
           them
           so
           fully
           as
           those
           that
           do
           ?
           For
           no
           bare
           Translation
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           exact
           ,
           can
           give
           us
           the
           full
           sence
           of
           the
           Original
           words
           .
           Besides
           this
           ,
           all
           Countreys
           have
           their
           peculiar
           proverbial
           speeches
           ,
           which
           are
           familiar
           with
           them
           ,
           but
           would
           seem
           non-sence
           ,
           or
           of
           a
           ●ontrary
           sence
           to
           others
           ,
           that
           were
           unacquainted
           with
           them
           :
           And
           Scripture
           must
           and
           doth
           contain
           ●uch
           Proverbs
           ,
           as
           were
           usual
           with
           those
           ,
           to
           whom
           ●t
           was
           wrote
           ,
           or
           the
           matter
           spoken
           .
           They
           had
           also
           
           many
           peculiar
           customs
           of
           their
           Countries
           ,
           which
           a●e
           supposed
           in
           Scriptures
           which
           if
           we
           understand
           not
           ,
           the
           pl●in
           Text
           will
           seem
           dark
           to
           us
           .
           The
           like
           we
           may
           say
           o●
           matters
           o●
           Geography
           ,
           about
           the
           sc●●●uation
           of
           plac●s
           ;
           and
           of
           Chronology
           ,
           for
           the
           due
           computation
           o●
           times
           ;
           and
           of
           other
           History
           ,
           to
           know
           the
           sta●e
           of
           Church
           and
           Commonwealth
           ,
           and
           many
           other
           part●
           of
           learning
           ,
           which
           the
           v●ry
           nature
           of
           the
           matter
           proclaimeth
           to
           be
           necessary
           for
           the
           res●lving
           of
           Scripture-difficulties
           .
           Now
           when
           unle●rned
           men
           ,
           or
           yong
           raw
           Schollars
           ,
           that
           want
           all
           or
           most
           of
           these
           necessaries
           ,
           will
           yet
           expect
           that
           they
           must
           understand
           all
           and
           see
           through
           all
           diffi●ulties
           ,
           and
           be
           able
           to
           answer
           every
           cavi●
           ;
           what
           wonder
           if
           they
           be
           frequently
           stalled
           ,
           and
           temp●●d
           to
           unbelief
           ,
           and
           say
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
        
         
           If
           you
           s●y
           ,
           That
           ●hen
           it
           seems
           none
           but
           learned
           men
           must
           be
           able
           to
           resolve
           these
           doubts
           ,
           and
           d●fend
           the
           Scriptures
           against
           opposers
           ;
           and
           we
           must
           take
           all
           upon
           their
           words
           :
        
         
           I
           answer
           ,
           You
           must
           explicitely
           know
           all
           that
           is
           of
           flat
           necessity
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           and
           learn
           as
           much
           of
           the
           rest
           as
           you
           can
           :
           But
           if
           it
           be
           undeniable
           ,
           that
           you
           do
           not
           know
           more
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           enough
           for
           the
           resolving
           of
           the
           foresaid
           doubts
           ;
           why
           should
           you
           be
           offended
           that
           we
           tell
           you
           so
           ?
           Ei●her
           you
           do
           indeed
           see
           through
           all
           difficulties
           ,
           or
           you
           do
           not
           ;
           if
           you
           do
           ,
           then
           you
           are
           established
           ,
           you
           are
           none
           of
           those
           that
           I
           speak
           of
           ;
           you
           will
           not
           suspect
           the
           truth
           ,
           nor
           say
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
           but
           you
           are
           able
           to
           confute
           all
           that
           would
           seduce
           you
           .
           But
           if
           you
           
             do
             not
          
           see
           through
           these
           
           difficulties
           ;
           should
           ●ou
           not
           humbly
           confess
           it
           ,
           and
           not
           quarrel
           with
           those
           that
           tell
           you
           so
           ?
           And
           for
           
             taking
             it
             on
             others
             words
             ,
          
           you
           must
           in
           reason
           do
           it
           ,
           if
           you
           have
           no
           other
           way
           ,
           and
           if
           you
           have
           reason
           to
           think
           that
           they
           know
           that
           which
           you
           do
           not
           know
           :
           But
           if
           you
           th●nk
           that
           the
           learnedst
           men
           do
           know
           no
           more
           then
           your selves
           ,
           and
           are
           as
           unable
           to
           resolve
           ●hese
           doubts
           ,
           as
           you
           are
           ;
           you
           go
           against
           the
           full
           lig●t
           of
           the
           who●e
           worlds
           experience
           .
           Let
           their
           writings
           bear
           witness
           ,
           wherein
           they
           do
           indeed
           resolve
           them
           :
           and
           do
           you
           call
           them
           to
           a
           tryal
           ,
           and
           see
           whether
           they
           are
           able
           or
           not
           ?
           and
           let
           any
           that
           understandeth
           the
           matter
           ,
           and
           is
           competent
           ,
           be
           the
           Judge
           .
        
         
           7.
           
           Yea
           ,
           some
           men
           are
           so
           far
           from
           having
           all
           the
           forement●oned
           qualifica●ions
           for
           knowledge
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           not
           a
           natural
           strength
           of
           understanding
           ,
           or
           capacity
           to
           conceive
           of
           difficult
           things
           ;
           and
           yet
           they
           will
           expect
           that
           all
           should
           be
           made
           plain
           to
           them
           ,
           who
           cannot
           understand
           a
           plain
           case
           in
           Law
           ,
           Physick
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Profession
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           not
           versed
           in
           ,
           no
           ,
           nor
           any
           great
           difficulties
           in
           the
           thing
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           more
           conversant
           with
           .
        
         
           8.
           
           Besides
           this
           ,
           it
           is
           most
           certain
           ,
           that
           when
           the
           best
           men
           have
           done
           all
           that
           they
           can
           ,
           they
           will
           here
           know
           but
           in
           p●rt
           :
           Perfection
           of
           knowledge
           is
           reserved
           for
           the
           time
           of
           our
           perfect
           blessedness
           ;
           and
           he
           that
           knows
           but
           in
           part
           ,
           is
           not
           like
           to
           see
           through
           every
           difficulty
           .
           And
           this
           imperfection
           joyned
           with
           the
           corruptions
           ,
           which
           we
           shall
           anon
           mention
           ▪
           doth
           cause
           these
           suspectings
           of
           the
           Truth
           that
           should
           be
           entertained
           .
        
         
         
           9.
           
           There
           are
           some
           truths
           also
           which
           are
           not
           well
           understood
           without
           exper●e●ce
           :
           And
           it
           is
           onely
           Sanctification
           that
           giveth
           that
           experience
           .
           And
           therefore
           the
           unsanctified
           take
           them
           but
           for
           fancies
           and
           suspect
           the
           truth
           of
           that
           Word
           which
           doth
           assert
           them
           .
        
         
           10.
           
           But
           one
           of
           the
           greatest
           causes
           of
           this
           sin
           ,
           is
           the
           pride
           of
           mens
           heart
           ,
           which
           makes
           them
           forget
           their
           great
           ignorance
           ,
           shallowness
           ,
           and
           incapacity
           :
           Men
           have
           such
           arrogant
           understandings
           ,
           that
           be
           they
           never
           so
           empty
           ,
           they
           think
           themselves
           immediatly
           capable
           of
           receiving
           any
           truth
           that
           shall
           be
           delivered
           to
           them
           .
           And
           if
           they
           understand
           not
           what
           they
           read
           or
           hear
           ,
           they
           never
           suspect
           their
           own
           wit
           ,
           but
           the
           writer
           or
           speaker
           :
           Because
           they
           a●e
           at
           age
           ,
           and
           are
           now
           past
           childhood
           ,
           they
           think
           they
           need
           no
           more
           to
           make
           them
           capable
           .
           Little
           know
           they
           the
           nature
           of
           that
           knowl●dge
           which
           they
           want
           ;
           and
           how
           it
           must
           be
           attained
           :
           They
           know
           not
           that
           there
           is
           a
           certain
           order
           ▪
           among
           truths
           ;
           and
           that
           one
           presupposeth
           another
           ;
           and
           all
           the
           lower
           are
           prerequisite
           to
           the
           higher
           :
           They
           know
           not
           how
           m●ny
           hundreds
           of
           the
           lower
           preparatory
           truths
           ,
           must
           be
           known
           before
           some
           of
           the
           higher
           can
           be
           well
           understood
           :
           They
           would
           go
           to
           the
           top
           of
           the
           stairs
           ,
           without
           going
           up
           the
           lower
           steps
           :
           It
           would
           make
           a
           sober
           man
           wonder
           to
           see
           the
           impudent
           Pride
           and
           Arrogancy
           of
           some
           ignor●nt
           men
           ;
           that
           when
           they
           have
           need
           to
           sit
           many
           a
           year
           at
           the
           feet
           of
           some
           Teacher
           ,
           and
           humbly
           learn
           that
           which
           they
           know
           not
           ,
           they
           will
           as
           confidently
           pass
           a
           present
           censure
           on
           
           the
           things
           that
           they
           understand
           not
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           as
           throughly
           acquainted
           with
           them
           as
           the
           best
           :
           And
           if
           they
           see
           not
           the
           evidence
           of
           a
           Truth
           ,
           they
           will
           as
           confidently
           and
           scornfully
           call
           it
           an
           error
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           indeed
           most
           capable
           of
           judging
           of
           it
           :
           When
           men
           of
           true
           understanding
           do
           see
           that
           truth
           as
           clear
           as
           the
           light
           .
        
         
           If
           they
           hear
           a
           confident
           Seducer
           ,
           that
           hath
           a
           glozing
           tongue
           ,
           and
           plausible
           cavils
           against
           a
           truth
           ,
           these
           arrogant
           w●●s
           will
           presently
           conclude
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           in
           the
           right
           ,
           and
           cannot
           be
           answered
           ;
           as
           if
           no body
           can
           do
           it
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           :
           When
           ,
           alas
           ,
           men
           of
           understanding
           may
           presently
           discern
           gross
           ignorance
           ,
           and
           absurdity
           ,
           in
           that
           which
           sh●llow
           brains
           are
           so
           confident
           of
           .
           We
           can
           scarce
           meet
           with
           the
           man
           so
           grosly
           ignorant
           ,
           but
           he
           is
           confident
           of
           his
           own
           understanding
           ,
           and
           wise
           in
           his
           own
           conceit
           :
           So
           that
           when
           we
           may
           expect
           that
           they
           should
           say
           ,
           [
           
             What
             ignorant
             foolish
             wretchet
             are
             we
             ,
             that
             cannot
             understand
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             :
          
           ]
           They
           are
           ready
           to
           accuse
           or
           suspect
           the
           Word
           ,
           and
           say
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
        
         
           11.
           
           And
           this
           Arrogancy
           is
           much
           increased
           by
           the
           very
           nature
           of
           ignorance
           ,
           which
           is
           ,
           to
           be
           even
           ignorant
           of
           it self
           .
           He
           that
           never
           saw
           the
           light
           knows
           not
           what
           light
           is
           ,
           not
           what
           darkness
           is
           as
           differing
           from
           light
           .
           A
           dead
           man
           knows
           not
           what
           death
           is
           :
           A
           bruit
           knows
           not
           what
           bruitishness
           is
           ,
           because
           he
           knows
           not
           what
           Reason
           is
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           a
           good
           measure
           of
           knowledge
           
           necessary
           to
           make
           some
           men
           to
           know
           their
           ignorance
           .
           What
           can
           shew
           a
           man
           his
           error
           ,
           but
           the
           contrary
           truth
           ?
           This
           is
           it
           therefore
           that
           hinders
           mens
           conviction
           ,
           and
           makes
           them
           confident
           in
           their
           most
           false
           conceits
           ;
           seeing
           they
           want
           both
           that
           Light
           ,
           and
           that
           Humdity
           which
           should
           take
           down
           their
           confidence
           .
           We
           have
           as
           much
           ado
           to
           make
           some
           men
           know
           ,
           that
           they
           do
           not
           know
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           them
           know
           ,
           that
           which
           they
           know
           not
           ,
           when
           once
           they
           will
           believe
           that
           they
           do
           not
           know
           it
           :
           Especially
           ,
           if
           men
           have
           but
           any
           plausible
           ,
           natural
           wit
           ,
           or
           a
           little
           taste
           of
           lea●ning
           ,
           or
           a
           little
           illomination
           in
           some
           greater
           matters
           ,
           which
           in
           gross-ignorance
           they
           do
           not
           understand
           ,
           they
           presently
           think
           that
           all
           things
           should
           be
           now
           plain
           to
           them
           .
           It
           is
           the
           ruine
           (
           or
           dangerous
           ●erverting
           ,
           at
           least
           )
           of
           many
           yong
           zealous
           Professors
           ,
           that
           formerly
           lived
           in
           gre●t
           ignorance
           and
           ungodliness
           ;
           That
           when
           God
           hath
           shewed
           them
           their
           error
           ,
           and
           brought
           them
           to
           see
           the
           excellency
           of
           a
           holy
           life
           ;
           the
           new
           Light
           seems
           so
           glorious
           to
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           think
           they
           know
           all
           things
           ,
           and
           need
           but
           little
           more
           :
           And
           now
           they
           are
           illuminated
           by
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ,
           they
           think
           they
           should
           understand
           all
           truths
           at
           the
           first
           hearing
           ,
           and
           see
           through
           all
           difficulties
           at
           the
           first
           consideration
           :
           Little
           knowing
           how
           much
           lamer
           table
           ignorance
           doth
           yet
           remain
           in
           them
           ;
           and
           how
           much
           more
           glorious
           a
           Light
           is
           yet
           before
           them
           ;
           and
           how
           little
           they
           know
           yet
           ,
           in
           comparison
           of
           that
           which
           they
           do
           not
           know
           :
           So
           that
           it
           is
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           ignorant
           ,
           especially
           half-witted
           men
           ,
           that
           have
           some
           little
           knowledge
           which
           may
           puff
           them
           
           up
           ,
           to
           think
           they
           have
           that
           which
           indeed
           they
           have
           not
           ;
           and
           so
           to
           have
           this
           ar●ogancy
           of
           understanding
           ,
           and
           speak
           against
           the
           darknes●
           of
           truth
           ,
           when
           they
           should
           lament
           the
           darkness
           of
           their
           own
           understandings
           ;
           and
           to
           think
           the
           Candle
           is
           put
           out
           ,
           o●
           the
           Su●
           is
           darkned
           ,
           because
           this
           Web
           is
           grown
           over
           their
           eyes
           .
        
         
           12.
           
           Moreover
           ,
           I
           fid●l●●y
           is
           a
           natural
           ,
           deep-rooted
           ,
           obs●●●●ate
           sin
           ;
           and
           therefore
           ▪
           no
           wonder
           if
           it
           be
           har●l●
           overcome
           ,
           and
           will
           be
           striving
           in
           us
           to
           the
           l●●●
           .
           The
           first
           sin
           of
           man
           ,
           in
           be●●eving
           the
           Servent
           before
           God
           ,
           ha●h
           ●●f
           ▪
           a
           vicious
           h●●
           it
           in
           ou●
           n●tu●e
           .
           M●●
           is
           now
           so
           e●●ranged
           ●rom
           God
           ,
           that
           ●e
           ●●
           the
           ●e●s
           acqua●n●ed
           with
           ●is
           voice
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           dist●ustful
           of
           hi●
           .
           We
           are
           so
           m●ch
           in
           the
           dark
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           t●e
           more
           ●iffident
           .
           When
           a
           man
           kn●ws
           not
           where
           he
           is
           ,
           or
           w●o
           is
           near
           him
           ,
           he
           ●s
           st●ll
           fear●ul
           ;
           when
           he
           knows
           not
           what
           ground
           he
           stands
           on
           ,
           wh●ther
           firm
           ,
           or
           quick
           -
           a●ds
           ,
           he
           ●s
           naturally
           apt
           to
           distrust
           it
           :
           A●
           unknown
           God
           will
           not
           be
           well
           believe●
           .
           Were
           t●
           si●
           to
           cure
           Infidelity
           ,
           all
           other
           si●s
           woul●
           be
           of
           much
           more
           easie
           cu●e
           .
           He
           is
           a
           conquero●
           indee●
           ,
           that
           throughly
           conquers
           his
           unbelief
           ▪
           But
           the
           most
           are
           captivated
           by
           it
           to
           their
           perdition
           .
        
         
           13.
           
           And
           it
           somew●at
           addeth
           to
           this
           disease
           ,
           That
           man
           is
           conscious
           of
           de●e●tfulness
           in
           himself
           ,
           and
           from
           thence
           ●s
           apt
           to
           suspect
           all
           others
           .
           B●cause
           he
           findes
           himself
           both
           fallible
           and
           fallacious
           ,
           he
           is
           ready
           to
           think
           that
           God
           himself
           is
           so
           too
           :
           For
           corrupt
           man
           is
           prone
           to
           question
           ,
           whe●her
           there
           be
           any
           higher
           vertue
           ,
           then
           he
           hath
           experience
           of
           in
           himself
           .
        
         
         
           14.
           
           Also
           it
           is
           a
           great
           occasion
           of
           this
           sin
           of
           Infidelity
           and
           Arrogancy
           ,
           and
           questioning
           all
           that
           men
           do
           not
           understand
           ,
           that
           they
           know
           not
           the
           true
           nature
           of
           the
           Christian
           State
           and
           Life
           ,
           and
           build
           not
           in
           the
           order
           that
           Christ
           hath
           prescribed
           them
           .
           Christs
           method
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           they
           should
           first
           understand
           and
           believe
           those
           Essentials
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           without
           which
           there
           is
           no
           Salvation
           ;
           and
           then
           engage
           themselves
           to
           learn
           of
           him
           as
           his
           Disciples
           ;
           and
           so
           to
           set
           themselves
           to
           School
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           live
           under
           his
           teaching
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           know
           by
           degrees
           ,
           the
           rest
           of
           his
           will
           .
           And
           his
           teaching
           is
           joyntly
           by
           his
           Word
           ,
           Ministers
           ,
           and
           Spirit
           .
           Men
           must
           first
           lay
           the
           Foundation
           in
           an
           explicite
           faith
           ,
           and
           hold
           to
           those
           Fundamentals
           as
           of
           in●allible
           certainty
           ,
           and
           not
           expect
           to
           know
           the
           rest
           in
           a
           moment
           ,
           nor
           without
           much
           diligence
           and
           patience
           ,
           but
           wait
           on
           Christ
           in
           the
           Condition
           of
           Disciples
           ,
           to
           learn
           all
           the
           rest
           .
           All
           this
           is
           expressed
           in
           Christs
           Commission
           to
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           
             Matth.
          
           28.
           19.
           ●0
           .
           21.
           
           Where
           he
           first
           bids
           them
           disciple
           the
           Nations
           (
           which
           contains
           the
           convincing
           them
           (
           at
           age
           )
           of
           the
           fundamentals
           ,
           and
           procuring
           their
           consent
           ▪
           and
           then
           to
           baptize
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           be
           solemnly
           engaged
           ;
           and
           then
           teach
           them
           to
           observe
           all
           things
           whatsoever
           ▪
           he
           commanded
           them
           ;
           and
           this
           must
           be
           the
           work
           of
           all
           their
           lives
           .
        
         
           Now
           here
           are
           two
           gross
           Errors
           ,
           contrary
           to
           this
           stablished
           order
           of
           Christ
           ,
           which
           Professors
           do
           oft
           run
           into
           ,
           to
           their
           own
           perdition
           .
           The
           one
           is
           ,
           when
           they
           do
           not
           first
           lay
           the
           Fundamentals
           as
           ●ertain●ie●
           ,
           but
           hold
           them
           loosly
           ,
           and
           are
           ready
           
           on
           all
           occasions
           to
           reduce
           them
           to
           doubtful
           and
           uncertain
           points
           ;
           or
           to
           question
           them
           ,
           though
           their
           evidence
           be
           never
           so
           full
           ,
           because
           of
           some
           defect
           of
           evidence
           in
           other
           points
           .
        
         
           A
           most
           foolish
           and
           perverse
           course
           ,
           which
           will
           hinder
           any
           man
           that
           useth
           it
           ,
           from
           the
           true
           understanding
           of
           any
           Science
           in
           the
           World
           .
           For
           in
           all
           Sciences
           there
           are
           some
           undoubted
           Principles
           which
           must
           be
           first
           laid
           ,
           and
           it
           must
           not
           be
           expected
           ,
           that
           all
           points
           else
           should
           be
           of
           equal
           necessity
           or
           evidence
           as
           they
           :
           But
           if
           we
           should
           meet
           with
           never
           so
           much
           doubtfulness
           in
           any
           of
           the
           superstructure
           ,
           yet
           these
           principles
           must
           still
           be
           held
           fast
           .
           For
           he
           that
           will
           be
           still
           plu●king
           up
           his
           Foundation
           ,
           upon
           every
           error
           in
           the
           building
           ,
           is
           never
           like
           to
           perfect
           his
           work
           .
        
         
           The
           second
           common
           Error
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           as
           Professors
           do
           not
           lay
           the
           Foundation
           as
           certain
           ,
           so
           they
           do
           not
           unseignedly
           s●t
           themselves
           in
           the
           true
           posture
           of
           Disciples
           or
           Schollars
           to
           learn
           the
           ●est
           ,
           but
           think
           themselves
           past
           Schollars
           when
           they
           have
           gone
           to
           School
           ,
           and
           engaged
           themselves
           to
           Christ
           ,
           their
           Teacher
           .
           This
           is
           the
           undoing
           of
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           visible
           Church
           .
        
         
           If
           they
           come
           to
           the
           Congregation
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           as
           Schollars
           to
           School
           ,
           but
           as
           Judges
           to
           pass
           sentence
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           their
           Teachers
           ,
           before
           they
           understand
           it
           :
           And
           if
           they
           reade
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           it
           is
           in
           the
           same
           sort
           .
           When
           they
           are
           at
           a
           loss
           ,
           through
           any
           occurrent
           difficulty
           ,
           they
           do
           not
           go
           to
           their
           Teachers
           
           as
           humble
           Schollars
           ,
           to
           learn
           the
           true
           sence
           of
           the
           Word
           ,
           and
           the
           solution
           of
           their
           doubts
           :
           But
           they
           go
           as
           confident
           cen●urers
           ,
           and
           as
           boys
           that
           will
           go
           to
           School
           to
           dispute
           with
           their
           Master
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           learn
           ;
           and
           therefore
           ,
           no
           w●nder
           if
           they
           turn
           self-conceited
           H●r●t●ck●
           or
           ●nfid●l●
           :
           For
           Christ
           hath
           resolved
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           learned
           and
           worldl●-w●se
           ,
           if
           they
           will
           come
           to
           Sc●o●l
           to
           ●im
           as
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           mu
           〈…〉
           come
           ●s
           little
           Children
           ▪
           cons●ious
           o●
           their
           ignorance
           ,
           and
           humble
           enough
           to
           submit
           to
           his
           Instructions
           ,
           and
           not
           proudly
           conceited
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           wise
           enough
           already
           :
           And
           they
           must
           wait
           upon
           his
           Teaching
           ▪
           year
           after
           year
           ,
           and
           not
           think
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           capable
           of
           a
           present
           understanding
           of
           each
           revealed
           Truth
           .
        
         
           15.
           
           Lastly
           ,
           Besides
           all
           the
           former
           causes
           of
           this
           Sin
           ,
           some
           men
           are
           judicially
           deserted
           ,
           and
           left
           to
           the
           power
           of
           their
           Arrogancy
           and
           Infidelity
           .
           When
           God
           hath
           shewed
           men
           the
           light
           of
           Fundamental
           verities
           ,
           and
           instead
           of
           hearty
           entertaining
           and
           obeying
           them
           ,
           they
           will
           imprison
           them
           in
           unrighteousness
           ,
           and
           receive
           not
           the
           truth
           in
           the
           love
           of
           it
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           be
           saved
           :
           God
           oft
           gives
           them
           over
           to
           believe
           a
           lie
           ,
           and
           to
           reject
           that
           Truth
           which
           would
           have
           saved
           them
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           received
           it
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           noted
           many
           Professors
           that
           have
           lived
           in
           pride
           ,
           flesh-pleasing
           ,
           or
           secret
           filthiness
           ,
           or
           unrighteousness
           ,
           or
           worldliness
           ,
           and
           would
           not
           see
           ,
           nor
           forsake
           their
           sin
           ,
           but
           hold
           on
           in
           their
           profession
           ,
           and
           their
           lusts
           together
           ;
           that
           these
           are
           most
           commonly
           given
           over
           to
           gross
           Heresies
           ,
           or
           Infidelity
           :
           For
           when
           they
           are
           once
           captivated
           
           to
           their
           fleshly
           lust
           ,
           and
           in●erest
           ,
           and
           yet
           reade
           and
           know
           the
           dam●ableness
           of
           such
           a
           sta●●
           ,
           they
           have
           no
           way
           left
           to
           quiet
           the●r
           Conscience
           ,
           but
           either
           to
           believe
           that
           Scripture
           is
           false
           (
           and
           then
           they
           need
           not
           fear
           its
           threatnings
           ,
           )
           or
           else
           to
           leave
           ▪
           their
           sins
           with
           confession
           and
           contrition
           ;
           which
           their
           carnal
           hearts
           and
           interest
           will
           not
           permit
           .
        
         
           From
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           already
           in
           the
           opening
           
           of
           this
           point
           ,
           we
           may
           see
           what
           a
           corrupt
           and
           froward
           heart
           is
           in
           man
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           matters
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           his
           own
           Salvation
           :
           Three
           notable
           corruptions
           are
           together
           comprehended
           in
           the
           diste●pe●
           which
           we
           have
           here
           described
           ,
           and
           ex●●●ss●d
           in
           the
           common
           incr●dulous
           questioning
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
        
         
           First
           ,
           You
           may
           hear
           in
           this
           question
           ,
           the
           voice
           of
           Ignorance
           .
           Men
           have
           lost
           the
           true
           knowledge
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           works
           especially
           in
           Spirituals
           .
           
             The
             natural
             man
             discerneth
             them
             not
             ;
             for
             they
             are
             spiritually
             discerned
             ,
          
           1
           
             Cor.
          
           2.
           14.
           
           We
           are
           as
           blind
           men
           g●oaping
           in
           the
           dark
           at
           a
           loss
           upon
           every
           difficulty
           that
           occurs
           .
           Evidence
           or
           truth
           is
           no
           evidence
           to
           us
           ,
           because
           our
           understandings
           are
           unprepared
           to
           receive
           it
           ,
           and
           be
           shut
           against
           it
           .
           When
           we
           should
           love
           the
           ●ruth
           ,
           we
           cannot
           finde
           it
           ;
           when
           we
           should
           glorifie
           the
           God
           of
           Truth
           ,
           we
           know
           him
           no●
           ,
           but
           in
           our
           hearts
           say
           as
           
             Pilate
             ▪
             What
             is
             Truth
             ?
          
           And
           as
           
             Pharaoh
             ,
             Who
             is
             the
             Lord
             ?
          
           We
           are
           grown
           strangers
           to
           the
           way
           that
           we
           should
           go
           home
           in
           ;
           and
           strang●r●
           to
           the
           voice
           that
           should
           tell
           us
           the
           way
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           hand
           that
           should
           guide
           us
           in
           it
           ;
           and
           strangers
           to
           the
           
           everlasting
           home
           that
           we
           should
           go
           to
           .
           So
           that
           instead
           of
           a
           chearful
           following
           our
           Guide
           ,
           we
           are
           crying
           out
           at
           every
           turning
           ,
           [
           
             How
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           ]
        
         
           2.
           
           And
           here
           is
           comprehended
           and
           manifested
           also
           ,
           the
           
             perverseness
          
           of
           mans
           understanding
           ▪
           that
           will
           needs
           begin
           at
           the
           wrong
           end
           of
           his
           B●ok
           ,
           and
           read
           backward●
           :
           And
           when
           he
           should
           be
           first
           inquiring
           ,
           [
           
             Whether
             these
             things
             be
             so
             or
             not
             ?
          
           ]
           He
           will
           needs
           be
           first
           resolved
           ,
           [
           
             How
             they
             can
             be
             so
             ?
          
           ]
           And
           he
           will
           not
           believe
           ,
           that
           
             they
             can
             be
             so
             ,
          
           till
           he
           knows
           ,
           
             how
             they
             can
             be
             so
             .
          
           whereas
           common
           reason
           would
           teach
           us
           in
           other
           things
           to
           know
           first
           ,
           
             Whether
             it
             be
             so
             o●n●
             ,
          
           before
           we
           come
           to
           the
           
             How
             can
             it
             be
             so
          
           We
           may
           easily
           be
           certain
           of
           the
           Being
           of
           a
           thousand
           things
           ,
           when
           we
           cannot
           be
           certain
           ,
           
             How
             they
             be
             .
          
        
         
           3.
           
           And
           lastly
           ,
           here
           is
           manifested
           also
           the
           unreverent
           Arrogancy
           of
           man
           ,
           that
           will
           presume
           to
           call
           his
           Maker
           to
           account
           ,
           and
           to
           know
           of
           him
           the
           Reasons
           of
           his
           works
           ,
           and
           
             how
             they
             can
             be
             ,
          
           before
           he
           will
           believe
           them
           ;
           and
           so
           he
           will
           needs
           question
           the
           very
           power
           of
           God
           .
           For
           to
           say
           ,
           
             How
             can
             it
             be
             ?
          
           is
           as
           much
           as
           to
           say
           ,
           
             How
             can
             God
             do
             it
             ?
          
           As
           if
           we
           were
           fit
           Judges
           of
           his
           ways
           ▪
           and
           able
           to
           comprehend
           his
           infinite
           power
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           paths
           of
           his
           unsearchable
           counsels
           .
           
             He
             is
             great
             in
             counsel
             ,
             and
             mighty
             in
             work
             ,
          
           Jer.
           32.
           19.
           
           
             He
             made
             the
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             the
             Earth
             by
             his
             great
             power
             ,
             and
             nothing
             is
             too
             hard
             for
             him
             ,
          
           Vers.
           17.
           
           The
           Prophet
           
             Isaiah's
          
           answer
           should
           suffice
           :
           to
           all
           such
           incredulous
           questions
           ,
           
             Isai.
          
           28.
           
           29.
           
           
             This
             cometh
             from
             the
             Lord
             of
             hosts
             ,
             who
             is
             wonderful
             in
             counsel
             ,
             and
             excellent
             in
             working
             .
          
        
         
           Hence
           also
           we
           see
           what
           unteachable
           Schollars
           Christ
           hath
           in
           his
           School
           ,
           and
           consequently
           ,
           how
           patient
           ,
           and
           gratious
           a
           Master
           he
           is
           .
           When
           we
           should
           be
           submissively
           enquiring
           ,
           we
           are
           incredulously
           disputing
           ;
           and
           we
           will
           needs
           be
           wiser
           then
           our
           Master
           ,
           and
           question
           ,
           whether
           he
           teach
           us
           right
           or
           wrong
           .
           It
           is
           a
           wonder
           of
           mercy
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           pardon
           so
           great
           dulness
           ,
           and
           unprofitableness
           in
           us
           ;
           and
           shall
           we
           after
           this
           be
           so
           insensible
           of
           that
           sin
           of
           ours
           ,
           and
           of
           that
           grace
           of
           his
           ,
           as
           to
           fall
           a
           questioning
           him
           ,
           and
           his
           truth
           ,
           and
           lay
           the
           ●lame
           on
           him
           from
           our selves
           ?
        
         
           
             
               Object
               .
            
             But
             we
             must
             not
             believe
             all
             things
             ;
             and
             therefore
             we
             must
             enquire
             ,
             and
             try
             the
             spirits
             ,
             whether
             they
             be
             of
             God
             ,
             or
             not
             ,
             even
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Christ
             himself
             ?
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             The
             Spirit
             of
             Christ
             fears
             not
             a
             just
             tryal
             :
             Had
             not
             Christ
             brought
             sufficient
             evidence
             of
             his
             truth
             ,
             he
             would
             not
             have
             condemned
             the
             unbelieving
             world
             for
             not
             receiving
             it
             .
             I
             have
             shewed
             you
             already
             how
             fully
             he
             hath
             sealed
             ●is
             Testament
             ,
             and
             with
             what
             attestations
             he
             hath
             delivered
             his
             Doctrine
             to
             the
             world
             .
             But
             why
             do
             you
             not
             acquie●ce
             in
             these
             confirmed
             verities
             ?
             when
             once
             Christ
             hath
             given
             sufficient
             proof
             of
             his
             Doctrine
             ,
             must
             it
             be
             questioned
             again
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             wonderful
             ?
             and
             because
             ,
             that
             the
             manner
             of
             it
             is
             beyond
             your
             reach
             ?
             Inquire
             first
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             a
             Rev●lation
             from
             God
             ,
             or
             not
             :
             
             and
             if
             it
             had
             no
             divine
             attestation
             ,
             or
             evident
             that
             it
             is
             of
             God
             ,
             then
             you
             might
             reject
             it
             without
             sin
             or
             danger
             ,
             when
             you
             finde
             it
             to
             contein
             things
             so
             far
             beyond
             your
             reach
             :
             But
             when
             God
             hath
             put
             his
             Seal
             to
             it
             ,
             and
             proved
             it
             to
             be
             h●●
             own
             ;
             if
             after
             this
             you
             will
             be
             questioning
             it
             ,
             because
             of
             the
             seeming
             cont●adictions
             or
             improbabilities
             ,
             you
             do
             but
             question
             the
             wisdom
             and
             power
             of
             the
             Lord
             :
             As
             if
             he
             had
             no
             more
             wisdom
             ,
             then
             you
             can
             reach
             and
             fathom
             ;
             yea
             ,
             the●
             you
             can
             censure
             and
             reprove
             ?
             Or
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             could
             do
             no
             more
             ,
             then
             you
             can
             see
             the
             way
             and
             reason
             of
             ,
             and
             are
             fit
             to
             take
             an
             account
             of
             .
          
           
             I
             do
             therefore
             exhort
             al●
             that
             fear
             the
             Great
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             love
             their
             own
             Souls
             ,
             That
             they
             take
             special
             heed
             against
             this
             da●gerous
             sin
             :
             Think
             not
             the
             Proved-Sealed
             .
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             is
             ever
             the
             more
             to
             be
             suspected
             ,
             because
             that
             the
             matters
             in
             it
             do
             seem
             strange
             ,
             and
             unlikely
             to
             your
             Reason
             .
             And
             think
             not
             that
             you
             should
             comprehend
             the
             mysterious
             counsels
             and
             ways
             of
             God
             .
             Let
             your
             understandings
             meditate
             on
             Scriptu●e
             ▪
             difficulties
             ,
             that
             you
             may
             learn
             to
             resolve
             them
             ;
             but
             suffer
             not
             the
             apprehension
             of
             those
             d●fficulties
             to
             make
             you
             once
             question
             the
             Truth
             of
             God
             ;
             but
             abhor
             such
             a
             thought
             as
             soon
             as
             it
             ariseth
             ,
             and
             cast
             it
             with
             detestation
             out
             of
             your
             hearts
             .
          
           
             To
             perswade
             you
             the
             more
             effectually
             ,
             I
             beseech
             you
             do
             but
             weigh
             impartially
             ,
             besides
             what
             is
             said
             before
             ,
             these
             following
             consideratio●s
          
           
             1.
             
             Consider
             ,
             who
             that
             God
             is
             whose
             ways
             thou
             dost
             so
             presumptuously
             pass
             thy
             censure
             of
             ,
             and
             
             whose
             Word
             thou
             callest
             to
             the
             B●r
             o●
             thy
             Judgment
             ●●
             Is
             Infinite
             wisdom
             fit
             to
             be
             examined
             by
             thee
             ?
             or
             t●e
             Works
             of
             Infinite
             power
             to
             be
             tryed
             by
             thee
             ?
             If
             there
             were
             nothing
             wonderful
             in
             his
             Word
             or
             Works
             ,
             they
             would
             not
             believe
             the
             M●jesty
             of
             God
             ;
             nor
             the
             Saviour
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             whose
             
               Name
               is
               Wonderful
               ,
               Counsellor
               ,
               the
               Mighty
               G●d
               Isai.
               
            
             ●
             6.
             
             Gods
             Name
             mu●t
             be
             written
             upon
             his
             Word
             and
             Works
             ,
             and
             all
             must
             bear
             some
             part
             of
             his
             Image
             ;
             and
             therefore
             have
             somewhat
             in
             them
             that
             is
             incomprehensible
             .
             Shall
             the
             Infinite
             God
             have
             no
             Word
             or
             Work
             ,
             but
             what
             may
             be
             comprehended
             by
             such
             as
             we
             ?
             I
             seriously
             profess
             ,
             that
             it
             oft
             am●●eth
             me
             ,
             to
             think
             that
             we
             should
             know
             so
             muc●
             of
             God
             ,
             his
             Will
             ,
             and
             Ways
             ,
             as
             we
             do
             ?
             When
             I
             consider
             the
             infinite
             distance
             between
             him
             and
             us
             ,
             I
             must
             admire
             that
             we
             are
             made
             so
             much
             acquainted
             with
             his
             minde
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             hath
             told
             us
             so
             much
             of
             his
             mysteries
             as
             he
             hath
             done
             ,
             and
             must
             say
             [
             
               What
               is
               man
               that
               thou
               art
               mindful
               of
               him
               ,
               and
               the
               Son
               of
               Man
               that
               thou
               so
               vi
               test
               and
               regardest
               him
               .
               ]
               Psal.
            
             8
             4.
             
             
               Job
            
             7.
             17.
             
             When
             I
             consid●r
             how
             little
             a
             poor
             Worm
             ,
             or
             B●rd
             ,
             or
             ●east
             ,
             knows
             of
             me
             th●t
             am
             made
             of
             the
             same
             fl●sh
             with
             him
             ;
             and
             how
             much
             man
             knows
             of
             the
             minde
             of
             God
             ,
             who
             is
             infinitely
             distant
             from
             him
             ,
             it
             makes
             me
             admire
             at
             the
             Provi●ence
             that
             hath
             so
             ordered
             it
             .
             If
             a
             Beast
             could
             so
             far
             consider
             ,
             and
             discou●se
             ,
             would
             it
             not
             be
             f●lly
             in
             him
             to
             call
             my
             writings
             ,
             words
             ,
             and
             ways
             ,
             to
             the
             Bar
             ,
             and
             to
             suspect
             those
             as
             false
             that
             are
             beyond
             his
             reach
             !
             and
             to
             say
             ▪
             [
             
               How
               can
               these
               things
               be
               ?
            
             ]
             Why
             ,
             alas
             ,
             they
             are
             ten
             thousand
             
             thousand
             times
             neerer
             to
             us
             ,
             then
             we
             are
             unt●
             God
             .
             O
             then
             let
             us
             thankfully
             open
             his
             books
             and
             look
             upon
             his
             words
             and
             works
             ,
             and
             bless
             him
             that
             hath
             condescended
             so
             far
             to
             man
             ,
             and
             lifted
             up
             man
             so
             neer
             to
             himself
             in
             knowledge
             ,
             in
             comparison
             of
             other
             inferior
             creatures
             ;
             and
             make
             much
             of
             that
             measure
             of
             knowledge
             which
             we
             have
             :
             But
             do
             not
             think
             to
             measure
             the
             Creation
             of
             God
             ,
             not
             to
             comprehend
             his
             secrets
             ;
             much
             less
             himself
             .
             Methinks
             the
             reading
             of
             those
             four
             Chapters
             in
             
               Job
            
             before
             cited
             ,
             containing
             Gods
             expostulation
             with
             him
             ,
             might
             do
             much
             to
             humble
             an
             Arrogant
             wit
             ,
             and
             to
             make
             it
             submit
             to
             infinite
             wisdom
             .
             Alas
             ,
             the
             very
             Angels
             cannot
             comprehend
             God
             ,
             and
             whether
             a●●
             Creature
             can
             immediately
             see
             his
             Essence
             ,
             we
             cannot
             now
             affirm
             :
             Admirations
             do
             better
             beseem
             the
             highest
             of
             his
             Creatures
             ,
             then
             bold
             expostulations
             .
             The
             flaming
             Mount
             might
             not
             be
             touched
             .
             You
             cannot
             endure
             to
             gaze
             upon
             the
             Sun
             ,
             which
             is
             Gods
             Creature
             :
             Should
             you
             approach
             too
             near
             it
             ,
             you
             would
             be
             consumed
             by
             its
             heat
             .
             And
             dare
             you
             be
             so
             bold
             with
             the
             highest
             Majesty
             ?
             It
             were
             not
             greater
             folly
             to
             imagine
             that
             you
             can
             span
             the
             Earth
             in
             your
             hand
             ,
             or
             that
             you
             can
             reach
             the
             Sun
             with
             your
             finger
             ,
             then
             to
             imagine
             that
             you
             are
             meet
             to
             expo●●ulate
             with
             God
             ▪
             and
             that
             all
             must
             be
             unreasonable
             in
             his
             Word
             or
             Works
             ,
             where
             your
             wit
             is
             not
             able
             to
             discern
             the
             Reason
             .
             Surely
             ,
             [
             
               His
               thoughts
               are
               not
               as
               our
               thoughts
               ,
               nor
               his
               ways
               as
               our
               ways
               ;
               but
               as
               far
               as
               the
               Heaven
               is
               above
               the
               Earth
               ,
               so
               far
               are
               his
               thoughts
               and
               ways
               above
               ours
               ,
            
             Isai.
             55.
             7
             ,
             8
             ,
             9
             ]
          
           
           
             And
             as
             you
             cannot
             
               comprehend
            
             the
             thoughts
             and
             ways
             of
             God
             ,
             so
             you
             are
             surely
             unfit
             to
             
               contradict
            
             them
             .
             The
             childe
             will
             submit
             to
             the
             wisdom
             of
             his
             Father
             ,
             and
             the
             Schollar
             of
             his
             Master
             ,
             and
             will
             believe
             them
             when
             they
             cannot
             re●ch
             the
             reason
             of
             their
             sayings
             :
             They
             will
             not
             set
             their
             wits
             against
             them
             ,
             thought
             they
             be
             reasonable
             Creatures
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             they
             .
             It
             was
             the
             humble
             expression
             of
             men
             of
             old
             ,
             when
             they
             would
             contemn
             themselves
             ,
             in
             comparison
             of
             their
             superiors
             ,
             to
             call
             themselves
             [
             
               A
               dead
               dog
            
             ]
             or
             [
             
               a
               flea
               ▪
            
             ]
             1
             
               Sam
            
             24.
             14.
             and
             ●0
             .
             20.
             
             
               David
            
             himself
             doth
             so
             to
             
               Saul
               .
            
             What
             may
             we
             then
             call
             our selves
             ,
             in
             comparison
             with
             the
             Lord
             ,
             but
             even
             nothing
             and
             less
             then
             nothing
             ,
             and
             lighter
             then
             vanity
             ?
             and
             should
             nothing
             contend
             with
             immensity
             and
             Eternity
             ?
             Should
             a
             Flea
             dispute
             with
             a
             Learned
             man
             and
             say
             [
             
               How
               can
               these
               things
               be
            
             ]
             How
             much
             less
             should
             we
             s●
             dispute
             with
             God
             ?
          
           
             If
             a
             man
             do
             but
             look
             up
             to
             the
             height
             of
             the
             visible
             Heaven
             ,
             or
             look
             down
             into
             some
             exceeding
             depth
             ,
             it
             will
             make
             him
             be
             ready
             to
             tremble
             :
             with
             what
             dread
             and
             submissive
             reverence
             then
             should
             our
             mindes
             look
             to
             the
             height
             and
             depth
             of
             the
             Counsels
             of
             the
             Lord
             ?
             D●re
             not
             therefore
             any
             more
             ●o
             quarrel
             with
             his
             wisdom
             ▪
             but
             say
             as
             
               Job
            
             when
             God
             had
             non-plus'●
             him
             ,
             
               Job
            
             42.
             2
             ,
             3.
             
             [
             
               I
               know
               that
               thou
               canst
               do
               every
               thing
               ,
               and
               that
               no
               thought
               can
               be
               withholden
               from
               thee
               ,
               who
               is
               he
               that
               hideth
               counsel
               without
               knowledge
               ?
               Therefore
               have
               I
               uttered
               that
               I
               understood
               not
               ;
               things
               too
               wonderful
               for
               me
               ,
               which
               I
               know
               not
               .
            
          
           
             2.
             
             Consider
             also
             
               what
               we
               are
               our selves
               ,
            
             as
             well
             
             as
             what
             that
             God
             is
             with
             whom
             we
             do
             expostulate
             .
             The
             Lord
             knows
             we
             are
             silly
             Creatures
             for
             such
             an
             undertaking
             !
             Can
             s●ch
             breathing
             lumps
             of
             earth
             ,
             such
             walking
             dust
             ,
             such
             bags
             of
             filth
             ,
             be
             fit
             to
             enter
             a
             dispute
             with
             God
             ?
             And
             though
             they
             are
             noble
             souls
             that
             are
             thus
             meanly
             housed
             ,
             yet
             never
             endowed
             or
             fitted
             for
             such
             a
             task
             .
             A
             spoon
             or
             shell
             may
             as
             well
             contain
             the
             whole
             Ocean
             ,
             as
             our
             narrow
             understandings
             comprehend
             the
             counsels
             of
             God
             .
             Are
             our
             understandings
             infinite
             ,
             that
             we
             should
             think
             to
             comprehend
             the
             Reasons
             of
             the
             words
             and
             ways
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             any
             further
             then
             he
             hath
             condescended
             to
             reveal
             them
             ?
             Our
             eyes
             may
             as
             well
             expect
             an
             unlimited
             vision
             ,
             and
             think
             to
             see
             beyond
             the
             Sun
             ●s
             our
             understandings
             expect
             such
             a
             boundless
             intellection
             .
             It
             's
             a
             wonder
             that
             so
             much
             knowledge
             as
             we
             have
             ,
             should
             be
             found
             in
             a
             soul
             that'●
             housed
             in
             clay
             :
             and
             shall
             we
             presume
             that
             we
             have
             so
             much
             more
             then
             we
             have
             ?
             It
             was
             the
             sinful
             Arrogancy
             of
             our
             first
             parents
             to
             
               desire
            
             to
             be
             as
             Gods
             in
             Knowledge
             :
             and
             shall
             we
             go
             so
             far
             beyond
             them
             in
             our
             Arrogancy
             ,
             as
             to
             
               presume
            
             that
             we
             are
             
               actually
            
             such
             indeed
             ?
          
           
             And
             its
             observable
             what
             contradictions
             there
             be
             among
             s●●ful
             principles
             ,
             and
             how
             proud
             infidelity
             doth
             condemn
             it self
             :
             These
             unbelievers
             have
             such
             low
             thoughts
             of
             mens
             soul
             ,
             that
             they
             think
             it
             doth
             but
             gradually
             differ
             in
             its
             rational
             power
             from
             the
             soul
             of
             a
             bruit
             ;
             and
             therefore
             think
             it
             cannot
             be
             immortal
             :
             and
             yet
             the
             very
             same
             men
             that
             think
             not
             the
             soul
             so
             noble
             as
             to
             be
             immortal
             ,
             do
             think
             it
             so
             capable
             of
             disputing
             with
             God
             ,
             and
             compre●ending
             the
             reasons
             of
             his
             Truths
             and
             ways
             ,
             that
             
             they
             are
             ready
             to
             deny
             the
             most
             confirmed
             Truth
             ,
             if
             they
             do
             not
             reach
             the
             maner
             and
             End●
             and
             Reasons
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             God
             shall
             not
             be
             believed
             ,
             unless
             their
             Reasons
             be
             satisfyed
             in
             all
             these
             ,
             and
             unless
             they
             are
             able
             to
             take
             so
             full
             a
             view
             of
             the
             whole
             body
             of
             Truth
             ,
             as
             to
             answer
             all
             gain-sayers
             ,
             and
             reconcile
             all
             seeming
             contradictions
             ,
             they
             will
             not
             take
             Gods
             word
             to
             be
             his
             word
             ▪
             Yea
             with
             the
             wretched
             Atheist
             God
             shall
             not
             be
             God
             ,
             because
             he
             cannot
             comprehended
             him
             :
             He
             shall
             not
             be
             infinite
             ,
             in
             Immensity
             and
             Eternity
             ,
             because
             that
             he
             cannot
             comprehend
             this
             Immensity
             and
             Eternity
             .
             And
             so
             with
             the
             Infidel
             ,
             Christ
             shall
             be
             no
             Christ
             ,
             and
             the
             Trinity
             no
             Trinity
             ,
             because
             his
             shallow
             brain
             cannot
             compre●end
             the
             mysteries
             of
             the
             incarnation
             ,
             the
             Hypostatical
             Union
             and
             the
             Trinity
             So
             that
             the
             same
             man
             will
             have
             his
             soul
             to
             be
             but
             as
             the
             soul
             of
             a
             dog
             fo●
             kind
             ,
             and
             yet
             will
             have
             it
             more
             comprehensive
             then
             the
             very
             Angels
             in
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             think
             it
             so
             competent
             a
             Judge
             of
             Gods
             Counsels
             ,
             that
             he
             will
             presume
             to
             condemn
             them
             ,
             if
             he
             see
             not
             the
             Reasons
             of
             them
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             Consider
             ,
             Doth
             not
             certain
             experience
             tell
             you
             that
             you
             are
             utterly
             unable
             fully
             to
             understand
             the
             nature
             and
             reasons
             of
             those
             works
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             are
             daily
             visible
             before
             your
             eys
             ?
             I
             will
             not
             say
             ,
             onely
             of
             the
             greater
             and
             more
             distant
             ,
             but
             even
             of
             the
             least
             ,
             or
             of
             any
             one
             of
             them
             .
             I
             am
             confident
             that
             there
             is
             not
             the
             least
             flie
             or
             worm
             or
             pile
             of
             grass
             (
             much
             more
             the
             Sun
             and
             other
             Planets
             )
             but
             that
             which
             we
             know
             of
             them
             ,
             is
             much
             less
             then
             that
             which
             no
             man
             knows
             .
             And
             should
             such
             poor
             understandings
             then
             be
             so
             Arrogant
             as
             to
             think
             to
             fathom
             the
             Counsels
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             reject
             
             his
             plain
             revealed
             Truths
             ,
             because
             they
             see
             not
             ,
             
               How
               such
               things
               can
               be
               .
            
          
           
             4.
             
             Consider
             ,
             What
             a
             stream
             of
             experience
             do
             you
             sin
             against
             in
             this
             Arrogancy
             .
             Doth
             not
             every
             Study
             that
             you
             fall
             upon
             ,
             and
             every
             days
             business
             that
             you
             are
             engaged
             in
             ,
             most
             plainly
             discover
             the
             weakness
             of
             your
             understandings
             ?
             Why
             else
             do
             you
             learn
             no
             faster
             ,
             and
             know
             no
             more
             ?
             Why
             are
             you
             not
             yet
             absolnte
             masters
             in
             all
             Sciences
             and
             Arts
             ?
             Yea
             why
             are
             you
             so
             defective
             in
             all
             ?
             And
             yet
             will
             you
             presume
             to
             dispute
             with
             God
             ,
             and
             reject
             his
             Truths
             as
             unreasonable
             ,
             after
             all
             this
             experience
             of
             your
             own
             infirmity
             ,
             and
             of
             your
             unfitness
             for
             works
             that
             are
             so
             much
             lower
             ?
          
           
             5.
             
             Consider
             ,
             Whether
             by
             this
             sinful
             Ar●ogancy
             you
             do
             not
             equal
             your
             understandings
             with
             Gods
             ?
             For
             if
             you
             must
             be
             able
             to
             see
             the
             Reason
             of
             all
             his
             Truths
             and
             ways
             ,
             and
             will
             control
             them
             because
             you
             see
             not
             the
             reason
             of
             them
             ,
             doth
             not
             this
             imply
             that
             you
             suppose
             your self
             to
             equal
             him
             in
             understanding
             ?
             And
             what
             greater
             madness
             can
             you
             be
             guilty
             of
             ,
             then
             such
             a
             conceit
             ?
             So
             also
             when
             you
             quarrel
             with
             the
             word
             as
             if
             it
             contained
             things
             that
             are
             unrighteous
             ,
             and
             strengthen
             your
             unbelief
             by
             such
             conceits
             ,
             what
             do
             you
             but
             say
             ,
             that
             you
             are
             more
             righteous
             then
             God
             ?
             Oh
             think
             not
             that
             the
             fool●shness
             of
             man
             is
             wiser
             then
             God
             ,
             or
             that
             our
             darkness
             is
             comparable
             to
             his
             incomprehensible
             light
             ,
             or
             our
             unrighteousness
             to
             his
             perfect
             Justice
             ;
             or
             that
             we
             are
             fit
             Judges
             of
             these
             his
             perfections
             .
             Hear
             that
             voice
             that
             
               Eli●haz
            
             heard
             ,
             from
             the
             Spirit
             that
             passed
             before
             him
             in
             the
             Visions
             of
             the
             night
             ,
             
               Job
            
             4.
             13
             ,
             14
             ,
             15
             ,
             
             16
             ,
             17
             ,
             18
             ,
             19
             ,
             20
             ,
             21.
             
             [
             
               Shall
               mortal
               man
               be
               more
               just
               then
               God
               ?
               shall
               a
               man
               be
               more
               pure
               then
               his
               Maker
               ?
               Behold
               he
               put
               u●
               trust
               in
               his
               servants
               ,
               and
               his
               Angels
               he
               charged
               with
               folly
               :
               how
               much
               less
               on
               them
               that
               dwell
               in
               houses
               of
               clay
               ,
               whose
               foundation
               is
               in
               the
               dust
               ,
               which
               are
               crushed
               before
               the
               moth
               :
               They
               are
               destroyed
               from
               morning
               to
               evening
               :
               they
               p●rish
               for
               ever
               without
               any
               regarding
               it
               :
               doth
               not
               their
               excellency
               which
               is
               in
               them
               go
               away
               ?
               they
               die
               ,
               even
               wi●hout
               wisd●m
               .
            
             ]
          
           
             6.
             
             Consider
             further
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             the
             very
             nature
             of
             Faith
             to
             believe
             the
             thing
             revealed
             or
             testifyed
             ,
             upon
             the
             meer
             credit
             of
             the
             testifyer
             or
             revealer
             ,
             If
             therefore
             you
             will
             have
             no
             such
             implicite
             belief
             in
             God
             ,
             you
             will
             have
             no
             faith
             at
             all
             .
             To
             see
             a
             thing
             in
             its
             own
             Evidence
             ,
             is
             not
             to
             Believe
             .
             The
             formal
             object
             of
             faith
             is
             the
             veracity
             of
             God
             :
             Reason
             assures
             us
             first
             that
             God
             cannot
             lye
             :
             and
             next
             it
             discerneth
             by
             evidence
             ,
             that
             [
             
               This
               is
               Gods
               word
               ,
               or
               a
               Divine
               Revelation
            
             ]
             :
             and
             then
             we
             may
             well
             build
             upon
             this
             foundation
             ,
             that
             each
             particular
             of
             this
             Revelation
             is
             true
             .
             So
             that
             it
             is
             no
             true
             Belief
             ,
             if
             the
             credit
             of
             the
             Testifyer
             be
             not
             the
             reason
             of
             your
             Assent
             .
             If
             therefore
             you
             must
             see
             the
             reason
             of
             Gods
             revealed
             truths
             ,
             and
             the
             very
             manner
             and
             end
             of
             all
             his
             works
             ,
             before
             you
             will
             believe
             ,
             this
             is
             as
             much
             as
             openly
             to
             proclaim
             ,
             that
             you
             will
             be
             no
             believers
             at
             all
             .
             You
             will
             Assent
             to
             the
             words
             of
             the
             false●t
             Lyar
             ,
             as
             long
             as
             you
             see
             the
             Evidence
             of
             truth
             in
             the
             things
             themselves
             which
             they
             report
             .
             And
             will
             you
             give
             no
             more
             credit
             to
             God
             then
             to
             such
             a
             one
             ?
             Will
             you
             believe
             God
             no
             further
             then
             you
             see
             a
             Cogent
             Evidence
             
             in
             the
             thing
             asserted
             ,
             which
             shews
             that
             he
             cannot
             deceive
             you
             therein
             if
             he
             would
             ?
             Why
             ,
             thus
             far
             you
             will
             believe
             the
             worst
             of
             men
             :
             For
             indeed
             this
             is
             no
             beli●ving
             at
             all
             .
             If
             you
             do
             not
             first
             believe
             that
             God
             cannot
             lye
             ,
             and
             so
             that
             all
             that
             he
             saith
             is
             true
             ,
             you
             have
             no
             belief
             in
             him
             at
             all
             .
          
           
             7.
             
             If
             you
             are
             Christians
             ,
             you
             are
             Christs
             Disciples
             ,
             and
             therefore
             must
             wait
             on
             him
             in
             the
             humble
             posture
             of
             learners
             .
             And
             he
             that
             will
             no
             w●it
             credit
             this
             teacher
             is
             not
             like
             to
             learn
             .
             If
             you
             will
             not
             believe
             him
             ,
             but
             assent
             onely
             to
             that
             which
             is
             evident
             of
             it self
             without
             his
             word
             ,
             then
             how
             are
             you
             his
             Scholars
             ?
          
           
             8.
             
             Will
             you
             allow
             your
             own
             children
             or
             Scholars
             to
             do
             so
             by
             you
             ?
             If
             they
             should
             dispute
             with
             you
             instead
             of
             believing
             you
             ,
             and
             so
             should
             reject
             all
             that
             you
             tell
             them
             as
             false
             ,
             that
             is
             beyond
             their
             capacity
             as
             to
             the
             reasons
             and
             manner
             ;
             you
             would
             not
             think
             that
             they
             did
             their
             duty
             When
             a
             schoolmaster
             is
             teaching
             his
             scholars
             their
             lesson
             ,
             shall
             they
             instead
             of
             learning
             ,
             dispute
             it
             with
             their
             master
             ,
             and
             in
             every
             difficulty
             or
             seeming
             contradiction
             ,
             unbelievingly
             say
             ,
             [
             
               How
               can
               these
               things
               be
            
             ]
             ?
             Be
             not
             guilty
             of
             that
             towards
             God
             ,
             which
             you
             would
             not
             have
             a
             child
             be
             guilty
             of
             to
             a
             man
             .
          
           
             9.
             
             Consider
             aso
             ,
             if
             this
             course
             be
             taken
             ,
             whether
             ever
             you
             be
             like
             to
             come
             to
             knowledge
             .
             For
             the
             knowledge
             of
             things
             whose
             Evidence
             is
             all
             in
             the
             Revelation
             ,
             and
             the
             credit
             of
             the
             Testifyer
             ,
             can
             be
             no
             other
             way
             attained
             but
             by
             believing
             .
             All
             things
             seem
             strange
             and
             difficult
             at
             first
             ,
             to
             those
             
             that
             have
             not
             learned
             them
             .
             If
             you
             understand
             all
             things
             already
             ,
             what
             need
             you
             to
             learn
             any
             more
             ?
             If
             you
             do
             not
             ,
             then
             all
             that
             you
             understand
             will
             appear
             to
             you
             at
             first
             as
             darkness
             or
             contradiction
             .
             If
             now
             you
             will
             be
             so
             confident
             of
             your
             own
             understandings
             ,
             as
             to
             cast
             away
             all
             that
             you
             understand
             not
             already
             ,
             because
             it
             seems
             contradictory
             or
             unlikely
             ,
             how
             are
             you
             like
             to
             know
             any
             more
             ?
             If
             you
             will
             conclude
             that
             all
             is
             false
             which
             you
             understand
             not
             already
             ,
             you
             are
             like
             to
             make
             but
             unprofitable
             scholars
             .
             Well
             therefore
             saith
             
               Solomon
               ,
               Prov.
            
             6.
             12.
             
             [
             
               Seest
               thou
               a
               man
               wise
               in
               his
               own
               conceit
               ?
               there
               is
               more
               hope
               of
               a
               fool
               then
               of
               him
            
             ]
             For
             certainly
             it
             is
             a
             double
             degree
             of
             folly
             ,
             for
             a
             man
             not
             onely
             to
             be
             ignorant
             of
             the
             things
             of
             God
             ,
             but
             also
             to
             be
             so
             ignorant
             of
             his
             own
             ignorance
             .
             And
             we
             must
             be
             at
             more
             pains
             to
             make
             such
             proud
             men
             know
             that
             they
             do
             not
             know
             ,
             then
             to
             make
             the
             humble
             to
             know
             the
             truths
             themselves
             ,
             which
             they
             perceive
             that
             they
             yet
             know
             not
             .
             And
             therefore
             
               Paul
            
             doth
             not
             only
             bid
             us
             [
             
               Be
               not
               wise
               in
               your
               own
               conceits
               ]
               Rom.
            
             12
             16
             But
             also
             ,
             intimates
             that
             ignorance
             is
             the
             cause
             of
             such
             conceits
             of
             wisdom
             ,
             
               Rom.
            
             11.
             25.
             
             [
             
               For
               I
               would
               not
               brethren
               ,
               that
               ye
               should
               be
               ignorant
               of
               this
               mystery
               ,
               lest
               ye
               should
               be
               wise
               in
               your
               own
               conceits
            
             ]
             As
             
               Solomon
            
             saith
             of
             the
             foolish
             sluggard
             ,
             that
             [
             
               He
               is
               wiser
               in
               his
               own
               conceit
               then
               seven
               men
               that
               can
               render
               a
               reason
               ]
               Pro.
            
             26
             16.
             
          
           
             10.
             
             Consider
             ,
             Whether
             in
             this
             case
             you
             joyn
             not
             impudency
             and
             inhumane
             ingratitude
             to
             your
             Arrogancy
             ?
             When
             Christ
             condescendeth
             to
             become
             your
             teacher
             ,
             and
             you
             are
             loyterers
             and
             
             dullards
             and
             will
             not
             learn
             ,
             but
             have
             lost
             the
             most
             of
             your
             time
             in
             his
             schoole
             ,
             is
             it
             not
             a
             great
             mercy
             now
             ,
             that
             he
             will
             yet
             entertain
             you
             and
             instruct
             you
             ,
             and
             doth
             not
             turn
             you
             out
             of
             his
             schoole
             ?
             And
             will
             you
             ,
             instead
             of
             being
             thankful
             for
             this
             mercy
             ,
             fall
             a quarrelling
             with
             his
             truth
             ,
             and
             take
             on
             you
             to
             be
             wiser
             then
             he
             ,
             when
             you
             have
             so
             provoked
             him
             by
             your
             ignorance
             and
             unprofitableness
             !
             Will
             you
             flye
             in
             his
             face
             ,
             with
             audacious
             unbelieving
             questions
             ,
             and
             say
             [
             
               How
               can
               these
               things
               be
               .
            
             ]
             As
             if
             it
             were
             he
             that
             knew
             not
             what
             he
             said
             ,
             and
             not
             you
             that
             did
             not
             understand
             him
             ?
          
           
             11.
             
             Consider
             ,
             How
             easily
             can
             God
             evince
             the
             verity
             of
             those
             passages
             which
             you
             so
             confidently
             reject
             ,
             and
             open
             your
             eyes
             to
             see
             that
             as
             plain
             as
             the
             high-way
             ,
             which
             now
             seems
             to
             you
             so
             contradictory
             or
             improbable
             ?
             And
             then
             what
             will
             you
             have
             to
             say
             for
             your
             unbelief
             and
             Arrogancy
             ,
             but
             to
             confess
             your
             folly
             and
             sit
             down
             in
             shame
             ?
             You
             know
             when
             any
             difficult
             case
             is
             propounded
             to
             you
             in
             any
             other
             matter
             ,
             which
             you
             can
             see
             no
             probable
             way
             to
             resolve
             ,
             yet
             when
             another
             hath
             resolved
             it
             to
             your
             hands
             in
             a
             few
             words
             ,
             it
             is
             presently
             all
             plain
             to
             you
             ,
             and
             you
             wonder
             that
             you
             could
             not
             see
             it
             before
             .
             You
             are
             as
             one
             that
             wearyeth
             himself
             with
             studying
             to
             unfold
             a
             Riddle
             ,
             and
             when
             he
             hath
             given
             it
             over
             as
             impossible
             ,
             another
             openeth
             it
             to
             him
             in
             a
             word
             .
             Or
             as
             I
             have
             seen
             boys
             at
             play
             with
             a
             ●a●r
             of
             tarrying
             Irons
             ,
             when
             one
             hath
             spent
             many
             hours
             in
             trying
             to
             undo
             them
             ,
             and
             casts
             them
             away
             ,
             as
             if
             it
             could
             not
             be
             done
             ,
             another
             
             presently
             and
             easily
             opens
             them
             before
             his
             face
             .
             So
             when
             you
             have
             puzzelled
             your
             brains
             in
             searching
             out
             the
             reasons
             of
             Gods
             ways
             ,
             and
             seeking
             to
             reconcile
             the
             seeming
             contradictions
             of
             his
             word
             ,
             and
             say
             [
             
               How
               can
               these
               things
               be
            
             ]
             in
             a
             moment
             can
             God
             shew
             you
             how
             they
             can
             be
             ,
             and
             make
             all
             plain
             to
             you
             ,
             and
             make
             you
             even
             wonder
             that
             you
             saw
             it
             not
             sooner
             ,
             and
             ashamed
             that
             you
             opened
             your
             mouth
             in
             unbelief
             .
             How
             plain
             is
             that
             to
             a
             man
             of
             knowledge
             ,
             which
             to
             the
             ignorant
             seems
             impossible
             ?
             If
             the
             certain
             event
             did
             not
             convince
             them
             ,
             you
             should
             never
             perswade
             the
             ignorant
             vulgar
             ,
             that
             learned
             men
             know
             so
             much
             of
             the
             motions
             of
             the
             Planets
             ,
             and
             can
             so
             long
             before
             tell
             the
             Eclipse
             of
             Sun
             or
             Moon
             ,
             to
             a
             Minute
             .
             But
             when
             they
             see
             it
             come
             to
             pass
             ,
             they
             are
             convinced
             .
             Thus
             can
             God
             convince
             thee
             of
             the
             verity
             of
             his
             word
             ,
             either
             by
             a
             merciful
             illumination
             ,
             or
             by
             a
             terrible
             execution
             For
             there
             is
             not
             a
             soul
             in
             Hell
             but
             doth
             believe
             the
             truth
             of
             the
             threatnings
             of
             God
             .
             And
             the
             Devils
             themselves
             Believe
             ,
             that
             would
             draw
             thee
             to
             unbelief
             .
          
           
             12.
             
             Lastly
             ,
             Take
             heed
             of
             the
             very
             beginnings
             of
             this
             sin
             ;
             for
             it
             is
             the
             ordinary
             way
             to
             total
             Apostasy
             ;
             when
             men
             have
             once
             so
             far
             lost
             their
             humility
             and
             modesty
             ,
             and
             forgot
             that
             they
             are
             men
             ,
             or
             what
             a
             man
             is
             ,
             as
             to
             make
             their
             shallow
             Reason
             the
             censurer
             of
             Gods
             Word
             ,
             because
             of
             certain
             seeming
             improbabilities
             ;
             and
             when
             they
             will
             not
             rest
             satisfyed
             in
             the
             bare
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             
             thus
             it
             is
             ;
             but
             they
             must
             needs
             know
             [
             
               why
               ,
               an●
               how
               it
               can
               be
            
             ]
             ,
             this
             opens
             the
             flood-gate
             of
             temptations
             upon
             them
             ;
             for
             the
             envious
             Serpent
             wil●
             quickly
             shew
             them
             more
             difficulties
             then
             their
             shallow
             brains
             can
             answer
             ;
             and
             will
             cull
             out
             all
             those
             passages
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             which
             are
             
               hard
               to
               be
               understood
               ,
               which
               the
               unlearned
               and
               unstable
               d●
               wrest
               to
               their
               own
               destruction
               ,
            
             2
             Pet.
             3.
             18.
             
             He
             will
             shew
             them
             all
             the
             knots
             ,
             but
             never
             shew
             them
             how
             to
             untye
             them
             .
             Such
             arrogant
             questioners
             &
             censurers
             of
             Gods
             word
             ,
             do
             oft
             run
             on
             to
             utter
             infidelity
             ;
             while
             they
             are
             incompetent
             Judges
             ,
             and
             do
             not
             know
             it
             ,
             what
             can
             be
             expected
             from
             them
             but
             a
             false
             judgement
             ?
             For
             though
             the
             light
             shineth
             in
             darkness
             ,
             yet
             the
             darkness
             comprehendeth
             it
             no
             :
             
               Joh
            
             1.
             5.
             and
             therefore
             presumeth
             to
             condemn
             the
             light
             .
          
           
             O
             therefore
             let
             all
             young
             ,
             raw
             students
             ,
             and
             unsetled
             wits
             take
             heed
             in
             the
             fear
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             they
             exalt
             not
             themselves
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             think
             not
             their
             weak
             understandings
             to
             be
             capable
             of
             comprehending
             the
             counsels
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             passing
             a
             censure
             upon
             his
             word
             ,
             upon
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             matter
             as
             appearing
             unto
             them
             .
             Nay
             let
             the
             sharpest
             wits
             ,
             and
             greatest
             scholars
             stoop
             down
             before
             the
             wisdom
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             be
             have
             themselves
             as
             humble
             learners
             ,
             and
             enter
             as
             little
             children
             into
             his
             schoole
             and
             Kingdom
             ,
             and
             submissively
             put
             their
             mouths
             in
             the
             dust
             ,
             and
             take
             heed
             of
             setting
             their
             wits
             against
             heaven
             ,
             or
             challenging
             the
             infinite
             wisdom
             to
             a
             disputation
             .
             If
             they
             love
             themselves
             let
             them
             take
             this
             advice
             ,
             and
             remember
             that
             God
             delighteth
             to
             scatter
             the
             proud
             in
             the
             imagination
             
             of
             their
             own
             hearts
             ,
             
               Luke
            
             1.
             51.
             and
             to
             pull
             down
             ●spiring
             sinners
             to
             the
             dust
             .
             As
             they
             that
             would
             set
             their
             power
             against
             God
             ,
             would
             soon
             be
             con●inced
             of
             their
             madness
             by
             their
             ruine
             ;
             so
             they
             that
             will
             set
             their
             wisdom
             against
             him
             ,
             are
             like
             to
             escape
             no
             better
             .
             [
             
               Let
               no
               man
               deceive
               himself
               :
               if
               any
               man
               among
               you
               seemeth
               to
               be
               wise
               in
               this
               world
               ;
               let
               him
               become
               a
               fool
               ▪
               that
               he
               may
               be
               wise
               ;
               for
               the
               wisdom
               of
               this
               world
               is
               foolishness
               with
               God
               :
               For
               it
               is
               written
               ,
               he
               taketh
               the
               wise
               in
               their
               own
               craftiness
               :
               And
               again
               .
               The
               Lord
               knoweth
               the
               thoughts
               of
               the
               wise
               that
               they
               are
               vain
            
             ]
             1
             Cor.
             3
             18
             ,
             19
             ,
             20.
             
          
        
         
           
             
               Object
               .
            
             But
             would
             you
             not
             have
             men
             satisfyed
             of
             the
             reasonableness
             of
             what
             they
             believe
             ?
             shall
             men
             believe
             that
             which
             is
             unreasonable
             ?
             this
             were
             to
             make
             us
             mad
             ,
             and
             not
             Christians
             .
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             You
             must
             believe
             nothing
             but
             what
             you
             have
             sufficient
             reason
             to
             believe
             .
             But
             then
             you
             must
             know
             what
             is
             sufficient
             reason
             for
             Belief
             .
             Prove
             but
             the
             thing
             to
             be
             the
             Testimony
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             then
             you
             have
             sufficient
             reason
             to
             believe
             it
             ,
             whatsoever
             it
             be
             For
             Faith
             proceedeth
             by
             this
             Argumentation
             [
             
               whatsoever
               God
               testifyeth
               is
               True
               :
               But
               this
               God
               testifyeth
               ;
               Therefore
               it
               is
               true
               .
            
             ]
             You
             have
             as
             good
             reason
             to
             believe
             the
             Major
             ,
             as
             that
             there
             is
             a
             God
             :
             and
             he
             that
             acknowledgeth
             not
             a
             God
             ,
             is
             unworthy
             to
             be
             a
             man
             :
             All
             that
             you
             have
             to
             look
             after
             therefore
             is
             to
             prove
             the
             Minor
             ,
             that
             [
             
               this
               or
               that
               is
               the
               word
               of
               God
            
             ]
             And
             as
             concerning
             the
             Scripture
             in
             general
             ,
             it
             carryeth
             sufficient
             Reason
             to
             warrant
             and
             oblige
             any
             man
             that
             readeth
             or
             heareth
             it
             ,
             to
             believe
             it
             ,
             in
             the
             forehead
             of
             it
             .
             It
             shineth
             by
             
             It
             shineth
             by
             its
             own
             light
             ,
             and
             it
             beareth
             the
             certain
             seal
             of
             Heaven
             .
             So
             that
             we
             have
             goo●
             Reason
             to
             believe
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             or
             Doctrine
             o●
             Christ
             to
             be
             the
             word
             of
             God
             :
             And
             then
             we
             hav●
             as
             good
             reason
             to
             believe
             it
             ,
             and
             every
             part
             of
             ●●
             to
             be
             true
             .
             And
             then
             what
             ground
             is
             there
             for
             any
             further
             exceptions
             or
             objections
             ?
             When
             yo●
             have
             seen
             the
             seal
             of
             God
             affixed
             ,
             and
             perceive●
             sufficient
             evidence
             of
             the
             verity
             of
             the
             whole
             ,
             what
             room
             is
             left
             for
             cavils
             against
             any
             par●
             of
             it
             ?
          
        
         
           
             
               Object
               .
            
             But
             it
             is
             certain
             that
             God
             never
             spok●
             contradictions
             .
             Therefore
             if
             I
             finde
             contradictions
             in
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             may
             I
             not
             rationally
             argue
             that
             they
             are
             not
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ?
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             Yes
             ,
             if
             you
             could
             certainly
             and
             infallibly
             prove
             your
             Minor
             ,
             that
             Scripture
             hath
             such
             contradictions
             .
             But
             that
             's
             not
             a
             thing
             that
             a
             sober
             man
             can
             be
             confident
             of
             proving
             :
             because
             all
             things
             that
             men
             understand
             not
             ,
             may
             seem
             to
             them
             to
             have
             contradictions
             .
             And
             you
             have
             far
             more
             reason
             to
             suspect
             your
             own
             shallow
             understanding
             ,
             then
             the
             Word
             .
             For
             those
             things
             as
             I
             have
             shewed
             ,
             may
             be
             easily
             reconcileable
             by
             others
             that
             understand
             ,
             which
             seem
             most
             unreconcileable
             to
             you
             .
             Are
             you
             sure
             there
             can
             be
             no
             way
             of
             reconciliation
             ,
             but
             you
             must
             know
             it
             ?
             It
             's
             easie
             therefore
             to
             see
             that
             your
             Minor
             cannot
             possibly
             be
             proved
             .
          
           
             Yea
             it
             may
             be
             easily
             and
             certainly
             disproved
             ,
             even
             by
             him
             that
             cannot
             reconcile
             those
             seeming
             contradictions
             :
             For
             [
             
               God
               attesteth
               no
               contradictions
               :
               but
               God
               attesteth
               the
               holy
               Scripture
               .
               Therefore
            
             
             
               the
               holy
               Scriptures
               have
               no
               contradictions
               .
            
             ]
          
           
             The
             Major
             is
             most
             evident
             to
             the
             light
             of
             nature
             ,
             and
             granted
             by
             your selfe
             .
             The
             Minor
             ●s
             proved
             at
             large
             ,
             before
             and
             elsewhere
             :
             Gods
             attestation
             is
             discernable
             to
             Reason
             .
          
           
             It
             is
             therefore
             a
             preposterous
             course
             to
             begin
             ●t
             the
             quality
             of
             the
             word
             ,
             and
             to
             argue
             thence
             ,
             that
             God
             revealed
             it
             not
             ,
             when
             you
             should
             begin
             at
             the
             Attestation
             or
             seal
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             argue
             thence
             that
             he
             did
             reveal
             it
             :
             (
             and
             indeed
             the
             very
             quality
             beareth
             or
             containeth
             his
             Image
             and
             Seal
             .
             )
             For
             you
             are
             more
             capable
             of
             discerning
             the
             seale
             of
             God
             attesting
             it
             (
             in
             the
             spirit
             of
             Miracles
             ,
             and
             Holiness
             ,
             
               &c.
            
             )
             then
             you
             are
             of
             discerning
             presently
             the
             sense
             of
             all
             those
             passages
             that
             seem
             contradictory
             to
             you
             .
             You
             may
             easily
             be
             ignorant
             of
             the
             true
             interpretation
             ,
             for
             want
             of
             acquaintance
             with
             some
             one
             of
             those
             many
             things
             that
             are
             necessary
             thereto
             :
             But
             I
             can
             be
             certain
             that
             God
             hath
             astested
             the
             Scripture
             to
             be
             his
             Word
             .
          
           
             And
             indeed
             common
             reason
             tells
             us
             that
             we
             must
             first
             have
             a
             general
             proof
             that
             Scripture
             is
             Gods
             word
             ,
             and
             argue
             thence
             to
             the
             verity
             of
             the
             parts
             ,
             &
             not
             begin
             with
             a
             particular
             proof
             of
             each
             part
             :
             It
             seems
             you
             would
             argue
             thus
             :
             [
             
               This
               and
               that
               text
               of
               Scripture
               are
               true
               :
               therefore
               they
               are
               Gods
               word
            
             ]
             but
             reason
             telleth
             you
             ,
             you
             should
             argue
             thus
             [
             
               This
               is
               Gods
               word
               :
               therfore
               it
               is
               true
            
             ]
             If
             you
             set
             a
             boy
             at
             school
             to
             learn
             his
             Grammar
             ,
             will
             you
             allow
             him
             to
             be
             so
             foolish
             ,
             as
             to
             stay
             till
             he
             can
             reconcile
             every
             seeming
             contradiction
             in
             it
             ,
             before
             he
             believe
             it
             to
             be
             a
             Grammar
             ,
             or
             submit
             
             to
             learn
             ,
             and
             use
             its
             Rules
             ?
             Or
             will
             you
             not
             ●pect
             ,
             that
             he
             first
             know
             it
             to
             be
             a
             Grammar
             ,
             ●●
             then
             make
             it
             his
             business
             to
             learn
             to
             understa●●
             it
             ,
             and
             therein
             to
             learn
             to
             reconcile
             all
             s●em
             〈…〉
             contradictions
             ?
             And
             should
             he
             not
             in
             modes●
             and
             reason
             ,
             think
             that
             his
             Master
             can
             recon●●
             that
             which
             may
             seem
             unreconcileable
             to
             him
             ,
             a●
             such
             unlearned
             Novices
             ,
             as
             he
             is
             ?
          
           
             For
             my
             part
             I
             am
             fully
             resolved
             ,
             That
             if
             〈…〉
             Reason
             could
             reach
             to
             none
             of
             the
             matters
             ●●vealed
             in
             Scriptures
             ,
             so
             as
             to
             see
             them
             in
             the
             ev●dence
             of
             the
             thing
             ,
             yet
             if
             I
             once
             see
             the
             eviden●●
             of
             Divine
             Revelation
             ,
             I
             may
             well
             be
             assured
             ▪
             th●●
             it
             i●
             wholly
             true
             ;
             how
             far
             soever
             it
             m●y
             transcen●●
             my
             Reason
             .
             For
             I
             have
             Reason
             to
             believe
             all
             the
             God
             revealeth
             and
             assert●th
             ;
             and
             I
             have
             re●so●
             to
             acknowledge
             the
             imbe●illity
             of
             my
             Reaso●
             and
             its
             incompetency
             to
             censure
             the
             Wisdom
             o●
             God
             .
          
           
             And
             thus
             I
             abhor
             both
             the
             doctrine
             of
             then
             that
             say
             ,
             We
             have
             no
             Reason
             to
             be
             Christians
             ▪
             and
             that
             the
             truth
             of
             Scripture
             is
             an
             indemonstrable
             principle
             ,
             that
             must
             be
             believed
             without
             Reasons
             ,
             and
             not
             proved
             by
             them
             :
             And
             also
             the
             Arrogant
             infidelity
             of
             them
             that
             will
             believe
             nothing
             to
             be
             a
             Divine
             Revelation
             ,
             unless
             their
             Reason
             can
             comprehend
             the
             thing
             it self
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             ,
             if
             there
             be
             any
             thing
             in
             it
             that
             seems
             contradictory
             to
             their
             Reason
             ;
             and
             so
             will
             begin
             at
             the
             wrong
             end
             ,
             and
             examine
             the
             particular
             matters
             ,
             by
             the
             test
             of
             their
             blinde
             Reason
             ,
             when
             they
             should
             first
             examine
             the
             attestations
             of
             the
             whole
             ,
             where
             the
             evidences
             are
             more
             fitted
             
             for
             the
             Reason
             ,
             even
             of
             the
             yonger
             Christians
             to
             discern
             .
          
           
             I
             easily
             confess
             that
             no
             man
             should
             ground●esly
             believe
             any
             thing
             to
             be
             a
             Divine
             Testimony
             ,
             or
             believe
             any
             man
             that
             saith
             ,
             he
             speaks
             from
             God
             :
             But
             when
             God
             hath
             given
             them
             sufficient
             Reason
             to
             believe
             ,
             that
             the
             Testimony
             and
             Revelation
             is
             indeed
             from
             himself
             ,
             if
             after
             that
             men
             will
             still
             be
             doubting
             ,
             because
             their
             Reason
             is
             stalled
             about
             the
             Manner
             ,
             and
             the
             Causes
             ,
             and
             Ends
             ,
             and
             will
             believe
             no
             more
             then
             is
             within
             the
             reach
             of
             their
             Reason
             in
             these
             respects
             ,
             nor
             confess
             that
             it
             is
             Gods
             Word
             ,
             unless
             they
             can
             vindicate
             it
             from
             all
             Objections
             ,
             and
             know
             
               why
            
             and
             
               how
            
             it
             is
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             
               that
            
             it
             is
             ;
             this
             is
             a
             meer
             unreasonable
             unbelief
             .
             It
             is
             ordinary
             with
             Princes
             and
             other
             Law-givers
             ,
             in
             wisdom
             to
             conceal
             the
             Reason
             of
             their
             Laws
             :
             Shall
             Subjects
             therefore
             presume
             to
             censure
             them
             as
             defective
             in
             Wisdom
             or
             Justice
             ,
             because
             that
             they
             know
             not
             the
             Reason
             of
             them
             ?
             I
             say
             again
             ,
             If
             there
             were
             nothing
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             but
             what
             the
             Reason
             of
             man
             could
             comprehend
             ,
             it
             were
             not
             so
             like
             to
             be
             the
             product
             of
             the
             infinite
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             .
             Let
             Reason
             therefore
             stoop
             to
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             our
             Maker
             ,
             and
             when
             he
             hath
             ,
             let
             us
             know
             that
             it
             is
             he
             that
             speaketh
             ;
             let
             us
             humbly
             learn
             ,
             and
             not
             proudly
             expostulate
             with
             him
             about
             the
             rest
             .
          
           
             Though
             I
             shall
             not
             undertake
             to
             set
             upon
             the
             resolution
             of
             all
             the
             Questions
             of
             incredulous
             men
             ,
             which
             they
             commonly
             raise
             against
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ;
             (
             for
             that
             would
             take
             up
             many
             large
             Volumns
             of
             it self
             ;
             )
             yet
             as
             I
             have
             disswaded
             
             them
             from
             this
             Arrogancy
             of
             wit
             ,
             so
             I
             sh
             〈…〉
             make
             tryal
             of
             a
             few
             of
             their
             commonest
             a
             〈…〉
             greatest
             Objections
             ,
             to
             shew
             them
             that
             their
             I●fidelity
             is
             capable
             of
             a
             Confutation
             ,
             as
             well
             〈…〉
             of
             a
             Dehortation
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Object
               .
               1.
               
            
             You
             tell
             us
             out
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             that
             ther●
             are
             Devils
             ,
             most
             wicked
             malicious
             spirits
             addict
             〈…〉
             to
             do
             evil
             :
             Who
             made
             these
             Devils
             ,
             or
             ,
             how
             can
             they
             to
             be
             so
             bad
             :
             Certainly
             ,
             God
             is
             good
             ,
             and
             therefore
             made
             nothing
             but
             what
             was
             good
             ;
             and
             ever●
             thing
             must
             have
             a
             first
             cause
             :
             If
             they
             made
             themselves
             evil
             ,
             then
             they
             were
             the
             first
             cause
             of
             thei●
             own
             evil
             :
             And
             then
             you
             deifie
             the
             will
             of
             the
             Devil
             in
             making
             it
             to
             be
             absolutely
             a
             first
             cause
             .
             ●●
             you
             say
             as
             some
             ,
             That
             sin
             is
             but
             a
             privation
             ,
             and
             therefore
             hath
             no
             efficient
             cause
             ,
             but
             a
             deficient
             〈…〉
             then
             either
             that
             deficiency
             must
             be
             first
             from
             Go●
             (
             and
             then
             he
             should
             be
             the
             first
             cause
             of
             all
             sin
             )
             or
             from
             the
             will
             of
             the
             Devil
             ;
             and
             then
             either
             he
             wa●
             before
             bound
             
               non-deficere
               ,
            
             or
             not
             .
             If
             not
             ,
             it
             was
             no
             sin
             ;
             if
             he
             were
             ,
             then
             
               first
               ,
            
             he
             could
             
               primo
               deficere
               ,
            
             though
             God
             did
             all
             that
             belonged
             to
             him
             to
             prevent
             it
             ;
             
               secondly
               ,
            
             and
             he
             could
             have
             stood
             without
             any
             more
             help
             then
             he
             had
             when
             he
             fell
             ,
             and
             so
             
               quoad
               determinationem
               propriae
               voluntatis
               ,
            
             should
             have
             been
             the
             first
             determining
             cause
             of
             his
             own
             perseverance
             ,
             or
             
               non-deficiency
            
             :
             For
             if
             he
             could
             not
             stand
             ,
             it
             was
             no
             sin
             to
             fall
             ,
             being
             before
             innocent
             .
             Moreover
             ,
             their
             sin
             was
             not
             a
             meer
             privation
             ,
             but
             materially
             an
             act
             (
             whether
             
               velle
            
             or
             
               nolle
            
             )
             and
             formally
             a
             relation
             of
             disconformity
             to
             the
             Law
             .
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             1
             :
             The
             Devil
             himself
             was
             the
             first
             
             cause
             of
             his
             own
             pravity
             .
             God
             made
             him
             not
             evil
             ,
             but
             he
             made
             himself
             so
             .
             God
             gave
             him
             free-wil
             to
             be
             a
             self-determining
             principle
             ;
             by
             this
             he
             was
             enabled
             to
             stand
             or
             fall
             ,
             and
             left
             in
             the
             hands
             of
             his
             own
             counsel
             .
             By
             a
             sinful
             act
             he
             averted
             himself
             from
             the
             chiefest
             good
             ,
             and
             became
             disposed
             to
             a
             further
             aversion
             ,
             which
             might
             quickly
             habituate
             him
             to
             all
             evil
             .
             Nor
             is
             it
             any
             deifying
             of
             the
             Creatures
             will
             ,
             to
             say
             it
             is
             such
             a
             self-determining
             principle
             ,
             and
             so
             far
             a
             first
             cause
             ,
             while
             it
             had
             the
             power
             of
             self-determination
             from
             God
             ,
             and
             so
             absolutely
             is
             no
             first
             cause
             .
             It
             was
             the
             excellency
             of
             the
             Creature
             ,
             as
             being
             to
             be
             governed
             ,
             to
             have
             freewil
             ,
             or
             a
             self-determining
             power
             to
             good
             or
             evil
             :
             Though
             it
             be
             a
             higher
             perfection
             to
             be
             determined
             or
             determinable
             onely
             to
             good
             ,
             which
             
               in
               Patriâ
            
             may
             be
             enjoyed
             ,
             yet
             
               in
               viâ
            
             for
             one
             under
             Government
             in
             the
             use
             of
             means
             in
             order
             to
             the
             end
             ,
             it
             is
             most
             suitable
             to
             their
             condition
             to
             have
             a
             liberty
             of
             self-determination
             :
             And
             therefore
             this
             was
             part
             of
             the
             beauty
             of
             the
             frame
             of
             Nature
             ,
             and
             therefore
             not
             derogatory
             from
             the
             workman
             .
             As
             God
             intended
             sapientially
             ,
             or
             
               per
               potentiam
               sapientiae
               ,
            
             to
             govern
             the
             rational
             Creature
             by
             Laws
             and
             Objects
             :
             So
             did
             he
             sapientially
             frame
             him
             in
             a
             capacity
             for
             such
             a
             Sapiential
             Government
             ;
             and
             that
             was
             by
             giving
             ●im
             a
             free
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             a
             self-determining
             will
             .
          
           
             Indeed
             ,
             the
             Angelical
             Nature
             ,
             and
             Soul
             of
             Man
             ,
             is
             so
             exquisit
             and
             subtile
             ,
             and
             sublime
             a
             ●hing
             ,
             that
             no
             man
             can
             exactly
             perceive
             and
             com●rehend
             the
             manner
             of
             its
             self-determination
             :
             ●ut
             the
             thing
             it self
             is
             not
             to
             be
             doubted
             of
             ,
             
             though
             the
             manner
             of
             it
             be
             yet
             past
             our
             reach
             .
             We
             may
             certainly
             conclu●e
             ,
             therefore
             ,
             That
             God
             made
             Angels
             and
             Men
             g●o●
             ;
             but
             some
             of
             those
             Angels
             ,
             and
             Man
             ,
             by
             ●heir
             inducement
             ,
             made
             themselves
             evil
             :
             For
             God
             made
             them
             free
             Agents
             to
             determin●
             themselves
             to
             good
             or
             evil
             .
             And
             the
             ignorance
             of
             the
             nature
             of
             re
             〈…〉
             il
             ,
             doth
             cause
             such
             Infidels
             to
             rise
             up
             against
             God
             with
             their
             impious
             quarrels
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             And
             see
             whether
             these
             blinde
             wretches
             do
             not
             wilfully
             put
             out
             their
             own
             eyes
             ,
             and
             reason
             against
             most
             certain
             sense
             and
             experience
             .
             For
             I
             would
             ask
             any
             of
             them
             whether
             there
             be
             indeed
             any
             sin
             ,
             or
             bad
             me●
             in
             the
             world
             ,
             or
             not
             ?
             If
             they
             say
             ,
             no
             ;
             then
             I
             would
             wish
             them
             not
             to
             blame
             any
             man
             as
             an
             evil
             doer
             ,
             that
             shall
             rob
             them
             ,
             o●
             slander
             them
             ,
             or
             beat
             them
             .
             T●e
             likeliest
             cure
             fo●
             this
             error
             ,
             is
             to
             beat
             them
             black
             and
             blew
             ,
             til●
             they
             believe
             that
             he
             that
             doth
             it
             ,
             doth
             ill
             .
             And
             why
             should
             not
             any
             man
             do
             it
             daily
             if
             there
             be
             no
             ill
             in
             it
             ?
             Is
             not
             he
             mad
             with
             infidel●ty
             ,
             tha●
             thinks
             there
             is
             no
             bad
             man
             in
             all
             the
             world
             ,
             when
             there
             are
             so
             many
             ,
             and
             so
             desperately
             wicked
             ,
             and
             when
             he
             is
             so
             bad
             himself
             ?
             Or
             is
             ●e
             fit
             to
             be
             tolerated
             in
             any
             Society
             ,
             that
             thinks
             there
             is
             no
             evil
             ?
             Sure
             he
             will
             think
             ,
             that
             he
             may
             ●o
             any
             thing
             ,
             and
             not
             do
             ev●●●●
             ▪
             But
             if
             he
             confess
             ,
             tha●
             any
             man
             i●
             evil
             ,
             or
             do●h
             evil
             ,
             let
             him
             ask
             himself
             who
             mad●
             him
             evil
             ?
             Did
             God
             that
             is
             good
             ?
             or
             did
             he
             himself
             ?
             And
             if
             he
             can
             finde
             out
             how
             man
             came
             to
             be
             evil
             ,
             he
             may
             finde
             a
             satisfactory
             answer
             to
             his
             question
             ,
             how
             Angels
             came
             to
             be
             evil
             .
             Bu●
             what
             if
             we
             could
             not
             tell
             how
             this
             evil
             did
             firs●
             
             come
             ?
             Shall
             we
             therefore
             say
             ,
             that
             there
             is
             no
             such
             thing
             ?
             Shall
             we
             deny
             that
             which
             we
             see
             and
             hear
             ,
             and
             feel
             ,
             because
             we
             know
             not
             how
             or
             whence
             it
             came
             ?
             What
             folly
             is
             this
             ?
             Then
             let
             every
             Murderer
             ,
             Thief
             ,
             or
             other
             ●ff●ndor
             at
             the
             Assizes
             ,
             come
             off
             with
             this
             Argument
             ,
             and
             say
             ,
             That
             he
             hath
             done
             no
             evil
             ;
             for
             all
             things
             are
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             God
             doth
             no
             evil
             .
             As
             mad
             as
             this
             reasoning
             is
             ,
             yet
             have
             I
             known
             them
             that
             have
             openly
             prof●ss●d
             ,
             that
             they
             longed
             to
             see
             the
             Devil
             ▪
             and
             would
             ride
             a
             hundred
             mile
             to
             see
             him
             ,
             in
             m●er
             confidence
             ,
             that
             there
             is
             no
             Devil
             ;
             and
             that
             upon
             such
             vain
             imaginations
             as
             these
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Object
               .
               2
               .
            
             the
             Scripture
             saith
             ,
             That
             God
             made
             all
             things
             of
             nothing
             ;
             when
             of
             nothing
             ,
             nothing
             can
             be
             made
             .
             How
             then
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             Cannot
             God
             do
             it
             ,
             unless
             such
             worms
             can
             tell
             how
             he
             should
             do
             it
             ?
             Doth
             the
             Infant
             know
             how
             he
             is
             formed
             in
             the
             Womb
             ?
             But
             why
             should
             it
             seem
             improbable
             ,
             that
             the
             first
             Infinite
             Being
             should
             create
             a
             Finite
             Being
             ?
             He
             that
             give
             all
             Creatures
             their
             Forms
             ,
             can
             as
             well
             cause
             the
             first
             Matter
             .
             What
             if
             it
             were
             granted
             .
             That
             Earth
             ,
             or
             Water
             ,
             or
             Air
             ,
             were
             from
             Eternity
             ?
             Is
             it
             not
             as
             hard
             to
             make
             the
             Sun
             and
             Heavens
             of
             one
             of
             these
             ,
             as
             to
             make
             one
             of
             these
             of
             nothing
             ?
          
           
             But
             me thinks
             these
             Infidels
             should
             consider
             ,
             That
             either
             God
             made
             all
             things
             of
             nothing
             ,
             or
             else
             ,
             that
             something
             of
             which
             he
             made
             them
             ,
             must
             be
             eternal
             ,
             and
             without
             any
             cause
             .
             If
             so
             ,
             then
             it
             is
             God
             ;
             and
             if
             God
             ,
             then
             either
             the
             One
             
             true
             God
             himself
             ,
             or
             some
             other
             God
             .
             If
             God
             himself
             ,
             then
             all
             Creatures
             should
             be
             his
             substance
             ,
             and
             s●
             be
             God
             ;
             and
             so
             they
             would
             make
             every
             ●●one
             to
             be
             God
             .
             If
             any
             other
             God
             ,
             then
             they
             will
             in●ur
             the
             sa●●●●
             conv●●iences
             ;
             besides
             ,
             the
             feigning
             of
             many
             Gods
             ,
             ●●cause
             they
             will
             not
             con●ess
             the
             omnipoten●y
             of
             One
             .
             Is
             it
             not
             more
             reasonable
             to
             ●el●ev●
             ,
             th●●
             God
             made
             a
             Stone
             ,
             or
             Earth
             o●
             no●●ing
             ,
             then
             to
             believe
             that
             it
             made
             it self
             ?
             But
             thus
             will
             Mo●tals
             ens●are
             and
             bewilder
             themselves
             ▪
             while
             they
             will
             g●
             about
             to
             comprehend
             and
             question
             Omnipotency
             ,
             and
             ask
             their
             Maker
             ,
             How
             he
             can
             so
             make
             them
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Object
               .
               3.
               
               Moses
            
             saith
             ,
             That
             God
             made
             the
             light
             ,
             and
             day
             ,
             and
             darkness
             ,
             and
             night
             ,
             before
             the
             Sun
             :
             When
             the
             light
             is
             the
             effect
             ,
             and
             the
             Sun
             the
             cause
             ;
             and
             the
             darkness
             is
             but
             a
             privation
             of
             the
             light
             of
             the
             Sun
             .
             How
             then
             can
             these
             things
             be
             ?
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             1.
             
             Whatsoever
             God
             can
             produce
             mediately
             by
             the
             Sun
             ,
             or
             other
             Instruments
             ,
             that
             he
             can
             produce
             as
             easily
             ,
             immediately
             himself
             without
             an
             Instrument
             .
             Is
             it
             not
             as
             easie
             to
             him
             ,
             to
             cause
             light
             without
             a
             Sun
             ,
             as
             to
             make
             the
             Sun
             it self
             ,
             with
             its
             light
             ?
          
           
             2.
             
             Are
             not
             Philosophers
             yet
             unresolved
             ,
             whether
             light
             be
             not
             a
             substance
             ?
             And
             then
             why
             might
             it
             not
             be
             first
             created
             alone
             ?
          
           
             3.
             
             However
             ,
             it
             might
             be
             the
             effect
             of
             the
             Element
             of
             fi●e
             ,
             disposed
             of
             by
             God
             for
             differencing
             day
             and
             night
             ,
             without
             a
             Sun
             ,
             till
             the
             Sun
             was
             made
             .
             And
             is
             it
             not
             agreeable
             to
             the
             rest
             of
             his
             works
             ,
             that
             he
             should
             first
             make
             the
             Elements
             and
             general
             matter
             before
             he
             form
             particular
             
             Creatures
             h●●e●f
             ?
             As
             he
             made
             the
             water
             ,
             before
             he
             con●in●d
             it
             in
             its
             banks
             ,
             and
             made
             it
             a
             Sea
             :
             So
             might
             he
             make
             the
             light
             or
             fire
             ,
             be●ore
             he
             contracted
             so
             much
             of
             it
             into
             a
             Sun
             :
             And
             if
             he
             can
             distinguish
             day
             and
             night
             by
             the
             〈…〉
             un
             afterward
             ,
             he
             might
             as
             easily
             do
             it
             by
             the
             Element
             o●
             Fire
             or
             Light
             before
             .
             You
             ma●
             see
             a
             pr●tence
             of
             fu●ther
             satisfaction
             to
             Reason
             in
             this
             point
             ,
             in
             
               Tho.
               White
            
             his
             
               Appendix
               ,
               The●l
               .
               ad
               Institut
               .
               Peripat
               .
               cap.
            
             ●
             .
             &
             4.
             which
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             recite
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Object
               4.
               
               M●s●●
            
             saith
             
               Gen.
               1
               16.
               
            
             That
             God
             made
             two
             great
             Lights
             ,
             the
             Sun
             and
             Moon
             ;
             whereas
             it
             is
             certain
             ▪
             th
             〈…〉
             many
             〈◊〉
             Plan●●s
             are
             greater
             then
             the
             Mo●●
             ,
             therefore
             he
             speaketh
             ignoran●ly
             .
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             But
             though
             they
             a●e
             
               greater
            
             then
             the
             Moon
             ,
             they
             ●●e
             n●●
             g
             〈…〉
             
               Li●h●s
            
             to
             the
             Earth
             ,
             then
             t●e
             Mo●n
             ,
             w●i●h
             is
             the
             thing
             that
             
               Moses
            
             affirmeth
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Object
               .
               5.
               
               M●s●s
            
             makes
             the
             Garden
             of
             
               Eden
            
             to
             have
             a
             Riv●●
             arising
             i●
             it
             ,
             which
             ●ivideth
             it self
             into
             four
             parts
             .
             But
             there
             is
             no
             such
             place
             now
             known
             in
             the
             world
             ,
             where
             four
             such
             Rivers
             as
             he
             describeth
             are
             so
             near
             .
          
           
             
               Answ.
               Moses
            
             saith
             not
             ,
             that
             this
             River
             had
             its
             rise
             in
             
               Eden
               ,
            
             much
             less
             in
             the
             Garden
             ;
             nor
             that
             the
             f●ur
             divisions
             or
             branches
             of
             it
             were
             in
             the
             Garden
             ,
             but
             in
             
               Eden
               .
            
             It
             was
             not
             all
             
               Eden
            
             that
             was
             this
             Garden
             ,
             nor
             the
             Garden
             called
             
               Eden
               :
            
             But
             
               Eden
            
             was
             the
             name
             of
             the
             Country
             (
             at
             that
             time
             when
             
               Moses
            
             wrote
             )
             in
             which
             the
             Garden
             was
             .
             And
             this
             Land
             of
             
               Eden
            
             was
             in
             
               Telassar
               ,
            
             that
             is
             ,
             in
             the
             upper
             part
             of
             
               Chaldaea
               ,
            
             where
             
               Babylon
            
             is
             scituate
             ;
             and
             there
             the
             River
             
               Euphrates
            
             
             divideth
             it self
             into
             those
             four
             st●e●ms
             which
             
               Moses
            
             here
             d●scribe●h
             ;
             which
             River
             goeth
             
               through
            
             and
             
               out
            
             of
             
               Eden
               ▪
            
             though
             the
             pring
             or
             Head
             be
             elswhere
             :
             The
             four
             particular
             Branches
             you
             may
             s●e
             described
             by
             
               Junius
            
             on
             the
             Text
             at
             large
             ;
             and
             the
             most
             pro●●bl●
             conjecture
             of
             the
             scituation
             of
             the
             Garden
             ,
             is
             ,
             ●ha●
             it
             was
             in
             o●
             ve●y
             near
             the
             place
             where
             
               Babylon
            
             now
             stands
             ,
             and
             from
             whence
             came
             the
             Jews
             suffering
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             our
             first
             sin
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Object
               .
               6.
               
            
             Is
             it
             a
             likely
             thing
             that
             a
             Serpent
             should
             speak
             to
             
               Eve
               ?
            
             Or
             the
             subtilty
             of
             the
             Serpent
             be
             a
             reason
             of
             the
             Temptation
             ?
             Or
             ,
             that
             
               Eve
            
             that
             was
             then
             perfect
             ,
             should
             not
             know
             that
             Serpents
             cannot
             speak
             of
             themselves
             ;
             and
             if
             she
             knew
             that
             it
             was
             the
             Devil
             that
             spak●
             by
             the
             Serpent
             ,
             it
             would
             have
             affrighted
             and
             astonished
             her
             ,
             rather
             then
             have
             been
             such
             a
             temptation
             to
             her
             ?
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             1.
             
             Though
             
               Eve
            
             was
             perfect
             as
             to
             her
             natural
             powers
             ,
             and
             capacity
             ,
             yet
             not
             as
             to
             her
             actual
             knowledge
             ?
             She
             that
             was
             n●wly
             then
             created
             ,
             might
             be
             ignorant
             of
             the
             Serpents
             nature
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             But
             suppose
             that
             she
             knew
             that
             it
             was
             the
             Devil
             that
             spake
             by
             the
             Serpent
             (
             which
             seems
             to
             me
             most
             likely
             )
             yet
             doth
             it
             not
             follow
             ,
             that
             she
             should
             then
             dread
             or
             abhor
             him
             :
             For
             ●ow
             know
             you
             that
             
               Eve
            
             was
             acquainted
             with
             the
             Diabolical
             pravity
             or
             malice
             ?
             How
             know
             you
             when
             the
             Angels
             fell
             to
             be
             Devils
             ?
             whether
             long
             before
             ?
             or
             whether
             they
             were
             but
             newly
             faln
             ,
             (
             as
             
               Zanchy
            
             conceiveth
             by
             their
             unbelief
             )
             But
             most
             certain
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             they
             were
             then
             no
             such
             hateful
             or
             dreadful
             
             Creatures
             in
             the
             apprehension
             of
             man
             ,
             as
             now
             they
             are
             :
             For
             it
             was
             upon
             mans
             fall
             ,
             that
             God
             put
             that
             enmity
             between
             them
             and
             us
             ,
             from
             which
             our
             hatred
             and
             dread
             of
             them
             doth
             proceed
             .
             When
             the
             Devil
             had
             shewed
             his
             malice
             to
             us
             so
             far
             ;
             then
             d●d
             God
             put
             that
             fixed
             enmity
             in
             our
             natures
             which
             we
             all
             since
             perceive
             .
             This
             was
             not
             in
             
               Eve
               ,
            
             and
             therefore
             it
             is
             no
             wonder
             if
             she
             had
             no
             more
             dread
             of
             this
             evil
             spirit
             ,
             then
             we
             have
             of
             one
             another
             ,
             especially
             when
             it
             is
             most
             likely
             that
             she
             well
             knew
             that
             there
             were
             good
             Angels
             ,
             but
             knew
             not
             of
             their
             fall
             ,
             and
             of
             their
             malice
             unto
             her self
             .
             And
             for
             the
             subtilty
             of
             the
             Instrumental
             Serpent
             ,
             it
             was
             the
             likelier
             to
             be
             the
             Instrument
             of
             the
             subtil
             deceiver
             :
             And
             it
             is
             most
             likely
             ,
             that
             God
             would
             not
             suffer
             Satan
             to
             use
             any
             other
             Instrument
             ,
             that
             so
             the
             quality
             of
             the
             Instrument
             might
             be
             fitter
             to
             exci●e
             a
             due
             cautelousness
             in
             the
             woman
             ,
             Satan
             himself
             being
             a
             spirit
             ,
             is
             invisible
             to
             us
             ;
             and
             therefore
             ▪
             when
             he
             will
             appear
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             in
             s●me
             borrowed
             shape
             ;
             and
             he
             usually
             fitteth
             that
             shape
             to
             the
             ends
             of
             his
             apparition
             :
             If
             it
             be
             to
             terrifie
             ,
             it
             is
             commonly
             in
             a
             dreadful
             shape
             ;
             and
             for
             the
             most
             part
             ,
             God
             will
             not
             suffer
             him
             to
             appear
             in
             any
             other
             ,
             that
             man
             may
             the
             better
             know
             that
             it
             is
             the
             enemy
             that
             he
             hath
             to
             deal
             with
             .
             And
             so
             before
             our
             fall
             ,
             when
             he
             would
             deceive
             ,
             he
             speaketh
             by
             a
             subtile
             Creature
             ,
             and
             is
             permitted
             to
             do
             it
             by
             no
             other
             ,
             that
             man
             might
             have
             the
             more
             reason
             to
             suspect
             that
             he
             came
             in
             way
             of
             deceit
             .
             We
             are
             incompetent
             Judges
             of
             the
             full
             of
             these
             things
             ,
             unless
             we
             better
             knew
             the
             a●quaintance
             that
             man
             then
             had
             with
             the
             
             angelical
             nature
             ,
             and
             what
             familia●i●y
             was
             between
             them
             ,
             or
             what
             alteration
             is
             since
             made
             in
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             instrumen●al
             Serpent
             by
             the
             ●●●●e
             .
             Why
             then
             should
             we
             unbelievingly
             ask
             ,
             
               How
               these
               things
               can
               be
               ?
            
             which
             God
             revealeth
             ,
             when
             we
             m●y
             easily
             know
             that
             we
             are
             such
             incompetent
             Judges
             .
          
           
             Many
             more
             of
             these
             Objections
             might
             be
             mentioned
             ,
             and
             easily
             co●futed
             ,
             that
             are
             raised
             by
             Infidels
             about
             the
             Creation
             ,
             and
             fall
             ;
             but
             because
             
               Junius
            
             hath
             confu●ed
             22
             of
             them
             alre●dy
             ,
             after
             his
             Prelections
             on
             
               G●●
               .
               ●3
               p.
               9●
               .
            
             against
             an
             Antinomian
             that
             then
             urged
             them
             from
             
               Simplicius
            
             the
             Heathen
             Philo●●p●●r
             I
             sh●ll
             ref●r
             them
             that
             need
             it
             th●the
             for
             〈◊〉
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Obj.
               —
               .
            
             How
             could
             
               a●n
            
             f●ye
             into
             the
             Land
             of
             
               Nod
               ,
            
             or
             build
             a
             City
             ,
             
               G●●
               .
               4.
               6
               ,
               17.
            
             when
             there
             was
             no
             more
             man
             ●●●●●th
             ▪
          
           
             
               Ans.
            
             1.
             
             At
             ●●●
             It
             ●●
             l●d
             the
             Land
             of
             
               Nod
            
             not
             because
             it
             was
             ●●●alled
             in
             
               Gains
            
             time
             ,
             but
             in
             the
             time
             when
             Mo●●●●●●●e
             .
             ●
             .
             It
             is
             supposed
             to
             be
             between
             t●e
             〈◊〉
             &c.
             ●wo
             hundr●●h
             yeer
             of
             ●is
             age
             ,
             that
             
               ●a●●
            
             bu●●
             this
             ●●●●
             ,
             and
             by
             some
             the
             3
             ,
             ●●
             400.
             for
             it
             is
             not
             ●●id
             tha
             he
             did
             it
             presently
             after
             ●●●
             Curs●
             ,
             though
             these
             things
             are
             laid
             close
             togeth●r
             in
             the
             concise
             Narration
             .
             And
             why
             might
             not
             ●●●●●
             posterity
             be
             easily
             m●le
             plyed
             ,
             in
             all
             that
             time
             to
             such
             a
             number
             as
             might
             build
             and
             replenish
             ●
             City
             ,
             ●ea
             many
             Cities
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               O●●
               .
               8.
               
            
             Is
             it
             ●
             likely
             thing
             that
             the
             Red-Sea
             should
             〈…〉
             for
             the
             Israelites
             to
             pass
             through
             ?
             Or
             that
             〈…〉
             should
             stand
             still
             in
             
               Joshuahs
            
             time
             :
             and
             not
             〈…〉
             be
             over
             tu●ned
             by
             it
             ?
             Or
             that
             
               Jonas
            
             
             should
             live
             without
             ayre
             in
             the
             belly
             of
             a
             Whale
             ?
             Or
             ●ot
             be
             digested
             in
             his
             belly
             as
             other
             food
             is
             ?
             
               How
               ●an
               these
               things
               be
               ?
            
          
           
             
               Answ
            
             And
             what
             ,
             must
             God
             do
             none
             but
             
               like●y
            
             things
             ?
             Is
             it
             not
             as
             easie
             with
             him
             to
             do
             all
             ●his
             ,
             as
             for
             you
             to
             move
             a
             finger
             ,
             and
             much
             more
             ?
             ●s
             it
             not
             as
             easie
             to
             make
             the
             water
             stand
             still
             as
             ●ove
             ;
             or
             to
             gather
             it
             on
             heaps
             in
             the
             Sea
             ,
             as
             to
             gather
             it
             into
             the
             Sea
             from
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             earth
             ,
             ●nd
             to
             keep
             its
             course
             in
             ebbing
             and
             flowing
             ?
             And
             ●s
             it
             not
             as
             easie
             to
             cause
             the
             Sun
             to
             stand
             still
             as
             to
             move
             ?
             And
             so
             to
             move
             as
             it
             is
             supposed
             to
             do
             ?
             ●f
             the
             Sun
             had
             used
             to
             stand
             still
             ,
             would
             you
             not
             have
             taken
             it
             for
             as
             incredible
             a
             matter
             that
             it
             should
             move
             ?
             And
             have
             said
             as
             unbelievingly
             ,
             
               How
               can
               this
               be
               ?
            
             And
             for
             the
             disordering
             of
             Nature
             ,
             it
             was
             Sun
             and
             Moon
             with
             all
             the
             moveable
             frame
             that
             stood
             still
             together
             ;
             and
             not
             the
             Sun
             alone
             :
             And
             so
             made
             no
             such
             alteration
             as
             is
             imagined
             ,
             it
             must
             have
             done
             .
          
           
             And
             for
             
               Jonas
               ,
            
             that
             God
             that
             made
             him
             and
             all
             the
             wo●ld
             ,
             and
             sustaineth
             it
             by
             his
             power
             ,
             could
             easily
             do
             this
             .
             Perhaps
             these
             Infidels
             will
             next
             say
             that
             an
             Infant
             cannot
             live
             in
             the
             Mothers
             womb
             for
             want
             of
             ayr
             or
             breath
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Are
             they
             not
             as
             great
             works
             which
             we
             every
             day
             see
             ,
             in
             the
             Being
             and
             Course
             of
             Sun
             ,
             Moon
             and
             other
             Creatures
             ,
             as
             any
             of
             these
             ?
          
           
             3.
             
             Is
             it
             likely
             that
             
               Moses
            
             would
             have
             wrote
             of
             such
             a
             thing
             as
             the
             standing
             and
             opening
             of
             the
             Red
             Sea
             ▪
             and
             the
             Israelites
             passing
             through
             it
             ,
             to
             those
             same
             Israelites
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             would
             so
             oft
             have
             used
             that
             as
             an
             Argument
             to
             move
             them
             to
             
             Obedience
             ,
             and
             deliver
             them
             his
             Law
             to
             be
             kep●
             upon
             such
             an
             Obligation
             or
             Motive
             ,
             if
             no
             such
             thing
             at
             all
             had
             been
             done
             :
             would
             so
             many
             thousand
             people
             have
             believed
             such
             a
             man
             that
             told
             them
             they
             were
             led
             through
             the
             red
             sea
             as
             on
             dry
             land
             ?
             and
             would
             they
             have
             followed
             him
             forty
             years
             through
             a
             wilderness
             ,
             and
             so
             zealously
             have
             maintained
             his
             Law
             which
             was
             backed
             with
             such
             Motives
             ,
             if
             they
             had
             all
             known
             these
             things
             to
             be
             false
             ?
             Or
             was
             it
             possible
             they
             should
             be
             false
             ,
             and
             they
             not
             know
             them
             ?
          
           
             But
             I
             'le
             stand
             no
             more
             in
             confuting
             these
             cavils
             against
             the
             Old-Testament
             but
             speak
             to
             2
             ,
             or
             3
             which
             they
             bring
             against
             the
             Gospel
             of
             Christ
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               Obj.
               9.
               
            
             Is
             it
             a
             lik●ly
             thing
             that
             a
             Virgin
             should
             conceive
             and
             have
             a
             child
             ?
             How
             can
             this
             be
             ?
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             Is
             it
             not
             as
             easie
             for
             God
             to
             cause
             conception
             by
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             immediately
             ,
             as
             medidiately
             by
             man
             ?
             Doth
             God
             inable
             a
             (
             reature
             to
             do
             that
             which
             he
             cannot
             do
             himself
             ,
             without
             that
             Creature
             ?
             What
             madness
             were
             it
             to
             dream
             that
             this
             exceeds
             the
             power
             of
             God
             ?
          
        
         
           
             
               Obj.
               10.
               
            
             Is
             it
             a
             likely
             thing
             that
             God
             should
             become
             a
             man
             ,
             or
             that
             God
             and
             man
             should
             be
             one
             person
             ,
             which
             is
             more
             Condescen●ion
             then
             for
             a
             Prince
             to
             become
             a
             flye
             to
             save
             flyes
             ●●om
             being
             killed
             ?
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             It
             's
             one
             thing
             to
             ask
             whether
             this
             be
             possible
             ?
             and
             another
             ,
             Whether
             it
             were
             done
             ?
             It
             is
             indeed
             the
             greatest
             wonder
             of
             all
             the
             works
             of
             God
             ,
             But
             there
             is
             no
             contradiction
             in
             it
             to
             prove
             it
             impossible
             .
             The
             God
             head
             was
             no
             whit
             really
             abased
             or
             changed
             by
             this
             Union
             ,
             but
             at
             the
             utmost
             )
             relatively
             and
             reputatively
             onely
             .
             
             God
             did
             not
             
               become
            
             man
             ,
             by
             ceasing
             to
             be
             God
             ,
             ●r
             commi●ing
             the
             humane
             Nature
             with
             the
             Divine
             .
             But
             one●y
             assumed
             a
             humane
             nature
             to
             the
             Divine
             .
             It
             is
             not
             therefore
             as
             if
             a
             Prince
             should
             become
             an
             inferior
             Creature
             ,
             but
             onely
             as
             if
             he
             should
             assume
             such
             a
             Creature
             into
             so
             neer
             a
             relation
             to
             him
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             And
             that
             God
             hath
             indeed
             done
             this
             ,
             his
             evident
             Testimonies
             have
             proved
             to
             the
             world
             :
             Is
             it
             likely
             or
             possible
             that
             one
             should
             assert
             such
             a
             thing
             ,
             and
             seal
             it
             in
             the
             face
             of
             the
             world
             with
             Miracles
             ,
             and
             rise
             himself
             from
             the
             dead
             ,
             and
             send
             forth
             a
             spirit
             of
             Miracles
             and
             of
             holiness
             on
             his
             Church
             ,
             to
             confirm
             his
             affirmation
             ,
             if
             all
             this
             were
             not
             true
             which
             he
             affirmeth
             ?
          
           
             3
             Is
             this
             the
             thanks
             that
             God
             shall
             have
             for
             his
             wonderful
             condes●ension
             ,
             that
             though
             he
             prove
             it
             to
             be
             true
             ,
             yet
             we
             will
             not
             believe
             the
             mercy
             that
             he
             shews
             us
             ,
             unless
             it
             seem
             likely
             to
             us
             in
             the
             way
             of
             us
             accomplishment
             ?
          
        
         
           
             
               Obj
               11.
               
            
             Is
             it
             not
             a
             contradiction
             to
             say
             that
             there
             are
             three
             per●ons
             ,
             and
             but
             one
             God
             ?
          
           
             
               Answ
            
             No
             :
             Because
             to
             be
             a
             person
             or
             subsistence
             in
             the
             Godhead
             ,
             and
             to
             be
             a
             God
             is
             not
             all
             one
             .
             It
             is
             no
             contradiction
             that
             the
             Vegetative
             ,
             sensitive
             and
             Rational
             in
             man
             ,
             should
             be
             three
             ,
             and
             distinct
             one
             from
             another
             ,
             and
             yet
             not
             be
             three
             souls
             but
             one
             .
             And
             that
             Power
             ,
             Understanding
             ,
             and
             Will
             ,
             should
             be
             three
             ,
             and
             distinct
             ;
             and
             yet
             not
             three
             souls
             but
             one
             :
             And
             that
             Power
             ,
             Light
             ,
             and
             Heat
             ,
             should
             be
             distinct
             in
             the
             Sun
             ;
             and
             yet
             not
             be
             three
             Suns
             ,
             but
             one
             .
             Why
             then
             should
             the
             Divine
             Trinity
             of
             subsistences
             seem
             a
             contradiction
             ?
          
        
         
         
           
             
               Object
               .
               12.
               
            
             There
             are
             many
             contradictions
             in
             t●
             Scripture
             ;
             and
             therefore
             it
             is
             incredible
             .
             For
             e●ample
             ;
             
               Mark
               .
               14.
               30.
               
               [
               Before
               the
               Cock
               Cro●
               twice
               ]
               Mat.
            
             and
             
               Luke
            
             say
             
               [
               Before
               the
               Cock
               Crow●
            
             And
             many
             the
             like
             .
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             1.
             
             It
             is
             meer
             ignorance
             of
             the
             sense
             〈…〉
             Scripture
             ,
             that
             causeth
             this
             conceit
             of
             contrad●ction
             .
             Expositors
             themselve●
             are
             imperfect
             in
             the
             understanding
             of
             them
             ;
             yet
             if
             you
             will
             well
             rea●
             them
             ,
             you
             shall
             see
             how
             easily
             and
             cleerly
             they
             reconcile
             many
             things
             that
             s●en
             unreconcileable
             to
             the
             ignorant
             .
             Read
             among
             others
             ,
             
               Scharpius
            
             hi●
             Symphonia
             to
             that
             end
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             As
             to
             the
             Text
             instanced
             .
             The
             second
             C●●●●
             Crowing
             was
             then
             specially
             and
             eminently
             c●lle●
             [
             
               The
               Cocks
               Crowing
            
             ]
             And
             therefore
             
               Matt●●●
            
             an●Luke
             do
             name
             no
             more
             but
             [
             
               the
               Crowing
               ●●
               the
               Cock
            
             ]
             meaning
             that
             second
             Cock
             ,
             which
             was
             specially
             so
             called
             ;
             (
             of
             which
             see
             
               Grotius
            
             on
             the
             Text
             )
             wheras
             
               Mark
            
             doth
             more
             pr●cisely
             express
             the
             same
             in
             suller
             words
             :
             What
             a
             vain
             mind
             is
             it
             that
             will
             pick
             quarrels
             with
             such
             expressions
             ?
          
           
             I
             give
             but
             a
             brief
             touch
             of
             these
             few
             common
             Exceptions
             ,
             leaving
             them
             to
             seek
             the
             resolution
             of
             such
             doubts
             ,
             from
             Commentators
             that
             have
             performed
             it
             ,
             or
             from
             their
             judicious
             Teachers
             ,
             who
             are
             at
             hand
             ,
             and
             ready
             to
             do
             it
             .
          
           
             The
             Lord
             acquaint
             unbelieving
             sinners
             with
             the
             greatness
             of
             their
             ignorance
             ,
             and
             the
             shallowness
             of
             their
             capacities
             that
             they
             may
             know
             how
             unfit
             they
             are
             to
             expostulate
             with
             their
             Maker
             ,
             and
             what
             need
             they
             have
             to
             wait
             upon
             him
             as
             humble
             Learners
             .
             For
             the
             meek
             will
             he
             teach
             his
             
             way
             .
             
               Psal
            
             25.
             9.
             and
             unto
             Babes
             doth
             he
             reveal
             ●●e
             Mysteries
             of
             his
             Will
             .
             For
             though
             the
             Lord
             ●
             High
             ,
             yet
             hath
             he
             respect
             unto
             the
             lowly
             :
             but
             ●e
             proud
             he
             knoweth
             a
             far
             off
             ,
             
               Psal.
            
             138.
             6.
             
             ●nd
             the
             mysteries
             of
             the
             Gospel
             which
             now
             seem
             ●credible
             ,
             he
             will
             one
             day
             open
             to
             the
             comfort
             ●●
             his
             Saints
             ,
             and
             the
             confusion
             of
             unbelievers
             ;
             ●●en
             
               at
               the
               appearing
               of
               our
               Lord
               Jesus
               Christ
               ,
               ●hich
               in
               his
               times
               he
               shall
               shew
               ,
               who
               is
               the
               blessed
               ●●d
               onely
               Potentate
               ,
               the
               King
               of
               Kings
               ,
               and
               Lord
               ●●
               Lords
               :
               who
               onely
               hath
               immortality
               ,
               dwelling
               ●●
               the
               light
               which
               no
               man
               can
               approach
               unto
               ,
               ●hom
               no
               man
               hath
               seen
               or
               can
               see
               :
               to
               whom
               be
               Ho●or
               and
               Power
               everlasting
               .
            
          
           
             Amen
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A26869e-330
           
             Use
             .