smaller parcels Denique penitus inspecta omnes haereses in multis cum autoribus suis dissentientes deprehenduntur Tert. de prae cont Haer. c. 42. The Anabaptists amongst us are subdivided into Antinomians Brownists Seekers Ranters Quakers Familists c. And finally saith the Father look into all Heresies and you may easily finde them in many things dissenting even from their own authors and Founders And seldome shall you see Heretiques agree in any one point except it be to oppose and cry down the Truth as Herod and Pilat against Christ 6. From the same dark Abysse of Ignorance Neque nâ—… natae sunt haereses quaedam dogmata illaqueantia animos in profundum praecipitantia nisi dum scripturae bonae intelligerentur malè quod in iis non bene imelligitur etiam temerè audacter asseritur Aug. in Joh. Tract 18. under the semblance of self-conceited wisdome hath sprung that which is of all others the greatest cause of Heresies viz. The misinterpretation and mis-application of the holy Scriptures For saith the Father Heresie had never sprung up nor false doctrines bewitching and destroying the souls of men had never been broacht had not the good word of God been ill understood and that also which is but ill and weakly understood been rashly and presumptuously affirmed 'T is ever the custome of Heretiques to alledge holy Scriptures in a wrested and perverted sense making those sacred writings like a nose of wax turning and writhing them to this and to that and to every sense that best agrees with their own vain imaginations Aliter Photius aliter Novatianus c. One Heretique understands it this way and another diversly from him and a third distinct from both and all put another sense upon the words of God then ever his holy Spirit intended therein Pro voluntatis suae sensu Hilar. Vinc. Lir. adversus Haer. c. 2. The sense of their own minde and spirit not of Gods Spirit Hil de trinitate l. 2. they put upon the Scriptures which occasion'd that complaint of S. Hierome Sola scripturarum ars est quam sibi passim omnes vendicant Hanc garrula avus hanc delirus senex hanc so phista verbosus hanc universi presumunt lacerant docent ante quam discant Hier. ad Pel. l. 1. c. 6. 'T is only the Art of understanding Scriptures which all persons challenge to themselves This the pratling old wife and the doting old man and the wrangler full of words this all men presume unto and upon presumption of their interest therein they tear and wrest and abuse it at their pleasure presuming to teach the doctrine thereof before they have half learned it As in the natural creation of children too many are the issue of lust and wantonness nor is it considered when they are begotten how they shall be kept even so 't is in the spiritual brood of Heresies pride covetousness and ignorance begets them before the authors know how to maintain them but as children when they are once gotten must be kept though they pinch upon their neighbours so this heretical crew rather then the opinions which are the issue of their pride and vanity should die they will steal the sineere milk of the word to nourish them or in language of another strain rather then they will submit their vain imaginations to the truth and true meaning of Gods word the truth of that must submit to their imaginations Videtis id vos agere ut omnis scripturarum de medio auferatur authoritas suus cuique animus author sit quid in quaque scriptura probet quid improbet id est non ut authoritati subjiciatur scripturarum ad fidem sed ut sibi scripturas ipse subjiciat non ut illi ideo placeat aliquid quia hoc in sublimi authoritate scriptum legitur sed ideo rectè scriptum videatur quia hoc illi placuit Aug. cont Faust And this saith the Father is the way to rob the Scripture of its authority whilest every mans own imagination must tell him what it allowes and what it disallowes this is not to be subject to the authority of the Scriptures but to make the Scriptures subject to our imaginations so that therefore this or that is not acceptable unto them because 't is written in the word of God but therefore 't is well said or written there because 't is acceptable unto them The great danger they incur who put another sense upon the holy Scriptures then Gods holy Spirit ever intended therein is represented to us by the strange fire which that rebellious crew under the conduct of Corah Dathan and Abiram offered up unto the Lord there came out a fire from the Lord and devoured the presumptuous sacrificers Numb 16.18,35 So those unlearned and unstable souts which wrest the Scriptures do it to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 As a remedy to prevent so great mischief Lat. conc secundum sess 11. the ancient Fathers thought it meet to provide saith the reverend Andrewes that they who took upon them to interpret the Scriptures should put in sureties that the sense they gave of them should be no other then what the Church in former times acknowledged So Vinc. Lirin also Propter tantos tam varii erroris anfractus necesse est ut propheticae Apostolicae interpretationis linea secundum ecclesiastici catholici sensus normam dirig aâ—… Vinc. Lir. advers Haer. c. 2. By reason of the manifold windings and turnings of the Scriptures for the maintenance of several errors 't is necessary to direct the line of prophetical and Apostolical interpretation according to the rule of an Ecclesiastical sense and meaning for Quis unquam Haereses c. saith the same Author Who ever brought in an Haeresie but first he disagreed from the consent of antiquity and of the ancient Catholique Church Et in laqueum sit verbum Dei saith Estius the holy Word of God becomes a snare and a stumbling block to all those who contemning the authority of the Church presume to impose their own private sense upon it And he that obtrudes his private sense of Scripture upon his hearers not only lords it over their faith Estius in Rom. 11.9 but over the faith of the universal Church of Christ nay he makes null and void the authority of holy Scriptures for Scripture is no more Scripture if not rightly interpreted 7. Another general cause of erroneous opinions in Religion is Hypocrisie when men are cold and lukewarm and too negligent in the practise which is the life of Christianity when they receive not the love of the Truth so as readily to obey and practise it then it is just with God to give them up to strong delusions Nay hereby men lay themselves open to the delusions of Heretiques because the excellency of holy Christian truths are not cannot be known but by the practise and experience thereof
ubique ab omnibus at all times in all places by all persons Councels and Fathers and is by the merciful providence of God in spite of all opposition from Infidels Heretiques and Schismatiques brought down unto us Prov. 3.5 This Faith must be the rule according to which we must steer our interpretations of holy Scriptures not leaning to our own understanding or abounding in our own sense but ever submitting our private judgement to the publique judgement of the Church which in the Apostles own times was commanded when the gift of prophesie or interpretation of Scripture was by more immediate and extraordinary inspiration communicated yet even then the judgement of the Church was to be allowed in the interpretation of Scripture 1 Cor. 14.29 Let the Prophets speak two or three and let the other judge objection But 't is here objected Numb 16.14 Wilt thou put out the eyes of these people must we not see with our own eyes but only with those of the Church Shall we pin our faith upon any mens sleeves What need we the authority of men when we have Gods own authority for our direction and men are but men i. e. frail and liable to error so that all they affirm is not to be taken for Gospel In answer whereunto consider answer 1. That there is a great deal of difference betwixt an implicite faith and blinde obedience to the dictates of the Church and a submission to the publique judgement thereof The first deprives the people of their reason and judgement the second renders them more meek humble submissive and obedient and thereby more capable to receive the impression of the knowledge of celestial mysteries 2. Nihil carum rerum scire quae antè nascereris sacta sum hoc est semper esse puerum Cic. That we assert not the ancient and learned Fathers of the Church ut dominos sed ut duces fidei Not as Lords over our faith but as guides in the true belief And he that knows nothing of the Religion of the Fathers for his guidance and direction is most likely still to continue a childe in his religion Nor 3. Quicquid omnes vel plures uno eodemque sensu manifestè frequenter perseveranter velut quod am sibi consentiente concilio accipiendo tenendo tradendo firmaverint id pro indubitato certo ratoque habeatur Quicquid vero quamvis ille doctus sanctus quamvis Episcopus praeter omnes aut etiam contra omnes senserit id inter proprias privatas opiniunculas à communis publicae generalis sententiae authoritate secretum sit Vinc. Lyr. are we to receive for Oracle all that the ancient reverend Fathers of the Church did affirm being very few amongst them but had their particular errors and mistakes and in many particulars also 't is confessed they did contradict each other 'T is not therefore the affirmations and private opinions of particular persons we must look upon as the Doctrine of true Religion and true meaning of the Scriptures but the general and universal consent of all for that all should erre and fall from the truth is contrary to what our Lord hath promised who will undoubtedly be as good as his word Mat. 16.18 Vpon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall never prevail against it and Mat. 28.20 I am with you alway even to the end of the world In a word in the interpretation of Scriptures and for the confirmation of holy truths thence deduced the authority of the ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church is to be consulted and known for these reasons 1. Because they are certain and undeniable witnesses of what the Church and the people of Christ did in their respective times believe and hold for orthodox Doctrine If the same doctrine St. Augustine taught in Africk was also taught by St. Chrysostome in Greece by St. Ambrose in Italy by St. Hierome in Palestine and so in other places by holy and reverend Bishops and Pastors of the Church then this undoubtedly was the doctrine of the Church and thus were the holy Scriptures understood in those ages of the Church Ita intellexit Ambrosius ita Cyprianus c. Thus Ambrose thus Cyprian understood such or such a place of Scripture this had some weight in St. August time and St. Aug. opinion and there is no reason but that it should be of the same force still amongst us 'T is no way probable but that persons so eminent in learning and in piety so frequent in holy prayers and meditations in fastings and wailings so indefatigable in their studies and labours in the Word and Doctrine and who laid down their lives and fortunes for the doctrine they preached should more truly understand the Scriptures and the truth of Christian Religion then we who if there be any thing of Modesty and Humility in our hearts must confesse our selves far inferiour to them in the said gifts and graces of the holy Spirit Vsque adeo promiscuit imis summa longus dies c. Aug. Hath time so confounded all things is light so changed into darkness and darkness become light ut videant Pelagius c. that Haeretiques now are the only seers Et caeci sunt Hilarius Cyprianus Ambrosiùs And the learned pious Fathers of the Church become blinde The words are too much appliable to the Heretiques of the times 3. The judgement of the Fathers being so far remote from these times wherein we live must needs be impartial as to the controversies amongst us touching the interpretation of any texts of Scripture or doctrines therein delivered as being altogether disinterested and knowing nothing of our disputes and contestations thereabouts Nullas nobiscum vel vobiscum amicitias attenderunt c. Aug. contra Julian Pelag. They were neither in friendship nor in community with us or with them who in this age are of a contrary opinion to us they were neither angry with us nor them neither did they pity either of us but what they found professed in the Church they faithfully preserved what they learned they taught and what they received from their fathers they delivered unto us their children and undoubtedly Survey of the pretended discipline as a learned man of our Church observes they that contemn the learned Fathers that went before them do but open a gap to their own discredit making way thereby to be contemned themselves by all those that shall come after 4. We cannot but reasonably imagine that those holy and learned persons who lived nearer the Apostles times should proportionably know better the Apostles meaning in their writings and the doctrine they preached then any of us who live so many hundred years since Therefore saith Irenaeus Iren. l. 3. ch 4. who was the Disciple of Polycarpus the Disciple of St. John Where any question ariseth and the holy Scripture as 't is too common Vinc. Ler. is so perverted as
ministerial gifts may be obtained in the use of outward means without the internal sanctification of soul which consists in charity or love which is the fulfilling of the Law 2. But then secondly The gift of prophesie with all the wisdome and knowledge of holy things though they may be and often are useful for the edification of others yet are they altogether fruitless and ineffectual to the person that hath them if not animated by the grace of charity or obedience to the Lawes of God for so they are not much unlike a candle in a dark lanthorn which casteth its light abroad upon others leaving the person that holds it in darknesse CHAP. XV. The dangerous and destructive consequences of and depending upon immediate Revelation HEe that pretends unto or depends upon any further Revelations from heaven then God in his great mercy hath already afforded unto his Church and people viz. 1. His written Word 2. Those several means and helps forementioned both divine and humane outward and inward for the right understanding of his Word by the blessing of God and the secret influence of his holy Spirit upon our studies and meditations therein laies himself open to manifold temptations and dangerous seductions of the spirit of error and delusion and as much as in him lies subverts the very foundation of the holy Christian Faith for hereupon these destructive inconveniencies must needs ensue 1. The canon of holy Scripture is transgrest and dissolv'd by the superaddition of new Revelations and the authority of Gods Word is made null and void that must passe for a dead letter when the fictitions dreams and delusions of every idle enthusiastical brain under the mask of Revelations shall be mistaken and miscalled too The quickning Spirit And he that sets up any thing of Religion to the dishonour of holy Scriptures Optal 1.3 1. saith the Father he doth aedificium de ruina construere erect a building upon the ruines of Gods truth and such a building can be no better but an heap of errors and deceits For what will not he dare to affirm and hold who holds any thing besides or above or but equal to the Word of God for the Rule of Faith Hereupon the Resurrection hath been denied and the last judgement and the necessity of all holy just and good works the necessary consequences of these points of our faith for he that believes not the Resurrection and last judgement Quid boni aut veri what holy Truth will he care to believe or what good action will he make conscience to practise 2. He opposes himself to the doctrine of the universal Church of Christ for 1600 years together who with one unanimous and common consent have received the holy Scriptures as the very canon of Faith without addition or diminution without ever hoping or waiting for any new Revelations to be superadded thereunto and very good reason sure if that dismal curse wherewith the canon of holy Scripture is concluded have any influence upon the mindes of men Rev. 22.18.19 If any man adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this book c. 3. And more particularly he makes void all those commandements of God to search the Scriptures to hear read meditate and study and delight our selves in the Lawes of God For all immediate Revelation of Gods will presupposes the knowledge of the truth without any search study c. The contempt or neglect of which duty hath sad and heavie judgements threatned thereunto as Jer. 9.13 c. And the Lord saith Because they have forsaken my Law which I set before them And have walked after the imagination of their own heart I will feed them with wormwood and give them water of gall to drink I will scatter them among the heathen c. with manifold texts to the same purpose both in the old and new Testament as Prov. 13.13 28.9 Psal 81.11,12 Zach. 7.12.13 Joh. 5.45,46 12.48 4. He makes void and unnecessary the sacred function of the Priesthood or Ministery which God hath in all ages ordained and setled in his Church as to mediate with God for the people so to instruct the people from God And this sacred office God hath both confirmed by miracles and by testimony of his blessings ordinary and extraordinary and guarded the same by many direful threatnings denounced and many heavie judgements inflicted upon such as have or shal sacrilegiously violate infringe or usurp this office or neglect refuse or contemn to hear the word of God in the mouthes of his Prophets and faithful Ministers See amongst many other places Jer. 5.12 c. Because the people belied the Lord and said It is not he when he spake by his Prophet And because they said moreover The Prophets shall become winde and the word is not in them Therefore thus saith the Lord Because ye speak this word I will make my words in thy mouth fire and this people wood and it shall devour them And to the same purpose Jer. 6.10,11,12 Mat. 10.14,15 Luk. 10.11,12 5. All pretence to immediate Revelation lords it over the faith of our Christian brethren For an immediate Revelation commands an immediate belief and blinde obedience without any further search or trial at all contrary to those expresse commands 1 Joh 4.1 Beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits 1 Thess 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good or agreeable to the word of God but reject that which is not so and hold for accursed the publishers and promoters thereof Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from heaven should preach unto you another Gospel besides what ye have received let him be accursed 6. The faith of the Enthusiast if it may be called a faith and not rather an illusion of his fancy is not built upon the same grounds with the faith of Christs Church which is the pillar and ground of truth the Church is built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the head corner stone Eph. 2.20 i. e. what the Prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New have revealed to be the doctrine of salvation in Christ is the foundation which the faith of all true Christians is built upon But the Enthusiasts faith is not built upon old but upon new Revelations not upon what is revealed already through the mediation of the Prophets and Apostles and communicated by their successors but upon what shall be immediately revealed from heaven and this groundless ground of faith is opposed to that which is the true ground of faith indeed and made of equal authority therewith so that upon this ground every private mans sayings and affirmations are of as great authority and as much to be regarded as the divinely inspired sayings of the Prophets and Apostles and this must needs be so were there any truth in mens pretended Revelations for undoubtedly we owe as much
of its own ignorance and sinfulness sees more clearly the secrets of Truth but if once it apprehend and gather a self-conceited whiteness and purity of holiness and wisdome 't is excluded from the light of celestial knowledge For so much the lesse doth any man perceive the light of truth by how much he is by pride exalted and puft up with conceit of his own understanding There be too many in these sad times of such universal delusion that think themselves very wise and great proficients in Religion if they can but talk and wrangle and hold discourse to and again of religious matters such discourse is too often also in Scripture phrases either not understood or else wrested and perverted and tends ordinarily to the crying down of some religious practise or ancient custome of the Church though it be not only innocent but useful and edifying expressions and arguments of this nature the devil is ever ready to suggest to the mindes of men and to whet and smooth their tongues to run on readily in such kinde of unprofitable and destructive effusions which puffes them up with fond conceits of their knowledge and understanding in the waies of God till professing themselves wise they become fools and wax vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts be darkned so that they cannot see the light of truth through the mist and imperfect glimmering of their own conceited knowledge Thus the Devil himself was lost in the bottomless pit of error and eternal confusion his knowledge which was so great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sciens Aug. that from the excellency thereof he derives his name in Greek puft him up and made him swel with pride till he burst out into flat rebellion against his maker they then that will not fall into the same condemnation must give ear to these directions of the holy Ghost Prov. 3.7 Lean not to thine own understanding for many are deceived by their own vain opinion and evil suspicion hath overthrown their judgement Ecclus. 3.24 Wo unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight Isa 5.21 Be not therefore wise in their own conceits Rom. 12.16 with many more places to the same purpose 7. From whence will follow another rule of direction for the avoiding of errors That we entermeddle not with those mysterious points of Religion nor yet with those harder places of holy Scripture which are above the reach of our understanding For all such over curious entermedlings coming from pride and self-conceited wit begets such an exorbitance in the spiritual man as surfetting and drunkenness in the natural For when men overweening their own judgements will presume to pry into those secret mysteries of godliness and portions of holy writ which their understandings cannot fathom nor their judgements digest hence ariseth a giddiness of minde this makes them reel to and fro and stagger like drunken men being tost with every winde of doctrine how strange new and fanatick soever which I may not improperly call a spiritual drunkenness with the wine of Gods Word or a surfet of the bread of life 'T is the grand epidemical disease of the times and the too too fruitful dam of many of those abortive sholes of erroneous opinions that swarm amongst us So saith the Apostle of such as are beguiled into a false worship They intrude into those things which they have not seen being vainly puft up with their fleshly minde Col. 2.18 out of pride and an overweening conceit of their knowledge and judgement they presume to meddle with what the understood not and so were cousened with falsities and lies To avoid this mischief take for example the Prophet David Psal 131.1 Lord mine heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty neither do I exercise my self in great matters or in things too high for me Advice to the same purpose the wise Syracides gives us Ecclus. 3.21 c. Seek not the things that are too hard for thee neither search the things that are above thy strength but what is commanded thee think thereupon with reverence for it is not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are in secret be not curious in unnecessary matters And if you desire advice herein yet more authentick see Rom. 12.3 For I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly then he ought to think but to think soberly or to be wise with sobriety And this wisdome with sobriety consists of three particulars 1. Not to profess or boast of more knowledge and piety then God hath really and truly endued us withal Ecclus. 3.25 2. Not to boast of that little knowledge and goodness which really we have Rom. 11.20 3. Not to lean to our own understanding Prov. 3.5 But to submit our judgements to the judgement of persons that have more understanding then our selves remembring that even the spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets 1 Cor. 14 32. And that they who had the gift of Prophesie were commanded to submit their doctrine to the judgement of others 1 Cor. 14.29 And undoubtedly he is a man of the best judgement saith the Italian proverb that trusts not to his own judgement 8. But yet though we must submit our judgements to our superiors 1 Joh. 14.1 we must not be too credulous nor believe every one that saith he hath the Spirit no not of the Ministery Rom. 16.18 especially in these evil daies wherein many salfe prophets are gone forth into the world who with cunning words and fair speeches deceive the souls of the simple If we judge according to the outward appearances of men and think because they are very zealous in their waies and strict in their life and spiritual in their expressions that therefore they are in favour with God and know his minde and are partakers of the Spirit of Truth we shall be sure to be cousen'd Because 1. Such are generally the professions pretences and appearances of all Heretiques and Schismatiques 2. The pretences and appearances of such are generally more fair plausible and zealous then ordinary And the more forward and zealous they are in justifying their own sect and ascribing to themselves infallibility the more false and counterfeit commonly they be this being the very way whereby the Devil doth by his instruments insinuate all his delusions and lying vanities even under the plausible pretences of seeming holiness forward zeal and more then ordinary strictness and austerity of conversation And no marvail for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light therefore 't is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 14.15 i. e. saith the Glosse 〈◊〉 collidè sub specie religionis decipientes Gloss interl craftily deceiving under the shew of Religion 3. There is in some men a more natural disposition
divine Revelation which those Prophets and Apostles received which wrote the canonical books of holy Scripture and not upon any other Revelation if ever there were any such received by any other learned or holy persons whatsoever Non n. novis Revelationibus nunc regitur c. The Chuch is not now guided by any Revelations but persists and perseveres in those things which the Prophets and Apostles have revealed and delivered unto us who were the Ministers of the word revealed CHAP. VIII Of the necessity of learning as to the understanding of Gods revealed will in his word general 2 AS God hath graciously pleas'd in his holy Word to reveal himself unto us so he hath commanded us to read study Deut. 17.19 1 Tim. 4.13 Rev. 1.3 2 Tim. 2 15. 1 Tim. 5.17 and labour in this word that the light of divine Revelation therein may shine into our hearts and guide us in the sacred paths of life eternal But as unto every thing of price and value there is art and skill required rightly to make use thereof and also there are means and instruments fitted for the acquiring of this skill so rightly to use this precious jewel of Gods holy Word for the illumination of our souls there is much art and skill required and this skill must be attained in the use of all those instruments and helps which God hath for this end graciously afforded unto us it being most agreeable to the wisdome and goodnesse of God to work upon humane understanding by humane means and helps And according as we are more or lesse industrious in the use of these means God imparts a more or lesse treasure of understanding unto us Not as if the holy Spirit of God could not without means communicate his gifts of wisdome Luk. 24.45 and open our understanding to understand the Scriptures But that ordinarily he doth not do this but commands us not lazily to sit still Prov. 2.4 and wait upon his immediate Revelations but to seek for knowledge and search for wisdome as for hid treasures and how shall we seek for it but in the use of those means he hath fitted for this search And these means are either outward or inward The outward and humane helps are the knowledge and understanding of tongues and sciences The inward or divine means are the purity and holiness of the hearts and life The first are necessary as to the formale externum to understand the outward letter of the word in its proper and genuine sense The second as to the formale internum rightly to apply the word according to the minde of the holy Spirit therein And experimentally to feel those sacred truths accomplished in our selves As to the former whereupon this controversie depends the knowledge of tongues and languages arts and sciences herewithall the holy Scripture doth presuppose those men to be furnished that will dive into the secret and hidden mysteries therein contained for all kindes of knowledge have their certain bounds and limits and each of them presupposes many necessary things learned in other sciences before we can know the secrets of this as the Art of Rhetorick presupposeth that of Grammar and the knowledge of things presupposeth the understanding of words as the cabinet must be first opened before the jewel therein can be found out There is a threefold knowledge of things natural moral and divine By the first we are guided to live as men By the second as reasonable men and members of a civil society By the third as Christian men and parts of Christs body the Church And each of these presupposes the other as moral wisdome presupposes that which is natural and divine wisdome presupposes both to this end God hath endued us not only 1. With sense to know the things that concern our present life and being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. de Mos And 2. with reason to know what concerns our well being in the peace contentment and happiness of the soul But 3. He hath added also the heavenly revelations of his holy Word whereby what sense and reason could never finde out as conducible to eternal happiness is made known unto us And as reason doth imply and presuppose a man to be endued with sense so Religion and divine Revelation presupposes as to be endued with sense and reason 2. Divinity which is the body of divine Revelation is the Art of arts and comprehends with it what ever other Arts do teach And the holy Scriptures the contents whereof are the precepts of this Art both contains all kindes of knowledge and relates to all sorts of truth both natural Eph. 5.20 Civil Rom. 13.4 Historical 2 Tim. 3.8 Forein Tit. 1.12 And consequently to the understanding thereof the knowledge of such Truths are necessarily subservient to the supernatural and divine assistance Humane Arts are the Handmaids of Religion which they serve and wait upon as their Queen and Soveraign And as great Persons are not approached unto without the mediation of servants and great Houses have their through-fare before you come to rooms of state and great Cities have their suburbs before you come to the high streets So the great and sacred body of Divinity is not approached unto ordinarily as she sits in the height and perfection of understanding but by the mediation of her Handmaids or through the several passages of Tongues and Sciences 3. Though many things in holy Scripture be plain and easie to be understood without the help of much learning or art yet there are also many things obscure dark and mysterious which too many men for want of learning and sobriety do misconster pervert and abuse to their own ruine which is expresly affirmed both of St. Pauls Epistles and of other Scriptures also 2 Pet 3.16 As also in all his Epistles speaking in them of those things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction In which meaning St. Pauls Epistles are somethings hard And the holy Ghost hath therefore left Gods word in many places veil'd and obscure saith St. August Non temere a Spiritu Sâ—… Scripturas esse tectas sed châ—…d maximè 〈◊〉 vilescant exerceant ut pascant Aug. 1. Ne vilescat that we might not undervalue it 2. Vt exerceat to keep us in the exercise of prayers and meditations studies and labours for all kinde of knowledge the more hardly it is attained the more we esteem it and the more also it doth feed and nourish the soul as making a deeper impression therein 4. Such is the height and sublime perfection of those holy mysteries in sacred Scripture contained that vulgar and learned men have need of an interpreter as Act. 8.31 Learned Guides therefore God hath in all ages raised up both Priests and Prophets under the Law and under the Gospel whom he hath appointed the treasurers of
Countrey-mans Catechism or the Churches plea for Tithes by R. Boreman B.D. in 4. The Regal Apologie printed at Oxford in 4. A Fair Warning to take heed of the Scottish Discipline by Bishop Bramhall in 4. Sacrosancta Regia Majestas in 4. printed at Oxford and written by the Archbishop of Tuâ—… The Christians Directory in 12. The Royal Slave a Play in 4 acted at Christ-Church in Oxford Devotion digested into several Discourses and Meditations upon the Lords most holy Prayer Together with additional Exercitations upon Baptism The Lords Supper Heresies Blasphemy The Creatures The souls pantings after God The Mercies of God The souls complaint of its absence from God by Peter Samwaies Fellow lately resident in Trinity Col. Camb. in 12. Of the Division between the English and Romish Church upon Reformation by H Fern. D.D. in 12. the second Edition with many Additionals Directions for the profitable reading of the Scriptures by John White M.A. in 8. The Exemplary lives and Memorable Acts of the 9 most worthy women of the world 3 Jews 3 Gentiles 3 Christians by Tho. Heywood in 4. The Saints Legacies or a Collection of Promises out of the Word of God in 12. Judicium Universitatis Oxoniensis de Solenni Lege Foedere Juramento Negativo c. in 8. Certain Sermons and Letters of Defence and Resolutions to some of the late Controversaries of our times by Jasper Mayn D.D. in 4. New Janua Linguaxum Reserata sive omnium Scientiarum Linguarum seminarium Auctore Cl. Viro J.A. Gomenio in 12. A Treatise concerning Divine Providence very seasonable for all ages by Tho. Morton Bishop of Duresme in 8. Observations upon Mr. Hobbs his Leviathan with some Observation upon Sir Walter Rawleigh's History of the World by Alex. Rosse in 12. Fifty Sermons preached by that learned reverend Divine Jo. Donne in fol. Wits Common wealth in 12. The Banquet of Jests new and old in 12. Balzac's Letters the fourth part in 8. Quarles Virgin Widow a Play 4. Solomon's Recantation in 4 by Francis Quarles Amesii antisynodalia in 12. Christs Commination against Scandalizers by John Tombes in 12. New Dr. Stuart's Answer to Fountains Letter in 4. A Tract of Fortifications with 22. Brasse cuts in 4. Dr. Griffiths Sermon preached at S. Pauls in 4. Blessed Birth-day printed at Oxford in 8. A Discourse of the state Ecclesiastical in 4. An account of the Church Catholique where it was before the Reformation by Edw. Boughen D.D. in 4. An Advertisement to the Jewry men of England touching Witches written by the Author of the Observations upon Mr. Hobbs Leviathan in 4. New Episcopacy and Presbytery considered by Hen. Fern. D.D. in 4. A Sermon preached at the Isle of Wight before his Majesty by H. Fern D.D. in 4. The Commoners Liberty or the English mans Birth-right in 4. An Expedient for composing Differences in Religion in 4. A Treatise of Self denial in 4. by a concealed Author The holy Life and death of the late Vicountesse Falkland in 12. Certain Considerations of present Concernment Touching the Reformed Church of England by H. Fern in 12. Englands Faithful Reprover and Monitor in 12. by John Allington Newly published The grand Conspiracy of the Members against the Mind of Jews against their King As it hath been delivered in four Sermons by John Allington B.D. in 12. White Salt or a sober Correction of a mad World by John Sherman B.D. a discontinuer in 12. The matching of the Magistrates Authority and the Christians true Liberty in matters of Religion by Will. Lyford B. D. and late Minister of Sherborn in Dors in 4. A compendious Discourse upon the Case as it it stands between the Church of England and those Congregations that have divided from it by Hen. Fern. D.D. New A correct Copy of some Notes concerning Gods Decrees especially of Reprobation by T. P. Preacher of Gods Word in Northamptonshire and published to prevent calumny in 4. New The History of the Church of Scotland by Joh. Spotswood Archbishop of St. Andrews in fol. New Phraseologia Anglo-Latina or English Proprieties rendred into proper Latine for the use and benefit of Grammar Scholars in 8. Dr. Cousins Devotions in 12. The persecuted Ministery by William Langley late of St. Maries in the City of Liechfield Minister in 4. THE END