A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

2 The Apostles earnest exhortation to Knowledge, Intimates that naturally we want it. Aristotle compares our wits at the beginning to a fair table, whereon is nothing written, but it is apt to receive all forms and figures. But he is deceived, for it is a dark vault, wherein is no light of Grace, and no more of the light of Nature than the little spark or snuff affords.^u The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. By nature he is subject to two enemies of knowledge, Ignorance, and Error. By Ignorance we know not things necessary, by Error we know them falsely. Ignorance is a privation, Error a positive obliquity. All ignorance cannot be helped, all errors cannot be escaped. From ignorance comes vice, from error Heresy. Many striving to expel ignorance, fall into error: as an Empiric to cure one disease, causeth a worse; so quenching thirst with a draught of poison. Some are tantae fatuitatis, so deeply possessed with folly, that they scarce differ from beasts.² Hence we see that Knowledge is not easily had; Veritas in profundo latet. In the West-Indies, they that by digging, follow the veins of gold, run under high mountains and stony rocks, many miles: yet the interest of Oar sufficiently defrayeth the expenses of labour. But knowledge is attained not without greater difficulty: for the soul in the body, as a prisoner in a dungeon, takes in nothing but through the grate; sees only through windows and cloudy spectacles.^x The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. Therefore the first way to Knowledge is, Scire quod nescias, to know thine own ignorance. Qui se diligit stultum, non proficiet ad sapientiam: nec fiet quisque qualis esse cupit, nisi oderit qualis est, August. Hee that dotes on his own folly hath no hope of wisdom; nor can a man become what he would be, unless he hates being what he is. They can never come to true wisdom, ⟨p. 121⟩whom the opinion of their own false wisdom deceiveth. Let no man deceive himself, 1 Cor. 3.18. If any man among you seemeth to be wise, let him become a fool that he may be wise. Confess thy Ignorance, this is the way to get knowledge.