True it is, that knowledge without honesty doth more hurt. The Unicorns horn, that in a wise mans hand is helpful, is in the beasts head hurtful. If a man be a beast in his affections, in his manners; the more skilful, the more illfull. Knowledge hath two pillars, Learning and ⟨p. 181⟩Discretion. The greatest Scholar without his two eyes, of Discretion and Honesty, is like blind Sampson, apt to no good, able to much mischief. Prudence is a virtue of the soul, nay the very •oule of virtue. The Mistress to guide the life in goodness. All moral virtues are beholding to wisdom. She directs Bounty what to give, when to give, where to give. And Fortitude, with whom, for what, and how to sight. Knowledge is excellent, to prevent dangers imminent; and to keep us from the snares of this strange woman. But if the Devil in our days should have no guests, but those that are merely ignorant, his rooms would be more empty then they are; and his Ordinary break for want of Customers. But now a-days (alas, when was it much better? and yet how can it be much worse?) we know sin, yet affect it, act it. Time was, we were ignorant and blind, now we have eyes and abuse them. Tyre and Sidon burn in Hell, and their smoke ascends for evermore, that had no preaching in their Cities: but our Country is sown with mercies, and our •elues fatted with the doctrine of life, who shall excuse our lame, lean, and ill-favoured lives? Let us beware Bethsaida's woe. If the Heathen shall wring their hands for their Ignorance, then many Christians shall rend their harts for their disobedience. aHe that despised Moses Law, died without mercy, under two or three witnesses. He that despiseth, not he that transgresseth; for so do all. He that rejected and departed from the Law & Church of Israel, died without mercy, eternally, for other transgressors died without mercy temporally. bOf how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy, &c. that treads under his foot, not Moses but Christ; & counts not the blood of Goats, but of Gods Son unholy; and despiteth, which is more then despiseth, the spirit not of fear & bondage, but of grace? cAll the learning of the Philosophers was without an head, because ⟨p. 182⟩they were ignorant of God. Seeing, they were blind, speaking, they were dumb; hearing, they were deaf, like the Idol-Gods in the Psalm. We want not an head, but an heart:
True it is, that knowledge without honesty doth more hurt. The Vnicornes horne, that in a wise mans hand is helpfull, is in the beasts head hurtfull. If a man be a beast in his affections, in his maners; the more skilful, the more illfull. Knowledge hath two pillars, Learning and ⟨p. 181⟩Discreation. The greatest Scholler without his two eyes, of Discreation and Honestie, is like blinde Sampson, apt to no good, able to much mischiefe. Prudence is a vertue of the soule, nay the very •oule of vertue. The Mistresse to guide the life in goodnes. All morall vertues are beholding to wisedome. She directs Bounty what to giue, when to giue, where to giue. And Fortitude, with whom, for what, and how to sight. Knowledge is excellent, to preuent dangers imminent; and to keepe vs from the snares of this strange woman. But if the Deuill in our dayes should haue no guests, but those that are meerely ignorant, his roomes would be more emptie then they are; and his Ordinarie breake forwant of Customers. But now a-dayes (alas, when was it much better? and yet how can it be much worse?) we know sinne, yet affect it, act it. Time was, we were ignorant and blinde, now wee haue eyes and abuse them. Tyre and Sidon burne in Hell, and their smoake ascends for euermore, that had no preaching in their Cities: but our Country is sowne with mercies, and our •elues fatted with the doctrine of life, who shall excuse our lame, leane, and ill-fauoured liues? Let vs beware Bethsaida's woe. If the Heathen shall wring their hands for their Ignorance, then many Christians shall rend their harts for their disobedience. aHe that despised Moses Law, died without mercie, vnder two or three witnesses. He that despiseth, not he that transgresseth; for so do all. He that reiected and departed from the Law & Church of Israel, died without mercy, eternally, for other transgressors died without mercie temporally. bOf how much sorer punishment shal he be thought worthy, &c. that treads vnder his foot, not Moses but Christ; & counts not the blood of Goats, but of Gods Son vnhely; and despiteth, which is more then despiseth, the spirit not of feare & bondage, but of grace? cAll the learning of the Philosophers was without an head, because ⟨p. 182⟩they were ignorant of God. Seeing, they were blinde, speaking, they were dumbe; hearing, they were deafe, like the Idol-Gods in the Psalme. We want not an head, but an heart:
- aHeb. 10.28.
- bVer. 29.
- cLactant.
