1That is called good, by the instinct of humane wisdom, which bringeth pleasure, honour, and profit, but those things that are contrary to these, as affliction, dishonour, loss, those are called evil. For mans nature can seek nothing else at all, but those things that are his own, that which pleaseth and profiteth him, that he doth especially like: But that which displeaseth him, he counteth the worst of all things, although it be the best. Wherefore as I have said, the Lord speaketh here of those wise and prudent men, which with their own wisdom strive against the wisdom of God. Worldly wisdom seemeth to it self to ⟨p. 459⟩be so great, that is it not content to rule only these worldly and temporal things, but taketh also upon it self to have the oversight of heavenly things, it always searcheth out and imagineth some new thing, even in spiritual and divine matters. So mans own wisdom hath invented shaven crowns and cowls, & almost all that, wherein the papacy consisteth, every one hath chosen his proper work to himself, this man hath invented this, an other hath invented that, and if this be abolished, and doth not greatly please, byandby they find out some other thing, as (alas) we have seen, and do as yet see, neither is there any measure in these trifles, whereupon it cometh, that we can hardly away with the word of God and the truth, but are always delighted to invent some new thing. For truly this is certain, as often as we ordain a new worship of God contrary to the word of God, we are byandby blinded, and fall from error to error, then which calamity none greater can come unto us. Wherefore Paul 2. Thess. 2. saith: Therefore God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe lies, that all they might be damned which believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Yea and at the last they become so blind, that they understand nothing at all of God, as it is in the 14. Psal. The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. For it can not be that the natural man, which consisteth of flesh & blood, and is not instructed by the spirit of God, should judge and understand those things which are of God, as Paul 1. Cor. 2. witnesseth: The natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1That is called good, by the instinct of humane wisedome, which bringeth pleasure, honour, and profite, but those thinges that are contrarie to these, as affliction, dishonour, losse, those are called euill. For mans nature can seeke nothing els at all, but those things that are his owne, that which pleaseth and profiteth him, that he doth especially like: But that which displeaseth him, he counteth the worst of all thinges, although it be the best. Wherefore as I haue saide, the Lord speaketh here of those wise and prudent men, which with their owne wisedom striue against the wisedome of God. Worldly wisedome seemeth to it selfe to ⟨p. 459⟩be so great, that is it not content to rule onely these worldly and temporall thinges, but taketh also vpon it selfe to haue the ouersight of heauenly things, it alwayes sercheth out and imagineth some new thing, euen in spirituall and diuine matters. So mans owne wisedome hath inuented shauen crownes and cowles, & almost all that, wherein the papacie consisteth, euerie one hath chosen his proper worke to himselfe, this man hath inuented this, an other hath inuēted that, and if this be abolished, and doth not greatly please, byandby they fynde out some other thing, as (alas) we haue seene, and do as yet see, neither is there any measure in these trifles, whereupon it commeth, that we can hardly away with the word of God and the truth, but are alwayes delighted to inuent some new thing. For truly this is certaine, as often as we ordaine a new worship of God contrarie to the word of God, we are byandby blynded, and fall from errour to errour, then which calamitie none greater can come vnto vs. Wherefore Paule 2. Thess. 2. sayth: Therefore God shall send them strong delusiō, that they should beleeue lies, that all they might be damned which beleeued not the truth, but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes. Yea and at the last they become so blynde, that they vnderstand nothing at all of God, as it is in the 14. Psal. The foole hath sayd in his heart, there is no God. For it can not be that the naturall man, which consisteth of flesh & blood, and is not instructed by the spirit of God, should iudge and vnderstand those thinges which are of God, as Paule 1. Cor. 2. witnesseth: The naturall man perceiueth not the thinges of the Spirite of God: for they are foolishnes vnto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually decerned.
- 1Humane or worldly wisdom.Humane or worldly wisdome.
