A cloud of faithful witnesses, leading to the heavenly Canaan, or, A commentary upon…A cloud of faithfull witnesses, leading to the heauenly Canaan, or, A commentarie vpon…

Now then whereas general faith brings understanding of many things which reason cannot reach unto; here, such as be students in humane learning, & which labour to attain to the deepness and perfection of it, are taught, with their travel in humane studies, to have care to join faith and knowledge of religion. For there are many things which our understanding by reason cannot conceive; and many truths which Philosophy cannot reach unto: nay, many also which it denies: but faith is able to persuade and demonstrate them all, and it enlightens the mind, and rectifies the judgement, when as Philosophy hath left the mind in darkness, and the judgement in error. Now, in whom sound knowledge in Philosophy, and this faith in religion do concur together, he is a man of a most rectified judgement, and of a deep reach in the greatest matters: but, separate faith from humane knowledge, and he will stumble at many truths, though he had the wit of all the Philosophers in his own head: For example, that God should make the world of nothing: that it should have beginning & ending; that God should be eternal, and not the world: that mans soul being created, is immortal; These & many other truths, reason cannot see, & therefore Philosophy will not admit: but join faith to it, & then that crooked understanding is rectified & ⟨p. 24⟩made to believe it. It is therefore good counsel, to join both these together. Religion hinders not humane learning, as some fondly think; but is a furtherance and help, or rather the perfection of humane learning: persuading, and proving, and convincing that, which humane learning cannot. And thus we see how faith makes us to understand.

Now then whereas generall faith brings vnderstanding of many things which reason cannot reach vnto; here, such as be students in humane learning, & which labour to attain to the deepenesse and perfection of it, are taught, with their trauell in humane studies, to haue care to ioyne faith and knowledge of religion. For there are many things which our vnderstanding by reason cannot conceiue; and many truthes which Philosophy cannot reach vnto: nay, many also which it denies: but faith is able to perswade and demonstrate them all, and it inlightens the mind, and rectifies the iudgement, when as Philosophy hath left the mind in darknesse, and the iudgement in error. Now, in whom sound knowledge in Philosophy, and this faith in religion do concurre together, he is a man of a most rectified iudgement, and of a deepe reach in the greatest matters: but, separate faith from humane knowledge, and he will stumble at many truthes, though hee had the wit of all the Philosophers in his owne head: For exsample, that God should make the world of nothing: that it should haue beginning & ending; that God should be eternall, and not the world: that mans soul being created, is immortal; These & many other truths, reasō cānot see, & therfore Philosophy wil not admit: but ioin faith to it, & then that crooked vnderstanding is rectified &