The understanding, or Dianoeticall faculty is the seat of Conclusions, and that is unable to deduce from spiritual principles (if there were any in their minds) such sound and divine conclusions as they are apt to beget: so though they know God (which is a Principle) yet this Principle was vain in them, for they conceived of his glory basely, by the similitude of four footed beasts, and creeping things, they conceived him an idle God as the Epicures, or a God subject to fate and necessity as the Stoics, or a sinful impu•e God, that by his example made uncleannesses religious, as Saint Cyprian speaks; one way or other they became vain in their imaginations of him; but secondly though they ⟨p. 183⟩knew him, yet the conclusions which they deduced from that Principle, That he was to be worshipped, &c. were utterly unworthy his majesty, They worshipped him ignorantly, 1superstitiously, not as became God, they changed 2his truth into a lye. Thirdly, suppose their principles to be found, their Conclusions from those principles to be natural and proper, yet all this is but speculation, they still are without the end of all this, spiritual prudence, their hearts were blinded, the heart is the Seat of knowledge practical, that by the Principles of the mind and the Conclusions of the understanding doth regulate and measure the Conversation, but that was unable, yea averse from any such knowledge, for they held the truth 3of God in unrighteousness, they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, they served the lusts of their own hearts, were given up to vile affections, were filled with all unrighteousness, and had pleasure in evil workers, even when they did things which they knew deserved death, and provoked judgement. This is that universal defect which is in us by nature; and very much of this remains in the best of us. Here then when we are not able to conceive the Lords purpose in his word, though of it self it be all light, when we find with David that it is too excellent for us, let us learn to bewail that evil concupiscence of our nature, which still fills our understandings with mists, and puts a veil before our faces. The whole Book of God is a precious Mine full of unsearchable4 treasures, and of all wisdom;
The understanding, or Dianoeticall facultie is the seate of Conclusions, and that is unable to deduce from spirituall principles (if there were any in their mindes) such sound and divine conclusions as they are apt to beget: so though they know God (which is a Principle) yet this Principle was vaine in them, for they conceiv'd of his glory basely, by the similitude of foure footed beasts, and creeping things, they conceiv'd him an idle God as the Epicures, or a God subject to fate and necessity as the Stoicks, or a sinfull impu•e God, that by his example made uncleannesses religious, as Saint Cyprian speakes; one way or other they became vaine in their imaginations of him; but secondly though they ⟨p. 183⟩knew him, yet the conclusions which they deduc'd from that Principle, That he was to be worshipped, &c. were utterly unworthy his majesty, They worshipped him ignorantly, 1superstitiously, not as became God, they changed 2his truth into a lye. Thirdly, suppose their principles to be found, their Conclusions from those principles to be naturall and proper, yet all this is but speculation, they still are without the end of all this, spirituall prudence, their hearts were blinded, the heart is the Seate of knowledge practicall, that by the Principles of the minde and the Conclusions of the understanding doth regulate and measure the Conversation, but that was unable, yea averse from any such knowledge, for they held the truth 3of God in unrighteousnesse, they did not like to retaine God in their knowledge, they served the lusts of their owne hearts, were given up to vile affections, were filled with all unrighteousnesse, and had pleasure in evill workers, even when they did things which they knew deserved death, and provoked judgement. This is that universall defect which is in us by nature; and very much of this remaines in the best of us. Here then when we are not able to conceive the Lords purpose in his word, though of it selfe it be all light, when we finde with David that it is too excellent for us, let us learne to bewaile that evill concupiscence of our nature, which still fils our understandings with mists, and puts a vaile before our faces. The whole Booke of God is a pretious Mine full of unsearchable4 treasures, and of all wisedome;
- 1Act. 17. 22, 23.
- 2Rom. 1. 21, 25.
- 3Rom. 1. 18, 28. 24. 26. 29. 32.
- 4[Greek or Hebrew]. Basil. in pro. em. lib. de Spiritu Sancto.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Basil. in pro. em. lib. de Spiritu Sancto.
