First of all therefore for matter of instruction,1 if it be so, that the things of the Gospel be such, as that without a revelation from God, they could not be known, then we see, that there is no principle at all of the Gospel in nature. There is not a spark of light, or any inclination to the Gospel but it is merely above nature: for he removes here, all natural ways of knowing the Gospel, eye, ear, & understanding: therefore the knowledge of it is merely supernatural. For if God had not revealed it, who could ever have devised ⟨p. 24⟩it? And when he revealed it, to discover it by his Spirit, it is supernatural: but in heaven much more, which is the third degree I spake of.2 Therefore (by the way) you may know the reason why so many heresies have sprung out of the Gospel, more than out of he Law, & the misunderstā ding of it. There are few or no heresies from that, because the principles of the Law are written in the heart: men naturally know that whoredom, and adultery, and filthy living, &c. are sins; men have not so quenched nature, but that they know that those things are naught: therefore there have been excellent Lawmakers among the heathens. ⟨p. 25⟩But the Gospel is a mere mystery discovered out of the breast of God, without all principles of nature: there are thousands of errors that are not to be reckoned, about the nature, the person & the benefits of Christ, about justification, and sanctification, and free will and grace, and such things, what a world of heresies, have proud wits continually started up? This would never have been but that the Gospel is a thing above nature. Therefore when a proud wit, and supernatural knowledge revealed meet together: the proud heart storms, and loves to struggle, and deviseth this thing and that thing to commend it self, ⟨p. 26⟩and hereupon comes heresies, the mingling of natural wit with divine truths. If men had had passive wits to submit to divine truths, and to work nothing out of themselves, as the spider out of her own bowels, there had not been such heresies in the Church, but their hearts meeting with supernatural truths, their proud hearts mingling with it, they have devised these errors that I note in the first place.
First of all therefore for matter of instruction,1 if it be so, that the things of the Gospell bee such, as that without a revelation from God, they could not bee knowen, then we see, that there is no principle at all of the Gospel in nature. There is not a sparke of light, or any inclination to the Gospell but it is meerly above nature: for hee removes here, all naturall wayes of knowing the Gospell, eye, eare, & understanding: therfore the knowledge of it is meerly supernaturall. For if God had not revealed it, who could ever have devised ⟨p. 24⟩it? And when hee revealed it, to discover it by his Spirit, it is supernatural: but in heaven much more, which is the third degree I spake of.2 Therfore (by the way) you may know the reason why so many heresies have sprung out of the Gospel, more than out of he Law, & the misunderstā ding of it. There are few or no heresies from that, because the principles of the Law are writtē in the heart: men naturally know that whoredome, and adulterie, and filthy living, &c. are sins; men have not so quenched nature, but that they know that those things are naught: therefore there have been excellent Lawmakers amōg the heathens. ⟨p. 25⟩But the Gospel is a meere mystery discoured out of the breast of God, without all principles of nature: there are thousands of errors that are not to be reckoned, about the nature, the person & the benefits of Christ, about justification, and sanctification, and free will and grace, and such things, what a world of heresies, have proud wits continually started up? This would never have beene but that the Gospell is a thing above nature. Therefore when a proud wit, and supernaturall knowledge revealed meete together: the proude heart stormes, and loves to struggle, and deviseth this thing and that thing to commend it selfe, ⟨p. 26⟩and hereupon comes heresies, the mingling of naturall wit with divine truthes. If men had had passive wits to submit to divine truthes, and to worke nothing out of themselves, as the spider out of her own bowells, there had not beene such heresies in the Church, but their hearts meeting with supernaturall truthes, their proud hearts mingling with it, they have devised these errours that I note in the first place.
- 11. Use. Instruction1. Vse. Instruction
- 2Why so many heresies touching the Gospel.
