But this man was a Pharisee, such a one as Paul was before his conversion, one that expounded the law of God unto the people, and lived after the straitest law of their religion; Acts, 26.5. in a word, he was such a one, as both for his life and learning, was admired and honoured of the Jews. Though this Lawyer were learned, yet it was boldly done of him to tempt the Lord: But what is it which learning dare not attempt, if it be not tempered with the fear of God? Christ Jesus found no greater adversaries than the high Priests, the Scribes & Pharisees, which were all learned men, and the Church of Christ at this day is by none so much afflicted, as by those that carry the opinion of singular learning. For look how many heresies are extant in the Church, or how many controversies in religion, they have bin devised & are maintained by learned men. Let learned men therefore learn to fear the Lord: yea, let them learn to know nothing so much as Christ Jesus, and him crucified, ⟨image 6⟩1. Cor. 2.2. without the which knowledge all knowledge is ignorance, all wisdom is foolishness, all learning is madness, and all religion is error, or hypocrisy, or superstition. God hath not chosen many wise men, nor many nightie men, nor many noble men, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the things that are mighty; and vile things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, 1, Cor. 3.19. Our Saviour Christ in the choice of his Apostles, called not one that was learned; yet hath he not rejected all that are learned: for from heaven he called his Apostle Paul a learned Lawyer, Acts, 22.3. to be the Apostle and Preacher of the Gentiles, Rom. 11.13. And there is no doubt, but that in all ages, and even at this day, he calleth some in every place, and endueth them with excellent learning, that they may serve to the gathering together of the Saints, and to the exercising of the ministry, and to the edifying of the Church of God, Ephe. 4.12. The Lord Jesus so moderate our learning with his holy fear, that we may direct all our studies to the enlarging of his glory and kingdom here on earth, that when the chief shepherd shall appear, 1. Pet. 5.4.
But this man was a Pharisee, such a one as Paul was before his conuersion, one that expounded the law of God vnto the people, and liued after the straitest lawe of their religion; Acts, 26.5. in a word, he was such a one, as both for his life and learning, was admired and honoured of the Iewes. Though this Lawier were learned, yet it was boldly done of him to tempt the Lorde: But what is it which learning dare not attempt, if it bee not tempered with the feare of God? Christ Iesus found no greater aduersaries than the high Priests, the Scribes & Pharisees, which were all learned men, and the Church of Christ at this day is by none so much afflicted, as by those that carrie the opinion of singuler learning. For looke how many heresies are extant in the Church, or howe many controuersies in religion, they haue bin deuisd & are maintaind by learned men. Let learned men therefore learne to feare the Lord: yea, let them learne to know nothing so much as Christ Iesus, and him crucified, ⟨image 6⟩1. Cor. 2.2. without the which knowledge all knowledge is ignorance, all wisedome is foolishnes, all learning is madnes, and all religion is error, or hipocrisie, or superstition. God hath not chosen many wise men, nor many nightie men, nor many noble men, but God hath chosen the foolish thinges of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weake things of the world, to confound the thinges that are mightie; and vile things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea and thinges which are not, to bring to nought things that are, 1, Cor. 3.19. Our Sauior Christ in the choice of his Apostles, called not one that was learned; yet hath he not reiected all that are learned: for from heauen hee called his Apostle Paul a learned Lawier, Acts, 22.3. to be the Apostle and Preacher of the Gentiles, Rom. 11.13. And there is no doubt, but that in all ages, and euen at this day, hee calleth some in euery place, and endueth them with excellent learning, that they may serue to the gathering together of the Saints, and to the exercising of the ministrie, and to the edifying of the Church of God, Ephe. 4.12. The Lorde Iesus so moderate our learning with his holy feare, that wee may direct al our studies to the enlarging of his glorie and kingdome here on earth, that when the chiefe shepheard shall appeare,
