Confutation of them that dissuade men from seeking of Use. knowledge, because there be so many seducers that go about ⟨p. 40⟩to deceive. It is dangerous dealing with scriptures (say they) we know not well whom to trust, the world is so full of dissemblers, and therefore we will neither hear, nor believe any Preacher of them all. But they will hear and believe Jesuits, and seminaries, and popish persons that entice them to Idolatry and disloyalty: they will hear and believe gamesters, and filthy fellows that will lead them to lust, lewdness, riot, and unthriftiness: they will hear and believe such as will fill their ears with false report, and poison their harts with malice, covetousness, craft, and cruelty. As though there were no infectious people but ministers; no peril of contagion, but at sermons; none subject to be misled, but such as use the best means to know the right way. But consider the force of their reason whereby they would induce men to persist in their blindness: there be many slips, and much counterfeit metal, and therefore no use of a touchstone: there is poison prepared for us, and therefore beware of preservatives: our enemies come armed against us, and therefore let us cast away our weapons: their purpose is to surprise us in the dark, and therefore put out at any hand all the light What is it but wisdom that doth enable us to try all things, and to hold that which is good? what is it but knowledge that doth descry the venom of all pestiferous, and pestilent opinions? what is it but understanding that doth discover the dangerous occurrents that will ensue upon pernicious counsel? For other uses of this point, see verse 10. Doct. 2.
Confutation of them that diswade men from seeking of Vse. knowledge, because there bee so many seducers that goe about ⟨p. 40⟩to deceiue. It is dangerous dealing with scriptures (say they) wee know not well whom to trust, the world is so full of dissemblers, and therefore wee will neither heare, nor beleeue any Preacher of them all. But they will heare and beleeue Iesuits, and seminaries, and popish persons that intice them to Idolatrie and disloyaltie: they will heare and beleeue gamesters, and filthie fellowes that will leade them to lust, lewdenesse, riot, and vnthriftinesse: they will heare and beeleeue such as will fill their eares with false report, and poyson their harts with malice, couetousnesse, craft, and crueltie. As though there were no infectious people but ministers; no perill of contagion, but at sermons; none subiect to bee miseled, but such as vse the best meanes to know the right way. But consider the force of their reason whereby they would induce men to persist in their blindnes: there be many slips, and much counterfait mettall, and therefore no vse of a touchstone: there is poyson prepared for vs, and therefore beware of preseruatiues: our enemies come armed against vs, and therefore let vs cast away our weapons: their purpose is to surprise vs in the darke, and therefore put out at any hand all the light What is it but wisedome that doth inable vs to try all things, and to hold that which is good? what is it but knowledge that doth discrie the venome of all pestiferous, and pestilent opinions? what is it but vnderstanding that doth discouer the dangerous occurrents that will insue vpon pernicious counsell? For other vses of this poynt, see verse 10. Doct. 2.
