A plain and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…A plaine and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…

Reason 1 First, wisdom is from above: the spirit of God doth infuse it, and no means of their own force beget it, as Elihu speaketh concerning old age: I said, the days shall speak, and the ¹multitude of years shall teach understanding. Surely there is a spirit in man, but the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding. Great men are not always wise, neither do the aged alway understand judgement.

Reason 1 First, wisdome is from aboue: the spirit of God doth infuse it, and no meanes of their owne force beget it, as Elihu speaketh concerning old age: I said, the daies shall speake, and the ¹multitude of yeeres shall teach vnderstanding. Surely there is a spirit in man, but the inspiration of the Almightie giueth vnderstanding. Great men are not alwaies wise, neither doe the aged alway vnderstand iudgement.

1. 1Job 32. 7.Iob 32. 7.

Secondly, without the spirit, where the heart is away, and the desire of wisdom is wanting, there all these means, which seem to be helps, do turn to hurts, as goods, ⟨p. 146⟩good instructions, sharpness of wit, time and leisure, and many such like. They choke the word, and harden the hart: they puff up the mind: they draw all the affections to vanity.

Secondly, without the spirit, where the heart is away, and the desire of wisdome is wanting, there all these meanes, which seeme to bee helpes, doe turne to hurts, as goods,