Prima the first things, in reference to the middle and last things

First, I say, ¹in the new man the understanding must be renewed; so the Apostle, The new man is renewed in knowledge, Col. 3.10. and this knowledge implies two habits, ²Wisdom and Prudence, Col. 1.9. First, Wisdom, and that is speculative: Secondly, Prudence, and that is practical: By the one the child of God having the eyes of his mind opened and enlightened, doth see the mysteries of salvation, the secrets of the Kingdom, the whole Counsel, and the wonders of the Law of God; by the other he is enabled with a judicious sincerity, to deliberate and determine in cases of conscience, in the practice of piety, and the experimental passages of a Christian man: ³If we consider the first (Wisdom) how is it possible that a man unregenerate should know the mysteries of salvation? It may be he may go as far as the power of natural discourse, and light of Reason can bear sway, he may be furnished with store of rare and excellent learning, and yet for all this want the true knowledge of spiritual wisdom: Why so? Because ⟨p. 12⟩all his knowledge, like the light of the Moon, is discharged upon others, but never returns and reflects upon his own soul; he should know, but knows not the darkness of his own understanding, the disorder of his own affections, the slumber of his own conscience, the deadness of his own heart; but the man regenerate (know he never so little) he hath the saving-knowledge, and in this he exceeds the greatest Rabbis, the profoundest Clerks; he only knows God with a steadfast apprehension, he only knows himself a most mean, base and contemptible thing; his new birth hath learned him how wicked a creature he naturally is, and therefore in that respect is he odious to himself, and loathsome in his own eyes: Or if we consider the second (Prudence) How is it possible that a man unregenerate, ⁴should experimentally know the practice of piety in a Christian course? Should we instance in this mystery of Regeneration; Here is one Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, and a teacher of Israel; yet, as learned as he was, if he confer with Christ about the salvation of his soul, he is strangely childish, and a mere infant; tell him of the new birth, and he thinks it as impossible, as for an old man to return into his mothers womb, and be born again: