Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

4. The Inferences from all for Instruction and Direction.

First then, Disputations and Arguments are not easily judged of by such as are weak in Faith and Knowledge of Christian liberty. Now this is evident from the first Dispute that ever was in the World. For Satan was a Disputer from the beginning, and is still the Father and Author of all ensnaring and contentious Disputations. The first thing he disputed was Gods command. The Prohibition and Threatening was absolute,¹ Moth tamuth, Gen. 2.17. but the Woman who was first in the Transgression faltereth in the recital of it, with a perhaps we shall die, Gen. 3.3. But by this first dispute with the Serpent, our first Parents, when in uprightness and strength of the image of God newly stamped on them in knowledge and holiness; yet this Father or fomenter of Disputes foiled them; and so all mankind being naturally and federally in them, was drawn into their guilt and filth. So that reason is ever since debased and deposed, and no Man is able to rule himself, much less another; his rule and measures being broken, he hath only some fragments and splinters of the Tree of Knowledge which he darts against God and himself: The holy Lamp and Flame is so extinguished, that now he only compasseth himself about with his own sparks till he lie down in sorrow, Isa. 50.11. Creatures as Creatures are fallible and failable (witness Men and Angels) especially by the impulse of false Arguments. It is God's only Prerogative to be intrinsically Infallible and Immutable. And it is a perfection incommunicable to Men or Angels. But now sinful Man is in a much more dark and doleful state. For,

First then, Disputations and Arguments are not easily judged of by such as are weak in Faith and Knowledge of Christian liberty. Now this is evident from the first Dispute that ever was in the World. For Satan was a Disputer from the beginning, and is still the Father and Author of all insnaring and contentious Disputations. The first thing he disputed was Gods command. The Prohibition and Threatning was absolute,