A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

3. The same we may say of Mens enquiring into those things which concern others rather than themselves: When Men are Learned in other Mens duties, but ignorant of their own; can spy motes in other Mens eyes, and not see beams in their own; Mat. 7 3. Can criticize upon little faults in their Neighbours, and yet overlook much greater in themselves.

4. Men are curious, when they study things rather difficult and nice, than useful and edifying; such as are more fine than substantial, new or rare, instead of great and weighty: Such seem to have been those [Greek or Hebrew], vain babblings, ¹against which the Apostle cautions Timothy, Eph. 1.6.20. great words of little signification, a noise of something worth just nothing: And such those questions and strifes of words about which some doted, v. 4. The vainest emptiest persons amongst us, are not more fantastical in their garb or diet, than some others are in their studies and enquiries: They are for that knowledge which is most fashionable; Their very minds must be in the mode; Their notions must be the neatest and newest; They disdain what is common, though never so profitable; What they like must have newness and variety, or else abstruseness and difficulty to commend it; something be sure besides usefulness: They have sick Queasy stomachs, distempered palates; cannot eat their Spiritual food; unless it be minced, nor relish the most wholesome truths, unless set off with a Philosophical gust: In a word, they are rather for odd things than good; such as may gratify their wanton fancies, rather than bring any saving benefit to their Souls.

4. Men are curious, when they study things rather difficult and nice, than useful and edifying; such as are more fine than substantial, new or rare, instead of great and weighty: Such seem to have been those 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, vain bablings,