The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

2. The Pride of the Humane Understanding, which disdains to stoop to the height of these mysteries. 'Tis observable, that those who most excelled in Natural Wisdom, were the greatest despisers of Evangelical Truths.¹ The proud Wits of the World chose rather to be Masters of their own, than Scholars ⟨p. 131⟩to another.² They made Reason their Supreme Rule, and Philosophy their highest Principle, and would not believe what they could not comprehend. They derided Christians as captives of a blind Belief, and their Faith as the effect of Folly; and rejected Revelation, the only means to convey the knowledge of Divine Mysteries to them. Therefore the Apostle, by way of upbraiding, enquires, Where is the wise man? Where is the Scribe? Where is the Disputer of this world? God hath made the wisdom of the world foolishness. As those who are really poor, and would appear rich in the Pomp of their Habits and Attendants, are made poorer by that expense; so those who were destitute of true Wisdom and would appear wise in making Reason the Judg of Divine Revelation, and the last resolution of all things, by that false affectation of Wisdom, they became more foolish: By all their Disputes against the appearing absurdities of the Christian Religion, they were brought into a more learned Darkness.

2. The Pride of the Humane Understanding, which disdains to stoop to the height of these mysteries. 'Tis observable, that those who most excell'd in Natural Wisdom, were the greatest despisers of Evangelical Truths.¹ The proud Wits of the World chose rather to be Masters of their own, than Scholars ⟨p. 131⟩to another.² They made Reason their Supreme Rule, and Philosophy their highest Principle, and would not believe what they could not comprehend. They derided Christians as captives of a blind Belief, and their Faith as the effect of Folly; and rejected Revelation, the only means to conveigh the knowledg of Divine Mysteries to them. Therefore the Apostle, by way of upbraiding, enquires, Where is the wise man? Where is the Scribe? Where is the Disputer of this world? God hath made the wisdome of the world foolishness. As those who are really poor, and would appear rich in the Pomp of their Habits and Attendants, are made poorer by that expence; so those who were destitute of true Wisdom and would appear wise in making Reason the Judg of Divine Revelation, and the last resolution of all things, by that false affectation of Wisdom, they became more foolish: By all their Disputes against the appearing absurdities of the Christian Religion, they were brought into a more learned Darkness.