But though none but proud fools will deny the need of that humane Learning which improveth1 nature, and is subservient to our knowledge of supernatural Revelations, yet well doth Paul admonish us to take heed that none deceive us by vain Philosophy, and faith that the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God, and that the knowledge of Christ Crucified is the true Christian Philosophy or Wisdom. For indeed the dark Philosophers groping after the knowledge of God, did frequently stumble, and did introduce abundance of Logical and Physical vanities, uncertainties, and falsities under the name of Philosophy, by mere niceties and high pretendings seeking for the glory of wisdom to themselves; when as it is one thing to know Gods works and God in them, and another thing to compose a system of Physics and Metaphysics containing abundance of errors and confusion, and jumbling a few certainties with a great many uncertainties and untruths, and every sect pulling down, what others asserted, and all of them disproving the methods and assertions of others, and none proving their own. And the truth is, after all later discoveries, there is yet so much error, darkness, uncertainty and confusion in the Philosophy of every pretending sect, (the Peripatetics, ⟨p. 908⟩the Stoics, the Pythagoreans and Platonists, much more the Epicureans, the Lullianists, the Cartesians,2 Telesius, Campanella, Patricius, Gassendus, &c.) that it is a wonder that any that ever throughly tried them, can be so weak as to glory much of the certainties and methods of any, which hitherto are so palpably uncertain, and full of certain errors. We may therefore make use of all true humane learning, Real and Organical, (And he is the happy Scholar who fasteneth upon the CERTAIN and the USEFUL parts, well distinguished from the rest, and truly useth them to their great and proper ends): But niceties, and fooleries which some spend their lives in for mere ostentation, and also uncertain presumptions, should be much neglected; And the great, certain, necessary, saving Verities of Morality and the Gospel must be dearly loved, and thankfully embraced, and studiously learned, and faithfully practised, by all that would prove wise men at last.
But though none but proud fools will deny the need of that humane Learning which improveth1 nature, and is subservient to our knowledge of supernatural Revelations, yet well doth Paul admonish us to take heed that none deceive us by vain Philosophy, and faith that the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God, and that the knowledge of Christ Crucified is the true Christian Philosophy or Wisdom. For indeed the dark Philosophers groping after the knowledge of God, did frequently stumble, and did introduce abundance of Logical and Physical vanities, uncertainties, and •alsities under the name of Philosophy, by meer niceties and high pretendings seeking for the glory of wisdom to themselves; when as it is one thing to know Gods works and God in them, and another thing to compose a systeme of Physicks and Metaphysicks containing abundance of errours and confusion, and jumbling a few certainties with a great many uncertainties and untruths, and every sect pulling down, what others asserted, and all of them disproving the methods and assertions of others, and none proving their own. And the truth is, after all later discoveries, there is yet so much errour, darkness, uncertainty and confusion in the Philosophy of every pretending sect, (the Peripateticks, ⟨p. 908⟩the Stoicks, the Pythagoreans and Platonists, much more the Epicureans, the Lullianists, the Cartesians,2 Telesius, Campanella, Patricius, Gassendus, &c.) that it is a wonder that any that ever throughly tryed them, can be so weak as to glory much of the certainties and methods of any, which hitherto are so palpably uncertain, and full of certain errours. We may therefore make use of all true humane learning, Real and Organical, (And he is the happy Scholar who fasteneth upon the CERTAIN and the USEFUL parts, well distinguished from the rest, and truly useth them to their great and proper ends): But niceties, and fooleries which some spend their lives in for meer ostentation, and also uncertain presumptions, should be much neglected; And the great, certain, necessary, saving Verities of Morality and the Gospel must be dearly loved, and thankfully imbraced, and studiously learned, and faithfully practised, by all that would prove wise men at last.
- 1Col. 2. 8, 9, 23. 1 Cor. 2. 1, 4, 5, 6, 13. & 3. 19. 2 Cor. •. 12. •ob 28. 28. Prov. 1. 7. & 9. 10. Joh. 17. 3. Gal. 4. 9. Eph. 3. 10. 1 Joh. 2. 13, 14. Col. 1. 9, 27, 28. Eph. 6. 19. 1 Cor. 2. 11. Col. 3. 16.
- 2Act. 17. 18, 19, &c. Eph. 4. 18, 19. Hos. 4. 1. & 6. 6. Psal. 119. 99. 2 Pet. 3. 18. 2 Pet. 1. 3, 5, 8. •ol. 2. 3. & 3. 10. Phil. 3. 8. Eph. 3. 19. Eph. 1. 17. Rom. 1. 20, 21, 28. Eccl. 1. 16, 17, 18
