A26906:1119
The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…
The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being dividers or troublers of the church with some directions to the pastors how to deal with such Christians / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Symmons, 1670
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As for the younger and emptier sort of Ministers, it is no wonder, if they understand not that which they had never opportunity to study, or have taken but a superficial taste of: But it were to be wished that they were so humble as to confess that they are yet but beardless; and that time and long study is needful to make them as wise as those (who with equal wit and grace) have had many more years of serious study, and greater opportunities to know the truth: and that they have not their wisdom by special inspiration or revelation; nor so far excel the rest of mankind in a miraculous wit, as to know that by a few years lazy study, which others know not by the laborious humble fear•h•s of a far longer time. One would think that a little humility […] the turn for thus much.
As for the younger and emptier sort of Ministers, it is no wonder, if they understand not that which they had never opportunity to study, or have taken but a superficial taste of: But it were to be wished that they were so humble as to confess that they are yet but beardless; and that time and long study is needful to make them as wise as those (who with equal wit and grace) have had many more years of serious study, and greater opportunities to know the truth: and that they have not their wisdome by special inspiration or revelation; nor so far excel the rest of mankind in a miraculous wit, as to know that by a few years lazy study, which others know not by the laborious humble fear•h•s of a far longer time. One would think that a little humility 〈…〉 the turn for thus much.
But it ignorance get possession of the ancient and […] headed, it triumpheth then, and desi•• […], and saith, Give me a man that […] with him? Or rather, Away with […] is not worthy to be disputed […] groweth not with years: […] wit may be poring forty or fifty […] that which another may sooner understand. ⟨p. 405⟩