The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

Remember therefore to be always sensible of the great disadvantages of youth, and to preserve that reverence for experienced age, which God in nature as well as in Scripture hath made their due. If time & labour were not necessary to maturity of knowledge, why do you not trust another with your health, as well as a studied experienced Physician, and with your Estates, as well as a studied Lawyer? And why do no Sea-men trust any other, to govern the ship, as well as an experienced Pilot? Do you not see that all men ordinarily are best, at that which by long study they have made their profession.

Remember therefore to be always sensible of the great disadvantages of youth, and to preserve that reverence for experienced age, which God in nature as well as in Scripture hath made their due. If time & labour were not necessary to maturity of knowledge, why do you not trust another with your health, as well as a studyed experienced Physician, and with your Estates, as well as a studyed Lawyer? And why do no Sea-men trust any other, to govern the ship, as well as an experienced Pilot? Do you not see that all men ordinarily are best, at that which by long study they have made their profession.

I know those that I have now to do with will say, that Divinity is not learnt by labour and mens teaching, as other Sciences and Arts are; but by the teaching of the spirit of God: and therefore the youngest may have as much of it as the eldest.

Answ. There is some truth and some falsehood, and much confusion, in this objection. It is true that the saving knowledge of Divinity, must be taught by the Spirit of God: But it is false that labour and humane teaching are not the means which must be used by them, who will have the teaching of the spirit. And the objection confoundeth, 1. The spirits teaching us by inditing the Scripture, with the spirits teaching us the meaning of the Scripture. 2 And it confoundeth the common knowledge of Divinity, with the saving knowledge of it. No man cometh to a common knowledge, fit for a Teacher of others, without the spirits teaching us by the Scripture: For that was the first part of the spirits teaching us, to inspire the Prophets and Apostles to deliver a teaching, Word to the Church, by which we might all be taught of God through all generations. But many men have excellent common knowledge, by this word, and by the common help of the spirit, without that special help which begetteth saving knowledge. Many prophesied and worked miracles in Christs name, who had no saving knowledge of him,