More reasons for the Christian religion and no reason against it, or, A second…

Fifthly, It is certain that as particular notices are multiplied quod actus in time by use and information, so the knowing disposition of the faculty is increased: And the notice of a thousand truths doth so advance the understanding, and befriend other truths not yet received, that such a man can know more afterward in a day, than an ignorant man can learn in a year. Sixthly, By all which it is a most evident thing, that to make common Notions to be the only certainties, is a weakness below a rational man: And it is to make the intellect ⟨p. 129⟩of an Infant to be the standard or measure of all certain intellectual verities, and to make the Scholar even before he goeth to School as wise (as to certainties) as his Master and to make a new born Child to have seen as many Objects as Drake, or de Noort, or Sandys, or Ludovics Romanus in all his travels. In a word the Notitiae Communes being the very lowest degree of knowledge are thus equalled with the wisdom of the greatest Philosopher or Divine or Judge: Was this learned Lord when he wrote this Book sure of nothing, but these common Notions i• Religion. Seventhly, To which I might add that even in mens natural capacities, there is a wonderful difference: As Idiots know little, so Dullards not much: And must the wisest go no higher than these. Eighthly, And will Lawyers, Statesmen, Physicians, Philosophers, make this consent of all mankind, the test of all their certainties? If not, why should we do so in our search after the greatest Verities, which are most worthy of all the study of our Lives.

Fifthly, It is certain that as particular notices are multiplied quod actus in time by use and information, so the knowing disposition of the faculty is increased: And the notice of a thousand truths doth so advance the understanding, and befreind other truths not yet received, that such a man can know more afterward in a day, than an ignorant man can learn in a year. Sixthly, By all which it is a most evident thing, that to make common Notions to be the only certainties, is a weakness below a rational man: And it is to make the intellect ⟨p. 129⟩of an Infant to be the standard or measure of all certain intellectual verities, and to make the Schollar even before he goeth to School as wise (as to certainties) as his Master and to make a new born Child to have seen as many Objects as Drake, or de Noort, or Sandys, or Ludovics Romanus in all his travels. In a word the Notitiae Communes being the very lowest degree of knowledge are thus equalled with the wisdom of the greatest Philosopher or Divine or Judge: Was this learned Lord when he wrote this Book sure of nothing, but these common Notions i Religion. Seventhly, To which I might add that even in mens natural capacities, there is a wonderful difference: As Ideots know little, so Dullards not much: And must the wisest go no higher than these. Eighthly, And will Lawyers, Statesmen, Physicians, Philosophers, make this consent of all mankind, the test of all their certainties? If not, why should we do so in our search after the greatest Verities, which are most worthy of all the study of our Lives.