The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

I. For Sin, it is become, as it were, its nature, it liveth with men from the birth to the grave. It is an ignorant world, that wandereth in darkness; and yet a proud self-conceited world, that will not be convinced of its ignorance; and is never more furiously confident, than when it is most deceived and most blind. Even natural wisdom is so rare, and folly hath the major vote and strength, that wise men are wearied with resisting folly, and ready in discouragements to leave the foolish world unto it self, as an incurable Bedlam: so fierce are fools against instruction, and so hard is it to make them know that they are ignorant, or to convince men of their mistakes and errors: The Learner thinks his ⟨p. 243⟩Teacher doteth;¹ and he that hath but wit enough to distinguish him from a brute, is as confident as if he were a Doctor. The Learned themselves are for the most part but half-witted men, who either take up with lazy studies,² or else have the disadvantage of uncapable temperatures and wits, or of unhappy Teachers and false principles received by ill education, which keep out truth: so that they are but fitted to trouble the world with their contentions, or deceive men by their errors: and yet have they not the acquaintance with their ignorance, which might make them learn of such as can instruct them; but if there be among many but one that is wiser than the rest, he is thought to be unfit to live among them, if he will not deny his knowledge,³ and own their errors, and confess that modesty and order require, that either the highest, or the major vote are the masters of truth, and all is false that is against their opinions.

I. For Sin, it is become, as it were, its nature, it liveth with men from the birth to the grave. It is an ignorant world, that wandereth in darkness; and yet a proud self-conceited world, that will not be convinced of its ignorance; and is never more furiously confident, than when it is most deceived and most blind. Even natural wisdom is so rare, and folly hath the major vote and strength, that wise men are wearied with resisting folly, and ready in discouragements to leave the foolish world unto it self, as an incurable Bedlam: so fierce are fools against instruction, and so hard is it to make them know that they are ignorant, or to convince men of their mistakes and errours: The Learner thinks his