A30242:1349
The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…
The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole third chapter of the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians to which is annexed The godly and the natural mans choice, upon Psal. 4, vers. 6, 7, 8 / by Anthony Burgess ...The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole third chapter of the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians to which is annexed The godly and the natural mans choice, upon Psal. 4, vers. 6, 7, 8 / by Anthony Burgesse ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for T.U., 1659
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.
In all these, you shall see, a man with no more than natural humane wisdom to be the greatest adversary thereunto: yea, and the more parts, and the more wisdom he hath, the more indisposed subject he is to receive or believe supernatural truths. Insomuch that wise men thought no man that had wisdom, could ever acknowledge the Christian faith. So Tertullian said, the Heathens would wonder, that such a man, a good, and a wise man would ever turn Christian. Thus what Tertullian said excellently concerning Christs Incarnation, in regard of the humane wisdom of the world, That a God should be made man, be crucified, &c. Prorsus credibile, quia impossibile; & non pudet, quia pudendum. It's true of many others doctrinals and practicals in Christs kingdom; yet truly, Divinity doth require of us no more than all humane Arts, Discentem credere oportet. If a man doth not believe before he understands, he can never attain to knowledge: and so saith Austin, in Religion, Non intelligendum, ut credatis, sed credendum, ut intelligatis; We must not understand to believe, but believe to understand.
In all these, you shall see, a man with no more than natural humane wisdom to be the greatest adversary therunto: yea, and the more parts, and the more wisdom he hath, the more indisposed subject he is to receive or believe supernatural truths. Insomuch that wise men thought no man that had wisdome, could ever acknowledge the Christian faith. So Tertullian said, the Heathens would wonder, that such a man, a good, and a wise man would ever turn Christian. Thus what Tertullian said excellently concerning Christs Incarnation, in regard of the humane wisdome of the world, That a God should be made man, be crucified, &c. Prorsus credibile, quia impossibile; & non pudet, quia pudendum. It's true of many others doctrinals and practicals in Christs kingdome; yet truly, Divinity doth require of us no more than all humane Arts, Discentem credere oportet. If a man doth not believe before he understands, he can never attain to knowledge: and so saith Austin, in Religion, Non intelligendum, ut credatis, sed credendum, ut intelligatis; We must not understand to believe, but believe to understand.
Let us consider, First, What an enemy to the Doctrine believed, the fleshly, humane wisdom of a man is. And