The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

First, Faith doth surpass all humane sciences in the dignity of the subject. The matter about which a Christians faith is exercised doth far transcend all that about which humane knowledge doth exercise it self: For the highest that they could reach unto, is only to the knowledge of natural effects, produced by natural causes. And if any could prove these by the former; this they called a demonstration: Though some men say, No man ever yet gave a demonstration, à priori quoad see, but quoad nos. So then, all the excellent wisdom of the world, hath been only to consider the nature of sublunary things, or to discourse about the nature of the heavenly bodies, and their motions; and if they did arise to consider of a God, the Maker of these, it was in a very uncertain, doubtful way. Hence the Apostle speaks of them, Acts 17.27. that they were as men in the dark, feeling after a thing to find it, as the Sodomites smote with blindness felt for the door. This is all our humane wisdom can help us to, but now by faith we have the supernatural mysteries of salvation revealed unto us. The Scripture tells us, Of a God in Christ, reconciling man to himself; of mans original misery; of Christ the Mediator. Alas, how poor and contemptible are the highest notions even of Plato, though called Divine, when you come and read Paul? There are such admirable and heavenly truths revealed in Gods word, that all humane wisdom was no more able to find, or apprehend such things, then a dwarf could reach to the Heavens. If we then consider the dignity and worth of that subject which the Scripture revealeth, and faith is exercised about, dirt is not more inferior to precious pearls, than humane knowledge to faith.

First, Faith doth surpasse all humane sciences in the dignity of the subject. The matter about which a Christians faith is exercised doth farre transcend all that about which humane knowledge doth exercise it self: For the highest that they could reach unto, is only to the knowledge of natural effects, produced by natural causes. And if any could prove these by the former; this they called a demonstration: Though some men say, No man ever yet gave a demonstration, à priori quoad se, but quoad nos. So then, all the excellent wisdom of the world, hath been only to consider the nature of sublunary things, or to discourse about the nature of the heavenly bodies, and their motions; and if they did arise to consider of a God, the Maker of these, it was in a very uncertain, doubtfull way. Hence the Apostle speaks of them,