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Secondly, The Matter believed, that hath appeared a great folly to the wisdom of the world, is, That God should be made man, that he should die, be crucified, and by this means work salvation for the poor sinner. This whole System of Gods dispensation, seemed but an heap of foolish imaginations. Lucian that profane dog, who (they say) was torn in pieces by dogs, by derision, called Christ, The crucified God. Therefore Paul hath that expression, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, Rom. 1.15. He was not ashamed of it, though the Heathens, the wise men of the world despised it; and herein consider, the unreasonableness of the Heathens, that could and did believe such monstrous things about their gods, even as those that committed all wickedness. Hence Austin well speaking of Seneca's advice, to set some wise grave man, as Cato before us, that we may not sin, said, He must propound a man, not any of their gods, for every one of them was noted for some filthiness, or other. Hence he in Terence encouraged himself to lusts, because their gods did so. The Heathens (I say) that could believe such monstrous and filthy things about their gods, and worship them, yet would deride at Christ crucified, though risen with power, working many miracles, and teaching nothing but admirable holy duties: But now in all this dispensation about Christ, God showed his manifold wisdom, even far above that, which was in making the world.

Secondly, The Matter believed, that hath appeared a great folly to the wisdome of the world, is, That God should be made man, that he should die, be crucified, and by this means work salvation for the poor sinner. This whole Systeme of Gods dispensation, seemed but an heap of foolish imaginations. Lucian that prophane dog, who (they say) was torne in pieces by dogs, by derision, called Christ, The crucified God. Therefore Paul hath that expression, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, Rom. 1.15. He was not ashamed of it, though the Heathens, the wise men of the world despised it; and herein consider, the unreasonablenesse of the Heathens, that could and did believe such monstrous things about their gods, even as those that committed all wickednesse. Hence Austin well speaking of Seneca's advice, to set some wise grave man, as Cato before us, that we may not sin, said, He must propound a man, not any of their gods, for every one of them was noted for some filthinesse, or other. Hence he in Terence encouraged himself to lusts, because their gods did so. The Heathens (I say) that could believe such monstrous and filthy things about their gods, and worship them, yet would deride at Christ crucified, though risen with power, working many miracles, and teaching nothing but admirable holy duties: But now in all this dispensation about Christ, God shewed his manifold wisdome, even farre above that, which was in making the world.