Were I not already engaged (I know not how) in this public way of Controversies, I should wholly decline such service; partly because of that ill fate, (if I may say so) which doth accompany books through the various Palates of those that read them, whereby they are unwilling agnoscere quod Dei est, or ignoscere quod hominis est; partly because of expectation, (which is an heavy prejudice) all men judging it reasonable, that now in these latter times there being the advantage of all the abilities of those who went before us, a man should not so much libros, as thesauros scribere, write not Books, but rich Treasuries, as the heathen said; partly because this controversial way doth ⟨image 5⟩so possess the intellectual part, that the affectionate part is much dulled, and made remiss thereby. Even a Papist, Granada (in his way of Devotion) said, A Learned man that was busied in such kind of employment, should reckon himself in the number of those wretched Captives that are ad metalla damnati, Though all the day long they dig up Gold, yet they are not any whit enriched by it, but others for whom they work: And Rodericus (as I remember) relateth of Suarez, 1that he was wont to say, He esteemed that little pittance of time, which constantly every day he set apart for the private examination of his own conscience, more then all the other part of the day, which he spent in his voluminous Controversies. The Apostle speaks of doting about questions, 2but the Greek word [Greek or Hebrew] signifieth to be sick and languishing, which doth declare the nature of needless disputations, that they fret away, and make to consume the true power of Godliness. God once only spake out of a thorny bush, and as the Israelites were to go out of the military Camp to gather manna, so must a man shun tedious disputes, who would enjoy the fat and marrow of Christian Religion. But notwithstanding these discouragements, yet the Apostle with a vehement obtestat•o• calls upon Timothy, 3and in him all faithful Ministers to preserve that good thing committed to their Charge, so that it is the duty of Ministers not only by Preaching, but otherwise as occasion serveth, to see that the golden treasure deposited in the Church, be not debased with drossy errors,4 or the children's necessary food mingled with destructive poison. Truth is a Depositum.
WEre I not already ingaged (I know not how) in this publike way of Controversies, I should wholly decline such service; partly because of that ill fate, (if I may say so) which doth accompany books through the various Palates of those that reade them, whereby they are unwilling agnoscere quod Dei est, or ignoscere quod hominis est; partly because of expectation, (which is an heavy prejudice) all men judging it reasonable, that now in these latter times there being the advantage of all the abilities of those who went before us, a man should not so much libros, as thesauros scribere, write not Books, but rich Treasuries, as the heathen said; partly because this controversall way doth ⟨image 5⟩so possesse the intellectual part, that the affectionate part is much dulled, and made remiss thereby. Even a Papist, Granada (in his way of Devotion) said, A Learned man that was busied in such kinde of imployment, should reckon himself in the number of those wretched Captives that are ad metalla damnati, Though all the day long they dig up Gold, yet they are not any whit inriched by it, but others for whom they work: And Rodericus (as I remember) relate•h of Suarez, 1that he was wont to say, He esteemed that little pittance of time, which constantly every day he set apart for the private examination of his own conscience, more then all the other part of the day, which he spent in his voluminous Controversies. The Apostle speaks of doting about questions, 2but the Greek word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 signifieth to be sick and languishing, which doth declare the nature of needlesse disputations, that they fret away, and make to consume the true power of Godlinesse. God once only spake out of a thorny bush, and as the Israelites were to go out of the military Camp to gath•r manna, so must a man shuntedious disputes, who would injoy the fat and marrow of Christian Religion. But notwithstanding these d•scouragements, yet the Apostle with a vehement obtestat•o• cals upon Timothy, 3and in him all faithfull Ministers to preserve that good thing committed to their Charge, so that it is the duty of Ministers not only by Preaching, but otherwise as occasion serveth, to see that the golden treasure deposited in the Church, be not debased with drossy errors,
- 1De perfec.
- 21 Tim. 6.4.
- 31 Tim. 6.10.
- 4Probl. Sect. 9. quae. 2.
