The saints treasury being sundry sermons preached in London /

First, it should make us cease wondering, that men of excellent parts and reason, do not see the things of God, but slight them: be not offended at this, they are things not seen: it is ⟨p. 79⟩a great deceit in many, who think that because such and such men have larger abilities of reason then others to understand natural things; that therefore it must needs follow, they have deeper apprehensions of spiritual things: and yet men reason thus, what you poor simple men and women understand these things, when there are great Scholars and learned men, that see them not: this argues a carnal heart; as if the strength of reason could make men apprehend more then faith can do. You know what Christ says, Father I thank thee, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes, Math. 11. 25. Notwithstanding such expressions of Christ, yet we see the temper of the men of the world: alas, they look upon religion as a most foolish and ridiculous thing; and so for strictness in the ways of religion: when a man shall see another very earnest about a thing that he thinks is of no consequence at all, he cannot but impute folly to him: so, when the men of the world see the people of God fervent, and zealous about those things that they can see no excellency in; and see them willing to venture and suffer for them; they count this folly and madness: when Christ (being in danger of his life, John 18. 37, 38.) tells Pilate that he came into the world to bear witness unto the truth, says Pilate, what is truth? speaking in a slighting way, as if he had said, you come here to answer for your life, and you had need look to that; and what do you talk of truth now your life is in question. So carnal men, when they see others venture their estates, and lives, for poor inconsiderable things, as they esteem them, they count this folly: and why do they do so? because the things of God are not seen. Therefore in spiritual and heavenly things we must always endeavour to beat down reason, and to advance faith: says Luther, In the things of God we must not continually be asking the reason, for they are the things that are not seen: Nay (says he) faith kills the beast reason, in spiritual things.

First, it should make us cease wondering, that men of excellent parts and reason, doe not see the things of God, but slight them: be not offended at this, they are things not seen: it is