It is the highest strain of pride for a man to restrain wisdom to himself: or to think himself so wise, that all must address to him for wisdom: God hath not given all wisdom to any one man, or sort of men, though he hath trusted some with more Talents of it then he hath done others. The Priests lips of old under the Law, and so the lips of Ministers under the Gospel, should preserve knowledge; and the people should seek both Law and Gospel at their mouth (Mal. 2.7.) Yet neither might the Priests then, nor may Ministers now, restrain wisdom to themselves. The rule of the Apostle is, Be not wise above what is written; that is, above holy Writ, or above what is written from the immediate dictates of the Spirit of God. They are (as we say) fools in Print, who say they are wise above what is thus written; but we may be wise above what is spoken or written by any man, for no man ought to restrain all wisdom to himself; to do so is the top-stair of Antichristian pride. The Pope restrains wisdom to himself; he boasts that he hath the secrets of God, and that all must come to him if they will have them unlocked and opened: His sentences from the Chair are Oracles, and there he is infallible; all are obliged to receive what he saith, because he saith it: no man must scruple, much less oppose or contradict ⟨p. 28⟩it. Thus to impose upon men is to set our selves in the place of the God of Heaven; yea, to arrogate to our selves that we are Gods on earth. So the Apostle hath characterized that man of sin (2 Thes. 2.4.) He opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped (that is, above all civill powers or Magistracy) So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God. And as he out of all measure wickedly, so many others in a very great measure have showed themselves as God, while they have taken upon them (as we speak proverbially) To give the Law, yea, to give the Gospel to other mens consciences, or to bind up all mens tongues and judgements unto the rule of their apprehensions. When the Apostle had called God to record, that he always purposed to be bold and plain with the Corinthians, he presently subjoins this corrective (2 Cor. 1.24.) Not that we have Dominion over your Faith, but are helpers of your joy: As if he had said.
It is the highest straine of pride for a man to restraine wisedome to himselfe: or to thinke himselfe so wise, that all must addresse to him for wisedome: God hath not given all wisedome to any one man, or sort of men, though he hath trusted some with more Talents of it then he hath done others. The Priests lips of old under the Law, and so the lips of Ministers under the Gospel, should preserve knowledge; and the people should seek both Law and Gospel at their mouth (Mal. 2.7.) Yet neither might the Priests then, nor may Ministers now, restraine wisedome to themselves. The rule of the Apostle is, Be not wise above what is written; that is, above holy Writ, or above what is written from the immediate dictates of the Spirit of God. They are (as we say) fooles in Print, who say they are wise above what is thus written; but we may be wise above what is spoken or written by any man, for no man ought to restraine all wisedome to himselfe; to doe so is the top-staire of Antichristian pride. The Pope restraines wisedome to himselfe; he boasts that he hath the secrets of God, and that all must come to him if they will have them unlockt and opened: His sentences from the Chayre are Oracles, and there he is infallible; all are obliged to receive what he saith, because he saith it: no man must scruple, much lesse oppose or contradict ⟨p. 28⟩it. Thus to impose upon men is to set our selves in the place of the God of Heaven; yea, to arrogate to our selves that we are Gods on earth. So the Apostle hath characteriz'd that man of sin (2 Thes. 2.4.) He opposeth and exalteth himselfe above all that is called God, or that is worshipped (that is, above all civill powers or Magistracy) So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himselfe that he is God. And as he out of all measure wickedly, so many others in a very great measure have shewed themselves as God, while they have taken upon them (as we speake proverbially) To give the Law, yea, to give the Gospel to other mens consciences, or to bind up all mens tongues and judgements unto the rule of their apprehensions. When the Apostle had called God to record, that he alwayes purposed to be bold and plaine with the Corinthians, he presently subjoynes this corrective (2 Cor. 1.24.) Not that we have Dominion over your Faith, but are helpers of your joy: As if he had sayd.
