When he hath found out (though but supposed) wisdom, he cannot contain, he must cry it up.1 It is said of the old Mathematician, when (after long study and beating his brains) he had found out a Conclusion in Geometry, he ran about the City (as if transported) or ravished with this loud out-cry, I have found it, I have found it; and thus Jobs friends were ready to cry out, they had found, they had found out wisdom. There is indeed a very great temptation in the finding out or attaining of wisdom, to puff man up, and to make him vain-glorious. We have great cause to be humbled, that we have so little wisdom; and they that have any store (as they think) more then their neighbours, are in great danger of being proud of it. Knowledge puffeth up, (1 Cor: 8.1.) When the head is full, the heart grows high. Yet this is to be understood of literal knowledge, not of spiritual, or of knowledge when and where it is alone without grace, not of gracious knowledge. The more a gracious man knows, the more humbl• he is, because his knowledge shows him his own vileness and emptiness; but the more a carnal man knows, the more proud he is, became (while such) whatsoever or how much soever he knoweth, he knoweth not himself, nor doth he know any thing as he ought to know it, as the Apostle speaks there at the second verse. And as mere natural men, so they who are but smatterers, or beginners in the ways of godliness, are also very ready to be transported with an opinion of their parts and knowledge. And therefore, the same Apostle gives it in charge to Timothy (1 Tim. 3.6.) that he who is called and received ⟨p. 86⟩unto Office in the Church, should not be a novice; he means it not so much of one that is young in years, as of one that is young in the faith, a new plant in the Church, or one newly converted. And he gives this as a reason, Lest being puffed up (with pride he means) by being in such a function, or by having such reputation for wisdom and knowledge, as is requisite to a Gospel Minister, he (which is a sad fall, if not a down-fall into utter ruin) fall into the condemnation of the devil. Not that the devil will condemn him for his pride, no, the more proud men are, the more the devil approves of them; nor is it the devils office to condemn, it is his office to execute; he is the executioner, not the Judge;
When he hath found out (though but supposed) wisdome, he cannot containe, he must cry it up.1 It is said of the old Mathematician, when (after long study and beating his braines) he had found out a Conclusion in Geometry, he ran about the Citie (as if transported) or ravished with this loud out-cry, I have found it, I have found it; and thus Jobs friends were ready to cry out, they had found, they had found out wisdome. There is indeed a very great temptation in the finding out or attaining of wisdome, to puff man up, and to make him vaine-glorious. We have great cause to be humbled, that we have so little wisdome; and they that have any store (as they thinke) more then their neighbours, are in great danger of being proud of it. Knowledge puffeth up, (1 Cor: 8.1.) When the head is full, the heart grows high. Yet this is to be understood of literall knowledge, not of spirituall, or of knowledge when and where it is alone without grace, not of gracious knowledge. The more a gracious man knowes, the more humbl• he is, because his knowledge shewes him his own vileness and emptiness; but the more a carnall man knowes, the more proud he is, became (while such) whatsoever or how much soever he knoweth, he knoweth not himselfe, nor doth he know any thing as he ought to know it, as the Apostle speakes there at the second verse. And as meere naturall men, so they who are but smatterers, or beginners in the wayes of godliness, are also very ready to be transported with an opinion of their parts and knowledge. And therefore, the same Apostle gives it in charge to Timothy (1 Tim. 3.6.) that he who is called and received ⟨p. 86⟩unto Office in the Church, should not be a novice; he means it not so much of one that is young in yeares, as of one that is young in the faith, a new plant in the Church, or one newly converted. And he gives this as a reason, Lest being puft up (with pride he meanes) by being in such a function, or by having such reputation for wisdome and knowledge, as is requisite to a Go•pel Minister, he (which is a sad fall, if not a down-fall into utter ruine) fall into the condemnation of the devill. Not that the devill will condemne him for his pride, no, the more proud men are, the more the devill approves of them; nor is it the devills office to condemne, it is his office to execute; he is the executioner, not the Judge;
- 1Archimedes.
