First, there are some wise in heart, who are so only in their own opinion, in their own conceits or eyes; they have great thoughts of their own wisdom, and therefore as they are apt to despise men, so they are far from the fear of God. There is a wisdom in some men opposed to the fear of God, whereas true wisdom in any man is the beginning of that fear, as that fear is called the beginning of wisdom (Psal. 111.10.)1 The vulgar Latin vary h the forme• part of the verse, yet renders this latter part by way of glos•, rather than translation, They that seem to themselves to be wise; and indeed the wise in heart, whom God respecteth not, are the proudly wise, the selfishly wise, such as are wise only in themselves and to themselves, such as have only that wisdom which the Apostle calleth, the wisdom of the flesh, or, the carnal mind (Rom. 8.7.) which is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed (till mortified) can be. He that is carnally wise disputes the commands of God, and takes the boldness to censure his works; such wise men God respecteth not, yea, they are under his greatest disrespect.
First, there are some wise in heart, who are so only in their own opinion, in their own conceits or eyes; they have great thoughts of their own wisdom, and therefore as they are apt to despise men, so they are far from the fear of God. There is a wisdom in some men opposed to the fear of God, whereas true wisdome in any man is the beginning of that fear, as that fear is called the beginning of wisdom (Psal. 111.10.)1 The vulgar Latine varie h the forme• part of the verse, yet renders this latter part by way of glos•, rather than translation, They that seem to themselves to be wise; and indeed the wise in heart, whom God respecteth not, are the proudly wise, the selfishly wise, such as are wise only in themselves and to themselves, such as have only that wisdom which the Apostle calleth, the wisdom of the flesh, or, the carnal mind (Rom. 8.7.) which is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed (till mortified) can be. He that is carnally wise disputes the commands of God, and takes the boldness to censure his works; such wise men God respecteth not, yea, they are under his greatest disrespect.
- 1Qui sibi videntur esse sapientes. Vulg.
