A commentary upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the…A commentarie upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the…

And the writings of Heathens have been made use of for good ends by Paul, as his citing of them upon several occasions cleareth, and can the reading thereof hurt us? It is a good similitude which Basil useth (Orat. ad adolese.) that as Dyers when they are to dye purple, do first put some common colour on the cloth to make it receive the purple the better; so, humane learning, is useful for fitting one for the more profitable study of Divinity. Only we say, This learning would be well regulated, so as to be made use of only for edification, men not flying to that as if the principles of Heathen Philosophers were more sure and strong than plain Scriptures, or as if, loathing the Scripture phrases and arguments, we would confirm Truths from more learned mediums out of these: much less would we reconcile their principles and the Scriptures by ascribing such a meaning to the Scripture, as must be consistent with them, as loather to brangle them in their Authority than the Scriptures of God; nor yet by using their phrases to derogate from Scripture-plainness or simplicity, (as often the miserably blind Schoolmen do) which is an high fault. It is abused also when a Minister thinketh himself something because of it, and despiseth these who are inferior to him therein, or, when he accounteth that in himself, or in others, sufficient for qualification, or, when he useth it for ostentation or getting of a name amongst hearers; that is a poor learning, which maketh the message less intelligible, and less useful; and that is truly a learned Pastor, who can make Spiritual mysterious Truths most plain and palpable to the simplest hearer, as Luther once said, that he is the ablest Preacher who pueriliter, trivialiter, populariter, & simplicissime docet. Melc. Adam. in vit. Lutheri. Learning serveth to enable one in searching for Truth, to conceive what is solid or insolide, and to express it plainly; whereas that, is a great abuse of learning used by the Schoolmen (follow them in it who will) to make the plainest Scripture, or practical thing obscure with many doubts, questions, diverse senses, objections, and many frothy unedifying notions, which have never profited them that have been occupied therein, and is contrary to the true end of learning, which ought to be edification. And often the most learned Preacher, in this sense, hath the most ignorant People.

And the writings of Heathens have been made use of for good ends by Paul, as his citing of them upon severall occasions cleareth, and can the reading thereof hurt us? It is a good similitude which Basil useth (Orat. ad adolese.) that as Dyers when they are to dy purple, do first put some common colour on the cloath to make it receive the purple the better; so, humane learning, is useful for fitting one for the more profitable studie of Divinitie. Only we say, This learning would be well regulated, so as to be made use of only for edification, men not flying to that as if the principles of Heathen Philosophers were more sure and strong than plain Scriptures, or as if, loathing the Scripture phrases and arguments, we would confirm Truths from more learned mediums out of these: much lesse would we reconcile their principles and the Scriptures by ascribing such a meaning to the Scripture, as must be consistent with them, as loather to brangle them in their Authority than the Scriptures of God; nor yet by using their phrases to derogate from Scripture-plainnesse or simplicity, (as often the miserably blind Schoolmen do) which is an high fault. It is abused also when a Minister thinketh himself somthing because of it, and despiseth these who are inferiour to him therein, or, when he accounteth that in himself, or in others, sufficient for qualification, or, when he useth it for ostentation or getting of a name amongst hearers; that is a poor learning, which maketh the message lesse intelligible, and lesse useful; and that is truely a learned Pastor, who can make Spiritual mysterious Truths most plain and palpable to the simplest hearer, as Luther once said, that he is the ablest Preacher who pueriliter, trivialiter, populariter, & simplicissime docet. Melc. Adam. in vit. Lutheri. Learning serveth to enable one in searching for Truth, to conceive what is solide or insolide, and to expresse it plainly; whereas that, is a great abuse of learning used by the Schoolmen (follow them in it who will) to make the plainest Scripture, or practical thing obscure with many doubts, questions, diverse senses, objections, and many frothie unedifying notions, which have never profited them that have been occupied therein, and is contrary to the true end of learning, which ought to be edification. And often the most learned Preacher, in this sense, hath the most ignorant People.