A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

But here peradventure some will think, that the great objection lies, may not a profane person have a sound or orthodox judgement in all controverted truths▪ May not a man understand all mysteries and all knowledge, who yet hath no love, nor true sanctification? 1 Cor: 13. 2. May not a person hold fast the profession of the true faith without wavering, whose heart not withstanding, is not right with God nor steadfast in his Covenant?

But here peradventure some will think, that the great objection lyes, may not a prophane person have a sound or orthodox judgement in all controverted truthes▪ May not a man understand all mysteries and all knowledge, who yet hath no love, nor true sanctification? 1 Cor: 13. 2. May not a person hold fast the profession of the true faith without wavering, whose heart not withstanding, is not right with God nor stedfast in his Covenant?

I answer first, where there is but a form of godliness, there is but a form of knowledge, [Greek or Hebrew] is a word no where used by the holy Ghost, but in two places, a form of knowledge, Rom: 2. 20. and a form of godliness, 2 Tim. 3. 5. It is not the true and real form, either of knowledge or godliness, which as they have a true matter, so a true form. He saith not [Greek or Hebrew], (which had been the proper word for a true form,) but [Greek or Hebrew] speciem scientiae, speciem pietatis. If we have respect to the notation of the word, 'tis a formation or forming, I may call it a forming without mattering, so that the form of knowledge, more then which an ungodly man hath not, be he never so learned) hath not the truth substance, and reality of knowledge, ⟨p. 150⟩Theophilact saith, some understand it to be the image, and false resemblance of knowledge, so Hesychius and Suydas understand [Greek or Hebrew], to be [Greek or Hebrew] an image of a thing.