A53713:398
Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Of communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, each person distinctly in love, grace, and consolation, or, The saints fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, unfolded by John Owen ...Of communion with God the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, each person distinctly in love, grace, and consolation, or, The saints fellowship with the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, unfolded by John Owen ...
Oxford: printed by A. Lichfield for Tho. Robinson, 1657
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
On these two considerations it is most apparent, that Learning, can no way of it self attain the end it aimeth at. For §. 44
On these two considerations it is most apparent, that Learning, can no way of it selfe attaine the end it aymeth at. For §. 44
1. That Light which by it is discovered, (which the Lord knows is very little, weak, obscure, imperfect, uncertain, conjectural, for a great part only enabling men to quarrel with, and oppose one another, to the reproach of Reason, yet I say, that which is attained by it,) is not in the least measure by it spiritualized, or brought into that order of living to God, and with God, wherein at first it lay. This is wholly beyond its reach. As to this end, the Apostle assures us, that the utmost Issue that men come to, is darkness and folly: Rom. 1. 21, 22 gWho knows not the profound enquiries, the subtle disputations, the acute Reasonings, the admirable discoveries of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and others? What, as to the purpose in hand did they attain by all their studies and endeavours? [Greek or Hebrew] say the Apostle, they became fools. He that by General consent bears the Crown, of Reputation for wisdom from them all, with whom to have lived was counted an inestimable happiness, dyed like a fool, sacrificing a Cock to Aesculapius. And another, that Jesus Christ alone is the true light that lighteth us Joh. 1. 9. And there is not any that hath any true light but what is immediately from him. After all the learning of men, if they have nothing else, they are still natural men and perceive not the things of God. Their light is still but darkness, and how great is that darkness? It is the Lord Jesus alone who is anointed to open the eyes of the blind. Men cannot Spiritualize a notion, nor lay it in any order, to the Glorifying of God. After all their endeavours they are still blind and dark, yea darkness it self, knowing nothing as they should. I know how the men of these attainments are apt to say, are we blind also? with great contempt of others; but God hath blasted all their pride; where (saith he) is the wise? where the Scribe &c.