Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians

6. Babes are as carnal in making many questions, either trivial or needless ones; they concern themselves much about things of little concernment to their edification. Under the notion of a case or scruple of Conscience they will ask many an impertinent question. The way of asking questions may be of great use, Qui dubitat, qui saepe rogat, &c. but carnal men as the Pharisees and Sadducees were, asked Christ many a captious and quarrelsome question; yea the Devil abused our common Mother by a Query: and in this the Babes are as carnal that they take up a great deal of time and discourse about impertinent and little things. The Corinthians troubled Paul about such things as common discretion would have determined, and therefore he tells them so often in relation to it, thus say I, not the Lord, (1 Cor. 7.6. and 12. and 25, 26. and 40.) as much as to say, these things are not so much matter of Religion and Conscience, as of prudence and discretion. As about Marrying, so about eating they seemed to be very solicitous and much concerned, 1 Cor. 8. which yet was an indifferent thing, Vers. 8. only such liberty must not be abused to the offence of others, Vers. 9. else 'tis not a matter of Conscience whether I may eat or not, this or that, for any thing that is sold in the Shambles and good for food is lawful to be eaten without a dispute, 1 Cor. 9. ⟨p. 196⟩27,—33. so the Disciples till Christs Ascension were full of pitiful questions, who shall be greatest? Matth. 18.1. what shall this man do? Joh. 21.21. Wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel? Acts 1.6. Alas! what a poor low way of questioning is this? indeed to ask, What shall I do to be saved? what is the Will of God concerning me in my place and relation? how shall I attain to a more perfect state? such things are considerable and worth the asking: but to be taken up about little and low things, is to be as Babes, and as carnal; more nice than wise.