A Treatise of Knowledge and Love, Part 2 · Chapter 6
Chap. VI.
The ſecond Inference: To abate our Cenſures and Contempt of the leſs Learned Chriſtians and Churches upon Earth.
I Muſt confeſs that Ignorance is the great Enemy of Holineſs in the world; and the Prince of Darkneſs, in his Kingdom of Darkneſs, oppugneth the Light, and promoteth the works of Darkneſs by it: And it is found that where Viſion ceaſeth, the People periſh, even for lack of knowledge: And the ignoranteſt Countreys are the moſt ungodly. But I muſt recant ſome former apprehenſions: I have thought the Armenians, the Syrians, the Georgians, the Copties, the Abaſſines, the Greeks, more miſerable for want of Polite Literature, than now I judge them. Though I contemn it not as the Turks do, and the Moſcovites; yet I perceive that had men but the knowledge of the holy Scriptures, yea of the ſummaries of true Religion, they might be good and happy men, without much more. If there be but ſome few among them, skill'd in all the Learning of the world, and expert in uſing the Adverſaries weapons againſt themſelves, as Champions of the Truth, the reſt might do well with the bare Knowledge of God, and a Crucified Chriſt. It is the malice of aſſaulting Enemies, that maketh all other Learning needful in ſome for our defence. But the New Creature liveth not on ſuch food, but on the bread of life, and living waters, and the ſincere Milk of the ſacred Word.
The old Albigenſes and Waldenſes in Piedmont, and other Countreys, did many Ages keep up the life and comfort of true Religion, even through murders and unparallel'd cruelties of the worldly Learned Church; when they had little of the Arts and common Sciences. But neceſſary Knowledge was propagated by the induſtry of Parents and Paſtors: Their Children could ſay over their Catechiſms, and could give account of the Principles of Religion, and recite many practical parts of Scripture: And they had much Love and Righteouſneſs, and little Diviſion or Contention among them; which made the moderate Emperor Maximilian profeſs to Crato, that he thought the Picards of all men on Earth were likeſt the Apoſtolick Primitive Churches.
And Brocardus, who dwelt among them in Judea, tells us that the Chriſtians there that by the Papiſts are accounted Hereticks, (as Neſtorians or Eutychians) were indeed good harmleſs ſimple men, and lived in Piety, and mortifying Auſterities, even beyond the very Religious ſort (the Monks and Fryars) of the Church of Rome, and ſhamed the wickedneſs of our Learned part of the World.
And though there be ſad mixtures of ſuch Superſtitions and Traditions, as ignorance uſeth to breed and cheriſh, yet the great devotion and ſtrictneſs of many of the Abaſſines, Armenians, and other of thoſe ruder ſort of Chriſtians, is predicated by many Hiſtorians and Travellers. And who knoweth but there may be among their vulgar, more love to God and Heaven, and Holineſs, than among the contentious Learned Nations, where the Paſtors ſtrive who ſhall be the greateſt, and Preach up that Doctrine and Practice which is conformable to their own Wills and worldly Intereſts; and where the people by the oppoſitions of their Leaders, are drawn into ſeveral Sides and Factions, which as Armies, Militate againſt each other. Is not the love of God like to be leaſt, where Contentions and Controverſies divert the peoples minds from God and neceſſary ſaving Truths? And where men leaſt love one another? And where mutual Hatred, Cruelty and Perſecution, proclaim them much void of that love which is the Chriſtian Badge?
I will not ceaſe praying for the further Illumination and Reformation of thoſe Churches: But I will repent of my hard thoughts of the Providence of God, as if he had caſt them almoſt off, and had few holy Souls among them. For ought I know they may be better than moſt of Europe.
And the like I ſay of many unlearned Chriſtians among our ſelves! we know not what love to God and goodneſs doth dwell in many that we have a very mean eſteem of. The Breathings of poor Souls towards God by Chriſt, and their deſires after greater holineſs is known to God that kindleth it in them, but not to us.