The Kingdom of God Among Men, Tract 1 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
The advantage of Human Learning to the same end.
THough Religion rests not on human Learning, as its main support; yet it seeks and claims the necessary help thereof. Those whom God designs for eminent service, he indues with eminent gifts either by means or miracle; and he gives every intrusted Servant a measure answerable to his degree. The Apostles who laid the foundation were wise Master-builders: and surely it was not the mind of Christ that Wisdom should die with them, when he settled his Church to indure throughout all Ages, and promised to be with it to the end of the World. It is said indeed, that the foolishness of God is wiser than Men, and the weakness of God is stronger than Men. But that which is so called, is not foolishness and weakness indeed, but only so accounted by the pride of carnal Wisdom.
In this Learned age the Antichristian State in Christendom is forced to advance Learning in its own defence. And now without Learning either divinely inspired or acquired by means, we cannot defend our selves against it. Wherefore to destroy the supports of Learning, is the way to subvert Religion. Yea, though we were not ingaged by such strength of the Adversary to provide for our own defence; yet solid human Learning doth of it self notably advance Divine Truth. The Learning that was spread over the World in the primitive times of Christianity, apparently made way for that sudden and ample spreading of the Gospel. And the Reviving thereof after an universal decay, no less apparently made way for the breaking forth of this clearer Light of the Gospel after the long night of Popery. Unlearned and barbarous times are noted among the causes of depraving Religion with multiplied Superstitious absurdities and deformities. Indeed that great Mystery of Iniquity, the Romish Synagogue is favoured by many wise and learned Ones; but the interest of great Power and Wealth, and other carnal al…urements ingage them to uphold that Babel, and so to detain the Truth of God in their own …nrighteousness.
The Papal Kingdom of darkness hath amply provided for an eminent measure of Learning in their Superior Clergy, and certain religious Orders designed for Theological controversies, and the propagation of the Roman …aith, being necessitated thereunto by the learnedness of the present Age. But for the vulgar Priests, who dayly converse with the common People, that are ignorant and unlearned, it matters not how little Knowledge they have; and the Grandees care not that they should be conversant in learned Books, no not in their own Bellarmine. As for the Laity, tis a Principle in that Church, that Ignorance is the mother of Devotion. A corrupt Ecclesiastical State, upheld for worldly ends, hath no reason to desire the advancement of Learning any further, than is requisite to defend it sel… against learned Adversaries, and to hold the Vulgar in admiration of it. It would hav… the People wholly to trust their Teachers, and it is not well relished, when learned Gentle men of the Laity are exact, and studious i… Theological inquiries.
The supports and rewards of Learning may be so inordinately apportioned and confe… red, as to exalt boundless ambition and avari… in some, and to nourish a dronish idleness and Epicurism in others, and to cast the residue… and those the greatest number into ignoranc… beggary, baseness and superfluity of naught… ness. Such a disposition of things, besides th… ruine of Religion would in the ruines there… bury Learning it self (as it hath done in for mer Ages) if the industry of some were n… kept waking by the increase of Knowledge a… mong another sort of Men. But whatsoeve… abuse corrupts that which in it self is excellent, the supports of Learning are always necessary in the true Church; and to settle a way for a perpetual succession of wise and learned Guides of the Flock in this intire and sound state of Religion, is to build the same on a Rock.
The spirit of this Profession being sober, solid and serious, is happy in disposing towards the attainment of much Perfection in all profitable science, and especially towards that which is most excellent and usefull in human affairs, to wit solid and deep judgement. In this respect the Children of true Wisdom stand upon the vantage ground; and the scope of their business directs them to excell in the more substantial part of Learning, which perfects reason and falls in with practice, and makes them able effectually to converse with Men both in Religious and Civil matters. These do not spend their days in a cloyster living to themselves alone, but are seasonably called forth to sacred or civil Functions, and so by Study in conjunction with practice and experience, they become more perfect in Science. The same …ntents and purposes direct them to understand the end and use of their acquisitions, and to have their Learning at command, and ma…ageable for present business.