The Inability of Natural Man to Attain Right Knowledge, Title page – To the reader
ΑΓΝΟΙΑ foreign, OR, THE INABILITY of the Higheſt Improved NATƲRALL MAN to attaine a Sufficient and Right Knowledge of INDVVELLING SINNE. Diſcovered in three SERMONS, Preached at St MARIE's in OXFORD.
By HENRY HURST M.A. and Fellow of Merton Coll. in OXON.
1 Cor. 2.14.
But the Naturall man receiveth not the things of the ſpirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſſe unto him: neither can he know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned.
OXFORD, Printed by Henry Hall Printer to the Univerſity, for Richard Davis. 1659.
TO THE REVEREND AND Learned my Honoured Father Mr HENRY HURST, Miniſter of the Goſpel at Mickleton in Glouc:ſhire.
Much honoured Father,
BOoks claim a juſt title to a Dedicatory commendation, whether this title be juſt jure naturali, or by Preſcription, I intend not to diſpute with this ſmall piece which cals it ſelfe mine, and claimes the ſame portion which others have beene ſent into the world with; I will not deny it's requeſt, though I might have ſo done, ſince it appeares in the world without my plenary conſent) it ſhall have it's Due: Nor will I be unjuſt, or unthankfull to you who have the cleareſt, and faireſt title to this Homage; for if either Greatneſſe or Goodneſſe be a juſt claime, your's is the juſteſt; if Greatneſſe of obligations be a good title, None may contend with you; a Father's obligations on a Sonne are confeſſedly greateſt. If Goodneſſe, and Beneficence be the beſt claime, I muſt tell the world, your right to this is ſuch, There cannot be a better Patron then a Good Father. If I adde no more to ſet out your worth, (beſides I prevent the loſing my ſelfe in the Dedication, and the diſproportioning the Frontiſpice to the building,) I ſhall cut off the jealous ſurmiſes of an uncharitable world (which will ſuſpect there is none ſo good, becauſe they are ſo few.) And (which I moſt intend) reſerve more roome for the Practicke part of that honour and obedience which I owe you. I cannot more doubt your reception of this, then I can your reception of my ſelfe, and to entreat for this, (I thinke) were to detract from the repute of a tender Father which you deſerve. What it wants of worth, in it ſelfe, will be more fully, and eaſily made up, whileſt it hath the riſing advantage of a Sonne's affections, (whoſe willingneſſe makes his leſt eſſay of thankfulneſſe worth accepting,) and whileſt it hath the graines of allowance which a Fathers kindneſſe will caſt in to make up the weight.
Sr, theſe firſt fruits being judged ripe ſooner then I thought, and ſo gathered (much againſt my will.) and having been offered firſt in the Temple for the honour of God, and the ſervice of his ſpirituall Temple, are now in this handfull left to you, as that portion which I might not withhold from you, and as the firſt fruits duly offered did procure a bleſſing on the offerer, ſo I hope it will fare with your Sonne, who nothing doubts your bleſſing will be on his head, and doubts it will, as Jacob's, prevaile above the bleſſings of your Progenitours, for the abundant encreaſe of Grace, Mercy, and Peace on
Your Obedient Sonne HENRY HURST. From Merton Coll. July 6. 1659.
AN EPISTLE TO THE READER.
MY requeſt is to thee (leaſt I deceive thy expectation) not to expect from me, (who affect plainneſſe of ſpeech and actions) any tedious Apologeticall Preface, much leſſe any ſuperfluous flattering Panegyricks. OnelyOnly let me acquaint thee with the ingagement that lies upon me, to premiſe a few things concerning the publication of this Learned and elaborate Worke. The Author ſufficiently known to my ſelfe and many others, to be a Godly, Learned, and Orthodox Divine through his modeſty and low opinion of himſelfe, denyed for a long time his conſent to the makeing of theſe Sermons of publick uſe, and had ſuppreſt them altogether but that through importunity I prevailed with him. That ancient relation I have, as of a Tutor to a Scholar (which in him and ſuch who prove ſo well is my glory and rejoiceing) and thoſe deare affecti…ns I beare towards him at length made him to yeeld to my frequent ſollicitations, that this worke might be Printed for the publick good. And I never had yet (neither do I think ever ſhall) entertaine the leaſt repenting thought for cauſing ſuch choice Sermons to be made of common uſe and benefit.
Concerning the Sermons having heard two of them from the Pulpit, and ſince deliberately read them all over: two or three particulars I obſerve in an eſpeciall manner, as appeares by the account that followeth.
1. The ſeaſonablen…ſſe of the preaching on this ſubject againſt the blindneſſe of a naturall man, and concerning the ſinfulneſſe of Sin, both Originall and Actuall both which are words ſpoken in ſeaſon, conſidering that now adaies Pelagius, Arminius, Socinus, and other Hereticks of the ſame litter are revived and their followers (as if they had get a facultie in the Court of augmentation) …ſtrip and gee beyond their maſters in errors and hereſies. But as in Zacharies Viſion there were foure Carpenters to fray the ſoure hornes which ſcattered Judah: ſo God raiſeth up many valiant Champions of his truth who aZech. 1.21.crie aloud and ſpare not lifting up their voices like Trumpets againſt the abomination of the times. What was judicious Carthwrights Motto for Zion's ſake I will not hold my peace abides upon the hearts of the faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpell: Th…y dare not be ſilent in God's cauſe: but they make it their buſineſſe (as the Ap…ſtle exhorts) bTit. 1.9.to convince Gainſayers: cTit. 1.11.To ſtop their mouthes, dTi. 1.13 foreign.to rebuke them ſharply or cuttingly: Which Scriptures doe not in the leaſt countenance a Toleration, nor any other Scripture that I know of: now the Lord hath raiſed up the ſpirit of this Learned Brother, to lop off the Hydra of Hereſies to ſtand for the truth at ſuch a time as this is, I cannot let paſſe without ſpeciall Obſervation. When Originall ſin is denyed by ſome with great confidence, naturall mens abilities too highly advanced, the Pagan's debt and dowry pleaded for, and charity laviſht upō ſuch beyond all Scripture rule ſurely a confutation now muſt needs be beautifull in its ſeaſon, and a word ſo fitly ſpoken may be eſteemed like Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver.
2. Adde h…reunto the ſingular uſefulneſſe of the Doctrine delivered That men of greateſt acuteneſſe and abilitie for naturall parts, and of beſt improvement by education cannot make a right and full diſcovery of indwelling Luſt without the Spirit of God revealing it by the Law. This Doctrine is of great uſe, and ſerves to pluck down the cr…ſt of the proud…ſt Scholar who is a ſtranger from the life of God. Men may attaine unto as great parts as Ariſtotle and Plato, and yet be meere ignoramuſſeſſes in Originall ſin; How Adam's ſin is ours, how we were in his loines, and that ſin committed in his perſon was likewiſe committed in our nature, and propagated and derived upon all his poſterity: This no man can learne in Ariſtotle or Platoe's Schoole. We muſt have recourſe unto the Law of God The Apoſtle's determination is infallible For I had not known Luſt except the Law had ſaid, Thou ſhalt not covet.eRom. 7.7.
3. Ʋpon peruſall of the whole there's dexterity of judgment: This Author gives a rationall acof the truth by evidence of reaſons ſolid and ſinewous as 1. Becauſe a Naturall man makes uſe of a crooked rule: His own reaſon is his rule, and that perverted and blinded: And if the blind lead the blind both muſt fall into the ditch, 2. Becauſe this ſinfulneſſe of indwelling luſt conſiſts much of ſpirituall wickedneſſe, and the naturall man in his higheſt improvement remaines carnall and ſenſuall. A naturall man wants his eyeſight: He is fEph. 5.8 foreigndarkneſſe it ſelfe in the abſtract: and g1 Cor. 2.14.receiveth not the things of the ſpirit of God.
Other more weighty Arguments are urged: But by theſe mentioned you have a taſte of the reſt: And I will not praeoccupate my Reader.
4. In the fourth and laſt place, I take notice of the Candor, Modeſty, and Moderation of the Author Though hee is zealous in Gods cauſe, yet meeke in his own as Moſes was. I ſee not in any particular where he gives ground, or relinquiſheth his colours: But as farre as I can apprehend, he hath beaten his adverſaries out of the field: yet he hath learned from the Apoſtle to hEph. 4.14.ſpeak the truth in love, & to iGal. 6.1.reſtore, ſuch as are overtaken, in the ſpirit of meekneſſe. He uſeth ſoft words, and hard Arguments, as knowing that a flint is ſooner broken upon a pillow then on an anvil. Ʋpon a ſerious review of the whole I find no bittern…ſſe, no revileing language nor perſonall reflexions: He diſcardeth all ſuch waies of arguing, fearing leaſt ſuch dead flies might marre the whole box of oyntment.
Wherefore upon this conſideration of the Premiſſes (I commend to thee Reader) a ſerious Peruſall of theſe excellent Sermons following. And if I miſtake not (unleſſe it be thy own fault) thou wilt reap much ſpirituall advantage, and wilt be more eſtabliſhed in the truth. I muſt profeſſe what I think (be it to the diſparagement of none) that by reading theſe Sermons and another in Latine Homogeneous to this ſubject, of a Reverend Doctor eminent for Godlyneſſe and Learning,Dr Edward Reynolds Sermon intitled Animalu Homo I have found more ſatiſfaction, and confirmation, then by other Sermons or Treatiſes I have yet met with upon that Argument. I adde no more but commend thee (Reader) to the gracious providence of God, heartily deſireing that thy ſoule may thrive the better for what is here publiſhed, ſo prayeth,
Thy ſervant for Chriſts ſake HENRY WILKINSON. OXFORD From Magdalen Hall July 6, 1659.