The Trial of True Wisdom, Section 59
§ 59.
And ſo according to my skill, I have performed what I at firſt promiſed. It remains before we leave it, that ſome uſe be made thereof, that ſo both wiſe and weak, may learn ſomething from what hath been ſpoken of this ſubject. Wherefore, in the firſt place, If it be ſo, that both the ſenſual and rational, even all that are yet in their natural eſtate, are uncapable of divine, and ſuper-natural knowledge, that they are blinde touching ſpiritual things. Then let not any carnal wretch hereafter dare to ſpeak evill of the things, actions, or perſons, that are out of the reach of his capacity, but ſilently ſuſpend his judgement, untill he be better informed: For as it pertaineth not to the Ruſtick, to jugde of letters: So it belongeth not to natural men to judg of ſpiritual things. Yea, let thoſe ignorant ones, that have uſed to ſpeak evill of the way of truth, learn to kick no more againſt the pricks, leſt they bring upon themſelves the ſame curſe, that their fellows did, who brought up an evill report of the Holy Land, Num. 13. 32, 33. & 14. 23, 24. Yea, put caſe they ſhall think they do God good ſervice in it, as many do in perſecuting, and putting to death his children and Ambaſſadors, John 16. 2. as a world of examples witneſſe. Yea, the Jews thought they did marvellous well, in crucifying the Lord of life. But what ſays the holy Ghoſt, Prov. 14. There is a way that ſeemeth right unto a man: but the end thereof are the ways of death, verſ. 12. Even the Powder-traytors thought they merited, when they intended to blow up the whole State.
Alaſs, Natural men are no more fit to judge of ſpiritual matters, then blinde men are fit to judge of colours. And yet none more forward then they; as you may ſee by thoſe blinde Sodomites, that dealt ſo roughly and courſely with Lot and his two Angel…, Gen. 19. 1. to 12.
That they are ignorant, and ſo unfit, is evident of what is recorded of Michol, 2 Sam. 6. 16. Of Nichodemus, John 3. 4. Of Feſtus, Acts 26. 24. And laſtly, of Paul before his converſion. I was, ſaith he, a blaſphemer, a perſecutor, and an oppoſer of Chriſt and his members; but I did it ignorantly through unbelief, 1 Tim. 1. 13. It's worth your obſerving too, that he was no ſooner enlightned with the ſaving knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, but he was of a contrary judgement, and preached that faith which before he condemned and perſecuted. And this will be every one of their caſes, in the end; if not in this life, yet hereafter, when Hell flames hath opened their eyes, they will confeſſe. We fools thought his life madneſſe, and his end to be without honour: How is he now numbred with the children of God, and his lot among the Saints? And when they ſhall ſee it, they ſhall be troubled with horrible fear, and ſhall be amazed at the ſtrangeneſs of his ſalvation, ſo far beyond all that they looked for: and groaning for anguiſh of ſpirit, ſhall ſay within themſelves, This is he whom we once had in deriſion, and in a proverb of reproach, therefore have we erred from the way of truth, we wearied our ſelves in the way of wickedneſs and deſtruction: but as for the way of the Lord, we have not known it. The light of righteouſneſs hath not ſhined unto us, nor hath the Son of righteouſneſs aroſe upon us. What hath pride profited us? or what good hath our riches and our vaunting brought us? with more of the like, for which read, Wiſdom 5. And what is the cauſe they acknowledg not the ſame now, but their blindneſs and folly? and becauſe they put their own faults in that part of the wallet that is behind them; but ours in the other part, or end which is before them: For ſelf-examination would make their judgements more charitable. Read al…o theſe Teſtimonies, John 15. 21. & 16. 2, 3. Mat. 16. 23. & 22. 29. 1 Cor. 2. 8. Iſa. 5. 20. But I will give you other inſtances. Was it not an a gu…nt that Haman was blinde? who thought Mordecaies not bowing the knee to hi…, a more heinous offence, then his own murthering of thouſands? Were not the Jews, Scribes & Phariſees blind, who could ſee more unlawfulneſs in the Diſciples plucking a few ears of Corn on the ſabbath-day? and the Palſie man's carrying his bed; then in their own devouring of Widows houſes? who thought they might better murther Chriſt, then others believe in him? and be themſelves the greateſt of ſinners, then our Saviour to be in company with ſinners? Was not Ahab blinde? who thought Elijah more troubled Iſrael, in doing the will of the Lord, then himſelf in provoking the Lord above all the Kings of Iſrael that were before him. And the like in our dayes. Is it not the manner of thouſands with us? not only of Clownes, and ill-bred people, who walk after the fleſh, in the luſts of uncleanneſs (whom St. Peter cals bruit beaſts, led with ſenſuality, and made to be taken and deſtroyed.) But of proud wits, who one would think ſhould have more brains, and know ſomething, to ſpeak evill of the things which they underſtand not, 2 Pet. 2. 12. Yea, how ſeverely will they cenſure, not only things indifferent, but the moſt holy and approved good duties in the godly? while they will patiently paſſe by the moſt heynous crimes, as curſing, blaſpheming, &c. in themſelves and others; an infallible ſigne of a man not born a-new. Yea, will they not more deeply cenſure our ſerving of God, then their own blaſpheming of him? and think it a more heynous offence in us to be holy, then for themſelves to be prophane, and perſecute holineſſe.
And what one does, is a law to the reſt, being like a flock of ſheep; which if they but ſee one take a wrong way, all the reſt will follow. As you may ſee in the Example of Corah, and his two hundred and fifty followers, in Demetrius and his fellows, in their quarrel againſt Paul and his companions. And laſtly, in Lots neighbours, Gen. 19. where you ſhall read, that when ſome Godleſſe perſons had aſſaulted him, and his two Angels; before night, all the men of the City, from the young even to the old, from all quarters compaſſed the houſe round, ſeeking to break it open, railing upon, and reviling him. Yea, though they were ſtrook with blindneſſe, they would not leave off, untill they had wearied themſelves, and felt fire and brimſtone about their cars, verſ. 4 to 2 5.
Natural men in heavenly things, reſemble Shel-fiſh, that have no ſmell: Or the Cam…lion that hath no taſte. Nor do they ſee any more, then the meer barke or out-ſide …f ſpiritual performances, 2 Sam. 6. 16. And the Fleſh (Satans ready inſtrument) will be ever ſuggeſting to them ſtrange ſurmiſes, touching what the Religious either ſay, or do.
And ſtill, the more ſottiſh, the more cenſorious: For where is leaſt brain, there is moſt tongue, and loudeſt. Even as a Brewers Cart upon the ſtones, makes the lowdeſt noiſe, when his barrels are emptieſt. They that knowleaſt, will cenſure moſt, and moſt deeply. It is from the weakeſt judgements, that the heavieſt judgement comes. And ſo the more cenſorious, the more ſottiſh, ſeem they never ſo wiſe in the worlds account: For admit the… have a ſhew of wiſdome; yet for matter of Religion and ſaving knowledge, they know not their right hand from their left; as it fared with thoſe ſixſcore thouſand Ninevites, Ionas 4. 11.
So that it's no diſparagement to us, ſeem they never ſo learned: As what but their ignorance makes them ſo cenſure us. They ſuſpect much, becauſe they know little; as children in the darke, ſuppoſe they ſee what they ſee not. Yea, a Dogge will be very violent in barking at his own ſhadow on a wall, or face in a glaſſe. The Duke of Von…oſme ſeeing his own and others faces in a well, call'd for ayd against the Antipodes. Paglarencis thought himſelfe cozened, when he ſaw his ſow had eleven Pigs, and his Mare but one Foale that would be confeſt. So that they are like Harpaſt, a blinde woman in Seneca's family, who found fault with the darkneſſe of the houſe when the fault was in her want of ſight. Or the Owle, that complained of the glory of the Sunne, when the fault was in her own eyes. Or like Pentheus, in Euripides his Bacchus, who ſuppoſed he ſaw two Sunnes, two Thebes, every thing double: when his brain alone was troubled. Or thoſe that are vertiginous, who thinke all things turn round, all e…re: when the errour is onelyonly in their own brains. And ſo much for caution to the one.