The Trial of True Wisdom, Section 42
Sect. 42.
NOw all ſorts of men, may be compriſed, under one of theſe three Heads: The
Senſual.
Rational.
Spiritual.
For if you obſerve it, ſome men like the Moon at Full, have all their light towards earth, none towards Heaven: Others like the Moon at VVaine, or Change, have all their light to Heaven wards, none to the earth: a third ſort like to the Moon in eclipſe, as having no light in it ſelf, neither towards earth, nor towards Heaven.
Touching theſe three degrees of compariſon, you ſhall find, that the one exceeds the other (in wiſdom) as the ſtars exceed one another in glory. Of which particularly.
Firſt, There is no leſs difference, between the Rational and ſenſual, the wiſe and ſimple, the learned and unlearned, than there is between men and beaſts; as Menander ſpeaks. Or between the living and the dead, as another hath it. And yet the Rational, do not ſo far excel the ſenſual, as the ſpiritual excel the rational.
Senſual men are ſo be-nighted, and puzled with blindneſ, that they know no other way than the fleſh leads them. It is the weight that ſets all their wheels a going; the horſes that draw their chariot, the very life of their corruption, the corruption of their life, without which they do nothing.
The minds of brutiſh men, that have been ill bred, are ſo drowned in ſin, and ſenſuallity; and their ſpirits ſo frozen, and pitifully benumed with worldlineſs, and wicked cuſtoms, that they cannot judg aright, either of ſpiritual matters, or rectified reaſon. Yea, in matters experimental, they are of as deep a judgement as was Callico, who ſtuft his pillow (a braſs pot) with ſtraw, to make it ſoft. Or that Germain Clow…, who under-took to be very ready in the ten Commandments: but being demanded by the Miniſter which was the firſt? made anſwer, Thou ſhall not eate. Or that ſimple fellow, who thought Pontius Pilate muſt needs be a Saint, becauſe his name was put into the Creed. They are like the Oſtrich, Job 9. 17. whom God hath deprived of wiſdom, and to whom he hath given no part of underſtanding.
Which men alſo, are ſo far from receiving inſtruction, that they will ſcorn and ſcoff at their admoniſher. As they have no reaſon, ſo they will hear none. Nor will they believe any thing, but what they ſee, or feell: and he that learns of none but himſelf, hath a fool to his t…acher. Yea, ſuch as refuſe admonition, are by wiſe Solomon branded, for the moſt incorigible Fools alive; ſo that their knowledge is ignorance, their wiſdom folly, their ſight blindneſs. They neither conſider what reaſon ſpeaketh, or Religion commandeth; but what the will and appetite affecteth. For will is the axeltree, luſts and paſſions the wheels whereupon all their actions are carried and do run. Appetite being their Lord, Reaſon their ſervant, and Religion their ſlave. Whereas Religion ſhould govern their judgement, judgment and reaſon their wills and affections; as Adam ſhould have done Eve. They that are after the fleſh, do minde the things of the fleſh: The carnal minde is enmity againſt God, for it is not ſubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, Rom. 8. 5. to 9. And which leaves them without all hope of being wiſer, they had rather keep conſcience blind, that it may flatter them, than inform it, that it may give a juſt verdict againſt them, counting it leſs trouble, to believe a favorable falſhood, than to examine whether it be true. So that it is impoſſible for fleſhly minded men, to believe what ſots they are, touching the good of their ſouls. Wherefore when we ſee the folly, and miſery of thoſe that ſerve ſin and Satan, and how peeviſhly averſe they are to their own eternal ſalvation, let us pity them, as being ſo much more worthy our commiſeration, as they are more uncapable of their own miſery. And ſo much of the Firſt ſort, namely, Senſualliſts.