[3.] Many plainly scoff' at them, and despise them as the most contemptible notions that mankind can exercise their reasons about. Such were of old prophesied concerning, 2 Pet. iii. S, 4; and things at this day are come to that pass. The world swarms with scoffers at spiritual things, as those which are unfit for rational, noble, generous spirits to come under a sense or power of, because they are so foolish. But these things were we foretold of, that when they came to pass we should not be troubled or shaken in our minds; yea, the atheism of some is made a means to confirm the faith of others !
[4.] It is not much otherwise with some, who yet dare not engage into an open opposition to the gospel with them before mentioned ; for they profess the faith of it, and avow a subjection to the rules an*d laws of it. But the things declared in the gospel may be reduced unto two heads, as was before observed: — \st. Such as consist in the confirmation, direction, and improvement of the moral jDrinciples and precepts of the law of nature, '^dly. Such as flow immediately from the sovereign will and wisdom of God, being no way communicated unto us but by supernatural revelation only. Such are all the effects of the wisdom and grace of God, as he was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself; the offices of Christ, his administration of them, and disj)ensation of the Spirit ; with the especial, evangelical, super- natural graces and duties which are required in us with respect there- unto. The first sort of these things many will greatly praise and
CHAP. III.] OF THE MIXD BY SIN. 265
highly extol; and they will declare how consonant they are to rea- son, and what expressions suitable unto them may be found in the ancient philosophers. But it is evident that herein also they fall under a double inconvenience: for, — 1st. Mostlj^, they visibly trsiua- gress what they boast of as their rule, and that above others; for where shall we meet with any, at least with many, of this sort of men, who in any measure comply with that modesty, humility, meekness, patience, self-denial, abstinence, temperance, contempt of the world, love of mankind, charity, and purity, which tlie gospel re- quires under this head of duties? Pride, ambition, insatiable desires after earthly advantages and promotions, scoffing, scorn and contempt of others, vanity of converse, envy, wrath, revenge, railing, are none of the moral duties required in the gospel. And, — 2dli/. No pretence of an esteem for any one part of the gospel will shelter men from the punishment due to the rejection of the whole by whom any es- sential 23art of it is refused. And this is the condition of many. The things which most properly belong to the mysteries of the gospel, or the unsearchable riches of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, are fool- ishness unto them; and the preaching of them is called "canting and folly." And some of these, although they go not so far as the friar at Rome, who said that "St Paul fell into great excesses in these things," yet they have dared to accuse his writings of darkness and obscuiity; for no other reason, so far as I can understand, but because he insists on the declaration of these spiritual mysteries: and it is not easy to express what contempt and reproach is cast by some preachers on them. But it is not amiss that some have proclaimed their own shame herein, and have left it on record, to the abhorrency of posterity.
[5.] The event of the dispensation of the gospel manifesteth that the spiritual things of it are foolishness to the most ; for as such are they rejected by them, Isa. liii. 1-3. Suppose a man of good rej^u- tation for wisdom and sobriety should go unto others, and inform them, and that Avith earnestness, evidence of love to them, and care for them, with all kinds of motives to beget a belief of what he j^ro- poseth, that by such ways as he prescribeth they may exceedingly increase their substance in this world, until they exceed the wealth of kings, — a thing that the minds of men in their contrivances and designs are intent upon; — if in this case they follow not his advice, it can be for no other reason but because they judge the things pro- posed by him to be no way suited or expedient unto the ends jd re- mised,— that is, to be foolish things. And this is the state of things with respect unto the mysteries of the gospel. Men are informed, in and by the ways of God's appointment, how great and glorious they are, and what blessed consequents there will be of a spiritual recep- tion of them. The beauty and excellency of Christ, the inestimable
266 CORRUPTION OR DEPRAVATION [BOOK III.
privilege of divine adoption, the great and precious promises made unto them that do believe, the glory of the world to come, the ne- cessity and excellency of holiness and gospel obedience unto the attaining of everlasting blessedness, are preached unto men, and pressed on them with arguments and motives filled with divine au- thority and wisdom; yet after all this, we see how few eventually do apply themselves with any industry to receive them, or at least actu- ally do receive them : for " many are called, but few are chosen." And the reason is, because, indeed, unto their darkened minds these thmgs are foolishness, whatsoever they pretend unto the con- trary,