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TThe same which we have written of the most piercing spirits happens al∣so to men of eminent knowledge; which is, that they are for the most part slower of belief in a point of Religion then ordinary men; & there must be more powerfull ope∣rations, and a longer time for to draw them to the tearmes of an intire perswasion, on
which I will only say the most prompt be¦lief is not alwayes the most firm. The faith of a man who receives the Gospell with a precipitated and easie approbation ought to be suspected of nullity, it is to be feared its rather credulity then sollid faith; sure∣ly our Lord spake of certain auditors, who easily received the word with gladnesse but left it with the same facility which they had brought to its reception, the truth is al∣wayes open and never hides her face to the end that he who receives her may see what manner of guest he is to receive. So when a man begins to be illuminated in the first acts of this faith, he meets with an infinity of objections which hinder his resolution to an entire belief. But he which finds no obstacles therein never considers thereof in good earnest, far from having conceived the faith; a man who will sound the depth of Religion and know the bottome as far as man can discover, he who will learn all the measures of the Ta∣bernacle and know the dimensions and the proportions, and weigh all the reasons
which forbids the entrance, and those which invite him thereto; his pace will not be very fast, and wil not come very soon to the altar. But if once he be en∣lightened by the light of the Sanctuary the slownes thereof redounds to his advan∣tage. for belief is far more cleare being re∣ceived upon solid grounds more sound; As lodging in a spirit refined from all that surcharged it, and more solid as having prevented by a ripe deliberation whatsoe∣ver might come to shake it.
In this tryall of religion the learned have alwayes helps which facilitates their understanding, and where they know to make use thereof they understand better the importance of a point of the law, or of the Gospell, the enormity of sinne, or the excellency of redem prion, far better then the common people. That as they have more trouble to be perswaded, so they have more objections to be resolved then those which see not the difficulty thereof, but the perswasion being formed in them, pos∣sesses all those advantages which I have re∣lated.
And notwithstanding it is not alto∣gether universally true, that the learned are the more difficult to believe the truth, the conversion of an idiot proves often∣times more painfull and troublesome. A grosse ignorance incapable to comprehend the easiest matter, is the mother of stub∣bornesse; nay more, of presumption the enemy of all knowledge: Many refuse in∣struction because they believe they have knowledge enough. So that under the sha∣dow of Christian liberty, an artificer cen∣sures what he understands not.