Popular errors, in generall poynts concerning the knowledge of religion having relation to their causes, and reduced into divers observations / by Jean D'Espaigne.

CHAP. XI. Of Problemes, and of their difference, and of morall Problemes in particular.

THere are many points in Theologie, and also in other Sciences of which we find no decision. These points, because they are not of the essence of Faith, and remaine problematicall, are ordinarily re∣jected by the vulgar, as vaine and unprofi∣table. But certainly the Scripture which produceth nothing superfluous suggests thereby many things unto us; 'tis well knowne that all the difficulties which are found therein, have not as yet beene sur∣mounted▪ divers matters remain undecided, and God will have us to exercise our spi∣rits therein; the leaves namely of the tree of Life have their medicine in them. These questions which the Scripture covertly moves, telleth us our ignorance, and ought to be examined for to teach us that our judgement is incapable for to give the so∣lution.

But indeed there are divers Problemes which may be put into the ranke of cu∣riosities; As the inquiry what is the lan∣guage of the Angels, and how they speak, seeing they have neither tongue nor lungs; Or if in Heaven we shall speake the lan∣guage of the Hebrewes; Or whether the fire of Hell be materiall; or if a man dy∣ing a few years since, as Lazarus should rise from the dead, whether or no hee should have reason to require what belon∣ged to him at that time he died, or whether he had left the right, as well as the posses∣sion. It may be some thought of the last question, because of ancient Hereticks, who blame the second marriages in taking a pretext, that the first marriage did as yet subsist betwixt the dead man and the living wife, fearing peradventure the dead should arise and dispute the place with his new successor, although that the Scripture, namely in expresse tearmes hath condem∣ned this folly Romans 7. But the questions which are moved for to know; What was the sinne of the evill angels, for which they

were banished from heaven: how long the first man remained in the state of Inno∣nocence; If in the eternall life we shall know those we have seen in this world; If there be a difference of glory amongst the blessed. and in what place the soule is lod∣ged in the body, either in the heart, or in the braine, it may be are not so vain; lay∣ing aside those which are of this nature. Its a curiosity worthy of a Christian to aske what things were the Vrim and Thum∣mim in the brest-plate of the high Priest, if Jephta sacrificed his Daughter, if Saint Paul be the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews? How many yeares our Lord remained upon the earth from his Nativi∣ty to his Ascention? Whether faith hath its seat in the intellect, or resides in the will?

But above all the necessity and profit of morall Problemes is evident. I speak not of those which the Casuists have founded upon actions, either impossible or frivo∣ous, but of questions which concernes our inordinary and important occasions; It is

not sufficient to say, that we have our ge∣nerall principles cleare, and out of dispute, which rules the conscience in all sorts of actions; For it is true, that these universall maximes are like to fixed starres, and have their regular motion; but when we come to hypotheses and particular occurrences, then they descend as in the region of ele∣ments wherein all things are various and turbulent, and where one findes a perpetu∣all conflict of reasons, like to waves drawn by contrary winds; Nor is it sufficient for a man to alleadge the suspention of his a∣ction, when as he doubts the justice there∣of, for feare of corrupting goodnesse by a scrupulous conscience; For there is some∣times occasions in which surceasing, is more criminall then an actuall fault, and whilst they delay for information sake, for what they ought to doe, they fall into ir∣reparable omission; Christian wisdome ought to prevent these perplexities: a man who hath given an oath to his Country to put fire to the powder, and make himselfe leap into the aire, rather then to render

himself to the enemy; hath need to in∣struct his conscience, before he imbarque himself in such a designe: but I leave this question, and an infinity of the like nature.