A treatise of the necessity of humane learning for a Gospel-preacher shewing the use of I. Languages, II. Rhetoric, III. Logic, IV. Natural philosophy, V. Moral philosophy, VI. History, VII. Chronology, VIII. Arithmetic, IX. Geometry, X. Astronomy, XI. Geography, and the benefits of learning in all ages : also this question is determined, whether grace be essential to a minister of the Gospel? / by Edward Reyner ...

SECT. III. Of Religion flourishing, when Learning abounded.

THe second Argument, to prove the usefulness of Learning.

Learning hath not been in the same state in all Ages since Christ, but ebbing and flowing like the water, waxing and waning like the Moon. But this is observable, that in those Ages wherein Learning a∣bounded most, Religion hath flourished, and the Truth of God hath had most Champi∣pions, Defenders and Witnesses of it, and for it.

The fourth Century was, as it is called, a Learned Age. Hoc tempore fulserunt in Ecclesia Dei clarissima lumina, saith Bu∣cholcer. Many famous Lights shone in the Church of God in this time, who were the Hammers of Heretics.

The fifth Century was the like. These two Centuries for choice of Learned men, were compared to the golden Age, and are stiled the two Learned Ages.

In the sixth and seventh Century there was (as Authors observe) a great decay in knowledge, and scarcity of able men to

defend Truth, and furnish the Church with∣all. There were few in Italy then, as Ba∣ronius observes—(haud in promptu esset, qui utriusque linguae peritus esset) who were skilled both in Greek and Latine.

Yea Gregory the Great, who lived in the seventh Century who was, (as Rivet saith) —Primus Papa & ultimus Episcopus Roma∣nus, the last Bishop of Rome, and the first Pope; or the last of the good Bishops of Rome, and the first of the bad ones: This Gregory professeth that he was ignorant of the Greek Tongue, lib. 6. Epist. 29. Nam nos nec Graecum novimus.

That ignorant Age was a declining age, wherein men came short of their Predeces∣sors in some Truths, as even Gregory him∣self did; therefore it affords few, and those not full Testimonies of the truth.

The Ages of the Church (saith a learn∣ed man) resemble the stars of the sky. In some Ages we may see many and glorious lights, likestars of the first and second Mag∣nitude: in other Ages there are few Authors of any Note, or bright lustre (whose writings have come to Posterity) and in some Ages none but obscure and unknown Authors.

The same Author saith, that after we have passed the eighth Age of the Church, we fall into Cimmerian darkness.

Of the ninth Age Bellarmine cannot speak with patience—Saeculo hoc nullum extitit indoctius, aut infeliciu•••• in quo qui Mathematicis aut Philosophiae operam da∣bat, vulgo Magus putabatur.

There was no Age more unlearned, or unhappy, then this; in which whosoever studied the Mathematics, or Philosophy, was com∣monly accounted a Magician.

This is called an unhappy Age, empty of men famous for wit, or learning, in which the light of knowledge was not to be found, no not in Popes, Bishops, or Princes: but this Age was full of palpable Egyptian darkness: and it may be said of this Age, that it yielded no eminent men, Catholics, or Heretics.

As this ninth Age, so the tenth, and some other after, were barren of Learned Writers: and therefore no marvel (saith my Author) if the Harvest we gather in these Ages of the Professors of the Truth, and defenders thereof by writing, be very thin.

In the tenth Century Learning was de∣cayed by the fall of the Roman Empire, great corruption grew in this Century or thousandth year, wherein (as some think) Satan was let loose. For at this time, they of Rome forbad to marry; and indulged uncleanness themselves:—they also devised

a carnal presence of Christ in the Sacra∣ment.

This ignorant Age was a Monkish Age, much cumbred with Monkery, or with the dotages of Monks and Legendary Fables; wherein the Monks devised subtile tricks to delude the people, as the Oracles of the Holy Rood, &c. and that illiterate herd of Monks and Friers bore the greatest sway, and the blind led the blind into the pit.

In the fourteenth Century (as some com∣pute it) Learning began to revive, there being a general Resurrection of all good Learning (a little before the receiving of the Gospel) at which the Monks were mad. For as in the first Plantation of the Gospel in Europe, as Mr. Trap observes, God shipped the Arts before into Greece, that they might be as Harbingers unto it, as Tertullian speaketh; so in these latter Ages the Lord, intending a Reformation of Religion, set up the Turk to over-run Greece; and by the cruelty of the Turks, used against the Grecians (such as they ab∣horred) and by God's Providence over-ru∣ling it, divers learned men among the Greeks, left (as exiles) those parts, and fled into these Western parts; and by their means the knowledge of Letters, and stu∣dy of Tongues, especially the Greek and

Latine, began to spread abroad through diverse parts of the West. These were God's first Instruments (saith Mr. Trap) to restore humane Learning, that was al∣most lost out of the world—as Chrysolo∣ras, Trapezuntius, Gaza, Argyrophylus, Chalcondylas, Cydonius, and other. In like sort also afterwards John Capnio brought the use of the Greek and Hebrew Tongues into Germany.

In the beginning of this Age Hebrew was first taught in Oxford.

In this Age knowledge increased very much by the means of Printing, which Art is said to be first invented at Strasburg in Germany by John Guttenburg. Here∣by the Languages were divulged, and good Learning was generally communica∣ted, and Books were more easily dispersed then formerly the Manuscrips could be. Shortly after, there were printed at Paris, Venice, Antwerp, and divers other places, the Works of sundry Learned men, stirred up by God to fetch the Arts back out of banishment. Mr. Trap names divers of them. After that Humane Learning be∣gan thus to reflourish, and lift up the head, Divinity also, that had been shamefully obscured and slurried with needless and endless Doubts and Disputes, was vin∣dicated

and illustrated by the knowledge of Latine, Greek, and Hebrew.

In this fourteenth Age (as also in the fifteenth and sixteenth Ages) God raised up divers Worthies, who, by their Confessi∣ons, Writings, and Martyrdom gave a great and glorious Testimony to the Go∣spel of Christ, and the Truths thereof, as Wickliff, Huss, Hierom of Prague; after them Luther, Zuinglius, Oecolampadius, and many others.

Then grew up that golden Age of gra∣cious and excellent Divines, famous and matchless for depth of Learning, and heighth of Holiness.

If the Times of greatest Ignorance, Neglect, and Contempt of humane Learn∣ing, were the Times, wherein Errors most prevailed, Superstition, and Idolatry was advanced, and Truth suppressed; and Po∣pery did not fall, till Learning did rise: and if Religion flourished, and was best de∣fended, when Learning most abounded, then Learning is useful, and needful for the Ministers of the Gospel.

Notes

• Argum. 2.
• Chronol. ad Annum. 365.
• Annal. Tom. 8. A••n. 593. num. 62.
• In his Critic. Sacr. lib. 4. cap. 29.
• Gregor. Tom 2. 1 p••st. lib. 9.
• Dr. Featly, Of the Names of visible Protest. in all Ages.
• Lib. 4. De Ro∣mano pontifice cap. 12, ad li∣nem.
• Dr. ••eatly.
• Bi••ck. P••••••est. 〈…〉〈…〉.
• Rev. 20.3.
• Idem.
• Mellific••i Theolog. pag. 716.
• Isaacson's Chronol. ad Ann. Christ. 1314.
• ☞
• Pag. 716, and 717.