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 ...

CHAP. V. Of the Ʋsefulness of Moral Philosophy, or Ethics.

MOral Philophy is useful for a Mini∣ster, to have the knowledge of Ethics, Oeconomics, Politics.

Reas. 1. Because the holy Scriptures have much of all these in them (they be∣ing a Rule of Maners to all sorts of men, and in all Capacities and Relations) espe∣cially the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes; out of which Bishop Hall hath made an Ex∣tract of Solomon's Ethics, Oeconomics and Politics.

Reas. 2. A Minister may be much helped in the knowledge of virtues and vices and of the concernments of both; and in aspirations after Goodness, especi∣ally summum bonum, and Tranquillity of Minde, and in many other such things, even by the Moral Philosophy of the Heathen (who went onwards as their light leads them) wherein very useful and ex∣cellent things are to be found.

This is of much use.

1. * 1.1 To declare that the Moral Law of God is written naturally in the Heart,

seeing divers of the Heathen, who were amiably and laudably moral, were never by Grace elevated above Nature.

2 * 1.2 To shew what Dictates or Doctrines even Nature teacheth men: Grace scorn∣eth not to learn some things even of Na∣ture.

3 To shame Christians, who enjoy Means of Grace, the light of the Gospel, yet come very short even of Heathen men in Moral virtues; as in Justice, Temperance, Meekness, Continency, Pa∣tience, Amity, and fall sometimes into such foul Sins as are not named among the Gentiles, scil. without detestation; as the incestuous person in the Church of Co∣rinth did, 1 Cor. 5.1.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 2.14, 15.
• * 1.2

  1 Cor. 11.14. Dr. Hall.