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Three principles whence the ignorances arise, with which men erre against God.
COnsidering that which S. Paul saith of the sinne which he had committed against God in persecuting the Christian Church, But I ob∣tained mercy, because J did it ignorantly in un∣belief; 1. Tim. 1.13. And considering the prayer wherewith Christ being put on the
Crosse prayed his eternall Father for the sinne of them that crucified him, saying, Father, for∣give them, for they know not what they do. Luke 23 34. And considering that which S. Paul saith of the wise men of the world; For if they had known it, they would never have cru∣cified the Lord of glory; 1. Cor. 2.8. I gather three Principles, from which I understand all the errours which men do against God through ignorance, do proceed. The first is Malice. The second is Inconsideratenesse. The third is Incredulity. In this manner from S. Pauls standing in unbelief, from his not believing that Christ was the Sonne of God, that he was the promised Messias in the Law, that he died for the sinnes of every one, that he was raised up for the resurrection of every one, and that he was glorified for the glorification of every one, it proceeded, that he persecuted and slew them that did believe and preach this, thinking there∣in to do service to God, as from step to step others have done with the same intentions which S. Paul did, who as S. Paul did, have erred and do erre against God; not by Incon∣sideratenesse; for he, and they go with attention to that which they do; nor through Malice; for they do not hate for their own interest those whom they persecute, but through Infidelity, because they do not believe in Christ. Whence I understand it proceeded, that God using
mercy with S. Paul gave him to know Christ, and so of a famous persecutour he became a most famous Preacher; the same mercy and pardon hath been given, as I understand, to all them who have erred as S. Paul erred. From the Gentiles, who were Ministers and executers of Christs death, not considering what they did, proceeded that they erred inconsiderately killing the innocent, as many Gentiles have erred, who have been the death of many Christians, not considering what they do. For if they did con∣sider it as they ought, there is no doubt they would not do it. And therefore because they erre as Beasts, their errour is not put to their accompt. This I believe, holding for certain that God did heare Christ, when he said, Fa∣ther, forgive them, for they know not what they do! And S. Steven, when he said, Lord, lay not this sinne to their charge! From that the Scribes and Pharisees minds stood full of in∣dignation against Christ, as have been and are from time to time full of indignation against them that imitate Christ, the minds of those, who being like unto the Scribes and Pharisees make profession of outward holinesse, being void of the inward, it did proceed, and is come to passe, and goes on proceeding, that malici∣ously killing them whom they have known and do know to be members of Christ, who have been alwayes hated of the Saints of the world,
because they ruine and throw down that sancti∣ty, whereof they make profession. With them I do not understand that God useth mercy: For they stand not as S. Paul did, in Incredulity, that is, not incredulity which maketh them erre, but their errour proceeds from their Ma∣lice and Malignity. Nor do I understand that Christ prayed, nor that his members pray for them; for their errour ariseth not through In∣consideratenesse, but from Malignant deprava∣tion. Nay this sinne I understand is that which Christ calls Matth. 12.21. The sinne against the holy Ghost, which he saith, shall not be pardoned, neither in this nor in the other world. And this sinne I understand Saint John calls a sinne unto death, John 5.16.
The men who imitating the Scribes and Pharisees, erre through ignorance arising of ma∣lice, I understand they have left to be men, and are infernall spirits.
The men who imitating the Gentiles who kil∣led Christ, erre through ignorance arising from inconsideratenesse, I understand they have left to be men, and are beasts. And the men who imitating S. Paul, erre through ignorance bred from incredulity, are as I understand truly men, to whom incredulity is as proper, as Inconsi∣deration is proper to Beasts, and as malice is proper to the infernall spirits. And therefore the errour which grows from incredulity and
inconsideratenesse without mixture of malice, finds mercy with God, he being drawn to the faith who erres through ignorance bred of in∣credulity. Whereupon if any ask me, saying, Whence dost thou think that the Hebrews er∣ring through ignorance, grew, of which S. Paul saith, Rom. 20. For being ignorant of the righ∣teousnesse of God, and going about to establish their own righteousnesse they have not submit∣ted themselves to the righteousnesse of God? I answer him, that it was bred partly from Ma∣lice, and partly from Incredulity, through the hatred which they bore unto the Gospel. That this is true is proved by this, that some believed, and others remained in their unbelief. The same I answer to him that shall demand of me, Whence did proceed, and doth proceed the er∣ring through ignorance in them, of whom Christ saith, John 16.2. Every one that shall kill you, will think that he doth God good service? And so much the more, by how much to me it is proved that S. Paul was one of these, and found mercy: for his erring through ignorance, grew from incredulity.
In this discourse I learn this; That every man ought to stand on his watch, not to appas∣sionate himself at any time in the things that appertain to religion: I mean in defending one thing, and impugning another with passion, to the end that the passion may not blind him in
such manner as he come to erre against God through Ignorance bred of malice.
Further I learn, that a man ought not with∣out due consideration to set himself to any of those things which shall offer themselves unto him, much lesse to those which belong to reli∣gion, to the end that he come not to be counted in the number of Beasts.
Further I learn, that a man who finds him∣self free from passion and inconsideration, that he erre not against God, ought to acknow∣ledge himself to be in Incredulity, and so to pray God, that he would free him from it. And in the mean space he ought to abstain from put∣ting in execution those things which are in pre∣judice of his neighbour; (as S. Pauls persecu∣ting the Christians was,) And then the more, when they shall seem to him more holy, and more just before God.
And I learn further, that onely the regene∣rated Christian being more then a man, being gone out of Incredulity, doch not erre through Malice, Inconsideration, or Incredulity, but erring onely through frailty, inasmuch as he hath not yet left altogether to be a man, hath not as yet altogether comprehended the Christi∣an perfection, wherein he is comprehended by the incorporation with which he stands incor∣porated in the death, in the resurrection, and in the glorification of the sonne of God Jesus Christ our Lord.