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Informeth us of the causes of this lowerlinesse, and basenesse of Spirit; and inconstancy to Truth.
When men are ignorant, they may easily prove inconstant; True men have abundance of indistinct knowledge, much head knowledge, little heart knowledge, Now the one makes men talk admi∣rably, but the other to stand to it gallantly: Tru∣ly Ignorance is the spunge to suck in all Errors; and spiritual Pride the bawde to vent them; that which is weak is light; chaff may be tossed any way.
When mens apprehensions are very large, but their affections very foul; when men know much of truth, but withall love much of the world, or self, or sinful Liberty: Now you know a foul sto∣mach ever makes an il head, and a secret love of sin works out a love of truth: Men easily grow erro∣neous when they affect Liberty, and wax Irreligi∣ous.
Men are strangely infected with a base and late predominant Epidemical disease the Itch of spiri∣tual Pride, which was caught of our first Parent; The greatest Errors ever drop from those that are most proud, and are taken up by those that are most ignorant.
Many have Athenian wits, and long after Novel∣ties; and although old Wine be best, yet they love to drink in fashion.
A Colloging slavishnesse, many giving up their faith and souls to opinions of other great men, or to Relations.
An eminent love of the world, this made Demas and Hymenaeus forsake truth. A slave to the world wil never be a faithful servant to truth; he that dares pawn their souls, wil in time venter to sel the Truth.
Licentious hearts, when men affect pleasure, for corrupt doctrines gives more scope, then truth, to a libertinious heart; and we are apt to beleeve that soonest that pleaseth us best. Erroneous points are more for pleasure and ease, yea and purse too; Divine truths are for strictnesse. Now there are many Grecian-like give up their weapons for their sports; many forsake the truth, that they may more freely injoy their Liberty, in those ways are most pleasing to their spirits.