The intellectual power, which has the best help in it, towards bringing man again into the region of divine light, is that poor, despised thing, called _simplicity_. This is that, which stops the workings of the fallen nature, and leaves room for God to work again in the soul, according to the good pleasure of his will. It stands in such a waiting posture before God, as the plants of the earth wait for the inflowing riches of the light and air. But the _self-assuming_ workings of man’s natural powers, shut him up in himself, closely barred up against the inflowing riches of the light and Spirit of God. Yet so it is, in this fallen state of the gospel church, that with these proud endowments of fallen nature, the _classic_ scholar, full fraught with pagan light and skill, comes forth to play the _critic_ and _orator_ with the simplicity of salvation mysteries; mysteries which mean nothing else but the _inward work_ of the triune God in the soul of man. However, to make way for _parts_, _criticism_, and _language-learning_, to have the full management of salvation doctrines, the well-read scholar gives out, that the antient way of knowing the things of God, taught, and practised by _fishermen_-apostles, is obsolete. They indeed wanted to have divine knowledge from the immediate, continual operation of the holy Spirit; but this state was only for a time, till genius, and learning entered into the pale of the church.――Behold, if ever, _the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place_!――For as soon as this doctrine is set up, that man’s natural parts, and acquired learning, have full right and power to guide men into that truth, which was once the office of the holy Spirit; it may with the greatest truth be said, that _the kingdom of God_ is shut up; and only a kingdom of Scribes, Pharisees, and Hypocrites come instead of it. For by this doctrine the whole power of gospel religion, is more denied, than by setting up _the infallibility of the Pope_; for though his claim to infallibility is false, yet he claims it under the holy Spirit; but the Protestant scholar has his divinity knowledge from himself, his own logic, and learned reason.――Christ has no where given the least power to _logic_, _learning_, or the natural powers of man, in his kingdom: he has never said to them, _Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven_; never said to them, _Go ye and teach_ all nations, no more than he hath said to wolves, Go and _feed my sheep_.