360 APPENDIX. 



like the * silly women, disciples to the old Gnos- 

 tics, while we are thus ever learning, (pretending 

 to great heights and proficiencies) we come never 

 to the knowledge of the truth (the Truth which 

 is according unto Godliness) : in fine, amongst so 

 many learners, they are but few that learn righte- 

 ousness: — And, therefore, God himself here opens 

 us a school; erects a severe discipline in the text; 

 brings forth \i\^ferulas when nothing else will serve 

 the turn. For he hath indeed four schools, or 

 rather four distinct forms and classes in the same 

 great school of righteousness ; the last only (that 

 of his judgments) expressed in the text, but the 

 rest too supposed at least, or covertly implied. 



For whether we look upon the latter clause of 

 the proposition, The Inhabitants of the World will 

 learn, — we find ourselves there under a double 

 formality; as learners, and as inhabiters. As 

 learners first, and so endued with faculties of rea- 

 son ; powers of a soul capable of learning what is 

 to be learned ; stamped and possessed with first 

 principles, and common notions, which, deeply 

 searched and duly improved and cultivated, might 

 teach us much of righteousness : and this is Schola 

 Cordis in domo interiori, the school of the heart, 

 God's first school in the little world within us. 

 Secondly, as inhabitants of the great world, which 

 is God's school too, as well as his temple, full of 

 doctrines and instructions ; Schola Orbis, in which 

 He takes us forth continual lessons of righteous- 



* 2 Tim. iii. 6, 7. 



