ssist good, or resist bad, reform our wills, if he
be not the author of sin, and let such enormities be committed, unworthy of
his knowledge, wisdom, government, mercy, and providence, why lets he all
things be done by fortune and chance? Others as prodigiously inquire after
his omnipotency, _an possit plures similes creare deos? an ex scarcibaeo
deum? &c., et quo demum ruetis sacrificuli_? Some, by visions and
revelations, take upon them to be familiar with God, and to be of privy
council with him; they will tell how many, and who shall be saved, when the
world shall come to an end, what year, what month, and whatsoever else God
hath reserved unto himself, and to his angels. Some again, curious
fantastics, will know more than this, and inquire with [3137]Epicurus, what
God did before the world was made? was he idle? Where did he bide? What did
he make the world of? why did he then make it, and not before? If he made
it new, or to have an end, how is he unchangeable, infinite, &c. Some will
dispute, cavil, and object, as Julian did of old, whom Cyril confutes, as
Simon Magus is feigned to do, in that [3138]dialogue betwixt him and Peter:
and Ammonius the philosopher, in that dialogical disputation with Zacharias
the Christian. If God be infinitely and only good, why should he alter or
destroy the world? if he confound that which is good, how shall himself
continue good? If he pull it down because evil, how shall he be free from
the evil that made it evil? &c., with many such absurd and brain-sick
questions, intricacies, froth of human wit, and excrements of curiosity,
&c., which, as our Saviour told his inquisitive disciples, are not fit for
them to know. But hoo! I am now gone quite out of sight, I am almost giddy
with roving about: I could have ranged farther yet; but I am an infant, and
not [3139]able to dive into these profundities, or sound these depths; not
able to understand, much less to discuss. I leave the contemplation of
these things to stronger wits, that have better ability, and happier
leisure to wade into such philosophical mysteries; for put case I were as
able as willing, yet what can one man do? I will conclude with
[3140]Scaliger, _Nequaquam nos homines sumus, sed partes hominis, ex
omnibus aliquid fieri potest, idque non magnum; ex singulis fere nihil_.
Besides (as Nazianzen hath it) _Deus latere nos multa voluit_; and with
Seneca, _cap. 35. de Cometis_, _Quid miramur tam rara mundi spectacula non
tene