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to the judgment of humane reafon, becauſe it is against all Reafon as well as Religion, to believe that a creature fo much inferior to God,by nature as man is, fhould fee every thing as he feeth, and think as he thinks; and confequently judge and determine in and of all things as God judgeth and determineth. The Apoftle therefore not without caufe, would have all private judgments (for of publick for the maintenance of peace and order among men, it is another cafe) deferr'd to that time, when the hearts of all men fhall be laid open, all hidden things and fecret counfels revealed. But we have enough to fay in this cafe without it. For if Pride and Curiofity were enough to undoe our first Parent, and in him all mankind, when otherwife innocent, and in poffeffion of Paradife. Should we wonder if it had the fame event in Dr. Dee, though otherwife, as he doth appear to us, innocent, and well qualified? That this was his cafe and error, I will appeal to his own confeffion (though he makes it his boaft) in more then one of his Letters or addreffes, where he profeffeth, That for divers years he had been an earnest futer unto God in prayer for Wifdom; that is, as he interprets himself, That he might underftand the fecrets of Nature that had not been revealed unto men hitherto; to the end, as he profeffeth, and his own deceitful heart it may be fuggefted unto him, That he might glorifie God; but certainly, that himself might become a glorious man in the world, and be admired, yea, adored every where almoft, as he might be fure it would be, had he compaffed his defire. And what do we think fhould put him upon fuch a defire, with hopes to obtain it, but an opinion he had of himſelf as an extraordinary man, both for parts, and for favour with God? But however, had he been to the utmoft of what he could think of himſelf, befides his Spiritual pride of thinking fo of himfelf (as great a fin as any in the eyes of God) his praying for fuch a thing with fo much importunity, was a great tempting of God, and deferving greateft judgments. Had he indeed been a futer unto God for fuch Wijdom as the Prophet Jeremie defcribeth (11. v.24, 25.) Let not the Wife man glorie in his wifdom, &c. but let him that glorieth, . And for fuch knowledg as our Saviour commandeth, Job. 17.3. And this is life eternal, that they may know thee, &c. And his bleffed Apoftle (1 Cor. 11.2.) For I determined not to know any thing, &c. he had had good warrant for his prayers, and it is very likely that God would have granted him his requeft, fo far as might have concerned his own falvation and eternal happiness. Befides, it is lawful (nay fit) for a man to pray for Gods bleffing upon his labours, for competency of wit and capacity that he may do well in his vocation and glorifie God. But for a man to afpire to fuch eminency above other men, and by means that are not ordinary (as that conceited Phylofophers Stone, and the like) and to intereft God by earneft folicitations in his ambitions extravagant defires; that God, who hath faid of himself, That be refuteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble, muft needs be fo great and fo high a provocation (if well confidered) as that I begin to doubt whether it be charity to pity him that fuffered fo juftly and defervedly. I do not know but it is as lawfull for any man obfcurely born to pray for a Kingdom, for a Common Souldier that he may have ftrength to encounter thoufands, or far an ordinarie Maid, that she may become the faireft of women. Inall