It is true, as men hide treasure from thieves under straw, or some other base covering, so God hideth this full excellency from the world, under a base outside, that his secret ones only might find it: and that others (truly blinded) might not see but stumble at it. So he hid Christ himself under a Carpenters son: so he hideth divine mysteries under the mean elements of Bread ⟨p. 19⟩and Wine▪ so the wisdom of God is hid under the foolishness of preaching, and under sheep-skins and goat-skins, such as the world was not worthy of: yet there is a fullness of excellency notwithstanding. For if ever we saw beauty in the Sun, Moon, Stars, Men, Women, or any thing else; all must be more abundantly in God, who is the maker, giver, and Author of all these things. As David reasoneth, He that made the eye, shall not he see? and he that made the ear, shall not he hear? So he that made these things shall he not have them more eminently in himself? For as the worth and value of many pieces of silver is in ⟨p. 20⟩one piece of gold: so all the petty excellencies, which are scattered abroad in the creatures, are united in God; yea, all the whole volume of perfections which is spread through heaven and earth, is epitomized in him. Why do we not then with Saint Paul, trample on the glory of the world, for the excellent knowledge of Christ? Why do we not with David turn our hearts, eyes, and affections from beholding vanities, and pitch them all in him? Why do we not recollect our affections, and gather up our thoughts, which are scattered abroad, and busied about a thousand trifles, and bestow them all on him in ⟨p. 21⟩whom is the fullness of all excellency, beauty, and perfection?
It is true, as men hide treasure from theeves under straw, or some other base covering, so God hideth this full excellency from the world, under a base outside, that his secret ones onely might find it: and that others (truely blinded) might not see but stumble at it. So he hid Christ himselfe under a Carpenters sonne: so he hideth divine mysteries under the meane elements of Bread ⟨p. 19⟩and Wine▪ so the wisedome of God is hid under the foolishnesse of preaching, and under sheepe-skinnes and goat-skins, such as the world was not worthy of: yet there is a fulnesse of excellency notwithstanding. For if ever we saw beauty in the Sunne, Moone, Starres, Men, Women, or any thing else; all must be more abundantly in God, who is the maker, giver, and Author of all these things. As David reasoneth, He that made the eye, shall not he see? and he that made the eare, shall not he heare? So he that made these things shall he not have them more eminently in himselfe? For as the worth and value of many pieces of silver is in ⟨p. 20⟩one peece of gold: so all the petty excellencies, which are scattered abroad in the creatures, are united in God; yea, all the whole volume of perfections which is spred through heaven and earth, is epitomized in him. Why doe we not then with Saint Paul, trample on the glory of the world, for the excellent knowledge of Christ? Why doe wee not with David turn our hearts, eyes, and affections from beholding vanities, and pitch them all in him? Why doe we not recollect our affections, and gather up our thoughts, which are scattered abroad, and busied about a thousand trifles, and bestow them all on him in ⟨p. 21⟩whom is the fulnesse of all excellency, beauty, and perfection?
