So the mysteries of salvation, is first the doctrine it self, that is the first degree of the kingdom. The doctrine it self is a mystery to all those that never heard of it: for what creature could ever conceive how to reconcile Justice and Mercy, by devising such a ⟨p. 139⟩way, as for God to become Man, to reconcile God and man together? that Emmanuel, he that is God with us, should make God and us one in love: this could be no more thought of, than Adam could think of himself to be made a man▪ when he was dust of the earth. Could man when he was worse then dust, in a lost damned estate, think of redemption? It is impossible for a man that cannot tell the form, and the quintessence, that cannot enter into the depth of the flowers, or the grass that he tramples on with his feet, that he should have the wit to enter into the deep things of God, that have been concealed even ⟨p. 140⟩from the Angels themselves, till God discover them. I add this, to illustrate what I said before: therefore the doctrine it self, till God discover it out of his own breast, was concealed to the Angels themselves; and since the discovery, they are students in it, and look and pry into it. But where the doctrine is no mystery, but is discovered: there the application, and spiritual understanding, to those that have not the light of the Spirit, is such a thing, as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard; and therefore we must have a new light, a new eye, a new ear, and a new heart, before we can apprehend the Gospel, though we understand ⟨p. 141⟩it for the literal truth. As for the things of glory, we have no conceit of them fully, but by a glimpse, and weak apprehension; as a child conceives of the things of a man, by some poor, weak resemblances. As St. Paul saith, When I was a child, I spake as a child, I thought as a child: so when we are now children, in comparison of that perfect estate we shall attain in heaven, we think and speak as children, of these holy and heavenly things that shall be accomplished in another world.
So the mysteries of salvation, is first the doctrine it selfe, that is the first degree of the kingdome. The doctrine it selfe is a mysterie to all those that never heard of it: for what creature could ever conceive how to reconcile Iustiee and Mercie, by devising such a ⟨p. 139⟩way, as for God to become Man, to reconcile God and man together? that Emmanuel, hee that is God with us, should make God and us one in love: this could bee no more thought of, than Adam could thinke of himselfe to bee made a man▪ when hee was dust of the earth. Could man when he was worse then dust, in a lost damned estate, think of redemption? It is impossible for a man that cannot tell the forme, and the quintessence, that cannot enter into the depth of the flowers, or the grasse that hee tramples on with his feet, that hee should have the wit to enter into the deepe things of God, that have been concealed even ⟨p. 140⟩from the Angels themselves, till God discover them. I adde this, to illustrate what I sayd before: therefore the doctrine it selfe, till God discover it out of his owne breast, was concealed to the Angels themselves; and since the discovery, they are students in it, and looke and pry into it. But where the doctrine is no mysterie, but is discovered: there the application, and spirituall understanding, to those that have not the light of the Spirit, is such a thing, as eye hath not seene, nor eare heard; and therfore we must have a new light, a new eye, a new eare, and a new heart, before wee can apprehend the Gospell, though we understand ⟨p. 141⟩it for the literall truth. As for the things of glory, wee have no conceit of them fully, but by a glimpse, and weak apprehension; as a childe conceives of the things of a man, by some poore, weake resemblances. As St. Paul sayth, When I was a childe, I spake as a childe, I thought as a childe: so when we are now children, in comparison of that perfect estate wee shall attaine in heaven, we think and speake as children, of these holy and heavenly things that shall be accomplished in another world.
