And then thirdly, in regard §3of the full comprehension of them, as they are indeed, and so they are reserved for heaven: we have but a little glimpse of them, a little light into them in this world. Now in this place is meant the things that are discovered ⟨p. 60⟩in the Gospel, especially as they are apprehended by the Spirit, together with the consummation of them in heaven. For they differ only in degree, the discovery of the heavenly things in the Gospel here the privileges, and graces, and comforts of Gods children, and the consummation of them in heaven. And we may reason from the lesser to the greater, if so be that a natural man, (though he have natural eyes, and ears, and wits about him) cannot conceive the hidden mysteries of the Gospel, 1spiritually with application: much more unable is he, and much less can he conceive those things of a better life. Now the things ⟨p. 61⟩of the Gospel, the privileges, the graces and comforts which Christ the spring and head of them all, in whom all are, and whence we have all, cannot be comprehended by a natural man, he can discourse of them as far as his natural wit conceives them; but not understand heavenly things in their own light as heavenly things, as the things of the Gospel.2 They can talk of repentance (that we commonly speak of, which is a mystery) but notwithstanding who knows repentance by the light proper to it, but he that by the spirit of God hath sin discovered to him in its own colours? H• knows what it is to grieve for sin. ⟨p. 62⟩The sick man knows what it is to be sick: the Physician knows it by definition, by books, and so he can enlarge it: but if he be not sick, the sick patient will speak to better purpose. So there is a mystery in the common things of the Gospel; repentance, and grief for sin. A holy man feels it another matter because he feels sin discovered by the Spirit of God:3 and so in faith, in the love of God, and every grace of the Gospel is a mystery. If one come to the schoolmen, they will tell you of faith, and dispute learnedly of it, and deduce this from that: but when he comes to be in extremity? when the terrors of ⟨p. 63⟩the Lord are upon him, when he comes to use it, he is a mere stranger to it:
And then thirdly, in regard §3of the full comprehension of them, as they are indeed, and so they are reserved for heaven: wee have but a little glimpse of them, a little light into them in this world. Now in this place is meant the things that are discovered ⟨p. 60⟩in the Gospell, especially as they are apprehended by the Spirit, together with the consummation of them in heaven. For they differ onely in degree, the discovery of the heavenly things in the Gospell here the priviledges, and graces, and comforts of Gods children, and the consummation of them in heaven. And wee may reason from the lesser to the greater, if so be that a naturall man, (though hee have naturall eyes, and eares, and wits about him) cannot conceive the hidden mysteries of the Gospell, 1spiritually with application: much more unable is he, and much lesse can hee conceive those things of a better life. Now the things ⟨p. 61⟩of the Gospell, the priviledges, the graces and comforts which Christ the spring and head of them all, in whom all are, and whence we have all, cannot be comprehended by a naturall man, he can discourse of them as far as his natural wit conceives them; but not understand heavenly things in their owne light as heavenly things, as the things of the Gospell.2 They can talke of repentance (that wee commonly speake of, which is a mystery) but notwithstanding who knowes repentance by the light proper to it, but he that by the spirit of God hath sinne discovered to him in its owne colours? H• knowes what it is to grieve for sin. ⟨p. 62⟩The sicke man knowes what it is to bee sicke: the Phisitian knows it by definition, by books, and so he can inlarge it: but if he be not sicke, the sicke patient will speake to better purpose. So there is a mysteryin the common things of the Gospell; repentance, and griefe for sinne. A holy man feels it another matter because he feeles sinne discovered by the Spirit of God:3 and so in faith, in the love of God, and every grace of the Gospell is a mystery. If one come to the schoolemen, they will tell you of faith, and dispute learnedly of it, and deduce this from that: but when he comes to be in extremitie? when the terrours of
- 1Natural wits conceive not the GospelNaturall wits conceive not the Gospel
- 2Wicked men talk of repentance, but do not rerepent.
- 3A holy man feels sin heavy.A holy man feeles sin heavy.
