Again thirdly, our vessels could not contain it: We are uncapable, our brain is not strong enough for these things: as weak brains cannot digest hot liquors: so we cannot digest a large revelation of these things. As we see St. Peter was not himself in the transfiguration, he forgot himself; and was spiritually drunk with joy, with that he saw in the mount; he wot not what he said as the Scripture saith, when he said, Master let us make three Tabernacles, &c. Nay ⟨p. 85⟩Saint Paul himself, the great Apostle, when he saw things in heaven, above expression, that could not, nor might not be uttered, could not digest them. They were so great, that if he had not had somewhat to weigh him down, to balance him, he had been overturned with pride: therefore there was a prick in the flesh sent to Paul himself to humble him. Are we greater than Paul and Peter, the great Apostles of the Jews and Gentiles? when these grand Apostles could not contain themselves, when they see these heavenly things, and but a glimpse of them, the one did not know what he said, and the other was humbled ⟨p. 86⟩by way of prevention, with a prick in the flesh; and shall we think to conceive of these things? No, we cannot: for that is to be in heaven before our time. These and the like reasons we may have to satisfy us in this, why we cannot conceive of the things to come as they are in their proper nature. God saith to Moses, when Moses would have a fairer manifestation of God, No man can see me and live. If we would see God as he is, we must die. If we would see heaven,1 and the joys of it as it is, we must die first. No man can see the things that the Apostle here speaks of, in their proper light and excellency, but he must die first.
Againe thirdly, our vessells could not containe it: Wee are uncapable, our braine is not strong enough for these things: as weake braines cannot digest hote liquors: so we cannot digest a large revelation of these things. As wee see St. Peter was not himselfe in the transfiguration, hee forgot himselfe; and was spiritually drunke with joy, with that hee saw in the mount; hee wote not what hee said as the Scripture saith, when hee said, Master let us make three Tabernacles, &c. Nay ⟨p. 85⟩Saint Paul himself, the great Apostle, when hee saw things in heaven, above expression, that could not, nor might not be uttered, could not digest them. They were so great, that if he had not had somewhat to weigh him downe, to ballance him, hee had been overturned with pride: therefore there was a pricke in the flesh sent to Paul himselfe to humble him. Are wee greater than Paul and Peter, the great Apostles of the Jewes and Gentiles? when these grand Apostles could not containe themselves, when they see these heavenly things, and but a glimpse of them, the one did not know what he said, and the other was humbled ⟨p. 86⟩by way of prevention, with a pricke in the flesh; and shal we think to conceive of these things? No, we cannot: for that is to be in heaven before our time. These and the like reasons wee may have to satisfie us in this, why wee cannot conceive of the things to come as they are in their proper nature. God sayth to Moses, when Moses would have a fairer manifestation of God, No man can see me and live. If we would see God as he is, we must die. If we would see heaven,1 and the joyes of it as it is, wee must die first. No man can see the things that the Apostle here speakes of, in their proper light and excellencie, but he must die first.
- 1If we would see God as he is, we must die.If wee would see God as he is, we must die.
