A26796:167
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now in fallen Man the clearness of the discerning power is lost. As the natural Eye till 'tis purged from vicious qualities, can't look on things that are bright and sublime, and if it hath been long in darkness, it suffers by the most pleasing Object the light: so the internal eye of the Mind, that it may see the lively lustre of Holiness, it must be cleansed from the filthiness of carnal Affections, and having been so long under thick darkness it must be strengthened, before it can sustain the brightness of things spiritual. Till it be prepared, it can see nothing amiable and desirable in the Image of God.
Now in faln Man the clearness of the discerning power is lost. As the natural Eye till 'tis purged from vicious qualities, can't look on things that are bright and sublime, and if it hath been long in darkness, it suffers by the most pleasing Object the light: so the internal eye of the Mind, that it may see the lively lustre of Holiness, it must be cleansed from the filthiness of carnal Affections, and having been so long under thick darkness it must be strengthned, before it can sustain the brightness of things spiritual. Till it be prepar'd, it can see nothing amiable and desireable in the Image of God.
2. The Reward of Holiness hath no attractive power on the carnal Will; because 'tis Future, and Spiritual.
1. 'Tis Future, and therefore the conceptions of it are very dark and imperfect: The Soul is sunk down ⟨p. 68⟩into the Senses, and they are short-sighted and can't look beyond what is present, to the next life. And as the images of things are weakened and confused proportionably to their distance, and make a fainter impression upon the Faculty; so the representation of Heaven and Blessedness, as a Happiness to come hereafter, and therefore remote, doth but coldly affect the Will. A present vanity, in the judgment of the carnal Soul, outweighs the most glorious futurity. 'Till there be taken from before its eyes the (in Tertullian's language) thick curtain of the visible World,