A26796:255
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.
1. What a Superlative degree of Praise and Thankfulness is due to God, for revealing his eternal and compassionate Counsel in order to our Salvation. The Fall of Man was so wounding and deadly, that only an Infinite Understanding could find out the means for his Recovery. And if that Mercy which moved the Lord to ordain the Remedy, had not discovered it, a thick cloud of Despair had covered Mankind, being for ever unable to conceive the way of our Redemption. 'Tis a Mystery which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, 1nor •ath entered into the heart of man to conceive. All Humane Knowledge is acquired by two sorts of Faculties; the external and internal. Of the first, Sight and Hearing are the most spiritual, and convey the knowledge of the most worthy objects. They are the Senses of Discipline, the other three or immersed in matter, ⟨p. 108⟩and are incapable to make such clear discoveries. Besides those impressions that are made on the senses, we may form some Ideas in the imagination; upon which the mind reflecting may argue and discourse: Thus far the light and vigour of the understanding can only go. So that the Apostle declares that the whole plot of the Gospel was without the compass of our most searching faculties: this will be evident by considering,
1. WHat a Superlative degree of Praise and Thankfulness is due to God, for revealing his eternal and compassionate Counsel in order to our Salvation. The Fall of Man was so wounding and deadly, that only an Infinite Understanding could find out the means for his Recovery. And if that Mercy which mov'd the Lord to ordain the Remedy, had not discover'd it, a thick cloud of Despair had cover'd Mankind, being for ever unable to conceive the way of our Redemption. 'Tis a Mystery which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, 1nor •ath entred into the heart of man to conceive. All Humane Knowledg is acquir'd by two sorts of Faculties; the external and internal. Of the first, Sight and Hearing are the most spiritual, and convey the knowledge of the most worthy objects. They are the Senses of Discipline, the other three or immerst in matter, ⟨p. 108⟩