A26796:265
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. In the sublimity and greatness of the Object: and it is no less then the highest design of the eternal Wisdom, the most glorious work of the great God. In the Creation his foot-steps appear, in our Redemption his Image: In the Law his Justice and Holiness, but in the Gospel all his Perfections shine forth in their brightest lustre. The bare theory of this enriches the mind, and the contemplation of it affects the Soul, that is conversant about it, with the highest admiration and the most sincere and lasting delight.
1. In the sublimity and greatness of the Object: and it is no less then the highest design of the eternal Wisdom, the most glorious work of the great God. In the Creation his foot-steps appear, in our Redemption his Image: In the Law his Justice and Holiness, but in the Gospel all his Perfections shine forth in their brightest luster. The bare theory of this inriches the mind, and the contemplation of it affects the Soul, that is conversant about it, with the highest admiration and the most sincere and lasting delight.
11. It affects the Soul with the highest admiration. The strongest Spirits cannot comprehend its just greatness: the understanding sinks under the weight of Glory. The Apostle who had seen the light of Heaven, and had such knowledge as never any man before; yet upon considering one part of the Divine Wisdom, breaks forth in astonishment, Oh the depth of the riches of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Decrees, and his ways past finding out! 'Tis fit when we have spent the strength of our minds in the consideration of this excelling object, and are at the end of our subtlety, to supply the defects of our Understandings with Admiration. As the Psalmist expresses himself, Lord, how wonderful are thy thoughts to us-ward! The Angels adore this glorious Mystery with an humble Reverence.2 The admiration that is caused by it, is a principal delight of the Mind: 'Tis true, the wonder that proceeds from Ignorance (when the cause of some visible effect is not known) is the imperfection and torment of the spirit, but that which ariseth from the knowledge of those things which are most above our conception and our hope, is the highest advancement of our Minds, and brings the greatest satisfaction to the Soul. Now the contrivance of our Redemption, was infinitely above the light of Reason,