A26796:289
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.
3. Whereas there are three Principles by which we apprehend things, Sense, Reason and Faith, ⟨p. 134⟩these lights have their different objects that must not be confounded. Sense is confined to things material, Reason considers things abstracted from matter, Faith regards the Mysteries revealed from Heaven: and these must not transgress their order. Sense is an incompetent judg of things about which Reason is only conversant. It can only make a report of those objects, which by their natural characters are exposed to it. And Reason can only discourse of things within its sphere; Supernatural things which derive from Revelation, and are purely the objects of Faith, are not within its territories and jurisdiction. Those Superlative Mysteries exceed all our intellectual Abilities.
3. Whereas there are three Principles by which we apprehend things, Sense, Reason and Faith, ⟨p. 134⟩these lights have their different objects that must not be confounded. Sense is confin'd to things material, Reason considers things abstracted from matter, Faith regards the Mysteries revealed from Heaven: and these must not transgress their order. Sense is an incompetent judg of things about which Reason is only conversant. It can only make a report of those objects, which by their natural characters are exposed to it. And Reason can only discourse of things within its sphere; Supernatural things which derive from Revelation, and are purely the objects of Faith, are not within its territories and jurisdiction. Those Superlative Mysteries exceed all our intellectual Abilities.
'Tis true, the Understanding is a rational Faculty, and every act of it is really or in appearance grounded on Reason. But there is a wide difference between the proving a Doctrine by Reason, and the giving a reason why we believe the truth of it. For instance, we cannot prove the Trinity by natural Reason; and the subtlety of the Schoolmen, who affect to give some reason of all things, is here more prejudicial than advantageous to the Truth: For he that pretends to maintain a point by Reason, and is unsuccessful, doth weaken the credit which the Authority of Revelation gives. And 'tis considerable, that the Scripture in delivering supernatural truths, produce God's Authority as their only proof, without using any other way of arguing: But although we cannot demonstrate these Mysteries by Reason, yet we may give a rational account why we believe them.