A26796:293
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. That Ignorance of the manner how Divine Mysteries exist, is no sufficient Plea for Infidelity, when the Scripture reveals that they are. For Reason that is limited and restrained, cannot frame a Conception that is commensurate to the Essence and Power of God. This will appear more clearly by considering the Mysterious Excellencies of the Divine Nature, the certainty of which we believe, but the manner we cannot understand:1 As that his Essence and Attributes are the same, without the least shadow of composition, yet his Wisdom and Power are to our apprehensions distinct, and his Mercy and Justice in some manner opposite. That his Essence is entire in all places, yet not terminated in any. That He is above the Heavens, and beneath the Earth, yet hath no relation of high or low, distant or near. That He penetrates all substances, but is mixed with none. That he understands, yet receives ⟨p. 136⟩no Idea's within Himself; that He wills, yet hath no motion that carries Him out of Himself; That in Him Time hath no Succession, that which is past is not gone, and that which is future, is not to come. That He loves without Passion, is angry without Disturbance, repents without Change. These Perfections are above the capacity of Reason fully to understand, yet essential to the Deity. Here we must exalt Faith, and abase Reason. Thus in the Mystery of the Incarnation, 2that two such distant Natures should compose one Person, without the confusion of Properties, Reason cannot reach unto, but 'tis clearly revealed in the Word: Here therefore we must obey,3 not enquire.
1. That Ignorance of the manner how Divine Mysteries exist, is no sufficient Plea for Infidelity, when the Scripture reveals that they are. For Reason that is limited and restrain'd, cannot frame a Conception that is commensurate to the Essence and Power of God. This will appear more clearly by considering the Mysterious Excellencies of the Divine Nature, the certainty of which we believe, but the manner we cannot understand:1