Thirdly, Christs power is seen in convincing and enlightening mens understandings so far as to see their sinful and damnable estate, 1as also the absolute necessity of a remedy through Christ. Thus Christ doth exceed the Sun, for though the Sun give light to the world, yet it doth not give eyes or ability to see, but Christ doth not only make the bodily blind to see, and deaf to hear, but those that are spiritually darkened in their understandings, he makes them to know Christ he doth so teach, that the soul cannot but learn, it cannot refuse or gainsay, O Lord, I feel such light in my heart, such evidence upon my conscience, that I cannot hide this light any way; But as those glorious apparitious of light which Paul had and others, came with great amazement, filled them with trembling and astonishment, so doth Christs power upon the hearts of Believers; Oh then enquire who are they, where are they that have found Christs power thus upon their minds and consciences? How weak are books, yea the best Book, the Bible it self, t•ll Christ take such a threatening, or such a promise, and set it home with power on thee? This heavenly teaching and persuading Christ speaks of as to be wrought by his Spirit, Joh. •4. And it was wonderful in the beginning of the Gospel yea, in the first beginnings of Reformation out of Popery, the glorious workings of Christ were admirable to this purpose; Then Christ and the Ministry went along together; No sooner did the Trumpet blow, but the walls of Jericho fell down; When Christ thus powerfully taught them, they were quickly persuaded to leave their Idols and their lusts to follow him: The first Reformers were so many divine Orpheus's that made the very beasts and trees to move, the illiterate and stupid people to seek out for wisdom and heavenly understanding, You may say then, Why doth not Christ still come with the same power? Why are not our Churches Christs Schools, wherein every day he teacheth some or other, many learn by the Minister, but few are taught by Christ? They do not know the truths as they are in Jesus; There are many go to false causes; But those impediments which indeed resist this Point are
Thirdly, Christs power is seen in convincing and enlightning mens understandings so farre as to see their sinful and damnable estate, 1as also the absolute necessity of a remedy through Christ. Thus Christ doth exceed the Sunne, for though the Sunne give light to the world, yet it doth not give eyes or ability to see, but Christ doth not only make the bodily blinde to see, and deaf to hear, but those that are spiritually darkened in their understandings, he makes them to know Christ he doth so teach, that the soul cannot but learn, it cannot refuse or gainsay, O Lord, I feel such light in my heart, such evidence upon my conscience, that I cannot hide this light any way; But as those glorious apparitious of light which Paul had and others, came with great amazement, filled them with trembling and astonishment, so doth Christs power upon the hearts of Beleevers; Oh then enquire who are they, where are they that have found Christs power thus upon their mindes and consciences? How weak are books, yea the best Book, the Bible it self, t•ll Christ take such a threatning, or such a promise, and set it home with power on thee? This heavenly teaching and perswading Christ speaks of as to be wrought by his Spirit, Joh. •4. And it was wonderfull in the beginning of the Gospel yea, in the first beginnings of Reformation out of Popery, the glorious workings of Christ were admirable to this purpose; Then Christ and the Ministry went along together; No sooner did the Trumpet blow, but the wals of Jericho fell down; When Christ thus powerfully taught them, they were quickly perswaded to leave their Idols and their lusts to follow him: The first Reformers were so many divine Orpheus's that made the very beasts and trees to move, the illiterate and stupid people to seek out for wisedom and heavenly understanding, You may say then, Why doth not Christ still come with the same power? Why are not our Churches Christs Schools, wherein every day he teacheth some or other, many learn by the Minister, but few are taught by Christ? They do not know the truths as they are in Jesus; There are many go to false causes; But those impediments which indeed resist this Point are
- 1III. Enlightening the Understanding.III. Enlightning the Understanding.
