CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹5. It's a supernatural Truth. Many of the truths revealed in Scripture are such, as no Plato's, no Aristotles, no wisdom of man, though raised beyond Solomons, could ever have attained unto, such as the doctrine of the Trinity, of the Nature, Person, and Office of Christ, of the Resurrection, of a day of Judgment, and the state of men afterwards. The former of these especially could never be discovered by natural light; even Adam though created after Gods image, yet needed a revelation of these. We have no innate or acquired knowledge about them, and though many worthy Divines have endeavoured to prove the Trinity by reason and humane similitudes, yet the surest and most evident way is the Scripture; so that we may say of them all, which Austin speaks of one of them, viz. Of Christs being God and man, If you can give a reason, it would not be mirabile, and if an example, it would not be singular. It's true, there are many things in Scripture, which we know by natural reason, as that there is a God, but the knowledge by reason is nothing so evident and firm, as that by Revelation; so that the truth of God, being in the chiefest parts of it supernatural: It's no wonder, that the wisest Heathens became vain in their imaginations, and that their greatest Religion, was their highest impiety, and within the Church. The more men have forsaken Scripture, and pleased corrupt reason in the doctrinal part, and corrupt fancies in the worshipping part; They have been very erroneous and absurd; hence the truth of God is called a mystery, and said to be revealed, because mans reason could no more attain unto it, then a dwarf can reach to the heavens, Zacheus must get upon this Tree to see Christ: Hence no others have been able to endure the glorious lustre of the Scripture, because errors are natural, the Scripture supernatural. All heresies have run up and down from one age to another, like Cain fearing least every Text of Scripture should kill them: Do not then judge of Scripture-truths by thy carnal reason? The work is above thy natural understanding.

¹5. It's a supernatural Truth. Many of the truths revealed in Scripture are such, as no Plato's, no Aristotles, no wisdom of man, though raised beyond Solomons, could ever have attained unto, such as the doctrine of the Trinity, of the Nature, Person, and Office of Christ, of the Resurrection, of a day of Judgment, and the state of men afterwards. The former of these especially could never be discovered by natural light; even Adam though created after Gods image, yet needed a revelation of these. We have no innate or acquired knowledge about them, and though many worthy Divines have indeavoured to prove the Trinity by reason and humane similitudes, yet the surest and most evident way is the Scripture; so that we may say of them all, which Austin speaks of one of them, viz. Of Christs being God and man, If you can give a reason, it would not be mirabile, and if an example, it would not be singulare. It's true, there are many things in Scripture, which we know by natural reason, as that there is a God, but the knowledge by reason is nothing so evident and firm, as that by Revelation; so that the truth of God, being in the chiefest parts of it supernatural: It's no wonder, that the wisest Heathens became vain in their imaginations, and that their greatest Religion, was their highest impiety, and within the Church. The more men have forsaken Scripture, and pleased corrupt reason in the doctrinal part, and corrupt fancies in the worshipping part; They have been very erroneous and absurd; hence the truth of God is called a mystery, and said to be revealed, because mans reason could no more attain unto it, then a dwarf can reach to the heavens, Zacheus must get upon this Tree to see Christ: Hence no others have been able to endure the glorious lustre of the Scripture, because errours are natural, the Scripture supernatural. All heresies have runne up and down from one age to another, like Cain fearing least every Text of Scripture should kill them: Do not then judge of Scripture-truths by thy carnal reason? The work is above thy natural understanding.