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

2. He is fitted in respect of his Offices, which are to be a Prophet, Priest, ⟨p. 504⟩¹and King; He is the Trismegist, if you do regard the threefold Cord that did bind us Sinners, which we could never loose, then we shall see how fit a Saviour he was; There was in us horrible blindness and darkness of mind; The world was not in a greater Chaos and Confusion at first, then we are naturally in our Souls, Not knowing, understanding, or believing any thing of God: Therefore the Apostle calls such Darkness it self, Ephes 4. And darkened in the mind; That is, the Eye, the Sun of the Soul, and if that be dark all the body must be dark; This Spiritual blindness and Ignorance upon every mans mind is that which makes him of himself incurable, We pity corporally blind men; Oh but the spiritually blind are lamentable, every one is sensible opposing their bodily Eye, Lord, that I might receive my Sight, saith he to Christ; But oh that there were such a tenderness and a melting affection about thy Spiritual blindness; Now Christ hath a Prophetical Office to cure this, he doth not only teach by the outward Proposition of the Object, but also by giving a Seeing Eye, and vouchsafing Spiritual Illumination to the mind and the Understanding.

2. He is fitted in respect of his Offices, which are to be a Prophet, Priest, ⟨p. 504⟩¹and King; He is the Trismegist, if you do regard the threefold Cord that did binde us Sinners, which we could never loose, then we shall see how fit a Saviour he was; There was in us horrible blindenesse and darknesse of minde; The world was not in a greater Chaos and Confusion at first, then we are naturally in our Souls, Not knowing, understanding, or beleeving any thing of God: Therefore the Apostle cals such Darknesse it self, Ephes 4. And darkened in the minde; That is, the Eye, the Sunne of the Soul, and if that be dark all the body must be dark; This Spirituall blindenesse and Ignorance upon every mans minde is that which makes him of himself incurable, We pity corporally blinde men; Oh but the spiritually blinde are lamentable, every one is sensible oosing their bodily Eye, Lord, that I might receive my Sight, saith he to Christ; But oh that there were such a tendernesse and a melting affection about thy Spirituall blindenesse; Now Christ hath a Propheticall Office to cure this, he doth not only teach by the outward Proposition of the Object, but also by giving a Seeing Eye, and vouchsafing Spirituall Illumination to the minde and the Understanding.