Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Had God wrote in a loftiness of Style suitable to the greatness of his Majesty, his Writing had been as little understood by us, as the brightness of his Glory can be beheld by us. But he draws Phrases from our affairs, to express his mind to us; He incarnates himself in his Word to our Minds, before his Son was incarnate in the Flesh to the Eyes of Men: He ascribes to himself Eyes, Ears, Hands, that we might have from the consideration of our selves, and the whole Humane Nature, a conception of his Perfections: He assumes to himself the Members of our Bodies, to direct our Understandings in the knowledge of his Deity: This is his Goodness.

Had God wrote in a loftiness of Style sutable to the greatness of his Majesty, his Writing had been as little understood by us, as the brightness of his Glory can be beheld by us. But he draws Phrases from our affairs, to express his mind to us; He incarnates himself in his Word to our Minds, before his Son was incarnate in the Flesh to the Eyes of Men: He ascribes to himself Eyes, Ears, Hands, that we might have from the consideration of our selves, and the whole Humane Nature, a conception of his Perfections: He assumes to himself the Members of our Bodies, to direct our Understandings in the knowledge of his Deity: This is his Goodness.

Again, Though the Scripture was written upon several occasions, yet in the dictating of it, the Goodness of God cast his Eye upon the last Ages of the World,^* They are written for our admonition, upon whom the end• of the World are come. It was given to the Israelites, but Divine Goodness intended it for the future Gentiles. The old Writings of the Prophets were thus designed, much more the later Writings of the Apostles. Thus did Divine Goodness think of us, and prepare his Records for us, before we were in the World: These he hath written plain for our instruction, and wrapped up in them, what is necessary for our Salvation: 'Tis clear to inform our Understanding, and rich to comfort us in our Misery: 'Tis a Light to guide us, and a Cordial to refresh us; 'Tis a Lamp to our Feet, and a Medicine for our Diseases; a Purifier of our Filth, and a Restorer of us in our faintings. He hath by his Goodness sealed the truth of it, by his efficacy on multitudes of Men: He hath made it the Word of Regeneration