An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

But the ways of one man are like the ways of other men, and the thoughts of one man are like the thoughts of other men; There is no such transcendency among men; They are all (as men) of one measure, that is, not only finite, but they are all short and narrow, even they who carry the greatest length and breadth among the sons of men. If we consider man with man, as to his sinful condition, so one man is perfectly like another; one man is of the same measure with another; as Solomon expresseth it (Prov: 27.19.) As in water face answers face, so the heart of man to man. If man look down into the water, that face which he seeth in the water is like ⟨p. 183⟩that face which seeth the water. Thus the hearts of the children of men answer one another, heart answers heart, as face answers face: And as man answers man fully, as to natural sinfulness, so mostly as to natural abilities, as for those which are acquired, though the difference may be so great that one man may be clearly discerned to excel another, yet that man who excels most, doth not exceed man; and therefore may be compassed by man. It is said (Rev: 21.17.) That the wall of the new Jerusalem was measured according to the measure of a man, that is, of the Angel. There is one measure of an Angel, and there is another measure of a man; Angels have a measure above men; why then doth he say according to the measure of a man, that is, of the Angel? I answer, he speaks so because the Angel appeared in the shape of a man, to do that work. Now as the measure (that is, the Ability) of an Angel is above mans; So God hath a measure infinitely above both men and Angels. But men are of a measure. I am according to thy mouth or measure.

But the wayes of one man are like the wayes of other men, and the thoughts of one man are like the thoughts of other men; There is no such transcendency among men; They are all (as men) of one measure, that is, not only finite, but they are all short and narrow, even they who carry the greatest length and breadth among the sons of men. If we consider man with man, as to his sinfull condition, so one man is perfectly like another; one man is of the same measure with another; as Solomon expresseth it (Prov: 27.19.) As in water face answers face, so the heart of man to man. If man look downe into the water, that face which he seeth in the water is like ⟨p. 183⟩that face which seeth the water. Thus the hearts of the children of men answer one another, heart answers heart, as face answers face: And as man answers man fully, as to naturall sinfulnesse, so mostly as to naturall abilities, as for those which are acquired, though the difference may be so great that one man may be clearly discerned to excell another, yet that man who excells most, doth not exceed man; and therefore may be compassed by man. It is said (Rev: 21.17.) That the wall of the new Jerusalem was measured according to the measure of a man, that is, of the Angel. There is one measure of an Angel, and there is another measure of a man; Angels have a measure above men; why then doth he say according to the measure of a man, that is, of the Angel? I answer, he speakes so because the Angel appeared in the shape of a man, to doe that worke. Now as the measure (that is, the Ability) of an Angel is above mans; So God hath a measure infinitely above both men and Angels. But men are of a measure. I am according to thy mouth or measure.