An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

First, If God be great and we know him not, that is, we are not able to comprehend him; then we must rest satisfied with what God hath manifested of himself and of his will. God hath manifested himself these four ways. First, In his Word. Secondly, In his works of Creation and Providence. Thirdly, In his Son. Fourthly, By his Spirit. These ways God is pleased to manifest himself, or make himself known unto his People; now what knowledge of God can be gathered up in these ways, what can be learned of him out of his word, out of his works, by considering him in his Son, and by waiting for the help of his blessed Spirit, we must labour to take in; but take heed of a bold pressing into the secrets of God, or of a curious prying into the nature of God, which indeed will but dazzle our eyes, and the more we think or look into it, the blinder we shall be.

First, If God be great and we know him not, that is, we are not able to comprehend him; then we must rest satisfied with what God hath manifested of himself and of his will. God hath manifested himself these four wayes. First, In his Word. Secondly, In his works of Creation and Providence. Thirdly, In his Son. Fourthly, By his Spirit. These wayes God is pleased to manifest himself, or make himself known unto his People; now what knowledge of God can be gathered up in these wayes, what can be learned of him out of his word, out of his works, by considering him in his Son, and by waiting for the help of his blessed Spirit, we must labour to take in; but take heed of a bold pressing into the secrets of God, or of a curious prying into the nature of God, which indeed will but dazle our eyes, and the more we think or look into it, the blinder we shall be.

Secondly, If God be so great that we know him not, Then we ought not presumptuously to enquire into a reason of the works and ways of God; for that which is true of God himself, is true of his works and of his ways, we cannot know them in the sense opened: Therefore the Apostle speaking about that wonderful dispensation of God, the laying aside of the Jews and calling of the Gentiles (Rom. 11.33.) crieth out, O the depth of the knowledge and wisdom of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments, and his ways past finding out! As God himself cannot be fully known, so neither can his ways nor works.