1First, The natural ignorance and blindness of men, in the things of God. This shows us that vain man is born as the wild Asses Colt.— The world is involved in darkness. The people sit as in the Region and shadow of Death, till Christ arise upon their Souls, Matth. 4.15, 16, 17. 'Tis true, in the state of innocence, man had a clear apprehension of the will of God without a Mediator; but now that light is quenched in the corruption of nature, and the natural man receiveth not the things of God, 1 Cor. 2.14. These things of God, are not only contrary to corrupt carnal reason, but they are also above right reason. Grace indeed useth nature, but nature can do nothing without grace. The mind of a natural man hath not only a native blindness, by reason whereof it cannot discern the things of the Spirit, but also a natural enmity, Rom. 8.7. And hates the light, 1 Joh. 3.19, 20. So that until the mind be healed, and enlightened by Jesus Christ, the natural faculty can no more discern the things of the spirit, than the sensitive faculty can discern the things of reason. The mysteries of nature may be discovered by the light of nature, but when it comes to the Supernatural mysteries; there omnis platonicorum caligavit subtilitas, as Cyprian some where speaks, the most subtle, searching, penetrating wit and reason, is stalled, and at a loss.
1First, The natural ignorance and blindness of men, in the things of God. This shewes us that vain man is born as the wild Asses Colt.— The world is involved in darkness. The people sit as in the Region and shadow of Death, till Christ arise upon their Souls, Matth. 4.15, 16, 17. 'Tis true, in the state of innocence, man had a clear apprehension of the will of God without a Mediator; but now that light is quencht in the corruption of nature, and the natural man receiveth not the things of God, 1 Cor. 2.14. These things of God, are not only contrary to corrupt carnal reason, but they are also above right reason. Grace indeed useth nature, but nature can do nothing without grace. The mind of a natural man hath not only a native blindness, by reason whereof it cannot discern the things of the Spirit, but also a natural enmity, Rom. 8.7. And hates the light, 1 Ioh. 3.19, 20. So that untill the mind be healed, and enlightened by Jesus Christ, the natural faculty can no more discern the things of the spirit, than the sensitive faculty can discern the things of reason. The mysteries of nature may be discovered by the light of nature, but when it comes to the Supernatural mysteries; there omnis platonicorum caligavit subtilitas, as Cyprian some where speaks, the most subtile, searching, penetrating wit and reason, is stalled, and at a loss.
- 1Res coelestes rationis captum excedunt, sunt enim supra rationem rectam; prudontiae carnis adversantur, sunt enim contra rationem pravam; natura indiget gratia ut facultas ad supernaturale objectum recipiendum rectè disponatur, & gratia utitur naturá ut mentis acumine, judicii perspiraciá & botarum literarum luce feliciores fiat in sacrarum literarum studio progressus. Dr. Reynolds Animalis homo. Si doctrinam Christi ejusdemque conciones Exa•in•ntur ex iisdem sole clarius pat•bit verba ejus non esse verba nudi hominis, aut Prophetae alicujus, sed ipsius patris, adeoque v•ri d•i. Protulit enim non tantum evangelium & doctrinam suam è sinu patris, sed & non docuit ut pharisei & alii (p•ri puti) homines, sed [Greek or Hebrew] ut habens divinam auctoritatem, Luk. 4.23. Id quod phariscorum ministri, hosts ejus, co•fitebantur his verbis, nunquam i•a lo•utus est homo ut hi• homo; quod si ergo verba •jus patris sunt verba & non humanâ, sed divinâ auctoritate protata sunt, utique & verus D•us erit, cum Effectus divinus arguat causam, & sic cum non sit, nisi unus verus Deus unicus certe & ejusd•m cum patre essentiae Christus e•it. Dietericus Analysis Evang. pars. 3. p. (mihi) 341.Res coelestes rationis captum excedunt, sunt enim supra rationem rectam; prudontiae carnis adversantur, sunt enim contra rationem pravam; natura indiget gratia ut facultas ad supernaturale objectum recipiendum rectè disponatur, & gratia utitur naturá ut mentis acumine, judicii perspiraciá & botarum literarum luce feliciores fia•t in sacrarum literarum studio progressus. Dr. Reynolds Animalis homo. Si doctrinam Christi ejusdemque conciones Exa•in•ntur ex iisdem sole clarius pat•bit verba ejus non esse verba nudi hominis, aut Prophetae alicujus, sed ipsius patris, adeoque vri di. Protulit enim non tantum evangelium & doctrinam suam è sinu patris, sed & non docuit ut pharisei & alii (pri puti) homines, sed ut habens divinam auctoritatem,