A44344:1315
A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened…
A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened the union believers have with God and Christ, and the glorious privileges thereof ... / by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ... ; printed from the authors own papers written with his own hand, and attested to be such in an epistle by Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nigh.A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened the union beleevers have with God and Christ, and the glorious priviledges thereof ... / by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ... ; printed from the authors own papers written with his own hand, and attested to be such in an epistle by Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nye.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1656
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Object. But you will say, however this may be granted confessed to be true, of the rude and unlearned multitude, which are marvellous sottish in themselves, and insufficient to search into the knowledge of the perfections of the Deity. Yet that the profound Scholars, yea Ministers, though wicked and ungodly, yet for time, Standing, studies, marvellous eminent, Dextrous ⟨p. 398⟩and famous for their skill in all Tongues and Arts: Nay who have Preached both long and much of the Deity and persons, of Christ, and of the special relation betwixt the Father and Christ, should yet be ignorant of them, how can this suit with reasonable apprehension?
Object. But you wil say, however this may be granted confessed to be true, of the rude and unlearned multitude, which are marvailous sottish in themselves, and insufficient to search into the knowledg of the perfections of the Deity. Yet that the profound Schollers, yea Ministers, though wicked and ungodly, yet for time, Standing, studies, mervailous eminent, Dextrous ⟨p. 398⟩and famous for their skil in al Tongues and Arts: Nay who have Preached both long and much of the Deity and persons, of Christ, and of the special relation betwixt the Father and Christ, should yet be ignorant of them, how can this suit with reasonable apprehension?
Answer four things.
1. Though the perfections of the Deity may be apprehended, by the dictates of our consciences and the creation of the world: yet the discerning of the Trinity of the persons in the unity of the God-Head, is beyond the ability of any of the lost Sons of Adam, being left unto the search, which the light of their own reason will lead them unto. And because, as the unity of the God-head doth most appear by the works of creation: so the distinction of the persons is best perceived by the works of Redemption. Because our natural reason cannot compass it; its not sufficient to conceive this. And therefore ye shall observe when ever either question or expression is presented to any of the wisest of the Heathen, touching Redemption, or resurrection; They look at it as a mere delusion and dream, and cast it a way with scorn.