A discourse concerning the Redeemer's dominion over the invisible world, and the entrance thereinto

How happy were it, if in all matters that concern Religion, and in this, as it doth so, they would shut up in a sacred venerable Darkness, what they cannot distinctly perceive, it being once by the undeceiving Word expressly asserted, that it is, without, therefore, ⟨p. 18⟩denying its reality, because they clearly apprehend not what it is.

How happy were it, if in all matters that concern Religion, and in this, as it doth so, they would shut up in a sacred venerable Darkness, what they cannot distinctly perceive, it being once by the undeceiving Word expresly asserted, that it is, without, therefore, ⟨p. 18⟩denying its reality, because they clearly apprehend not what it is.

With too many their Religion is so little, and their pride and self-conceit so great, that they think themselves fit to be Standards. That their Eye or Mind, is of a size large enough to measure the Creation; yea and the Creator too. And by how much they have the less left them of Mind, or the more it is sunk into Earth and Carnality, the more capable it is of being the measure of all reality of taking the compass, of all being, created and uncreated. And so that of the Philosopher takes place in the worst sense can be put upon it [to see Darkness is to see nothing] All is nullity that their sense reaches not. Hades is with such, indeed, empty, imaginary, Darkness; or in plainer English ⟨p. 19⟩there is neither Heaven nor Hell, because they see them not.

But we ought to have the greater thoughts of it, not the less, for its being too big, too great, too glorious for our present view: And that it must as yet, rest, as to us, and so let it rest a while, under the name of Hades. The unknown Dominion of our great Lord. According to that most express account he at his Ascension gave of the Existence of both parts together, that less known to us, and that more known,