First, It is too deep and mysterious to be fathomed and reached by any thing else. Reasons line is too short to fathom the depths of the Fathers Love, of the blood of the Son, and the Promises of the Gospel built thereon, wherein forgiveness dwells. Men cannot by their rational considerations launch out into these deeps, nor draw water by them from these Wells of Salvation. Reason stands by amazed, and cries how can these things be? it can but gather Cockle shells, like him of old, at the shore of this Ocean; a few Criticisms upon the outward letter; and so bring an evil report upon the Land, as did the Spies. All it can do, is but to hinder faith from venturing into it; crying spare thy self, this attempt is vain, these things are impossible. It is among the things that faith puts off, and lays aside, when it engageth the soul into this great work. This then, that it may come to a discovery of forgiveness, causeth the soul to deny it self, and all its own Reasonings, and to give up it self to an infinite fullness of Goodness and Truth. Though it cannot go into the bottom of these depths, yet it enters into them, and finds rest in them. Nothing but faith is suited to rest, to satiate, and content it self, in mysterious, bottomless, unsearchable depths. Being a soul emptying, a Reason denying Grace, the more it meets withal beyond its search and reach, the more satisfaction it finds. This is that which I looked for, saith Faith; even for that which is infinite and unsearchable: When I know that there is abundantly more beyond me that I do not comprehend, than what I have attained unto; for I know that nothing else will do good to the soul. ⟨p. 111⟩Now this is that which really puzzles and overwhelms Reason, rendering it useless. What it cannot compass, it will neglect or despise. It is either amazed and confounded, and dazzled like weak eyes at too great a light; or fortifying of it self by inbred pride and obstinacy, it concludes, that this preaching of the Cross, of forgiveness from the Love of God, by the blood of Christ is plain folly, a thing not for a wise man to take notice of, or to trouble himself about; So it appeared to the wise Greeks of old, 1 Cor. 1. 24.
First, It is too deep and mysterious to be fathomed and reached by any thing else. Reasons line is too short to fathom the depths of the Fathers Love, of the blood of the Son, and the Promises of the Gospel built thereon, wherein forgiveness dwells. Men cannot by their rational considerations launch out into these deeps, nor draw water by them from these Wells of Salvation. Reason stands by amazed, and cryes how can these things be? it can but gather Cockle shells, like him of old, at the shoar of this Ocean; a few Criticisms upon the outward letter; and so bring an evil report upon the Land, as did the Spies. All it can do, is but to hinder faith from venturing into it; crying spare thy self, this attempt is vain, these things are impossible. It is among the things that faith puts off, and layes aside, when it engageth the soul into this great work. This then, that it may come to a discovery of forgiveness, causeth the soul to deny it self, and all its own Reasonings, and to give up it self to an infinite fulness of Goodness and Truth. Though it cannot go into the bottom of these depths, yet it enters into them, and finds rest in them. Nothing but faith is suited to rest, to satiate, and content it self, in mysterious, bottomless, unsearchable depths. Being a soul emptying, a Reason denying Grace, the more it meets withal beyond its search and reach, the more satisfaction it finds. This is that which I looked for, saith Faith; even for that which is infinite and unsearchable: When I know that there is abundantly more beyond me that I do not comprehend, than what I have attained unto; for I know that nothing else will do good to the soul. ⟨p. 111⟩Now this is that which really puzzles and overwhelms Reason, rendring it useless. What it cannot compass, it will neglect or despise. It is either amazed and confounded, and dazled like weak eyes at too great a light; or fortifying of it self by inbred pride and obstinacy, it concludes, that this preaching of the Cross, of forgiveness from the Love of God, by the blood of Christ is plain folly, a thing not for a wise man to take notice of, or to trouble himself about; So it appeared to the wise Greeks of old, 1 Cor. 1. 24.
