A55299:6
An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…
An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ, and our union and communion with him by Edward Polhill ..., Esquire.
London: printed for Ben. Foster, 1675
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.
TO THE READER.
IN that excellent Piece the Soul of Man (which is too great for this lower World, and in the very Frame of it aspires after an Infinite Good) the [Greek or Hebrew] or uppermost Room is the Understanding; and among all the Truths, which are the Furniture thereof, none are so rich, as those Theological ones, which are drawn out of the Golden Mines of Scripture. Arts and Sciences are in comparison but the Poor of the Mind, the Riches and Treasures of Knowledge lie in ⟨image 3⟩Evangelical Mysteries; these outshine the Sun, and out-weigh the Earth: They have the highest Certainty, as coming down immediately from heaven; and withal the noblest Tendency, as leading us thither: Infinite Truth is the Fountain, and infinite Goodness the Centre of them. These, when in their Lustre, make a spiritual Day, and derive such a pure Influence upon the Hearts and Lives of Men, as moulds them into the Divine Image, and thereby makes them meet for the bliss-making Vision in Heaven. No sooner can these be under an Eclipse, but there will be a Night and a Chaos of confusions; the Path of Life and Happiness will be wrapped up in darkness; black Legions of Errors and Corruptions will creep forth, and pious Souls will wish for the day, I mean, for a fresh ⟨image 3⟩Illustration of Truths from that sacred Spirit, which at first breathed them out into the World; and, after all the Clouds and dark Veils put upon them, can bring them forth in their Oriency and true Glory. These to Believers are as Pearls and sacred Jewels, dearer than the Apple of their Eye, nay, than their own Souls: They build upon them by Faith, espouse them by divine Love, lay them up in a pure Conscience, distil the Virtue of them into a holy Life; and, if it were possible, they would have none of the sacred Light put out, nor the least Jot or Tittle of those Truths fall to the ground. O what a rate did the famous St. Austin and others set upon God's special Effectual Grace! How highly did the heroical Luther value the Point of Justification! Jacente articulo Justificationis ⟨image 4⟩