The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…

Were I able to set this God forth in the thousandth part of that grace and glory wherewith he is clothed, as with a garment; could I present him to thee in any degree suitable to his vast perfections, and give thee eyes to behold him, it were impossible but that thou should choose him for thy portion: but Alas, all the Angels in heaven cannot draw him at length: surely then we who are clogged so much with flesh, know less of this Father of Spirits. Simonides being asked by Hiero, What God was? required some time to consider of it, and as much more at the end of that time, and double at the end of that: Of which delay Hiero asked a reason; he answered, Quo magis inquiro, eo minus invenio; The farther I search, the more I am at a loss. There can be no finding God out, there being no equal proportion between the faculty and the object: If I had been in heaven and seen him face to face, I should know him to my perfection, but could not know him to his perfections: But suppose I had been there, and seen those infinite beauties and glories, according to the utmost of my capacity, yet my tongue would not be able to tell it thee, nor thine ears to hear it. O what an unspeakable loss am I at, now I am speaking of this infinite God! my thoughts run into a labyrinth; I am as a little cock-boat floating on the Ocean, or as an infant offering to reach the Sun: My meditations ⟨p. 156⟩please me exceedingly; (O how sweet is this subject) I could dwell in this hive of honey and happiness (Lord let me) whilst I have a being. How pleasant are thy thoughts to me, O God, thou true Paradise of all pleasure, thou living Fountain of felicity, thou original and exact pattern of all perfections! how comely is thy face, how lovely is thy voice! While I behold (though but a little) of thy beauty and glory, my heart is filled with marrow and fatness, and my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips. My soul followeth hard after thee: O when shall I come and appear before thee! When wilt thou come to me, or when rather will that blessed time come that I shall be taken up to thee! Sinners miss thee walking in the mist of ignorance: Ah did they know thee, they would never crucify the Lord of glory!

Were I able to set this God forth in the thousandth part of that grace and glory wherewith he is cloathed, as with a garment; could I present him to thee in any degree sutable to his vast perfections, and give thee eyes to behold him, it were impossible but that thou should choose him for thy portion: but Alas, all the Angels in heaven cannot draw him at length: surely then we who are clogged so much with flesh, know lesse of this Father of Spirits. Simonsdes being askt by Hiero, What God was? required some time to consider of it, and as much more at the end of that time, and double at the end of that: Of which delay Hiero asked a reason; he answered, Quo magis inquiro, eo minus invenio; The farther I search, the more I am at a losse. There can be no finding God out, there being no equal proportion between the faculty and the object: If I had been in heaven and seen him face to face, I should know him to my perfection, but could not know him to his perfections: But suppose I had been there, and seen those infinite beauties and glories, according to the utmost of my capacity, yet my tongue would not be able to tell it thee, nor thine eares to hear it. O what an unspeakable losse am I at, now I am speaking of this infinite God! my thoughts run into a labyrinth; I am as a little cock-boat floating on the Ocean, or as an infant offering to reach the Sun: My meditations