A treatise of the incomparableness of God in his being, attributes, works and word…

CHAP. I. The Preface and meaning of the Text.

IT is certain, that our happiness in the other World will consist in part in our perfect knowledge of the blessed and boundless God: When we shall know him as we are known of him, we shall be blessed as he is blessed; and when we shall see him as he is, we shall be like him in purity and felicity; we shall be fully satisfied with his likeness and his love. Rich must be the delight ⟨p. 2⟩which the most large and noble faculty of man his understanding shall receive, in its intimate acquaintance with, and clear & full apprehension of the highest Truth. And it is as certain, that our holiness in this World doth not a little depend upon our knowledge of him, whose Name alone is excellent. None wander from him, prefer the Flesh and World before him, and in their whole lives walk contrary to him; but from their ignorance of him. They are estranged from the life of God (i. e. a spiritual heavenly conversation) through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their Hearts. ¹Dark corners of an House are filled with Dust, dark Cellars with Vermin, and dark Hearts with cursed Lusts: None are enlarged in desires after God, or ravished with delight in God, or can cast their Souls and all their Concerns on God; but those that are acquainted with him. They who know his beauty and bounty, cannot but love him, and they who know his power and faithfulness, cannot but trust him: They who know thy Name, will put their trust in thee, Psal. 9.10. Whence comes it to pass, that Believers can trample on the ⟨p. 3⟩Riches and Treasures, and Wealth of this beggarly World, that they can lay their white and yellow Earth, their Silver and Gold at the Apostles Feet, that they can suffer the spoiling of their Goods (not only patiently, but) joyfully; ²