The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

4. The nearest knowledge we have is by effect, as it is either described in Scripture, or wrought in providence: and so what God is in himself, himself only knows, but what he is to us that in some measure he makes us know: his glorious Nature is only known to himself: We see the Sun not as it is in it self, but as it enlighteneth: we look not up upon the body of the Sun, but upon the beams of it that shine upon the hill, or upon the wall, or the like: so is it in the knowledge of God: our natures cannot look upon his nature but we discern him, by the shining of his working and by the beams of his presence.

4. The neerest knowledge wee haue is by effect, as it is either described in Scripture, or wrought in prouidence: and so what God is in himselfe, himselfe onely knowes, but what hee is to vs that in some measure hee makes vs know: his glorious Nature is onely knowne to himselfe: Wee see the Sunne not as it is in it selfe, but as it inlightneth: we look not vp vpon the body of the Sunne, but vpon the beames of it that shine vpon the hill, or vpon the wall, or the like: so is it in the knowledge of God: our natures cannot looke vpon his nature but we discerne him, by the shining of his working and by the beames of his presence.

The difference also of the descriptions that have bin of God are to be thought on: for there hath bin a Philosophical consideration of God, and a Theological. The Philosophical was had among the Gentiles, by the wisest of them. The Theological hath only bin had in the Church. The one looked upon God only by the light of Nature and experience, and the other looks upon God by the light of Scripture and Faith: But that Philosophical Light was extremely deficient and far short of the Ecclesiastical Light: for besides that the wisest of the Philosophers had much ado to separate the true GOD from the many Gods worshipped by the Nations: they were altogether blind, in the Mystery of the Trinity, and ignorant altogether of the highest praises of God, (viz.) his mercies unto man in Jesus Christ: yea, there was scarce any Attribute of God, that was rightly known with any life, without the Pale of the Church.