A85953:96
Gospel-revelation in three treatises, viz, 1 The nature of God. 2 The excellencies of…
Gospel-revelation in three treatises, viz, 1 The nature of God. 2 The excellencies of Christ. And, 3 The Excellency of mans immortal soul. By Jeremiah Burroughs, late preacher of the gospel at Stepney, and Giles-Cripple-gate, London. Published by William Greenhill. William Bridge. Philip Nigh. John Yates. Matthew Mead. William Adderly.Gospel-revelation in three treatises, viz, 1 The nature of God. 2 The excellencies of Christ. And, 3 The Excellency of mans immortal soul. By Jeremiah Burroughs, late preacher of the gospel at Stepney, and Giles-Cripple-gate, London. Published by William Greenhill. William Bridge. Philip Nye. John Yates. Matthew Mead. William Adderly.
London: printed for Nath. Brook, 1660
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Treatise 1 › Sermon 3: The Third SERMON ON The Nature of God.
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.
In the fifth place, Is Gods Name alone excellent? Oh my Use 5 brethren, study to know God then: Labour to search into this Excellency so far as we may, and God gives us leave; God hath revealed much of himself to us in the Scripture, and in the book of the creature, and God expects that what is revealed of him in the Scripture, and in the book of the creature, that the rational creatures, Angels and Men, should labour and search to know: There is nothing so sweet, so amiable, so lovely, so delightful unto a rational creature (if it be purged from the filthiness and corruption of sin) as the sight of the infinite first being of all things: Why here is concluded all excellent sights whatsoever; some men are take• with such a sight, to behold fair buildings, and others to behold brave pictures, one with one thing, and another with another: Oh but the sight of God hath all sights in it that may delight the soul, and give content to the heart of Man or Angel: and therefore labour to know the excellency of God. You poor creatures that have minded little all this while but merely to understand your Trades, and how you may get a shilling or two to provide for your families. Oh but know there is a higher object for you to busy your thoughts and hearts about: Learn to know this God, who alone is excellent, and be not discouraged at those things that have been spoken, though they are above thy reach at first, yet if your hearts ⟨p. 40⟩be pure, and cleansed from filthiness, you have the promise, in Matth. 5.8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. It may be you that are poor people, you can never come to get learning to have the knowledge of Arts and Sciences, and such things; I but if you have clean hearts you are blessed in this, God saith you shall see him: Labour to study God, and labour to know God more; Psal. 91.14. Mark how acceptable it is to God for his creature to labour to know him, I will set him on high, because he hath known my Name. Thy Name, O Lord, alone is excellent, and thy glory above the heavens and earth. And I will set him on high, because he knows my Name. Oh, saith God, yonder is a poor creature that above all things in the world desires to know me: he hath had a little glimpse of •y glory, and oh how earnest is his heart to know me!