Bates - BT775 B274 1675

inContrivit8ot, talilebtrapilon . , or ear heard, nor bath entred into the heart of may. conceive. All Humane Knowledge is acquir'd b tom.` forts of Faculties; the external and internal. Of ír'rfi, Sight and Hearing are the molt fpiritual, and convey the knowledge of the molt worthy objects. They are the Senfes of Difcipline, the other three are inrmerfl in matter, and are incapable tomake filchclear difcoveries. Belìdes thofe impreffions that are made on the fenfes, we may form fome Ideas in the imagi- nation ; upon which themind reflectingmayargue and difcourfe : Thus far the light and vigour of the under- ftanding can only go. So that the Apoltle declares that the whole plot of the Gofpel was without the compafs of our molt fearching faculties : this will be evident by confidering, r. There was no difcovery of it in the Creation : the Voice of the Heavens inftru&s us concerning the being ofGod, but not in the fecrets of his Will. The aeco- nomy of Mans Redemption is the merciful defign of God, which hath no connection with the exiftence of thecreatures, but depends only upon his good pleafure. 'Tis as impoffible to read the Divine Decrees in the Volume of the World, as for the eye to difcover a found, which hath neither Figure, Colour, nor vifible motion. Befides, the Glorious Natureof God in three Perlons, which is the foundation of this Myfterious Mercy; is not made known by the vifible frame of the Univerfe.. 'Tis true in all External Works the three Perlons are equally concerned : being of one Effence, they are of one Efficacy; and the Eflential perfections of the Deity as they concur, fo they are evident in the production of all things. The firft motive is Good- nefs, that which orders and direits is Wifdom, that Rom. r. 20. which executes is Power, And the feveral ranks of Creatures, according to their ftate, retied an honour 0 2 o ".I

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=