20 )Cpatinnp oftjt Zíbínc2(tf>cítttto, Chvii vinity of things Spiritual, fo as to embrace themwith fv certainty and delight. As there mull be a Spirit of Ephef. 1.17. Revelation to unvail the obje&, fo of Wifdom to en- lighten the eye, that it may be prepar'd for the recep- tionof it. As Heaven is only feenby its own Light, So Chrifl is by his own Spirit. Divine Obje&s, and Faith that difcerns them, are of the fame original, and of the fame quality. The natural Underflanding, as the effe&s declare, is like the Funeral Lamps which by the Antients were put into Sepulchres, to guard the aches of their dead Friends, which thine fo long as they are kept clofe, a thick moifl vapour feeding them, and repairing what was confum'd: but in open- ing the Sepulchres, and expofing them to the free air, they preCently faint and expire. Thus natural Reafon whilfl converfant in things below, and watching with the dead; that is in the Phraf of the Antients, fludying the Books of Menwhohave left the world, it difcovers fomething, although 'tis rather a Twilight thanclear; But when 'tis brought from the narrow fphere of things fenfible, to contemplate the immenfity of things Spiri- Porphyrius, tual and Supernatural, its light declines, and is turn'd Jmiianus, into darknefs. Maximus, 2. The Pride of the Humane Underflanding, which Hieroocl óni d ifdains toHoop to thofe great and HeavenlyMyfleries. cede. 'Tis obfervable, that thofe who moll excell'd in Na- 701iiTa tural Wifdom, were the greatefi defpifers of Evange- ¿'vot&- SJYÌ à>aW i) 46- lical Truths. The proud Wits of the Worldchofe ra- ther to be. Mailers of their own, than Scholars to ano- Plato. Ì°uxnx.ós ther. They made Reafon their Supreme Rule, and óry Ta YeGYT9ts Philo/phy their highefl Principle, and would not be- lieve what they could not comprehend. They repre- uÿÑs d1d ìs' fented Chriftians under fcornful titles as captives of a X,I }ßi1 N.!(;caY wvoi- v YO TIYC" blindBelief, and derided their Faith as the effect of Fol -. H Ch 3°"'sg' ly and reje&ed Revelation, the only means to con- veigh
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