Chap. 37. c/jn E lop:.on opon the b'ooílof o B. Verf. t 9, reafcnof darknefs, we may takeit in this latter fenfe, as well as in the former ; for as there is, and fame mixture of dark- nefs with light in our minds, till wecome to that inheritance of the Saints in light ( Col. 1.1z.) fo there maybe a darknefs in the matter to be fpokcn of. Some truths are äo myfierious, fecret and hidden, they are fo ohfcure, or lye fo deep, that they are, by us, even unfearchable andunperceivable ; and then we cannot order our fpeech about them by teem of their darknefs, though poffibly our ielves mayhave attained foregood meafureof light. And as there aremany thingsin the doctrine of Faithvery dark to us, fo . alto in thole dealings of God with us which reach our fenfe ; we fee and feel that which we know not how to give a reafon or an ac- count of. The light of the Sun is clear and fhines inrp oúr eyes, yet thereis a difficulty to undetfland the nature of Light. We are in the dark, even about Light it felf howmichmore are we in the dark about the hiddenand darkworks of God, its many of his difpenfations towards the childrenof Men ! And furely then, we cannot order oar fpeech (concerning them) by reafon ofdarknefs. Hence note ; Mil(takingdarknefs in the improper fence) ignorance isdarknefs. If that ignorance which remaineth after converfion be dark- nefs, then furely much more is that which dwelleth in a natural man unconverted. Knowledge is the light of themind : The un- derllanding,if furnifilaed with knowledge, is as the Sun in the Fir- mament ; but a man whobath noknowledge nor underifanding, is Iike the Air without the Sun, nothing but darknefs ;. and fo much ignorance as abideth in any man, fo much darknefs abideth in him. Thenatural man is altogether ignorant, as to the under- (landingof fpirit gal things fpiritually,that is,favingly, and there- fore he(as tothem) is altogether darknefs, he is (as job.fpaké inanother cafe of a land, Chap. yo. az.) sc man of darknefs, asp darloefs it feif, and in him the light is as darknefs; he cannot fee by reafon of darknefs, nor can he fpèak, to purpofe, of the things of God, thoughhe may fpeakvery wifely about the things of the world, by reafon ofdarknefs, or becaufehis very Reafon. (which is the natural light of man) is darkened. There areZx things,which anatural naan,byreafon ofthis dark- nefs, cannot feetoorder, neither his fpeech nor hisperfon about.. Firf ,, 5 a
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