5erm. CXXIX. the Day of 'judgment. 71 But this is not only hid from the Angels, but, which is yet more, from the Son bimfelf. Of that Day and Hour knows none, no not the Angels which are inHeaven, neither the Son. This feems ffrange indeed, that the Son of God, who camefrom the Bofom of his Father, and therefore is more likely than any to know his Se- crets, that he whom God had ordained to be the judge of the World, into whofe Hands he had committed that great Truft and Authority, fhould notbe acquaint-. ed with the Time of this Judgment : Nay, that he, in whom are all the Treafures of Wifdow and Knowledge, and in whom the Divinity does fubflantialy rejide, fhould not know this Time, this feems incredible, but that he himfelf bath told us fo. It was indeed a common Saying among the yews, That the Time of the End of the Worldwas revealed to none: But yet one would think, the Son were always excepted. Nay, how can it well be otherwife, if we believe him to be God? And indeed the Fathers, in their Difputes with the Arians, have mightilypuzzled themfelves about this Text. Some, and thofe of no fmall Account, have underffood thefe Words, as if our Saviour only intended to put off his Difciples front a more particular ,En- quiry about this Matter; not that he was ignorant of the Day of Judgment, but that he did not know it, fo as to reveal it to them : Which is by no means to be admitted, not only becaufe it looks too like the Equivocationof the Jefuits, but likewife becaufe the fame may be faid of the Angels ; fince it is no other- wife deniedofthe Angels, that they know this Time, than it is of the Son. Others fay, that his Humane Nature was not ignorant of the Day of Judgment, but that it did not know this of it felf, but by Virtue of itsUnion with the Divine Nature. But our Saviour abfolutely fays,that the Son did not know it. And there- fore others more reafenably have diffinguifh'd between his Humane Nature and Divine, and tho' asGod he could notbe ignorant of any Thing, yet his Humane Underftanding did not know it. And it is not unreafonable to fuppofe, that the Divine Wifdom which dwelt in our Saviour, did communicate it felf to his Humane Soul according to his Pleafure ; and fo his Humane Nature might at fome Times not know fome Things. And if this be not admitted, how can we underftand that Pafl'age concerning our Saviour, Luke 2. 52. that yefus grew in Wifdom and Stature; or as the Word 6.,ß,z may more fitly be tranflated, in Age, and in Favourwith God and Man ? For if the Humane Nature of Chill did ne- ceflarily know all Things by Virtue of its Union with the Divinity, he could not then, as Man, be faid to grow in Wifdom: And this I think may be fufficient for the clearingof this Difficulty, concern- ing the Son's not knowingthe partieularTime,which God hadappointed for judg- ing the World. And if he didnot know it, it is furely noReflection upon his Dif= ciples, if they were ignorant of it, or miftaken about it. Their Infalli- bility was only in Things that were revealed to them, but cannot be imagined to extend to Things not revealed. And thus I have done with the firfi Thing, namely, The Uncertainty of the Time of the general Judgment, as to all, but God only. Of that Day and Hour knaweth none, no not the Angel's which are in Heaven, neither the `.on, but the Father. I proceed now to the Second Thing, which lmainly intended, vie. That the Confiderationof the Un- certainty of the Time fhould make us very careful to be always prepared for it Take ye heed, watch and pray i for ye know not when the Time is. in which Words we have, Fir/l, A general Caution ; Takeye heed. Look to it, that ye be not furpri- zed and overtaken by that Time. The Time being fo uncertain, they were al- ways in Danger. Secondly, More 'particular Dire&ions how they fhould demean themfelves in this Cafe. And our Saviour directs to two Things, Vigilancy and Prayer; Watch and Pray. Thirdly, There is a Reafon added to enforce this Care and Diligence, from the Uncertainty of ti'e Time as tous t Forye molt not when the Time is. From whence i stall obferve by the way, the great Goodnefsof God to us, and his fingular Care of us: That as he is gracious and merciful tous, in giving 2 2 us
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