The mysteries of the Christian faith asserted and vindicated in a sermon preached at S. Laurence-Jewry in London, April the 7th, 1691 / by the Right Reverend Father in God, Edward, Lord Bishop of Worcester.
         Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
      
       
         
           1691
        
      
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             The mysteries of the Christian faith asserted and vindicated in a sermon preached at S. Laurence-Jewry in London, April the 7th, 1691 / by the Right Reverend Father in God, Edward, Lord Bishop of Worcester.
             Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
          
           [2], 37 p.
           
             Printed by J.H. for Henry Mortlock ...,
             London :
             1691.
          
           
             Advertisement on p. [1] at end.
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Bible. -- N.T. -- Timothy, 1st, I, 15 -- Sermons.
           Christianity -- Essence, genius, nature -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           MYSTERIES
           OF
           The
           Christian
           Faith
           ASSERTED
           and
           VINDICATED
           :
           IN
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           at
           S.
           Laurence-Jewry
           in
           
             London
             ,
             APRIL
          
           the
           7th
           .
           1691.
           
        
         
           By
           the
           Right
           Reverend
           Father
           in
           GOD
           ,
           EDWARD
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Worcester
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             J.
             H.
          
           for
           
             Henry
             Mortlock
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Phoenix
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           .
           1691.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           at
           S.
           Laurence-Jewry
           ,
           APRIL
           the
           7th
           .
           1691.
           
        
         
           
             
               1
               TIM
               .
               I.
               15.
               
            
             
               This
               is
               a
               faithfull
               saying
               and
               worthy
               of
               all
               acceptation
               ,
               that
               Christ
               Jesus
               came
               into
               the
               World
               to
               save
               Sinners
               ,
               of
               whom
               I
               am
               chief
               .
            
          
        
         
           IF
           these
           Words
           were
           to
           be
           understood
           without
           any
           Restriction
           or
           Limitation
           
             that
             Christ
             Jesus
             came
             into
             the
             World
             to
             save
             sinners
             ,
          
           they
           would
           overthrow
           the
           great
           Design
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           make
           its
           Excellent
           Precepts
           Useless
           and
           Ineffectual
           .
           For
           ,
           to
           what
           purpose
           should
           men
           be
           put
           upon
           the
           severe
           Practise
           of
           Repentance
           ,
           Mortification
           and
           a
           continued
           Course
           of
           a
           Holy
           Life
           ,
           if
           the
           meer
           being
           Sinners
           did
           sufficiently
           qualifie
           them
           for
           Salvation
           ?
           This
           indeed
           would
           be
           thought
           a
           Doctrine
           
             worthy
             of
             all
             Acceptation
          
           by
           the
           
             greatest
             Sinners
          
           ;
           but
           
           it
           could
           not
           be
           
             a
             faithfull
             saying
          
           ,
           being
           not
           agreeable
           either
           to
           the
           Nature
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           Revelation
           of
           his
           Will
           by
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           .
           But
           S.
           Paul
           speaks
           of
           such
           Sinners
           as
           himself
           had
           been
           ;
           
             i.
             e.
          
           such
           as
           had
           been
           great
           Sinners
           ,
           but
           had
           truely
           and
           sincerely
           repented
           .
           
             Of
             whom
             I
             am
             chief
          
           .
           What
           then
           ?
           Must
           we
           look
           on
           him
           as
           the
           Standard
           and
           Measure
           of
           such
           Sinners
           whom
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           came
           to
           save
           ?
           What
           will
           then
           become
           of
           all
           those
           who
           have
           been
           Sinners
           of
           a
           higher
           Rank
           than
           ever
           he
           was
           ?
           It
           's
           true
           in
           the
           Verses
           before
           the
           Text
           ,
           he
           sets
           out
           his
           Sins
           ,
           as
           a
           humble
           Penitent
           is
           wont
           to
           do
           ,
           with
           the
           worst
           Colours
           and
           deepest
           Aggravations
           ,
           
           
             Who
             was
             before
             a
             blasphemer
             and
             a
             persecutor
             ,
             and
             injurious
          
           ;
           but
           yet
           he
           adds
           ,
           
             that
             he
             obtained
             Mercy
             because
             he
             did
             it
             ignorantly
             ,
             in
             unbelief
             .
          
           How
           then
           is
           S.
           Paul
           the
           
             Chief
             of
             Sinners
          
           ?
           Are
           Sins
           of
           Ignorance
           and
           Mistake
           the
           greatest
           of
           Sins
           ,
           for
           which
           Christ
           died
           ?
           Is
           there
           no
           Expiation
           for
           any
           other
           by
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ?
           What
           will
           become
           then
           of
           all
           such
           who
           sin
           against
           Knowledge
           and
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           not
           
             in
             Ignorance
             and
             Unbelief
          
           ?
           Can
           none
           of
           these
           hope
           for
           Mercy
           by
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           ,
           although
           they
           do
           truely
           Repent
           ?
           But
           
             the
             Blood
             of
             Christ
          
           is
           said
           elsewhere
           
             to
             cleanse
             us
             from
             all
             Sin
          
           ;
           
           not
           ,
           while
           we
           continue
           in
           them
           ,
           but
           if
           we
           repent
           and
           forsake
           them
           .
           
           And
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           is
           said
           
             to
             be
             a
             Propitiation
             for
             our
             Sins
             ;
             and
             not
             for
             ours
             only
             ,
             but
             for
             the
             Sins
             of
             the
             whole
             World.
          
           And
           therefore
           
           this
           Expression
           of
           S.
           Paul
           notes
           his
           great
           Humility
           and
           deep
           Sense
           of
           his
           own
           Sins
           ;
           but
           doth
           not
           exclude
           others
           from
           the
           hopes
           of
           Pardon
           whose
           Sins
           have
           other
           Aggravations
           than
           his
           had
           .
           For
           ,
           if
           we
           leave
           out
           the
           last
           words
           as
           peculiar
           to
           his
           Case
           ,
           yet
           the
           other
           contain
           in
           them
           a
           true
           Proposition
           and
           of
           the
           greatest
           Importance
           to
           Mankind
           ;
           
             This
             is
             a
             faithfull
             saying
             and
             worthy
             of
             all
             acceptation
             ,
             that
             Christ
             Jesus
             came
             into
             the
             World
             to
             save
             sinners
             .
          
        
         
           This
           ,
           you
           may
           say
           ,
           is
           a
           matter
           out
           of
           all
           doubt
           among
           all
           such
           who
           hope
           for
           Salvation
           by
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           ;
           for
           all
           are
           agreed
           ,
           that
           one
           way
           or
           other
           we
           are
           to
           be
           
             saved
             by
             him
          
           .
           But
           there
           is
           great
           Difficulty
           as
           to
           the
           Way
           of
           
             saving
             sinners
          
           by
           
             Christ
             Iesus
          
           ;
           whether
           by
           
             the
             Doctrine
             and
             Example
             of
             the
             Man
             Christ
             Jesus
             ,
             by
             the
             Power
             he
             attained
             through
             his
             Sufferings
          
           ;
           Or
           ,
           
             by
             the
             Eternal
             Son
             of
             God's
             assuming
             our
             Nature
             ,
             and
             suffering
             in
             our
             stead
             in
             order
             to
             the
             Reconciling
             God
             to
             us
             and
             making
             a
             Propitiation
             for
             our
             Sins
             .
          
           These
           are
           two
           very
           different
           Hypotheses
           or
           Notions
           of
           
             Christ's
             coming
             to
             save
             Sinners
          
           ;
           and
           the
           former
           seems
           more
           Easie
           to
           be
           understood
           and
           believed
           ;
           and
           the
           other
           seems
           to
           have
           Insuperable
           Difficulties
           in
           point
           of
           Reason
           ;
           and
           to
           run
           our
           Religion
           into
           Mysteries
           ,
           which
           expose
           our
           Faith
           and
           make
           Christianity
           appear
           Contemptible
           to
           Men
           of
           Sense
           and
           Understanding
           .
           Is
           it
           not
           therefore
           much
           better
           to
           embrace
           such
           a
           Scheme
           of
           it
           ,
           
           as
           will
           have
           the
           least
           Objection
           against
           it
           ,
           that
           so
           Men
           of
           Reason
           may
           not
           be
           tempted
           to
           Infidelity
           ,
           and
           Men
           of
           Superstition
           may
           not
           under
           the
           Colour
           of
           Mysteries
           bring
           in
           the
           most
           Absurd
           and
           Unreasonable
           Doctrines
           ?
        
         
           These
           are
           plausible
           Insinuations
           ,
           and
           would
           be
           apt
           to
           prevail
           on
           considering
           Mens
           minds
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           to
           form
           and
           make
           a
           Religion
           that
           might
           be
           most
           accommodated
           to
           the
           Genius
           and
           Humour
           of
           the
           Age
           they
           live
           in
           .
           And
           truely
           no
           Men
           (
           by
           their
           own
           Authority
           )
           can
           pretend
           to
           a
           Right
           to
           impose
           on
           others
           any
           
             Mysteries
             of
             Faith
          
           ,
           or
           any
           such
           things
           which
           are
           above
           their
           Capacity
           to
           understand
           .
           But
           that
           is
           not
           our
           Case
           ;
           for
           we
           all
           profess
           to
           believe
           and
           receive
           Christianity
           as
           a
           
             Divine
             Revelation
          
           ;
           and
           God
           (
           we
           say
           )
           may
           require
           from
           us
           the
           belief
           of
           what
           we
           may
           not
           be
           able
           to
           comprehend
           ,
           especially
           if
           it
           relates
           to
           Himself
           ,
           or
           such
           things
           which
           are
           Consequent
           upon
           the
           Union
           of
           the
           Divine
           and
           Human
           Nature
           .
           Therefore
           our
           business
           is
           to
           consider
           ,
           whether
           any
           such
           things
           be
           contained
           in
           that
           Revelation
           which
           we
           all
           own
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           be
           ,
           we
           are
           bound
           to
           believe
           them
           ,
           although
           we
           are
           not
           able
           to
           comprehend
           them
           .
        
         
           Now
           here
           are
           two
           Remarkable
           Characters
           in
           these
           Words
           ,
           by
           which
           we
           may
           examin
           these
           different
           Hypotheses
           concerning
           the
           way
           of
           
             Salvation
             by
             Jesus
             Christ.
          
           
        
         
         
           I.
           
             It
             is
             a
             faithfull
             saying
          
           ,
           and
           therefore
           must
           be
           contained
           in
           that
           Revelation
           which
           God
           hath
           made
           concerning
           our
           Salvation
           by
           Christ.
           
        
         
           II.
           
             It
             is
             worthy
             of
             all
             Acceptation
             ;
             i.
             e.
          
           most
           usefull
           and
           beneficial
           to
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           Now
           by
           these
           two
           I
           shall
           proceed
           in
           the
           Examination
           of
           them
           .
           
             
               I.
               Which
               is
               most
               agreeable
               to
               the
               Revealed
               Will
               of
               God.
               
            
             
               II.
               Which
               doth
               offer
               fairest
               for
               the
               Benefit
               and
               Advantage
               of
               Mankind
               .
            
          
        
         
           I.
           Which
           is
           most
           ,
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Revealed
           Will
           of
           God.
           For
           that
           we
           are
           sure
           is
           the
           most
           
             faithfull
             saying
          
           ;
           since
           Men
           of
           Wit
           and
           Reason
           may
           deceive
           us
           ,
           but
           God
           cannot
           .
           When
           the
           Apostles
           first
           preached
           this
           Doctrine
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           they
           were
           not
           bound
           to
           believe
           what
           they
           affirmed
           to
           be
           
             a
             faithfull
             saying
          
           till
           they
           gave
           sufficient
           Evidence
           of
           their
           Authority
           from
           God
           ,
           by
           the
           wonderfull
           Assistance
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           .
           But
           now
           this
           
             faithfull
             saying
          
           is
           contained
           in
           the
           Books
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ,
           by
           which
           we
           are
           to
           judge
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           all
           Christian
           Doctrines
           .
           And
           when
           two
           different
           Senses
           of
           Places
           of
           Scripture
           are
           offer'd
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           consider
           ,
           which
           is
           most
           Reasonable
           to
           be
           preferr'd
           .
           And
           herein
           we
           are
           allow'd
           to
           Exercise
           
           our
           Reason
           as
           much
           as
           we
           please
           ;
           and
           the
           more
           we
           do
           so
           ,
           the
           sooner
           we
           shall
           come
           to
           Satisfaction
           in
           this
           matter
           .
        
         
           Now
           according
           to
           Reason
           we
           may
           judge
           that
           Sense
           to
           be
           preferr'd
           ,
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           Which
           is
           most
           plain
           and
           easie
           and
           agreeable
           to
           the
           most
           received
           Sense
           of
           Words
           ;
           not
           that
           which
           is
           forced
           and
           intricate
           ,
           or
           which
           puts
           improper
           and
           metaphorical
           Senses
           upon
           Words
           which
           are
           commonly
           taken
           in
           other
           Senses
           ;
           especially
           when
           it
           is
           no
           Sacramental
           thing
           ,
           which
           in
           its
           own
           Nature
           is
           Figurative
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           That
           which
           suits
           most
           with
           the
           Scope
           and
           Design
           not
           only
           of
           the
           particular
           Places
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           whole
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ;
           which
           is
           ,
           to
           magnifie
           God
           and
           to
           depress
           Man
           ;
           to
           set
           forth
           ,
           the
           Infinite
           Love
           and
           Condescension
           of
           God
           
             in
             giving
             his
             Son
             to
             be
             a
             Propitiation
             for
             our
             Sins
          
           ;
           to
           set
           up
           the
           Worship
           of
           one
           
             true
             God
          
           in
           Opposition
           to
           Creatures
           ;
           to
           Represent
           and
           Declare
           the
           mighty
           Advantages
           Mankind
           receive
           by
           the
           Sufferings
           of
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           .
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           That
           which
           hath
           been
           generally
           received
           in
           the
           
             Christian
             Church
          
           to
           be
           the
           Sense
           of
           those
           places
           .
           For
           ,
           we
           are
           certain
           ,
           this
           was
           always
           look'd
           on
           as
           a
           matter
           of
           great
           Concernment
           to
           all
           Christians
           ;
           and
           they
           had
           as
           great
           Capacity
           of
           understanding
           the
           Sense
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ;
           and
           the
           Primitive
           Church
           had
           greater
           Helps
           for
           knowing
           it
           
           than
           others
           at
           so
           much
           greater
           Distance
           .
           And
           therefore
           the
           Sense
           is
           not
           to
           be
           taken
           from
           modern
           Inventions
           ,
           or
           Criticisms
           ,
           or
           pretences
           to
           Revelation
           ;
           but
           that
           which
           was
           at
           first
           deliver'd
           to
           the
           
             Christian
             Church
          
           and
           hath
           been
           since
           received
           and
           embraced
           by
           it
           in
           the
           several
           Ages
           ;
           and
           hath
           been
           most
           strenuously
           asserted
           ,
           when
           it
           hath
           met
           with
           Opposition
           ,
           as
           founded
           on
           Scripture
           and
           the
           
             general
             Consent
          
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Church
          
           .
        
         
           (
           4.
           )
           That
           which
           best
           agrees
           with
           the
           Characters
           of
           those
           Persons
           from
           whom
           we
           receive
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ;
           and
           those
           are
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           and
           his
           
             holy
             Apostles
          
           .
           For
           ,
           if
           their
           Authority
           be
           lost
           ,
           our
           Religion
           is
           gone
           ;
           and
           their
           Authority
           depends
           upon
           their
           Sincerity
           and
           Faithfulness
           ,
           and
           Care
           to
           inform
           the
           World
           aright
           in
           matters
           of
           so
           great
           Importance
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           I
           begin
           with
           the
           Character
           which
           the
           Apostles
           give
           of
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           himself
           ;
           which
           is
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           a
           Person
           of
           the
           greatest
           Humility
           and
           Condescension
           ,
           that
           he
           did
           not
           assume
           to
           himself
           that
           which
           he
           might
           justly
           have
           done
           .
           For
           let
           the
           Words
           of
           S.
           Paul
           be
           understood
           either
           as
           to
           the
           Nature
           ,
           or
           Dignity
           of
           Christ
           ,
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           they
           must
           imply
           thus
           much
           ,
           that
           when
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           was
           here
           on
           Earth
           ,
           he
           was
           not
           of
           a
           vain
           assuming
           humour
           ,
           that
           he
           did
           not
           boast
           of
           himself
           ,
           nor
           magnifie
           his
           own
           Greatness
           ,
           but
           was
           contented
           to
           be
           
           look'd
           on
           as
           other
           Men
           ;
           although
           he
           had
           at
           that
           time
           far
           greater
           and
           Diviner
           Excellency
           in
           him
           than
           the
           World
           would
           believe
           .
           Less
           than
           this
           ,
           cannot
           be
           made
           of
           those
           Words
           of
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           
             Who
             being
             in
             the
             form
             of
             God
             ,
          
           
           
             he
             thought
             it
             not
             robbery
             to
             be
             equal
             with
             God
             ,
             but
             made
             himself
             of
             no
             Reputation
             and
             took
             upon
             him
             the
             form
             of
             a
             Servant
             .
          
        
         
           Now
           this
           being
           the
           Character
           given
           of
           him
           let
           us
           consider
           what
           he
           doth
           affirm
           concerning
           himself
           .
           For
           although
           he
           was
           far
           from
           drawing
           the
           People
           after
           him
           ,
           by
           setting
           forth
           his
           own
           Perfections
           ;
           yet
           upon
           just
           Occasions
           ,
           when
           the
           Jews
           contested
           with
           him
           ,
           he
           did
           Assert
           such
           things
           ,
           which
           must
           favour
           of
           Vanity
           and
           Ostentation
           ,
           or
           else
           must
           imply
           that
           he
           was
           the
           
             Eternal
             Son
          
           of
           God.
           For
           ,
           all
           Mankind
           are
           agreed
           that
           the
           highest
           degree
           of
           Ambition
           lies
           in
           Affecting
           Divine
           Honour
           ,
           or
           for
           a
           meer
           Man
           to
           be
           thought
           a
           God.
           How
           severely
           did
           God
           punish
           Herod
           for
           being
           pleased
           with
           the
           Peoples
           folly
           in
           crying
           out
           ,
           
             the
             Voice
             of
             God
             and
             not
             of
             Man
             ?
          
           
           And
           therefore
           he
           could
           never
           have
           born
           with
           such
           positive
           Assertions
           and
           such
           repeated
           Defences
           of
           his
           being
           
             the
             Son
             of
             God
          
           in
           such
           a
           manner
           as
           implied
           his
           being
           so
           from
           Eternity
           .
           This
           in
           his
           Disputes
           with
           the
           Jews
           he
           Affirms
           several
           times
           ,
           
           
             that
             he
             came
             down
             from
             Heaven
             ,
          
           not
           in
           a
           Metaphorical
           but
           in
           a
           proper
           Sense
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           those
           words
           ,
           
           
             What
             and
             if
             ye
             shall
             see
             
             the
             Son
             of
             Man
             ascend
             up
             where
             he
             was
             before
             ?
          
           In
           another
           Conference
           he
           asserted
           ,
           
           
             that
             he
             was
             before
             Abraham
          
           .
           Which
           the
           Jews
           so
           literally
           understood
           ,
           that
           without
           a
           
             Metaphor
             they
             went
             about
             to
             stone
             him
          
           ;
           
           little
           imagining
           that
           by
           Abraham
           the
           calling
           of
           the
           Gentiles
           was
           to
           be
           understood
           .
           But
           above
           all
           ,
           is
           that
           Expression
           which
           he
           used
           to
           the
           Jews
           at
           another
           Conference
           ,
           
             I
             and
             my
             Father
             are
             one
          
           ;
           
           which
           they
           understood
           in
           such
           a
           manner
           that
           immediately
           
             they
             took
             up
             stones
             to
             have
             stoned
             him
             .
          
           
           What
           means
           all
           this
           Rage
           of
           the
           Jews
           against
           him
           ?
           What
           ?
           for
           saying
           
             that
             he
             had
             Unity
             of
             Consent
             with
             his
             Father
             ?
          
           No
           certainly
           .
           
             But
             the
             Jews
             misunderstood
             him
          
           .
           Let
           us
           suppose
           it
           ;
           would
           not
           our
           Saviour
           have
           immediately
           explained
           himself
           to
           prevent
           so
           dangerous
           a
           Misconstruction
           ?
           But
           he
           asked
           them
           ,
           what
           it
           was
           they
           stoned
           him
           for
           ?
           They
           answer
           him
           directly
           and
           plainly
           ,
           
           
             because
             that
             thou
             being
             a
             man
             makest
             thy self
             God.
          
           This
           was
           home
           to
           the
           purpose
           .
           And
           here
           was
           the
           time
           for
           him
           to
           have
           denied
           it
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           not
           been
           so
           .
           But
           doth
           he
           deny
           it
           ?
           Doth
           he
           say
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           Blasphemy
           in
           him
           to
           own
           it
           ?
           No
           ;
           but
           he
           goes
           about
           to
           defend
           it
           ;
           and
           proves
           it
           to
           be
           no
           
             Blasphemy
             for
             him
             to
             say
             that
             he
             was
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ;
             i.e.
          
           so
           
             as
             to
             be
             God
          
           ,
           
           as
           the
           Jews
           understood
           it
           .
           Can
           we
           imagin
           that
           a
           
             meer
             Man
          
           knowing
           himself
           to
           be
           such
           ,
           should
           Assume
           this
           to
           himself
           ;
           and
           yet
           God
           to
           bear
           witness
           to
           
           him
           not
           only
           by
           Miracles
           but
           by
           a
           
             Voice
             from
             Heaven
          
           ,
           
           wherein
           he
           was
           called
           his
           
             beloved
             Son
             in
             whom
             he
             was
             well
             pleased
             ?
          
           Could
           God
           be
           pleased
           with
           a
           mortal
           ,
           finite
           ,
           despicable
           Creature
           ,
           as
           the
           Jews
           thought
           him
           ,
           that
           Assumed
           to
           himself
           to
           be
           God
           and
           maintained
           and
           defended
           it
           among
           his
           own
           People
           ,
           in
           a
           solemn
           Conference
           at
           a
           very
           Publick
           Place
           in
           one
           of
           the
           Portico's
           of
           the
           Temple
           ?
           And
           this
           he
           persisted
           in
           to
           the
           last
           .
           For
           ,
           when
           
             the
             High
             Priest
             adjured
             him
             by
             the
             living
             God
             to
             tell
             ,
          
           
           
             whether
             he
             were
             the
             Christ
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
          
           (
           for
           he
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           had
           heard
           of
           the
           Result
           of
           this
           Conference
           in
           
           Solomon's
           
             Porch
             )
             Jesus
             said
             unto
             him
             ,
          
           
           
             Thou
             hast
             said
          
           .
           S.
           Mark
           ,
           
           more
           expresly
           ,
           
             Jesus
             said
             I
             am
          
           .
           And
           this
           was
           the
           Blasphemy
           ,
           for
           which
           they
           put
           him
           to
           death
           ;
           
           as
           appears
           by
           the
           Evangelists
           .
           So
           that
           this
           ought
           to
           be
           a
           Dispute
           only
           between
           Jews
           and
           Christians
           ;
           
           since
           it
           was
           the
           very
           point
           ,
           for
           which
           they
           condemned
           him
           to
           death
           .
           And
           in
           his
           last
           most
           divine
           Prayer
           just
           before
           his
           Suffering
           ,
           he
           owns
           the
           Glory
           which
           he
           had
           
             with
             the
             Father
          
           before
           the
           World
           had
           a
           being
           .
           
           
             And
             now
             ,
             O
             Father
             ,
             glorifie
             thou
             me
             with
             the
             glory
             which
             I
             had
             with
             thee
             ,
          
           
           
             before
             the
             World
             was
          
           .
           Was
           this
           nothing
           but
           the
           Glory
           which
           God
           had
           designed
           to
           give
           him
           ?
           This
           is
           so
           far
           from
           being
           peculiar
           to
           Christ
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           common
           to
           all
           whom
           God
           designs
           to
           glorifie
           ;
           and
           takes
           away
           the
           distinction
           between
           the
           Decree
           and
           the
           Execution
           of
           it
           .
        
         
         
           (
           2.
           )
           As
           to
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           the
           Reason
           we
           believe
           their
           Testimony
           is
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           Men
           of
           great
           Sincerity
           and
           Plainness
           ,
           and
           of
           great
           Zeal
           for
           the
           Honour
           and
           Glory
           of
           God.
           And
           according
           to
           this
           Character
           ,
           let
           us
           examin
           what
           they
           say
           concerning
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           .
        
         
           He
           that
           was
           most
           conversant
           with
           him
           ,
           and
           beloved
           by
           him
           ,
           and
           lived
           to
           see
           his
           Divinity
           contested
           by
           some
           ,
           and
           denied
           by
           others
           ,
           is
           most
           ample
           in
           setting
           it
           forth
           in
           his
           Admirable
           ,
           Sublime
           ,
           and
           Divine
           Introduction
           to
           his
           Gospel
           .
           
           Which
           all
           the
           Wit
           of
           Mankind
           can
           never
           make
           tolerable
           Sense
           of
           ,
           if
           they
           deny
           
           Christ's
           being
           the
           
             Eternal
             Son
             of
             God
          
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           he
           ,
           that
           hath
           preserved
           those
           Conferences
           with
           the
           Jews
           ,
           wherein
           he
           asserts
           his
           own
           Divinity
           .
        
         
           S.
           Paul
           was
           a
           Stranger
           to
           him
           while
           he
           lived
           ;
           but
           at
           the
           same
           time
           when
           he
           was
           so
           zealous
           to
           perswade
           the
           Gentiles
           to
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           and
           not
           of
           Creatures
           ,
           he
           calls
           him
           God
           ,
           
           
             over
             all
             blessed
             for
             evermore
          
           .
           And
           when
           he
           saith
           ,
           that
           
             the
             Eternal
             Power
             and
             Godhead
             are
             known
             by
             the
             Creation
             of
             the
             World
             ,
          
           he
           attributes
           
             the
             Creation
             of
             all
             things
          
           to
           Christ
           ,
           
           
           applying
           to
           him
           those
           words
           of
           the
           Psalmist
           ,
           
           
             Thou
             Lord
             in
             the
             beginning
             hast
             laid
             the
             Foundation
             of
             the
             Earth
             and
             the
             Heaven
             ,
             the
             Work
             of
             thy
             hands
             .
          
           Which
           cannot
           be
           understood
           of
           any
           
             Metaphorical
             Creation
          
           .
        
         
         
           And
           after
           the
           strictest
           Examination
           of
           Copies
           ,
           those
           will
           be
           found
           the
           best
           ,
           which
           have
           that
           Reading
           on
           which
           our
           Translation
           is
           grounded
           .
           
             And
             without
             Controversie
             great
             is
             the
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
             ,
          
           
           
             God
             was
             manifest
             in
             the
             Flesh.
          
           So
           that
           
             God's
             being
             manifest
             in
             the
             Flesh
          
           is
           made
           a
           great
           Part
           of
           the
           Mystery
           of
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           But
           here
           arises
           a
           Difficulty
           ,
           which
           deserves
           to
           be
           consider'd
           ;
           
             i.
             e.
          
           
           
             If
             there
             were
             nothing
             in
             the
             Christian
             Doctrine
             ,
             but
             the
             Way
             of
             
               Saving
               sinners
            
             by
             the
             Doctrine
             and
             Example
             of
             Christ
             ,
             there
             would
             be
             little
             Objection
             to
             be
             made
             to
             it
             ;
             since
             the
             obtaining
             Eternal
             Life
             is
             certainly
             the
             best
             thing
             can
             be
             proposed
             to
             Mankind
             ,
             and
             the
             Precepts
             of
             Christ
             are
             Divine
             and
             Spiritual
             ,
             Plain
             and
             Easie
             to
             be
             Understood
             ,
             and
             Agreeable
             to
             the
             Reason
             of
             Mankind
             ;
             but
             many
             other
             things
             are
             imposed
             on
             Men
             as
             necessary
             to
             be
             believed
             concerning
             
               Christ
               Jesus
            
             ,
             as
             to
             his
             
               Divinity
               ,
               Incarnation
            
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Hypostatical
               Union
            
             of
             both
             Natures
             ,
             which
             perplex
             and
             confound
             our
             Understandings
             ;
             and
             yet
             these
             things
             are
             not
             only
             deliver'd
             as
             Mysteries
             of
             
               the
               Christian
               Faith
            
             ;
             but
             the
             Belief
             of
             them
             is
             required
             as
             necessary
             to
             the
             Salvation
             of
             Sinners
             ;
             whereas
             ,
             if
             they
             are
             Revealed
             they
             are
             no
             longer
             Mysteries
             ;
             and
             if
             they
             are
             not
             Revealed
             ,
             how
             come
             they
             to
             be
             made
             Articles
             of
             Faith
             ?
             The
             Scripture
             knows
             of
             no
             
             other
             
               Mysteries
               of
               Faith
            
             but
             such
             as
             were
             hidden
             before
             the
             Revelation
             of
             them
             ,
             but
             since
             they
             are
             Revealed
             they
             are
             plain
             and
             open
             to
             all
             mens
             Capacities
             ;
             and
             therefore
             it
             is
             a
             great
             Injury
             to
             the
             Plainness
             and
             Simplicity
             of
             the
             Gospel
             to
             impose
             such
             incomprehensible
             Mysteries
             ,
             as
             Necessary
             Articles
             of
             Faith
             ;
             and
             it
             is
             Abusing
             the
             Credulity
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             to
             make
             such
             things
             necessary
             to
             be
             believed
             ,
             which
             are
             impossible
             to
             be
             understood
             .
             But
             those
             who
             have
             ever
             loved
             to
             Deceive
             and
             Abuse
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             have
             been
             always
             fond
             of
             the
             Name
             of
             Mysteries
             ;
             and
             therefore
             all
             such
             things
             are
             to
             be
             suspected
             ,
             which
             come
             under
             that
             Name
             .
             For
             ,
             all
             such
             Points
             which
             will
             not
             bear
             Examination
             ,
             must
             be
             wrapt
             up
             and
             Reverenced
             under
             the
             Name
             of
             Mysteries
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             of
             things
             to
             be
             swallow'd
             without
             being
             understood
             .
             
               But
               the
               Scripture
               never
               calls
               that
               a
               Mystery
               which
               is
               Incomprehensible
               in
               it self
               ,
            
             
             
               though
               never
               so
               much
               revealed
            
             .
          
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           main
           force
           of
           the
           Objection
           ,
           which
           I
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           remove
           by
           shewing
           ,
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           God
           may
           justly
           require
           from
           us
           in
           general
           ,
           the
           Belief
           of
           what
           we
           cannot
           comprehend
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           That
           which
           way
           soever
           the
           Way
           of
           Salvation
           by
           Christ
           be
           explained
           ,
           there
           will
           be
           something
           of
           that
           Nature
           found
           in
           it
           ;
           
           and
           that
           those
           who
           reject
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           Faith
           run
           into
           greater
           Difficulties
           than
           those
           who
           assert
           them
           .
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           That
           no
           more
           is
           required
           as
           a
           Necessary
           Article
           of
           Faith
           than
           what
           is
           plainly
           and
           clearly
           Revealed
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           God
           may
           justly
           require
           from
           us
           in
           general
           ,
           the
           Belief
           of
           what
           we
           cannot
           comprehend
           .
           It
           is
           to
           very
           little
           purpose
           to
           enquire
           whether
           the
           Word
           Mystery
           in
           Scripture
           be
           applied
           to
           such
           particular
           Doctrines
           ,
           whose
           Substance
           is
           Revealed
           ,
           but
           the
           manner
           of
           them
           is
           incomprehensible
           by
           us
           ;
           for
           why
           may
           not
           we
           make
           use
           of
           such
           a
           Word
           whereby
           to
           express
           things
           truely
           revealed
           ,
           but
           above
           our
           Comprehension
           ?
           We
           are
           certain
           the
           Word
           Mystery
           is
           used
           for
           things
           far
           less
           difficult
           and
           abstruse
           ;
           and
           why
           may
           it
           not
           then
           be
           fitly
           applied
           to
           such
           matters
           ,
           which
           are
           founded
           on
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           but
           yet
           are
           too
           deep
           for
           us
           to
           go
           to
           the
           bottom
           of
           them
           ?
           Are
           there
           not
           Mysteries
           in
           Arts
           ,
           Mysteries
           in
           Nature
           ,
           Mysteries
           in
           Providence
           ?
           And
           what
           Absurdity
           is
           there
           to
           call
           those
           Mysteries
           ,
           which
           in
           some
           Measure
           are
           known
           ,
           but
           in
           much
           greater
           unknown
           to
           us
           ?
           Although
           therefore
           in
           the
           Language
           of
           Scripture
           it
           be
           granted
           ,
           that
           the
           word
           Mystery
           is
           most
           frequently
           applied
           ,
           
             to
             things
             before
             hidden
             ,
             but
             now
             revealed
             ,
          
           yet
           there
           is
           no
           Incongruity
           in
           calling
           that
           a
           Mystery
           ,
           which
           being
           
           revealed
           ,
           hath
           yet
           something
           in
           it
           which
           our
           understandings
           cannot
           reach
           to
           .
           But
           it
           is
           meer
           Cavilling
           to
           insist
           on
           a
           Word
           ,
           if
           the
           Thing
           it self
           be
           granted
           .
           The
           chief
           thing
           therefore
           to
           be
           done
           is
           ,
           to
           shew
           that
           God
           may
           require
           from
           us
           the
           belief
           of
           such
           things
           which
           are
           incomprehensible
           by
           us
           .
           For
           ,
           God
           may
           require
           any
           thing
           from
           us
           ,
           which
           it
           is
           reasonable
           for
           us
           to
           do
           ;
           if
           it
           be
           then
           reasonable
           for
           us
           to
           give
           Assent
           where
           the
           manner
           of
           what
           God
           hath
           revealed
           is
           not
           comprehended
           ,
           then
           God
           may
           certainly
           require
           it
           from
           us
           .
           Hath
           not
           God
           revealed
           to
           us
           that
           
             in
             six
             days
             he
             made
             Heaven
             and
             Earth
             and
             all
             that
             is
             therein
             ?
          
           But
           is
           it
           not
           reasonable
           for
           us
           to
           believe
           this
           ,
           unless
           we
           are
           able
           to
           comprehend
           the
           manner
           of
           
           God's
           production
           of
           things
           ?
           Here
           we
           have
           something
           revealed
           and
           that
           plainly
           enough
           ,
           viz.
           that
           
             God
             created
             all
             things
          
           ,
           and
           yet
           ,
           here
           is
           a
           Mystery
           remaining
           as
           to
           the
           manner
           of
           doing
           it
           .
           Hath
           not
           God
           plainly
           revealed
           that
           there
           shall
           be
           a
           Resurrection
           of
           the
           dead
           ?
           and
           must
           we
           think
           it
           unreasonable
           to
           believe
           it
           ,
           till
           we
           are
           able
           to
           comprehend
           all
           the
           changes
           of
           the
           Particles
           of
           Matter
           from
           the
           Creation
           to
           the
           General
           Resurrection
           ?
           But
           it
           is
           said
           
             that
             there
             is
             no
             Contradiction
             in
             this
             ,
             but
             there
             is
             in
             the
             Mystery
             of
             the
             Trinity
             and
             Incarnation
             .
          
           
           It
           is
           strange
           Boldness
           in
           Men
           to
           talk
           thus
           of
           
             Monstrous
             Contradictions
          
           in
           things
           above
           their
           Reach
           .
           The
           Atheists
           may
           as
           well
           say
           ,
           
             Infinite
             Power
          
           
           is
           a
           
             Monstrous
             Contradiction
          
           ;
           and
           
             God's
             Immensity
          
           and
           his
           other
           unsearchable
           Perfections
           are
           
             Monstrous
             Paradoxes
          
           and
           Contradictions
           .
           Will
           Men
           never
           learn
           to
           distinguish
           between
           Numbers
           and
           the
           Nature
           of
           Things
           ?
           For
           three
           to
           be
           one
           is
           a
           Contradiction
           in
           Numbers
           ;
           but
           whether
           an
           Infinite
           Nature
           can
           communicate
           it self
           to
           three
           
             different
             Subsistences
          
           without
           such
           a
           Division
           as
           is
           among
           Created
           Beings
           ,
           must
           not
           be
           determin'd
           by
           bare
           Numbers
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           Absolute
           Perfections
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           ;
           which
           must
           be
           owned
           to
           be
           above
           our
           Comprehension
           .
        
         
           For
           let
           us
           examin
           some
           of
           those
           Perfections
           which
           are
           most
           clearly
           revealed
           and
           we
           shall
           find
           this
           true
           .
           The
           Scripture
           plainly
           reveals
           ,
           that
           God
           is
           from
           
             everlasting
             to
             everlasting
          
           ;
           
           
             that
             he
             was
             and
             is
             and
             is
             to
             come
          
           ;
           but
           shall
           we
           not
           believe
           the
           Truth
           of
           this
           till
           we
           are
           able
           to
           fathom
           the
           Abyss
           of
           God's
           Eternity
           ?
           
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           think
           (
           and
           I
           have
           some
           thoughtfull
           Men
           concurring
           with
           me
           )
           that
           there
           is
           no
           greater
           Difficulty
           in
           the
           Conception
           of
           the
           Trinity
           and
           Incarnation
           ,
           
           than
           there
           is
           of
           Eternity
           .
           Not
           ,
           but
           that
           there
           is
           great
           Reason
           to
           believe
           it
           ;
           but
           from
           hence
           it
           appears
           that
           our
           Reason
           may
           oblige
           us
           to
           believe
           some
           things
           which
           it
           is
           not
           possible
           for
           us
           to
           comprehend
           .
           We
           know
           that
           either
           God
           must
           have
           been
           for
           ever
           ,
           or
           it
           is
           impossible
           he
           ever
           should
           be
           ;
           for
           if
           he
           should
           come
           into
           Being
           when
           he
           was
           not
           ,
           he
           must
           have
           some
           Cause
           of
           his
           
           Being
           ;
           and
           that
           which
           was
           the
           first
           Cause
           would
           be
           God.
           But
           ,
           if
           he
           was
           for
           ever
           he
           must
           be
           from
           himself
           ;
           and
           what
           Notion
           or
           Conception
           can
           we
           have
           in
           our
           Minds
           concerning
           it
           ?
           And
           yet
           ,
           Atheistical
           men
           can
           take
           no
           Advantage
           from
           hence
           ;
           because
           their
           own
           most
           absurd
           Hypothesis
           hath
           the
           very
           same
           Difficulty
           in
           it
           .
           For
           something
           must
           have
           been
           for
           ever
           .
           And
           it
           is
           far
           more
           Reasonable
           to
           suppose
           it
           of
           an
           Infinite
           and
           Eternal
           Mind
           ,
           which
           hath
           Wisdom
           and
           Power
           and
           Goodness
           to
           give
           Being
           to
           other
           things
           ,
           than
           of
           dull
           ,
           stupid
           and
           sensless
           Matter
           ,
           which
           could
           never
           move
           it self
           ,
           nor
           give
           Being
           to
           any
           thing
           besides
           .
           Here
           we
           have
           therefore
           a
           thing
           which
           must
           be
           owned
           by
           all
           ;
           and
           yet
           such
           a
           thing
           which
           can
           be
           conceived
           by
           none
           .
           Which
           shews
           the
           narrowness
           and
           shortness
           of
           our
           Understandings
           ,
           and
           how
           unfit
           they
           are
           to
           be
           the
           Measures
           of
           the
           Possibilities
           of
           things
           .
           
             Vain
             men
             would
             be
             wise
          
           ;
           they
           would
           fain
           go
           to
           the
           very
           bottom
           of
           things
           ,
           when
           alas
           !
           they
           scarce
           understand
           the
           very
           Surface
           of
           them
           .
           They
           will
           allow
           no
           Mysteries
           in
           Religion
           ;
           and
           yet
           every
           thing
           is
           a
           Mystery
           to
           them
           .
           They
           cry
           out
           of
           Cheats
           and
           Impostures
           under
           the
           Notion
           of
           Mysteries
           ;
           and
           yet
           there
           is
           not
           a
           Spire
           of
           Grass
           but
           is
           a
           Mystery
           to
           them
           ;
           they
           will
           bear
           with
           nothing
           in
           Religion
           which
           they
           cannot
           comprehend
           ,
           and
           yet
           there
           is
           scarce
           any
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           which
           they
           can
           comprehend
           .
           
           But
           above
           other
           things
           the
           
             Divine
             Perfections
          
           ,
           even
           those
           which
           are
           most
           Absolute
           and
           Necessary
           are
           above
           their
           Reach
           .
           For
           let
           such
           Men
           try
           their
           Imaginations
           about
           God's
           Eternity
           ,
           not
           meerly
           how
           he
           should
           be
           from
           himself
           ,
           but
           how
           God
           should
           coexist
           with
           all
           the
           Differences
           of
           Times
           and
           yet
           there
           be
           no
           Succession
           in
           his
           own
           Being
           .
           I
           do
           not
           say
           there
           is
           such
           Difficulty
           to
           conceive
           a
           Rock
           standing
           still
           when
           the
           Waves
           run
           by
           it
           ;
           or
           the
           Gnomon
           of
           a
           Dial
           when
           the
           Shadow
           passes
           from
           one
           Figure
           to
           another
           ;
           because
           these
           are
           gross
           unactive
           things
           ;
           but
           the
           Difficulty
           is
           far
           greater
           where
           the
           Being
           is
           Perfect
           and
           always
           Active
           .
           For
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           Succession
           there
           is
           a
           passing
           out
           of
           not
           being
           in
           such
           a
           duration
           into
           being
           in
           it
           ;
           which
           is
           not
           consistent
           with
           the
           Absolute
           Perfection
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           .
           And
           therefore
           God
           must
           be
           all
           at
           once
           what
           he
           is
           ,
           without
           any
           Respect
           to
           the
           Difference
           of
           Time
           past
           ,
           present
           or
           to
           come
           .
           From
           whence
           Eternity
           was
           defined
           by
           Boethius
           to
           
             be
             a
             perfect
             and
             complete
             Possession
             all
             at
             once
             of
             everlasting
             Life
             .
          
           
           But
           how
           can
           we
           form
           any
           Conception
           in
           our
           Minds
           of
           that
           being
           all
           at
           once
           ,
           which
           hath
           such
           different
           Acts
           as
           must
           be
           measur'd
           by
           a
           long
           Succession
           of
           Time
           ?
           As
           ,
           the
           Creating
           and
           Dissolving
           the
           Frame
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           the
           Promising
           and
           Sending
           the
           Messias
           ;
           the
           Declaring
           and
           Executing
           a
           general
           Judgment
           ;
           how
           can
           these
           things
           be
           consistent
           
           with
           a
           Permanent
           Instant
           ,
           or
           a
           Continuance
           of
           being
           without
           Succession
           ?
           For
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           us
           in
           this
           Case
           ,
           as
           to
           God's
           Eternity
           ,
           to
           form
           a
           clear
           and
           distinct
           Idea
           in
           our
           Mind
           ,
           of
           that
           which
           both
           Reason
           and
           Revelation
           convince
           us
           must
           be
           .
           The
           most
           we
           can
           make
           of
           our
           Conception
           of
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           God
           hath
           neither
           Beginning
           of
           Being
           ,
           nor
           End
           of
           Days
           ;
           but
           that
           he
           always
           was
           and
           always
           must
           be
           .
           And
           this
           is
           rather
           a
           necessary
           Conclusion
           from
           Reason
           and
           Scripture
           ,
           than
           any
           distinct
           Notion
           or
           Conception
           of
           Eternity
           in
           our
           Minds
           .
           From
           whence
           it
           evidently
           follows
           ,
           that
           God
           may
           reveal
           something
           to
           us
           ,
           which
           we
           are
           bound
           to
           believe
           ,
           and
           yet
           after
           that
           Revelation
           the
           Manner
           of
           it
           may
           be
           incomprehensible
           by
           us
           ,
           and
           consequently
           a
           Mystery
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           Hath
           not
           God
           Revealed
           to
           us
           in
           Scripture
           the
           Spirituality
           of
           his
           own
           Nature
           ?
           That
           
             he
             is
             a
             Spirit
          
           and
           therefore
           will
           
             be
             worshipp'd
             in
             Spirit
             and
             in
             Truth
          
           ;
           For
           ,
           
           that
           is
           a
           true
           Reason
           why
           Spiritual
           Worship
           should
           be
           most
           agreeable
           to
           him
           .
           Now
           ,
           if
           we
           could
           have
           a
           clear
           ,
           distinct
           positive
           Notion
           in
           our
           minds
           of
           God's
           Spiritual
           Nature
           ,
           we
           might
           then
           pretend
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           mysterious
           in
           this
           ,
           since
           it
           is
           revealed
           .
        
         
           But
           let
           such
           men
           Examin
           their
           own
           thoughts
           about
           this
           matter
           ;
           and
           try
           ,
           whether
           the
           utmost
           they
           can
           attain
           to
           ,
           be
           not
           something
           Negative
           ,
           viz.
           
           because
           great
           Absurdities
           would
           follow
           if
           we
           attributed
           any
           thing
           Corporeal
           to
           God
           ;
           for
           ,
           then
           he
           must
           be
           compounded
           of
           Parts
           ,
           and
           so
           he
           may
           be
           dissolved
           ;
           then
           he
           must
           be
           confined
           to
           a
           certain
           place
           ,
           and
           not
           every-where
           present
           ;
           he
           cannot
           have
           the
           Power
           of
           Acting
           and
           Self-Determining
           which
           a
           a
           meer
           Body
           hath
           not
           .
           For
           the
           clearest
           Notion
           we
           can
           have
           of
           Body
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           made
           up
           of
           some
           things
           as
           parts
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           separated
           from
           each
           other
           ,
           and
           is
           confined
           to
           a
           certain
           place
           ,
           and
           hath
           no
           Power
           to
           Move
           or
           Act
           from
           it self
           .
           But
           some
           of
           these
           men
           who
           cry
           down
           Mysteries
           and
           magnifie
           Reason
           ,
           to
           shew
           how
           slender
           their
           pretences
           to
           Reason
           are
           ,
           have
           asserted
           a
           
             Corporeal
             God
          
           ,
           with
           Shape
           and
           Figure
           .
           It
           was
           indeed
           ,
           well
           thought
           of
           by
           those
           who
           would
           make
           
             a
             Man
          
           to
           be
           God
           ,
           to
           bring
           God
           down
           as
           near
           to
           Man
           as
           might
           be
           .
           But
           how
           to
           Reconcile
           the
           Notion
           of
           a
           Body
           with
           Infinite
           Perfections
           ,
           is
           a
           Mystery
           to
           me
           ,
           and
           far
           above
           my
           Comprehension
           .
           But
           if
           it
           be
           no
           Mystery
           to
           such
           Men
           ,
           they
           must
           either
           deny
           God's
           Infinite
           Perfections
           or
           shew
           how
           a
           bodily
           Shape
           can
           be
           capable
           of
           them
           .
           But
           some
           men
           can
           confound
           Finite
           and
           
             Infinite
             ,
             Body
          
           and
           
             Spirit
             ,
             God
          
           and
           Man
           ,
           and
           yet
           are
           for
           no
           Mysteries
           ;
           whereas
           these
           things
           are
           farther
           from
           our
           Reach
           and
           Comprehension
           ,
           than
           any
           of
           those
           Doctrines
           which
           they
           find
           fault
           with
           .
           But
           to
           proceed
           .
        
         
         
           If
           we
           believe
           Prophesie
           ,
           we
           must
           believe
           
             Gods
             fore-knowledge
             of
             future
             Events
          
           :
           For
           ,
           how
           could
           they
           be
           fore-told
           if
           he
           did
           not
           fore-know
           them
           ?
           And
           if
           he
           did
           fore-know
           those
           which
           he
           did
           fore-tell
           ,
           then
           it
           was
           either
           because
           those
           only
           were
           revealed
           to
           him
           which
           is
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           Divine
           Perfections
           ;
           or
           that
           he
           doth
           fore-know
           all
           other
           Events
           and
           only
           thought
           fitting
           to
           Reveal
           these
           :
           But
           how
           can
           they
           Solve
           the
           Difficulties
           about
           
             Divine
             Prescience
          
           ?
           Is
           there
           no
           Mystery
           in
           this
           ?
           Nothing
           above
           their
           Comprehension
           ?
           What
           then
           made
           their
           great
           Master
           deny
           it
           ,
           
           as
           a
           thing
           above
           his
           Comprehension
           ?
           Because
           nothing
           can
           be
           fore-known
           but
           what
           hath
           a
           certain
           Cause
           ,
           and
           therefore
           ,
           if
           evil
           Actions
           be
           fore-told
           God
           must
           be
           the
           Cause
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           Men
           will
           not
           be
           free
           Agents
           in
           them
           .
           And
           yet
           it
           is
           most
           certain
           ,
           that
           the
           Sufferings
           of
           Christ
           by
           the
           Wickedness
           of
           Men
           ,
           were
           fore-told
           .
           What
           then
           ?
           Must
           we
           make
           God
           the
           Author
           of
           Sin
           ?
           God
           forbid
           .
           Will
           the
           righteous
           Judge
           of
           all
           the
           Earth
           ,
           punish
           Mankind
           for
           his
           own
           Acts
           ,
           which
           they
           could
           not
           avoid
           ?
           Then
           we
           must
           yield
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           something
           in
           the
           manner
           of
           the
           
             Divine
             Prescience
          
           ,
           which
           is
           above
           our
           Comprehension
           .
           And
           the
           most
           Searching
           and
           Inquisitive
           Men
           have
           been
           forc'd
           to
           yield
           it
           at
           last
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Connection
           between
           the
           Certainty
           of
           Prescience
           and
           the
           Liberty
           of
           human
           Actions
           .
           Is
           it
           not
           then
           much
           
           better
           to
           sit
           down
           quietly
           at
           first
           ,
           Adoring
           the
           Infiniteness
           of
           God's
           incomprehensible
           Perfections
           ,
           than
           after
           all
           the
           huffings
           and
           disputings
           of
           Men
           to
           say
           ,
           
           
             In
             Ignorantiâ
             solâ
             quietem
             invenio
          
           ,
           as
           the
           great
           Schoolman
           did
           ?
           Surely
           then
           ,
           here
           is
           something
           plainly
           revealed
           ,
           and
           yet
           the
           manner
           of
           it
           is
           still
           a
           Mystery
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           not
           now
           insist
           on
           any
           more
           of
           the
           particular
           Attributes
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           only
           in
           general
           I
           desire
           to
           know
           ,
           whether
           they
           believe
           them
           to
           be
           finite
           or
           infinite
           ?
           If
           to
           be
           finite
           ,
           then
           they
           must
           have
           certain
           bounds
           and
           limits
           which
           they
           cannot
           exceed
           ;
           and
           that
           must
           either
           be
           from
           the
           Imperfection
           of
           Nature
           ,
           or
           from
           a
           Superiour
           Cause
           ,
           both
           which
           are
           repugnant
           to
           the
           very
           Being
           of
           God.
           If
           they
           believe
           them
           to
           be
           Infinite
           ,
           how
           can
           they
           comprehend
           them
           ?
           We
           are
           strangely
           puzzled
           in
           plain
           ,
           ordinary
           ,
           finite
           things
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           madness
           to
           pretend
           to
           comprehend
           what
           is
           Infinite
           ;
           and
           yet
           if
           the
           Perfections
           of
           God
           be
           not
           Infinite
           they
           cannot
           belong
           to
           Him.
           
        
         
           I
           shall
           only
           adde
           ,
           in
           Consequence
           to
           this
           Assertion
           ,
           
             That
             if
             nothing
             is
             to
             be
             believed
             ,
             but
             what
             may
             be
             comprehended
             ,
          
           the
           very
           
             Being
             of
             God
          
           must
           be
           rejected
           too
           .
           And
           therefore
           I
           desire
           all
           such
           who
           talk
           so
           warmly
           against
           any
           
             Mysteries
             in
             Religion
          
           to
           consider
           whose
           Work
           it
           is
           they
           are
           doing
           ;
           even
           theirs
           who
           under
           this
           pretence
           go
           about
           to
           overthrow
           all
           
           Religion
           .
           
             For
             ,
             say
             they
             ,
             Religion
             is
             a
             Mystery
             in
             its
             own
             Nature
             ;
             not
             this
             or
             that
             ,
             or
             the
             other
             Religion
             ;
             but
             
               they
               are
               all
               alike
            
             ,
             all
             is
             Mystery
             ;
             and
             that
             is
             but
             another
             Name
             for
             Fraud
             and
             Imposture
             .
             What
             were
             the
             
               Heathen
               Mysteries
            
             but
             tricks
             of
             Priest-Craft
             ;
             and
             such
             are
             maintained
             and
             kept
             up
             in
             all
             kinds
             of
             Religion
             .
             If
             therefore
             these
             men
             ,
             who
             talk
             against
             Mysteries
             understand
             themselves
             ,
             they
             must
             in
             pursuance
             of
             their
             Principles
             reject
             
               one
               God
            
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             
               three
               Persons
            
             ;
             For
             ,
             as
             long
             as
             they
             believe
             an
             Infinite
             and
             Incomprehensible
             Being
             ,
             it
             is
             Nonsense
             to
             reject
             any
             other
             Doctrine
             ,
             which
             relates
             to
             an
             
               Infinite
               Being
            
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             Incomprehensible
             .
          
        
         
           But
           yet
           these
           very
           Men
           ,
           who
           seem
           to
           pursue
           the
           Consequence
           of
           this
           Principle
           to
           the
           utmost
           ,
           must
           assert
           something
           more
           incomprehensible
           than
           the
           
             Being
             of
             God.
          
           For
           ,
           I
           appeal
           to
           any
           man
           of
           common
           Understanding
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           not
           more
           agreeable
           to
           Reason
           to
           suppose
           Works
           of
           Skill
           ,
           Beauty
           and
           Order
           to
           be
           the
           Effects
           of
           a
           Wise
           and
           Intelligent
           Being
           ,
           than
           of
           Blind
           Chance
           and
           Unaccountable
           Necessity
           ;
           whether
           it
           be
           not
           more
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Sense
           of
           Mankind
           to
           suppose
           an
           Infinite
           and
           Eternal
           Mind
           endued
           with
           all
           possible
           Perfections
           to
           be
           the
           Maker
           of
           this
           visible
           World
           ;
           than
           ,
           that
           it
           should
           start
           out
           from
           it self
           ,
           without
           Contrivance
           ,
           without
           Order
           ,
           without
           Cause
           ?
           Certainly
           such
           
           men
           have
           no
           Reason
           to
           find
           fault
           with
           the
           
             Mysteries
             of
             Religion
          
           because
           they
           are
           incomprehensible
           ,
           since
           there
           is
           nothing
           so
           Absurd
           and
           Incomprehensible
           ,
           as
           their
           darling
           Hypothesis
           ;
           And
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           which
           can
           make
           it
           prevail
           ,
           but
           to
           suppose
           Mankind
           to
           be
           as
           Dull
           and
           Insensible
           as
           the
           first
           Chaos
           .
        
         
           Thus
           I
           have
           shewn
           that
           it
           is
           not
           unreasonable
           for
           God
           to
           require
           from
           us
           the
           Belief
           of
           something
           which
           we
           cannot
           comprehend
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           I
           now
           come
           to
           consider
           ,
           whether
           those
           who
           are
           so
           afraid
           of
           
             incomprehensible
             Mysteries
          
           in
           our
           Faith
           ,
           have
           made
           it
           so
           much
           more
           easie
           in
           the
           Way
           they
           have
           taken
           .
           And
           notwithstanding
           all
           the
           Hectoring
           talk
           against
           Mysteries
           and
           things
           incomprehensible
           in
           Religion
           ,
           I
           find
           more
           insuperable
           Difficulties
           in
           point
           of
           Reason
           in
           their
           Way
           than
           in
           ours
           .
           As
           for
           instance
           ,
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           It
           is
           a
           more
           Reasonable
           thing
           to
           suppose
           something
           Mysterious
           in
           the
           Eternal
           Son
           of
           God's
           
             being
             with
             the
             Father
             before
             the
             World
             was
             made
             by
             him
          
           ;
           (
           as
           S.
           Iohn
           expresses
           it
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           his
           Gospel
           )
           than
           in
           supposing
           that
           although
           Iohn
           the
           Baptist
           were
           born
           six
           Months
           before
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ;
           that
           yet
           Christ
           was
           in
           Dignity
           before
           him
           .
           What
           a
           wonderfull
           Mystery
           is
           this
           ?
           Can
           Men
           have
           the
           Face
           to
           cry
           down
           Mysteries
           in
           deep
           Speculations
           ,
           and
           matters
           of
           a
           high
           and
           abstruse
           Nature
           ,
           when
           they
           make
           such
           Mysteries
           of
           plain
           and
           easie
           things
           ?
           
           And
           suppose
           the
           Evangelist
           in
           profound
           Language
           and
           lofty
           Expressions
           to
           prove
           a
           thing
           ,
           which
           was
           never
           disputed
           ,
           viz.
           that
           although
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           were
           born
           six
           Months
           after
           Iohn
           ,
           yet
           he
           was
           in
           Dignity
           before
           him
           ?
           Yet
           this
           was
           a
           Mystery
           ,
           which
           ,
           as
           I
           remember
           ,
           
             Faustus
             Socinus
          
           glories
           in
           that
           his
           Uncle
           Laelius
           obtained
           by
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           It
           is
           a
           more
           Reasonable
           thing
           to
           suppose
           that
           a
           
             Divine
             Person
          
           should
           assume
           human
           Nature
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           
             Word
             to
             be
             made
             Flesh
          
           ;
           than
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           an
           Attribute
           of
           God
           ,
           his
           Wisdom
           or
           Power
           is
           
             made
             Flesh
          
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           Mystery
           beyond
           all
           Comprehension
           ;
           There
           may
           be
           some
           Difficulties
           in
           our
           Conception
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           but
           this
           is
           a
           thing
           beyond
           all
           Conception
           or
           Imagination
           ;
           For
           an
           Accident
           to
           be
           made
           a
           Substance
           is
           as
           absurd
           ,
           as
           to
           imagin
           it
           to
           subsist
           without
           one
           .
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           It
           is
           more
           Reasonable
           to
           suppose
           that
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           should
           
             come
             down
             from
             Heaven
          
           and
           take
           our
           Nature
           upon
           him
           ,
           than
           that
           a
           man
           should
           be
           rapt
           up
           into
           Heaven
           ,
           that
           it
           might
           be
           said
           that
           he
           came
           down
           from
           thence
           .
           For
           in
           the
           former
           Supposition
           we
           have
           many
           other
           places
           of
           Scripture
           to
           support
           it
           ,
           which
           speak
           of
           his
           
             being
             with
             God
          
           ,
           and
           
             having
             Glory
             with
             him
             before
             the
             World
             was
          
           ;
           whereas
           there
           is
           nothing
           for
           the
           other
           ,
           but
           only
           that
           it
           is
           necessary
           to
           make
           some
           tolerable
           Sense
           of
           those
           words
           .
        
         
         
           (
           4.
           )
           It
           is
           more
           Reasonable
           to
           believe
           that
           God
           should
           become
           Man
           by
           taking
           our
           Nature
           upon
           him
           ,
           than
           that
           Man
           should
           become
           God.
           For
           in
           the
           former
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           but
           the
           Difficulty
           of
           conceiving
           the
           Manner
           of
           the
           Union
           ,
           which
           we
           all
           grant
           to
           be
           so
           between
           Soul
           and
           Body
           ;
           but
           in
           the
           other
           there
           is
           a
           Repugnancy
           in
           the
           very
           Conception
           of
           a
           
             Created
             God
          
           ,
           of
           an
           
             Eternal
             Son
             of
             Adam
          
           ,
           of
           
             Omnipotent
             Infirmity
          
           ,
           of
           an
           
             Infinite
             finite
             Being
          
           .
           In
           the
           former
           Case
           ,
           an
           Infinite
           is
           united
           to
           a
           Finite
           ;
           but
           in
           the
           other
           a
           Finite
           becomes
           Infinite
           .
        
         
           (
           5.
           )
           It
           is
           more
           Reasonable
           to
           believe
           that
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           should
           suffer
           as
           he
           did
           
             for
             our
             sakes
          
           than
           
             for
             his
             own
          
           .
           We
           are
           all
           agreed
           that
           the
           Sufferings
           of
           Christ
           were
           far
           beyond
           any
           thing
           he
           deserved
           at
           
           God's
           hands
           ;
           but
           what
           Account
           then
           is
           to
           be
           given
           of
           them
           ?
           We
           say
           that
           he
           made
           himself
           a
           voluntary
           Sacrifice
           for
           Expiation
           of
           the
           Sins
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           and
           so
           there
           was
           a
           great
           and
           noble
           End
           designed
           ,
           and
           no
           Injury
           done
           to
           a
           willing
           Mind
           ;
           and
           the
           Scripture
           as
           plainly
           expresses
           this
           ,
           as
           it
           can
           do
           in
           Words
           .
           But
           others
           deny
           this
           ,
           and
           make
           him
           to
           suffer
           as
           one
           wholly
           Innocent
           ;
           for
           what
           Cause
           ?
           To
           make
           the
           most
           Innocent
           Persons
           as
           apprehensive
           of
           Suffering
           as
           the
           most
           Guilty
           ;
           and
           the
           most
           righteous
           God
           to
           put
           no
           difference
           between
           them
           ,
           with
           Respect
           to
           Suffering
           ?
        
         
           (
           6.
           )
           It
           is
           more
           Reasonable
           to
           suppose
           such
           a
           Condescension
           in
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           to
           take
           upon
           him
           the
           
           Form
           of
           a
           Servant
           for
           our
           Advantage
           ;
           than
           that
           a
           
             meer
             Man
          
           should
           be
           Exalted
           to
           the
           Honour
           and
           Worship
           which
           belongs
           only
           
             to
             God.
          
           For
           ,
           on
           the
           one
           side
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           but
           what
           is
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           ,
           viz.
           
             Infinite
             Love
          
           and
           Condescension
           and
           Pity
           to
           Mankind
           ;
           on
           the
           other
           ,
           there
           is
           the
           greatest
           Design
           of
           Self-Exaltation
           that
           ever
           was
           in
           
             Human
             Nature
          
           ,
           viz.
           for
           a
           
             meer
             Man
          
           to
           have
           the
           most
           
             Essential
             Attributes
          
           and
           
             Incommunicable
             Honour
          
           which
           belongs
           to
           God.
           And
           whether
           of
           these
           two
           is
           more
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Spirit
           and
           Design
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           let
           any
           man
           of
           understanding
           judge
           .
           For
           as
           it
           is
           evident
           ,
           that
           the
           great
           Intention
           of
           it
           is
           to
           magnifie
           the
           wonderfull
           Love
           of
           God
           in
           the
           sending
           of
           his
           Son
           ;
           so
           it
           is
           as
           plain
           that
           one
           great
           End
           of
           the
           Christian
           Doctrine
           was
           to
           take
           Mankind
           off
           from
           giving
           Divine
           Worship
           to
           Creatures
           ;
           and
           can
           we
           then
           suppose
           that
           at
           the
           same
           time
           it
           should
           set
           up
           the
           Worship
           of
           a
           
             meer
             Man
          
           with
           all
           the
           Honour
           and
           Adoration
           which
           belongs
           to
           God
           ▪
           This
           is
           to
           me
           an
           
             incomprehensible
             Mystery
          
           indeed
           ,
           and
           far
           beyond
           all
           that
           is
           implied
           in
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           the
           Trinity
           and
           Incarnation
           .
           For
           it
           Subverts
           the
           very
           Foundation
           of
           the
           Design
           of
           Christianity
           as
           to
           the
           Reforming
           Idolatry
           then
           in
           being
           ;
           it
           lays
           the
           Foundation
           for
           introducing
           it
           into
           the
           World
           again
           ;
           for
           since
           the
           Distance
           between
           God
           and
           his
           Creatures
           is
           taken
           away
           ,
           in
           the
           matter
           of
           Worship
           ,
           there
           is
           
           nothing
           left
           but
           the
           Declaration
           of
           his
           Will
           ;
           which
           doth
           not
           exclude
           more
           Mediators
           of
           Intercession
           but
           upon
           this
           Ground
           ,
           that
           the
           Mediation
           of
           Redemption
           is
           the
           Foundation
           of
           that
           of
           Intercession
           .
           And
           it
           is
           far
           more
           easie
           for
           us
           to
           suppose
           there
           may
           be
           some
           things
           too
           hard
           for
           us
           to
           understand
           in
           the
           Mystery
           of
           our
           
             Redemption
             by
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           than
           that
           at
           the
           same
           time
           it
           should
           be
           both
           
             a
             Duty
          
           and
           
             a
             Sin
          
           to
           worship
           any
           but
           the
           
             true
             God
          
           with
           proper
           Divine
           Worship
           .
           For
           if
           it
           be
           Idolatry
           to
           give
           it
           to
           a
           Creature
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           a
           great
           Sin
           ;
           for
           so
           the
           Scripture
           still
           accounts
           it
           ;
           but
           if
           we
           are
           bound
           to
           give
           it
           to
           Christ
           who
           is
           but
           a
           Creature
           ,
           then
           that
           which
           in
           it self
           is
           a
           Sin
           ,
           is
           now
           become
           a
           Necessary
           Duty
           ;
           which
           overthrows
           the
           Natural
           Differences
           of
           Good
           and
           Evil
           ,
           and
           makes
           Idolatry
           to
           be
           a
           meer
           Arbitrary
           thing
           .
           And
           I
           take
           it
           for
           granted
           ,
           that
           in
           Matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           Moral
           Difficulties
           are
           more
           to
           be
           regarded
           than
           Intellectual
           ;
           because
           Religion
           was
           far
           more
           designed
           for
           a
           Rule
           of
           our
           Actions
           ,
           than
           for
           the
           Satisfaction
           of
           our
           Curiosity
           .
           And
           upon
           due
           Examination
           we
           shall
           find
           that
           there
           is
           no
           such
           frightfull
           Appearances
           of
           Difficulties
           in
           the
           Mystery
           of
           the
           Incarnation
           ,
           as
           there
           is
           in
           giving
           
             Divine
             Worship
          
           to
           a
           Creature
           .
        
         
           And
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           observed
           ,
           that
           those
           very
           Places
           which
           are
           supposed
           to
           exclude
           Christ
           from
           being
           the
           
             true
             God
          
           ;
           
           must
           ,
           if
           they
           have
           any
           force
           ,
           exclude
           him
           from
           
             Divine
             Worship
          
           .
           
           For
           they
           are
           spoken
           
           of
           God
           as
           the
           Object
           of
           our
           Worship
           ;
           but
           if
           he
           be
           not
           excluded
           from
           
             Divine
             Worship
          
           ,
           then
           neither
           is
           he
           from
           being
           the
           
             true
             God
          
           ;
           
           which
           they
           grant
           he
           is
           
             by
             Office
          
           but
           not
           
             by
             Nature
          
           .
        
         
           But
           a
           
             God
             by
             Office
          
           who
           is
           not
           so
           
             by
             Nature
          
           is
           a
           new
           and
           
             incomprehensible
             Mystery
          
           .
           A
           
             Mystery
             hidden
             from
             Ages
             and
             Generations
          
           as
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           God
           ;
           but
           not
           
             made
             known
             by
             the
             Gospel
             of
             his
             Son.
             
          
        
         
           This
           is
           such
           a
           kind
           of
           Mystery
           as
           the
           Heathen
           Priests
           had
           ,
           who
           had
           
             Gods
             many
             and
             Lords
             many
          
           ,
           as
           the
           Apostle
           saith
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           many
           
             by
             Office
          
           although
           but
           one
           
             by
             Nature
          
           .
           
           But
           if
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           had
           owned
           
             one
             God
             by
             Nature
          
           and
           only
           
             one
             by
             Office
          
           ,
           the
           Heathens
           had
           been
           to
           blame
           chiefly
           in
           the
           Number
           of
           their
           Gods
           by
           Office
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           the
           divine
           Worship
           which
           they
           gave
           to
           them
           .
           But
           S.
           Paul
           blames
           the
           Heathens
           for
           
             doing
             Service
             to
             them
             which
             by
             Nature
             are
             no
             Gods
          
           ;
           not
           for
           doing
           it
           without
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           
           nor
           for
           mistaking
           the
           Person
           who
           was
           God
           by
           Office
           ,
           but
           in
           giving
           Divine
           Worship
           to
           them
           who
           
             by
             Nature
             were
             no
             Gods
          
           ;
           which
           he
           would
           never
           have
           said
           ,
           if
           by
           the
           Christian
           Doctrine
           ,
           Divine
           Worship
           were
           to
           be
           given
           to
           one
           who
           was
           not
           
             God
             by
             Nature
          
           .
        
         
           But
           these
           are
           indeed
           
             incomprehensible
             Mysteries
          
           how
           a
           Man
           by
           Nature
           can
           be
           a
           God
           really
           and
           truely
           by
           Office
           ;
           how
           the
           Incommunicable
           Perfections
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           can
           be
           communicated
           
           to
           a
           Creature
           ;
           how
           God
           should
           
             give
             his
             Glory
             to
             another
          
           ,
           and
           by
           his
           own
           Command
           require
           that
           to
           be
           given
           to
           a
           Creature
           ,
           which
           himself
           had
           absolutely
           forbidden
           to
           be
           given
           to
           any
           besides
           himself
           .
           It
           is
           said
           by
           a
           famous
           Iesuit
           (
           I
           will
           not
           say
           how
           agreeably
           to
           their
           own
           Doctrines
           and
           Practices
           about
           Divine
           Worship
           )
           
             that
             the
             Command
             of
             God
             cannot
             make
             him
             worthy
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
          
           
           
             who
             without
             such
             a
             Command
             is
             not
             worthy
             of
             it
             .
             And
             it
             is
             very
             absurd
             to
             say
             ,
             that
             he
             that
             is
             unworthy
             of
             it
             without
             a
             Command
             ,
             can
             become
             worthy
             by
             it
             ;
             for
             it
             makes
             God
             to
             command
             Divine
             Honour
             to
             be
             given
             to
             one
             who
             cannot
             deserve
             it
             .
          
           
           (
           For
           no
           meer
           Man
           can
           deserve
           to
           be
           made
           God.
           )
           
             But
             it
             is
             more
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Divine
             Nature
             and
             Will
             not
             to
             give
             his
             Honour
             to
             a
             Creature
             .
          
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           But
           after
           all
           the
           Invectives
           of
           these
           Enemies
           to
           Mysteries
           ,
           we
           do
           not
           make
           that
           which
           we
           say
           is
           Incomprehensible
           to
           be
           a
           
             Necessary
             Article
             of
             Faith
          
           as
           it
           is
           Incomprehensible
           ;
           but
           we
           do
           assert
           that
           what
           is
           Incomprehensible
           as
           to
           the
           Manner
           ,
           may
           be
           a
           
             Necessary
             Article
          
           as
           far
           as
           it
           is
           plainly
           Revealed
           .
           As
           in
           the
           Instances
           I
           have
           already
           mentioned
           of
           the
           Creation
           and
           
             Resurrection
             of
             the
             Dead
          
           ;
           would
           they
           in
           earnest
           have
           Men
           turn
           Infidels
           as
           to
           these
           things
           till
           they
           are
           able
           to
           comprehend
           all
           the
           difficulties
           which
           relate
           to
           them
           ?
           If
           not
           ,
           why
           should
           this
           suggestion
           be
           allow'd
           as
           to
           the
           Mysteries
           which
           relate
           to
           our
           Redemption
           by
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           
             the
             Case
             is
             
             not
             alike
             for
             those
             are
             clearly
             Revealed
             and
             these
             are
             not
          
           ;
           this
           brings
           it
           to
           the
           true
           and
           proper
           Issue
           of
           this
           matter
           ,
           and
           if
           we
           do
           not
           prove
           a
           
             clear
             Revelation
          
           ,
           we
           do
           not
           assert
           their
           being
           
             Necessary
             Articles
             of
             Faith
          
           ;
           but
           my
           present
           business
           was
           only
           to
           take
           off
           this
           Objection
           that
           the
           Mysteries
           were
           Incomprehensible
           and
           therefore
           not
           to
           be
           received
           by
           us
           .
        
         
           II.
           And
           so
           I
           come
           to
           the
           second
           Way
           ,
           by
           which
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           Examin
           the
           several
           Senses
           of
           
             Christ
             Jesus
             coming
             to
             save
             Sinners
             :
          
           Which
           of
           them
           tends
           more
           to
           the
           Benefit
           and
           Advantage
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           or
           which
           is
           
             more
             worthy
             of
             all
             Acceptation
          
           .
        
         
           And
           that
           will
           appear
           by
           considering
           these
           things
           ;
           
             
               (
               1.
               )
               Which
               tends
               most
               to
               the
               raising
               our
               Esteem
               and
               Love
               of
               
                 Christ
                 Jesus
              
               .
            
             
               (
               2.
               )
               Which
               tends
               most
               to
               the
               begetting
               in
               us
               a
               greater
               
                 Hatred
                 of
                 Sin.
              
               
            
             
               (
               3.
               )
               Which
               tends
               most
               to
               the
               strengthening
               our
               Hope
               of
               
                 Salvation
                 by
                 Jesus
                 Christ.
              
               
            
          
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           As
           to
           the
           raising
           in
           us
           a
           greater
           Esteem
           and
           
             Love
             of
             Christ.
          
           We
           are
           certain
           that
           the
           Infinite
           Love
           and
           Condescension
           of
           
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           in
           under●aking
           such
           a
           Work
           as
           
             the
             saving
             of
             Sinners
          
           makes
           〈◊〉
           most
           worthy
           of
           all
           Acceptation
           .
           Some
           Men
           may
           please
           themselves
           in
           thinking
           that
           by
           taking
           away
           all
           Mysteries
           they
           have
           made
           their
           Faith
           more
           
           easie
           ,
           but
           I
           am
           certain
           they
           have
           extremely
           lessen'd
           the
           Argument
           for
           our
           
             Love
             ,
             viz.
          
           the
           Apprehensions
           of
           the
           wonderfull
           Love
           and
           Condescension
           of
           Christ
           in
           coming
           into
           the
           World
           
             to
             save
             Sinners
          
           .
           And
           yet
           this
           is
           the
           great
           Argument
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           to
           perswade
           Mankind
           to
           the
           
             Love
             of
             God
          
           and
           of
           his
           Son
           :
           
           
             God
             so
             loved
             the
             World
             that
             he
             gave
             his
             only
             begotten
             Son
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           This
           is
           indeed
           a
           mighty
           Argument
           of
           Love
           ,
           if
           by
           
             the
             only
             begotten
             Son
          
           be
           meant
           the
           Eternal
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           
             who
             came
             down
             from
             Heaven
          
           ,
           as
           S.
           Iohn
           speaks
           just
           before
           ;
           
           but
           if
           no
           more
           be
           meant
           but
           only
           that
           God
           made
           a
           
             meer
             Man
          
           to
           be
           his
           Son
           ,
           and
           after
           he
           had
           preached
           a
           while
           here
           on
           Earth
           and
           was
           ill
           used
           and
           crucified
           by
           his
           own
           People
           ,
           he
           Exalted
           him
           to
           be
           God
           and
           gave
           him
           Divine
           Attributes
           and
           Honours
           ;
           this
           were
           an
           Argument
           of
           great
           Love
           to
           the
           Person
           of
           Christ
           ,
           but
           not
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           Mankind
           .
           But
           
             Gods
             Love
          
           in
           Scripture
           is
           magnified
           with
           Respect
           to
           
             the
             World
          
           in
           the
           sending
           of
           his
           Son.
           
             In
             this
             was
             manifested
          
           ,
           saith
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           
             the
             Love
             of
             God
             towards
             us
             ,
          
           
           
             because
             that
             God
             sent
             his
             only
             begotten
             Son
             into
             the
             World
             that
             we
             should
             live
             through
             him
             .
          
           
           
             Herein
             is
             love
             ,
             not
             that
             we
             loved
             God
             ,
             but
             that
             he
             loved
             us
             and
             sent
             his
             Son
             to
             be
             a
             Propitiation
             for
             our
             Sins
             .
          
           The
           great
           Love
           we
           still
           see
           is
           
             towards
             us
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           towards
           Mankind
           ,
           but
           according
           to
           the
           other
           Sense
           it
           must
           have
           been
           ,
           Herein
           was
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           manifested
           to
           his
           Son
           ,
           that
           for
           his
           
           Sufferings
           he
           exalted
           him
           above
           all
           Creatures
           .
           
             He
             that
             spared
             not
             his
             own
             Son
             ,
          
           saith
           S.
           Paul
           ,
           
           
             but
             deliver'd
             him
             up
             for
             us
             all
             .
          
           If
           he
           were
           the
           
             Eternal
             Son
             of
             God
          
           who
           came
           to
           suffer
           for
           us
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           mighty
           force
           and
           Emphasis
           in
           this
           Expression
           ,
           and
           very
           apt
           to
           raise
           our
           Admiration
           and
           our
           Love
           ;
           But
           what
           
             not
             sparing
             his
             own
             Son
          
           is
           there
           ,
           if
           nothing
           were
           meant
           but
           that
           he
           designed
           by
           Sufferings
           to
           Exalt
           him
           ?
           For
           
             not
             Sparing
             him
          
           supposes
           an
           Antecedent
           Relation
           of
           the
           highest
           Kindness
           ,
           but
           the
           other
           is
           only
           designing
           extraordinary
           Kindness
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           his
           Sufferings
           .
           Therefore
           ,
           the
           Argument
           for
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           is
           taken
           from
           what
           his
           Son
           was
           ,
           when
           he
           deliver'd
           him
           up
           for
           us
           all
           ;
           he
           was
           his
           
             own
             Son
          
           ;
           not
           by
           Adoption
           as
           others
           are
           ;
           S.
           Iohn
           calls
           him
           ,
           
           his
           
             only
             begotten
             Son
          
           ;
           and
           God
           himself
           ,
           
             his
             beloved
             Son
          
           in
           the
           Voice
           from
           Heaven
           ;
           and
           this
           before
           his
           Sufferings
           ,
           immediately
           after
           his
           Baptism
           ,
           when
           as
           yet
           ,
           there
           was
           nothing
           extraordinary
           done
           by
           him
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           great
           Design
           of
           his
           coming
           .
           Which
           shews
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           an
           Antecedent
           Relation
           between
           him
           and
           the
           Father
           ;
           and
           that
           therein
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           and
           of
           Christ
           was
           manifested
           ,
           that
           being
           the
           
             only
             begotten
             Son
             of
             the
             Father
             ,
          
           he
           should
           take
           our
           Nature
           upon
           him
           and
           for
           our
           sakes
           do
           and
           suffer
           what
           he
           did
           .
           This
           is
           indeed
           an
           Argument
           great
           enough
           to
           raise
           our
           Admiration
           ,
           to
           excite
           our
           Devotion
           ,
           to
           inflame
           our
           Affections
           ;
           but
           how
           flat
           
           and
           low
           doth
           it
           appear
           ,
           when
           it
           comes
           to
           no
           more
           than
           this
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           a
           Man
           ,
           whom
           ,
           after
           his
           Sufferings
           ,
           God
           raised
           from
           the
           dead
           and
           made
           him
           a
           
             God
             by
             Office
          
           ?
           Doth
           this
           carry
           any
           such
           Argument
           in
           it
           for
           our
           Esteem
           and
           Love
           and
           Devotion
           to
           him
           as
           the
           other
           doth
           upon
           the
           most
           serious
           Consideration
           of
           it
           ?
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           Which
           tends
           most
           to
           beget
           in
           us
           a
           greater
           
             Hatred
             of
             Sin.
          
           For
           that
           is
           so
           contrary
           to
           the
           Way
           of
           our
           Salvation
           by
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           that
           what
           tends
           most
           to
           our
           Hatred
           of
           it
           ,
           must
           conduce
           most
           to
           our
           Happiness
           ;
           and
           therefore
           be
           
             most
             worthy
             of
             all
             Acceptation
          
           .
           It
           is
           agreed
           on
           all
           hands
           ,
           that
           Christ
           did
           suffer
           very
           much
           both
           in
           his
           Mind
           and
           in
           his
           Body
           .
           In
           his
           Mind
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           said
           ,
           
             that
             he
             was
             troubled
             in
             Spirit
          
           ;
           
           that
           
             he
             began
             to
             be
             sorrowfull
             and
             very
             heavy
          
           ;
           and
           soon
           after
           ,
           
             My
             Soul
             is
             exceeding
             sorrowfull
             ,
             even
             unto
             death
             .
          
           S.
           Luke
           saith
           ,
           
           
             that
             he
             was
             in
             an
             Agony
          
           ;
           wherein
           he
           not
           only
           
             prayed
             more
             earnestly
             ,
             but
             his
             sweat
             was
             as
             it
             were
             great
             Drops
             of
             Blood
             falling
             to
             the
             Ground
             .
          
           
           What
           made
           this
           Amazement
           ,
           and
           dreadfull
           Agony
           in
           the
           mind
           of
           the
           most
           innocent
           Person
           in
           the
           World
           ?
           Was
           it
           meerly
           the
           Fear
           of
           the
           Pains
           of
           Death
           which
           he
           was
           to
           undergo
           ?
           That
           is
           impossible
           ,
           considering
           the
           Assurance
           which
           he
           had
           of
           so
           glorious
           a
           Reward
           so
           soon
           following
           after
           ;
           when
           so
           many
           Martyrs
           endured
           such
           exquisite
           
           Torments
           for
           his
           sake
           without
           any
           such
           Disturbance
           or
           Consternation
           .
           But
           the
           Apostles
           give
           us
           another
           Account
           of
           it
           .
           S.
           Peter
           ,
           
           saith
           he
           ,
           was
           
             to
             bear
             our
             Sins
             in
             his
             own
             body
             on
             the
             tree
          
           ;
           that
           
             Christ
             suffer'd
             for
             Sins
             ,
             the
             just
             for
             the
             unjust
             .
          
           
           S.
           Paul
           ,
           
           
             that
             God
             made
             him
             to
             be
             Sin
             for
             us
             who
             knew
             no
             Sin
             ,
             that
             we
             might
             be
             made
             the
             righteousness
             of
             God
             in
             him
             .
          
           Hereby
           we
           understand
           how
           so
           innocent
           a
           Person
           came
           to
           suffer
           ;
           
             he
             stood
             in
             our
             Stead
             ;
             he
             was
             made
             Sin
             for
             us
          
           ;
           and
           therefore
           was
           to
           be
           treated
           as
           a
           Sinner
           ;
           and
           to
           suffer
           that
           on
           our
           Account
           ,
           which
           he
           could
           not
           deserve
           on
           his
           own
           .
           If
           he
           suffer'd
           on
           his
           own
           Account
           ,
           this
           were
           the
           way
           to
           fill
           our
           Minds
           with
           perplexity
           concerning
           the
           Justice
           of
           Providence
           with
           Respect
           to
           his
           dealings
           with
           the
           most
           innocent
           and
           holy
           Persons
           in
           this
           World
           ;
           If
           he
           suffer'd
           on
           our
           Account
           ,
           then
           we
           have
           the
           Benefit
           of
           his
           Sufferings
           ,
           and
           therein
           we
           see
           how
           displeasing
           to
           God
           sin
           is
           ,
           when
           even
           his
           own
           Son
           suffer'd
           so
           much
           by
           taking
           the
           guilt
           of
           our
           Sins
           upon
           him
           .
           And
           what
           can
           tend
           more
           to
           the
           begetting
           in
           us
           a
           due
           hatred
           of
           sin
           ,
           than
           to
           consider
           ,
           what
           Christ
           himself
           suffer'd
           on
           the
           Account
           of
           it
           ?
           What
           can
           make
           us
           have
           more
           dreadfull
           thoughts
           of
           it
           ,
           than
           that
           the
           great
           and
           mercifull
           God
           ,
           when
           he
           designed
           
             to
             Save
             sinners
          
           ,
           yet
           would
           have
           his
           own
           Son
           to
           become
           
             a
             Propitiation
             for
             the
             Sins
             of
             Mankind
             ?
          
           And
           unless
           we
           allow
           
           this
           ,
           we
           must
           put
           force
           upon
           the
           plainest
           Expressions
           of
           Scripture
           ;
           and
           make
           Christ
           to
           suffer
           meerly
           to
           shew
           God's
           Power
           over
           a
           most
           innocent
           Person
           ,
           and
           his
           Will
           and
           Pleasure
           to
           inflict
           the
           most
           severe
           Punishment
           without
           any
           Respect
           to
           Guilt
           .
           And
           surely
           such
           a
           Notion
           of
           God
           ,
           cannot
           be
           
             worthy
             of
             all
             Acceptation
          
           .
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           Which
           tends
           most
           to
           strengthen
           our
           Hope
           of
           
             Salvation
             by
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           .
           If
           we
           believe
           that
           he
           suffer'd
           for
           our
           Sins
           ,
           then
           we
           have
           great
           Reason
           to
           hope
           for
           the
           Forgiveness
           of
           them
           ;
           although
           they
           have
           been
           many
           and
           great
           ,
           if
           we
           sincerely
           Repent
           ;
           because
           the
           most
           prevailing
           Argument
           for
           Despair
           will
           be
           removed
           ;
           which
           is
           taken
           from
           the
           
             Iustice
             of
             God
          
           ,
           and
           his
           declared
           Hatred
           of
           Sin
           and
           Displeasure
           against
           Sinners
           .
           If
           God
           be
           so
           much
           in
           earnest
           displeased
           with
           the
           Sins
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           his
           Justice
           be
           concerned
           in
           the
           Punishment
           of
           Sinners
           ,
           how
           can
           they
           ever
           hope
           to
           escape
           ,
           unless
           there
           be
           a
           way
           for
           his
           Displeasure
           to
           be
           removed
           ,
           and
           his
           Justice
           to
           be
           satisfied
           ?
           And
           this
           the
           Scripture
           tells
           us
           is
           done
           by
           Christ
           ,
           who
           died
           that
           he
           might
           be
           a
           
             Sacrifice
             of
             Atonement
          
           to
           
             Reconcile
             us
             to
             God
             by
             his
             Death
          
           ;
           
           as
           S.
           Paul
           expresly
           affirms
           .
           And
           by
           this
           means
           ,
           we
           may
           have
           strong
           Consolation
           from
           the
           Hopes
           of
           Forgiveness
           of
           our
           Sins
           .
           Whereas
           ,
           if
           this
           be
           taken
           away
           ,
           either
           Men
           must
           believe
           that
           God
           was
           not
           in
           
           earnest
           displeased
           with
           the
           Sins
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           which
           must
           exceedingly
           lessen
           our
           Esteem
           of
           the
           Holiness
           and
           
             Iustice
             of
             God
          
           ;
           or
           if
           he
           were
           so
           displeased
           ,
           that
           he
           laid
           aside
           this
           Displeasure
           ,
           without
           any
           Atonement
           or
           Sacrifice
           of
           Expiation
           .
           And
           so
           ,
           as
           many
           as
           look
           on
           
             God's
             Iustice
          
           and
           Holiness
           as
           necessary
           and
           essential
           Attributes
           of
           God
           ,
           will
           be
           in
           danger
           of
           sinking
           into
           the
           Depths
           of
           Despair
           ,
           as
           often
           as
           they
           Reflect
           seriously
           on
           the
           Guilt
           of
           their
           Sins
           .
           But
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           if
           we
           believe
           that
           while
           we
           were
           
             Enemies
             ,
             we
             were
             reconciled
             to
             God
             by
             the
             death
             of
             his
             Son
          
           ;
           then
           we
           may
           
             have
             Peace
             with
             God
             through
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ;
           and
           have
           Reason
           to
           believe
           that
           there
           will
           be
           
             no
             Condemnation
             to
             them
             that
             are
             in
             Christ
             Jesus
          
           by
           a
           lively
           Faith
           and
           sincere
           Repentance
           ;
           then
           they
           may
           with
           Comfort
           look
           up
           to
           God
           as
           a
           Reconciled
           Father
           ,
           through
           
             Jesus
             Christ
             our
             Mediator
          
           ;
           then
           they
           may
           with
           inward
           Satisfaction
           look
           beyond
           the
           Grave
           ,
           and
           stedfastly
           hope
           for
           that
           Salvation
           which
           Christ
           purchased
           on
           Earth
           and
           will
           at
           last
           bestow
           on
           all
           such
           as
           Love
           and
           Obey
           him
           .
           To
           which
           God
           of
           his
           Infinite
           Mercy
           bring
           us
           all
           through
           
             Iesus
             Christ.
          
           For
           ,
           
             This
             is
             a
             faithfull
             Saying
             and
             worthy
             of
             all
             Acceptation
             ,
             that
             he
             came
             into
             the
             World
             to
             save
             Sinners
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           Lately
           Printed
           for
           
             Henry
             Mortlock
          
           at
           the
           Phoenix
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           ,
        
         
           A
           Sermon
           Preached
           before
           the
           Queen
           at
           
             White-Hall
             ,
             Febr.
          
           22.
           1688
           
           /
           9.
           upon
           1.
           
           Pet.
           14.
           verse
           18.
           
        
         
           A
           Sermon
           Preached
           before
           the
           King
           and
           Queen
           at
           
             White-Hall
             ,
             March
          
           the
           23d
           .
           1689
           /
           90.
           upon
           Ecclesiastes
           11.
           verse
           9.
           
        
         
           
             Christian
             Magnanimity
          
           :
           A
           Sermon
           Preached
           in
           the
           Cathedral
           Church
           at
           Worcester
           ,
           at
           the
           Time
           of
           the
           Assizes
           ,
           September
           21.
           1690.
           upon
           2
           Tim.
           1.
           verse
           7.
           
        
         
           A
           Sermon
           Preached
           before
           the
           Queen
           at
           
             White-Hall
             ,
             March
          
           the
           1
           st
           .
           1690
           /
           1.
           on
           Luke
           6.
           v.
           46.
           
           All
           Four
           by
           the
           Right
           Reverend
           Father
           in
           God
           ,
           Edward
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Worcester
           .
        
         
           The
           Bishop
           of
           
           Worcester's
           Charge
           to
           the
           Clergy
           of
           his
           Diocese
           ,
           in
           his
           Primary
           Visitation
           ,
           begun
           at
           
             Worcester
             ,
             Septemb.
          
           11.
           1690.
           
           Quarto
           .
        
         
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A61575-e160
           
             Ver.
             13.
             
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             1.7
             .
          
           
             Ch.
             2.
             v.
             2.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             2.6
             ,
             7.
             
          
           
             Act.
             12.22
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             6.32
             ,
             33.
             
          
           
             38.50.58.62
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             8.58
             .
          
           
             v.
             59.
             
          
           
             Joh.
             10.30
             .
          
           
             v.
             31.
             
          
           
             v.
             32
             ,
             33.
             
          
           
             v.
             36.
             
          
           
             Matt.
             3.17
             .
          
           
             Matt.
             26.63
             .
          
           
             v.
             64.
             
          
           
             Mark
             14.62
             .
          
           
             v.
             64.
             
          
           
             Matt.
             26.66
             .
          
           
             Luk.
             22.71
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             17.5
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             1.1
             ,
             2
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             9.5
             .
          
           
             Rom.
             1.20
             .
          
           
             Col.
             1.16
             .
          
           
             Heb.
             1.2
             ,
             10.
             
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             3.16
             .
          
           
             
               Discourse
               of
               the
               Word
            
             Mystery
             ,
             
               &c.
               p.
            
             5.
             
          
           
             
               Observations
               on
               Dr.
            
             Wallis
             
               his
               four
               Letters
            
             ,
             p.
             4
             
          
           
             Psal.
             90.2
             .
             Revel
             .
             1.4
             .
             c.
             11.
             v.
             17.
             
          
           
             Bifterfield
             .
             c.
             Grell
             .
             p.
             50.
             
          
           
             Pet●v
             .
             de
             Trinit
             .
             l.
             3.
             c.
             9.
             
             §.
             15.
             
          
           
             De
             Consol.
             l.
             3.
             
          
           
             S.
             Joh.
             4.24
             .
          
           
             Socin
             .
             Prael
             .
             c.
             11.
             
          
           
             Cajetan
             .
             in
             1.
             q.
             22.
             art
             .
             4.
             
          
           
             S.
             Joh.
             17.3
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             6.6
             .
          
           
             Socin
             .
             ad
             Eutrop.
             p
             96
             c.
             Wick
             .
             c.
             11.
             
             
               Catech.
               Racov.
            
             p.
             65.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             8.5
             .
          
           
             Gal.
             4.8
             .
          
           
             Smiglec
             .
             de
             Divin
             .
             Verb.
             Incarn
             .
             Nat.
             p.
             45.
             
          
           
             
               Nova
               Monstra
               ,
               &c.
            
             p.
             42.
             
          
           
             Joh.
             3.16
             .
          
           
             v.
             13.
             
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             4.9
             .
          
           
             v.
             10.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             8.32
             .
          
           
             John
             1.14
             .
             ch
             .
             3.
             v.
             16.
             
             Luk.
             3.22
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             13.21
             .
             Matt.
             26.37
             ,
             38.
             
          
           
             Mark
             14.33
             ,
             34.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             22.44
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             2.24
             .
          
           
             3.18
             .
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             5.21
             .
          
           
             Rom.
             5.10
             .
             2
             Cor.
             5.19
             .
             Heb.
             9.15
             .