we despise as
trivial and common, and what he compasseth about with a divine darkness of
inaccessible light, and hath removed far from the apprehensions of all
living, that we will needs search into, and wander into those forbidden
compasses, with daring boldness. I conceive this holy and profound mystery
is one of those "secret things" which it belongs to God to know, for who
knoweth the Father but the Son, or the Son but the Father, or who knoweth
the mind of God but the Spirit? Yet the foolish minds of men will not be
satisfied with the believing ignorance of such a mystery, but will needs
inquire into those depths, that they may find satisfaction for their
reason. But, as it happeneth with men who will boldly stare upon the sun,
their eyes are dazzled and darkened with its brightness, or those that
enter into a labyrinth, which they can find no way to come out, but the
further they go into it, the more perplexed it is, and the more intricate,
even so it befalls many unsober and presumptuous spirits, who, not being
satisfied with the simple truth of God, clearly asserting that this is,
endeavour to examine it according to reason, and to solve all the
objections of carnal wit and reason, (which is often "enmity against
God,") not by the silence of the Scriptures, but by answers framed
according to the several capacities of men. I say, all this is but daring
to behold the infinite glory of God with eyes of flesh, which makes them
darkened in mind, and vanishing in their expressions, while they seek to
behold this inaccessible light, while they enter into an endless labyrinth
of difficulties out of which the thread of reason and disputation can
never extricate them or lead them forth. But the Lord hath showed us "a
more excellent way," though it may be despicable to men. Man did fall from
blessedness by his curious and wretched aim at some higher happiness and
more wisdom; the Lord hath chosen another way to raise him up again, by
faith rather than knowledge, by believing rather than disputing. Therefore
the great command of the gospel is this, to receive with a ready and
willing mind whatsoever the Lord saith to us, whatsoever it may appear to
sense and reason, to dispute no more, to search no more into the secret of
divine mysteries, as if by searching we could find them out "unto
perfection," but to believe what is spoken, "till the day break, and the
shadows flee away," and the darkness of ignorance be wholly dispelle