ose what they have. Thus, even that when they have not is taken from
them, because though they have it in judgment, yet they have it not surely
and solidly in affection, that it may be holden. So, to this present point
if we could learn to adore and admire this holy, holy, holy One,--if we
could in silence and faith sit down and wonder at this mystery,--it would
be more profitable to us, and make way for a clearer manifestation of God,
than if we should search and inquire into all the volumes that are written
upon it, thinking by this means to satisfy our reason. I think there is
more profoundness in the sobriety of faith than in the depths of human
wisdom and learning. When the mystery is such an infinite depth, O but
men's eloquence and wisdom must be shallow, far too shallow either to find
it out, or unfold it.

But there is yet both more instruction and consolation to be pressed out
of this mystery, and, therefore, if you cannot reach it in itself, O
consider what it concerns us, how we may be edified by it, for this is
true religion! Look upon that place of Moses--what is the great instruction
he draws from this unity of God's essences? ver. 5 "Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart." Since God is one, then have no God but
one, and that the true and living God, and this is the very first command
of God, which flows as it were immediately from his absolute oneness and
perfection of being. There is no man but he must have some God, that is
some thing whereupon he placeth his affection most. Every man hath some
one thing he loves and respects beyond all other things, some lord and
master that commands him. Therefore saith Christ "no man can serve two
masters." Before a man will want a god to love and serve he will make
them, and then worship them. Yea he will make himself, his belly, his
back, his honour, and pleasure, a god, and sacrifice all his affections
and desires and endeavours to these. The natural subordination of man to
God, the relation he hath as a creature to a Creator, is the first and
fundamental relation beyond all respects to himself or other fellow
creatures. This is the proto natural(141) obligation upon the creature,
therefore it should have returned in a direct line to his majesty all its
affections and endeavours. But man's fall from God hath made a wretched
thraw(142) and crook in the soul that it cannot look any more after him,
but bows downwards towards creatures below it, or bends