Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	disciple_n	know_v	mystery_n	1,896	5	9.7001	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94169	The greatnes of the mystery of godlines; opened in severall sermons by Cuthbert Sydenham teacher to a Church of Christ at Newcastle upon Tine.	Sydenham, Cuthbert, 1622-1654.	1654 (1654)	Wing S6296; Thomason E1499_1; ESTC R203682	101,615	278

Gospell is Gods secret that which is his bosome counsell Angels nor men could not have known it if God had not revealed it so that it is a mystery which without revelation is unknown that which cannot be demonstrated or argued out but its nature consists in revelation Among the heathen they had their mysteries in their temples which they must not discover therefore there was an Image before the Temple with his finger before his mouth shewing that they must be silent in discovering hidden mysteries Though the Gospell be now revealed yet it is a mystery because once it was kept so secret 2. And which follows from thence that is a mystery which hath any thing in its owne nature which is not obvious and which lies not open to the quick and present apprehensions of men as some things in nature are said to be mysteries and in government there are arcana imperii hidden things of state that the vulgar cannot pry into secret wheeles that move many actions which they cannot see move only do behold the outward action the things of the Gospell are arcana Dei though we see the things done yet we see not these invisible glorious wheels which did act them and thus though the thing it selfe be revealed yet because the reasons of them lye under ground they are called mysteries thus the conversion of the Gentiles and the calling of the Jews are both called mysteries Rom. 11. thus divine truths are mysteries thou hearest of Christ and hast manifestations of God to thee but alas the infinite reason God hath acted from the secret wheels that have run along in every veine of Gods love that is unknown who hath searched his counsels saith the Apostle All Gods actions to us they have come from infinite and unsearchable counsels go into a Chymists shop there thou findest severall extractions of mettals which thou seest and tastest but how he did it thou know'st not that is a mystery to thee what art he used in so rare a thing which to thy eye seemes contrary and impossible godlinesse hath been acted in such an invisible way that it may well be called a mystery How hath the Load-stone pusled all the heads of the greatest ones in the world that they have left it as a mystery a thing only to be beleeved but the reason not known only have reduced its power under a generall notion of Sympathy and all because men knew not the occult reasons of its nature That God should carry himselfe in such a hidden way of glory that none can find out his steps but only by the effects of it and that we can only say it is so but not how or why it is so is the mystery of godlinesse 3. That is a mystery whose inward nature and excellency cannot be expressd but is wrapt up in outward figures and representations that which is so glorious in its own Nature as it cannot be seen or manifested to us but by the intervention of some externall medium Thus marriage is said to be a great myst'ry because it is set to convay the hidden and mystical Marriage between Christ and the Church Eph. 5. One would have thought all along that Chapter he spoke in a literall sence of marriage but at last he sums up all this a great mystery But I speak concerning Christ and the Church Thus all the Gospell in generall and in particular is full of mysteryes It s owne Nature is vailed in words and outward Types Gods relations to us and Christs under the notions of Husband and Wife Father and Children God compared to light Christ set out by a Lyon a Lambe a Shepherd Grace express'd by gold and silver and precious stones Heaven by Paradise All which things doe rather vaile then expresse these hidden glories in them and all these titles which are so many mysteries of Christ in which are contain'd the Nature of things far above them And under all these is covered the realtie that God is to the soul As Hieroglyphicks doe denote something that is internall so doe all the expressions of Scripture and all the manifestations of God but represent some hidden glorie that at first we cannot perceive Therefore Christ delivers the Gospell in Parables and tels his Disciples Unto you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdome God makes many shapes and appearance of these inward beauties that we may come to learn what they mean by these sensible things As some stately pictures are covered over with a Curtaine that every one that comes into the room cannot see them So is it with the things of Heaven they are represented in grosse bodies which is as a Curtaine before them and untill that be drawn none can behold them The Sacraments they are outward signes of an invisible glory in Water and Bread and Wine are represented and vailed Christ in his person and merrits in all his holinesse to the soule he that comes and touches these things and tasts them may see but little in them more then in ordinary bread but only God discovers a mystery under these signes unto a Saints Faith makes the soule see Christ in his Nature and Merits and feel him in his Vertue So in preaching the high and unexpressible love of God is to be let forth in the words of a Minister which words can never expresse what that love is And soules may heare a thousand of the most Gospell-Sermons that can be preach'd and yet understand nothing of Divine Truth only there is a mystery vailed in these words and the great and inward things of God are manifested thorough these words And this is one great respect wherein the godliness is call'd a mystery because its own Nature is not to be exprest though it be represented by outward things 4. It is a mystery because of the fulnesse and vastnesse and variety of its manifestations it is so ful as that it cannot be discovered at once it is so vast as that it cannot be lookt into but by degrees the variety of its actings are so many as that you have it open'd in severall parcels As some looks that you have seen have so many several wards and turnings in them that though they be in one peece yet you must have divers keys and divers turnings to open it as severall artificiall Boxes folded in one another so is the mystery of the Gospell though one intire peece of Heavenly light yet interwomen with such varietie of turnings and spreading it selfe abroad into so vast a circumference that you cannot see but a little of its glory as you can see no more of the Sun then in your owne Horizon So saith the Apostle Rom. 1. The Righteousnesse of God is revealed from Faith to Faith And in the Revelations The Book of the Lambe had seven Seales Take godlinesse in its selfe and the whole bulk of it and it is so large as it reacheth from everlasting to everlasting and all along it is manifested