shall see afterwards of some then he hath of others and he loves some to eternall life and not others I will leave in the middest of thee an afflicted and poore people refusing others God will leave some he will purge away others as he saith in the verse before I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoyce in thy pride and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountaine he will take away them but I will leave in the middest of thee c there is a difference All are not alike as the Proverbe is as white lines upon a white stone that we cannot see a difference It is not alike with all men for we see a difference in this world but not much here because Gods government is vailed it will appeare at the last day and whatsoever appeares at the last day it had a ground before There is a difference in regard of grace and inward qualification and in regard of the care of God Even as there is a difference in the creatures there be precious stones and common stones and in plants there be fruitfull trees and barren trees and as there is a difference likewise in the living creatures so among men there is a difference The next thing is that God will have some in the worst times He will have some in all times that are his a remnant as he saith here The remnant of Israel shall doe no iniquity and as in the Text. I will leave in the middest of thee an afflicted and poore people c. GOD will have alway some that are his in the World For it is an Article of our faith Wee beleeve the holy Catholike Church there must not be an Article of faith and no object to beleeve If there bee saith to beleeve a thing there must be somewhat to be beleeved if I beleeve that at all times there shall be an holy Catholike Church there must be such a Church in the world that is the object of my beleefe or else there were no foundation for that Article of faith therefore there must alway be a Church to the end of the world sometimes more sometimes fewer even as the discovery of Christ is From whence comes the abundance of the Spirit the Spirit followes the manifestation of the knowledge of Christ who is the Head of the Church then is the Church most glorious when the riches of Christ are more gloriously discovered Those times wherein there is most discovery of Christ and the mercy and love of God in him there are more elect of God in those times then in other There will be alway a Church in the world that is the object of our beleefe what is the meaning of it I beleeve that in all times to the end of the world there will be a company of people spread over the world gathered out of the rest of mankinde whom Christ hath knit to himselfe by faith and themselves together in a holy spirit of love of which copany â—I beleeve my selfe to be one therefore there must be such a company or else there would be faith without an object of faith which were a great absurdity in Divinity and reason too Then againe the world should not stand were it not for a company in the world that are his for what are others A company of swearers and blasphemers prophane persons belly-gods ambitious bubbles that care for nothing but the vanities of the world what glory hath God by them What tribute do they give to God What credit to religion They are the shame of the times they are such as pull Gods vengeance upon the times and places they live in Such is the ill disposition and poysonfull nature of men if they have not the Spirit of God that God would not indure the world to stand a moment unlesse there were some to with-hold his wrath to be objects of his love and to stay his hand and when they are all gathered there shall be an end of this wretched and sinfull world some there must be while the world endures and for their sakes God continues the world Those that keepe Gods wrath from the world are those that are his and till all those be gathered the world shall stand There shall alway be some It is a point not altogether fruitlesse it yeelds some comfort to know that when we are taken hence others shall stand up when we are gone the Church shall not dye with us Is not that a comfort when a Christian yeelds his soule to God to think yet God will have a Church and people if not among us yet in some other part of the world he will have some that shall glorifie him in this world that shall adorne and beautifie religion and shall for ever be glorified with him in Heaven till he hath made an end of these sinfull dayes It is some comfort I say that goodnesse shall live after us that the Gospell shall continue after us There shal be a posterity to the end of the world that shall stand for the truth and cause of God The world was not nor ever shal be so bad but God hath had and will have a party in the world that shall stand for him and he for them Now the children of God as they know God hath a purpose to glorifie them world without end so they have a desire that God may be glorified world without end and from this desire comes joy when they thinke that there will be a people one earth to glorifie God still when they are taken hence for it is a disposition wrought from Gods peculiar love to wish that God may ever have his praise here in the world while it is a world and for ever in the world to come therefore it is a comfort to them to think that God will alwayes have a Church But these are but a few called by Esay a remnant A remnant according to election as it is Rom. 11. A handfull in comparison of the world yet they are a world in respect of themselves for they are a world taken out of the world but compared with the rest of mankinde they are but as a few grapes after the vintage as the gleanings after the harvest one of a City and two of a Tribe The Prophets every one of them have speciall phrases to let out the fewnesse of those that God hath a speciall care of he cals them in the next verse the remnant of Israell God will have some continually but those are but a few that are his his flock is but a little â—â—ocke It is a point not mainly aimed at here but it is very usefull Is there but a few but a remnant in all times Am I one of those What have I to evidence to me that I am of that little flock that is Christs What have I in me to evidence that God hath set his stampe
a wise Master-builder yet according to the grace that was given unto him which was indeed like that of Elisha in regard of the other Prophets 2 King 2.9 the elder Brothers Priviledge a double portion he was still taking all occasions to lay well the foundation and that in one of the most eminent Auditories for Learning and Pietie that are in the Kingdome They that were his constant Hearers know this well they that were not may see it by these his Sermons now published reduced as was deemed most fit into four severall Treatises wherein as the season required he still tooke the opportunitie of instructing his Hearers in this great Mysterie of our Religion The Incarnation of the Sonne of God one of the chiefe Fundamentals of our Faith one of the chiefe of those Wonders in the Mercy-Seat which the Cherubins gaze at which the Angels desire to prie into 1 Pet. 1.12 And indeed by reason he spake at severall times and by occasion of so many severall Texts of Scripture concerning this subject there is scarce any one of those incomparable benefits which accrew to us thereby nor any of those holy impressions which the meditation hereof ought to worke in our hearts which is not in some place or other sweetly unfolded In the first Treatise the Mysterie it selfe is indeed chiefely opened and is therefore called The Fountaine unsealed the rest as in so many streaâ—es convey to us that Water of Life which issueth from thence teaching us how to improve the knowledge hereof to the glory of God and the spirituall enriching of our owne soules The noted Humilitie of the Author I now the lesse wonder at finding how often his thoughts dwelt on the Humiliation of Christ. If we that now reade them be not changed into the same image from glory to glory it will be our owne fault This take from me the Treatises following are published by Copies of his Sermons which himselfe approoved and appointed and that by subscribing his owne hand purposely to prevent imperfect Copies Embrace them therefore as truly his and the Lord so raise up thy heart in the carefull perusall hereof that thy profiting may be seene of all Thine in the Lord Jesus A. JACKSON Lond. Woodstreet April 18. 1638. THE CONTENTS OF THESE ENSVING TREATISES THE SUMME OF THE first TREATISE GOdlinesse what page 4 The Gospel a Mysterie why 10 Religion why persecuted 14 How to carry our selves in Religion 15 To blesse God for Mysteries 19 Not to set on them with humane parts 20 Mysteries of Religion above reason 22 Not to despaire of learning Religion 23 Not to slight Divine Truths 24 Godlinesse a great Mysterie why 34 How to be affected with it 38 To endevour to learne it 42 Godlinesse a Mysterie without controversie ibid. Men live not worthy these Mysteries 45 What Truth to account Catholike 47 Of God manifest in the flesh 50 Christ justified in the Spirit 70 Christ seene of Angels 93 Christ preached to the Gentiles 114 Christ beleeved on in the World 137 Christ received up in glory 164 THE SUMME OF THE second TREATISE ANgels an Host why 205 Of glorifying God 216 The greatnesse of the glory of Redemption 222 How to know whether we glorifie God 232 Hindrance of Gods glory 238 How to come to glorifie God 243 Whence peace comes 252 Peace wrought by Christ why 258. How to know our peace with God 262 How to maintaine Peace with God 269 Motives to stirre up to this peace 273 Gods good will the ground of all good 282 Why God loves us in Christ 286 How to know Gods love to us 288 THE SUMME OF THE third TREATISE CHrist was rich 5 Christ God why 9 Christ became poore 10 Particulars of Christs poverty 13 Christs poverty our riches 16 What riches we have by Christ. 18. Why we are enriched by Christs poverty 22 Riches by Christ what 26 Abasement of out ward riches 35 How to iâ— prove the riches of Christ. 41 How to know we are in Gods favour 53 Grace may be knowne 55 Example of Christ should move us to good workes 62 How to profit by Christs example 63 Motive to follow Christs example 66 Manner of doing good 70 THE SUMME OF THE fourth TREATISE THEre is difference of people 83 God will have some in the worst times why ibid. Comfort that God will have a Church when we are gone 85 Gods children but few 86 God hath a speciall care of those few 88 Gods Church and children afflicted in the world and why 94 Outward povertie a helpe to povertie of spirit 98 Providence serviceable to predestination 105 Spirituall poverty what it is not 106 What it is 107 Degrees of this povertie ibid. Before conversion 108 After conversion 113 Signes of spirituall povertie 120 How to come to spirituall povertie 128 God trusted as he is knowne 134 Evidences of trust in God 137 How to come to trust in God 148 FINIS THE FOVNTAINE OPENED OR THE MYSTERIE OF GODLINESSE REVEALED BY The late learned reverend Divine RICH. SIBS Doctor in Divinitie Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher at GRAYES-INNE JOEL 3.18 And a Fountaine shall come forth of the House of the Lord and shall water the valley of Shittim EPHES. 3.3 He hath made knowne the Mysterie unto me which in other ages was not made known unto the sonnes of men LONDON Printed by E. Purslow for N. Bourne at the Royall Exchange and R. Harford at the gilt Bible in Queenes-head Alley in Pater-noster-Row 1638. THE FOUNTAINE OPENED OR The Mysterie of Godlinesse REVEALED 1 TIMOTHY 3.16 And without Controversie Great is the Mysterie of Godlinesse God manifest in the flesh Iustified in the Spirit Seene of Angels Preached unto the Gentiles Releeved on in the World Received up to Glorie THERE are two things that God values more then all the World besides the Church and the Truth the Church that is the Pillar and ground of Truth as it is in the former Verse the Truth of Religion that is the Seed of the Church Now the blessed Apostle S. Paul being to furnish his Schollar Timothie to the Ministeriall Office he doth it from two grounds especially from the dignitie of the Church which he was to instruct and converse in and from the excellencie of the Mysteries of the Gospel that excellent Soule-saving Truth hereupon he doth seriously exhort Timothie to take heed how he conversed in the Church of God in teaching the Truth of God The Church of God it is the House of God a companie of people that God cares for more then for all mankind besides for whom the World stands for whom all things are It is the Church of the living God the Pillar and ground of Truth And for the Truth of God that must be taught in this Church that is so excellent a thing that we see the blessed Apostle here useth great words high stiles loftie expressions concerning it As the matter is high and great so the
love with this disposition the Angels joy at the conversion of others shall that be our heart-smart and griefe that is the joy of Angels Shall we despise the worke of regeneration and the image of God in another Shall it be the joy of Angels and shall it be our sorrow the welfare and thriving of others spiritually or outwardly Shall we out of disdaine and envie think our selves too good to doe any thing when it is the delight of Angels The Angels are described with wings to flye in Isai 6. to shew their delight in their attendance and wings to cover their faces and their feet to shew their adoration and reverence of God the nearer they come to God the more reverence so there is no Christian but like the Angels the nearer he comes to God the more he abaseth himselfe and adores God as Iob whâ—n he came nearer to God then he was before I abhorre my selfe saith he in dust and ashes when God came to talke with him the Angels the nearer they come to God the more reverence they shew the more they cover their faces in his presence And with the other wings they fly and doe their duty to shew their expedition in their service to Christ and his Church they doe readily what they doe let us imitate the Angels in this The Angels have a double office a superior office and an inferior the superior office they have is to attend upon God to serve God and Christ to minister to our head the inferior office is to attend his Church and to conflict with the evill Angels that are about us continually It is good for us to know our prerogatives our priviledge and our strength not to make us proud but to stirre us up to thankfulnesse and to a holy carriage answerable it is a point not much thought on by the best of us all we forget it and betray our owne comfort Satan abuseth us to make us forget the dignity and strength that wee have hereby we dishonour God and wrong our selves and wrong the holy Angels for want of Faith and consideration of these things A Christian is a more excellent creature then he thinks of It is necessary oftimes to thinke what a great degree God hath raysed us to in Iesus Christ that we have this glorious attendance about us where ever we are oh it would move us as I said to comfort and to a reverent carriage and indeed when we carry our selves otherwise it is for want of minding and beleeving these things I have spoken something the more of it because we are subject to neglect this blessed truth therefore for the time to come let us take occasion to meditate oftner of this Sâ—ring of comfort then formerly wee have done Preached to the Gentiles Christ our blessed Saviour being the King of his Church it was not sufficient that he was manifested in the flesh and justifieth in the Spirit that is declared by his divine power to be God but he must have his Nobles to acknowledge this too Kings in their inaugurations not onely make good their owne title what they can themselves but they would have others to acknowledge it therefore it is said Christ was seene of Angels those noble and glorious Creatures But not onely the greatest of the Kingdome but likewise the meaner subjects must know their King there must be a Proclamation to them to know who is to rule over them Therefore Christ being a generall Catholike King there must be a publication and proclamation of Christ all the world over he must be preached to the Gentiles But yet that is not enough upon proclamation there must be homage of all those that he is proclaimed a King to therefore it followes Beleeved on in the world that is the world must stoupe and submit and give homage to Christ as the Savior of the world as the Mediator of mankind Thus we see how these things follow one upon another To come to the words Preached to the Gentiles beleeved on in the world These follow one another by a necessarie order for preaching goes before Faith Faith is the issue and fruit of preaching Christ is first preached to the Gentiles and then beleeved on in the world The points considerable are these First that there must be a dispensation of salvation wrought by Christ unto others It is not sufficient that salvation was wrought by Christ manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit but this salvation and redemption wrought it must be published and dispensed to others therefore he sayth Preached to the Gentiles And then this publication and preaching it must be of Christ Christ must be published to the Gentiles all is in Christ that is necessarie to be published Then the persons to whom To the Gentiles that is to all The Church is enlarged since the comming of Christ the Pales and bounds of the Church are enlarged And then the fruit of this Christ being thus dispensed to the Gentiles the world beleeves All preaching is for the obedience of Faith as S. Paul sayth Rom. 1. and Rom. 16. That the obedience of Faith may be yeelded to Christ. Preaching to the Gentiles is that he may be beleeved on in the world First of all There must be a dispensation of Christ. See the equity of this even from things among men It is not sufficient that Physicke be provided but there must be an application of it It is not sufficient that there is a Treasure but there must be a digging of it out It is not sufficient that there be a Candle or Light but there must be a holding out of the Light for the good and use of others It was not sufficient that there was a Brazen Serpent but the Brazen Serpent must be lifted up that the people might see it It is not sufficient that there is a Standard but the Standard must be set up It is not sufficient that there be a foundation but there must be a building upon the foundation It is not sufficient that there be a Garment but there must be a putting of it on It is not sufficient that there be a box of ointment but the box must be opened that the whole house may be filled with the smell It is not sufficient that there be tapestry and glorious hangings but there must be an unfolding of them therefore there must be a dispensation of the mysteries of Christ for though Christ be Physicke he must be applied though Christ be a garment he must be put on though he be a foundation we must build on him or else we have no good by him though he in his truth be a treasure yet he must be digged up in the ministery though he be a light he must be held forth though he be food there must be an application of necessitie therefore there must be a dispensation of the Gospell as well as redemption wrought by Christ preached to the Gentiles To unfold
meerely with the Word and with suffering their weapons were nothing but patience and Preaching offering the Word of Christ to them and suffering indignities as S. Austin sayth the World was not overcome by fighting but by suffering So the Lambes overcame the Lyons the Doves overcame the Birds of prey the Sheep overcame the Wolves I send you sayth Christ as Sheepe among Wolves and how by nothing but by carrying a Message and suffering constantly and undauntedly for going with their Message for they had cruell bloody Lawes made against them that were executed to the utmost yet by these meanes they overcame by Preaching and sealing the Truth that they taught by suffering a strange kind of conquest The Turks conquer to their Religion but it is by violent meanes it is a Religion of blood but here as I sayd meanenesse overcame greatnesse ignorance overcame learning simplicity overcame pride basenesse overcame glory a Mysterie in this respect Againe if wee consider the Truth that they taught being contrarie to the nature of man contrarie to his affections to enforce selfe-denyall to men that naturally are full of selfe-love that make an Idoll of their wit and will for them to come to be taught to be fooles in respect of wit and to resigne up their wills to the will of another for these men to beleeve things that are above beleefe to carnall men as St. Austin observes it was the wonder of the world what a kind of doctrine was this to win such entertainment in the world as it did yet it did make men denie themselves denie their wits their wills their goods their lives Therefore in this respect it was a great Mysterie that Christ should be beleeved on in the World Againe if we consider another circumstance it addes to the Mysterie that is the suddennesse of the conquest the world was conquered to the Faith and obedience of Christ. In a short time after Christ one man S. Paul spread the Gospel almost all the world over he conquered almost all the world he spread the savour of the Gospel like Lightning suddenly and strongly because there was an Almighty Power and Spirit accompanying the glorious Gospel and thereupon it came to be thus effectuall with the world Againe it is a wonder in respect of Christ whom the world beleeved on What was Christ Indeed he was the Sonne of God but he appeared in abased flesh in the forme of a servant he was crucified and for the proud world to beleeve in a crucified Saviour it was a Mysterie Lastly it is a great mysterie especially in respect of Faith it selfe Faith being so contrarie to the nature of man For the heart of man where Faith is wrought to go out of it selfe and to embrace a beginning and Principle and rising of life from another to seeke justification and salvation by the righteousnesse and obedience of another for the proud heart of man to stoupe to this to acknowledge no righteousnesse of its owne to stand before the Tribunall of God but to have all derived from Jesus Christ to fetch forgivenesse of sins out of the death of another to wrap it selfe in the righteousnesse and obedience of Christ given of God for it the heart of man without a supernaturall worke of the Spirit to subdue it will never yeeld to this because proud flesh and bloud will alway have somewhat in it selfe to dote upon and to set it out before God and when it finds nothing in it selfe then it despaires for the heart of man thus to goe out of it selfe and rely onely upon the righteousnesse of Christ not having its owne righteousnesse this is the greatest Mysterie Especially for a guiltie Soule that hath its eyes opened to discerne of its owne estate for a conscience awakened to trust in God being a holy God a just God for these two to meet together God and a doubting galled misgiving conscience fore-casting the worst for such a conscience to find peace by this act of Faith casting it selfe upon Christ this is more then can be done by any power of nature There is somewhat in nature for all legall obedience man naturally hath some seedes to love his Parents to hate Murther and the like but to go out of himselfe and cast himselfe upon Gods love and mercy in Christ there is no seeds of this in nature but all against Faith in Christ oft times when a man is cast downe all in the world seemes to make against him and then for a man to have his heart raysed up by an Almightie power to beleeve certainely this must be a Mysterie I say when all makes against him his Conscience makes against him and the Judgement of God against him and Satans temptations against him all the frame of things present seemes to be against him God himselfe oft times seemes to be against him to be an offended God justly offended with his sinnes for the soule in this case to cast it selfe upon God in Christ there must needs be a hidden and excellent deepe worke on the soule This is the greatest Mysterie the greatest difficultie is in this branch considering how contrarie to the heart of man Faith is Let us take heed of shallow conceits of Faith as if it were an easie common universall grace to beleeve No beloved it is a supernaturall powerfull worke Saint Paul sets it out divinely and largely in Ephes. 1.18 Hee calls it the Mightie power of God it requires not onely a Power but an Almighty Power to rayse the heart of man to beleeve For even as the worke of Redemption by Christ is a greater worke in it selfe then the worke of Creation so also the worke of Conversion though they be all one to an infinite Power yet the thing it selfe is more difficult to make the heart of man to beleeve then to make a world of nothing for when God made the world there was nothing to oppose there he had to doe with simple nothing but when God comes to make the heart beleeve he findes opposition and rebellion he finds man against himselfe he finds the heart and conscience against it selfe he finds opposition from Satan that helps mans distrustfull heart then all meet together afflictions the sense of Gods anger and mans guiltie conscience now to make such a man beleeve is more then to create a world And as God shewed more power so he shewed more mercy in the worke of Redemption then in the Creation In the Creation there he did good to a good man Adam was created good and he should had he stood have continued in a good condition but in the worke of Redemption God doth good to evill men God transcends in his love because the glory of his mercie reignes in the worke of Redemption so that the power and wisedome and mercie being greater in the worke of Redemption it requires a more super-natural power in the soule to apprehend this
that have dispositions like them will study how this blessed truth may be promoted and propagated and spread even over the world therefore wee should labour every one to spread the glorious Gospell of Christ especially those that are Ministers whose office it is to unfold and open the unsearchable riches of Christ. Againe we glorifie God in Christ when wee see such glory and mercy of Christ as it doth transforme us and change us and from an inward change we have alway a blessed disposition to glorifie God as I shewed out of 1 Cor. 3. This is the difference betweene the glasse of the Gospell and the glasse of the Law and of the creatures In the Law we see the beames of the Justice of God Cursed is every one that continueth not in all c. and the beames of his power and goodnesse in the creature but it doth not change and transforme us to be good and gracious but when wee see the glory of God of his goodnesse and infinite mercy shining in the face of Iesus Christ for wee dare not looke upon God immediatly it changeth the soule to be gracious like unto Christ therefore if wee find that the knowledge of God in Christ hath changed our dispositions it is a signe then we give glory to God indeed for to glorifie God is an action that cannot proceed but from a disposition of nature that is altered and changed the instrument must be set in tune before it can yeeld this excellent Musicke to glorifie God as the Angels doe that is all the powers of the soule must be set in order with grace by the Spirit of God if the meditations and thoughts of the Gospell have altered our dispositions to love God and that that pleaseth God to doe good to men to delight in goodnesse it is a signe we are instruments in tune to glorifie God and that we have an apprehension of the love and mercy of God in Christ as we should for it hath a transforming power to worke this The grace of God will teach us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live holily When the grace of God that is the free love of God in Christ in the forgiving our sinnes and advancing us to heaven hath this effect in our soules it is a signe wee have a true notion and apprehension of the excellency and eminency of Gods grace otherwise if we turne the grace of God into wantonnesse to make the benefits by Christ a pretence and covering for our wicked and loose lives we know not what it is to glorifie God but though in words we say Glory be to God yet in our lives we denie it as the Apostle saith The Hypocrites in Isay 66.5 they had good speeches in their mouthes saith God heare the Word of the Lord ye that tremble at his Word your brethren that hated you and cast you out for my name sake said Let the Lord be glorified so you shall find those that are opposers and persecutors and haters of sinceritie will sing Gloria Patri God be glorified but what good will this doe them if they have diabolicall satanicall dispositions if they be like the Devill in opposing the truth and hating that that is good The Devils in the Gospell could glorifie God for their owne ends We know that thou art the Sonne of God so Devils incarnate can come to Church and receive the Sacraments and seeme to praise God oh but there must be a change for to glorifie God is a work of the whole man especially of the Spirit All that is within me praise his holy name It came from the heart roote of a sanctified judgement out of grounds why we doe it The wish of the Angels here Glory to God on high it came from a good ground because they knew God is to be glorified in Christ for judicious phrases are founded upon truths so there must be a sanctified judgement to be the ground of it and the affections must be in tune answerable to those truths then we are sit to glorifie God and all this is by the power of the Gospell transforming us Againe we glorifie God when we take to heart any thing that may hinder or stoppe or eclipse Gods truth and obscure it when it workes zeale in us in our places as farre as we can when it affects us deepely to see the cause of Religion hindred any way if there be any desire of glorifying God there will be zeale the heart will move with a kind of indignation when God is dishonoured and his truth eclipsed with false doctrine or by ill practice it cannot be otherwise it is out of the nature of the thing it selfe therefore those that either are instruments of stopping or obscuring the truth or causing it to be reproached by their wicked lives or if they be not instruments yet they doe not take it to heart when they see God dishonoured surely they can speake little comfort to themselves they have neither Angelicall nor Evangelicall dispositions for if they had the knowledge of the Gospell it would worke this is in them Againe if we apprehend this glorious Mysterie of Christ in the Gospel aright it will work in us a glorious joy for joy is a disposition especially that fits us to glorifie God then we are fit to glorifie God when our hearts are enlarged with joy when we thinke of God in Christ when we thinke of the Day of Judgement when we thinke of heaven when we can thinke of hell with joy as being subdued and blesse God for Christ when we can thinke of all that is opposite as conquered in Christ so that our joy is enlarged in the apprehension of our owne blessed condition it is a good signe we are in a disposition to glorifie God but I will not enlarge my selfe further in this point This being so excellent a duty to which wee are stirred by the Angels Glory to God on high c. what are the maine hindrances of it that we give not God more Glory The maine hindrances are a double vayle of Ignorance and Unbeleefe that we doe not see the glorious light of God shining in Iesus Christ or else if we doe know it we doe not beleeve it and thereupon instead of that blessed disposition that should be in the soule there comes an admiration of carnall excellencies a delighting in base things This Ignorance is partly from the darknesse of our owne hearts being overcast sometimes that such great things are too good to be true our hearts have a hell of unbeleefe in them And sometimes the policy of Satan who casts dust in our eyes and labours that wee may not see the glory of God in the Gospell 2 Cor. 4. The God of this world hath blinded their eyes c. Ignorance arising from within or without is a great cause why we do not see the excellencies of God therefore no wonder if where the Gospell is not