Section 1: Of the Knowledg of God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.

Book 2 Part 1 Chapter 2 Section 1 (p. 37-38)
Of the Knowledg of God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.

Although this present Subject be of the greatest sublimity; Yet sith it is undeniable, that the Salvation of Man dependeth greatly upon the Knowledg thereof, John 17.3. It is therefore necessary that we labour, above all things, to make our discovery with all the clearness we can attain unto in this Particular. And truly such is the Nature of Christianity, that can we but avoid Curiousity, this almost inaccessible Mystery will unvail it self sufficiently, by the Word of Truth, to Christians of the meanest capacity, and yet remains a great Mystery to the most eminent Apostle, 1 Tim. 3.16.

Nor shall I (if I could) affect lostiness of Stile, or curious Phrases, in the handling this Mystery, lest whilest I should explain it, I make it more obscure. Neither shall I incumber the Reader with a multitude of Opinions, whether of the Heathens, or Apostates: the last having, in the close of all their curious search, resolved upon this dreadful conclusion, That there is no God at all; of whom, or of such-like Atheists, this Age affords too many. Yea, of the Heathens, Plinius Secundus, reputed one of the wisest Philosophers, could arrive but to this, (as his most fixed Opinion) "That there is no God, but the World it self," (though he doubted whether there were any God at all). The natural result of which conceit is this, "Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we shall die." That we may therefore miss these Rocks, and find the Path of Christian Knowledge concerning God, &c. We shall first consider, in what respect we ought to be ignorant of him. And though this may seem a new Method, yet surely upon consideration it will be found profitable to lead us to the end designed, even to know God aright. For undeniable it is, that God hath reserved the discovery of himself in a great measure, (if I may to speak); Witness thatthe case of Moses, who desired to see the Glory of God, Exod. 33.1. But the Lord refused, saying, "Thou canst not see my Face, for there is no Man shall see my Face and live." Job 11.7, 8, 9. "Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto Perfection? It is as high as Heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than Hell, what canst thou know?" John 1.18. "No Man hath seen God at any time." And again, 1 Tim. 6.16. "Who only hath immortality dwelling in the Light which no Man can approach unto, whom no Man hath seen, nor can see." Hence it's evident, that the full knowledg of God is not attainable in this World; but the most illuminate Christian must and doth confess he knows but in part, sees but darkly as through a Glass, 1 Cor.9, 12. Yea, it is but a little Portion that we hear of him, Job 26.14 and therefore must acknowledg we are far from a plenary Knowledg of him. When we consider 1 Cor 1.21. That "the World through Wisdom knew not God": And how we are exhorted, that in things relating to God, We "be not wise in our own conceit", Rom. 12.16. with Prov 3.6. It should teach us to be humbly content with that measure of the Knowledg of God, which his Word accomodates us with, admiring the Wisdom of God, in reserving a more excellent discovery of himself unto that blessed Day of the Appearing of the Great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. And thus shall we truly account our selves absent from the Lord, whilest we are at home in the Body: And in the mean time avoid all unnecessary Questions, either concerning God, his Shape, and manner of residence in Heaven; or concerning his Works, as what he did before he created the Worlds: knowing that he is not bound to give account of any of these Matters, further than it pleaseth him. And it is just with him to catch the Wise in their own craftiness, by entangling them in such their Enquiries, whilest he giveth Grace to the humble.

Nor is this the only case, wherein we ought to content our selves with humble ignorance in many Particulars; for in other cases of importance we only have a brief discovery, as it were, in generals: For Example, Touching the Angels, we know indeed that they are ministring Spirits, sent forth to do the Will of God, for them that shall be Heirs of Salvation. But if we curiously enquire when they were created? What is their proper Form? How they recide, and what their Employment is in the Heavens, &c? The result of such Inquisition, is most likely to be that of the Sadduces, who denied that there is any Angel or Spirit. Again, to come home to our selves: If the Question should be about the Soul of Man, What it is? Who can infallibly and fully resolve it? Do not the greatest Disputer about it, conclude at last, "That it is hard to say what it is? Yet that Man consists of Soul and Body, is so evident from the Word of God, and particular from the Words of Christ, Mat. 10.28. that nothing but Infidelity it self can question it. Shall we then, nay, must we not content our selves to be ignorant of many Particulars in these lower cases, whilest we know them in general? And shall we not thankfully accept of what it hath pleased God to reveal of himself, albeit he greatly exceed such Discoveries? Let us remember, that a desire to know what God would conceal from Adam, was the cause of his overthrow; and let us, the weak Sons of Adam, beware of ambition of that kind, lest we incur greater condemnation, having so fair a warning in his fatal case before us.