Presbyterian Church -- Sermons; Sermons, English; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 17th century
First, there was a sweet conformity of the soul in its understanding,
will, and affections unto God’s holiness and light,—a beautiful light in
the mind, derived from that fountain-light, by which Adam did exactly know
both divine and natural things. What a great difference doth yet appear
between a learned man and an ignorant rude person, though it be but in
relation to natural things! The one is but like a beast in comparison of
the other. O how much more was there between Adam’s knowledge and that of
the most learned! The highest advancement of art and industry in this life
reaches no further than to a learned ignorance of the mysteries in the
works of God, and yet there is a wonderful satisfaction to the mind in it.
But how much sweet complacency hath Adam had, whose heart was so enlarged
as to know both things higher and lower, their natures, properties, and
virtues, and several operations! No doubt could trouble him, no difficulty
vex him, no controversy or question perplex him, but above all, the
knowledge of that glorious and eternal Being, that gave him a being, and
infused such a spirit into him,—the beholding of such infinite treasures
of wisdom, and goodness, and power in him, what an amiable and refreshful
sight would it be, when there was no cloud of sin and ignorance to
interpose and eclipse the full enjoyment of that uncreated light! When the
aspect of the sun makes the moon so glorious and beautiful, what may you
conceive of Adam’s soul framed with a capacity to receive light
immediately from God’s countenance! How fair and beautiful would that
soul be, until the dark cloud of sin did interpose itself! Then consider,
what a beautiful rectitude and uprightness, what a comely order and
subordination would ensue upon this light, and make his will and
affections wonderfully good “God made man upright,” Eccles. vii. 29. There
was no thraw(152) or crack in all,—all the powers of the soul bending
upright towards that Fountain of all goodness. Now the soul is crooked and
bends downward towards those base earthly things that are the abasement of
the soul, then it looked upright towards God,—had no appetite, no delight
but in him and his fulness, and had the moon or changeable world under its
feet. There was a beauty of holiness and righteousness which were the
colours that did perfect and adorn those lineaments of the image of God
which knowledge did draw in the soul. “He was a burning and a shining
light,” may be truly said of Adam, who had as much life as light, as much
delight in God as knowledge of him. This was the right constitution and
disposition of man,—his head lifted up in holiness and love towards God,
his arms stretched out in righteousness and equity towards man and all the
affections of the man under their command, they could not trouble this sea
with any tempest, because they were under a powerful commander, who kept
them under such awe and obedience as the centurion his servants—saying to
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