The Incomprehensibleness of God, Title page – To the reader
A Humble DISCOURSE OF THE Incomprehenſibleneſs OF GOD. IN Four SERMONS, Preached at the Lecture in Boſton. 1714.
By BENJAMIN COLMAN, M. A. Paſtor of a Church in Boſton.
With a PREFACE by the Reverend Mr PEMBERTON.
The Second EDITION.
De Deo etiam Vera dicere Periculoſum eſt.
BOSTON: Printed by J. DRAPER, for D. HENCHMAN, over againſt the Brick Meeting Houſe in Cornhil. MDCCXL.
The Epiſtle TO THE READER.
THE Underſtanding is the ſuperior Faculty in Man, by which he is raiſed above the Reſt of the viſible Creation: And as this Power is the Glory of humane Nature; ſo the Perfection and Glory of this conſiſts in the Knowledge of GOD. All other Knowledge compared with this is mean and trivial; and will never make us wiſer or better, unleſs placed in Subordination and Subſerviency to our Acquaintance with the Bleſſed GOD. This Knowledge is not perfected in a bare Contemplation of the DEITY; but when true and genuine will exerciſe Dominion in the Soul, and transform it into the Image of Divine Purity and Glory. Hence all the vital Acts of Religion are either comprehended herein, or do flow here-from.
To attain this Knowledge is our great Work on Earth; and the Perfection of it is reſerved for our Reward in the expected World of Happineſs: Where to ſee GOD as He is, and to be like Him will be found to be Life Eternal. And the higher our Improvements are herein in this Life, the more of Heaven do we at preſent enjoy, and the greater is our Preparation for the happy State of Viſion.
NOW nothing is more neceſſary to our right Knowledge of GOD than that all our Enquiries after this Glorious BEING be temper'd with a lively Senſe that Incomprehenſibleneſs is a Divine Attribute; and that it is the ſole Prerogative of HIM, whoſe Underſtanding is Infinite, fully and adequately to know Himſelf. We muſt remember that the moſt exalted and enlarged Conceptions of the uncreated Excellencies of the Divine Nature, which our Minds can form, when ſtretch'd to their utmoſt Capacity, are Inadequate to their ſublime Subject, and fall infinitely ſhort of the Glory of thoſe Perfections, which are concentred in the Divine Nature, and ſhine forth in the glorious Works of Nature, Providence and Grace. The Object is too vaſt and bright, and our Faculties too ſhort, weak and limited, to take, or bear, a full and comprehenſive View thereof. The Infinity of every Perfection in GOD, and the Finiteneſs of our Powers of Knowledge, between which there is no Proportion, will forever render a comprehenſive Knowledge of GOD an utter Impoſſibility. His Excellencies would not be the Perfections of a GOD were they not Infinite, they would not be Infinite could the Creature entertain a full View, and form an adequate Mea of them. The eſſential Glory of GOD, if unvailed, would confound and over-power our Underſtandings with its inſufferable Brightneſs. What Creature can thus behold GOD and live! It is in Compaſſion to our Infirmity that He holds back the Face of His Throne, and ſpreads a Cloud upon it.
INDEED in the Future State, where all faulty Ignorance ſhall be done away, the Minds of the Bleſſed will be raiſed to their full Strength, Purity and Capacity, and theſe filled with the Knowledge of GOD, which ſhall render them compleatly bleſſed: Which Knowledge is repreſented to us under the Phraſes of Seeing GOD as He is, and Face to Face; yet this will fall infinitely ſhort of Comprehenſion. For yet there will remain infinite Truths, and adorable Myſteries undiſcover'd for the glorify'd Underſtanding to be prying into, and reaching after a fuller Proſpect of, which will render the Knowledge of the Bleſſed eternally Progreſſive; and yet after all they can't find out the Almighty to Perfection. The Angels, who excel in Strength, Purity, and Glory, are not here Comprehenſors; for there are Secrets of Wiſdom and Grace which they ſtill deſire to look into.
HOW much ſo ever this may upbraid the Poverty and Weakneſs of the moſt exalted Creature, it certainly loudly proclaims the Excellency of the CREATOR, whoſe Nature and Perfections are vaſtly extended beyond the largeſt Proſpect of a created Intelligence.
AND this Article of the Incomprehenſibleneſs of GOD is not to be look'd on as meerly Speculative, to amuſe the Mind; but will admirably advance the great Intereſt of Piety when underſtood, weigh'd and realized.
DID Men live under a lively Senſe of the unſearchable Greatneſs, and Perfection of GOD, what holy Impreſſions would direct and govern the Inclinations of their Souls! With what Humility, Reverence and Awe would they Think and Speak of the Bleſſed GOD: being ſenſible that they know not how to order their Thoughts or Speech of Him by reaſon of Darkneſs? With what Submiſſion, and Proſtration of Spirit would they approach Him in all the Duties of Divine Worſhip! How modeſt in their Enquiries into, and how little Poſitive in their Determinations concerning, the Secrets of Divine Counſel; which are at preſent, in a great meaſure, bid within the Vail? With what Silence and Reſignation would they ly before the Throne of Divine Sovereignty, when incircled with Clouds and Darkneſs? Nothing wondring that they can't unfold the dark Riddles of Divine Providence; remembring that GOD's Judgments are Unſearchable, and His Ways paſt finding out.
WERE the Hearts of Chriſtians animated with theſe juſt Apprehenſions of the GOD they have to do with; with what Abaſement of Spirit would they reflect upon their moſt perfect Praiſe, and beſt Services? And with what Tranſports of Admiration, Love and Praiſe would they conſider the Condeſcentions of Heaven to them, and all the Fruits of Divine Care and Love, which daily incircle them? At how high a Price would they rate the Revelation GOD has made of Himſelf in His Word, where the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of GOD ſhines bright in the Face of Chriſt? And with what profound Veneration would their Underſtandings ſubmit to the incomprehenſible Myſteries of Chriſtianity? Not daring to darken Counſel by Words without Knowledge. How much would this inflame their Thirſt, and quicken their Endeavours after a fuller Acquaintance with GOD? And how ardently would they long, and how carefully prepare for Heaven? Where they ſhall no longer view Him thro' a Glaſs darkly; but Face to Face, ſee as they are ſeen, and know as they are known.
To promote theſe Deſigns of Holineſs theſe Diſcourſes, which are now put into our Hands, are wiſely adapted: In which we have the ſublime Subject of GOD's Incomprehenſibleneſs treated of with a becoming Modeſty and Reverence, with an agreeable Life, Judgment and Perſpicuity.
THE Character of the Reverend Author, and his Performances are too bright to receive any Luſtre from my Recommendation. However I muſt be allow'd to rejoice in, and to bleſs the great Head of the Church for, thoſe uncommon Gifts His Servant is endow'd with; which appear obſervably in theſe Diſcourſes. And ſure I am, It is not Partiality to a Friend, but Juſtice to the Merit of the Performance, which compels me to believe, That every impartial judicious Reader will eſteem theſe Meditations every way fitted to entertain, and improve the Underſtanding of the moſt Intelligent; and to quicken the Devotion of the moſt devout Chriſtian.
FOR what will be thought ſuitable to afford Light and Heat to the pious Mind, if theſe Contemplations on GOD will not? In theſe we have the Light, Beauty, and infinite Fulneſs of the Divine Eſſence repreſented, acknowledged and adored as Unapprochable, Impenetrable and Ineffable.
IN theſe we have celebrated the unſearchable Greatneſs, and Excellencies of GOD, as they ſhine in the Works of Nature: And illuſtrated by many bright Hints drawn from the Glory and Beauty of the greater and leſſer World: In all Parts whereof there appear legible Characters of a Divine Power, Wiſdom and Goodneſs, that are paſt finding out.
IN theſe we are entertained with a Proſpect of Divine Providence; diſplayed in its Extent from the higheſt Angel to the meaneſt Inſect; and in the uncontrolable Power, impenetrable Wiſdom, and myſterious Methods of Divine Adminiſtrations.
IN a Word, here the Wonders of Divine Grace in the Recovery of apoſtate Man are aſſented and diſplay'd. In which we are led into a ſurprizing Contemplation of the Glories of the Attributes of GOD, as they are manifeſted in the Perſon, Office and Work of our REDEEMER; In the Impetration, Application, and Perfection of our Salvation; in all which the Depths of Wiſdom, the Riches of Grace, and the Triumphs both of Mercy and Juſtice, are illuſtrated.
THESE exalted and myſterious Doctrines are here handled with an uncommon Force and Flame of Thought, expreſſed mainly in the Language of the Divine Oracles, which gives Life, Beauty, and Solemnity to the Diction.
WHEN theſe Diſcourſes were deliver'd from the Pulpit, I have good Reaſon to think, that they were heard with a ſingular Reliſh and Satisfaction by a numerous and judicious Audience. And this excited me once and again to move the Reverend Author to publiſh them; that they might become more extenſively ſerviceable to the grand Intereſts of Religion. I am firmly perſwaded that the great Aim of the Author in theſe Sermons was to advance the Glory of GOD and the Good of Souls; I cannot therefore but with an hearty Importunity wiſh Proſperity from Heaven to his pious Intentions.
AND may the Father of Lights, on whom all Succeſs depends, ſend His Spirit to bleſs theſe Labours of His Servant; that they may be effectual to beget in Chriſtians a more awful Senſe of the Great GOD, to ſtir up and cheriſh the Life of Devotion in their Souls, to render them more Solemn in all Acts of Worſhip to Him, and more Holy in all Actions of Converſation before Him.
THUS many Souls will be improved in pure and undefiled Religion; and the Author's Joy and Crown rendred more full, bright and weighty in the Day of CHRIST.
Eb. Pemberton. March 9th. 1714, 15.