Part 146

wer and efficacy, to [Auto-modernized] the times of the Gospel only, is utterly to evacuate the first promise, with the covenant of grace founded upon that [Auto-modernized] . And their minds are secretly influenced by a disbelief of his divine person, who suppose that the respect of the church to [Auto-modernized] Christ, in faith, love, trust, and instruction, commences [Auto-modernized] from the date of his incarnation.

[2.] The full comprehension of the mind and will of God, of the whole divine counsel concerning his glory in the sanctification and salvation of the church, could not at once reside in the mind of any mere creature. Yet was this necessary to [Auto-modernized] him who was to be the prophet of the church; that is, the fountain of truth, life, and knowledge to [Auto-modernized] it. Hence is his name "Wonderful, Counsellor," as he who was participant of all the eternal counsels of God; whereon in him as incarnate all the treasures of divine wisdom and knowledge were hid, Colossians 2:3 In him this could be alone, in whom was life, and "the life was the light of men," John 1:4 God did reveal his mind and will by angels and men. But as he did it at sundry times, so he did it by several parts, or various parcels -- not only as the church was fit to receive it, but as they were able to communicate it. The whole of the divine counsels could not be comprehended, and so not declared, by any of them. Hence the angels themselves -- notwithstanding their residence in the presence of God, beholding his face, and all the glorious messages in which [Auto-modernized] they were employed -- learned more of his mind after the personal ministry of Christ, and the revelation of the mysteries of his counsel in that [Auto-modernized] , than ever they knew before, Ephesians 3:8-9; Ephesians 3:8-9, 11; 1 Peter 1:12 And on the account of their imperfection in the