The Mysteries of the Gospel (2)

(3) Consider the truth that they taught which was contrary to the nature and affections of man. To enforce self-denial to men who are naturally full of self-love, who make an idol of their wisdom and will; for them to come to be taught to be fools in respect of their wisdom and to resign their wills to the will of another--for these men to 'believe things that are above belief to carnal men,' as Augustine observed, was a great mystery.
(4) Consider the suddenness of the conquest. In a short time after Christ, one man, Paul, spread the gospel over almost all the world. He spread the savour of the gospel like lightning; suddenly and strongly, because there was the almighty power of the Spirit accompanying the glorious gospel.
(5) Consider Christ; who was he? Indeed, he was the Son of God, but he appeared in abased flesh, in the form of a servant, and he was crucified. For the proud world to believe in a crucified Saviour was a mystery.
(6) Lastly, in a respect of faith itself. Faith being so contrary to the nature of man. For the heart of man, where faith is wrought, to go out of itself, to embrace a rising to life from another, to seek justification and salvation by the righteousness and obedience of another; for the proud heart of man to stoop to this, to acknowledge no righteousness of its own, to have all derived from Jesus Christ, to fetch forgiveness of sins out of the death of another, these are all mysterious. The heart of man, without a supernatural work of the Spirit to subdue it, would never yield to this, because proud flesh and blood will always have something in itself to set up before God. Especially for a guilty soul, that has its eyes opened to discern its own state. For these two to meet together; God, and a doubting and galled conscience; by an act of faith, casting itself upon Christ, this is more than can be done by any power of nature.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Fountain Opened, Works, vol. 5, pp. 518-19
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