' A mystery.'
What is a mystery ?
The word signifies a hidden thing. It comes of muein,l which is, to shut
* That is, ' mutter,' from the formal ' muttering ' of their Latin prayers by the papists, eff., the paiernosteT. — G.
t That is, 'loves.'— G. I The verb is /J-uiuj — G.
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or Btop the montli ffom divulging. As they had their mysteries among the heathen, in their temples, which they must not discover, therefore there was an image hefore the temple with his linger heforo his mouth, shewing that they must be silent in the discovery of hidden mysteries. Indeed, the mysteries of the heathens were so shameful, that they did well to forbid the discovery of them. But I speak only to unfold the nature of the word, which is to shut, or keep secret.
1. A mystery is a secret, not only for the present, but that it was a secret, though it be now revealed ; for the gospel is now discovered. It is called a mystery, not so much that it is secret, but that it was so before it was revealed.
2. In the second place, that is called a mystery in the Scripture which, howsoever it be clear for the manifestation of it, yet the reasons of it are hid. As the conversion of the Gentiles, that there should be such a thing, w^hy God should be so merciful to them, it is called a mystery. So the calling of the Jews, it is called a mystery, though the thing be revealed. Yet that God should be so wondrous merciful to them, that is a mystery. When there is any great reason that we cannot search into the depth of the thing, though the thing itself be discovered, that is a mystery ; as the conversion both of Jews and Gentiles.
3. In the third place, a mystery in Scripture is taken for that that is a truth hid, and is conreijed hi/ some ontivard thin[j. Marriage is a mystery, because it conveys the hidden spiritual marriage between Christ and his church. The sacraments are mysteries, because in the one, under bread and wine, there is convej^ed to us the benefits of Christ's body broken and his blood shed ; and in the other, under water, a visible outward thing, there is signified the blood of Christ.
In a word — to cut olf that which is not pertinent — mystery in Scripture is either the general body of religion, or the particular branches of it. The general body of religion is called a mystery in this place. The whole Christian religion is nothing but a continued mystery, a continuation of mysteries, a chaining together of mystery upon mystery.
And then the particular branches are called mysteries, as I said before. The conversion of the Jews, and likewise of the Gentiles, before it was accomplished, it was a myster3^ So the union between Christ and the church is a great mystery, Eph. v. 25 ; but the whole gospel is here meant, as Christ saith, Mark iv. 11, ' The mysteries of the kingdom of God,' that is, the description of the gospel. What is the gospel ? The mystery of God's kingdom, of Christ's kingdom — a mystery discovering how Christ reigns in his church, and a mystery of bringing us to that heavenly king- dom. So, then, the whole evangelical truth is a mystery.
For these reasons :
1. First of all. Because it was hid and concealed from all men, till God brought it out of his own bosom : first to Adam in paradise, after the fall ; and still more clearly afterwards to the Jews ; and in Christ's time more fully to Jews and Gentiles. It was hid in the breast of God. It was not a thing framed by angels or men. After man was fallen to that cursed state, this plot, of saving man by Christ, came not into the head of any creature, to satisfy justice by infinite mercy ; to send Christ to die, that justice might be no loser. It could come from no other breast but God's. It must be a divine heavenly wisdom. Therefore it was a plot devised by the blessed Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. It was hid in the secret closet of God's breast. Christ brought it out of the bosom
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of his Father. * No man hath seen God at 'any time ; Christ the only begotten Son, in the bosom of the Father,' John i. 18, he discovers the Father, and his meaning to mankind. "WTio ever could have thought of such a depth of mercy unto fallen man, when God promised the blessed seed, Gen. iii. 15, if God himself had not discovered it? Therefore this reconciling of justice and mercy, it is a mystery of heavenly wisdom that the creature could never think of, as it is excellently set down, 1 Cor. ii., through the whole chapter.
2. Again, It is a mystery ; because when it was revealed, it «•«,? revealed but to few. It was revealed at the first but to the Jews : * God is known in Jewry,' &c., Ps.xlviii. 3. It was wrapped in ceremonies and types, and in general promises, to them. It was quite hid from most part of the world. {