For, to say that such a thing is supernatural, is only saying, that it is something, which, by the necessary state of our own nature, we are as incapable of knowing, as we are incapable of seeing spirits.
If therefore supernatural things are by the letter of scripture ever revealed to us, they cannot be revealed to us as they are in their own nature: for if they could, such things would not be supernatural.
If an angel could appear to us, as it is in its own nature, then we should be naturally capable of seeing angels; but, because our nature is not capable of such a sight; therefore, when angels appear to men, they must appear, not as they are in themselves, but in some human or corporeal form.
It is just thus, when any divine matter is revealed by God; it can no more possibly be revealed to us, as it is in its own nature, than an angel can appear to us, as it is in its own nature; but such supernatural matter can only be revealed to us, by being represented to us, by its likeness to something, that we already naturally know.
Thus revelation teaches us this supernatural matter; that Jesus Christ is making perpetual intercession for us in heaven: for Christ’s real state, or manner of existence with God in heaven, in regard to his church, cannot, as it is in its own nature, be described to us; it is in this respect ineffable, and incomprehensible. And therefore, this high and inconceivable manner of Christ’s existence with God in heaven, in regard to his church, is revealed to us under an idea, that gives us the truest representation of it, we are capable of.
But if any one should thence infer, that the Son of God must therefore either be always upon his knees, or prostrate in some humble form of a supplicant, he would make a very weak inference.
Because this revealed idea of Christ, as a perpetual Intercessor in heaven, is only a comparative representation of something, that cannot be directly and plainly known as it is in its own nature; and only teaches us, how to believe something, though imperfectly, yet truly of an incomprehensible nature.
Again: When it is by the letter of scripture revealed to us, that the blessed Jesus is the one Mediator between God and man; that he is the Atonement, the Propitiation, and Satisfaction for our sins: these expressions only teach us as much outward knowledge of so great a mystery, as human language can represent. But they do not teach us the perfect nature of Christ’s state between God and sinners. For that being a supernatural matter, cannot by any outward words be revealed to us as it is in its own nature, any more than the essence of God can be made visible to our eyes of flesh.
But these expressions teach us thus much with certainty, that there is in the state of Christ between God and sinners, something infinitely and inconceivably beneficial to us; and truly answerable to all that we mean by mediation, atonement, propitiation, and satisfaction.
And though the real, internal manner, of this mediation and atonement, as it is in its own nature, is incomprehensible, yet this does not lessen our knowledge of the truth and certainty of it, any more than the incomprehensibility of the divine nature, lessens our certainty of its real existence.