§. 6. BUT if by Time, according to the common signification of the Word, we understand a succedaneous increase or decrease of Things, according to which they grow and increase unto a certain pitch or period, and then again fail from it, until they die or are changed into another State or Condition of Life; in this sence it may be positively affirmed, that neither this Middle Being, or any Creature perfectly united with the same, are subject to Time, or the Laws thereof; for the Laws of Time reach but unto a certain Period or Age; and when that Period is compleated, then those things which are subject to Time decay and are consumed, and so die and are changed into quite another Species of Things, according to that old Saying of the Poet.
Tempus edax rerum, tuque invidiosa vetustas
Omnia destruis.
Which may be thus Englished.
Thus spiteful Age, and Time that eats up Things,
All Things consumes, and to Destruction brings.
And for this Reason Time is divided into Four Parts, according to the Age of a Man living in this World, which is Infancy, Youth, Manhood, and Old Age, even until Death; so that all things which are bounded with Time, are subject unto Death and Corruption, or are changed into another Species of things, as we see Water changed into Stones, Stones into Earth, and Earth into Trees, and Trees into Animals or Living Creatures: But in this most excellent Middle Being is neither Decay or Corruption; nor to speak properly hath Death any place in him: He is a most powerful and effectual Balsam, which can preserve all things from Death and Corruption, which are joined to him or united with him; so that here all things are perpetually new, springing up fresh and green; here is perpetual Youth without Old Age; and here is the Perfection of Old Age, to wit, great increase of Wisdom and Experience without any imperfection of Age. But when Christ came in the Flesh, and in that Body which he bare with him from Heaven; (for every created Spirit hath a certain Vehicle, either Terrestrial, Aereal, or Aethereal, as this was:) He took upon him somewhat of our Nature, and by consequence the Nature of all Things, (because the Nature of Man hath in it the Nature of all Creatures, whence also he is called the Microcosm;) which Nature having assumed in Flesh and Blood, he sanctified, that by that he might sanctifie all Things, and so was as that little Leaven that changed the whole Lump. He descended then within Time, and for a certain space or period, of his own accord subjected himself to the Laws of Time, so as to endure great Torments, even Death it self; but Death did not long detain him, for the Third Day he rose again, and this was the end of all his Sufferings, even of his Death and Burial, viz. that he might Heal, Cure, and Redeem his Creatures from Death and Corruption, which came upon them by the Fall, and so at length hereby put an end to Times and elevate the Creatures above Times to himself, where he abideth, who is the same yesterday, today, henceforth, and for ever, without Decay, Death, or Corruption. In like manner, in his Spiritual and Internal Appearance in Man, whereby he purposeth to Save, Heal, and Redeem the Soul, he doth as it were, after a certain manner, subject himself to a kind of Death and Passion; and so for a certain space submits himself to the Laws of Time, that he might elevate the Souls of Men above Time, and Corruptibility to himself, wherein they receive Blessing, and grow from one degree of Goodness and Vertue unto another, in insinitum.