Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	article_n	faith_n	scripture_n	1,684	5	5.7566	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81574	Divinity and philosophy dissected, and set forth, by a mad man. The first booke, divided into three chapters. Chap. I. The description of the world in mans heart: with the articles of the Christian Faith. Chap. II. A description of one spirit acting in all, which some affirme is God. Chap. III. A description of the Scripture according to the history and mystery thereof.	Mad man.	1644 (1644)	Wing D1737; Thomason E53_15; ESTC R14404	70,768	67

DIVINITY AND PHILOSOPHY Dissected and set forth by a mad Man The first Booke divided into three Chapters Chap. I. The description of the World in mans heart with the Articles of the Christian Faith Chap. II. A description of one spirit acting in all which some affirme is God Chap. III. A description of the Scripture according to the history and mystery thereof Amsterdam Printed in the Yeare 1644. Deare Friend and Reader HEre is Divinity and Philosophy dissected and laid open to the view of the world by a mad man therefore if the manner phrase be not so exact as that it is not able to satisfie the curious eye or abide the censure of the nice Mercuriallist who is apt to carpe more at the misplacing or neglect of words then matter it is no great wonder nor care I whether they be satisfied or not seeing my intention is to declare the matter according to my own mad minde unto those who will under stand it after my mad manner The reasons why I expose it to the generall view needs not much be questioned or inquired after in this age wherein the whole world is full of so many distracted heads and religions which say Loe here and loe there is Christ that many are put besides their wits in straining them out of joynt to inquire with Pilate what is truth by which it may be gathered that in many ages the same hath been in obscurity without being discovered or searcht after nor are there any to bee found amongst the multitudes of those who beare the name of men that are able or at least willing to rectifie them by resolving the question Wherefore I have thrust my selfe upon the Theatre in this mad posture and act in publishing my mad minde amongst the rest to prove if any will accept my madnesse for truth the which I dare not avouch for truth to all because I know most men are full of self conceited or imaginary knowledge so that if the highest divinest and greatest wisdome and truth that can be written or expressed by letters were laid down to them they will not admit of nor receive it in their understandings but will esteeme of it as the greatest blasphemy folly and lie in the world Besides I am not so ignorant in my madnesse but that I know likewise that severall eyes and judgements will looke upon and into it and according to their eye or judgement it will appeare to or in them and so I doe expect their thoughts and verdicts to passe upon it therefore I say I will not nor dare not maintaine it to them in respect of their various capacities conceptions and dispositions but only leave it to the diversitie of censures as every one doth finde it to or in them earnestly desiring that they may understand the best sense for 〈◊〉 or profit which is my reall intention As also I propound it for a triall 〈◊〉 there be any in this uncharitable and selfe loving age that out of true love and sound judgement will extend his hand to helpe a mad man and answer him so as is able throughly to rectifie and cure his judgement in demonstrating to him by more probable substantiall and apparant reasons his error in this following Treatise be his director to a more sublime and higher truth in the thing treated of I doubt not but the truly divine and right reasonable or the truly wise able and sound in judgement is so wise and good that he is able and willing to cure distempers of all sorts to whom I am alwayes willing to submit my judgement upon better grounds however deare Reader whosoever thou art whether friend or enemy whether wise or mad man I wish thee no lesse happinesse then to my selfe who desire to be in my wits and right minde to God although a fool and mad man to the world if those things spoken here trouble or offend thee so as thou conceive hatred or malice against me for the same or that thou thinkest that any prejudice may redound to thy owne or others judgements or religions by this ensuing Discourse I beseech thee pacifie thy selfe first and judge not rashly or before thou knowest nor blame me but first enter in judgement with thy selfe by pondering and considering in thy selfe that if thou hadst ever under stood or known things aright thou couldst never have been offended at any thing spoken or at least intended for thy good much lesse could the words of a mad man have stumbled or offended thee for to the wise all things are profitable but if any doe reap good thereby let them know that out of a hearty love I earnestly intend good to them and to all and wish from my heart that they may attaine unto the perfection thereof for their owne everlasting peace and tranquility in minde nor is it impossible but perhaps that which seemeth to be a lie and madnesse to some may appeare to be the reall truth and true wisdome to others thus wishing thee the true knowledge of all things and their cause together with the fruition and enjoyment of the truest happinesse which is God I am thy true friend Errata Page 21. line 36. For negative read vegitative p. 22. l. 16. r. feeleth p. 37. l. 21. r. taste of CHAP. I. The description of the world in Mans heart AS for the creation of the world it is in Mans heart as Ecclesiastes saith in the third Chapter it is internally and in the first of the Hebrewes he saith that God hath created the worlds speaking in the plurall number that is he makes a first and second creation of Man now the creation of Gods first world in Man is Man and God joyned together from eternity and this was that deep silence and waters that God moved or brooded on and he separated the waters from the waters for God is that light and holy spring and Man is that darke and blacke water and God is the Heaven and Man is the Earth and the separation is the first day for distinctions sake that we may know God from our selves I meane the firmament and separating light and darknesse is the distinction and that is the first day in Man which is called the Evening and the Morning So these waters is the flowing of the mindes of God and Man which was separated the minde of God floweth above the firmament and in his owne light or sphere or in himselfe The Man his minde floweth under the firmament and on the earth or in himselfe that his dry land or earth might appeare and this separation of mindes or waters is the second day or light that discovers two one discoursing to the other and saith let us make or doe these things and so this day or light hath its evening and morning which is a whole day and God saith let the Earth bring forth fruits now the desires and affections are the herbs and fruits with their seeds that is their proper selves that