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which_o no_o modest_a man_n will_v own_v be_v he_o not_o sensible_a of_o the_o harshness_n and_o uncouthness_n of_o his_o own_o exposition_n for_o thing_n be_v come_v to_o a_o desperate_a pass_n when_o they_o shall_v resolve_v upon_o any_o sense_n or_o no_o sense_n rather_o than_o that_o which_o the_o word_n most_o apt_o and_o proper_o signify_v but_o lie_v cross_v to_o their_o prejudices_fw-la and_o preconceived_n opinion_n but_o what_o think_v he_o of_o socinus_n exposition_n of_o that_o text_n where_o christ_n say_v that_o he_o come_v down_o from_o heaven_n which_o he_o can_v not_o do_v if_o he_o have_v no_o be_v before_o he_o be_v bear_v of_o the_o virgin_n mary_n do_v socinus_n find_v it_o so_o easy_a a_o thing_n to_o reconcile_v this_o text_n to_o his_o darling_n opinion_n when_o he_o be_v fain_o to_o fast_o and_o to_o pray_v for_o it_o and_o to_o pretend_v revelation_n because_o he_o want_v reason_n to_o support_v it_o viz._n that_o christ_n before_o he_o enter_v on_o his_o prophetic_a office_n be_v take_v up_o into_o heaven_n to_o be_v instruct_v in_o the_o gospel_n and_o then_o come_v down_o from_o heaven_n again_o to_o publish_v it_o to_o the_o world_n whereas_o our_o saviour_n plain_o speak_v of_o his_o first_o come_v into_o the_o world_n when_o he_o be_v bear_v of_o the_o virgin_n and_o the_o whole_a history_n of_o the_o gospel_n take_v no_o notice_n of_o his_o be_v take_v up_o into_o heaven_n before_o his_o resurrection_n from_o the_o dead_a i_o think_v this_o be_v no_o easy_a exposition_n but_o of_o this_o more_o present_o that_o there_o be_v no_o text_n of_o scripture_n allege_v for_o the_o proof_n of_o a_o trinity_n but_o what_o be_v reject_v by_o one_o or_o other_o of_o the_o most_o learned_a trinitarian_n be_v as_o true_a as_o the_o other_o there_o be_v many_o text_n which_o all_o hearty_a trinitarian_n do_v and_o must_v agree_v in_o
a_o vindication_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o holy_a and_o ever_o bless_a trinity_n and_o the_o incarnation_n of_o the_o son_n of_o god_n occasion_v by_o the_o brief_a note_n on_o the_o creed_n of_o st._n athanasius_n and_o the_o brief_a history_n of_o the_o unitarian_n or_o socinian_o and_o contain_v a_o answer_n to_o both_o by_o william_n sherlock_n d._n d._n master_n of_o the_o temple_n the_o second_o edition_n imprimatur_fw-la z._n isham_n r._n p._n d._n henrico_n episc._n lond._n à _fw-la sacris_fw-la jan._n 9_o 1690._o london_n print_v for_o w._n rogers_n at_o the_o sun_n over_o against_o st._n dunstan_n church_n in_o fleetstreet_n 1691._o to_o the_o reader_n i_o will_v make_v no_o apology_n for_o publish_v this_o vindication_n of_o the_o great_a and_o fundamental_a mystery_n of_o our_o religion_n for_o if_o ever_o it_o be_v necessary_a it_o be_v now_o when_o atheist_n and_o heretic_n some_o open_o some_o under_o a_o disguise_n conspire_v together_o to_o ridicule_n the_o trinity_n and_o the_o incarnation_n i_o confess_v the_o book_n be_v too_o big_a can_v i_o have_v make_v it_o less_o as_o at_o first_o i_o intend_v but_o when_o i_o be_v once_o engage_v i_o see_v a_o necessity_n of_o go_v far_o and_o i_o hope_v no_o man_n will_v have_v reason_n to_o complain_v that_o i_o have_v say_v too_o much_o but_o those_o who_o will_v find_v a_o great_a deal_n too_o much_o say_v for_o they_o to_o answer_v my_o original_a design_n be_v to_o vindicate_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n and_o incarnation_n from_o those_o pretend_a absurdity_n and_o contradiction_n which_o be_v so_o confident_o charge_v on_o they_o and_o this_o i_o be_o sure_a i_o have_v do_v for_o i_o have_v give_v a_o very_a easy_a and_o intelligible_a notion_n of_o a_o trinity_n in_o unity_n and_o if_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o explain_v this_o doctrine_n intelligible_o the_o charge_n of_o contradiction_n vanish_v and_o whether_o man_n will_v believe_v this_o account_n or_o not_o they_o can_v deny_v but_o that_o it_o be_v very_o possible_a and_o intelligible_a and_o if_o we_o can_v go_v no_o far_o that_o be_v enough_o in_o matter_n of_o revelation_n but_o i_o hope_v i_o have_v do_v a_o great_a deal_n more_o than_o this_o and_o prove_v that_o it_o be_v the_o true_a scripture_n account_v of_o it_o and_o agreeable_a to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o ancient_a father_n and_o have_v vindicate_v the_o scripture_n proof_n of_o a_o trinity_n and_o incarnation_n from_o the_o pitiful_a sophistry_n of_o the_o late_a socinian_n historian_n i_o have_v not_o indeed_o answer_v particular_o the_o whole_a book_n in_o order_n and_o method_n as_o it_o lie_v which_o be_v too_o tedious_a a_o work_n and_o not_o necessary_a but_o i_o have_v consider_v whatever_o be_v most_o material_a in_o it_o and_o have_v avoid_v nothing_o because_o it_o be_v hard_a to_o answer_v but_o because_o it_o need_v no_o answer_n as_o i_o be_o ready_a to_o satisfy_v the_o world_n whenever_o a_o just_a occasion_n call_v for_o it_o for_o have_v dip_v my_o pen_n in_o the_o vindication_n of_o so_o glorious_a a_o cause_n by_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n i_o will_v never_o desert_v it_o while_o i_o can_v hold_v a_o pen_n in_o my_o hand_n i_o must_v thankful_o own_v that_o the_o write_n of_o this_o book_n have_v give_v i_o clear_a and_o more_o distinct_a notion_n of_o this_o great_a mystery_n than_o i_o have_v before_o which_o be_v the_o reason_n why_o the_o reader_n will_v find_v some_o thing_n explain_v towards_o the_o end_n which_o i_o speak_v doubtful_o of_o at_o first_o as_o particular_o the_o difference_n between_o the_o eternal_a generation_n of_o the_o son_n and_o the_o procession_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o i_o hope_v this_o be_v a_o pardonable_a fault_n the_o writing_n this_o book_n have_v cost_v i_o many_o thought_n and_o those_o who_o have_v a_o mind_n thorough_o to_o understand_v it_o must_v not_o think_v much_o if_o it_o cost_v they_o some_o and_o if_o they_o can_v be_v content_v to_o bestow_v some_o serious_a thought_n on_o it_o it_o will_v be_v lose_v labour_n to_o read_v it_o i_o pray_v god_n give_v success_n to_o it_o and_o open_v the_o eye_n of_o those_o man_n before_o it_o be_v too_o late_a who_o be_v so_o industrious_a to_o write_v or_o disperse_v such_o brief_a note_n and_o brief_a history_n as_o be_v valuable_a for_o nothing_o but_o blasphemy_n and_o nonsense_n for_o i_o will_v be_v bold_a to_o say_v that_o socinianism_n after_o all_o its_o pretence_n to_o reason_n be_v one_o of_o the_o most_o stupid_a senseless_a heresy_n that_o ever_o infest_a the_o christian_a church_n the_o content_n sect_n i._o concern_v the_o nature_n of_o a_o contradiction_n and_o how_o to_o know_v it_o page_n 1._o many_o contradiction_n pretend_v where_o there_o be_v none_o as_o in_o the_o notion_n of_o a_o spirit_n and_o of_o god_n 3_o how_o to_o discover_v when_o a_o pretend_a contradiction_n be_v not_o real_a but_o in_o our_o imperfect_a conception_n of_o thing_n 4_o it_o be_v absurd_a to_o dispute_v against_o the_o be_v of_o any_o thing_n from_o the_o difficulty_n of_o conceive_v it_o 5_o what_o the_o natural_a boundary_n of_o humane_a knowledge_n be_v 9_o sect_n ii_o the_o athanasian_n creed_n contain_v nothing_o but_o what_o be_v necessary_a to_o the_o true_a belief_n of_o the_o trinity_n and_o incarnation_n 10_o the_o dispute_n between_o the_o greek_a and_o lat._n church_n about_o the_o filioque_fw-la 17_o sect_n iii_o concern_v the_o necessity_n of_o the_o catholic_n faith_n to_o salvation_n and_o a_o brief_a history_n of_o athanasius_n 21_o that_o the_o catholic_n faith_n be_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n 25_o what_o be_v mean_v by_o keep_v the_o catholic_n faith_n whole_a and_o undefiled_a 28_o the_o scripture_n be_v a_o complete_a rule_n of_o faith_n do_v not_o make_v athanasius_n creed_n a_o unnecessary_a rule_n 29_o the_o great_a usefulness_n of_o ancient_a creed_n 31_o pope_n leo_n iii_o will_v not_o deny_v salvation_n to_o those_o who_o disown_v the_o filioque_fw-la 33_o what_o be_v mean_v by_o the_o catholic_n faith_n 35_o the_o history_n of_o athanasius_n 37_o sect_n iv._o the_o catholic_n doctrine_n of_o a_o trinity_n in_o unity_n and_o unity_n and_o trinity_n explain_v and_o vindicate_v from_o all_o pretend_a absurdity_n and_o contradiction_n 45_o what_o it_o be_v that_o make_v any_o substance_n numerical_o one_o 48_o the_o unity_n of_o a_o spirit_n nothing_o else_o but_o self-consciousness_n ibid._n and_o therefore_o mutual_a consciousness_n make_v three_o person_n essential_o and_o numerical_o one._n 49_o the_o unity_n of_o a_o mind_n or_o spirit_n reach_v as_o far_o as_o its_o self-consciousness_n do_v 50_o that_o this_o be_v the_o true_a scripture_n notion_n of_o the_o unity_n of_o the_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n ibid._n the_o unity_n between_o father_n and_o son_n explain_v 51_o the_o union_n of_o create_a spirit_n a_o union_n in_o knowledge_n will_n and_o love_n 52_o the_o same_o union_n between_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n ibid._n but_o this_o which_o be_v only_o a_o moral_a union_n between_o creature_n be_v a_o essential_a union_n between_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n as_o it_o be_v the_o effect_n of_o mutual_a consciousness_n 55_o this_o prove_v from_o scripture_n as_o to_o the_o unity_n between_o father_n and_o son_n 56_o this_o make_v all_o three_o divine_a person_n coessential_a and_o coequal_a 58_o that_o the_o holy_a spirit_n be_v one_o with_o father_n and_o son_n by_o a_o mutual_a consciousness_n prove_v from_o scripture_n 64_o this_o notion_n contain_v the_o true_a orthodox_n faith_n of_o a_o trinity_n in_o unity_n 66_o for_o it_o do_v not_o confound_v the_o person_n but_o make_v they_o distinct_a ibid._n nor_o divide_v the_o substance_n but_o make_v they_o numerical_o one_o 68_o this_o make_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n as_o intelligible_a as_o the_o notion_n of_o one_o god_n ibid._n the_o material_a image_n of_o substance_n confound_v our_o notion_n both_o of_o one_o god_n and_o of_o a_o trinity_n in_o unity_n 69_o god_n must_v be_v consider_v as_o eternal_a truth_n and_o wisdom_n 70_o wisdom_n and_o truth_n a_o pure_a and_o simple_a act_n and_o contain_v all_o divine_a perfection_n 71_o three_o infinite_a mind_n must_v necessary_o be_v mutual_o conscious_a to_o each_o other_o 74_o no_o positive_a notion_n of_o infinity_o but_o only_o in_o a_o mind_n 75_o no_o infinite_a extension_n 76_o what_o the_o true_a notion_n of_o infinite_a be_v that_o it_o be_v absolute_a perfection_n 78_o that_o there_o be_v no_o absolute_a perfection_n but_o those_o of_o a_o mind_n 79_o extension_n be_v no_o perfection_n nor_o to_o be_v omnipresent_v by_o extension_n 80_o the_o same_o absolute_a perfection_n of_o a_o mind_n by_o a_o mutual_a consciousness_n may_v be_v entire_a and_o equal_a in_o three_o infinite_a mind_n 81_o this_o reconcile_v the_o
thing_n not_o so_o as_o to_o exclude_v god_n from_o make_v the_o world_n and_o god_n make_v all_o thing_n but_o not_o so_o as_o to_o exclude_v the_o word_n for_o without_o he_o be_v not_o any_o thing_n make_v that_o be_v make_v which_o be_v exact_o what_o we_o teach_v that_o father_n son_n and_o holy_a ghost_n as_o they_o be_v one_o god_n so_o they_o be_v one_o creator_n who_o make_v the_o world_n by_o one_o individual_a act_n and_o operation_n god_n the_o father_n make_v the_o world_n and_o the_o creation_n of_o all_o thing_n may_v eminent_o be_v attribute_v to_o he_o as_o the_o fountain_n of_o the_o deity_n and_o of_o all_o energy_n and_o power_n but_o he_o do_v not_o make_v the_o world_n without_o his_o word_n and_o spirit_n all_o thing_n be_v make_v by_o the_o word_n and_o without_o he_o be_v not_o any_o thing_n make_v that_o be_v make_v this_o account_n be_v very_o far_o from_o contain_v any_o thing_n absurd_a or_o contradictious_a but_o to_o have_v as_o little_a dispute_n as_o may_v be_v with_o this_o author_n let_v we_o take_v it_o in_o that_o sense_n he_o will_v have_v we_o take_v it_o in_o instead_o of_o word_n put_v the_o son_n and_o instead_o of_o god_n put_v god_n the_o father_n and_o i_o can_v find_v none_o of_o the_o contradiction_n he_o talk_v of_o for_o then_o the_o word_n run_v thus_o in_o the_o begin_n of_o all_o thing_n be_v the_o word_n the_o son_n of_o god_n and_o this_o son_n of_o god_n be_v inseparable_o unite_v to_o god_n the_o father_n and_o the_o son_n be_v one_o god_n with_o the_o father_n this_o same_o son_n be_v in_o the_o begin_n with_o the_o father_n for_o the_o father_n make_v all_o thing_n by_o he_o and_o without_o he_o be_v not_o any_o thing_n make_v that_o be_v make_v but_o let_v we_o consider_v what_o account_n our_o socinian_n historian_n give_v of_o this_o chapter_n he_o appeal_v to_o grotius_n interpretation_n of_o it_o but_o have_v misrepresent_v grotius_n that_o do_v a_o action_n of_o forgery_n lie_v in_o these_o case_n many_o man_n have_v lose_v their_o ear_n for_o less_o matter_n the_o account_n he_o give_v of_o it_o in_o short_a be_v this_o brief_o the_o word_n according_a to_o grotius_n be_v not_o a_o eternal_a son_n of_o god_n but_o be_v here_o the_o power_n and_o wisdom_n of_o god_n 88_o which_o word_n abide_v without_o measure_n on_o the_o lord_n christ_n it_o be_v therefore_o speak_v of_o as_o a_o person_n and_o as_o one_o person_n with_o christ_n and_o he_o with_o that_o whoever_o will_v be_v at_o the_o pain_n to_o consult_v grotius_n will_v soon_o see_v what_o credit_n be_v to_o be_v give_v to_o this_o socinian_n but_o it_o be_v no_o wonder_n that_o those_o man_n pervert_v human_a write_n who_o have_v nothing_o else_o to_o value_v themselves_o upon_o but_o pervert_v the_o scripture_n but_o what_o agreement_n there_o be_v between_o this_o socinian_n and_o grotius_n i_o shall_v show_v in_o some_o few_o particular_n by_o compare_v their_o exposition_n with_o each_o other_o by_o compare_v grotius_n as_o he_o be_v represent_v by_o this_o historian_n with_o grotius_n himself_o brief_a history_n 1_o in_o the_o beginning_n that_o be_v when_o god_n create_v the_o heaven_n and_o the_o earth_n be_v the_o word_n the_o hebrew_n call_v that_o power_n and_o wisdom_n of_o god_n by_o which_o he_o make_v the_o world_n and_o do_v all_o other_o his_o extraordinary_a work_n the_o word_n 33_o psal._n 6._o 11_o hebr._n 2._o 2_o pet._n 3.5_o they_o borrow_v this_o expression_n from_o moses_n god_n say_v let_v their_o be_v light_n 1_o gen._n 3._o undoubted_o moses_n be_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v of_o a_o word_n oral_o speak_v for_o god_n be_v a_o spirit_n but_o his_o meaning_n be_v god_n put_v forth_o his_o power_n &_o wisdom_n and_o thereby_o create_v light_n and_o the_o firmament_n etc._n etc._n this_o be_v a_o direct_a opposition_n to_o grotius_n who_o he_o pretend_v to_o follow_v and_o his_o reason_n be_v as_o silly_a as_o his_o authority_n be_v counterfeit_a for_o why_o can_v not_o a_o infinite_a mind_n beget_v a_o substantial_a word_n the_o substantial_a image_n of_o his_o own_o power_n and_o wisdom_n and_o by_o this_o word_n make_v the_o world_n and_o why_o may_v not_o this_o be_v represent_v by_o his_o say_n let_v there_o be_v light_a for_o since_o he_o confess_v this_o be_v not_o a_o oral_a word_n why_o shall_v it_o be_v represent_v by_o speak_v or_o say_v if_o god_n have_v not_o a_o eternal_a substantial_a word_n by_o which_o he_o make_v the_o world_n there_o must_v be_v some_o foundation_n for_o such_o form_n of_o speech_n and_o since_o it_o be_v evident_a god_n do_v not_o create_v all_o thing_n by_o a_o oral_a word_n or_o command_n there_o be_v no_o pretence_n for_o this_o expression_n god_n say_v let_v there_o be_v light_n unless_o there_o be_v a_o divine_a person_n who_o be_v the_o word_n and_o wisdom_n of_o god_n by_o who_o he_o make_v the_o world_n especial_o since_o this_o phrase_n of_o moses_n be_v thus_o expound_v both_o in_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n that_o god_n make_v the_o world_n by_o his_o word_n which_o be_v every_o where_o represent_v as_o a_o divine_a subsist_v person_n the_o word_n be_v with_o god_n i._n e._n it_o be_v not_o yet_o in_o the_o world_n or_o not_o yet_o make_v flesh_n but_o with_o god_n so_o that_o to_o be_v with_o god_n signify_v nothing_o but_o not_o to_o be_v in_o the_o world_n the_o word_n be_v god_n i._n e._n the_o word_n or_o divine_a wisdom_n and_o power_n that_o be_v not_o a_o substantial_a personal_a wisdom_n and_o power_n but_o such_o a_o faculty_n as_o reason_n and_o wisdom_n be_v in_o man_n be_v not_o something_o different_a from_o god_n but_o be_v his_o wisdom_n and_o power_n be_v god_n as_o the_o wisdom_n of_o man_n be_v man_n it_o be_v the_o common_a maxim_n of_o divine_n that_o the_o attribute_n and_o property_n of_o god_n be_v god_n which_o be_v in_o some_o sense_n true_a the_o meaning_n of_o that_o maxim_n be_v that_o there_o be_v no_o power_n or_o faculty_n in_o god_n as_o there_o be_v in_o create_a mind_n but_o god_n be_v a_o pure_a and_o simple_a act_n and_o therefore_o what_o be_v and_o must_v be_v distinct_a power_n and_o faculty_n in_o create_a mind_n must_v be_v distinct_a person_n in_o the_o godhead_n and_o thus_o whatever_o be_v in_o god_n be_v god_n as_o each_o divine_a person_n be_v but_o if_o there_o be_v distinct_a power_n and_o faculty_n in_o god_n as_o there_o be_v in_o man_n than_o the_o wisdom_n of_o god_n be_v not_o god_n nor_o the_o power_n of_o god_n god_n no_o more_o than_o the_o understanding_n be_v the_o man_n or_o the_o will_v the_o man_n or_o the_o memory_n the_o man._n he_o add_v that_o those_o person_n whether_o angel_n or_o man_n to_o who_o the_o divine_a word_n have_v be_v in_o a_o extraordinary_a degreecommunicate_v have_v also_o have_v the_o name_n of_o jehovah_n and_o god_n communicate_v to_o they_o vers._n 2._o the_o same_o be_v in_o the_o begin_n with_o god_n this_n be_v here_o repeat_v by_o the_o evangelist_n to_o teach_v we_o that_o the_o word_n be_v so_o god_n that_o it_o be_v not_o all_o that_o god_n be_v there_o be_v other_o property_n and_o attribute_n communicable_a as_o well_o as_o the_o word_n so_o that_o the_o word_n be_v but_o a_o attribute_n of_o god_n and_o a_o communicable_a attribute_n and_o but_o one_o of_o god_n communicable_a attribute_n so_o that_o there_o may_v be_v many_o word_n for_o the_o word_n as_o he_o just_a now_o say_v may_v be_v communicate_v to_o angel_n and_o man_n in_o such_o a_o degree_n that_o the_o name_n jehovah_n may_v belong_v to_o they_o and_o then_o why_o do_v st._n john_n call_v the_o word_n the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o the_o only_o beget_v of_o the_o father_n grotius_n so_o also_o grotius_n but_o add_v be_v jam_fw-la tum_fw-la erat_fw-la be_v when_o all_o thing_n begin_v and_o show_v that_o among_o the_o hebrew_n this_o be_v a_o popular_a description_n of_o eternity_n to_o be_v before_o the_o world_n 17_o john_n 5._o and_o to_o this_o purpose_n apply_v the_o word_n of_o justin_n martyr_n concern_v the_o word_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d he_o be_v before_o the_o world_n the_o word_n he_n own_v it_o be_v call_v the_o word_n in_o allusion_n to_o what_o moses_n say_v that_o god_n say_v let_v there_o be_v light_n but_o he_o call_v this_o word_n vim_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d power_n efflux_n emanation_n in_o the_o same_o sense_n as_o the_o ancient_a christian_n use_v they_o to_o signify_v a_o substantial_a word_n power_n emanation_n in_o this_o sense_n he_o show_v that_o it_o be_v use_v in_o the_o ancient_a book_n of_o the_o chaldoean_n and_o by_o the_o writer_n of_o