of God to be the authour and cause necessitating man to sinne 21 If Gods foreknowing a man will sinne be the cause why man sinneth then Gods foreknowledge is not of mans sinne but of his own which is impious once to imagine 22 God doth not onely foresee the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things to be done but also the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the cause and manner of doing 23 He foreseeth things he foreseeth the causes of things What things therefore are from their causes voluntarie or contingent notwithstanding Gods Providence cease not to be such as they are of their own Nature 24 How should the Order of causes which is certain in the Foreknowledge of God be the cause that nothing should be in our will when as even our wills have place in the Order of causes August 5. de civ Dei cap. 9. 25 Neither is the Providence of God a bare Foreknowledge seeing that God is not an idle spectatour of things But also a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Predestination or Purpose a will and decree to use Providence and take care for all things 26 It is the part of him that is provident not onely to have knowledge but also a will to provide for and to do good 27 That Eternall Purpose after a most exact manner hath respect unto the Actuall Administration and governing things in time 28 For whatsoever God doth and after what manner soever he doth In time by way of this Administration That by his Purpose he decreed to do and in the same manner From all Eternitie 29 Gods Administration is his Actuall and Temporall supporting and governing all things by which he guideth and directeth all things well wisely freely and powerfully 30 This Administration extendeth it self to all things at all times and in all places it reacheth from one end to another mightily and sweetly doth it order all things Wisdome 8.1 31 For if it be no injurie or shame to God to have made the least and meanest things that are then certainly it is not unbeseeming Gods majestie to govern them being made Ambros. 1. de Offic. cap. 13. 32 All things were made of nothing All things again would return to nothing did not that Chief and True Being sustain and uphold all things Which Conservation is nothing else but the Continuation of their Existence and Being Scal. Exerc. 135. sect 1. 33 As the Being of the sunneâ—eams dependeth on the Sunne and the Being of the shadow on the Body So the Being of all Creatures dependeth on the Providence of God conserving them Raim de Sabaud in Theolog. Natur. cap. 16. 34 Neither doth God onely conserve things created but also he doth guide govern and direct them 35 And although all things are under Gods guidance and governance yet he hath a care of mankinde after a more speciall and peculiar manner and yet after a more speciall and peculiar manner he hath a care of his Church which he gathereth out of mankinde 36 According to this his Providence God ordinarily conserveth the appointed course of Nature 37 For God so administreth and governeth all things that he suffâ—rs them to exercise their own proper motions Aug. 7. de Civ Dei cap. 30. 38 Gods Providence ordinarily worketh by means but yet our trust and confidence must not relie upon them 39 For there is no efficacie of the Second causes which descendeth not from the First 40 And yet the Providence of God is not so tied to means but that he can work without means 41 The vertue of all Second causes is Eminently and Causally in the First 42 Therefore the defect of Second causes may be easily supplied by the vertue of the First 43 Suppose the Second causes were in Act yet notwithstanding the divine Providence can change and hinder their Effect 44 But the Second causes cannot work without the influence of the First 45 Moreover the divine Providence can by the Second causes produce another manner of Effect then that which is agreeable to their naturall properties 46 He which gave the Laws and order of Nature is not bound to the Laws and order of Nature 47 The very brute beasts themselves by a kinde of Naturall instinct have a sense of this Providence by which they are sustained and directed 48 God hath a peculiar and speciall care of Man in the whole course of his life in his Ingresse Progresse and Egresse 49 Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about Job 10.8 And again Thou art he that took me out of the wombe Psal. 22.9 50 God doth so govern our whole life that not so much as one hair of our head doth at any time fall without his will and providence Matth. 10.30 Luke 21.18 Act. 27.34 51 He hath appointed Man his bounds that he cannot passe Job 14.5 52 Yet the divine Providence doth so guide and govern man in the whole course and end of his life that it doth neither exclude the second causes neither yet is tied unto them 53 Hence we may learn That Marriages are in such manner Fatall that notwithstanding they prove sometimes Fatuall 54 And That the bounds of mans life are appointed which he cannot passe but yet not by any Law or decree of the Parcae or Fatall sisters nor by any Stoicall necessitie 55 As the divine Providence governeth mans Life so all his Actions 56 But yet God concurreth to good and bad Actions after a farre different manner 57 Actions civilly good he doth govern in such manner that he doth not onely conserve the Naturall Agent and furnish him with abilitie and power for action but doth also approve and set forward the actions themselves and in a speciall manner sometimes moveth men unto them 58 Actions spiritually good he doth both command and approve in such manner that he effecteth them in us and by us by his Holy Spirit 59 As for evil Actions he neither commandeth nor willeth nor furthereth nor inciteth or moveth unto them 60 For in Evil we are not to seek so much the Efficient cause as the Deficient August 14. de Civ Dei cap. 7. 61 Because it is rather a defect from Gods work then any work it self August 14. de Civ Dei cap. 11. 62 God who is a most perfect and pure Act cannot be deficient Therefore he cannot be the cause of evil 63 Gods Providence concurreth in Evil actions by foreknowing them sustaining and upholding the Nature of the Agent permitting forsaking delivering to Satan setting bounds and drawing good out of them 46 He hardneth Negatively that is by not softning Privatively that is by taking away such softnes as there is Traditively that is by delivering a man unto himself and unto Satan to be hardned Materially that is by showing signes and wonders and Dispositively that is by ordering and directing the induration or hardnes to a good end 65 Hereupon saith Suidas out of the Ancients God doth administer all things according to his
not onely the punishment and cause of sinne but it is also sinne it self 52 For there is in it disobedience and rebellion against the dominion and law of the minde August lib. 5. contra Julian cap. 3. 53 Neither hath the veice of evil concupiscence place in the inferiour faculties of the soul onely but also in the superiour 54 For the will of a man not yet regenerate is prone to evill and to vanities 55 Amongst the works of the flesh these are reckoned Heresies Idolatrie Strife Variance c. Gal. 5.20 56 From whence we may gather evidently That the Flesh is to be taken for the whole man such as he is since the fall without the grace of God and regeneration 57 By Originall sinne the whole nature of man was most intimately and inwardly corrupted But yet we must distinguish between the vice and the very substance of man For the substance of man is the good work of God and Nature 58 Sinne is an evil Adjunct or evil present with me saith S. Paul Rom. 7.21 Therefore it is not any thing consisting or subsisting of it self 59 Men are conceived in sinne Therefore they are not very sinne itself 60 The whole man is the subject of originall sin with all the powers of the soul and members of the body 61 Originall righteousnesse was not onely an equall and just temperament of the body but also a rectitude of all the powers of the soul and an intrinsecall ornament 62 So Originall sinne which succeeded in the place of originall righteousnesse is not any diseased qualitie of body but an infection of all the powers of the soul. 63 For Habit and Privation are to be considered with reference to the same Subject 64 This evil is propagated by carnall generation 65 Therefore Man since the fall is flesh because he is born of flesh John 3.6 He is by nature the childe of wrath Ephes. 2.3 By being born then he contracts sinne for which he becomes the childe of wrath 66 Whosoever therefore are born of parents according to carnall generation are also guilty of originall sinne 67 Therefore even the children of the faithfull and those that are born again bring this originall sinne and pollution with them into this world 68 For it is Regeneration and not Generation that maketh Christians August 3. de peccat merit remiss cap. 9. 69 Men are made and not born Christians Tertull. in Apol. cap. 17. 70 Onely He was born without sinne who without the seed of man was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the wombe of the Virgin 71 He is not infected with the pollution of sinne who was born holy and sanctified from the sanctified wombe of the Virgin 72 To the participation of this priviledge and dignitie that is To be free from Originall sinne we do not admit the blessed Virgin herself 73 We say That the glorious Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Ghost not That she was conceived by the Holy Ghost We say That a Virgin brought forth not That she was brought forth of a Virgin Bern. Epist. 174. ad Lugdun 74 Some effects of Originall sinne are onely punishments some are both punishments and sinnes 75 Punishments are both Temporall and Eternall as sundry calamities innumerable swarms of diseases temporall death the wrath of God eternall damnation 76 Punishments and sinnes both are evil motions of concupiscence damnable desires of the heart and an heap of actuall sinnes 77 The pravitie of originall sinne draws us headlong into vice Cassiodor in Psalm 118. 78 The number of these actuall sinnes are in respect of us altogether numberlesse For who can understand his errours Psalm 19.12 79 The bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth all those that beleeve from all sinne both Originall and Actuall 1. John 1.7 80 With which we are sprinkled in Baptisme which is therefore called the holy and saving laver or the washing of regeneration Tit. 3.5 81 Unto which Regeneration Renovation or renewing is added as an inseparable companion though it be not altogether absolute and perfect in this life 82 For if there were a perfect renewing in Baptisme then would not the Apostle say That the inward man is renewed dayly Aug. 2. de peccat merit remiss cap. 7. 83 Knowing therefore the extreme corruption of our nature let us send up our prayers and sighs unto Christ our Physician to renew us every day more and more till at length we be perfectly renewed in the life to come which is eternall CHAP. X. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning FREE-VVILL That is The Power which is left in man since the fall 1 THe poyson of Originall sin hath quite overrun and inwardly infected all the powers and faculties of man 2 Whereupon there must needs follow great Detriment and Decrement or losse and decay in them all 3 The Powers and Faculties of man are chiefely to be estimated by the Reasonable Soule which was created after the Image of God 4 The Faculties of the Reasonable Soul are two a Mind to know and understand and a Will to elect and choose 5 From the concurse of these two faculties ariseth that which is commonly called Free-will 6 Which is a Facultie both of the Minde and the Will For the arbitrement or judgement is of the Minde and the Freedome or Libertie is of the Will 7 Libertie or Freedome is attributed unto the Will first having a respect unto the Manner of Working which is Free and Voluntarie 8 For it is not compelled or violently carried away by any Externall motion neither doth it work onely by a Naturall instinct but it hath an Internall and Free principle or cause of its owne motion 9 This Libertie is a naturall and essentiall propertie of the Will 10 And therefore it was not lost by the fall 11 For the Will did not cease to be a VVill by reason of the fall 12 This Libertie from coaction or necessitie is called Interior Libertie or Libertie in the Subject 13 Therefore the VVill of man in this respect is alwayes free though not alwayes good August in Enchirid. cap. 30. 14 But yet the will of man is so free that still it must needs acknowledge the all-ruling power of God 15 And therefore it is not free from Law and Obligation 17 For God hath imprinted in the minde of man certain Naturall Motions the light and leading whereof the VVill must follow 17 If it follows them it is free 18 For the True Libertie and Freedome is to serve God and to obey his Law 19 In which sense Tullies saying is very good in his Oration for Cluentius VVe are servants to the Lawes that so we may be freemen 20 Therefore as in respect of Libertie or freedome from coaction man hath allwaies free-will yea since his fall 21 So in respect of Libertie or Freedome from obligation man hath never free-will neither had he before his fall 22 Againe this Libertie or Freedome of the VVill is estimated in respect of the
contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning the Sacrament of BAPTISME 1 BAptisme is the Porch or first Gate of Grace the Entrie into the Church the Key of the kingdome of heaven and the Investiture of Christianisme or the putting on the robe or liverie of Christianitie 2 And therefore being the first Sacrament of the New Testament it is for that cause called the Sacrament of Initiation 3 Baptisme generally taken signifieth any washing dipping or dying whether it be done by immersion â—ffusion or aspersion 4 It is taken Metaphorically in Scripture for the Crosse and calamities Matth. 20.23 for the visible and large effusion of the gifts of the Holy Ghost Acts 1.5 for the miraculous passing of the Israelites through the sea 1. Cor. 10.2 5 It is taken Synecdochically for the doctrine and indeed the whole ministerie of John the Protoâ—Baptist that is which first baptized Matth. 3.11 6 Specially and by way of Excellencie yea and by the common use of the Church it is taken for that solemne mysterie of Initiation to wit the first Sacrament of the New Testament 7 Which in respect of one of the Essentiall parts thereof is called Water John 3.5 In respect of its Essence The washing of water by the Word Ephes. 5.26 In respect of the Effect thereof The washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 In respect of the Type thereof which wenâ— before Circumcision made without hands Coloss. 2.11 8 The Prime authour of Baptisme and therefore the Proper and Principall Cause is God 9 For God by his Prophets in the Old Testament did preach by Types and Prophecies concerning this saving Laver or washing of Baptisme 10 The Types are Noahs ark in the floud 1. Pet. 3.20 Circumcision Coloss. 2.11 The passing of the Israelites through the red sea 1. Cor. 10.2 Waters mixed with the bloud of the bird that was killed which cleansed the leprosie Levit. 14.6 7. The water of Expiation or Separation whereinto were strewed the ashes of the red heifer Numb 19.17 c. Divers washings ablutions and aspersions used by the Jews Heb. 9.10 The water of Jordan by which Naaman was cured of his leprosie 2. King 5.14 11 The Prophecies consist partly in proper words and partly in words Allegoricall THE Lord sitteth upon the floud Psal. 29.10 There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the citie of God Psal. 46.5 The Gentiles shall bring thy sons in their armes Isai. 49.22 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthinesse Ezech. 36.25 It shall come to passe that every thing that liveth which moveth whithersoever the rivers shall come shall live Ezech. 47.9 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sinne and for uncleannesse Zechar. 13.1 A fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord and shall water the valley of Shittim Joel 3.18 12 The same God it is which sent John to baptize or to baptize with water Joh. 1.33 From whence it is said That his Baptisme is from heaven Matth. 21.25 and the Pharisees refusing to be baptized of him are said to have rejected the counsel of God Luke 7.30 13 This divine Institution of Baptisme Christ after his death and resurrection did as it were renew by a solemne promulgation and command to continue the same throughout the whole world 14 Therefore the Baptisme of John was the same Sacrament with â—he Baptisme of Christ that is which Christ administred by his Apostles and doth at this day administer by the Ministers of the Church It had also the same efficacie neither was it necessarie that after the Baptisme of John the Baptisme of Christ should be received 15 The same Causes and the same Effects do argue that the Sacrament of Baptisme both Johns Christs was the same 16 Yet notwithstanding we do not deny but that with the Baptisme of the Apostles there was joyned also the visible effusion of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost which was wanting to Johns Baptisme 17 Now God administers this Sacrament not Immediately but by the Ministers of the Church unto whom this doth Ordinarily belong as unto the Stewards of the mysteries of God 1. Cor. 4.1 18 Again Forasmuchas they are the Ministers of anothers good their vices do not take away the essence and benefit of Baptisme 19 And therefore even Hereticks themselves if they do observe the Substantialls of Baptisme they do administer true Baptisme 20 Which also we determine in that case when the Minister of the Church privately and secretly doth favour and cherish an heresie contrarie to the truth of Baptisme and the doctrine of the Church 21 But those which are baptized by Hereticks without the invocation of the Holy Trinitie and afterwards come unto us we pronounce that such are to be Baptized but we do not say Rebaptized For it is not to be beleeved that they were ever baptized whosoever were not baptized In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost 22 The externall Element of Baptisme is water water naturall and elementarie 23 Whosoever therefore do either substitute and use in stead of water any other liquor or any other externall Element or else are of opinion that they may be substituted and used in the stead thereof They depart from Gods institution 24 But yet Baptisme is not simply water but the washing of Water by the Word Ephes. 5.26 25 Therefore neither Water without the Word nor the Word without the Water hath the nature force and vertue of Baptisme 26 That Word is the word both of Command and of Promise 27 For the Apostles are commanded to goe and teach all nations Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Matth. 28.19 And there is a promise added That he that beleeveth and is Baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 28 Therefore according to this word all the Holy Trinitie The Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost are present at Baptisme as at the Baptisme of Christ who is the Head of the Church Ephes. 1.22 29 The Father for his Sonne our Mediatours sake doth receive him that is Baptized into grace The Sonne by his owne bloud doth cleanse him from all his sinnes The Holy Ghost doth regenerate and renew him unto eternall life 30 And if all the most sacred and Holy Trinitie be present then also Christ God and Man is certainly present and by his bloud washeth him that is Baptized from all the filthinesse of his sinnes 31 From whence it is that the Ancients say and Luther repeats it That Baptisme is red with the bloud of Christ. August tract 11. in Joan. Bed in Psalm 80. 32 We must not therefore look upon the water of Baptisme according to the naturall properties and use that it hath in common life But we are to have an eye unto it as it is a Sacrament and means
administer Justice and Judgement 20 By Justice we understand externall obedience to both Tables of the commandments 21 For it is the Magistrates charge and care to see that both the Tables of the commandments be kept and observed as farre as it concernes Externall Discipline 22 He may and must hinder false and blasphemous opinions from being spread abroad He may and must punish those which are seducers of Soules especially such as are seditious He may and must hinder the profanation of the Sabbath 23 But yet he must not take upon him authoritie and power over the Consciences of men whereof God onely is King 24 Therefore neither must the Magistrate compell the Subjects to any false religion neither must the Subjects obey if he goes about to compell them 25 Unto the Administration of Justice there belongeth also the power of making Civill Lawes to be the determination of the Law of nature 26 For Christian Commonwealths are not simply tyed and bound to the Judiciall Lawes of Moses 27 Unto the same also belong Contracts which are to be moderated by Charitie Equitie From whence it is easily gathered what we may determine in the question about Vsurie 28 The Scripture simply forbiddeth Vsurie But what be Contracts of Vsurie that we must learne from the end of the Law which is Charitie and from the description of the Prohibition as also from the incorrupt judgement of the prudent 29 By the name of Judgement forementioned we understand the defending of the good and the punishing of those which do that which is evill Rom. 13.4 30 To which end and purpose were judiciall Lawes invented for the hearing judging both Civill and Criminall causes 31 Therefore a Christian man is not forbidden to go to Law so he do it in a lawfull manner 32 The Punishment which the Magistrate inflicteth upon the transgressours of the Lawes and the troublers of humane societie must be Correspondent to the Fault committed 33 For it is not free for the Magistrate at his pleasure to let delinquents and offenders especially such as are in any enormous crime escape and go unpunished 34 Yet sometimes Equitie and Moderation of the rigour of the Law is to be used but still with a respect unto the Delinquent or Offender and the Offence it self 35 As Extreme rigour of the Law is sometimes Extreme injuries So likewise Extreme indulgence and remissenesse doth Dull the Edge of the Law and much diminish the power and authoritie of the Magistrate 36 Here a question is moved about Heresie Theft and Adulterie Whether the Punishment thereof ought to be Capitall 37 Whosoever doth maintaine an Heresie Privately or else doth spread it abroad but not seditiously we deny that such a one is to be put to death 38 Other wayes of sowing and spreading abroad heresies we leave unto the Magistrate to punish 39 To say that the punishment of simple Theft especially if it be but of a light and petty matter ought to be Capitall that 's very hard 40 Yet we do not mislike that the rigour of the Law should be executed upon such as are common robbers breakers into houses and such as have often escaped for stealing and yet steal againe 41 The Law of God hath adjudged Adulterie to be punished with death 42 In the time of Warre let the Magistrate be mindfull of his office and duty that he wages Warre lawfully 43 For neither is the Magistrate forbidden to Denounce Warre nor the Subjects to take up armes If the Warre be Lawfull 44 The Conditions of a Lawfull Warre are these That it be undertaken upon Authoritie of superious upon a good Cause and with a good Intention Thom. 2.2 q. 40. 45 Warre is not warre but robberie if it be undertaken without lawfull Authoritie of him that denounceth it 46 The Just causes of warre are Three Either Just defence or Just Punishment or Recovering what is unjustly taken away 47 There must also be added an Intention of a fit and convenient end The Will must be for Peace and Warre is not to be undertaken but upon necessitie The End of going to Warre is or ought to be the procuring of Peace August Epist. 205. 48 To a right Intention we referre also the Lawfull manner of waging warre 49 It was worthily spoke by Aurelianus to a certaine Tribune of Souldiers If thou wilt be a Tribune if thou wilt live hold thy Souldiers in that they coÌ„mit no outrages Let none of them stâ—ale an hen take away another mans sheepe pull of a grape â—read down the standing corn exact oyle salt or wood but let them be content with their owne wages If they go a forraging and boothaling let them do it in their enemies countrie and not in the countrie of their friends and allyes 50 For it can never be hoped that those souldiers should be prosperous in warlike enterprises and feats of armes which at their departure carry away with them curses and teares for their Viaticum to feed upon by the way Gregor lib. 6. Histor. cap. 12. 51 Let them try their strength against their enemies But even against them let the stratagems of warre which they use be lawfull 52 But yet it behooves a Magistrate to try all courses before he goes to warre For he may not do it but when the extreme necessity of the commonwealth calls for it As Physicians are wont to do when other remedies will not serve at length to come to searing and lancing 53 As in playing at Dice when mony is laid once at stake it is a question upon the cast whose it shall be So is it in warre The chance is doubtfull what the event will be it is uncertain The king and the countrie lies at stake 54 The other part of the Politicall order or Civill state is made up by the Subjects which are Relatively opposed to the Magistrates 55 And they are either meere Subjects or else they are joyned also in some power 56 The Subjects owe unto their Magistrates honour fear fidelitie obedience tribute and prayers for them 57 This honour must be performed in heart and minde in mouth and word in work and deed 58 We must look upon the Magistrates as the ordinance of God neither must we detract from them with a black moâ—th nor deny unto them outward reverence 59 The Obedience which is to be performed hath certain bounds and limits For those Subjects which also themselves are joyned in some power may inhibit the Magistrates from usurping too much power and authoritie over them 60 Yea those also which are meerly Subjects are not bound to obey the Magistrates in all things that is If they shall command any thing against pietie and honestie 61 Subjects are to fear their own Kings For they have rule and authoritie over them But Kings also must fear God For his kingdome ruleth over all Psalme 103.19 62 We must Fear God rather then Man God whose commands are alwaies just rather then Man commanding that which is
Essentia Actus and Potentia Nature and Actions are in them distinguished 51 Sometimes they appeare in bodily shapes and yet they are not corporeall For they are but the Forms Assistent and not Forms Informant of the bodies which they assume 52 The Angels understand by Species as well Connate as Superadded 53 Which Knowledge of the Angels is called Vespertine unto which is added that which is called Matutine by which in the light of the Word they are said Intuitively to know all things 54 But what can the Intellect of poore man that crawleth upon earth know or conceive concerning the Intellect or understanding of the Angels 55 Alas we know not the manner of our own knowledge And why do we begin to babble like children about the knowledge of the Angels 56 Neither are the Angels endued onely with understanding but also with power And therefore they are called Vertues and Powers 57 But yet this Power of theirs is finite as is also their Essence 58 They are Finite not by circumscription of any bodily place but by designation of a certain Vbi 59 Some say that the Eternity of God is the Measure of the Angelâ— Scal. Exerc. 359. Sect. 7. 60 This is to be understood of the Measure of Perfection and not the Measure of Duration 61 That there are certain Hierarchies or Orders amongst the Angels we deny not But that we are able to know what they are That we deny 62 The Order of the Angels is onely known unto him that did ordain them 63 Whom we shall hereafter behold face to face when we shall be equall unto the Angels Luke 20.36 64 All the Angels were created by God good and perfect For from him which is good and perfect nothing can proceed but that which is good and perfect 65 But some yea a great part of them by a voluntary fall fell away from that goodnesse in which they were created 66 Which fall of the Angels what it was seeing that the Scripture sayes nothing of it who shall declare it The Ancients dispute that it was either Pride or Envie 67 The evil Angels fell without all hope of recovery But the good Angels are confirmed in goodnesse and freed from all fear of falling 68 Which Confirmation of theirs was not the Adequate and due reward of any merit but the free gift of God rewarding beyond all condignitie 69 From the Confirmation of some of the Angels in goodnesse and the obstinatenesse of others in malice there arise contrary works on both parts 70 The good Angels are praising and lauding God and sent as ministring Spirits for the good of men 71 The Angels are present with us for good to protect us and to fight for us Bern. Serm. 10. in Psalm 92. 72 The number of the Angels is innumerable as concerning us 73 How the Angels conferrâ— and discourse one with another let them discusse and determine who are present at their conferences and discourses 74 The Divels by the subtiltie of their nature and their experience for time and also by superiour revelation may foreknow some things but yet not all 75 They may do many things to be admired but they cannot work Miracles properly so called 76 They do what they can by Gods permission They do not what otherwise they can at Gods prohibition 77 And this is such as it is The description of the first work of God which was wrought in time that is the Creation whereof there can be no other moving cause given but onely the superabundant riches of his goodnesse Damasc. 2. Orthod fid cap. 2. 78 For God wrought his works not out of any indigencie but of his meere beneficencie Nothing is added unto him by our praises but he is manifested unto us by his works Euch. lib. 1. in Gen. 79 He is the Finall Cause of the Vniverse in respect of his Goodnesse the Exemplarie Cause in respect of his Wisdome and the Efficient Cause in respect of his Power Thom. 1. q. 46. art 1. 80 Therefore the Glorie of God is the Vltimate and chief end of Creation and the good of Men is the Mediate and secundary end 81 God which is Good yea Goodnesse it self did all things well and made all things good whatsoever he made To him be praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen CHAP. VI. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning the PROVIDENCE of GOD. 1 GOD which is Almightie is not onely the Creatour of the Vniverse but also the Vpholder Conserver and Governour of the same 2 He did all things well and doth guide and govern all things well whatsoever he at first made 3 As nothing was made but by Gods creating Essence So nothing is able to stand or endure but by his conserving Power Ansel. in Monol 4 Gods upholding supporting and governing all creatures is usually called Gods Providence 5 Concerning which Nature it self giveth an evident testimony But the Holy Scripture giveth a testimonie much more evident 6 The Laws therefore of true Religion do proclaim it that All things have their being and existence and are governed by the Providence of God Euseb. 6. de praepar Evang. cap. 5. 7 Now the Providence of God consisteth in these three things His Foreknowledge his Purpose and his Administring and Governing all things 8 Which is expressed by Hugo de Sancto Victore after this manner In the Providence of God we must consider his Knowledge directing his Will commanding and his Power exequuting 9 His Foreknowledge is a most present and cleare sight of all things past present and to come 10 God in a moment fixed and not sliding stable and immoveable and not successive beholdeth all things clearly alltogether all at once 11 God by the propertie of his Eternitie excludeth all space and distinction of time 12 As God is not said properly to Remember that which is past so neither is he said properly to Behold afarre off the things which are to come For to him all things are present 13 The things which are known are mutable transitorie and successive but the vision of him that knoweth knoweth no change alteration or succession Polycrat lib. 2. cap. 21. 14 By this knowledge all things are known unto God better then they are unto themselves 15 God beholdeth himself in â—imself and all other things likewise in himself For from him and in him are all things 16 This knowledge of God is immutable But yet notwithstanding some things unto which Gods knowledge extends it self are in themselves mutable 17 All things are Necessary by a necessitie of Consequence but not by a necessitie of the Consequent 18 For it cannot be unknown unto God who is Omniscient which way the force of action in causes or Agents working contingently and freely will incline 19 Yet God by this his Vision doth not inferre upon them any absolute necessitie For then should they not be free and contingent Agents 20 It is a most greivous and hainous sinne to make the Providence