conformed unto It of which we shall with submission give you our Practicall Essay ere we close our larger work The Explanation of the Termes HAving now given by the order and manner of Reading thus enlightned the Concatenation of the Heads or Primitive Truths Supernaturall and Naturall and the grounds immediate in their Contignations which give in Systeme their Juncture with each other justified the Figure of the Diagramme and shewed the use of the whole we have brought the matters and things themselves so near to the senses both Inward and Outward in all their severall aspects that the words in which we represent them will have the lesse difficulty And forasmuch as the method is wholly new we presume that the Intelligent Reader will not be offended at the liberty we have taken in Wording such Principles as have discovered themselves not heretofore taken notice of in such termes though new also as may most properly expresse them nor be too severe towards us for varying the words when we have been constreined thereto that we might bring them to the due proportion of Analogie to rectifie the things themselves from what they have been current in these latter Ages Yet for those whose weaker apprehensions may require an Interpreter because in this also we desire to descend to the capacity of the meanest we have thought it our duty to give an explication of them as familiar as the matters will possibly bear By GOD in Essence we intend that state The Abysse unfathomable the Infinite Incomprehensible Godhead wherein before his Outgoings manifested we can onely say that GOD is or that there is a GOD One GOD. Subsistencies The Outgoings of that Essence by their Emanation discovering themselves Three This the true interpretation of the Greek word Hypostasis which the Latines endeavour to expresse by Persons and which we also use though seldom as being more familiar and better known to signifie the same thing Inbeing The state of the Subsistencies in the Essence Emanation The Outflowings from it Incomprehensible Is of which we can frame no Idaea in our mindes Ineffable In consequence must be unwordable for which there can be no expression Emergeth i. Putteth up the head appeareth or sheweth it self Energies Are their Efficacies or Working-Powers called in Scripture spirit Energeticall Operations are the Effects of those Energies in the subject By the First Race of Intellectuals we intend Spirits â—â—bodied i. simple Created Essences which we from their Office and Ministrie not till afterward call Angels By the Second Race of Intellectuals we intend Mankinde i Spirits Imbodied By Animate world we intend a created Dead matter quickned by a Forme from without it self which in this was the Energie of the Creator the Spirit of God moving upon the waters Gen. 1.2 Innate Law of Impulse By Innate we intend that which was in their constitution or making up And because in that their constitution the Superior the Intellectual nature did qualifie the inferior the Animal with Rationality a Forme besides its own I do therefore call that from the Superior to it a Law of Impulse and the same in the Inferior a Law of Instinct The Covenant of Nature properly so called i. of Impresse upon Adhesion whereby is intended that whilst he should adhere and keep himself close unto God the Subsistencies would then continue their Impresse upon him and Concurse with him Appendixes Preparatory Sacrament Sabbath i. these were prepared and but prepared untill he Adhering and Vanquishing not to be actually Appended or exhibited Inhibition i. by that Negative Precept enjoyned not to eat Probationall i. by which God his Lord would know and make Proof whether he would Adhere and Obey Threat an Antedated Sentence i. that which was in Threat was as certainly upon his Disobedience to be his Sentence as it was now a Threat Interpellation Is expounded by the words following Putting himself in the Gappe in English it is nearest to a Rescue but here Legitimate from a Ground because the Interpellator the Word was in a degree concerned in the constitution of the Delinquent and Himself coequall with the Incensed the Creator Superseding i. Dispensing with the present Execution of his own Justice A Law terme in use amongst us So also is Reprieve known unto most in criminal causes The Covenant of Grace Primitive in the First Transaction i. the Mutuall Agreement and Capitulation transacted betwixt the Creator Ordaining and Word undertaking in reference to Redemption and Restauration The Trinity Supream is a consideration of the Subsistencies as They emaned and acted before their Condescentions either in order unto or for the actuall Restauration The Covenant of Grace Primitive in the Second Transaction their mutuall Performance of what was mutually undertaken in the First Transaction in the Person of Jesus The Covenant of Grace Derivative the Publication of that Grace wrought for us in his Person and the offer of termes of Reconciliation thereupon Influx i. A Spirituall Inflowing into us by operation from Him the Mediator opposed unto That which was by union of Natures as Energie radically in Himself Trinity of Condesceutions for Administrations and Redemption are the respective Energies of the Trinity Supream in their condescentions exerted or put forth for the accomplishing of the second Designe both as to Redemption and to Revelation The Explication of the Greek Words ΠΕΡΙΠΟΙΗΣΙΣ i. A Making by Gyre Compasse or circumference first in Christ the new Creature and then Particulars in the state of Lapse from Him as Mediator by union of Natures the Principle of this House ΠΒΡΙΟΥΣΙΟΣ A People pecullar i. those whom God hath dignified with speciall Administrations and so a People appropriated by sanctification of the Holy Ghost the Principle of this House ΑΠΟΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΙΣ An Astronomicall terme The Bringing of Nature about by Grace to the same Point whence it first set forth and from whence it declined and fell ΑÎΑΚΕΦâ—ΛΑΙΩΣΙΣ The Gathering together again under One Head the Word Now by Incarnation Mediator of this second Work for compassing of the first Designeâ— FINIS My Desires to the Reader are FIrst That those who desire the understanding of this Designe would as the Alphabet or first Elements get by Heart the Capitall Heads as THE LOOK Before the Creation THE CREATION THE INHIBITION c. punctually according to the Direction in the order and manner of Reading Secondly That That being done they would in like manner inform themselves of the Subject Matters under every Head and take notice of their concatenate dependenctes Thirdly That These things being done they would then and not before having the Scheme before them and in their eye peruse these Sheets as the Key unto It. Whereto if they bring their Heads as intent and their Hearts as sincere as I have been I take God to witnesse in composing the whole I shall not doubt of that Union so much talkt of in Truth and Peace which as it is the Prayer so it is the endeavour of him that is An obedient Sonne of the Church truly Christian Protesting against all Popish Errors or whatsoever is contrary to sound Doctrine Nicholas Gibbon Errata Pag. 14. line 10. for Resurrection read Dead pag. 24. line 24. for Figurea read Figure wih a Parenthesis pag. 25. line 14. reade Scripture as in a Parenthesis pag. 26. line 5. for Yet read That Which is desired the Reader would correct with his Pen before he peruse them
THE SCHEME OR DIAGRAMME Adjusted for Future use in a larger Prodromus ere long to be published and whereof this is then to be a Part. At present Printed for private Hands A CONCATENATION of the Series of the Heads of the Grounds of the Scripture represented in this second Systeme by Scheme or Diagramme ANd first of that great and prime Hyperphysical that is supernaturall and spiritual Ground GOD demonstrating Himself to us by His first Outgoings and after Condescensions necessarily to be thus in Concatenation considered 1. God in Unitie of Essence One GOD The Abysse Unfathomable 2. That Essence subsistentiated i. specificated in Subsistencies in order to Creation Emanant CREATOR WORD SPIRIT Three Subsistencies For Nature Grace Glory 3. Those Subsistencies so specificated in their Actual Out-goings exerting i. putting themselves forth by their singular Energies the Energieâ— of each respectively 4. Those Energies become in the Subject the Creature Operations This in the Creation simply considered the first Creation the Creation of the First and Second Race of Intellectuals 5. Those Energies for their Operations on the Creature in the second Creation that is the Restauration of the second Race in their Nature laps't concentred in the Person of a Mediator The prime specificate Subject of that Work Our Lord Jesus Christ the Beginning of the Creation of God The new Creation And then the Essence in the Subsistencies worketh by their Energies concentred in that Person of the Mediator through Him and by Him transmitted unto Individuals in lapse The second specificate Subject of that second Work that Persons pertakers of that decayed Nature from the old Adam might by those operations for Restauration through and from Him be made and become New Creatures Whence The Essence is not the Subsistency The Subsistency is not the Energie The Energie is not the Operation And yet The Essence is virtually the Subsistency The Subsistency is virtually the Energie The Energie is virtually the Operation Because The Essence is the Abysse from whence the Subsistencies Emane The Subsistencies are the Fountains from which the Energies flow The Energies are the Causes in the Subject of all Operations In like manner The Operation is not the Energie The Energie is not the Subsistency The Subsistency is not the Essence And yet The Operation is relatively the Energie The Energie is relatively the Subsistency The Subsistency is relatively the Essence Because The Operations in the subject are the Energies terminated The Energies are the Subsistencies limited The Subsistencies are the Essence specificated In result and summe the work of the Creation simply considered pretermitted The Operation Prime for the new Creation or Restauration is the Influence of the Essence from the Subsistencies by their Energies concentred in the Mediator from him by a second operation upon lapsed nature terminated in Particulars And thus the Lowest hath from that which is nearest to it self of the Highest and Soveraign Being what could not otherwise either be derived from It or in that state of Lapse be received by the Creature Because as Essence in its Infinity Essential i. as Essence did not work ad extra i. outwardly to the Being of the Creature but in the Subsistencies Nor did the Subsistencies worke to the constitution or making up that Being in the Creature in the state of Integrity but by their Energies So neither could the Subsistencies condescend to nature in the state of Lapse for Restauration nor the Creature in that state receive their Influence by their Energies immediately had They not by those their respective Working Powers sanctifying in a Person prepared the First Fruits of humane nature as well Treasured up those their efficacies from Themselves as Fitted them treasured up for the creatures Receiving them The Principles as thus in Him predisposedly united so their Glory for the creature as it were rebated in the Person of a Mediator Secondly The Concatenation of the Heads of the Grounds of the Scripture as they are a Narrative of the methods of that GOD in those his great Designes the Creating and Restoring of mankinde and give us the Physicall and Morall Theologicall Grounds conteined in them i. the Naturall Heads and Result of and from them which we represent in the severall Heads and Notes of the Inward Circle and Outward Epicycle And first as an Inlet to the whole A Look before the Creation of the visible and Animate World and so of the Creation of the First Race of Intellectuals Spirits simple Essences of which Some Adhered and stood These Confirmed and their number to be made up by a second Race A Look before the Creation of the visible and Animate World and so of the Creation of the First Race of Intellectuals Spirits simple Essences of which Some kept not their first state These Reprobated for whom Tophet whence the Devil and evil Angels II. The Creation of the visible Animate-world and of the Second Race of Intellectuals Man in the Protoplast the First Adam A Spiritual Essence Imbodied i. consisting of Inner and Outward Man to be made One with the simple Essences Spirits unbodied those of the First Race that stood Their Innate Law Covenant of Nature by Impresse upon Adhesion of the Inward Man And the Appendixes preparatory Sacrament the Tree of Life Sabbath the Rest Symboles of Grace and Glory for consummation of the Person and Nature both in the Inner and Outward Man upon the condition of that Covenant performed III. The Inhibition Probational of his Inward Adhesion in that Covenant of Nature by his Outward Obedience unto this Negative Law for the fixing of that State of Nature in his Person by the Annexing those Appendixes preparatory upon the condition performed i. Adhering and Obeying And the Threat annext if otherwise being an Antedated Sentence IV. The Breach and Violation of that Covenant by Disadhesion and of the Probational Inhibition likewise by Disobedience commonly call'd the Fall whereupon the Appendixes because only preparatory become suspended The Threat before now an Actual sentence the Curse incurred importing upon Nature forfeited Aversion or turning away the Face of his Creator from him and the Word withdrawing his Principle of Grace Both these as the Paena damni or Privative Evil And in demerit eternall Dereliction of his Intellectual Nature in that state and casting it off into the state of Tophet prepared for those of the First Race that kept not their first state as the Paena sensus or Positive Evil of Punishment These relatively from the Covenant distinctly terminated in that his Inward Man And from the Inhibition Support withdrawn as the Privative Evil and Mortality seizing on him as the Positive terminated in the Body or Outward Man and from all these Glory in designe from the Spirit of necessary consequence come short of V. The Interpellation a Rescuing from the Execution of the Sentence and Curse upon that Breach And the State of Nature as so rescued from the Paenasensus or Positive Evil to be considered
unto Him but by the same scale He descendeth unto us And hence it followeth that That great Work and last End Our Regeneration is lesse evidently quickning and the Means thereto the Ordinances are lesse efficacious And we must farther say congruous with this Analogy that the not understanding the first Part of the Scale GOD in Essence Subsistencies Energies Operations to the constitution of the creature hath been the Prime cause of the not understanding of the Second viz. The Subsistentiall Actings in the Interpellation and Covenant of the first Transaction the Energies and Operations in the Lines terminating on the Covenant in the second transaction as to his Mediatorship and the Covenant Derivative as to his Apostolate These being but their Operations upon Condescension which cannot have their Light but from a consideration had of these their first Actings And the confused or Indistinct understanding of this Second hath been a like cause of not understanding the Third the Operations from the Mediator and Apostolate by his respective Energeticall Operations to us ward and on us the subject matter exhibited in the Covenant Derivative and Covenant Derivative Finisht This being but the Deriving unto us what was Treasured up in Him And in as much as This Scale of the Intellectuall in its Juncture with the rest is indeed the Spirit quickning the whole we may affirm that all Our Errors as well in Judgement and Faith as in Practise and Manners in the other natur all Theologicall Heads and morall Theologicall Grounds in the Circle and Epicycle modelled have arisen principally from the not aright discerning of these And it would be no hard matter to evidence in particulars where and how from some Misprision or other here in Root of the Intellectuall each and every of our misguided Actings in Morals Oeconomicks Politicks as well of sacred as civill cognisance have burgeoned and put forth The Review of the whole ANd now let the whole be viewed From the Abysse of Essence to the Operations and the Person of Jesus Christ with his Energies and Operations on us From the Look before the Creation to the state of Glorification From the Judgement of the first Race to the Judgement of the second Race From the state of nature in its Primitive constitution to the state of nature in the first Resurrection From the state of nature in the Fall of the first Man to the state of nature in Death the condition of all men From the Covenant of Restauration in Decree to the same Covenant derived unto us and Finisht in us From the Trinity Supream to the Trinity of Condescensions From the Gentile in the Gener all Ordinances to the Jew and Christian in all the speciall Administrations What should I mention particulars Look on the Generals as the Circle in the Epicycle and let the whole be considered in its Symmetry and proportion as it hath wrought it self in the Scheme A Systeme of Truths purely naturall and according to the order of nature without any Artifice at all in the framing we having only followed not forced Them whilest they in their naturall Method as things formed and brought themselves into Diagramme Mathematicall that the Inward subject matters might more efficaciously by demonstrating the Seriptures Designe inform the Reason when fixt according to the order of nature in the outward Form and Figure they shall be transmitted unto it by the convinced Sence that so Sence Reason and Revelation may all conspire to the stating of each and every particular Truth Thus see and consider Essence in the Subsistencies Emanant by their Energies constituting a First Race and upon the Apostacy of some of that Race creating a Second in a Condition Inconsummate Upon their Lapse the Lapse of the second Race in the Protoplast the first and second Subsistencies because They onely had their Principles actually in the constitution of the first Adam in and by their Subsistentiall Actings laying their Designe for the Restauration of this second Race This Decreed Executed in the second Adam revealed by Him and accomplished in the earnest then in the Full in the creature This creature thus restored by the Regeneration and consummately Glorified All by the varied Operations of the Subsistencies by their Energies shew in Figure the Designes the Degrees and Steps of this creatures Constitution Restoration Advance and Exaltation Next see and consider Tophet in its situation A Work not decreed but emergent upon Their Apostacy and extraneous to the Designe of God in the Creation of that first Race as The Sentence from him was aliene They first become Devils and Evil Angels in consequent of their Fall Reserved in chains of darknesse in consequent of their Sentence unto the Judgement of the great Day for the full of their punishment And then become Tempters in that state to the first man and ever afterwards in Enmity with the seed Thus in that Head and Labels And the Last Judgement in proportioned situation opposite because an Abdication of that first Race and at once a Sentence and Abdication of those of the second Race workers of Iniquity then finally Reprobated imported by the Labell Go ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Concerning which Last Judgement I shall at present onely suggest this one thing that It hath and must keep the seaventh place in the close of the Heads of the Ordinances as the First Resurrection is the seaventh to those of the Mediatorship because It dependeth on those Ordinances which the whole Body of the Head importeth Giving us farther also in the close a Distinction of the Kingdom of Apostolate which he is to resigne after this and to lead us into that merited Kingdom of the Father prepared for us before the Foundation of the World simply considered exprest by that part of the Labell Come ye blessed of my Father c. Matth. 25.34 when those who claime It by Covenant acquitted at the Last Judgement are gathered into One with those of the first Race confirmed Then see and consider The Head of the Fall upon the same ground not decreed of God and so the Root of Death not made by God He made not Death saith the Wise man Wisd 1.13 but man Adam giving himself by sinne into the power of Satan Death came in by Sinne Rom. 5.12 And hence we see how Satan came to have the Power of Death Heb. 1.14 to wit by Adam's admitting of the temptation which was Death in the Root It was indeed a Breach by which man was going forth to the state of those in the Labell reserved in Chaines but by the Interpellation made up that all might be saved by the Covenant as to the Inward man if they perform the Condition though committed to Satan by the Sentence to Death thou shalt return for the destruction of the Flesh the Outwardman And the Head of the state of Nature in Death the Execution of that Sentence in opposite situation and like proportioned Figure