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A11363 A treatise of Paradise. And the principall contents thereof especially of the greatnesse, situation, beautie, and other properties of that place: of the trees of life, good and euill; of the serpent, cherubin, fiery sword, mans creation, immortalitie, propagation, stature, age, knowledge, temptation, fall, and exclusion out of Paradise; and consequently of his and our originall sin: with many other difficulties touching these points. Collected out of the holy Scriptures, ancient fathers, and other both ancient and moderne writers. Salkeld, John, 1576-1660. 1617 (1617) STC 21622; ESTC S116515 126,315 368

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and as a body without a head a common-wealth without a ruler or kingdome without a King confused imperfect without order or beautie But seeing that to bring man to this finall perfection and end many things were necessary each person of the blessed Trinitie did assume to himselfe diuers functions the Father to create because power and might doth especially appeare in the Father the Sonne did assume the reparation of man after his fall a worke of infinite wisdome and therfore it is particularly ascribed to this person and infinite wisdome finally the holy Ghost did particularly worke mans sanctification this therefore is likewise accommodated to this person together with all spirituall graces and finall glorification Neuerthelesse these offices operations and workes are so attributed to the three holy persons not that any one of them was effected alone by any one person for whatsoeuer is wrought out of the sacred Trinitie in or by any creature whatsoeuer is equally effected and wrought by all and euery person of the blessed Trinitie but because something doth appeare in euery of these workes which doth especially manifest the Father the Sonne or the holy Ghost the Fathers power the Sonnes wisdome the grace and sanctification of the holy Ghost therefore these and other the like attributes are particularly applied and attributed to each person of the blessed Trinitie Rupertus lib. 2. de Trinitate operibus ●ius This is the ground of Rupertus his discourse and reason why God created man to his likenesse and image why he changed his voice and altered his manner of speaking for whereas hee said in the creation of other creatures Fiat factum est Let it be done and it was done now as though hee had beene weary with going about the earth compassing the seas and measuring the amplitude of the heauens he sate him downe and as it were taking his breath hee called to minde that there was one thing as yet wanting which was no lesse necessary then fitting to be made then said he let vs make man to our owne image and likenesse Thus doest thou then thinke that a small matter which was intended by these words A great mysterie without doubt it was in that counsell of wisdome in that counsell of such persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Canst thou iudge that there was any thing wanting any thing superfluous either done or to be done in vs or about vs in that sacred Senate There doubtlesse was all our cause considered there our fall foreseene there our death and perdition foreknowne and determined vpon to wit that euery person should vndertake some part of the worke that as it is said before the Father should create the Sonne should redeeme and finally the holy Ghost should worke the remission of sinnes and the resurrection of the flesh But what should bee the reason why God deliberating about the creation of man should say Faciamus let vs make To whom did hee speake speaking in the plurall let vs make Shall we say to the earth as to a compart of man or to the Angels as the fellow-workers with God as though God had need either of the cooperation of the Angels or were so senselesse as thus to conferre with that his creature void of all reason and sense Ambrose in his seuenth chapter of the sixt booke of the Exameron answereth that God spake not to himselfe because hee speaketh not in the singular but in the plurall let vs make neither yet to the Angels as who are but his seruants therefore though the Iewes and Arrians doe neuer so much repugne these words without all question are spoken to his Sonne as who is the true and liuely similitude and likenesse of God the Father And this I deeme to be the truest opinion seeing that the eternall Sonne of God euen as hee is the Word and Sonne of God is a liuely and expresse similitude and likenesse not only of his eternall Father but also a most perfect Idea and exemplar according to which man was created Others not improbably doe interpret that God therefore spake in the plurall Faciamus let vs make as Princes and great persons are wont to doe to shew their authoritie and maiestie saying We will We command We decree c. yet of the two I deeme the first exposition to bee best and that the text may admit them both CHAP. XIIII How man was made to the image and likenesse of God FOr the vnderstanding of this Sainctes Pagnines in the sauro linguae Hebraae wee must note the originall Hebrew words Selem and Demuth by Selem is properly signified a shadow or transitorie similitude Psalme 33. In imagine pertransit homo man passeth away like vnto a shadow Likewise Psalme 101. My dayes haue declined as a shadow The other word Demuth signifieth to cut downe to faile to fade to be silent to recogitate and to expect but most properly to assimulate or liken wherefore seeing euery similitude or likenesse is transitorie vanishing and quickly passing away the same word doth also signifie to vanish to passe away to faile and to fade Now therefore when God said that man was made to his image and likenesse it was to giue vs to vnderstand that such was the likenesse and so perfect the representation as could be betweene an inferiour creature and his Creator but because God is of infinite perfection it must necessarily follow that his similitude should bee infinitely inferiour and of lesse perfection then the prototypon or first type of his perfection Like as though the shadow be in some sort the similitude and representation of the body yet is it obscure and imperfect yea nothing in it selfe and in comparison of the body nothing Hence consequently wee may inferre a twofold interpretation of the said words adimaginem similitudinem nostram to our image and likenesse to wit of that image or similitude which is in God his diuine nature essence being or vnderstanding insomuch that the nature of God and his Ideall representation of his vnderstanding bee the exemplar and first type vnto whose similitude man was made Or againe that ●his be the meaning of Gods words let vs make man such a one as wee are or so like vnto vs that he may bee such an image forme and similitude as he may represent our nature power wisdome and prouidence yea and immortalitie in a body of its owne nature mortall For as S. Austine well noteth Aug. li. 83. quaest q. 51. diuers things doe diuersly represent Almighty God some doe participate of vertue and wisdome others only of life others of existence and being insomuch that those things which only haue existence and neither liue nor breathe are counted an imperfect similitude of God because they are good according to their kinde and flow from that infinite Ocean of goodnesse from whence all other goodnesse doth proceed Againe those things which doe liue and yet doe not vnderstand doe more perfectly participate
in the liberty which he hath vnto whatsoeuer particular good Thirdly in his naturall propension vnto eternitie and immortalitie Plato in Alcib in Phaedone Porph. l. 1. ad Boet. vide Euseb lib. 11. de praepar euangelica the which euen Plato and Porphirius thought to be sufficient arguments of the soules immortalitie Yea the immortalitie of the soule is euidently proued in that as Moyses saith God constituted man supreme Lord ouer all inferiour creatures yea in that he breathed into him a reasonable soule with full liberty ouer all his naturall actions according vnto that of the fourth of Genesis the 7. verse where GOD saith thus vnto Cain that his desire shall be subiect vnto him and hee shall rule ouer it but more particularly this is demonstrated out of the third of Exodus where God saith vnto Moises that he is the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob and this not of the dead but of the liuing as our Sauiour added in the gospell Finally this may be deduced out of Deuteron 4 where it is said that God made the Sunne the Moone the starres and the planets for the seruice of man as for a more perfect creature and consequently participating a more perfect immortalitie then is the incorruption of those eternall globes and starres CHAP. XXVI Whether the soule of Adam was immortall by its owne nature or onely by grace SOphronius Ierome Sophronius in his 11. ep in the 6. Synode Hierom. l. 2. con●● Pae. lag Damas l. 2. de fide orthod c. 3. 12. and Damascene are of opinion that the Angels and humane soules are not immortall of their owne nature but only by Gods grace To this also S. Paul in his first Epistle to Timothie and his last chapter may seeme to incline where hee saith that God onely hath immortalitie Plato plainely insinuateth the same of Angells much more then of humane spirits Neuerthelesse it is most certaine that mans soule is immortall euen of its owne nature for which reason our Sauiour commandeth vs Math 10. not to feare them that kill the body Math. 10. ver 28. but are not able to kill the soule Wherefore as the body is mortall and corruptible it followeth by the antithesis that the soule is immortall and incorruptible Againe this is most plaine out of diuers other places of scripture Psalme 29 16. Ecclesiasticus 12 and the 9. Matth. 10. 2. Sam. 23. 32. Phil. 1.23 1. Pet. 3. 19. Apoc. 9.6 7.9 CHAP. XXVII That Adam was not created in Paradise and why not and by what meanes was he placed there after his creation AS touching the first point that he was not created in Paradise it is manifest that though the woman was created in paradise yet the man was not for so it is said of him Gen 2. the 15. verse Then the Lord tooke the man and put him in the garden of Eden that he might dresse it and keepe it therefore he was not there before at his first creation though Eue was for so it was conuenient that shee should be produced of Adam in his most perfect state and being according to both body soule and habitation which is the opinion of Basil Aquinas Basil homil de paradyso Aquinas 1. parte q. 102 ar 4 plures in 2. sententiarum distinct 18. and the most of the ancient Diuines against Tertullian Iosephus and Rupertus As touching the second point that God tooke man and put him into the garden of Eden This may be vnderstood three wayes first by inward inspiration by which God might shew him that it was his pleasure that hee should haue that for his habitation in which sense many vnderstand that of Math. 4. that our Sauiour was caried of the spirit into the wildernes to wit by the inward inspiration of the Holy Ghost though he went also voluntarily of himselfe Secondly we may vnderstand it that he was caried by the spirit of God or rather conveighed by the immediate power of the Almighty as we read of Henoch Habacuck and Philip. Or lastly that he was transported by some Angell in the shape and forme of man who shewing him the way did lead him into paradise as wee read of the Angell Raphael how he lead Tobias and to this last I incline the rather because it is the opinion of S. Austine But now it may be demanded why God would not create man in paradise the reason may be to the end that hee might more manifestly vnderstand his goodnes and liberality towards him and that that place was rather giuen vnto him of meere grace then any wise due by nature But why then may some say were the Angels created in heauen yea all other liuing creatures created each in their owne place I answer that neither the puritie of the empyreall heauen did exceed the Angelicall puritie neither the grosnesse of this inferiour globe of the earth did exceed the nature of corporall creatures there liuing and therefore these two places were most apt for the creation and habitation of Angels and these inferiour creatures But such was the perfection of paradise that it was in no wise to bee deemed a conuenient place for humane habitation mans nature I meane only considered not the grace and bounty of God thereby manifested CHAP. XXVIII To what end was Adam placed in Paradise MOyses answereth Gen 2. ver 15. that the Lord tooke the man and put him into the garden of Eden that he might dresse it and keepe it or as the vulgar hath that he might worke in it to giue vs to vnderstand how much God abhorreth idlenesse seeing that euen in that place where there was no neede of labour God would not haue man idle not an ill item for our lazie gallants who thinke their gentilitie to consist in idlenes and a point of honour to liue of other mens labour but euen in this I am of opinion that God doth punish them that they haue more griefes and more discontent in their idle pleasures then others in their most wearisome toiles and labours which though it be a most voluntary bondage yet is it likewise the most base and cruell slauerie to the base appetites a tyranny of Satan a double bondage to a double tyrant to Satan to sinne for as S. Paul saith who committeth sinne is the slaue to sinne so who subiecteth himselfe to the suggestions of Satan is a slaue to Satan an intolerable slauery and an infinite misery the beginning miserable the proceedings damnable the end as which hath no end intolerable Now therefore lest Adam or his posteritie should by alluring idlenes come to this endles paine God of his mercy placed Adam in paradise vt operaretur custodiret illum that he might worke and keepe it to wit that hee working might keepe paradise and paradise by the same worke might keepe him from idlenes from sinne because that is the ordinarie cause of sinne for as it is
the likenesse of God but those things lastly which doe vnderstand doe come so neere vnto the likenesse of God that nothing created can come more neere Wherefore seeing that man may participate of the wisdome of the diuine nature yea euen according to hi● owne nature hence it is that hee is so framed to the image of God that nothing can be more like in his being and nature vnto God he liueth he breatheth he vnderstandeth he hath existence and being and is in all these as a perfect patterne of his Creator and God CHAP. XV. What is the difference betweene the image and the similitude of God according to which man is said to be created SAint Austine in his questions vpon Deuteronomie thinketh it no lesse then blasphemie to auerre any thing to be superfluous in the sacred text wherefore lest we be enforced to contradict this so receiued a principle Orig. lib. 3. Peri●rchon cap. 6. Basil hom 6. in Gen. in hunc locum Ambros li. 6. Exameron c. 6. 8 Nicenus homil de creat hom Eucher li. 1. commen in Gen. in hunc locum Victorin in disp●t quam scripsit aduersus Arrium Theodoret. in quaest in Gen. q. 20. Rupert li. 2. de Trinitate operibus eius c. 3. et 5 Aquin. prima parte quaest 93. Magister sent lib. 2. distinct 26. ibidem Scholastici and manifest truth wee are to search what difference is betweene the image and likenesse of God according to which man was created Origenes Basil Nicenus Eucherius Victorinus Theodoretus Rupertus Aquinas the master of the sentences with many others both moderne and ancient Writers are of opinion that man is said to be made to the image of God according to his nature and properties consequent vnto nature as vnderstanding memorie and free will which he exerciseth in his naturall actions and in which he exceedeth all other inferiour creatures the which image though it may be and is in some sort defaced by sinne yet is it in no wise fully lost and blotted out because as it is wholly of God so it dependeth only of God and therefore can be taken away only by God himselfe nay not euen by God himselfe man remaining a reasonable creature or man For though he may haue his senses and other spirituall powers depraued yea though he may also be depriued of the exercise of them all yet in no wise can they be vtterly extinguished man as I said remaining man Now as touching the similitude of God according vnto which man was created wee are to consider him not according vnto the naturall gifts which are necessarily consequent vnto nature but according vnto iustice sanctitie and innocencie and grace which are gifts infused into nature though aboue nature the which as they are independent of nature so also may they bee and are separate from nature according to the free disposition and order of God the Author of nature but this certainly is alway for some sinne which in this sense may be said to be a deprauation of nature seeing it depriueth nature not only of these supernaturall gifts which are the chiefe ornaments and helpes of nature but also because it depraueth nature herselfe euen in her selfe and hindereth the due exercise of her naturall powers Rupertus in his second booke of the Trinitie and second chapter discourseth very acutely of this point of the difference betweene the image and similitude vnto which man was created giuing also the reason why the word image is prefixed before the word similitude in a word his resolution is this that the Sonne of God is signified by the word image and the holy Ghost by the word similitude for saith he the difference betweene similitude and image is this that the image is in regard of one only but a similitude is at least of two now the eternall Sonne of the eternall Father is the image of God according to that of the Apostle 1. Coloss who is the image of the inuisible God The Sonne I say is the image of the inuisible God equally inuisible For the vnderstanding of which we must presuppose that there bee many kindes of images as the image of man of a horse a picture in the wall an image grauen in stone or wood yea wee see euen the images of the Sunne and Moone in the water yet wee may not thinke that the Sonne of God is so to be called the image of God but rather as the Apostle writeth in another place Heb. 2. the figure of his substance because as euery substance is knowne by his figure or shape so God the Father by his word Againe the image of man is said to be a propertie of his substance in which sense the sacred text saith that Adam begat his sonne to his image and likenesse Gen. 5. and called his name Seth. Hence wee may vnderstand how the eternall Sonne is the image of his eternall Father and the holy Ghost the similitude and likenesse of the Father and Sonne seeing the goodnesse and loue of the Father and Sonne is common to both Father and Sonne Hence it is that it could not rightly be said in regard of the Sonne only let vs make man to our image and likenesse for as the Sonne is Sonne in regard only of the Father not of the Father and the holy Ghost iointly so also is hee not the image of the Father and of the holy Ghost iointly but of the Father onely But it is rightly said in regard of the holy Ghost to our image and likenesse because as the holy Ghost is the infinite goodnesse of the Father and Sonne so is he likewise the infinite similitude and likenesse common to both Father and Sonne But this not by the force of his particular proceeding as is the Sonne Others are of opinion that this word ad imaginem to our image doth signifie vnto vs the second person of the blessed Trinitie as he was to be incarnate or to take our nature vpon him But if we marke the phrase of the sacred text we shall easily finde that the Sonne of God was incarnate rather according to the similitude of man then that man was created according to his similitude Rom. 8. Philip. 1. Heb. 2. Eugubinus in his Cosmopoeia and Oleaster vpon the first of Genesis are of opinion that God therefore said let vs make man to our image and likenesse because when hee created man hee tooke vpon him the shape and forme of man to the end that he might the better conuerse with man But this seemeth rather to bee an inuention of their owne then grounded in Scripture because it is most probable that which the Schoolemen doe commonly hold with Dionysius that all those apparitions which we reade in the old Testament were not immediately of God or by God himselfe but by the mediation of Angels who taking vpon them airie or other apparant bodies appeared vnto men in the shape and forme of men but so neuerthelesse that
end that his corporall rectitude and vprightnes of his shape might stirre him vp to preserue the spirituall rectitude and righteousnes of the inward man who was made to the image of God and that the beauty of our corporall substance and outward proportion and right disposition of the lineaments of our body might correct the inward deformitie of our soules and the powers thereof For what can be more vgly deformed and abominable in the eye of that all-seeing God then a sinfull and defiled soule in a beautifull body Is it not a shamefull and detestable thing that an earthly and corrupt vessell such as the body is should contemplate the heauens view the Planets and be delighted with the aspect of the incorruptible spheares and motions of the starres and that on the contrary side the spirituall and celestiall creature far more perfect then all the celestiall globes and heauens the soule I meane of man should alwaies haue her eyes that is hir inward powers and affections debased and cast downe to the terrene trash and basest creatures of this world Consider therefore ô man thy dignitie of nature the perfection of thy powers thy priuiledges of grace the immortalitie of thy soule the excellencie of thy creation the nothing of thy selfe and lastly the infinite price of thy redemption by the most precious blood and death of the Lambe thy Creator and Redeemer and let not this so base and transitorie trash of this world so alienate thy minde and bewitch thy vnderstanding that thou preferre the filthy and base pleasures of the body before the spirituall and eternall of thy spirituall and immortall soule CHAP. XVIII Whether the image of God may be wholy lost and blotted out of the soule of man ORigenes Epiphanius ep ad Iohannē Hierosel Aug lib. 2. contra Adamantiam Manich. l. 83. quaest q. 66. lib. 6. de Gen. ad literam cap. 27.28 and S. Austine do seeme to affirme that man lost the image of God Epiphanius and diuers other of the Fathers doe peremptorily deny it out of Gen the Psalmes and S. Paul but I thinke this controuersie rather to arise by reason of the diuers vnderstanding of the image of God which is in man then of any true difference in their opinions for who can doubt but if wee consider man according to the supernaturall gifts first infused into the soule of Adam but that he lost the diuine similitude or likenesse of God and that wholy nothing remayning but onely the deformity of sinne Gen. c 9. Psal 38. 1. ad Cor. cap. 11. in the deformed and sinfull soule but if we consider him againe according to the naturall substance of the soule and her naturall faculties consequent therevnto it is equally indubitable that shee retained this likenesse of God though not in the same perfection which shee possessed before but rather much defaced blemished and deformed My reason is because there proceeded a more excellent beauty and perfection vnto this naturall substance by reason of the supernaturall qualitie of originall iustice and consequently the depriuation of this supernaturall gift which was also a sufficient cause of natures greater perfection and more admirable beauty was a depriuation and defacing of the said beauty of nature which otherwise had beene a perfect type and portraiture of the diuine nature and being CHAP. XIX Why God made man to his image and similitude MAny and most excellent reasons may be giuen of this but which I must needs confesse are rather morall congruencies grounded in the infinite goodnesse of God then in any other forcible convincing reason plainely deduced out of the sacred Text. The first whereof may be this that God therefore made man like vnto himselfe that thence it might be manifest how much the infinite goodnesse of God exceedeth the malignitie enuy and malice of man for God being infinite in his goodnesse yea in all other his attributes infinite yet doth he not disdaine our of his infinite goodnesse that that which in vs is limited and finite should be compared and likened to that which in him is infinite and beyond all comparison he enuieth not the perfection of our nature he maketh it more perfect by grace and by a sacred league and vnion he combineth both that by both we may be like vnto him in both who is the author of both And this with such a degree of participated perfection that man doth not only become like vnto God but also may bee called and is truly the adopted Sonne of God So that all men may now participate of the grace which one onely possessed by nature insomuch that as he being the naturall Sonne of God is a perfect patterne of his eternall Father by nature so wee also be a participated likenes and similitude in some degree by nature but most perfectly by grace The second reason may be this if so be that we may compare these inferiour things of this world to those supreme and infinite of God like as a temporall Prince hauing for to shew his power magnificence and maiestie built furnished beautified adorned and deck'd some excellent Citty in which hee himselfe doth meane to remaine doth there erect in some principall part thereof his owne image or statue in some precious porphire marble or other more excellent matter euen so Almighty God hauing out of his infinite wisdome made this maine Machina and beautifull Citty of the world for the manifestation of his glory to the end that it might be knowne and acknowledged who was the only author and architect of all hee was pleased to place in the midst thereof in the garden of paradise his owne image and similitude man I meane who by his soule and the three principall powers thereof should represent the vnitie and trinitie of his maker yea and by his outward shape and forme in some sort likewise represent the inward and consequently though not immediately euen God himselfe Insomuch that as it is said of the portrature of Venus painted by Apelles that none could perfect it but onely Apelles who first began it so likewise was it not possible that any should bring our soule to her first perfection but only God who was her first Creator Hence it is that like as he who defaceth the image or statua of an earthly Prince is iustly condemned of high treason so a fortiori who depraueth his owne nature and by offending his maker depriueth it of grace the which is the seale signe and similitude of the diuine power nature and maiestie is worthily condemned of high treason against the same power and maiestie The third motiue why God created man to his image and similitude may be this to the end that all corporall things might be subiect and each after their manner seruiceable to man as who of all other creatures was the expresse similitude of their lord and maker vnto which it seemeth that God did allude when he said vnto Noe the feare of you and the