Selected quad for the lemma: reason_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
reason_n	divine_a	faith_n	revelation_n	3,413	5	9.3938	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50303	Tri-unity, or, The doctrin of the Holy Trinity asserted in a discourse on 2 Cor. XIII. XIV / by Isaac Mauduit ...	Mauduit, Isaac.	1694 (1694)	Wing M1334; ESTC R32420	18,315	57

therefore be three distinct Persons subsisting in one divine Essence These Three are One i. e agreeing in their Testimony and united in their Nature The Father Son and Holy Ghost enjoy the same Substance in an inseparable equality We have but one God because there is but one Godhead and the Elect are related to One whom we also believe to be Three One is not less God than the other nor are they separated in Will or divided in Power But there is one undivided Deity in several Persons As if there were three Suns cohering there would be one Commixture of Light Jesus Christ did not say I am the Father but I am in the Father Nor did he assert I and the Father am one but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are one John 10.30 That we might not exclude the Son from the Godhead nor confound him with the Father I and my Father are one One in the Dignity of the Deity because God begat God One in Kingdom both reigning over the same Subjects One in Will and Operation Cyril We acknowledge one God the Father of himself and unbegotten One Son begotten of the Father and one Spirit having his Subsistence of God of the same Nature and Glory the same in all things except this That he is not unbegotten as the Father nor begotten as the Son He that begat only knows him that is begotten and none knows the Father but the Son Believe that God had a Son but how do not curiously enquire It suffices to understand that God had only one Son naturally begotten who did not begin to be when born in Bethlehem but was before the World Mic. 5.2 Out of thee shall he come forth that is to be Ruler in Israel whose goings forth have been of old from everlasting More is not revealed nor is the Generation of the Son by the Father described Why should any pragmatically search into what is not mention'd We know not all that is written and do we curiously pry into what is not recorded Nescire velle quae magister maximus non docuit erudita est inscientia It 's no shame to be ignorant of what Christ has not discovered or to expect clearer Revelations in another World Where Saints shall know more by the pure illumination of the glorious Trinity and be more modest adoring then the incomprehensible God Father Son and Holy Ghost 3. Natural Reason may not oppose this Truth so confirmed in Divine Revelations Aquinas indeed notes That he that endeavours to prove the Doctrine of the Trinity by the Light of Nature derogates from the Faith 1. As to the Dignity of its Articles being invisible Objects exceeding Humane Reason Heb. 12.1 Faith is the substance of things not seen 2. As to the likelihood of drawing others to the Faith for when any alledges Arguments which are not cogent he becomes the scorn of Infidels who imagin that we do leaning upon such Reasons subscribe the Doctrines on these accounts However our Minds depending on the Divine Authority of the Sacred Revelations may thereby be fully satisfied in this Truth Arguments from Sense may not be insisted on if contrary to Reason e. g. Though some Stars seem to us like Spangles yet Reason corrects such an Opinion by urging their vast distance from us This necessarily infers them to be great Bodies else they would be wholly invisible The Sun appears greater in the Morning or towards its setting than at Noon but the ground hereof is the thickness of the Air. Now as in these Cases the Dictates of Reason do preponderate to the Suggestions of Sense So in the Mysteries of the Gospel we must prefer the Declarations of Faith above the Sentiments of Reason not presently imagining that if a Truth transcends our Capacity it is contrary to our Understanding Use the Maxims of Philosophy in subservience to Divinity keep the old Rules within their proper bounds never think them to be of equal Authority with the Sacred Oracles Ex nihilo nihil sit a privatione ad habitum non datur regressus Limit these Conclusions to a finite Power Admit the interposings of that Arm which subdueth all things to its self then the Creation or Resurrection will not be thought incredible neither wilt thou be amazed that the same numerical Essence is in three distinct Persons By way of Vse 1. How glorious a God do we serve One who is Infinite and Incomprehensible His Ways are unsearchable and his Works past finding out Far less can his Nature Essence Subsistence receive any bounds or be searched out unto perfection Earthly Diadems only incircle the Heads of Princes God's Laws and Men's fundamental Constitutions should keep their Feet within due limits seeing these Potentates are Creatures though of the fairest Character and are finite Beings though they are highly advanced But the God of Glory is under no Obligations or Articles nor can have any Lines drawn round about him by Men or Angels Arbitrary humane Government is very unsafe but the Most High acteth purely by his own Will as being Commensurate with his Council He needs no Rule and his Pleasure is the Supream Reason Sic volo sic jubeo stat pro ratione voluntas 2. See the necessity of studying something of this Doctrine Without a knowledge of this Truth we cannot worship God aright The Father Son and Holy Ghost are the Object of Divine Faith and of Gospel Adoration Neither may we direct our Addresses to either of these glorious Persons but as united to one another We confess there is but one God yet must be acquainted with Him as he is in Christ else in Prayer we can have no confidence Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. Some knowledge of the Trinity is necessary to Salvation and all baptized Persons profess their belief in the Father Son and Holy Ghost which Declaration implies An acknowledgment that the Father Son and Holy Spirit are one true Coeternal God one in Essence though three in an incom prehensible manner A Confession that Jesus is God-man the Saviour of the World With an hearty yielding up our selves to that God who in his Covenant reveals and offers himself under the Relation of our God as an appeased Father reconciling Redeemer and sanctifying Spirit Or as St. Aug. explains it We believe Father Son and Holy Ghost to be one God the universal Creatour and Sovereign Also that the Father is not the Son nor the blessed Spirit either the Father or the Son Sed Trinitatem relatarum ad invicem Personarum unitatem aequalis essentiae A Trinity of Persons related to one another equally united in the same Nature 3. Bless God for revealing this Mystery it not being discernible by the Light of Nature The Pagan Philosophers had no true Notions of God as the Author Object Matter or Way to Eternal Life nor any right Apprehensions of the blessed Trinity This glorious Article of Vnity in Trinity was hid from them The wiser of the Heathen had some dark and

sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the manner of subsisting 6. Take heed of denying the Trinity To disown this Article is of all Opinions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A most desperate Tenent striking at the Root of all Religion Heresie is Smoak arising out of the bottomless Pit and is commonly vented by some Star that fell from Heaven When an Eminent Man in the Church Apostatizes from the Faith the Key of the Infernal Pit is then in Judgment given to him Satan cannot utter such Blasphemies by himself but may by his Instruments Such therefore making a Defection from the Truth are given over to the efficacy of Deceit venting the Doctrine of Hell and publishing the Depths of Satan Rev. 8.10 11. Pelagius perhaps was this Ecclesiastical Star who falling from his Profession poyson'd and ruin'd many Souls with his corrupt Opinions The Devil loves to Roar like a Lion or to raise Persecution against the Church But if this be not feasible he casts out a Flood of Errour to drown the Truth or to darken Spiritual Light Here it may be proper to hear what Arius objected against this Doctrine If there be Three Persons in the Godhead they are something or nothing If nothing there can be no ground of Distinction Nam non entis nullae sunt affectiones nulla praedicata If something then there was somewhat from Eternity which was not God If they are Finite then something in God is limited If Infinite then there are Three Infinites which cannot be in one God Ans 1. The Scriptures positively Assert There is but one God 1 Cor. 8.4 Yet the Sacred Oracles mention the Father Son and Holy Ghost affirming them to be Three therefore they are distinguish'd from one another 1 John 5.7 To all these the Godhead is attributed with the Essential Divine Properties We read of God the Father 1 Cor. 8.6 the same Word who was Incarnate is God John 1.1 The Holy Spirit he dwells in the Hearts of the Faithful all over the World therefore he is Omnipresent He changes the Heart and is thereby Almighty He supplies with Influences and Graces daily He teacheth them to Pray and helps their Infirmities which things none can do but God Moreover these Three are said to be One 1 John 5.7 1. Because the Divine Essence is One. Further something is ascribed to One which cannot be applied to Another e. g. The Father is not the Son nor begotten the Word was made Flesh dwelt amongst us and was sent so was not the Father Hence they are plainly distinct although one God 2. We think it not strange that the same Person should be a Man and a Father in different respects Why may not this be believed of the Godhead The Gospel remarks several Actions ad intra from whence arise the Relative Properties of the Blessed Trinity e. g. The Father begets the Son is begotten the Holy Ghost proceeds from both If then the Demand be What a Divine Person is The Answer here is ready It is the Divine Essence invested with its distinct Propriety Thus the Father Son and Holy Ghost are all Infinite as having an Infinite Essence 3. Though we could not express the manner of Subsistence in these Three glorious Persons yet we might be satisfied in the Scripture Records If we cannot demonstrate how Three should be One and One Three yet we may not bring the Revelations of God to the determinations of our crooked blind presumptuous Arguings Curious Inquiries into the Things of God are not agreeing with the nature of Faith nor becoming true Christians Let no Man spoil you through Philosophy Col. 2 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making a Prize of you carrying you away as Pirates do the Goods of others which they Seize Philosophy in its best improvement is raised or sanctified Reason and is excellently useful as an Hand-maid to Religion but it is vain when it steps out of its Place to ascend the Throne as a Judge of divine Truth In matters proper to it self it may be regarded Sed cum pronuntiat de rebus ad fidem spectantibus explodienda This was the ground of the ancient Heresies the debasing of the holy Scriptures to the Dictates of carnal Reason Believers ought not to measure sacred Mysteries by Humane Apprehensions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but according to the intention of the Spirit 's Doctrin Did any enquire into the manner of uniting the two Natures in Christ we should confess our Ignorance yet we believe upon God's discovery what our Tongues cannot express or our Understandings comprehend So Justin Martyr speaks Tho I cannot describe the Vnion yet I believe it on the Authority of God tho I am in the dark as to those things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which I cannot perfectly Vnderstand nor Declare 7. Exercise Faith Love and Assurance on all the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity 1. Faith Father Son and Holy Ghost are the supream and ultimate Object of our Faith and the actings of this Grace are Imperfect if it takes not in all its Objects Your Obedience is suspicious if you overlook the weighty things of the Law tho you may be diligent in less Duties And your Faith may be question'd if it hath only an eye on inferior Blessings without regarding the Personal Promises of the Gospel Here Note 1. All the Persons are especially concerned in saving Sinners having the same Nature Hence What One Acts the Others do likewise Joh. 5.19 Yet there are peculiar Works attributed to each Person When you think of Election remember God the Father when you meditate on Redemption six your Eye on God the Son when your Minds do study the Work of Sanctification forget not the Holy Ghost These three Considerations are joyned in one Verse 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus 2. The design of the Gospel is not only to make known and Glorifie the Divine Attributes e. g. his Justice and Mercy but also to Magnifie the Trinity in the Hearts of Believers And the Three Persons are not so much Honour'd by receiving of Spiritual Benefits from them in Common as in our special noticing of their distinct Works that in such Blessings the Person from whom they come may be highly Exalted in the Soul Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly Places in Christ 3. The Works of Grace do follow the Order of subsisting in the Glorious Trinity The Benefits in the Covenant of Grace are attributed to God the Father as First In Order of Nature and next They are ascribed to the Son Hence Adoption which is the Father's Act is conceived by some to be the first Spiritual Blessing receiv'd before Redemption or Sanctification 2. Manifest your Love towards all these Glorious Persons It will be the Honour and Pleasure of Saints to be with