conceive Lomb. 1. Sent. Dist. 37. 31 Neither yet must we conceive that God is as it were diffused through space of places by any corporeall substance so that he is half in one part of the world and half in the other and all in all But he is all in heaven all in earth every where all in himself and contained in no place August Epist. 57. ad Dard. 32 Neither yet suffereth he mixture with other things nor is infected by other things But he is within all creatures and yet not included without all creatures and yet not excluded 33 The Goodnesse Wisdome and Power of God is understood by his Providence over the creatures His Mercie Justice and Truth by the Government of the world whereby those which were more wise amongst the Gentiles were brought to acknowledge all these 34 In the book of Scripture concerning these and other attributes of God there are testimonies extant for number more for authoritie more waightie and for perspicuitie more cleare 35 Forasmuch as God is Immutable therefore these Attributes of God are not qualities in God but they are the very Essence of God Wisdome is not any thing superadded unto Gods Essence but his very Essence 36 There is nothing in God which is not God himself Bern. Serm. 80. sup Cant. 37 Let us understand if we can and as farre as we are able That God is Good without Qualitie Great without Quantitie Creatour without Indigencie Present without Position of place Containing all things without Habit Every where all without Place Everlasting without Time Making all things mutable and yet himself Immutable and suffering in nothing August 5. de Trin. cap. 1. 38 That there is One onely true God The Catholike Church beleeveth professeth being taught it of God himself in the Holy Scriptures 39 With this Vnitie of unities that I may so speak in the Divine Essence the Trinitie of Persons doth well agree without repugnancie The Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost are that One onely true God 40 We say that there are Three Persons but not to the prejudice of the Vnitie in Essence We say that there is One God but not to the confounding of the Trinitie Bern. lib. 5. ad Eugen. 41 Doest thou demand how this can be Let it be sufficient for thee to beleeve that it is so To make search beyond the bounds and limits of the word it is Rashnes To beleeve that it is so as it is said it is Pietie To know it it is Life eternall Bern. l. d. 42 The Essence of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost is all one but to be the Father and the Sonne and the Holy Ghost is not all one 43 I and my Father are one saith the Sonne Joh. 10.30 In that he saith One he hath respect to the Vnitie of Essence and delivereth thee from Arius In that he saith Are in the plurall number he hath respect unto the Distinction of Persons and delivereth thee from Sabellius August lib. 5. de Trin. c. 9. 44 Neither must we so think upon One God as to forget the glorie and brightnesse of the Three Persons Nor must we so distinguish the Three Persons but that still we have our thoughts upon One God Nazianz. Serm. de Sacr. Bapt. 45 Let us beleeve one Divinitie without separation of confusion distinct So that we neither think that there is a single Person in the Trinitie nor a threefold substance in the Unitie but so assigne a Pluralitie unto the Unitie that we take not an equalitie from the Trinitie August Serm. 29. de temp 46 The Father is made of none neither created nor begotten nor proceeding The Sonne is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Sonne neither made nor created nor begotten but proceeding Athanas. in Symb. 47 We must so avoid in these divine matters the name of diversitie that we take not away the Vnitie of Essence We must avoid the name of Separation and Division that we take not away the Simplicitie of the Divine Essence We must avoid the name of Disparitie that we take not away the Equalitie of Persons We must avoid the name of Alienietie or Discrepancie that we take not away the Identitie of Essence We must avoid the name of Singularitie that we weaken not the Deitie which being but One is common to the Three Persons 48 We must so avoid Termes of Vnitie that we take not away the Number of Persons We must so avoid Termes of Confusion that we take not away the Order of Persons We must so avoid the name of Solitarie that we take not away the Fellowship of the Three Persons Th. p. 1. q. 31. art 2. 49 It is well said by S. Augustine that the Essence is predicated of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost but neither as a Genus of his Species nor as a Species of an Individuum nor as the Whole of its Parts but after another ineffable and incomprehensible manner 50 We must not therefore denie the Sonne to be Eternall because he is begotten of the Father For he is begotten from all Eternitie 51 The Eternall Father begetteth the Eternall Sonne 52 We must understand the Begetting of the Sonne without passion without time without flowing without separation Damasc. lib. 1. Orthod fid c. 8. 53 Notwithstanding the Sonne is properly said to be begotten The Word is properly the Sonne of God And therefore he is truely properly begotten of the Father 54 But observe both here and elsewhere whatsoever is translated from the creatures unto God is first to be purged from all imperfections and then at length that which is perfect is to be attributed unto God Zanch. 6. de trib Elohim cap. 7. 55 The sayings of the ancients That the Sonne proceeded out of the intellect or minde of his Father are not bitterly to be inveighed against for they intended chiefly to shew his impassibilitie in that he was begotten Nazianz. Orat. 2. de Filio Basil. sup 1. Joan. 56 Neither yet are these things to be stretched too farre but piously they ought to be expounded 57 To speak worthily of the Persons it surpasseth the strength of reason and goeth beyond the wit of man What it is to be Begotten what it is to Proceed I professe I know not Rob. Holcoth q. 10. determin referent Biel. 1. Sent. dist 13. q. un 58 Let us gather from what hath been said this Definition GOD is a Spirituall Essence Simple Intelligent Eternall True Good Just Holy Chast Mercifull Most free of Infinite Wisdome Power another from all creatures of the world and all bodies The Father Eternall who of his own Essence from all Eternitie begot the Sonne his substantiall Image And the Sonne begotten of his Father from all Eternitie And the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne Creatour and Conserver of all things Redeemer and sanctifier of the Church one
it terrifieth us and prescribeth unto us the rule of well-doing 35 The Gospel is the doctrine of faith which pointeth at Christ our Mediatour who hath made satisfaction for our sinnes and raiseth up the conscience of man 36 The practise of the Law and the Gospel consisteth in true Repentance 37 Whereunto there is required Contrition to be wrought in us by the Law and Faith by the Gospel 38 Faith apprehendeth the Righteousnesse of Christ offered in the word of the Gospel by which man after Contrition wrought in him by the voice of the Law is justified before God and beginneth to be renewed by the receiving of the Holy Ghost 39 For by faith our hearts are purified Acts 15.9 40 Therefore the fruits of true Repentance are good works 41 For Faith worketh by Love Gal. 5.6 And Christ giveth unto us not onely his righteousnesse but also his Holy Spirit which beginneth to renew our nature and bridle in us the concupiscences of the flesh 42 Of Good works there are three ranks some have respect unto God some unto Our selves and others unto our Neighbours 43 For the Summe of Pietie and Christian Religion is this That we live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2.12 44 The Sacraments are the Seals of the word appointed for the confirming and strengthening of our Faith And they are the Visible word 45 Such in the Old Testament were Circumcision and the Paschal Lambe and such in the New Testament are Baptisme and the Lords Supper 46 By the Audible and Visible word God gathereth together his Church here on earth 47 Whereof there are three Hierarchies ranks or orders The Ecclesiasticall Politicall and Oeconomicall 48 Of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie the Pope of Rome makes himself Monarch and Head 49 But inasmuchas he setteth himself against Christ he makes himself Antichrist 50 The Ministerie of the word or the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie is ordained at this day by a mediate vocation 51 The Politicall Hierarchie comprehendeth Magistrates both inferiour and superiour 52 Vnto the Oeconomicall Hierarchie belongeth Matrimonie which is as I may so call it a certain Seminarie or Nurserie of the Church 53 God in this life puts his Church under the Crosse and that for many waightie and urgent reasons 54 But at length he will glorifie it in the life to come being delivered and freed from all enemies from all evills perills and dangers 55 Death and the Last Judgement without going through any Purgatorie is to the godly and those that beleeve the entrance into everlasting life 56 But the ungodly and unbeleevers shall at length be cast into everlasting fire CHAP. II. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning the HOLY SCRIPTURE 1 THe onely Principle of Theologie is The WORD of God contained in Holy Scripture 2 By the name of Holy Scripture properly and strictly taken we understand the books of the Old and New Testament which undoubtedly are Propheticall and Apostolicall 3 Which also are called Canonicall because they are a full and perfect Canon or Rule of the knowledge of God and his worship 4 Such in the Old Testament are Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomie Joshua Judges Ruth two books of Samuel two of the Kings two of the Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job the Psalmes the Proverbs Ecclesiastes the Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezechiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zachariah Malachi 5 The rest of the books of the Old Testament are called by S. Jerome Apocrypha because they were neither wrote by the Prophets nor received by the Jews for Canonicall 6 Again they want the testimonie of Christ and his Apostles 7 Moreover by the most approved Councells and Fathers they are reckoned without the Canon 8 And besides there is to be found in many of them places either expresly repugnant to the Canonicall Scripture or else peccant against the truth of Historie and Chronologie or else Contradictorie one to the other 9 In the New Testament those are called Canonicall which at all times and by all the Churches have been received without doubting for Apostolicall truely and certainly so called 10 Such are The Gospell according to S. Matthew Mark Luke and John the Acts of the Apostles the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes two to the Corinthians one to the Galatians one to the Ephesians one to the Philippians one to the Colossians two to the Thessalonians two to Timothie one to Titus one to Philemon the First of Peter and the First of John 11 The rest have not been heretofore received by all with such a common consent as the former in which respect they are called by some Apocrypha 12 Such are the Epistle to the Hebrews the Epistle of James the Second of Peter the Second and Third of John the Epistle of Jude and the Revelation of John 13 But forasmuch as most of the ancients do not so much doubt of their Primarie authour which is the Holy Ghost as of their Secundarie authours therefore for their Authoritie I willingly suffer them to be equall with the Canonicall neither will I contend with any man about this matter 14 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2. Tim. 3.16 And holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1.21 Neither spake they onely but they wrote also 15 The same word of God which with a lively voice was preached and preserved unwritten for a long time in the Old Testament and likewise in the New Testament but not so long The same word I say was afterwards by the will of God written and became Scripture Iren. lib. 3. cap. 1. 16 Therefore between the word of God preached and the word written we make no reall difference 17 For it is but an Accident unto the word of God either to be preached or to be written 18 But although the Prophets and Apostles moved by the Holy Ghost have not wrote their whole sermons yet they have made such a choice of what they wrote that it is sufficient for the salvation of those that beleeve August tract 49. in Joan. 19 And therefore we say that the Holy Scripture is perfect and containeth in it all things necessarie for those that strive for the prize of eternall life which is set before them both for the instructing of them in the faith and the informing them in life 20 That it is perfect it is proved by evident testimonie 2. Tim. 3.16 and 17. where it is said that the Holy Scripture is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works And therefore also the Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation 2. Tim. 3.15 21 Seeing therefore that which is Profitable in relation to Indigency and want is taken two wayes either for that which of it self alone is All-sufficient excluding all want or else for
therefore It is to be interpreted of it self and by it self 52 For that which is perfect ought not to be patched with things of another kinde and that which is perspicuous of it self doth not stand in need of anothers light 53 Yet notwithstanding the Scripture is of it self perspicuous the blinde eyes of our understanding are dazled at the light of it 54 Whosoever therefore will take in hand to interpret Scripture let him with earnest prayers and grones desire to have his understanding enlightened by the Holy Ghost 55 Let the glory of God and the instruction of men unto salvation be the supreme law of interpretation 56 And seeing that every head of celestiall doctrine is in Scripture in one place or other therefore let the interpretation of other places be conformable unto it So shall the Analogie or proportion of faith be kept Rom. 12.6 57 Observe diligently the naturall significations of words 58 In matters of doubt have recourse unto the fountains the Hebrew in the Old Testament and the Greek in the New 59 Have respect and regard to the scope of every word to the circumstances to that which goes before and that which follows after 60 Let the obscurer and fewer places of Scripture be expounded by those that are more cleare and more in number 61 Depart not from the letter in articles of faith especially unlesse the Scripture it self sheweth some impropriety of speech and also expound it 62 Use the writings of the Fathers for an help to leade thee by the hand as it were in the interpretation of the Scripture but see that thou usest them aright 63 Yet count them not for Canonicall but examine them by the Canonicall What in them is agreeable unto the authoritie of divine Scripture embrace with due commendation of them what is not agreeable by their leave reject and refuse August lib. 2. cont Cresc cap. 32. CHAP. III. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning GOD. THe chief end of all the Scripture is To know God and worship him being known 2 From him alone are all things and To him alone are all things 3 That there is a God even the book of Nature sheweth For The world is the school of the knowledge of God Basil. in Hexam 4 The leaves of this book are especially three Heaven Earth Sea and all things therein contained as Clemens Alexandrinus speaketh 5 But there is a more certain evident and perspicuous knowledge to be fetcht out of the book of holy Scripture 6 The eyes of our understanding are blinded by our fall and from thence it is that we cannot so readily make progresse and proficiency in the book of Nature 7 The end of that Naturall knowledge of God is according to the Apostle To seek the Lord Acts 17.27 8 Nature herself confesseth that her book is imperfect and therefore she must as it were leade us by the hand to finde out a more perfect revelation in the Church 9 The Essence of God transcendeth all created things Therefore the perfect knowledge of God surpasseth all understanding God is incomprehensible so saith Damascen lib. 1. Orth. â—id cap. 1. 10 And from hence it follows That as God is a Spirit above all and cannot properly be found out or comprehended by any understanding So likewise he cannot be defined or determined by any definition August de cogn ver vit cap. 7. 11 We cannot in any words so fully expresse what God is as by confessing our ignorance That we know not what God is Scal. Exerc. 365. Sect. 2. 12 What therefore God would have hidden from us that must we not search into But yet notwithstanding so much as he hath manifested unto us by revealing of himself we must in no wise neglect for fear lest we be found on one side more curious then is lawfull on the other side damnably ingratefull Ambros. 1. de vocat Gent. cap. 7. 13 God gave being unto all things Therefore he is the first chief and independent Being 14 He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is He hath his Being from himself Scal. He is a Being above all beings Dionys lib. 1. de divinis nom cap. 1. 15 He is the Essence of all essences the Creatour of all creatures the Life of all lives the Cause of all causes 16 He it is that giveth all unto all but receiveth not ought from any 17 Above him is nothing without him is nothing beneath him is nothing Vnder him is all in him is all with him is all From him are all things by him are all things in him are all things Aug. de Spec. cap. 33. 18 Between the Essence of God and the essence of the creatures there is an infinite difference Gods Essence is after a singular peculiar and supereminent manner 19 God is a Spirit John 4.24 A Spirit hath not flesh and bones Luke 24.39 Therefore God is incorporeall 20 Whatsoever corporeal things are attributed unto God they are to be understood as it beseemeth the majestie of God not properly spoken but by an Anthropopathie a figure by which that is improperly said to be in God which properly belongeth unto man 21 God condescendeth unto us that we may ascend up unto him and seeing that we are men he vouchsafeth to speak unto us after the manner of men 22 The Scripture by things corporeall teacheth us spirituall and likewise by things visible things that are invisible 23 So God is said to have Eyes which are over the just an Hand by which he giveth food unto all flesh Feet whose footstool the earth is All these are in God in Effect not in Affect Bern. Serm. 4. sup Cant. 24 He is therefore All-eye because he seeth all All-hand because he worketh all All-foot because he is every where August sup Psalm 136. 25 God is Eternall without beginning or end From him are all things but he is from nothing He is subject to no change or succession He alone it is that can say I AM THAT I AM. Exod. 3.14 26 If God had a beginning then he should be subject unto change But he is uncreated without time without beginning without end not subject to alteration Therefore he is truly Eternall 27 But if God be without change or alteration he is also void of all composition whatsoever 28 He alone is truly and properly Simple Besides him all things else are compounded At least Ex Actu Potentia Ex esse Essentia as the School speaks 29 The Essence of God is not onely most Simple but also most Infinite and Immense God is present with all things not onely by his Power by which he conserveth all things but also by his Essence by which he is present with all things created after a more neare and intimate manner then they are with themselves 30 In those words in which it is said That God is every where by his Essence we are to beleeve that there is more contained then any living man is able to
How that by the counsail of the most sacred and Holy Trinitie Christ both God and Man was appointed to be our Mediaâ—our and Redeemer 24 And againe How that Christ by his most holy obedienâ—e hath perfectly fulfilled the Law for us and merited the grace of God remission of sinnes the gift of the Holy Spirit righteousnesse and life eternall for the whole world 25 And againe How that those benefits obtained by Christ are applied unto those that beleeve and are bestowed meerely of grace 26 Therefore because the preaching of this Doctrine bringeth with it most plentifull matter of â—oy The Prophets and Apostles the better to expresse it have made choyse of these two words Bisser and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifie good tidings 27 Some derive Bisser from Basar signifying flesh which signifieth To declare fleshy and soft things 28 Others give another reason of the name because Bisser signifies To declare joy unto all flesh 29 That so the condition and nature of this doctrine may be declared· How that in it all good things are freely offered unto us 39 And againe That the condition of the hearers thereof may be expressed How that they are flesh and so subject to many infirmities and therefore must not in any case neglect this so great salvation offered by God 31 Bisser and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 words of good tidings are commonly used when we heare of enemies put to flight from whome there was great feare of imminent and apparent danger and likewise when it is declared that peace is restored 1 Sam. 4.17 1 Sam. 31.9 2 Sam. 1.20 2 Sam. 4.10 2 Sam. 18.19 32 So the Gospell declareth unto us That God hath delivered us out of the hands of our enemies Luk. 1.74 That he hath delivered us from the power of darknesse Colos. 1.13 That he hath spoiled principalities and powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them Col. â— 15 33 Bisser and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are also used when tidings are brought that a Child is borne Jerem. 20.15 34 So in the Gospell good tidings are brought unto us Vnto us a Child is borne unto us a Son is â—iven Isai. 9.6 As many as received â—im to them gave he power to beâ—ome the sons of God even to those that â—eleeve on his name Ioh. 1.12 That â—o through him we might receive the adoption of sonnes Galat. 3.5 35 Again these words are used when deliverance is declared unto captives and consolation to those that mourn Isai. 61.1 2. 36 So in the Gospell it is deâ—clared unto us That Christ hath sent forth the Prisoners out of the 〈◊〉 wherein is no water Zach. 9.11 37 Hence is that most joyfulâ— Acclamation Isai. 40.1 Comfort 〈◊〉 comfort ye my people saith your God 2. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusaâ—lem and cry unto her That her warreâ—fare is accomplished 38 Hence also flow these sweâ—â— Elogies appellations of this Doctrine to wit That it is The Gospeâ—â— of the grace of God Acts 20.24 The knowledge of salvation Luâ— 1.77 The word of the kingdome Matth. 13.19 The power of God 〈◊〉 to salvation to every one that beleâ—â—veth Rom. 1.16 The word of lifâ— Acts 5.20 Philip. 2.16 The woâ—â— of eternall life John 6.68 The word of salvation Acts 13.26 The word of reconciliation 2. Cor. 5.19 The law of the spirit of life Rom. 8.2 The Gospell of our salvation Ephes. 1.13 The promise of inheriting or heirship Rom. 4.13 A well of water springing up into everlasting life John 4.14 Green pastures still waters Psal. 23.2 A table prepared a cup that runneth over 5. A rodde and staffe 4. The savour of life unto life 2. Cor. 2.16 39 Therefore that joyfull voice of the Gospell is not to be changed into the voice of the Law accusing and terrifying 40 Which thing they do whosoever dispute that the Law delivereth imperfect precepts onely concerning outward works to be performed out of fear And that the Gospell sets before us precepts more severe more excellent and perfect 41 As if the Law were not long ago a yoke which our fathers were not able to beare Acts 15.10 The yoke of burden the staffe of the shoulder the rodde of the oppressour Isai. 9.6 insomuch that we stood in need of another Lawgiver 42 Therefore we are to seek out other differences of the Law and the Gospell which the Scripture expresseth thus 43 The Law is in some sort known by nature Rom. 2.14.15 The Gospel is a mysterie altogether hidden from our reason Rom. 16.25 1. Cor. 2.7 Ephes. 1.9 Coloss. 1.26 44 The Law is the doctrine of works and preacheth unto us what we are to do The Gospel is the doctrine of faith and preacheth unto us what is already done that is declareth unto us That Christ hath performed for us what the Law requires Rom. 8.4 45 The Law requires of every man perfect obedience to all Gods commandments But the Gospell requires faith teaching us to beleeve on Christ our Mediatour 46 The Law hath concluded all under sinne Galat. 3.22 That all the world may become guilty before God Rom. 3.19 The Law worketh wrath Rom. 4.15 It makes us subject to the curse Galat. 3.10 Therefore it is the ministerie of death and condemnation But the Gospell is the word of salvation peace and reconciliation 47 Therefore the doctrine both of the Law and of the Gospell is busied about sinne but yet in a different manner 48 The Law layeth open accuseth and condemneth sinne But the Gospell pointeth at him which made satisfaction for sinne And therefore it covereth taketh away and remitteth sinne 49 The promises of the Law require perfect obedience of works But the promises of the Gospell are of free grace 50 Hereupon it is that the promises of the Law do nothing profit us by reason of the weaknesse of our flesh Rom. 8.3 But in Christ all the promises of God are Yea and Amen 2. Cor. 1.20 51 The Law sheweth unto us what are good works but it doth not give us strength and power to do them The Gospell containeth the promise of the Spirit of renovation which writeth the Law in our hearts Jerem. 31.33 52 Both these benefits therefore to wit of Justification and Renovation belong unto the Gospell Grace and the gift by Grace the imputation of Christs righteousnesse and the donation of the Holy Ghost 53 But yet they are not to be confounâ—ed neither is Justification to be placed in Renovation for Renovation is the consequent of Justification and not the cause 54 For God doth not receive us into grace and justifie us for our Renovation or Inchoate obedience but being justified and received into grace he reneweth us by his holy Spirit that our obedience according to the Law may be Inchoate 55 Which Inchoate obedience although it be imperfect and many waies polluted and defiled Yet the Gospell teacheth us that it pleaseth God in as many as are justified by faith in Christ. 56 The Law is