Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A20786
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The divine lanthorne, or, A sermon preached in S. Pauls Church appointed for the crosse the 17. of July M.DC.XXXCI. by Thomas Drant of Shaston in Com. Dorset.
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Drant, Thomas, b. 1601 or 2.
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1637
(1637)
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STC 7164.3; ESTC S4093
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30,788
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62
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know with Augustine that GOD is unitas divinitatis personarum pluralitate multiplex that there is a glorious Trinity in Unity in which the Father is to be adored as being altogether of Himselfe the Sonne to be glorified as that Consubstantiall Word and the HOLY GHOST ever to be blessed and magnified as that Coessentiall Spirit eternally proceeding from both I know not 't is a depth I dare not dive it how there is one Essence of three persons or three persons of one Essence and yet not one GOD of three persons or three persons of one GOD that GOD hath a Sonne equall with Him out of the wombe of everlastingnesse GOD essentially as He I believe this but how He who made the world was borne how a Sonne and yet one eternall with the Father or not after Him in time here I say with Ambrose in Lombard mens deficit vox silet non mea tantum sed Angelorum how can I but be dumbe where the tongues of Angels stutter how not entranc'd when the glorious Cherubims clap their wings for who shall declare His generation that the HOLY GHOST is not the Fathers alone nor the Sonnes alone but proceeds equally from both I subscribe here how this Spirit of Truth comes from the Father and is of one substance with Him yet may not be said to be borne nor cal'd the Sonne of GOD or how the Son of GOD comes from the Father yet may not be said to proceed nor be cal'd the HOLY GHOST Augustine here makes a proud knowledge strike saile to a devout ignorance distinguish betwixt that generation there and this procession here nescio non valeo non sufficio I know not J cannot it is not within the kenn of my skill And what Vaticans have we read what Antiquity have we traded with or had commerce with what Histories what fasts have pin'd us what prayers have we breath'd out that we should stand and not shake when the grand pillars of the Church shrink or unlock those misteries the Seraphins have no key for canst thouby searching finde out GOD or know the Almighty unto perfection let it be the pride of others to tread this maze I shall as soone measure Heaven with my span or weigh the smoake or catch the winde in a seive or shadow the Sun with my palme as soone I will plow the waters and sow my hopes there for as thy judgements O LORD so thy nature is a great depth Most men cracke of their knowledge of GOD and whereas Saint Paul rapt up into Heaven saw things he could not speake these will speake things they never saw 't is indeed the Epidemicall disease of the Age we had rather be Rabbies than Saints rather eate of the tree of knowledge than the tree of life nor care many to loose GOD in the practike exercise of piety whilest they seeke Him in the speculative niceties of the Schooles GOD lookes for I dare say more conscience than most men have askes lesse science than most men brag of knowledge 't is true is the soules eye the mistresse to guide the life to vertue a Mercury to point the roade to goodnesse when it doth so I prize it above Rubies and say the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver and the gaine-thereof than fine gold but that which fires the braine warmes not the heart which disjoin'd from grace doth floate in some frothy notions and seeke the applause onely of a dexterous wit and voluble tongue who would fraught his ship with such drossie oare or stay for that gayle which cannot waft him to Heaven in that day when all knowledge shall vanish away where will be the scribe where the disputer where the wise a dramme of devotion will then outweigh a pound of discourse one worke of mercy turne the scale to the whole library of Aristotle Some talke over the series and descents of all times as if they had beene made with the first Adam and with such perfum'd breaths in such richnesse of language as if myrh and pearles dropt from their lips but at that Assize the laurell and crowne will be charities Come yee blessed I was naked and yee clothed me I was hungry and yee fed me I was sicke and yee visited me What ever tympany of knowledge swels others grant me O LORD to know thee savingly So inspire us all as to obey thee in thy Word not curiously prie into thy nature what ever Art wee would be graduats in thou stand'st in the forefront of the Schoole and bidst us learne thee first ere we turne over a new leafe but how learne thee learne to awe thee for thy power to trust thee for thy truth to dread thee for thy justice to depend on thee for thy providence love thee for thy mercies feare thee for thy love reverence thee for thy goodnesse and for thy tender compassions take the cup of salvation and sing praise unto thee we beg not to see thy face nor view thee as thou art Moses that standard of examples could not thy back-parts are enough the least twilight or ray of thee enough to seale up our happines unto us and enhaunce it thy Name is so appareld with Majesty such mistery is shrin'd in it that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with some ineffable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with others indicible with many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ineloquible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all obscure and unknowne what it is what brightnesse than is in thy selfe O GOD what mists too about thee I say no more thou art Light and because so great a Light not to be seene of any and thus much of the first propertie betwixt GOD and Light the imperceptibility of them both The second property betwixt GOD and Light is the delight somenesse and comfort of either Light is a most lovely and amiable qualitie haud scio an rerū coelestium ulla sit excellentior luce So Scaliger it beautifies Heaven it selfe the Sun would be but a blind heape but for the light of the Sun GOD from this treasury would enrich the whole world and therefore made it the store-house of Light in the Creation the day which is the child of Light Plato will have it so cal'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to long after let the Preacher interpret the Etymon Light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun the worth of this benefit they can truly prize who live in disconsolate dungeons fast bound in fetters and irons what were the world without it how confus'd how formelesse what more comfort in it than in the grave what joy can I have asks blind Tobit when I sit in darknesse and do not see the Light of Heaven GOD is in this respect Light the Light and serenity of His countenance is the onely happinesse of man in His favour is life