is no more able to expresse all the Mysteries and most excellent points that we might collect and learne from the Incarnation of Christ then one poor fisher man is able to catch all the fishes in the ocean sea And therefore thus much shall suffice concerning this discourse of the Incarnation Birth Life Death Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who is as hath been proved the true and promised Messiah the only son of God the brightnesse of his glory the expresse image of his Person heire of all things Heb. 1.2.3.4 c. more excellent then the Angels having honour glory Power strength Praise 2 Pet. 1.17 Rev. 5.12 Colos 2.3.1.18 Psal 2.8 Eph. 1.20.21.22 Psal 72.8.17 Phil. 2 9. Dignity Riches and Wisdome yea all treasures of knowledge and wisdome the heathen for his inheritance the Earth for his possessions and the Heavenly places for his seate far above all Power Might Dominion and Principalities with a Name given him above all Names at which every knee should bow c. Being the second Person in Trinity begotten of his Father from Eternity Gal. 4.4 in one Person the Son of God and very man Man Non exeundo quod habuit sed induendo quod non habuit not by loosing that he had but by accepting what hee had not our miserable nature conceived of a Virgin by the Holy Ghost called of his Father ever since the fall of Adam to be a Mediator between God and man desired of the Patriarchs prefigured in the Law foretold by the Prophets accomplished in the time of Grace manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 seen of Angells preached unto the Gentiles beleeved on in the world and received up into Glory For man hee became a King to rule a Prophet to teach and Priest to sacrifice CHAP. III. OF THE HOLY GHOST Wherein the greatnesse of Gods goodness doth appeare WHEN we think upon the infinite goodnesse of the great Jehovah how gracious he is in all respects amiable in himselfe placable unto men liberall unto all his creatures none is so stupid and dull as not to admire it in him such is the never-dying streams of the goodness of God it is like a boundlesse Ocean there is no end of his Goodnesse and therefore Saint Bernard in admiration thereof breaketh forth into these heavenly acclamations saying Quam dives es in misericordia magnificus in Justitia munificus in gratia Domine Deus noster O how rich art thou in mercy how magnificent in Justice and how bountifull in Grace O Lord our God! For thou art a most liberall bestower of heavenly gifts Nam tu munerator copiosissimus remunerator aequissimus liberator piissimus Bernard a most righteous Rewarder of humane workes and a most gracious Deliverer of all that trust in thee yea so great is the goodnesse of God it is beyond expression beyond our imagination our words are beneath our thoughts and our thoughts far lower then the truth thereof Deut. 32.49 52. Yet as Moses from the top of Mount Nebo beheld the borders of the land of Canaan so if you please to ascend with me to the Mount of Contemplation I will shew you some glimpses of Gods goodnesses Certaine glimpses or shadowes of Gods goodness for he elected us before we were he created us of nothing hee redeemed us when we were lost hee preserveth us being found and that hee might bring us to eternall life hee hath given us the Author and Fountain of all temporall and spirituall gifts even the holy Ghost What the holy Ghost is 1 Joh. 5.7 Joh 15.26 Gal. 4.6 Psal 139.7 who is the third Person of the true and only God-head proceeding from the Father and the Son and co-eternall coquall and consubstantiall with them both Mat. 28.19 Isa 6.8.9 Act 28.25.26 He is call'd by the name of spirit proceeding from the Father and the son to shew the Essence and Nature that he is of for as the spirit of man must needs be truly of mans nature and is the most formall and Essentiall part of man 1 Cor. 2.11.12 So and much more it must be thought of the Spirit of God upon whom no Composition falleth And yet some have been so bold as most impiously to affirme that the holy Ghost was but a created quality or a godly motion in the hearts and minds of Righteous man Isa 6.8.9 Acts 28.25.26 But if wee do compare the words of Isaias with the words of Saint Paul they will sufficiently confute this damnabe â—rrour and most manifestly shew unto us this holy spirit to be the true and eternall God Besides the scripture saith That the spirit of the Lord filleth heaven and earth Sap. 1.7 whereupon Saint Basil Ambrose de S. S. l. 1. c. 7. Saint Augustine Saint Ambrose and others have most plainly proved against all hereticks whatsoever that the holy Ghost is a true God by Nature That the Holy Ghost is a true God by nature because that to be every where cannot by Grace belong to any but only to him that is by Nature God which reserveth this unto himselfe to be every where and therefore Saint Augustine writing against Maximinus an Arrian Bishop saith Aug. cont Maxim l. 3. c. 21. Epist 66. I cannot express how much I marvell what a heart you have so to extoll the holy Ghost as to make him every where present to sanctifie the faithfull and yet that thou dare deny him to be a God for is not he a God which filleth heaven and earth Also Dydimus in his booke Basil de spiritu sancto c. 22. and Saint Basil in his treatise De spiritu sancto declare that to be God Didym lib. 1. de spiritu sancto which can be in diverse places at one time Which thing is not agreeable to any creature But that the holy Ghost was present with the Apostles and Prophets in sundry parts of the world at one time no man professing the faith of Christ doth in the least doubt the truth thereof Wherefore it followeth that he is a God Job 33. Mat. 28.19 1 Joh. 5.7 Joh 14.1.16 1 Cor 3.16 2 Cor. 13.14 Psal 33.6.104 30 The Symbolum of Nice out of the holy scripture teacheth That the holy Ghost is hee that maketh alive and hee that together with the Father and the sonne is worshiped and with them is honoured therefore the holy Ghost of necessity must be true and everlasting God with the Father and the son in one only essence touching which point the holy Fathers powerfully did set themselves against the Hereticks and out of holy scripture stoutly maintained the same Plato Aristotle Proclus Suidas Orpheus Pherecydes Parmenides Porphyrius Numenius Amelius Chalcidius Avicen As for Atheists which deny the scriptures and are altogether ignorant of this blessed spirit if they will but look into the writings of
the Ancients they shall surely finde that as the Gentiles did understand many things concerning God and Jesus Christ his only son so some of them have delivered some things although but darkly concerning this holy spirit For Hermes Trismegistus hath these words All kind of things in this world saith he are quickned by a spirit one spirit filleth all things the world nourisheth the bodies and the spirit the soules and this spirit as an instrument Mercuâ—ie in his Esculapius c. 3. 7. is subject to the will of God And further he saith That all things have need of this spirit it beareth them up it nourisheth them it quickneth them according to every of their capacities it proceedeth from a holy Fountaine and is the maintainer of all living things and of all spirits Here wee see the reason why we call him the holy Ghost namely because he proceedeth from the fountain which is the very holinesse it selfe And least we should think him to be a creature Mercurie in his Sermon in his Poemander c 3 there was saith hee an infinite shadow in the deep whereon was the water and a fine understanding spirit was in that confused mass through the power of God From thence there flourished a certain holy brightnesse which out of the sand and the moyst nature brought forth the Elements and all things else Also the Gods themselves which dwell among the stars tooke their place by the direction and appointment of this spirit of God In the writings of Plotinus Plotin Enn. 5. lib. 2. lib. 3. cap. 35. there be found very significant speeches of the holy Ghost whom hee calleth Vniversi animam Plotin Ennead 3. lib. 9. cap. ult Eâ—n 6. lib. 8 cap. 13. 15. 27. Enn. 3. lib 8. c. 10. lib 9. cap. 1. the soule or life of this whole universe This soule saith hee hath breathed life into all living things in the Air in the Sea and on the land it ruleth the Sun the stars and the Heaven it hath quickned the matter which once was nothing and utterly full of darkness and all this hath it done by the only will of it selfe It is all throughout all like to the father as well in that it is but one as in that it extendeth it self into all places All which doth most apparently prove that the Gentiles themselves were not ignorant of this holy spirit whom they clearly shew to be the true and eternall God And therefore how may this serve to shame the wretched Atheists of this world which notwithstanding such a cloud of witnesses will still continue ignorant and hardned in unbeleife Why the holy Ghost is called a spirit Moreover This third person of the true and only God-head is called a spirit not only because hee is a spirituall that is an immateriall and pure essence for so likewise is the Father a spirit and the son as well as he but first in regard of his person because he is spired and as it were breathed both from the Father and the son Secondly In regard of the creatures Psal 33.6 Joâ—h 20 22. because the Father and the son do work by the spirit who is as it were the breath of Grace which the Father and the son breatheth out upon the saints blowing freely where it listeth Joh 3.8 1 Cor. 2.12.13 Act. 2. â— 3.4 and working spiritually for manneâ—â— meanes and matter where it pleaseth Thirdly In regard of his Property because the property of him is to move to set forward to perswade to comfort to enlighten the spirits hearts of men and at length to worke in them such things as pertain to our sanctification And indeed the saints have such tryall of the marvellous effects thereof as neither reason nor mans wisdome is able to comprehend those things neither can they be discerned by the eyes of men So that as Peter Martyr saith wee beleive in the holy Ghost as in a thing that far exceedeth the capacity of our nature and yet is distinctly set forth unto us in the holy scripture Job 14 26. 1.33 Joh. 16.13.14.15 Mat. 28.19 That the holy Ghost is distinct from the Father and the son for the Apostles are commanded in the Gospell that they should baptize in the name of the Father of the son and of the holy Ghost Which place doth most plainly expresse the distinction of the three persons and do signifie nothing else but that we be delivered from our sins by the name authority and power of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost And in the baptisme of Christ Luke 3 21 22 Mat. 3 16 17 as Luke rehearseth the Voice of the Father was heard and the holy Ghost appeared under the forme of a Dove whereby is signified that the holy Ghost doth so differ from the Father and the son as he is derived from them both In John it is sayd I will pray the Father Joh. 14 16 and hee shall give you another Comforter Here the son prayeth the Father heareth and the Comforter is sent Now if the Father shall give such a Comforter then the Father himselfe cannot be that Comforter neither can Christ that prayeth be the same So that very significantly the three persons herein are plainly set forth unto us For even as the Father and the sonne are two distinct and severall though not sundred persons even so the holy Ghost is another distinct person from the Father and the Son Joh. 15 26 Luke 1 35 That the holy Ghost is a person proved Luke 3 22 And further that the holy Ghost is a person is proved 1. By his apparitions because he hath appeared visibly for seeing he descended in bodily shape upon Christ and sate upon the Apostles Acts 2 3 it followeth that hee is subsisting 2 Hee is proved to be a person 1 Cor. 3 16 Acts 5 3 4 Isa 40 7 30 Ephes 4.4.30 Acts 28.25 1 Cor. 12 11 Luke 12 12 Joh. 16.13 Luke 2 26 Mat. 10 20 because he is called God 3 Because the properties of a person are attributed unto him as that hee distributeth gifts even as he will that hee teacheth comforteth confirmeth ruleth raigneth Likewise that hee sendeth Apostles and speaketh in them So also hee declareth the things to come Acts 16 10 39 20 24 1 Tim. 4 1 He giveth prophesies of Simeons death of Judas the Traitor of Peters journy to Cornelius of Pauls bands and afflictions which should betide himselfe at Jerusalem of a falling away and of the deceiver in the last times Heb 9 8 10 15 of the meaning of the high preists entrance into the holiest of all of the first Tabernacle of the new Covenant 1 Pet. 1 11 of Christs sufferings and his glory which should follow after them and such like He maketh request for us with sighes which cannot be uttered Rom. 8.29 he cryeth in our hearts Abba Father he is
tempted by them who lye unto him hee is a witnesse in Heaven with the Father and the son Acts 5 9 hee commandeth and willeth that the Apostles be separated Act. 13.2 Acts 20.28 And lastly He appointeth teachers in the Church All these things are proper unto a person existing intelligent indued with a will working and living That the holy Ghost is God co-eternall with the Father and the son proved Col. 2.9 Joh. 10.30 1 Joh. 5.7 Jer. 23.24 Joh. 1.18 Rom. 8.9 1 Cor. 6.19 Rom. 8.11 Gen. 1.2 Joh. 15.26 Aug. lib. de Trinitate 15. cap. 26. That he proceedeth from the Father the Son Gal. 4.6 Joh 15.26 20.22 Joh. 16.14.15 Now that the holy Ghost is God co-eternall with the Father and with the son it may be proved by the unity of the divine Essence because there is but one God-head and by the incomprehensiblenesse of the three persons the same is also proved by the essentiall union of them that is because he is often called the spirit of the Father and of the Son but the Father and the son were never without their spirit therefore hee is God co-eternall with both Also that which saint John saith that the spirit proceedeth from the Father The ancient Fathers holding the right faith do understand cheifly to be spoken of the everlasting proceeding of the spirit from the Father And he proceedeth from the son first because he is called the sons spirit Secondly Because the son together with the Father giveth him Thirdly Because the holy Ghost receiveth the Wisdome of the son which he revealeth unto us wherefore he proceedeth of the substance of the son because he receiveth that of him which is the sons By this it appeareth what is the proceeding of the holy Ghost namely the communicating of the divine essence whereby the third person of the God-head alone receiveth the same and whole or intire essence from the Father and the son as from him whose spirit hee is for there is nothing in God which is not his essence and seeing that is indivisible it must needs be whole and the same communicated unto him which is in the Father and the son That the Holy Ghost is consubstantiall with the Father and the Son proved Rom. 8.9 Lev. 16.1.34 Heb. 9.7.8.9.10 Psal 95.7 Heb. 3.7 Isa 6 8.9 Acts 28.25.26 As the spirit of man which is in man is of the Essence of man so the spirit of God which is in God is of the Essence of God which divine essence is but one that is but one Jehovah or eternall being one essentially who alone is of none but himself communicateth his being to all things and preserveth it in them Now the Holy Ghost is Jehovah and therefore he is the same with the Father and the son not only God co-eternall but also con-substantiall or God co-essentiall with both That he is co-equall with the father and the Son proved Gen. 1.2 And further That he is co-equall with the Father and the son is proved by those divine Attributes and properties which are attributed and communicated to the holy Ghost As first eternity because he created heaven and earth and because God was never without his spirit Secondly Immensity or unmeasurablenesse as who dwelleth whole and intirely in all the elect Thirdly Omnipotency because he Psal 33.6 1 Cor 12.11 1 Cor. 2.10 together with the Father and the son created and preserveth all things Fourthly Omnisciency that is the knowledge of all things Fifthly Acts 1.16 Psal 143.10 unchangeableness Sixthly Infinite goodnesse and holinesse and the causing of goodnesse and sanctity in the creatures 1 Cor. 6.11 Joh. 15.26 1 Joh. 5.6 Rom. 5 5. 8.26 Isa 63.10 Mat. 12.31 Acts 5.9 Ephes 4.30 Seventhly truth not to be doubted of the fountain of truth Eightly Vnspeakable mercy Ninthly Indignation even against hidden sins All which do sufficiently prove that the holy Ghost is God coequall with the Father and the son Besides the same divine works which are attributed to the Father and the son Mat. 12.28 1 Cor. 12 4. are also attributed to the holy Gâ—ost as the generall creation preservation and government of the whole world Likewise those works which properly belong to the salvation of his Church Job â—â— 13.33 4. Joh. 3.5 2 Cor. 3.18 Joh 14.26 Acts 9.31 Isa 48.16 Acts 20.18 Luke 12.12 1 Cor. 12.7 2 Pet. 1 21. Mat. 28 19. Heb. 9.8 Joh. 16 13. Acts 11 28 Ephes 2 22 1 Cor. 12 13 Joh. 14 26 Ephes 1 17 Rom. 8.14 Acts 16 6 Isa 11 2 Joh. 14 16 Rom 8 15 1 Cor 6 11 Joh. 6 63 Rom. 8 11 as the calling and sending of Prophets The bestowing of competent and fit graces for the Ministry on Ministers The publishing of the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles The instituting of sacraments The foretelling and prophesying of things to come The gathering of the Church The enlightning of mens mindes The governing of the Actions and whole life of the Godly The strengthning and preserving of the regenerate against the force of temptation even unto the end The pardoning of sins and adopting the sons of God The bestowing of salvation and life everlasting All these divine workes being attributed to the holy Ghost do likewise clearly prove his co-equality with the Father and the son Moreover Diverse titles of the holy Ghost Wee finde in the sacred scriptures many Titles and Appellations answerable to the manifold effects of his Power Office and Divinity For example The Holy Ghost is called Jehovah Isa 6 9 Act. 28 25 The earnest of our inheritance Ephes 1 14 The power of the most high Luke 1 35 The Teacher of the Faithfull Joh. 14 26 The earnest of the spirit 2 Cor. 1 22 The Oyle of Gladnesse Psal 45 7 The seven spirits of God Rev. 4 5 The spirit of Interpretation Sanctification Supplication Consolation Revelation The grace of God Knowledge Adoption Counsell Eternity Wisdome Prophesie Holinesse 1 Cor. 12 10 Rom. 1 4 Zach. 12 10 2 Thes 2 16 Ephes 1 17 Acts 14 26 Isa 11 2 Rom 8 15 Isa 11 2 Heb. 9 14 Isa 11 2 1 Cor. 12 10 Rom. 1 4 The Holy Ghost is called The spirit of the Father Joh. 15 26 The spirit of the Son Gal. 4 6 The spirit of the Lord. Isa 1 12 The earnest of Gods spirit 2 Cor. 5 5 The teacher of Truth Joh. 14 46 The mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2 16 And he is called An Eternall spirit Heb. 9 14 A Comforter Joh. 14 16 A heavenly gift Heb. 6 4 The holy spirit Ephes 4 30 The spirit of Christ God Right working miracles Power Life Truth Promise Grace Love Rom. 8.9 Gen. 1 2 Joh. 16 8 9 10 11 13 1 Cor. 12.10 2 Tim. 1 7 Rom. 8 2 Rev. 11 11 Joh. 14 17 Ephes 1 13 Heb. 10 29 Zech. 12 10 2 Tim. 17 The hand of God Job 26 13 Luke 1 66 A free spirit Psal
naribus ejus rest not in man whose spirit is in his nostrills and therefore least the like might be thought to be in these divine persons we find Power ascribed to the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Justia Martyr in expos fideâ— Cy il l. 8 cont Jul. Wisdome unto the Son and Goodness unto the Holy Ghost wheras indeed each one of them is of the same power wisdome and goodness as the others be so we say with Justin Martyr according as God hath revealed himselfe unto us both in his word his works that the unity is understood in the trinity the Trinity is acknowledged in the unity Moreover S. Cyril saith that the Philosophers have affirmed the Essence of God to be distinguished into three subsistences and sometimes to have delivered the very name of Trinity and the Jewish Rabbins Galaâ—in de ar can fide l. v. 2. c. 11. 12 as Galatinus saith have observed this mystery out of the Hebrew names of God that there are three in one but one in three Vide. N. N n celium iâ— pâ—â—â—mio p 20. and so Hermes Trismegistus affirmed that there was one divinity or deity in the Trinity in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There was an intellectuall light before the intellectuall light A mind full of light and there was alwaies an enlightned mind of the mind and this was nothing else then the unity of these and the spirit which containeth all things besides this there is no God nor Angell nor any other substance because he is the Lord and Father and God of all things and all things are under him and in him Verbum ejus â—â—â—sectam â—â—sum insâ—◠〈◊〉 natura aqua secunda prolificam fecit aquam Quae verba quia sunt in eis quaedam carminum vestigia deinde restituta qui dam Orpheo vindicarunt for his perfect word existing and being fruitfull and a worker or maker of all things fallen in a fruitfull nature hath plentifully produced all things And then having sayd these things he prayeth unto this God saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O Heaven the most excellent worke of the great God I do adjure thee and I do adjure thee the voice and speech of the Father which hee first uttered and spake when hee established all the world and I beseech thee by thine only begotten word and the Father which containeth or upholdeth all things be thou favourable and mercifull unto me There is no man but he would wonder to see in this Author the very words of Saint John and yet notwithstanding his bookes were translated by the Platonists a long time before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ And it is no marvell though we find sayings of his in diverse places which are not written in his Poemander considering that hee wrote six and thirty thousand five hundred and five and twenty Volumes that is to say Rolls of Paper Jambilicus in his 39. chap. of mysteries as Jambilicus reporteth This Hermes or Mercurius sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the greatest Philosopher the cheifest Preist and most prudent Prince of Aegypt he flourished before Pharaoh in the time of Moses and was called Ter Maximus thrice great because hee writ of the Trinity yea Saint Augustine affirmeth Aug. l. 5. c. 3. de haeresibus that hee did compose a booke whose Title was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the perfect word and that therein hee left written Monas genuit monada in se suum reflexit ardorem which is as much as if hee had said the Father begat the Sonne or the minde begate the word and from both proceeded the Holy spirit Also Theodorus the Platonist as it is in Proclus affirmeth that there are three cheife workers whereof hee calleth the one a substantiall minde the other a mentall substance and the third the Fountain of all life and Theodoret doth affirme That Plotinus and Numenius have collected out of Plato That there are three eternities Bonum mentem universi animam Goodnesse which answereth the Father that is the Fountaine of the Deity the minde which signifieth the Son and the soule or life of this whole Universe which is the holy spirit that as in the beginning of the Creation Gen. 1.2 hee presently moved upon the Waters to sustain the same so ever since hee spireth and preserveth every living thing and so Amelius and many others are as full and as plaine in this point as may be as any man may see that will looke into Nancelius his Proem Nancel in Proem Chalcidius Avicen which hee confesseth to have taken out of Eugubinus Thus we see how the Ancient Philosophers were all of one Opinion and judgement in the Doctrine of the Trinity The Gentiles did conceive a certaine kinde of knowledge and understanding though undigested and imperfect overshadowed as it were with humane reasonings concerning this mystery wherein they had so much knowledge as not only was able I say not with Clemens Alexandrinus to bring them to salvation but to make them without excuse in the day of Tribulation because that they knowing God glorified him not as God but also as doth exceede the knowledge of many which make profession of Christianity and will no doubt rise in judgement to condemn them in the later day Yet further God â—oe and indivisible as the Philosopers have affirmed the essence of God to be distinguished into three subsistences so likewise they have acknowledged the divine Essence to be only one impartible and indivisible For First Hermes Trismegistus teacheth Although many of the Ancient Philosophers through custome did celebrate the plurality of Gods yet notwithstanding they did acknowledge buâ—â—ne only true God by nature Du. Plessis That there is but one only God That One is the roote of all things and that without that One nothing hath been of all things that are That the same One is called the only good and the goodness it selfe which hath universall power of creating all things That it is impossible that there should be many makers That in Heaven he hath planted immortality in earth interchange and universally life and moving That unto him alone belongeth the name of Father and of God and that without blasphemy those titles cannot be attributed either to Angells Fiends or to men or to any of all those whom men do call Gods as in respect of honour and not of nature He calleth him the Father of the world the Creator the Beginning the Glory the Nature the End the Necessity the Renewer of all things the worker of all powers and the power of all works the only Holy the only unbegotten the only everlasting the Lord of everlastingnesse and the everlastingnesse it selfe Vnto him alone will hee have us to offer up our prayers our praises and our sacrifices and never to call upon any other Secondly Pythagoras teacheth Alledged by Cicero Plutark Clemens
Figure Jonah chap. 1 verse 17. Matth. 12.40 Luke 11 30. Psal 16 10 that he should ascend to Heaven Luk. 24 51. Act. 21.55 56. and sit at the Right hand of God his Father for ever Psal 68 18 110.1.4 All these Particularities and a number more were revealed in Scripture some four thousand some two thousand and some one thousand years before the Nativity of Christ the true Messiah on whom all the Fathers since the first beginning fastned their Hope and of whom all the Prophets have spoken pointing him out as it were with the Finger how he was to come to work the work of our salvation which in all circumstances wee see performed by him as was prophesied by them to our everlasting comfort Moreover because there is a Generation of men in these our dayes that blasphemously deny our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and his Deity and so consequently the Scriptures I shall hereunto add some testimonies of the Gentiles yea and of the Jewes themselves a people that are our greatest enemies to prove and testifie that Jesus is the son of God the true and promised Messiah Vide Clem. Alex l. 1. Strom. Orig. l. 6. contra Celsum Procl l. 2 3. in Par. Plato First in the writings of that ancient and learned Zoroaster there be-found very significant speeches of the son of God whom he calleth Secundam mentem the second mind And Hermes Trismegistus who received his Learning from this Zoroaster calleth the second person in the Trinity Mercu. Her in Poemand cap 1 de incept The first begotten son of God his only Son his dear eternall immutable and incorruptible Son whose sacred name is ineffable This Hermes or Mercurius sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thrice great did often describe the Power and Majesty of Jesus Christ and as S. Augustine saith Aug. l. 5. c. 3. de haeâ—esibus did compose a booke whose Title was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The perfect word that is Christ which he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very same word that our Evangelist useth and Lactantius saith that Zeno affirmed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word Christ to be the Maker of this Vniverse so that he is rightly called Expectatio Gentium the hope and expectation of the Gentiles for those many multitudes that became Proselites of the Jewish Religion and those Magi that came from the East to worship him as soon as ever hee was borne do sufficiently prove that the Gentiles expected the coming of this promised Messiah before his incarnation Besides I cannot truly think That the Gentiles expected the coming of a Messiah that Plato that ancient Writer should be ignorant of these things for Theodoret Clemens Alexandrînus and Justin Martyr do plainly affirme that he read the bookes of Moses and the Prophets insomuch thot Numenius a Platonist was wont to say Plato a Grecian Moses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Plato was none else but Moses in the Grecian tongue The ten famous Sybills viz. Persica Libyca Delphica Cumaea Erythraea Sam a Cumana Helâ—spontia Phrygia Tiburtina Secondly Among the Gentiles there were certaine Prophetesses or women Prophets called Sybils who were indued as it seemeth with a certaine spirit of prophesie and did utter from time to time most wonderfull particularities of Christ to come agreeing as it were wholy with the Prophets of Israel one of them called Sibylla Erythraea maketh a whole discourse of Christ in Greek Accrostick Verses at the latter end of which she saith that he is Immortall Saviour and a King that must suffer for our sinnes But I will leave these Sibyls a little while and proceed to other Authorities Yet first I thinke it very fit to make mention of some admirable accidents which happened at the birth of our blessed Saviour Paulus Orosius and Eutropius both Historians in the time of Octavius Paulus Orosius and Eutropus Writers belonging to Octavius doth say That at such time as Jesus Christ was borne on earth there happened in Rome that in a common Inn or Taverne A spring of Oyle arising out of the ground in Rome when Christ was borne a well or spring of pure and excellent Oyle brake up out of the ground which for the space of a whole day ran and issued forth incessantly in great abundance How excellently may this allude to Jesus Christ who was not onely Christus Dei the annointed of God but also Christus Deus God himselfe annointed Eutropius addeth moreover that in Rome and the neighbouring places thereabout even in the full calme and clearest time of the day A bright circle seen about the Sun in the day time a circle was seene about the Sun of as bright splendor and radiancy as the sun it self The same Paulus Orosius further saith that at the very same time the Senate and people of Rome made free offer to Octavius Augustus to entitle him cheif Lord which he refused and by no meanes would accept prognosticating to himselfe that a much greater Lord then hee was then on the Earth to whom that Title more worthily appertained Commestor in lib de Hist Scholiast Commestor in his Scholiastick History affirmeth that in Rome upon the same day The Temple dedicated by the Romans to Peace the Goddesse Templum pacis fell to the ground at the Birth of Christ fell in ruines to the earth For they had formerly consulted with the Oracle of Apollo to know how long the Temple should stand in good estate and answer was made them Untill a Virgine should bring forth a Childe which they reputed to be utterly impossible and therefore their Temple should stand for ever notwithstanding at the Virgins Deliverance Mother to the King of Heaven it fell to the ground Suidas in vitae August Niceph. lib. 1. Hist cap. 17. Suidas also recordeth that Augustus inquiring of the Oracle of Apollo what man should rule after him received this Answer from Satan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An Hebrew Child the King of Gods Commands me to avoid This place and forthwith to return To Pluto's darkesome shade From these our Altars bid thou art In silence therefore to depart Augustus having received this answer went away and set up an Altar in Capitolium with this Inscription in Roman Letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THIS IS THE ALTAR OF THE FIRST BEGOTTEN OF GOD. So that it is worthy of great consideration The Devills plain manifestation of his foyle and overthrow to note how evidently the Devill shewed himselfe even suddenly to be overcome and conquered For after Christs coming and suffering on the Crosse the Oracles of the Devills were altogether silenced the Groves Altars and Temples of the false Gods began to lye Wast yea the Gentiles detesting the impostures of satan embraced the Faith of Christ giving over their Magicall bookes to Vulcan A remarkable Example whereof we read
Joh. 5.7 and reason it selfe must needs confirme the same thing for seeing the Divine Essence is most simple impartible and indivisible and that the Father is God as none denyeth and that the Son is God as I have already proved and that the Holy Ghost is God as all the holy Fathers have sufficiently confirmed and yet there are not three Gods Athan. in Sym. but one God as Athanasius sheweth therefore it must needs follow that all three have but one and the selfe same Essence and consequently that the son is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Patri consubstantiall or co-essentiall with his Father And therefore hence also it must needs follow that our Saviour Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A God of himselfe independent as absolute as the Father is And yet for the better understanding of this point how Christ may be said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God of himself we must consider Them p. 1. q. 33 that Aliud est habere essentiam Divinam a seipso aliud habere essentiam Divinam a seipsa existentem How Christ is God of himselfe It is one thing to have his divine Essence from himselfe and another thing to have his Divine Essence existing of it self to say that the person of the son hath his divine Essence that is his personall being from himself we cannot because it is from the Father the Father communicating his whole Essence unto the son and therefore we say that the son Ratione 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in respect of his personall being is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God of himselfe but God of God and Light of Light as the Nicen Councill hath it because the person of the son existeth from the person of the Father but to say that the son hath his divine essence existing of it selfe is most cerrain Idem ibid. Quia remota relatione ad Patrem sola restat essentia que est a seipsa for taking away the relation of the Son unto the Father there remaineth but the Essence which is of it selfe And therefore we may say that the Son Quoad essentiam absolutam in respect of his absolute Essence is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A God of himself because the Essence of the son is the very same that the Essence of the Father is and so to this truth set down by Calvin Bellar. de Chrâ—sto Bellarmine himselfe subscribeth Thirdly It remaineth that I shew how for Dignity hee is Co-equall with his Father That Christ is co-equall to the Father is proved And this point is as cleare as the former because in an Essence most simple there cannot be so much as imagined more or lesse and therefore Fulgentius saith most excellently that seeing Christ is from everlasting because hee is the eternall Wisdome and Power of God Baruch 3.25 seeing he is immeasurable because he is great and hath no end and seeing he is most high as Zacharias sheweth in his speech of John the Baptist Luke 1.76 That he should be called the Prophet of the most high that is of Christ he must needs be in all respects equall unto his Father Nam quid anterius sempiterno quid majus immenso quid superius altissimo for what can be before him that hath been before all things what can be greater then that which is immeasurable or what can be higher then that which is highest and so saint John saith That the Jewes sought the rather to kill him because he did not only break the Sabboth but sayd also that God was his Father Joh. 5.18 making himselfe equall with God How maliciously Hereticke have dâ—nyed the God-head of Christ Many Objections are made by Hereticks against the Co-eternity Co-essentiallity and Co-equalâ—ty of the son with his Father but they are all so triviall that they deserve no answer and they are all deduced from those places that are spoken of Christ as he is a man and misapplyed by them to deny his Excellency as he is a God Yea such is the Perversenesse of Hereticks and Atheists that they wil be wicked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the higstest degree by searching so far into the Nature of Christ that at last they will deny him to be a God And therefore that we may be the better able to withstand their Heresies and discover their falacies let us observe the words of Gregory Nazianzene and Fulgentius who doth most excellently shew how the properties of both his Natures concurred together and might be easily discerned in him from the very beginning of his dayes to the last end of his being here on Earth For Hee is borne of his Mother Luke 2.7 and wrapped in swadling clouts as being a man but a Star doth manifest him and the wise men adore him Matth. 2.11 as being a God He is laid in a Cratch as he is a man but he doth wonderfully work in Heaven as he is a God he suffereth himself to be carried in their armes Ful. Ser. de Epiphan Iste puer in praesept quidem parvulus collocatur sed magnus in coelo mirabiliter operatur permittit se manibus in terra portari sed praecipit sibi caelestia familiari as he is a man but he supporteth all things and Commandeth all the Hoast of Heaven to do him service as he is a God he is * Mat. 3.16 Mar. 1.12 Joh. 4.6 Mat. 8.24.25 baptized in Jordan as being a man but the Holy Ghost descends upon him from heaven as being a God he is tempted of the Devill as he is a man but he overcomes and expells the Devills as he is a God he travels and is thirsty he is hungry and is weary as hee is a man but he refresheth the weary he seedeth the hungry and hee giveth drink unto the thirsty as he is a God He sleeps in the ship Mat. 8.26 and his Disciples awake him as he is a man but he rebukes the windes and stilleth the rage of the Seas as he is a God he is poor and needy Mat. 8.20 and hath not an house to put his head in as he is a man but hee is rich and mighty and cannot be contained in the heavens as hee is a God He is sorrowfull and sad Mat. 36.38.39 hee weepes and he prayes as he is a man but he heareth our Prayers Joh. 14. Isa 53. and comforteth the sorrowfull as he is a God hee is subject to infirmities as hee is a man but hee healeth all our infirmities Math. 27.51.45 as hee is a God he is whipped and crucified as hee is a man but hee renteth the vaile of the Temple and causeth the sun to hide his face for shame to see him crucified as he is a God he saith Eloi Eloi Math. 27.46 Luke 23.43 Lamasabachthani My God my God why hast thou forsaken me as hee is a man but hee saith unto the Theefe This day shalt thou be with me
infirmities which Discipulus saith were in our saviour Christ The other two which hee denyeth to be in him are sin and ignorance For the first that is sin wee all know and are sure that hee had none but for the second we must distinguish and understand that there is first Ignorantia pravae dispositionis That there is a two fold ignorance An ignorance of a wicked disposition as when men know not or wil not know the things that they ought or might and this wee say was not in Christ Secondly Ignorantia merae privationis an ignorance of meer privation Et ignorantia negativa seu nescientia plurimorum and a negative ignorance or the not knowing of many things which are not of absolute necessity to be known and this ignorance wee say was in our Saviour Christ according to his humanity Ignatius in Ep. 2 ad Trallian First Because Adam in the state of his innocency was ignorant of many things that God did know and he knew not that he should be seduced by the Serpent That Christ was ignorant of some things Damasc l 3 Nazian l 2 defil Amandus Polanus in Sym pho catholica Thesi 7 c 9 Secondly Because he did increase in wisdome and knowledge that is in his acquisite and experimentall wisdome and not in his infused or divine for he had that perfect from the very first moment of his conception and therefore by his acquisite and experimentall wisdome he learned some things that he knew not before so that in this respect we may lawfully say That Christ was ignorant of many things in his youth which afterwards hee learned in his age Thirdly Mat. 21 19. Mark 13 32 Because hee knew not that there were no figgs on the figge-tree untill hee went and saw there was none and he knew not the houre and the day of Judgement And yet we say that although the man Christ Jesus knew not these things Ex natura humanitatis Scotus in sent dist 14 q 1 4. by the manhood yet he did know them in natura humanitatis in the manhood because he was hypostatically united unto that eternall son of God which made and seeth and knoweth all things And so you see that as Christ assumed our Nature Christ assumed our imperfections so he assumed our naturall imperfections that are void of sin But here we must observe that hee assumed them all as Saint Augustine saith not by any imposed necessity Non miseranda necessitate sed miserante voluntate but by a voluntary assuming of them to deliver us from them when as no Law could have compelled him to undergo them So that from hence we may clearly see this son of God was not made flesh to dignifie or to better himself for if it had been so then hee would never have assumed all our humane frailties Besides He was before his incarnation as I have shewed a God in the best and highest degree from everlasting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a God of himselfe How greatly God loved us that he would be made man for our good co-essentiall and co-equall unto his Father What therefore should he merit or wherein could he be dignified by his incarnation more then hee was before Gloria ejus augeri non potuit nothing could be added unto his Glory or if it could his love to us could not be so great A love like himselfe incomprehensible for then it might be sayd he did it not only for our sake but also for his own that himself might thereby be the more dignified and exalted but seeing he was so high before that he could not be higher so great that he could not be greater and so good that he could not be better it is most certainly apparent that he descended from the height of his dignity unto the very depth of humility to be made flesh only for our sake And as Hugo saith Hugo in l. de Sacrament Nulla causa veniendi fuit nisi peccatores salvos facere Tolle morbos tolle vulnera nulla est causa medicinae there was no cause that he should come to us but to save us for where there are no wounds where there are no Diseases there is no need of Medicines there is no use of Plaisters because the whole need not the Physitian Non eum de coelo ad terram merita nostra sed peccata nostra traxerunt Aug in Joh. gloss in 1 Tim. 1. which may serve to shew it was not our Goodnesse but our wickednesse our greivous sins that brought down Jesus Christ out of heaven the place of eternall happinesse so that from hence also we may see his rare and singular humility in that hee being the eternall Sonne of God and the head of all Principality and Power How Christ humbled himselfe that could have commanded all the Angells and by his stretched out Arme without the assumption of our Weaknesse have made all his enemies his footstool was notwithstanding contented Exinanire seipsum The greatest sign of Christ his love to empty and dis-robe himselfe as it were of all his royall dignities and divine Riches and to cloathe himselfe with our humane Nakednesse only for our sake to free us from under the tyrannicall Bondage of the Devil And therefore we may wel say that greater love then this cannot be that he which is the highest cheifest Joh. 15.13 everlasting God should descend and be made the son of man that we through him might be made the sons of the immortall God for by his incarnation Naturam humanam nobilitavit he hath so ennobled our humane nature as Saint Augustine saith that we which were worms and no men 2 Pet 1 4 are now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 partakers of the divine nature So that now our nature being repaired it is exalted far above the dignity of its first originall That we attain to a far better state in Christ by his incarnation then we lost in Adam Bernard ser 1 1 de Epiphan and it hath obtained to a far better state in Christ then it had and lost in Adam because Adam was but in the Image of God but we are joyned and made one with God as Saint Bernard saith And therefore Faelix culpa quae talem meruit redemptorem happy was that fault as it hapned unto us which brought forth such a Saviour to be made partaker of our flesh that wee might be Partakers of his Spirit as Saint Gregory speaketh But now it will be here demanded as Saint Augustine saith Quare non potuit Dei sapientia aliter homines liberare Why God decreed the incarnation of his son for the salvation of man c. Why could not the Wisdome of God devise and the Power of God effect some other way to deliver and save sinfull men then by sending his son to be made man to be borne of a woman and to suffer such shamefull things
of shamelesse sinners to this saint Bernard frameth this witty answer That as in the creation of man God did as it were consult with his wisdome how to make him when hee said Gen. 1.26 Let us make man in our image so after the transgression of man there was as it were a consultation in heaven what should become of man for Truth and Justice stood up against him and said that man had sinned Cap. 2.27 and therefore man must dye but Mercy and Peace rose up for man and said Quo quisque est major magis est placabilis ira Regia crede nobis res est succurrere lapsis it is a royall thing to releive the distressed and the greater any one is the more placable and gentle he should be and that God himselfe had said hee was the God of Peace and the Father of mercies and therefore they concluded that although man had sinned yet man must be pardoned or else abandoned therefore the wisdome of God became an umpire and devised this way to reconcile them that as one man had sinned and thereby destroyed all men so Vnus homo nobis patiendo restituet rem Bosquier de pass Dom ser 13. p. 793. one righteous man should suffer for all men and so Justice should be satisfied and then all that beleived in that man should be pardoned and so mercy should be shewed then all thus contented God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that would understand and seeke after God Psal 14.2.3 but they were all corrupted and therefore the Wisdome of God that had found out this way was contented to performe this worke himselfe and to be made man that mercy might be extended and to suffer death for man that Justice might be satisfied and so in him mercy and truth met together Psal 85.10 righteousnesse and peace kissed each other Aug. de Trinit l. 13. c. 10. Gregor Moral l. 20. c. 26. But Saint Augustine and Saint Gregory do more solidly answer saying Omnia Deus poterat si voluisset That in regard of his Wisdome God could have devised another way and in respect of his Power hee could have performed the salvation of man without the incarnation of his son but if hee had done it otherwise it would no doubt have likewise displeased our foolishnesse for God appeared visibly saith Saint Augustine that hee might prepare us to invisible things How hard it is for the wisdome of God to please foolish men and therein hee displeased the covetous man because hee brought not a body of Gold he displeased the lascivious because hee was borne of a woman hee displeased the Jewes because hee came so poor and hee displeased the wise men of this world because hee erecteth his Kingdome by the foolishnesse of Preaching and so hee should have displeased man what other way soever hee had invented for to save him And therefore Aug. de Annunt Dom. ser 3. Sic voluit ruinam vasis fragilis reformare ut nec peccatum hominis dimitteret impunitum quia justus erat nec insanabile quia misericors so God would repaire the ruine of fraile and fickle man that neither the sin of man should escape unpunished because God is just nor yet miserable man remaine uncured because hee is mercifull and although hee could otherwise have saved man Quantum ad potentiam medici in respect of the power and skill of the Physitian yet hee saw there was no fitter way to do it Quantum ad medicinam aegroti quantum ad Justitiam Dei in regard of the state of the Patient to free him from sin and to satisfie the Justice of God for it behoved the Mediator between God and man Ne in utroque deo similis longe esset ab homine aut in utroque homini similis longe esset a Deo to have something like unto God and to have something like unto man least that in all things being like unto man hee might be so too far from God or being in all things like unto God he might be so too far from man and therefore Christ betwixt sinfull mortall men and the just immortall God did appear a mortall man with men and a just God with God and so the mediator betwixt God and men 1 Tim. 2.5 was God and man Christ Jesus That in Christ there are two distinct natures Rom. 14.19 The distinction of these two natures the Deity and the humanity of our Saviour Christ is most excellently shewed by saint Paul where hee saith that Christ was made man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the flesh and declared mightily to be the son of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Spirit of Sanctification for that according to his humane nature only he was made of the seed of David which according to his Divine nature was declared still to be the eternall Son of God so that here saint Paul sheweth two Natures to be in Christ that is his divine and his humane Nature still remaining entire after his incarnation because as he was made only of the seed of David in respect of his manhood for that his God-head was not made of the seed of David so was he declared only to be the Son of God in respect of his God-head for that his Manhood was not the omnipotent and the eternall son of God This truth of the two natures of Christ Two natures in Christ proved may be confirmed by most apparant and unanswerable arguments for the Jewes said Joh. 5.18 that he did not only break the Sabbath but also sayd that God was his Father making himselfe equall with God And Christ himselfe said Joh. 10.30 I and my Father are one and therefore the Pharisees did rightly collect that Christ by these words had affirmed himselfe to be a God and yet he saith Joh. 14.28 My Father is greater then I but it cannot possibly be that Christ according to the same Nature should be equall nay one with the Father and yet inferiour to the Father and therefore it must needs follow that hee hath one nature according to which hee is equall to his Father and another nature in respect whereof he is inferiour to him Joh. 8 58. Besides our Saviour saith Before Abraham was I am and yet saint Luke saith Luke 2.7 He was born in the dayes of Augustus Caesar but it cannot be that Idem secundum idem the same one in the same respect should be before Abraham and after Abraham And therefore hee must needs have two natures in him according to one whereof he was before Abraham and according to the other hee was after him And further wee finde the same confessed by all Antiquity All orthodox Antiquity confessed two natures to be in Christ Vigil l 2. cont Eutych Philip. 2. mirum est c. for Vigilius writing upon those words of the
be respected then the greatest Peer that is arrayed in gold and pearles if he be destitute of understanding Saint Basil saith Ille intelligens est Basil sup prov 1 qui secundum mentem rationem vivit he is an understanding man not which knowes things but which liveth according to the dictate of his reason and understanding which is an habit Per quem animus ea perspicet quae sunt by which the mind of man doth perceive and see those things which are principia intelligibilia Cicero in Rhetor l. 2. Aristot Aethic in l. 5. intilligible principles as Aristotle saith and Plato hath one excellent observation of the understanding Quód infinitam virtutem in se habet cum nec humana nec divina respiciens satiatur nisi infinitum Deum capiat qui capacitatem ejus ab eo manantem Mag. Mor. c. 34. Intellectus est habitus principiorum impleat infinitam that it hath a most large extent and is never satisfied with the knowledge of any hamane or divine things untill it layeth hold upon the most infinite God which hath enlarged that capacity unto our soules and is only able to replenish the same himselfe and therefore the more that any man understandeth the more he coveteth to understand untill he understandeth God The understanding how insatiable without which we understand nothing but are most truly compared unto the beasts that perish the whole world being no more able to satisfie our understanding then a peck of corn is sufficient to fill up all the Vast Regions that are under the circumference of the highest heaven For the understanding of naturall things indeed this eye of the soule is very peircing sharpe it s like the Eagles eye that can behold sub frutice leporem How sharp our understanding is in naturall things sub fluctibus piscem a hare lurking under the shrub and a fish playing under the wave we will presume to understand the times and seasons Intellectus est vis animi quae invisibilia perspicit Aug. de spiritu anima and the secrets of all Natures works heaven it selfe and all the host thereof is within the reach of our understanding it tells you how far it is to every sphere and it setteth forth the dimensions of every star even to an inch And yet blind man I dare be bold to say it that Aristotle himselfe that great Philosopher knew not all the knowable things in a straw Joh. 3.12 The least entity or invisible being not wholy known by any man and therefore if our understanding be so dimmed and so dulled that we can but scarcely perceive naturall things how shall we be able to understand spirituall which are supra intellectum humanum above all humane understanding because Reason cannot peirce into spirituall things yea all our understanding though it be the eye of our soule yet it is full of darkenesse How dull our understanding is in sprituall things and would soon bring us into the pit of ruin and destruction if the same were not Dei verbo directus spiritu divino illuminatus directed by Gods word and illuminated by this spirit of God which is the spirit of understanding so that indeed it is most truly said of Caelius Rhodiginus Ludovicus Caelius Rhodig leg antiq l. 3. c. 1. de intellectu agente passibili That although the soul of man needeth no other extrinsecall light but only that which is innate if negligence or vice did not corrupt the same to understand those things which are within it as is the soul it self powers habits faculties and all the vertue thereof yet Ad ea percipienda quae sunt supra ipsum to understand those things which are above it and do exceed all humane understanding indiget omnino anima irradiatione ab ipsâ luce veritatis primae The soule doth altogether require to be enlightned with the bright beames of of the first truth Our soules must be enlightned to understand God which is God himselfe or else man shall never be able to attain unto the least measure of the understanding thereof and this irradiation of light from God upon our soules to the inlightning of our understanding is called infusio gratiae ad divina contemplanda the infusion of Gods Grace to inable us to contemplate and to understand spirituall and divine things for we finde the very Apostles themselves could not understand the scriptures untill the spirit of God had opened their understandings Luke 24. 1 Cor. 2.14 because the carnall or naturall man cannot perceive the things of the spirit of God and therefore Saint Paul saith No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost no man can beleeve the incarnation passion resurrection and assension of our Saviour Christ and the rest of the mysteries of true Religion but by the speciall helpe and illumination of the spirit of God nay more Psal 119.18.34 verse 73 125.14â— Rom 7.14 the Prophet David sheweth that we cannot understand the Law of God which seems to be plain enough without any secret meaning or hidden mysteries unlesse wee be guided enlightned by this holy blessed spirit who is the Instructer which teacheth us Joh. 14.26 16.13 Rom. 8.2 Joh. 6.63 Ezeck 47.1 Joh. 3.5 1 Cor. 3.13 Rom. 8.26 Joh. 15.26 the spirit of life which quickneth us the water which reneweth us the fire which inflames us the comforter which helpes us the Advocate which speaks for us and the everlasting fountain and spirit of Truth from whom all truth and celestial riches do flow unto us and by whom our infidelity is turned into faith our thraldome into freedome our poverty into plentie our barrennesse into fruitfullnesse our sorrow into solace our darknesse into light our misery into mercy our wearinesse into strength our mourning into mirth our death into life our affliction into glorification and our Hell into heaven yea finally by him the Angells are replenished Prophets inspired Scribes are instructed the word is quickned the Church sanctified the hardnesse of heart suppled the weaknesse of faith cherished the darknesse of the soule enlightned and the mist of discomfort dispersed so that by his presence darknesse is expelled and by his favour soules from death and hell are delivered CHAP. IV. OF THE TRINITY IN VNITY GOD is so wonderful saith Saint Gregory Vt semper debet confiderari per studium How comprehensible is our God Greg. in quadam homiâ—a Esa 6. Ambrose de spirit sanct l. 3 c 22. sed nunquam discuti per intellectum that hee ought alwaies to be considered and admired in our thoughts but never pried into by our understandings for as Saint Ambrose speaking of the Seraphims which Esayas saw both standing and flying saith Si volabant seraphim quomodo stabant si stabant quomodo volabant If they did flye how could they stand and if they stood how did they flye surely
the time of his Resurrection He alledgeth also the appearing of two Angells among all the people for testimony whereof Likelyhoods of truth Hee nameth the day and place when and where it happened He recounteth the very words that Jesus spake at his Ascention He telleth the manner how hee ascended and how a Cloud came down and received him out of their sight He declareth what the Multitude did whither they went and in what place they remained after their departure thence And finally hee setteth downe so many particulars as if it had beene the easiest matter in the world for his enemies to have refuted his narration if all had not been true Wherefore to conclude this Discourse of the Birth Life Death Resurrection and Ascention of Jesus seeing nothing hath happened in the same which was not foretold both to Jew Gentile nor any thing fore-shewed concerning the Messias which was not fulfilled most exactly in the person of Christ as have been proved by the foregoing testimonies we may most certainly assure our selves and confidently affirm against all the unbeleiving Jewes and wretched Atheists of the world that Jesus is the son of God the true and promised Messiah Moreover Touching the excellency of this Person I shall yet further prove first That for time he is God co-eternall with his Father and this both apparent scriptures That Christ is a true God is proved and unanswerable reasons drawne from thence do make plain For First First from the Scriptures The scriptures call him the true Jehovah as wee may see by the collation and comparing of these places viz. Exodus 3.2.13.4.14.24 20.2 And Acts 7.30.32 1 Cor. 10.4.9 c. And so the scriptures call him God as Gen. 32.28 Psal 45.7 Isa 7.14 Matth. 3.3 Heb. 1.8 1 Tim. 3.16 Joh. 1.1 Acts 20.78 And therefore saint John saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the word was God Also Thomas saith unto Christ My Lord and my God 1 Joh. 3.16 1 Joh. 5.20 And so we finde the same truth expressed in many other places of the Scripture Secondly by unanswerable reasons drawn from scripture Secondly Wee may shew the same by infallible and unanswerable reasons drawn from scripture As First From those incommunicable properties of the Deity which are properly ascribed unto him as 1. To be omnipotent Joh. 3.31 Heb. 1.3 Phil. 3.21 Apo. 1.18 Mat. 16.11 Mat. 28.20 Joh. 16.15 2. To remit sins Matth 9.6 Mar. 2.5.7.9 Luke 5.20 Joh. 20.23 3. To be in many places at the same instant Matth. 18.20 4. To have the same equall power with the Father Joh. 5.17 5. To raise himself from the grave Rom. 1.4 Joh. 10.18 6. To send forth and to give the Holy Ghost Zach. 12.10 Joh. 16.7 2. From those Epithites which are ascribed unto him and are only agreeable to the divine nature as Joh. 13.18 Joh. 1.9 Mat 9 4.5 Joh. 14 14. To be the Author of our Election To illuminate us To know the secrets of our hearts To hear the prayers of them that call upon him To judge the quick and the dead To give unto his servants everlasting life To be truly rich and so able to do Joh 5.22.24 2 Cor 8.9 Psal 50.12 and to bestow these great rewards upon his servants Joh. 16.15 Thirdly From those relations that he hath with God as to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 J h. 1.18 Heb. 1.3 the only begotten son of God the brightness of his glory and as the Poet saith If God had once no son then once must he Without the brightness of his glory be Also to be the arme of God Isa 53 1. Joh. 14.7.8 9. Phil. 2.6 which the Fathers do expound of Christ to be the Image of the Father 2 Cor. 4.4 Col. 1.5 and to be the very form of God which is most simple and essentiall not compounded or accidentall for that in God there is no composition no accidents Et nihil est in Deo quod non sit ipse Deus nor any other thing which is not God because the Divine Essence Identificat sibi omnia que sunt in Divinis doth identifie Gabriel â—iel super 1. sentent dist 1. q. 5. or deifie all things that are in the Deity 4. From the universall effects Gen. 1.1 Pal 45.6 Psal 102.25 Joh. 1 2.3 Col 16 17. Heb. 1 2 3. Joh. 5.17 and proper works of God for he that created preserveth and governeth all the things that are created is the true and everlasting God but Christ created all things doth still sustaine and govern all things and therefore hee must needs be the true and eternall God To be breif He is the Son of the Father the Wisdome and the Power of God A Proof of the co-eternity of the Son with his father and therefore either the Father was without a Son and then he could be no Father and God was without his Wisdome and without his strength or else hee was never without his Son but to say that God was without his wisdome or without his strength is most absurd Ergo non ex tempore genitus est qui cuncta tempora condidit therefore hee was not begotten in time which created all times Aug. Ep. 6.6 saith Saint Augustine That Christ is co-essential with God is proved Secondly it followeth that I should prove and shew how for Nature he is co-essentiall with his Father touching which point Athanasius saith Non res quaepiam extrinsecus ad inventa est filij substantia neque ex nihilo inducta est sed ex Patris essentia nata est The substance of the son is no outward thing either found or created but begotten of the very Essence of his Eather even as you see the brightness springing from the Light or the Vapour from the Water Neque enim splendor neque vapor est ipsa aqua aut ipse sol neque res aliena For neither the light is the Sun it self nor the vapour the water it selfe and yet they are none other things of another kind then be the Substances from whence they spring even so the Son issueth from the substance of his Father Et tamen Patris substantia non perpessa est partitionem And yet the substance of the Father admits no partion for as the Son remaineth still the same and is no way lessened or diminished Athanas in Ep. Cont Eusebium in respect of those beams that flow from him so the Father suffereth no mutation by having and begetting Suam ipsius imaginem filium this his Son and eternall image but remaining still the same he begetteth his Son of the same Essence and wee find not only all the Orthodox Fathers but also the scriptures are plain enough to confirm the same truth for our saviour saith Joh. 10.30 I and my Father are one and so saint John having spoken of the Father the Word and the spirit saith That these three are one 1