Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
spirit_n holy_a scripture_n speak_v 14,888 5 5.2608 4 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A67385 The doctrine of the blessed Trinity, briefly explained in a letter to a friend Wallis, John, 1616-1703. 1690 (1690) Wing W575; ESTC R1265 7,384 20

There is 1 snippet containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

of the Son nor either of these that of the Holy-Ghost nor the Deity or Godhead any of these but in the Concrete though the Personalities are not yet the Persons are each of them God and the same God If it be objected that those Concretes are Affirmed or Predicated each of other that longum is also latum and profundum this Long is Broad and Tall but not so here the Father is not the Son or Holy-Ghost I answer That if the words be rightly considered the Analogy holds here also For when we say this Long is Broad and Tall where Cube or Body is understood the full meaning is plainly thus This Body which as to one Dimension that of Length is said to be a long Body is the same Body which as to another Dimension that of Breadth is said to be a broad Body and which as to a third Dimension that of Heighth is said to be a tall Body So here That God which as to one Personality is God the Father is the same God which as to another Personality is God the Son and which as to a third Personality is God the Holy-Ghost So the Analogy holds every way nor is there any Inconsistence in either Case I proceed to the Consideration of somewhat more Spiritual and less Material than that of a Body locally extended Suppose we then a Created Angel or Humane Soul at least if those who deny the Blessed Trinity will allow that there are such Beings but if they be Sadducees who do not acknowledge either Angel or Spirit or that the Holy Scriptures are the word of God which testifie both which I doubt is the case of some of them let them speak out that so we may know whom we have to deal with and not pretend to nibble only at the Athanasian Creed or some Expressions therein while the quarrel is indeed at somewhat higher though ad amoliendam invidiam they think fit to dissemble it and that they do but faintly believe if at all that the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God or the Doctrines therein contained to be such And we have reason to suspect it when they spare not to let us know that were this Doctrine of the Trinity therein delivered in Words as express as could be they would not believe it But suppose we what they would seem to grant and what I am so charitable as to think divers of them do believe That there are Spiritual Beings such as Angels and the Souls of Men and that these Spiritual Beings are endued with Knowledge or Wisdom and Force or an executive Power to act according to that Knowledge That there is some such thing at least in Man whether Body or Soul they cannot but acknowledge for themselves be and know and do And though we cannot fully comprehend much less express in Words how all this is so for we are here at a loss as well as in higher things Yet that it is they cannot deny though they do not know How Now to Be and to Know and to Do are certainly distinct each from other though perhaps we are not all agreed of what kind or in what degree this Distinction is To be is not the same as to know for that may be were this is not and to do is for the same reason somewhat different from both those for a Man may Be and may Know what he doth not Do yet 't is one and the same Soul at least one and the same Man which Is and Knows and Does There is therefore no Impossibility or Inconsistence in it That what in one regard are Three may in another regard be One. Thus in the Sacred Trinity if we conceive of the Father as the Original or First Person who begets the Son the Son as the Wisdom of the Father begotten of Him and the Holy-Ghost as the Spirit of the Father and the Son as proceeding from Both and yet the same God with both or what other Distinction there may be of these Three Persons who are but One God that we do not know there is no Inconsistence in it that these Three may be One Three in one regard and One in another I might shew the same as to the Understanding Will and Meaning which are all the same Soul And the known Metaphysical Terms of Unum Verum Bonum which are all but the same Ens. And many other Instances of like Nature But we hold it will be said a greater Distinction than that of Unum Verum Bonum between the Three Persons in the Sacred Trinity Be it so But what that greater Distinction is we do not pretend to comprehend However it is from all these Instances evident that there is no Impossibility or Inconsistence with Reason that what in one regard are Three may in another Regard be One. Which is what we undertook to shew 'T is true that not any nor all of these Instances nor any of those given by other Learned Mendo adequately express the Distinction and Unity of the Persons in the Sacred Trinity for neither hath God distinctly declared it to us nor are we able fully to comprehend it nor is it necessary for us to know But because we do not know How the bones grow in the womb of her that is with child shall we therefore say they do not grow there Or because We cannot by searching find out God because we cannot find out the Almighty to perfection shall we therefore say things cannot be when God says they are only because we know not How If God say These Three are One shall we say they are not If God say The word was God and The word was made Flesh shall we say Not so only becaue we cannot tell How It is safer to say It is when God says It is though we know not in particular How it is Especially when there be so many Instances in Nature to shew it not to be Impossible or Inconsistent with Reason The thing is sufficiently revealed to those who are willing to be taught and receive the truth in the love of it Nor is it denyed by those who gainsay it but that if the thing be possible it is sufficiently revealed there being no other Exception made as to the Revelation but the Impossibility of the thing But if any man list to be contentious and to quarrel about words it is no wonder if hearing they do hear and not understand and that God give them over to believe a lye who do not love the truth But the humble he will teach his way And while we be so we be safe August 11. 1690. Yours Iohn Wallis a Eccles. 11 5. b Job 11. 7. c 1 Joh. 5. 7. d Joh. 1. 1 14. e 2 Thess. 2. 10. f 1 Cor. 11. 16. Rom. 2. 8. g 2 Tim. 6. 4. Tit. 3. 9. h Act. 28. 28. Matth. 13. 13. i 2 Thess. 2. 10 11. Rom. 1. 21 28. k Psal. 25. 9.