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question_n and_o dispute_v about_o needless_a subtlety_n but_o in_o do_v the_o work_n of_o truth_n and_o righteousness_n pray_v and_o endeavour_n yourself_o thereto_o and_o till_o such_o time_n as_o god_n for_o his_o christ_n sake_n vouchsafe_v to_o have_v mercy_n on_o you_o the_o enemy_n of_o his_o son_n and_o give_v you_o grace_n to_o repent_v of_o this_o great_a wickedness_n i_o be_o neither_o your_o friend_n nor_o yet_o your_o foe_n alecsander_n gil._n finis_fw-la
a_o treatise_n concern_v the_o trinity_n of_o person_n in_o unity_n of_o the_o deity_n write_a to_o thomas_n mannering_n a_o anabaptist_n who_o deny_v that_o jesus_n be_v very_a god_n of_o very_a god_n but_o man_n only_o yet_o endue_v with_o the_o infinite_a power_n of_o god_n ⸪_o imprint_v at_o london_n by_o simon_n stafford_n dwell_v on_o adling_n hill_n near_o carter-lane_n 160â—_n to_o my_o very_a love_v and_o dear_a friend_n master_n thomas_n white_a a_o citizen_n of_o bristol_n while_o i_o be_v at_o norwich_n in_o the_o year_n 1597._o i_o write_v this_o treatise_n upon_o such_o occasion_n as_o appear_v therein_o and_o deliver_v it_o unto_o that_o heretic_n that_o by_o himself_o if_o god_n will_v he_o may_v consider_v and_o be_v persuade_v since_o which_o time_n i_o have_v keep_v it_o by_o i_o and_o though_o some_o of_o my_o private_a friend_n desire_v copy_n yet_o allow_v that_o wisdom_n of_o solon_n who_o will_v make_v no_o law_n against_o patricide_n lest_o the_o mention_n of_o 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of_o a_o universal_a which_o the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n have_v conclude_v as_o it_o be_v manifest_a jam._n 2._o 19_o &_o heb._n 11._o 3._o by_o conference_n of_o which_o two_o place_n it_o appear_v that_o this_o knowledge_n of_o which_o i_o speak_v this_o historical_a faith_n as_o to_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v one_o god_n which_o make_v all_o thing_n of_o nought_o be_v only_o such_o a_o knowledge_n as_o the_o devil_n &_o wicked_a man_n have_v but_o to_o believe_v and_o have_v confidence_n in_o this_o god_n be_v that_o particular_a conclusion_n &_o that_o faith_n which_o cause_v we_o to_o have_v hope_n in_o his_o promise_n therefore_o say_v christ_n have_v faith_n in_o god_n that_o be_v strive_v to_o know_v god_n that_o know_v you_o may_v have_v faith_n and_o believe_v in_o he_o
and_o we_o see_v that_o in_o these_o thing_n where_o a_o bare_a faith_n without_o knowledge_n may_v seem_v to_o be_v most_o require_v because_o as_o a_o man_n will_v think_v there_o be_v no_o reason_n to_o be_v give_v of_o they_o namely_o concern_v the_o maintenance_n of_o this_o life_n and_o the_o resurrection_n to_o the_o life_n to_o come_v both_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n use_v no_o other_o reason_n but_o such_o as_o every_o reasonable_a man_n may_v easy_o be_v persuade_v by_o though_o authority_n of_o scripture_n be_v not_o want_v to_o both_o purpose_n as_o it_o be_v manifest_a mat._n 6._o and_o 1._o cor_fw-la 15._o yea_o paul_n at_o athens_n or_o wheresoever_o he_o persuade_v the_o worship_n of_o the_o true_a god_n among_o the_o gentile_n he_o persuade_v not_o by_o authority_n of_o scripture_n which_o among_o they_o have_v be_v very_o weak_a but_o by_o such_o argument_n as_o they_o know_v to_o be_v sufficient_a even_o in_o themselves_o if_o these_o thing_n be_v not_o so_o 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heart_n that_o the_o hardness_n thereof_o may_v be_v remove_v that_o when_o we_o know_v god_n to_o be_v good_a and_o just_a we_o also_o believe_v and_o worship_v he_o as_o we_o ought_v three_o and_o most_o especial_o because_o that_o god_n oftentimes_o pardon_v the_o ignorance_n which_o man_n have_v of_o himself_o and_o the_o creature_n do_v so_o illumine_v the_o heart_n with_o 〈◊〉_d holy_a spirit_n that_o it_o be_v sudden_o 〈◊〉_d without_o any_o previant_a knowledge_n to_o faith_n and_o obedience_n the_o truth_n whereof_o nevertheless_o do_v not_o any_o whit_n impugn_v that_o which_o i_o say_v that_o god_n have_v give_v unto_o every_o man_n so_o much_o understanding_n as_o to_o know_v what_o he_o ought_v to_o believe_v and_o to_o be_v satisfy_v for_o the_o reason_n of_o his_o faith_n if_o he_o can_v open_v his_o eye_n to_o see_v in_o the_o midst_n of_o what_o wondrous_a light_n he_o be_v place_v this_o point_n be_v manifest_a both_o by_o many_o scripture-authority_n and_o by_o many_o reason_n which_o i_o omit_v but_o take_v this_o as_o either_o grant_v or_o sufficient_o prove_v that_o god_n have_v give_v we_o light_a of_o understanding_n whereby_o to_o yield_v a_o reason_n of_o the_o hope_n that_o be_v in_o we_o a_o reason_n i_o say_v even_o of_o every_o article_n of_o our_o faith_n let_v we_o with_o holy_a reverence_n come_v unto_o the_o thing_n in_o question_n and_o see_v what_o reason_n we_o have_v for_o our_o defence_n i_o will_v therefore_o a_o while_n forbear_v to_o use_v the_o authority_n of_o holy_a scripture_n not_o that_o i_o esteem_v the_o weight_n or_o evidence_n of_o any_o reason_n comparable_a thereto_o but_o only_o perceive_v by_o that_o talk_n i_o have_v with_o you_o that_o you_o have_v read_v the_o scripture_n as_o one_o of_o those_o who_o peter_n note_v 2._o epist_n 3._o 16._o not_o intend_v to_o wrangle_v about_o your_o wrest_a interpretation_n i_o will_v first_o propone_v the_o evidence_n of_o reasonable_a proof_n and_o afterward_o bring_v in_o the_o assent_n of_o holy_a scripture_n that_o you_o may_v perceive_v in_o what_o wondrous_a clear_a light_n you_o strive_v to_o be_v blind_a and_o because_o i_o know_v not_o what_o your_o opinion_n be_v concern_v god_n for_o he_o that_o deny_v the_o godhead_n of_o christ_n may_v as_o well_o deny_v the_o godhead_n absolute_o that_o be_v one_o step_n towards_o the_o question_n i_o will_v proceed_v orderly_o and_o give_v you_o also_o a_o reason_n of_o our_o faith_n concern_v that_o matter_n take_v this_o only_a as_o grant_v which_o be_v rife_o in_o every_o man_n knowledge_n that_o both_o the_o term_n of_o contradiction_n can_v be_v affirm_v of_o the_o same_o subject_n that_o be_v that_o one_o and_o the_o same_o thing_n can_v be_v both_o affirm_v and_o deny_v of_o the_o same_o subject_n at_o one_o time_n and_o in_o the_o same_o respect_n but_o first_o by_o the_o name_n of_o god_n know_v that_o i_o mean_v a_o eternal_a be_v infinite_a in_o goodness_n in_o power_n in_o wisdom_n in_o glory_n in_o virtue_n and_o only_o worthy_a of_o endless_a love_n and_o honour_n my_o reason_n be_v thus_o if_o there_o be_v not_o a_o be_v which_o have_v no_o beginning_n then_o of_o necessity_n that_o which_o be_v first_o existent_n or_o begin_v must_v be_v a_o beginning_n unto_o itself_o by_o cause_v of_o itself_o to_o be_v when_o it_o be_v not_o but_o this_o be_v impossible_a that_o any_o thing_n shall_v be_v a_o cause_n and_o not_o be_v for_o so_o shall_v it_o both_o be_v and_o not_o be_v therefore_o there_o be_v a_o eternal_a be_v which_o be_v the_o beginning_n middle_a and_o end_n of_o all_o thing_n and_o himself_o without_o beginning_n and_o this_o eternal_a be_v we_o call_v god_n my_o reason_n be_v plain_a to_o be_v understand_v and_o remember_v what_o i_o have_v say_v that_o i_o may_v go_v on_o whatsoever_o be_v without_o beginning_n be_v also_o without_o end_v because_o it_o have_v no_o superior_a which_o may_v bring_v it_o to_o nothing_o therefore_o god_n be_v eternal_a again_o whatsoever_o come_v to_o nothing_o be_v corrupt_v by_o his_o contrary_n but_o nothing_o can_v be_v opposite_a to_o god_n therefore_o he_o be_v eternal_a or_o else_o i_o may_v thus_o reason_n be_v and_o not_o be_v be_v such_o contrary_n as_o one_o of_o they_o can_v spring_v out_o of_o another_o for_o every_o thing_n for_o the_o preseruation_n sake_n of_o itself_o do_v repress_v and_o corrupt_v the_o contrary_n see_v then_o that_o there_o be_v be_v which_o can_v not_o possible_o raise_v itself_o out_o of_o not_o be_v it_o follow_v that_o be_v have_v a_o primacy_n or_o priority_n before_o not_o be_v and_o therefore_o of_o necessity_n must_v be_v eternal_a for_o otherwise_o there_o be_v a_o time_n wherein_o it_o may_v be_v say_v that_o be_v be_v not_o be_v &_o so_o not_o be_v shall_v have_v be_v first_o and_o contradictory_n may_v have_v stand_v together_o but_o both_o these_o be_v impossible_a therefore_o there_o be_v a_o eternal_a be_v and_o this_o eternal_a be_v we_o call_v god_n 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have_v bring_v i_o may_v have_v bring_v you_o fifty_o but_o i_o show_v you_o the_o way_n if_o you_o be_v guide_v by_o the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n how_o you_o may_v strengthen_v yourself_o in_o the_o way_n of_o truth_n therefore_o i_o will_v go_v on_o and_o show_v you_o yet_o more_o plain_o by_o more_o familiar_a reason_n a_o infinite_a power_n be_v not_o more_o weak_a than_o a_o finite_a but_o every_o finite_a creature_n which_o we_o can_v cast_v our_o eye_n unto_o do_v by_o nature_n produce_v his_o like_a as_o much_o as_o in_o it_o be_v as_o a_o man_n beget_v a_o man_n tree_n bring_v forth_o seed_n whereof_o their_o like_a in_o nature_n may_v spring_v and_o in_o likewise_o every_o other_o thing_n therefore_o the_o infinite_a power_n of_o god_n beget_v his_o like_a also_o which_o be_v the_o son_n the_o image_n of_o the_o invisible_a god_n the_o first_o beget_v of_o every_o creature_n col._n 1._o 15._o but_o none_o can_v be_v like_a unto_o god_n in_o his_o be_v who_o be_v not_o very_a 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god_n be_v manifest_v in_o the_o creature_n if_o i_o shall_v here_o tell_v you_o how_o the_o heaven_n the_o earth_n &_o the_o deep_a gen._n 1._o may_v be_v understand_v mystical_o and_o the_o analogy_n between_o the_o creator_n and_o the_o creature_n therein_o and_o then_o tell_v you_o what_o let_v the_o earth_n bring_v forth_o live_v soul_n may_v mean_v and_o compare_v it_o with_o that_o place_n that_o which_o be_v make_v in_o he_o be_v life_n and_o then_o particular_o for_o man_n the_o lord_n god_n also_o make_v the_o man_n of_o the_o dust_n of_o the_o earth_n and_o tell_v you_o that_o it_o be_v so_o necessary_a because_o that_o christ_n be_v terra_n â—â—â—entiâ—â—…_n and_o enforce_v a_o argument_n to_o prove_v the_o tri-vnitie_n by_o that_o treble_a repetition_n of_o the_o man_n make_v in_o the_o image_n of_o god_n compare_v it_o with_o that_o place_n 1._o cor._n 11._o 3._o and_o 7._o if_o i_o shall_v then_o tell_v you_o that_o it_o be_v necessary_a that_o the_o son_n of_o god_n must_v become_v flesh_n as_o well_o that_o the_o infinite_a justice_n of_o god_n may_v be_v actuate_v in_o he_o which_o can_v not_o be_v actuate_v in_o he_o be_v only_a god_n as_o for_o many_o other_o reason_n both_o from_o the_o justice_n and_o mercy_n and_o wisdom_n of_o god_n though_o to_o a_o well_o sight_v understanding_n i_o may_v seem_v to_o have_v lay_v a_o precious_a foundation_n of_o philosophy_n divine_a and_o natural_a yet_o to_o you_o i_o may_v rather_o seem_v perhaps_o to_o have_v propon_v cabalistical_a dream_n than_o any_o sound_a argument_n to_o the_o thing_n in_o question_n yet_o this_o will_v i_o tell_v you_o and_o hold_v it_o for_o good_a divinity_n that_o the_o main_n drift_n and_o scope_n of_o the_o whole_a scripture_n be_v to_o show_v the_o creation_n of_o all_o thing_n in_o christ_n through_o he_o and_o for_o he_o and_o the_o restore_n of_o the_o whole_a creature_n in_o man_n by_o he_o that_o in_o all_o thing_n he_o may_v have_v the_o preeminence_n col._n 1._o neither_o do_v this_o any_o whit_n derogate_v from_o the_o honour_n of_o the_o father_n for_o first_o it_o have_v please_v the_o father_n that_o in_o he_o shall_v all_o fullness_n dwell_v and_o beside_o it_o be_v a_o honour_n above_o all_o honour_n unto_o the_o father_n to_o be_v the_o father_n of_o so_o glorious_a a_o son_n therefore_o be_v this_o world_n and_o all_o the_o thing_n therein_o create_v to_o the_o image_n of_o christ_n to_o express_v his_o glory_n even_o as_o he_o be_v the_o express_a image_n and_o glory_n of_o the_o father_n and_o here_o be_v the_o world_n eternity_n which_o have_v in_o christ_n a_o eternal_a be_v according_a to_o that_o his_o name_n isaiah_n 9_o 6._o the_o father_n of_o eternity_n here_o be_v those_o separate_a idea_n about_o which_o plato_n and_o aristotle_n can_v never_o agree_v and_o which_o neither_o both_o of_o they_o nor_o many_o of_o their_o follower_n do_v perfect_o understand_v not_o that_o they_o may_v not_o by_o the_o frame_n of_o nature_n 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