Miscellanea philo-theologica, or, God, & man A treatise compendiously describing the nature of God in his attributes, with a lively pourtraiture of his wisedome in ordering, and disposing of the celestiall, and terrestriall bodies. Containing much variety of matter ... and apt applications singular for brevity, and perspicuity. By Henry Church.

The Exordium.

ALl our thoughts can reach unto, may be conside∣red in two heades: The Creatour, and the crea∣tures; The Creatour is knowne to us in his Essence and his Attributes; the creatures are two wayes conside∣red, invisible and visible: the invisible two wayes, either the habitation or the inhabitants: the habitation expresse two wayes, made though without hands, and glorious; the glory expresse two wayes in the perfe∣ction, and perpetuity: the perfection two wayes, free∣dome from all evill, the presence of all good.

The Inhabitants considered two fold, the Angels, and Saints; the Angels considered two wayes, in their Nature and office: their Nature considered two wayes, in the puritie and celeritie: their purity is considered, derivately and comparatively: their office is two fold, to praise GOD to doe service to the E∣lect; their praises are these two wayes considered, as tis sincere, and perpetuall: their service to the Elect is unseene, and certaine.

Againe the Angels are considered in their number, their number is knowne to GOD, unknowne to Man: the Saints are considered in their Soules there,

in their bodies here in the grave, onely two excep∣ted, Henoch and Elias, whose bodies are in Heaven be∣fore, as types of Christ, as evidences of the Resurre∣ction. The visible creatures are two fold, the Heavens, and the Earth: the Heavens are two wayes conside∣red in their sphaeres and orbes, or in other phrases the Heavens, and their ornaments: the Heavens are con∣sidered, as out-spread and firme: the orbes are two fold, the Sunne, and the Planets: the Sunne is considered in his light and swiftnesse; in his light is two things as tis the fountaine, and as tis communicated: the Moone is considered in her mutation and blemishes: the Stars are set forth in multitude, and glory. The Earth is con∣sidered singly or coniunctively; coniunctively by a Sy∣necdoche, as tis land, and water, making one globe. The waters are considered in the Sea, in the Rivers: the Sea is considered in his bounds, in his motion: the motion is considered in the flowing, and ebbing, the bounds are considered in the stabilitie, and perpe∣tuitie. The Earth is singly considered in the substance, and dependance: the dependance on Gods power, in the Aire: the substance in the massinesse, and riches: the riches latente or patente: the patente invega∣tives or the sensitives: the sensitives have life, and fee∣ling: the vegatives are part in the earth, part above the earth: the creatures doe one serve another, and all serve Man: Man consists of a Soule, and a bodie: the Soule is distinct, and immortall, the body hath sences, and members: the Soule hath substance, and fa∣culties: the substance is spirituall, and invisible: the bodie hath generation, and corruption. So much of the Exordium, beginning at God, ending with Man. The Meditations follow:

• 1. What the Soule is.
• 2. How it was created.
• 3. Of the Coniunction with the body.

• 4. Of the immortalitie of the Soule.
• 5. The difference of immortall, and eternall.
• 6. Of the life, and death of the Soule.