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.

[Sect. 4] Fourthly, Some Questions answered.

[Quest.] TO be simple, is to bee of singlenesse of one sort: How is God so, seeing there are three persons in the God-head?

[Answ.] 1 If there were a Triplicity in the God-head, there would be sorts of persons: but 'tis a Trinity of one intire simple Essence. 1. Iohn 5.7. These three are one: one in Nature, Time, Operation; distinguished, not divided.

[Object. 2] You said, God is wise, without folly; strength, with∣out weak else: but St. Paul saith, The foolishnesse of God is wiser than men, and the weaknesse of God is stronger than men. 1. Cor. 1.25.

[Answ.] It is an Ironicall speech, by way of supposition. The learned Philosophers accounted the preaching of the Gospell foolishnesse, and but weaknesse: But St. Paul shews, 'tis Gods Wisedome, and Gods Power: Let them in their madnesse account it foolishnesse, yet the foolishnesse of God is wiser than men: let them account it weaknesse, yet they shall finde Gods weaknesse stron∣ger than men. All their Philosophy in their Wisedome and strength of Arguments, cannot open mens eyes, and convert mens soules, and bring them to Salvation, which the Gospell can doe. Acts 26.18. Iames 1.18 Rom. 1.16.

[Quest. 3] If God be a simple, and individuall Essence, how could the Sonne take flesh of the Virgin, without being divi∣ded, and separated from the Father, and Holy Ghost; so there is mutation and alteration in the Trinity?

[Answ.] This is a Mystery, rather to be beleeved, tha•• dispu∣ted. 1. Tim. 3.16. Great is the mystery of godlinesse, God manifested in the flesh. After Christ became man, h••e lost not his God-head: For hee knew mens thoughts, wrought miracles, had Divine Adoration given to him.

He was said Iohn 3.13. to be in Heaven, and to be equall with God. Phil. 2.6. and in St. John he saith, Hee and the Father are one. So still the simple individuall Es∣sence remaines intire, and immutable; though by the purpose and consent of the Trinity, the second person became incarnate.

[Quest. 4] Are not Angels simple Essences, being without mix∣ture, or composition; and pure Spirits.

[Answ.] They are simple Essences, and pure Spirits, nearest to Gods Nature of all other creatures, yet come short of God by farre: For they have their substances, and their faculties, and qualities created, and mutable in their Nature: for Angels have falne, though now the elect Angels are confirmed by Grace. God excells them; He is a simple Essence, without quality, or properties; one∣ly these are attributed to him for our capacity.

[Object. 5] The Scriptures uses not the word Simplenesse, nor Property, nor Trinity: why then doth the Church make use of them?

[Answ.] Words are notes,* 1.1 and markes of things faith the Hea∣then. And another saith, Whosoever is ignorant of words, shall never judge well of things. If in the Scrip∣ture we finde not words, nor since, w••e are not to use them.

2. They are used for Exposition, Explination, In∣terpretation; to make hid things more obvious, and darke things more perspicuous.

3. They are used for Confutation, that the truth may be cleared, and errors confuted. If that Hereticks did affect the Truth, they would imbrace the phrases of the Church, and Theologicall Termes, which doe unfold, and demonstrate the Truth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aristotle.