Book II. Looking unto 1efm. Chap. z.SeCl:. z. grace , let the generation o.t the Son o[ God be hon?ured with filence. I remember one betng too cunous, and too Inquifitive wh.llt God was doing on that longcv~tm of eternity before he m«de th; Attg lib ,1,con•.world? it was anfwered , he decreed.to .mal<! hell for fuch curious fcf[ c _, ~ inquijitors. Be not therefore too mce 1n thiS co11jideratiJn : keep within bounds of fobriety and humility; and then as thou art able' to comprehend, the Scriptures will difcovcr tha~ before God made the world in that long-long Evum of.eternity, he Wlls doing thefe things.- !. Some things in relation to himfdf. 2. Some things in relation .to his creatures. 1. Some things in relation to himfelf; and thofe things were either proper, or common to the three perfons. r. the things proper to each of the perfons were thofe internal , incommunicable aetionsofGod, as I. to beget; and that belonges onely to the Father, who is neither made, nor created, n.or begotten ofany. 2. To be begotten; and that belongs onely to the Son, who is of the Father alome, not made, nor created , but begotten. 3. To proceed from both ; and that belongs onely to the Holy Ghoft , , who is of the Father, and the Son, neither made, nor created , nor begotten, but proceeding.· And thefe were Gods aCtions in that eternity before all worlds : the Father was begetting ( od rhe Son: the Son was begotten of God the Father ; the Holy Ghoft was proceec.! ing from God the Father and God the Son. But what , were thefe aCl:ionsofGod ever in aCtion during all that eternity? yes: as they are called internal aCtions, fo they are permanl'nt ; look as the Sun doth alwayes beget his beames, and both Sun and beames do fend forth the heates: So the Father from all etermty ever did , ar. dnow doth and ever will beget his Son , and both the Father and the S<;>n e- . ver did , and now do , and ever will afpire and breath forth the · . h b . Holy Ghoft; And therefore Origen faith WI' II, 0Nr {efus is-the ~:f:n.om · m brightnej[e ofGods glory; n&w the briihrnefl eofglury is not once beHtb. 1.3 , gotten , 11nd then ajterw11rds leaves to br begot! en ; but 111 often as the glory rifeth from whence the brightnef{e .fpringeth , fo often doth I'rov.S. 1-5. the brightnef{e ofglory arife. Before the hillr, was I brought forth. Some tranfiate thus, ante colles generat, and r.o t as others,gen(• ravit me, btfore the moHntaines wereJet led he begetteth me. Surely the Son ofGod is ever begetting , and the Holy Spirit is ever p:oceeding: · · · - ;z.~ Ih~
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