Of the .Nature, I(nouledge, Will SECT. III. Zbe feveral inadequate Conceptions which in ardermake up our Knowledge of God. 'I. Y j Y the Knowledge Of our ownActs we know Our Powers and the DNature of our own ¡ids ( though imperfc fly) ; And by the Knowledgeof ourfouls, we know the nature of otherintelleatial spirits; And by the Knowledgeof our (elves and them, and the Scripture exprel- fions ofhis Attributes, we know fomuch ofGod aswe canhere know. And accordingly 1fluft(peak of Him, or be filent: For we have no highernoti- ons, than fuch as are thus Analogical ; expreffing that which is in God in an unconceivable eminency and tranfcendency, by words which fiat figni- fie that which is formally in thefoul ( as is faid ). x ï. And fo we mutt conceiveofGod by all thefe following inadequate Conceptions, confefling the impropriety , but having no better. I. The Effenceof God, who in Scripture is called in two words [An Infinite Spirit] is necelfarily conceived of by thefe Three Conceptions i. off; , 2. vita, 3. Perfecrio. The two fiat being the fubJtantisl Conceptos of aSpirit , and the third that which anfwereth to all perfellive degrees, properties and accidents in Creatures, and comprehendeth amultitude of * Itisagreat difpüte tvith Perfeelive Attributes : which I exprefs in the Abftract, being loth much the Scboolmen, whether to ufe Concretes or Adjectives ofGod. Of thefe as the firll anfwereth to Gods Power be , any Matter inMaterials andto theGenie andJíabfiantia abftraltë fumpta in thing but hisreettett and will: that is, a necefía- Stunts, fo doth thefecond to theForm andDTerence ; when yet in God rq ditiina conceptos in- there is noCompofition, or Matter. aniessarws ofGod? (For he is one ftmple el- 23. I I. And theFormátConeeptus [VITA] muff it felf be con - fence.) narand.r. et.3e. ceived of in this Threefold inadequateConception ; ,I.*Potentia-Allus; q. e. affirmeth it: a. IntellectuS 3. Iloitsntas. I call the. firft Potentia-Accus, to avoid Con- i. Ys(gr.. 7ba. q. 23. s d. 102. C. 2. faith, Het crews, and to fignifie, that as God bath no Potentia Pawa, fo his Poten- foetenria corm i ,ieeitio- iia-ACtiva is not anidle ceffànt Power, but in perpetual perfeEl Aft; and ribres minim in madam probates. s yet he is that All is t. 01011 Powerful-Act : fo that neither Potentia alone, nor.Actus. wohin it ; f. d,oagh, t alone but both together, are our belt Conception of this firft Principle itn Suarez be fort). Luc it is partly by mifeon- the Deity. AndI take it for granted, that even in Mans foul, the Poten- ceiving of the Potentia tta-Yitalis Activa, the Intelle£t and will, are not as Thomas. thought Acci Y onl if d dents but the formal efJence of the foul, as the scotifis and Nominals were only rixzcative ad extra, orin the inferior better fay ; And I have largely elfewhere proved, and therefore (land not faculties ; and partly on here ir. Inch frivolous reafons as p tend alto to a denyal of 24. III. And the Exifence of this Divine Effence, mutt be known his Intelle&ion and Vo- by us in this Gradiealthreefoldconception: a. As in Virtute (vel Poten- lition. Methinks, they tia 2, In Actu Immanente, In A£tione Tran eunte : Of the firfl" that acknowledge Gods ) 3. f Underflanding and will (hall fay no more, but what is Paid before. By the fecond I mean God§ tobe analogically heeflal. own moti perfect Hence al Active in itfelf, without, extrinfick effect or which the word fgnifi- elf By the third; I mean not the Creature or the DivineMimi ut et , though G eslent) recipitur inpaffo, or the effesl : But the Divine Etfence it felf in the lhould on the fame rea- fate of Agency ad extra ; which the Schools conclude to be Eternal, ton grant, that vita & though the efiFi be but in Time. Yet if any will call this afree , and. Potentia applicable are terms nor a neeef ary flats of the Divine Efence, Icontend not. as to Gad : For which denorninati- 25. IV. The Effential Immanent Acts of God are Three: I. SIBI on mealy reafons and co- 7-'Ii' -ER E, or tobeE.ffential Aetive Life in Himfelf ; 2. SE INTEL- gent may begiveti: And IamfurethelanguageofLIGERE, to knowHimfelf ;- 3.SE AMARE, or tobe Amor fue. the Scrip': re and our 26. V. TheTrinity of Divine SUb(i/lences or Per(ons alto mull be here Grccd sill warrant this acknowledged; t.. The FATHER 5 2. The W O RD or SON 5 coecepron. 3. The
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