2 Of the .k ature, Knrvledge, Will EG OD I as he is the object of our Faith , and Religion. For to be OUR G OD doth[peak his Relations tous, as well as his Nature As thename KING and FATHER Both among men. 3. Weneither have, nor can have here in flefh any one profer formal Conception of the Divine Nature, that is formally foiled to the truth in theobject : But only Metaphoricalor Analogical Conceptions ; borrowed from things better known. 4. Yet nothing beyond fenfe ( at leaft ) is Po certainly known asG OD, fo far as we can reach, though nothing be lefs perfe£tly or more defective_ ly known , or lefs comprehended. Even as we know nothing Vifible more certainly than the som,and yet comprehend nothing Vifible lets. 5. It is not true which many great Metaphyficians affert, that the uiddity ofGod is totally unknown tous : For then it could not be life eternal to knowhim; nor would a meer Negative knowledge caufe in us a fuJftcient Pofctive Love, or foy or TrufI, &c. But to know that we cannot know him, wouldbut inferr that we cannotLove bim : For we Love not an unknown Good. 6. Nor is it true that Fet. Hurtado de Mendoza ( in fineDignit. ) and fome others fay, that the Notions ofLife and intellect are all that we have of the Quiddity of God, and that the. Divine Will is not a Qi dditative notion. 7. God is here fern in theGlair of his works; with the Revelation of *The doubt is, How hn- his word and spirit. And from there rporks we mutt borrow our con- perfeft works can nod- fie the perfeRG d:. And centions. ' the Schoolmen anaggeit g Therefore though the intended when we freak aninfuperable ilñcul- Thing it f k of God P , be ty , whether Go could traitfcendently and only inHim, andnot in the Creature, yet the firff oft- i.% e have made theworld , or ofthe words is to lignifie fornething in the Creature. And therefore the any thing better than is Creature is the amo sus avalo atom thcughlvothin toGod. is.? If you wiM pardon f f g o nie formaking that eaüe, 9. In the ufe of thefe notions wemull 1till profess that we apply them which they make ineffa- to God no farther than to fi nifie his perfections : And all words muff be ble, I. anfwer , Good- g P nets is Primitive ( that as little as may be ufed of him in firiCi difputes , which imply imperfe- is, God) or Derivative, lion, whenbetter may behad; But thehigheft are to be preferred. which only is in Ctea- i tunes: This lattrsfarmal- F ro. And we muff (till profess, thatv e take none of their words to be as cool, at it is Rellai d formal proper univocalterms, left the concealed Metaphor or impropriety the Prime Good, as its occafion falCe conceptions ofGod, andunworthy of Him 5 and alfo tempt Rule: Tobe a De, tali men to run them further by falfe inferences. tom is the formal notion, t I. CodsNature is molt Pimple, undivided: And Co mutt an adequate' of Created Good. And fa the world is perfeR, conception of Him be : But Man canhave no fuch conception of Him ;; and can be no better, but omit know what he can know of this One G OD by many partial becaufe it is as God wit- made uate conceptions. leth it Ana yet God q P can make particular ra. Yetmutt we be very careful that thefe inadequate analogical Con- "'""s bet' m0,em- ceptions be Orderly, and not as (I will not fay how commonly) it is done [rives, attd to one ano- thee ; He can make any by Tome, a confufedheap : For theMindthat fo conceiveth ofHim, greatly man more wile , more injureth it fe f andHim, and the Tongue and Pen that fo defiribeth Him, . holy, dre. But bunion frbi is no further properly difhonoureth Him : And though the Ignorant, for whom Catechifms are tonum, than it is Valium written, cannot lay together afull Schemeof the Divine Attributes in juli à Deli' : ThereforeGod method; et tbofe ¡ew which theycan underhand and remember he would can make the world far y J y y otherwife than- it is ; as well andbetter underhand and remember in the true method, were they nóyecmr eft it would taught it, than in an heap. ForMethod is a great help to underfianding would be but as. Goa and memory. Wewould not give a Prince his Titles fo confufedly ; nor willed itrobe: so that draw his PiCture.monftroufly, with the arms where the feet Mouldbe, and tilt matter and private Gmdnefs might alter ; the feet where the arms, or theback before, and the face behind, unlefs trat she true .form of we expofed him purpofely to fcotn. Every man knowcth the difference Got dtefs tcou!d tieGill bcts.ten a Clockor Watch in order, and the fame in confuted parcels en a, itfirhe Came as now. Pa heap ;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=