| OCR Text |
Show ·, Tht Sandy Foundation Shaken. VoL. r .. Perfons, which may be finite fep:uarely, make u~ an infinir_e conjunaly; however this will follow, that they are no more mcomm_umc_a bl~ or feparare, nor properly Subfiftences, bur a_ Subfiltence; for the tnfimte S~bftance ~an't find a Bottom or Subfiftence m any _one or .t\\'0, therefore )Oyntly. And here 1 :~m alfo willing to over· look fimtenefs m the Farber, Son, and Spirit, which this Doctrine mutt fuppofe. . . . A ain, if rhefe three diftin8: Perfons are one, wtth f~me one ~hmg, as ~he gfay they are with the God-head, then are nor they w_commumcable y themfelves. but fo much rhe contrary, as ro be one m the Place of amo~g . For if th;t the only God is the Father, and Chrifi be that only G~J, ~~-en is Chri1l the Father. So. ~f that one God be the Son, and. r~e Spirit that one God, then is the Spmt the. Son, and. fo roun~ .. Nor Is It poffible to ftop, or that it fhould be otherwtfe, fin~e tf the DJ.vme Nature be infeparable from the three Perfons, or com'!lumca~ed ~o each, and each Perfon have the whole Divine Nature, then IS the ~on m the .Father, and the Spirit in the Son, unlefs that theGod·head be as m(;ommumcahleto the Perfons, as they arc reported to be arnongft themfeh:es; or that ~h.e three Perfons have diftin8ly allotted them fuch a Pr~por~Ion _of the Divine Nature, as it not communicable to each other; wh1c~ I? alike ab_furd ... M~ch more might be faid to ma~1ifeil: the grofs Conu~dtEhon of thts Trmnanau DoEhine, as vulgarly rece1v d; but I muft be bnef. Information and Caution. Before I fh:1ll conclude this Head, it's requifire I fhould i~form Thee, Reader, concerning its Original: Thou mafft affure tb,.v felf, It's not from the Scriptures, nor Reafon, fincc fo exprefly repugnant; a'ltho~gh all Broa:h· ers of their own Inventions ftrongly endeavour to reconctle them wuh that Holy Record. Know then, my Friend, 'twas born above three Han· dred Years after the Ancient Gofpel was declared; and that through the nice Diftinaions, and too daring ~uriofi~y of the B.ifh?P of .Alexandria, who being as hotly oppofe& by Arrzm, then. Zeal. fo reciprocally ble~ t~e Fire of Contention, Animofity, and Perfecutton, ull at laft they facnficd each other to their mutual Revenge. , Thus it was c9nccived in Ignorance, brought forth and m:tint:Jin'd by Cruelty~ for though he that was ftt?ngeft, impo~·~ hi~ Opinio~, perfccu· ring the contrary, yet the Scale turnrng o~ the Tnmtana~ tide, 1~ h:t.s there continued through all theRomifh GeneratiOns: And not~Vtthftandt~g u hat~ obtain'd the Name of Jltbanafian from J!tbanajim, (a fbffMan, w1rnefs h1s Carriage rowarOs Confiantine the Emperor) becaufe fuppos'd to have been rnoft concerned in the framing that Creed in which this Do8:rine is affert~ ed · yet have I never feen one Copy void of a Sufpicion, rather to have be~n the Refults of Popifh School~ Men; which I could render more perfpi· cuous, did not Brevity neceffitate me to an Omiffion. . . Be therefore caution'd, Reader, not to embrace the Deterrntnauon of prejudic'd Councils, for Evangelical DoCtrine; which the Scriptures ' bear no certain Teftimony to; neither was believ'd by the primitive Saints, or thus flared by any I have read of in the llrft, fecond, or third Centuries; particularly Irenem, J~ftin Martyr, TerruUi~n, Origen, with many oth~rs who appear wholly foreign to the Matter In Controverfie.-But ft:etng that private Spirits, and thofe 4none of the moft ingeniuus, h:1ve been rhe Parents and Guardians of this fo generally recdv'd DoUrine; let the Time paft fuffice, and be admonith'd to apply thy Mind unto that Light and Grace which brings Salvation; that by Obedience thereunto, thofe Mifts Tradition hath ca1t before thy Eyes, may be expel'd, :md thou receive ~ certain Knowledge of that God, whom to know is Life Eternal, not to be divided, but ONE pure intire and eternal Being; who in the Fulnefs o( Time fent forth his Son, as the true Light which enlightnerh every Man; that whofoever follow'd him {the Light) might be uanllated from r~e dark Notions, and vain Converfations of Men, to this Holy Lighr, m which. VoL. I. The Sandy F~~~mdation Shaken: z 5 ~ which onlY found Judgment and Eternal Life ate ~btainable: Who fo many 1668. llundred Years fince, in Perfon teftified the Virtue of it, and has commu· ~ nicated unto all fuch a Proportion, as may enable them to follow his- Example. The Vulgar Dotlrine of Satisfutlion, being dependent on the Second Perfon of the Trinity, refuted from Scripture. THat Mtm baving tranfgrefs'd the Rigbttous Lot» of God, and fo expo.r'd to the Penalty of Eiernal Wrath, it's altogether impoffib!e/or God tore· mtt or forgive without a Ple,pzry SatisfaOion; and that there was .no ot~er Way Dy which God could obttJin Slllis/aOion, or fave Men~ tban by mjMlmg tbe Penalty of infinite Wrath andVengeonf,e on Jefm.Chrift tbe Seccnd Prrfon of the Trinity, who for Sins paft, preftnl\ and to come, bath wbbl!y born and paid it, (whethet for all, or but fome) to the offended infinite ]«}lice of lfit F11tber. . Doar. 1. And the Lordp../fed by hrfore bim, (Mofcs) nnd proclnimed, The Lord, Exod.J4.6·7; the Urd God, MercijNI and GraciorH, l<.tepi,g .Me-rcy for TboJJj'ands, for· giving Iniquity, TranJ.greffion and Sin. [From whence I fh:rll draw this Po· fttion, that fince God has proclaim1d himfelf a Gracious, Merciful, and forgiving God, it's not inconfiftent with his N:uure to remit, without any other Confideration than his own Love: Otherwife he could not jufl:ly come under the Imputation of fo many Gracious Attributes, with whom it is impoffible to pardon, and neceffary to exafi the Payment of the utmoft Farthing.] ' 2. For if ye ttJrn again to the Lord, the Lord your God is Gracio111 and !. Chron, 3of Merci/NI, and will not tUrn aa?tll his FtJcefrom you. [Where how natural is 9• it to obferve that God's remifhon is grounded on their repentance; anc! nor · that it's impoffible for God to pardon, without plenary Satisfad:ion, fince the Poffibility, nay, certainty of the Contury, viz. His Grace and Mercy, is the great Motive or Reafon, of that Loving Invitation to return. ] 3· They hardened their Necks, and hearkened nor to tby Commandme!lfs; b11t Neh. 9• :uf, thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and nurciful. [Can the honeft- 17• Hearted Reader conceive, thll God fhould thus be mercifully qualified, whilft executing the Rigor of the Law nanfgreft, or not acquirting with-out the Debt be paid him by another? I fuppofe not. J 4· Let the Wickedforfllke his WtJy, andtbe Unrighteous Man his Thoughts, lfa. SS• 7! and let him return unto the Lord, and be wi/J have Mercy upon him, and to our Gild, for be wiiJ abtmdanrly pardon. [Come, let the unprejudiced Judge, if this Scripture DoEl:rine, is not very remote from faying his Na_ture can· not forgive Sin, therefore let ('hrift p:~y him full SatistaEl:ion, or he will certainly be avenged; whi.ch is the Sub!bnce of that ftrangc Opinion. ). Behold the Days come, faith the Lord, that I tozU make a New Covenant Jer. 31 • .3'i fllitb the Houfe of Hfael; 1 wi/J p11t my Law in their Inward Parts; I will 33· 34• forgive their Iniquity, and I tvill remember their Sin no more. [Here is God's mcer Grace afferred, againft the pretended Neceffity of a Sarisfa£H~ on to procure his Remiffion ~ And this Paul acknowledgetb, to he the Di£:. penfation oft he Gofpel, in his eighth Chapter to the Hehrewr: So thlt this New Do8:rin~, doth not only contradiCt the Nature and Defign of the fe~ cond Covenant, but feems in lhort, to difcharge God, both fro~ his Mer-cy and Omnipotence, ] , 6. Who is a God likeuttto thee, that pardonetb lniquit,h. anJ pajfo~b by the Mica!t 7• 1&. Tranfgreffion of the Remnaflt of his Heritage? He retainetb not hu linger forever, becaufe"he de!igbterh ilt M&rcy. rcan there be :1 mor: exprefs Patrage to clear, not only the Poffibility, but real lndinarions 1n God to pardon Sin, and not retain his Ailglr for ever; fince the Prophet feems to challenge all other godo, ro try their Excellency by his God : Hercijl defcri- " . bln§ |
