The Sacred Philosophy of the Holy Scripture, Conclusion – Dedication 2
The Concluſion.
BEcauſe I had both read and heard, that divers men o… fame in learning had undertaken this taske which I have now p…rformed (as you ſee) I waited with great patience and hope the accompliſhm…nt of their promiſe…. But when they were dead, and no fruites app…ared, worthy of ſuch hopes as they had given, having now paſt the ſeventieth yere of my life, I utterly deſpaired of that I had ſo long hoped for. For though I had oftentimes thought of what argument, and for mine o…ne uſe had gathered divers Notes and Argument… thereunto: …t when I conſidered, that in that age the vigor of wit doth often languiſh, whi h in younger yeares is more pr…gnant, though not alwayes with that ſta…dnes of judgement, whi…h ought to goe therewith; and eſ…ecially, that for my prof…ſsions ſake, I was compelled to poets and their fables; and among children, to ſpeake to their underſtanding; yet when that great and grievous peſtilence, which befell in the yeere 1625. had made a ſtop that dayly to…le, I knew it was fooliſh and altogether vaine, to flie from the hand of God; and that …o thoughts could befit a Chriſtian better, in the continuall hearing of dolefull knells, and ſight of corpſes carryed to the grace, then ſuch as …old the mynd faſt to God, and thoſe bleſſed hopes, that He …ath given to Chriſtian men. And therefore hauing brought my houſhold to a few, and them no gadders abroad, but ſuch as were eaſily commanded to ſtay within; I tooke the comforts which Almighty God vouchſ…fed mee, and found my ſelfe ſafe under His protection; and ſo cheerefully undertooke that taske, whi…h I had long tho…ght on, becauſe my expectation of others had quite faile… me. Therefore I praiſe and magnifie that glorious and holy Name, not only for that whole and perfect deliverance, whi…h He vouchſafed …nto mee at that time, but much more alſo, that Hee hath beene pleaſed to effect by me, ſ meane, that which other vertuous and learned men held fit to be done for the benefit of the Church, and yet affected it not. And if this labor of mine may prove any way availeable to the comfort of others, or the ſtrengthening of their faith, or eſtabliſhing of them therein; that they fall not into thoſe hereſies, into which other peruerſe minded men have beene plunged: For this alſo ſhall His praiſe be ever in my mouth, according to that exampl. of the holy Angels, foreign.
FINIS.
A TREATISE CONCERNING THE TRINITIE OF PERSONS IN VNITIE OF THE DEITIE.
VVritten by ALEXANDER GIL, to Thomas Mannering an Anabaptiſt, VVho denyed that IESVS is very GOD of very GOD: but man onelyonly; yet endued with the infinite power of GOD.
The ſecond Edition.
❧ Imprinted at London. 1635.
TO MY VERY LOVING FRIEND, Maſter THOMAS VVHYTE, a Citizen of BRISTOVV.
WHile I was at Norwich, in the yeere 1597, I writ this Treatiſe vponupon ſuch occaſion as appeares therein, and delivered it unto that Hereticke, that by himſelfe, if God would, he might conſider and be perſwaded. Since which time I have kept it by me: and though ſome of my private friends deſired copies; yet allowing that wiſedome of Solon, who would make no law againſt Patricide, leſt the mention of the fact might give occaſion to commit it: and withall conſidering that it is too ſimple and poore for the publike view, I refuſed to make it common. Yet after perceiving a preſent neceſsitie, becauſe that ſome began to wander in this labyrinth: and withall remembring, that if any weakling ſhall hereafter entertaine this opinion, he may, before he be wholly poſſeſſed therewith, find the abſurdity of it and be reformed; that many a novice in Chriſtianity, who therefore doubts of the trueneſſe of his Religion, becauſe he finds no familiar reaſon to perſwade, but onelyonly the racke of authorities to conſtraine him to acknowledge it; may perhaps bee hereby ſatisfied and finde comfort: and that they who are already ſtrong, may by this overplus, triumph in the goodneſſe of God, who requires them to beleeve no more, then they may by that underſtanding, which hee hath given them, bee perſwaded of: I have for their ſakes who may reape benefit thereby, neglected all froward Cenſurers, not guilty unto my ſelfe of any offence which I can commit in making it publike. Such as it is, accept (kinde Sir) as a parcell of that aſſertion, which may hereafter follow, of every Article of our Chriſtian faith; if God ſhall vouchſafe me underſtanding, leiſure, and maintenance thereto. I therefore offer it unto you, both becauſe I know you are diligent in reading of bookes of good argument; and becauſe I have none other meanes, whereby to ſhew my ſelfe thankefull for your manifold kindneſſes and your love.
Your loving and aſſured friend, A. G. London, this 20. of April 1601.