A20766:1334
The sum of sacred divinity briefly & methodically propoundedThe summe of sacred diuinitie briefly & methodically propounded
The sum of sacred divinity briefly & methodically propounded : more largely & clearly handled and explained / published by John Downame ...The summe of sacred diuinitie briefly & methodically propounded : more largly & cleerely handled and explaned / published by John Downame ...
London: printed by Willi, 1625
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The first is that, which extendeth generally to all the World, and to the whole government, and administration of it, which he himself is wont to call his Judgeship, or Office of judging, John 5. 27. He hath given unto him dignity to execute judgement, as he is the Son of man, And John 5. 22. The Father judgeth no man, but hath given all judgement to the Son; where that it may appear how large his Power in this behalf extendeth, he calleth it all judgement. Agreeable whereunto is that of the Apostle, Heb. 1. 3. where he is said to sustain all things by the power of his Word. Therefore, John 5. 17. he makes this general proclamation, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work, without restraint of time or place, or of the subject or persons towards whom it is wrought. God therefore, who before governed immediately and by himself, hath, ever since the fall of Adam, appointed Christ his Vicegerent, and Lieutenant general, in whose person he would afterwards rule the World: Not that himself sitteth idle in heaven, as Josephs Master did, when he had committed unto Joseph the Administration of his house: but being in him, and with him, and working all things by and through Christ, who again useth to that end, beside his Spirit, and the power of his Word, the service also & the ministry of his holy Angels: all which is figured by many excellent and goodly Similitudes, in the Vision of kEzekiel, where the four living Creatures representing the innumerable company of Angels, whose Ministry extendeth unto all the four parts of the Earth, have under their feet four wheels; noting ⟨p. 337⟩the whole uncertain course of this changeable and unconstant world, which move when they move, and rest when they stand still. And when the living creatures lift up themselves from earth into heaven, to receive from God new Commandments, the wheels also, as it were, do follow them, and cease from wheeling, to wait their direction. Above which Angels is a Curtain, or Extent between God and them, all of Crystal, clear and transparent: through the which as he beholdeth these inferior creatures, so they, both Angels and men, according to their mediocrity, are able to see him, and the brightness of his glory. Over that Extent, higher than the highest heavens, is a most glorious Throne erect: