The divine life in three treatises

6. Having spoken of the effects of the Attributes of Gods Essence as such, we must next speak of the Effects of his three great Attributes which some call Subsistential, that is his Omnipotency, Understanding and Will; or his Infinite Power, Wisdom and Goodness: By which it hath been the way of the Schoolmen and other Divines to denominate the three Persons, not without some countenance from Scripture Phrase. The Father they call the Infinite Power of the God head; and the Son, the Wisdom and Word of God, and of the Father: and the Holy Ghost, the Love and Goodness of God, of the Father and Son. But that these Attributes, of Power, Understanding and Will, or Power, Wisdom and Goodness, are of the same importance with the terms of Personality, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we presume not to affirm. It sufficeth us, 1. That God hath assumed these Attributes to himself in Scripture. 2. And that man who beareth the Natural Image of God, hath Power, Understanding and Will; and as he beareth the Holy Moral Image of God, he hath a Power to execute that which is Good, and Wisdom to direct, and Goodness of Will to determine for the execution: And so while God is seen of us in this Glass of Man, we must conceive of him after the Image ⟨p. 51⟩that in man appeareth to us, and speak of him in the language of man, as he doth of himself.

6. HAving spoken of the effects of the Attributes of Gods Essence as such, we must next speak of the Effects of his three great Attributes which some call Subsistential, that is his Omnipotency, Understanding and Will; or his Infinite Power, Wisdom and Goodness: By which it hath been the way of the Schoolmen and other Divines to denominate the three Persons, not without some countenance from Scripture Phrase. The Father they call the Infinite Power of the God head; and the Son, the Wisdom and Word of God, and of the Father: and the Holy Ghost, the Love and Goodness of God, of the Father and Son. But that these Attributes, of Power, Understanding and Will, or Power, Wisdome and Goodness, are of the same importance with the termes of Personality, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we presume not to affirm. It sufficeth us, 1. That God hath assumed these Attributes to himself in Scripture. 2. And that man who beareth the Natural Image of God, hath Power, Understanding and Will; and as he beareth the Holy Moral Image of God, he hath a Power to execute that which is Good, and Wisdome to direct, and Goodness of Will to determine for the execution: And so while God is seen of us in this Glass of Man, we must conceive of him after the Image