A55308:209
Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either…
Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either practically exemplified in Jesus Christ, set forth in the Gospel, or may be reasonably deduced from thence / by Edward Polhill ..., Esq.
London: printed by A.M. and R.R. for Tho. Cockerill, 1678
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.
Chap. 8 Gods Providence asserted from Scripture, Philosophy, and Reason. It hath a double act, Conservative, and Ordinative; both are manifested in Christ. It was over Christ, over his Genealogy, Birth, Life, Death. Over the fruit of his Satisfaction, in raising up a Church. It aimed at a Church; directed the means, and added the blessing. That Opinion, That Christ might have died, and yet there might have been no Church, is false. All other Providences reduced to those over Christ and the Church. Epicurus's Objection against Providence answered. Providence over free acts of men asserted, and yet Liberty not destroyed. The Objections touching the Afflictions of good men, and the event of Sin, solved. The Entity in sinful actions distinct from the Anomy: the Order from the Ataxy.
HAVING spoken of the Divine Attributes, I now proceed to speak of Providence, which in a special manner directed this great Dispensation, God manifest in the flesh; in which, as we have seen, the Attributes of God do eminently appear. Providence is more than Previdence; [Greek or Hebrew] is not nude Prescience; it is, as a learned man speaks, Praecognitio cum curâ, a Precognition with care. It is the Divine Reason of the Supreme Lord, which disposes of all things; it is that act of God whereby he doth in eternity pre-ordain, and in time direct every thing to the great end of all, his own glory. The Scripture doth very fully set forth this: Of him, and ⟨p. 157⟩through him, and to him are all things, Rom. 11.36: Of him as the Author, through him as the Conservator and Director, and to him as the ultimate End, are all things. He giveth life, and breath, and all things, Acts 17.25. In him we live, and move, and have our being, ver. 28. The original, the continuance, the guidance of all is from him. As a mighty Monarch he doth whatsoever he pleaseth in heaven and in earth. Psal. 135.6, He doth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. None can stay his hand, or say unto him, What dost thou?