A64622:424
A body of divinity, or, The sum and substance of Christian religion catechistically propounded,…A body of divinitie, or, The summe and substance of Christian religion catechistically propounded,…
A body of divinity, or, The sum and substance of Christian religion catechistically propounded, and explained, by way of question and answer : methodically and familiarly handled / composed long since by James Usher B. of Armagh, and at the earnest desires of divers godly Christians now printed and published ; whereunto is adjoined a tract, entitled Immanuel, or, The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God heretofore written [sic] and published by the same author.A body of divinitie, or, The summe and substance of Christian religion catechistically propounded, and explained, by way of question and answer : methodically and familiarly handled / composed long since by James Vsher B. of Armagh, and at the earnest desires of divers godly Christians now printed and published ; whereunto is adjoyned a tract, intituled Immanvel, or, The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God heretofore writen [sic] and published by the same authour.
London: printed by M.F. for Tho. Downes and Geo. Badger, 1645
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.
Whatsoever is changed, must needs be changed either to the worse, or to the better, or in a state equal to the former: but God cannot be changed from the better to the worse, for so he should become of perfect, imperfect; and to exchange from the worse to the better, it is impossible also, for then he should have been imperfect before. Lastly, if he should alter from an equal condition to an equal, so that he should forgo some good which before he had, and assume some other which before he had not, both before and after this change he should be imperfect, being destitute of some part of that good which appertained to him, which to affirm is high blasphemy.
Whatsoever is changed, must needs be changed either to the worse, or to the better, or in a state equall to the former: but God cannot be changed from the better to the worse, for so hee should become of perfect, imperfect; and to exchange from the worse to the better, it is impossible also, for then he should have been imperfect before. Lastly, if he should alter from an equall condition to an equall, so that he should forgoe some good which before he had, and assume some other which before he had not, both before and after this change he should be imperfect, being destitute of some part of that good which appertained to him, which to affirm is high blasphemy.
Obj. 1. But divers things are objected against that immutability of Gods nature and will: as first, that in the mystery of incarnation, God was made man, which before he was not.
That was done not by any conversion or change of the divinity, but by the assumption of the humanity.