A89737:1428
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few…
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perilous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begetting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perillous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begeting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.
London: printed by John Macock for Henry Cripps, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
In corporeal vision, sight is united to the object, by the help of the sensible species, i. e. the similitudes, image, or likeness of the object; in intellectual Vision, the understanding is united to the object, by intellectual species; but in the beatifical Vision, the Divine essence it self supplieth the place of intelligible species; for were there any other similitude of the Divine essence, it must needs be a creature; but it is impossible for a thing created to represent that which is increated; a material species is unable to represent an immaterial object; much more is a created species unable to represent the increated object, there being more distance between the light of glory, or any other conceivable created similitude, and the increated essence, than there is between a material and immaterial creature.
In corporeal vision, sight is united to the object, by the help of the sensible species, i. e. the similitudes, image, or likenesse of the object; in intellectual Vision, the understanding is united to the object, by intelectual species; but in the beatifical Vision, the Divine essence it self supplyeth the place of intelligible species; for were there any other similitude of the Divine essence, it must needs be a creature; but it is impossible for a thing created to represent that which is increated; a material species is unable to represent an immaterial object; much more is a created species unable to represent the increated object, there being more distance between the light of glory, or any other conceivable created similitude, and the increated essence, than there is between a material and immaterial creature.
Again, there is no use of any created species for the seeing of the Divine essence, by reason of its perfection, and immensity; whence it can sufficiently unite it self, to the glorified understanding.
The Divine essence concurreth with the understanding, both as an universal Agent, and as the object of such Vision,