A89737:1436
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.
The effect of the Beatifical Vision is Blessedness; as glory is the Sum of all Gods perfections, so Blessedness is the sum of all mans good, that he either needs, or is capable of.
The effect of the Beatifical Vision is Blessednesse; as glory is the Sum of all Gods perfections, so Blessednesse is the sum of all mans good, that he either needs, or is capable of.
God intending to make a Creature happy, giveth it a principle ⟨p. 335⟩capable to understand, and enjoy him, and giveth himself the object of that principle to be understood and enjoyed. No Creature is capable of happiness, or misery, but the reasonable Creature; there could neither be Heaven nor Hell, the joys of the one, nor the pains of the other, without understanding; the perfect union of the highest created Principle with the increated object makes blessedness.
God intending to make a Creature happy, giveth it a principle ⟨p. 335⟩capable to und erstand, and enjoy him, and giveth himself the object of that principle to be understood and enjoyed. No Creature is capable of happiness, or misery, but the reasonable Creature; there could neither be Heaven nor Hel, the joys of the one, nor the pains of the other, without understanding; the perfect union of the highest created Principle with the increated object makes blessedness.
There are four Attributes of the Beatifical object;1 Ultimateness, perfection, expulsion of all evil, satisfaction of the desire. It is the last, that whereunto all things are referred, but it self is referred unto nothing; it is perfect, having absolute and universal excellency; it expelleth all evil, knoweth no want; it is a sufficient good, it satisfieth the desire, the Will willeth no more. The Latitude of all being, all truth, and all good (the object of the Understanding and Will) is contained in it, and that in most eminent manner.