I Believe, That nothing is without beginning, but GOD, nor Nature no Matter, no Spirit, but one only, and the same GOD,
That GOD as he is Eternall, Almighty, only wise, only God in his Nature: so he is eternally Father, Sonne, and holy Spirit in Persons.
I believe, That God is so holy, pure, realous, that it is impossible for him to be pleased in any Creature (though the work of his own hand) so that neither Angel, Man nor World, could stand, or can stand one moment in his eyes, without beholding the same in the face of a Mediator.
And therefore, that before him, with whom all things are present, The Lambe of God was slain before all Worlds, without which Eternal Councel of his, it was impossible for him to have descended to any work of Creation, but should have enjoyed the blessed and individuall Society of three Persons in God, head only for ever; but that out of his eternall and infinite goodnesse and love (purposing to become a Creator, and to communicate with his Creatures he ordained in his Eternall Councell, That one Person of the God head should in time be united to one Nature, and to one particular of his Creatures, That so in the person of the Mediator; the true sadder might be fixed, whereby God might descend to his Creatures; and the Creatures might ascend to God: So that by the reconciliation of the Mediatour, turning his Countenance towards his Creatures (though not in the same degree) made way unto the disposition of his most holy, and sacred will whereby some of his Creatures might stand and keep their State, others might fall, and be restored into their state, but yet remaine in Being, though under wrath and corruption, all in the vertue of the Mediator, which is the great Mystery and perfect Centry of all Gods ways with his Creatures, & unto which all his other works and wonders, do but serve and refer. That he chose (according to his good pleasure) Man to be that Creature, to whose Nature the Eternal Son of God should be united, and among the Generations of men elected a small flock, to whom the participation of himself, he purposed to expresse the riches of his glory. All the ministration of Angels, damnation of Divels and Reprobats, and universall administration of all Creatures, and dispensation of all times have no other end; but as the wayes and Ambages of God, to be furthet glorified of his Saints, who are one with the Mediator, who is one with God.
That by vertue of his Eternall Councel (touching a Mediator) he descendeth at his own good pleasure, and according to times & seasons to himself known, to become a Creator) and by his Eternall Word created all things, and by his Eternall Spirit doth comfort and preserve them.
That he made all things in their first estate good, and removed from himself the begining of all evill and vanity, unto the liberty of the Creature; but reserved in himself the begining of all restistitution, and the liberty of his grace using (neverthelesse) and turning the falling and desention of the Creature, which to his Presciens was eternally known to make way to his Eternall Councell, touching a Mediator and the Work, he purposed to accomplish in him.
That God created Spirits, whereof some kept their standing, and others fell. He created Heaven and Earth, and all their Armies and Generations, and gave unto them constant and everlasting Laws, which we call Nature, which is nothing else but the Laws of Creation; which Laws (neverthelesse) have had three changes or times, and are to have a fourth and last.
- The first, When the matter of Heaven and Earth was created without formes.
- The second, The interim of every dayes work.
- The third, By the Curse, which notwithstanding was no new Creation, but a Privation of part of the first Creature.
And the last end of the world, the manner where of is not yet revealed. So as the lawes of Nature which now remaine and govern Inviolably till the end of the world begin to be in force when God first rested from his works, and ceased to create. But received a revocation (in part) by the curse, since which timey the changed not.
That, notwithstanding God hath rested, and ceased from creating since the first Sabboth, yet neverthelesse he doth accomplish and fullfill his divine will in all things great, and small, singular, and generall, as fully and exactly by providence, as he would by miracle, & new creation, though his worke be not immediate, & direct, but by compasse, not violating Nature which is his owne law upon his Creatures.
That as at the first the Soule of Man was not produced by Heaven or earth but was breathed immediatly from God: So that the wayes and proceedings from God with Spirits are not concluded in Nature, that is in the lawes of Heaven and Earth, but are reserved to the law of his secret will, and grace wherein God worketh still, and resteth not from the work of Creation, but continnueth working till the end of the world, what time that worke also shall be accomplished, and an eternall Sabboth shall ensue.