Catalogue Entry: THEM00308

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In allusion to the versions of Beza and Tremellius, who translate the clause, sustineatque omnia verbo potentiæ suæ, or verbo illo suo potente, sustinet omnia virtute verbi sui. Mill reads αὑτοῦ, without noticing the other reading, nor have I remarked that Waterland, who often quotes and argues upon the passage, takes any notice of the variation. It is however mentioned by Doddridge; and Wetstein, who reads αὑτοῦ, has the following note: 'αὐτοῦ, ut ad Patrem referatur. Christus verbo potentiæ paternæ cuncta fert. Editio Erasmi, Colinæi.' To these two names Archbishop Newcome has added that of Bengelius, in the copy of Wetstein's New Testament which formerly belonged to that prelate, and which is enriched with several annotations in his hand-writing.

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..... Therefore was law giv'n them to evince

Their natural pravity, by stirring —up

Sin against law to fight. Paradise Lost, XII. 287.

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'Deus interdum peccatores inscios et præter mentem suam ad objectum aliquod contra quod peccent, potius quam ad aliud dirigit; vel ad hoc potius peccatum, quam ad aliud quod animo ante conceperant, cos ferri sinit..... cum rex Babylonis ambitione sua incitatus bellum gerere constituisset, at penderet adhuc animo, nesciens utrum Judæos an vero Ammonitas impetere deberet, Deus ita direxit sortes, quas consulebat, ut in Judæos, quorum peccata ultionem suam magis provocaverant, expeditionem illam militarem susciperet, Ezech. xxi. 29, &c.' Curcell. Institutio, III. 12, 7.

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'But they shift it; he permitted only. Yet silence in the law is consent, and consent is accessory.' Tetrachordon. Prose Works, II. 9.

'Yea, but to permit evil, is not to do evil. Yes, it is in a most eminent manner to do evil; where else are all our grave and faithful sayings, that he whose office is to forbid and forbids not, bids, exhorts, encourages?' Ibid. 182.

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As if they would confine th'Interminable,

And tie him to his own prescript,

Who made our laws to bind us, not himself.

Samson Agonistes, 307.

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Perrexit autem ira Jehovæ accendi in Israelitas, quum incitasset adversarius Davidem in cos, &c. Version of Tremellius. Our authorized translation renders the passage differently.The anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

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'Atqui, inquies, id fit quia sunt mali, non quia Dei concursus eos tales reddat, veluti cum agaso armentum equorum aut asinorum claudorum agitat, causa quidem est incessus illorum, sed vitium ipsis adhærens est causa cur claudicarent. Respondeo istam similitudinem claudicare, nec posse applicari primo hominis peccato, quo cætera omnia inevitabiliter fluere existimant. Nullus enim tunc in eo erat defectus, qui efficeret ut Deo ad agendum impellente male ageret.' Curcell. Institutio, IV. 2. 3.

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..... If then his Providence

Out of our evil seek to bring forth good-.

Paradise Lost, I. 162.

..... Who seeks

To lessen thee, against his purpose serves

To manifest the more thy might; his evil

Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good.

VII. 613. See also XII. 470.

'Denique providentia divina circa peccatum jam commissum se exerit, non tantum puniendo ipsum ex severitate, aut condonando ex misericordia, sed etiam ad bonum aliquem finem inservire faciendo, contra perpetrantis intentionem. Ita Deus usus est venditione Josephi, ad conservandum familiam patris et regnum Ægypti, ne fame perirent; et scelere Judæorum Jesum morti tradentium, ad generis humani redemptionem.' Curcell. Institutio, III. 12. 8.

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'Yet I will not insist on that which may seem to be the cause on God's part; as his judgement on our sins, the trial of his own, the unmasking of hypocrites-.' Of Reformation in England, I. 5.

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Ab illo malo.Tremellius. from that evil one.

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'Tertia quæstio spectat conservationem individuorum, utrum Deus absoluto decreto unicuique homini certum vitæ terminum assignarit, quem nemo ulla ratione aut contrahere aut producere possit.' Curcell. Institutio, III. 11. 1.

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This seems to intimate a belief in the doctrine held by the Fathers and best divines, that if Adam had not sinned, he would not have died. The opinion is expressed in the same doubtful manner in a speech of Raphael:

..... time may come, when men

With angels may participate.....

And from these corporal nutriments perhaps

Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit,

Improv'd by tract of time, and wing'd ascend

Ethereal as we, or may at choice

Here, or in heav'nly Paradises dwell.

Paradise Lost, V. 493.

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'Qualitas providentiæ in duobus præcipue spectator. 1. Quod alia sit ordinaria, alia vero extraordinaria..... Providentia ordinaria est, qua Deus in hominum regimine ordinem a se ab initio institutum observat, et omnia convenienter naturæ, quam ipsis indidit, gubernat. Curcell. Institutio, III. 12. 10.