Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who,…Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who,…

Here the Reader must know, that the Controversy is equally of Natural and Free agents and action. And first let us enquire of natural action.

Here the Reader must know, that the Controversie is equally of Natural and Free agents and action. And first let us enquire of natural action.

I. Fire is an Active nature, as much Inclined to Action as Earth to non-action or rest. Yea, its Active Virtue and Inclination is its very Essential Form, and this as to a threefold action, viz. Motion, Light and ⟨p. 77⟩Heat. If God then make Fire and continue its Nature or Essential Inclination ¹to these acts, and continue fuel approximate with all necessary concauses and media without impediments, to say that this Fire yet cannot burn or act, without another kind of Divine premotion besides all this, even an Immediate physical impulse, besides the described Influx, is a plain contradiction: For Fire is essentially an Inclined Power to act. And that▪ which hath a true Power to act, can act: It's a contradiction to say, It hath power, but it cannot. And a Power naturally inclined to act, will act, caeteris paribus.

1. 1For I have before showed how many ways this is certainly done. The whole experience of the world showeth, that God doth operate by second causes according to their natures and ways of operation; Therefore it more concerneth us here to know, what second causes do on the soul in good and evil actions, than in these disputes is usually observed. Adrian. Quodl. 3. fol 18. Sententia Durandi & plurium aliorum certum tenet, &c. Quam opinionem ultimo tradit Magister 37. d. 2. judicium relinquens prudentis lectoris examini.For I have before shewed how many wayes this is certainly done. The whole experience of the world sheweth, that God doth operate by second causes according to their natures and wayes of operation; Therefore it more concerneth us here to know, what second causes do on the soul in good and evil actions, than in these disputes is usually observed. Adrian. Quodl. 3. fol 18. Sententia Durandi & plurium aliorum certum tenet, &c. Quam opinionem ultimo tradit Magister 37. d. 2. judicium relinquens prudentis lectoris examini.