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,…

C. What is that?

B. The great importance of that common saying Recipitur ad modum recipientis; on which, had I time, I would write a Book of Instances. Causa Receptiva is not well understood. Aristotle maketh Privatio to be one of his three Principles in Physics. By Privation must be meant, not Absentia formae, sed Dispositio materiae: And whether you will call it a third Principle, or only the due qualification of the first (Matter) to make it immediately Receptive of the form, the matter being de nomine & •umero is small. But it is most certain, that the wonderful diversity of alterations, or effects of motion in the world, is very much to be ascribed to the diversity of Receptive Dispositions. And accordingly as in Physics the three Active Natures (Intellective, Sensitive, and Vegetative, (which its like is Ignis) are to be defined per virtutes suas Activas; so the Passive Elements (Earth, Water, and Air) are to be defined by their several contextures or constitutions, which make up Dispositionem Receptivam Influxus Activorum, unicuique propriam; which is their very form. In Physical cases, God doth first as Creator make all things in wonderful variety of natures, quantities, figures, and contextures. And secondly, he causeth an Universal Cause to Influence them generally; such as is the Sun for one (what other we know not well); whose •r•ple influx Motion, Light, and Heat, affecteth all things according to their several Natures and Receptivities. The special Active principle in every living thing, is both cherished, and suscitated by this universal solar influx. But the diversity of effects is not from the Sun, but from the diversity of Recipients. The Sun by its influx is the cause that all things live, and move▪ But that one thing hath a life and motion Intellective, and another Nonsttive, and another Vegetative, that by the Suns influx an A•orn bring• forth an Oak, and every Seed its own kind of Plant; that a Horse •••• as a Horse, a Dog as a Dog, a Sheep as a Sheep, &c. that the osa hath one smell, colour, shape; the Carnation another; the Tulip another, & . that the Dunghill sketh, that the Clay is hardened, the Wa softened, &c.