A26883:3908
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,…
Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1675
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.
It doth not Receive its own Act, as if that act had been first preexistent in the Donor; but it performeth that Act because it is premoved to it. Now if the question be of this first effect, Unde operatio Gratiosa sit efficax, I answer, 1. The whole efficient reason is in the operator and operation it self. It is effectual ad impressionem ex natura rei, because it is an Act: If it did nothing, it were no Act transient. 2. And the specification and individuation is from the terminating object. It is denominatively and Relatively, one Act which is on a Stone, and another on a Soul, de specie: And it is numerically one which is on Peter, and another on John. If the Sun did shine in vacuo, there being no other creature to be objective or passive, it would still agere, but it would nihil efficere: quia nihil afficere; So God is one Infinite act, and ex parte sui never begineth to act, nor ever ceaseth, nor is divided; But transiently he doth nihil afficere vel efficere, but first by making objects, and then acting on them. So that were there no mobile Gods act would not movere. This first effect then of Impress hath an Effective and an Objective Cause, The Effective Cause is Gods Essence; that is, his Active Power, Intellect and Will, and nothing else: (Supposing now that it be not Gods operation on the Instrument or medium that we speak of, but immediately on the Soul it self). But Man's Soul is the Objective Recipient Cause of this first effect, which is, the Impress, or Influx received. 3. The Secondary effect is, Mans Act, Faith and Repentance it self. If the question, Unde Gratia sit efficax, mean this, (as with most it doth) ⟨p. 191⟩then it is all one as to ask, Unde hic Effectus? For that Gods Influx on the Soul immediately, is the sole Cause is false. Therefore the answer is, that this effect is from all the Causes conjunct: From Gods Will, or Law, and Power and Wisdom; from Christs mission of the Spirit (before merited); from the Spirits Impress or Influx; from the Gospel; from the Ministry (usually) and from the Agent Believer; all these as the efficient Causes. And it is from or on the prepared Soul (ordinarily) as the Materia disposita, vel Causa Receptiva, Objectiva of the Divine operation: And from or on God Christ, the promise, Glory, as the materia objectiva actus humani; where I conclude the Causa finalis as the chief object.