The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

§. 10. The first Cause must needs be independent, in being, perfections, and operations; and so be absolutely self-sufficient.

For it were not the first, if there were any before it:¹ and being caused by nothing else, it was eternally sufficient in and for it self: otherwise that which it were beholden to, would have the place of a Cause to it. And if it caused not all, or ⟨p. 20⟩needed the help of any other,² it is not absolutely the first Cause to all others, nor perfect in it self. That which could be eternally without a cause, and it self cause all things, is self-sufficient and independent.

For it were not the first, if there were any before it:¹ and being caused by nothing else, it was eternally sufficient in and for it self: otherwise that which it were beholden to, would have the place of a Cause to it. And if it caused not all, or ⟨p. 20⟩needed the help of any other,² it is not absolutely the first Cause to all others, nor perfect in it self. That which could be eternally without a cause, and it self cause all things, is selfsufficient and independent.

1. 1Deus est Mens, soluta, libera & segregata ab omni concretione mortali, omnia sentiens, movens, &c. Cicer. 1. Tuscul.
2. 2Velleius in Cicer de Nat. Deor. 1. Reciteth the Opinions of many of the Philosophers, of God, p. 10. Sed Deo (si Deus est) longum nihil omnino est, cui punctum terra est, & sub nutu omnia constituta. Arnob. l. 7. p. 63.