Sermons preached

3. From those who reject the use of Means, and all Operations, Dispositions, and Preparations of second Causes, as if they moved not, and God did not act or move by them. No, this is a false Deduction and Inference both in Naturals and Spirituals.

(1.) In Naturals, for God worketh by Means, and by Means prepared. Hos. 2. 21, 22. I will hear the Heavens, and they shall hear the Earth, &c. There is a Train of Causes governed and influenced by God. The second Causes have their Operation, but they are under the Government of the first, who worketh by them, and also suspendeth their Operations at his Pleasure. There are two extremes; one of Durandus, ⟨p. 253⟩that God giveth second Causes only power to work of themselves, and doth only continue this Power to them, but not work with them. But this is false: for all things depend on God, not only for our Being, but Working. Acts 17. 28. In him we live, move, and have our being. The other is, That the Creature hath no Operation at all, that the first Cause doth only work ad presentiam, Creaturae, by the Presence of the second. But this is also against the Wisdom of God; for if the second Causes did no way concur to the producing of their Effects, then they are made in vain, and used for such an End in vain.

(1.) In Naturals, for God worketh by Means, and by Means prepared. Hos. 2. 21, 22. I will hear the Heavens, and they shall hear the Earth, &c. There is a Train of Causes governed and influenced by God. The second Causes have their Operation, but they are under the Government of the first, who worketh by them, and also suspendeth their Operations at his Pleasure. There are two extreams; one of Durandus, ⟨p. 253⟩