A89737:499
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few…
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perilous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begetting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perillous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begeting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.
London: printed by John Macock for Henry Cripps, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
2. From the perfection of the first Cause; such is the nature of the first Cause being God, and the nature of the second cause being a creature, as that thence necessarily followeth the amplitude of Perfection in the first Cause, and a universal and subordinate dependence in the second cause in respect of its efficiency. In this regard Plato called the second causes the instruments of the first Cause; which though in some respect it holdeth not,1 because instruments (properly so called) have no proper efficiency; yet so far it is a truth, as that every creature universally dependeth more upon God, then any creature upon its fellow-creature.
2. From the perfection of the first Cause; such is the nature of the first Cause being God, and the nature of the second cause being a creature, as that thence necessarily followeth the amplitude of Perfection in the first Cause, and a universal and subordinate dependance in the second cause in respect of its efficiency. In this regard Plato called the second causes the instruments of the first Cause; which though in some respect it holdeth not,1 because instruments (properly so called) have no proper efficiency; yet so far it is a truth, as that every creature universally dependeth more upon God, then any creature upon its fellow-creature.
- 1Rhetorf. Ex. 3. c. 2. de effi. grat.
3. It implieth a contradiction,1 that the creature should be able to act without dependency upon the Creator. 1. Because the agent being a creature is depending, therefore its power to act is depending; the power of acting holds proportion with the agent. 2. Because the action proceeding from this agent, is a being by participation: it is impossible for the creature to have other then a depending being.