A89737:512
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.
Now, though it be many times a truth concerning the working of second causes one upon another, that they work immediately in respect of their virtue, but not in respect of the presence of their beings themselves; as appeared but now from the instance of fire, and may further be seen in the example of the Sun, which whilst experience witnesseth to warm and heat us upon Earth with the presence of its virtue, yet Sense and Reason shows to be far absent in respect of its body, being in the Heavens: Yet such is the nature of the first Cause, as that wheresoever it worketh it worketh immediately, both with the immediation of his virtue, without which there could be no effect; and with the immediation of his presence, because he is in every place.
Now, though it be many times a truth concerning the working of second causes one upon another, that they work immediately in respect of their virtue, but not in respect of the presence of their beings themselves; as appeared but now from the instance of fire, and may further be seen in the example of the Sun, which whilest experience witnesseth to warm and heat us upon Earth with the presence of its virtue, yet Sense and Reason shews to be far absent in respect of its body, being in the Heavens: Yet such is the nature of the first Cause, as that wheresoever it worketh it worketh immediately, both with the immediation of his virtue, without which there could be no effect; and with the immediation of his presence, because he is in every place.
Although the first Cause worketh immediately in respect of the immediation of its being and virtue; yet in respect of ⟨p. 110⟩those things, which it acts by means of second causes, whether by the mediation of the beings themselves,1 or of their virtues, into which things the second agents do send their influence by virtue of their proper forms; I say, in respect of such things it worketh mediately: whence the first Cause is said to be a mediate cause in respect of the order of the second causes.