A89737:513
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.
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.2 For though (as the beings, so) the operations of the second causes, are from the first Cause efficiently; yet they are from their next causes formally. God causeth the burning of the fire, yet we do not say God burneth, but the fire burneth. God worketh repentance in the Soul, yet it is not a truth to say God repenteth, but man repenteth; God is the next efficient Cause, but not the next formal Cause.
- 1Ames Med. lib. 1. cap. 9.
- 2Una estactio I ei & creaturae respectu operis, sed non respectu modi agendi. 4. Determining.Ʋna estactio I ei & creaturae respectu operis, sed non respectu modi agendi. 4. Determining.
4. The first Cause so concurreth, as it determineth the second cause in its operation. This is readily granted in natural agents, in free-rational agents it is proved thus. If the futurition of the operation of the second cause is determined by the Decree of God, then the operation it self is determined by the Efficiency of God. 1. Because the Efficiency is adequate to the Decree. 2. Because there can be but one absolute Determiner. 3. If the operation of the second cause were not absolutely determined by the Decree, God might suffer disappointment in respect of the Decree.