A89737:514
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.
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.
Either the Will is determined by God in its operation, or else it would follow, either that there were not an essential subordination of the second cause unto the first, that is, of man to God, which were repugnant to the nature of the second cause (it being imperfect and dependent;) or that the first Cause were subordinate to the second, which were repugnant to the nature of the first Cause, being perfect and universal.
If as often as the Will doth not will, it therefore doth not will, because God hath not determined that it should will: then as often as it willeth any thing, it therefore willeth, because God hath determined that it should will. But as often as the Will doth not will, it therefore doth not will, because God hath not determined that it should will. Therefore the Minor appeareth in two particulars.