A short treatise

Expos. 1. The first creature was made of nothing, otherwise it could not be subject to change and alteration: and all creatures are finite, compound, imperfect, unable to make or sustain themselves; therefore of necessity there must be a first cause, in power infinite, most perfect, and of it self, that gives being and continuance unto all things. 2▪ Nothing can be the cause of it self, for then it should be both the cause & the effect, both before and after it self: therefore all things have their beginning from one first and supreme cause, which is God. 3. Amongst things created we may observe a series of causes, and an order in the things themselves; but order is from ⟨p. 45⟩one first, and leads us unto one first. 4. All things, even things without life, sense, and reason, which cannot moon voluntarily, or intend an end, are directed orderly unto an end: therefore there is one wise, good, and chief directer of all things, which is God. 5. The greatness, perfection, multitude, variety, and concord of things existing; the form, and continual sustentation of the world, do show that all things do depend upon some one, wise, and perfect good, from whom they have their being and preservation.

Expos. 1. The first creature was made of nothing, otherwise it could not bee subiect to change and alteration: and all creatures are finite, compound, imperfect, vnable to make or sustaine themselues; therefore of necessitie there must bee a first cause, in power infinite, most perfect, and of it selfe, that giues beeing and continuance vnto all things. 2▪ Nothing can be the cause of it selfe, for then it should be both the cause & the effect, both before and after it selfe: therefore all things haue their beginning from one first and supreame cause, which is God. 3. Amongst things created we may obserue a series of causes, and an order in the things themselues; but order is from ⟨p. 45⟩one first, and leads vs vnto one first. 4. All things, euen things without life, sense, and reason, which cannot moone voluntarily, or intend an end, are directed orderly vnto an end: therfore there is one wise, good, and cheife directer of all things, which is God. 5. The greatnesse, perfection, multitude, varietie, and concord of things existing; the forme, and continual sustentation of the world, doe shew that all things doe depend vpon some one, wise, and perfect good, from whom they haue their beeing and preseruation.