A key to physic, and the occult sciences / [E. Sibly].

Ebenezer Sibly

Date:: 1821

Credit: A key to physic, and the occult sciences / [E. Sibly]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

31/548 page 17

$alio contribute towards the produ6tion of their effe6t. It the efficient caufe a£ts by a power proper to itfelf, then it is called the principal caufe ; but, if only by the force and ftrength of another, then it is termed the inftrumental caufe. So we dil- tinguifh between the painter and the pencil, though both contribute to the pro- du6tion of the picture. Again, the fubje6t whereon the agent works, or whereof the thins is formed, is called the material caufe ; thus the marble out of which a ftatue is carved, is called the material caufe ; as is likewife the paint and canvafs ot a pi6ture, as being the matter, or materials, of which they are made; the fculptor and painter being the,efficient caufes. There is alfo an efficient caufe in the fun, moon, ftars, and elements, whereby they a£t upon fublunary matter, and produce a variety of effects in the fructification and phenomena of this world. From tliefe arife neceffary and free caufes : the firft of which aCt neceffarily and without choice; as fire, the fun, and all created beings, except angels and men ; for they a6t by a free will, wherein confifts the effence of liberty. The efficient caufe is likewife either phyfical, or moral; the phyfical is that which produces a fenfible corporeal effeCt, and acts obvioufly and immediately; thus fire is the phyfical caufe of burning, and the fun the phyfical caufe of heat. The moral caufe alfo produces a real effect, but in things immaterial; thus, repentance is the moral caufe of forgivenefs. Again, we define a phyfical caufe to be that which produces its effeCt by a phyfical virtue ; and a moral caufe, that which determines the phyfical caufe, though not necefiarily, to produce the effect: thus, the fun is the phyfical caufe of light; a ftone that falls from an eminence, and fractures the fkull, is a phyfical caufe of death; and thus the advice, intreaty, commands, or menaces, which determine us, though not ne- cejfarily, to do, or not to do, any thing, are moral caufes. In this fenfe it is obvious a moral caufe is only applicable to a free intelligent agent; and it is this notion of a moral and phyfical caufe that is the moft juft, clear, and diftinct. Whenever the efficient caufe applies to a free intelligent being, and acts from knowledge, all the fubordinate caufes concur to the production of one and the fame effect; as for example, the painter drawing his picture is the principal caufe; the pencil the inftrumental; the end propofed by the painter is the final caufe ; the idea directing the performance is the exemplary caufe ; the form and difpofition of its parts is the formal caufe; the colours and the canvafs are the material caufe, as being the conftituent matter of the work; and if the artift, by any accidental touch, im- proves his picture, like Agillaus, who labouring many days to draw a foaming horfe, and could not, in a paffion flung his brufh at the painting, and the thing he wanted was thus accomplifhed when it was not intended—it is termed an accidental caufe. So that we fee all fubordinate caufes are in effect under the efficient caufe; and are fubfervient to it, when applied by reafon, and directed by (kill. No. 2. p Form$

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