A treatise of the divine essence and attributes. By Thomas Iackson Doctor in Divinitie, chaplaine to his Majestie in ordinary, and vicar of S. Nicolas Church in the towne of Newcastle upon Tyne. The first part

THE CONTENTS OF THE SEVERALL Chapters in this ensuing TREATISE.

SECTION I. OF the Attribute of Omnipotency, and creative power.

• Chap. Folio.
• 1 The Title of Almighty is not personall to the Fa∣ther, but essntiall to the Godhead. 1
• 2 Of Omnipotency, and of its object: of possibility and of impossibility. 4
• 3 This visible world did witnesse the invisible power and unity of the Godhead unto the Ancient Hea∣thens. 15
• 4 The first objection of the Atheist, Of nothing, no∣thing can be made. Of the doubtful sense of this na∣turall, how far it is true, and how far it is false. 19

• 5 By what manner of induction or enumeration of particulars, universall rules or Maximes must bee framed and supported. That no induction can bee brought to prove the Naturalists Maxime, Of no∣thing, nothing can be made. 25
• 6 The second objection of the Naturalist: [Every a∣gent praesupposeth a patient or passive subject to worke upon] cannot be proved by any induction. The contradictorie to this Maxime proued by suf∣ficient induction. 31
• 7 Shewing by reasons philosophicall, that aswell the physicall matter of bodies sublunary, as the celestiall bodies which work upon it, were of necessity to have a beginning of their Being and Duration. 45
• 8 Discussing the second generall proposed, Whether the making something of nothing rightly argue a power Omnipotent. 57

SECT. II. OF Divine Providence in generall: and how Contingency, and necessity in things created are subiect unto it.

• Chapter. Folio.
• 9 Of the perpetuall dependance which all things crea∣ted have on the Almighty Creator, both for their being and their operations. 65
• 10 The usuall and daily operations of naturall causes with their severall events or successes, are as imme∣diately ascribed to the Creator by the Prophets, as

• the first Creation of all things, with the reasons why they are so ascribed. 80
• 11 Containing the summe of what we are to beleeue in this Article of Creation, and of the duties where∣to it binds us: with an introduction to the Article of His Providence. 87
• 12 Though nothing can fall out otherwise then God hath decreed: yet God hath decreed that many things may fall out otherwise than they doe. 98
• 13 Contingency is absolutely possible, and part of the object of Omnipotency, as formall a part, as neces∣sity is. 102
• 14 The former conclusion proved by the consent of all the Ancients, whether Christians or Heathens, which did dislike the errour of the Stoickes. 109
• 15 The principall conclusions, which are held by the favourers of absolute necessity, may be more clear∣ly justified, and acquitted from all inconveniences, by admitting a mixt possibilitie or contingency in humane actions. 118
• 16 The former contingency in humane actions or mu∣tuall possibility of obtaining reward or incurring punishment, proved by the infallibile rule of faith, and by the tenour of Gods Covenant with his peo∣ple. 126
• 17 That Gods will is alwayes done, albeit many parti∣culars which God willeth, bee not done, and many done which he willeth should not be done. 137
• 18 Of the distinction of Gods will into Antecedent & Consequent. Of the explication and use of it. 146
• 19 Of the divers acceptions or importances of Fate, especially among the Heathen writers. 151

• 20 Of the affinitie or alliance which Fates had to ne∣cessitie, to Fortune or chance, in the opinion of Hea∣then writers. 160
• 21 Of the proper subject and nature of Fate. 169
• 22 The opposite opinions of the Stoicks and Epicures. In what sense it is true, that all things are necessary in respect of Gods decree. 179
• 23 Of the degrees of necessity, and of the originall of inevitable or absolute necessity. 184

SECT. III. OF the manifestation of Divine Provi∣dence in the remarkable erection, decli∣nation and periods of Kingdomes: in o∣ver-ruling policie, and disposing the success of humane undertakings.

• Chapter. Folio.
• 24 Of the contrary Fates or awards whereof Davids temporall kingdome was capable: and of its de∣volution from Gods antecedent to his consequent Will. 194
• 25 Of the sudden and strange erection of the Macedo∣nian Empire, and the manifestation of Gods special providence in Alexanders expedition and suc∣cesse. 213
• 26 Of the erection of the Chaldean Empire, and of the sudden destruction of it by the Persian, with the re∣markeable documents of Gods speciall providence in raising up the Persian by the ruine of the Chal∣dean

• Monarchy. 224
• 27 Of Gods speciall providence in raising and ruina∣ting the Roman Empire. 259
• 28 Why God is called the Lord of Hosts, or the Lord mighty in Battaile. Of his speciall providence in managing Warres. 288
• 29 Of Gods speciall providence in making unexpected peace, and raising unexpected warre. 314
• 30 Of Gods speciall providence in defeating cunning plots and conspiracies, and in accomplishing ex∣traordinary matters by meanes ordinary. 320

SECT. IV. OF Gods speciall Providence in suiting punishments unto the nature and qua∣litie of offences committed by men.

• Chapter. Folio.
• 31 Of the rule of retaliation or counterpassion. And how forcible punishments inflicted by this rule without any purpose of man, are to quicken the in∣graffed notion of the Deity, and to bring forth an acknowledgement of Divine Providence and Iu∣stice. 343
• 32 Of the Geometricall proportion or forme of distri∣butive justice; which the supreame Iudge sometimes observes in doing to great Princes as they have

• done to others. 349
• 33 How the former law of retaliation hath beene exe¦cuted upon Princes, according to Arithmeticall proportion, or according to the rule of commuta∣tive justice. 359
• 24 The sinnes of parents visited upon their children, according to the rule of retaliation. 365
• 35 Grosser sinnes visited upon Gods Saints according to the former rule of Counterpassion. 369
• 36 Of sinnes visited or punished according to the cir∣cumstance of time or place wherein they were com∣mitted. 376
• 37 What manner of sinnes they bee which usually pro∣voke Gods judgments according to the rule of coun∣terpassion. And of the frequency of this kinde of pu∣nishment foresignified by Gods Prophets. 387
• 38 The conclusion of this Treatise, with the relation of Gods remarkeable judgements manifested in Hungarie. 398