Productrix

By these and many other reasons and examples I cannot beleeue that these Claiks (or Barnacls as I call them) are producted either by the qualities of the trées or the roots thereof, but onelie by the nature of the sea, which is the verie cause and productrix of so manie wonderfull creatures.

Either then this vniuerſall grace is ſauing grace, (which cannot be, for then all men ſhould be ſaued by it, ſince all men are pertakers of it, as our Arminians affirme: yea, then grace it ſelfe againſt all rules of reaſon, ſhould be the cauſe and author of it ſelfe, ſince you make this vniuerſal grace the productrix, the efficient cauſe of ſauing grace, and ſo by conſequence of it ſelfe,) or elſe it cannot be author, the procurer of true ſauing grace, which ſo farre differs from it, both in kinde, and eminency.

They are ordinarily engendred by good Fortune, yet doe they commonly ſpoyle and ruine their productrix.

Patience, ſhall likewiſe be called the productrix of all vertues.

Matter, is the print, mother, nurſe, and productrix of the third eſſence; for, receiving likeneſs into it ſelf, and being, as it were, characteriſed by them, it perfects all productions.[…]THe Intelligible world proceeds out of the Divine mind, after this manner; The Tetractys reflecting upon its owne eſſence, (the firſt Unite, productrix of all things) and on its owne beginning, (the firſt product) ſaith thus, Once one, twice two, immediately ariſeth a Tetrad, having on its top the higheſt unite, and becomes a Pyramis, whoſe Baſe is a plain Tetrad, anſwerable to a Superficies, upon which the radiant light of the divine unity produceth the form of incorporeall fire, by reaſon of the deſcent of Juno, (Matter) to inferiour things.

Honour is the reward of Vertue, and though a Vitious man may think to have it by the prerogative of his Mastership, yet he but deceives himself, he may have lip or knee-service, but little of the heart, they may be obliged by interest but never by affection, which is the productrix of the truest service.

in the mean time, it is for theſe reaſons mention’d, and becauſe unity is the productrix of ſuch excellent things to Humane Societies, that it hath ever been endeavoured after, and preſſed upon men by all Laws both Divine and Humane, as is ſaid: Behold, how good and pleaſant a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity! ſays the ſweet ſinger of Iſrael.

For, although Faith itſelf, the grand productrix, and inſtrument of conveyance of every ſpiritual gift, be “the evidence of things not seen;” and it being thought that knowledge ends where faith begins, yet ſurely may we be ſaid to know their truth or falſhood; or what evidence does faith bring with it?