Proof.- (28:1) Whatsoever is conditioned to exist and act, has been thus
conditioned by God (by [xxvi] and [xxiv] Coroll).
(28:2) But that which is finite and has a conditioned existence, cannot
be produced by the absolute nature of any attribute of God; for whatsoever
follows from the absolute nature of any attribute of God is infinite and
eternal (by [xxi] ). (28:3) It must, therefore, follow from some attribute
of God, in so far as the said attribute is considered as in some way
modified; for substance and modes make up the sum total of existence
(by [A.i] and [D.iii] , [D.v] ), while modes are merely modifications of
the attributes of God. (4) But from God, or from any of his attributes,
in so far as the latter is modified by a modification infinite and eternal,
a conditioned thing cannot follow. (28:5) Wherefore it must follow from,
or be conditioned for, existence and action by God or one of his attributes,
in so far as the latter are modified by some modification which is finite
and has a conditioned existence. (6) This is our first point. (7) Again,
this cause or this modification (for the reason by which we established
the first part of this proof) must in its turn be conditioned by another
cause, which also is finite, and has a conditioned existence, and again,
this last by another (for the same reason); and so on (for the same reason)
to infinity.
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