30 Sept. 1814

Logic

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Ch.2. Ontology

Entities classed

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In speaking of God, it has been common to speak of that inferential being by such names as the cause of all things - the great

the universal cause. In this instance the same sort of confusion - the same sort of indistinctness in the expression - the same consequent confusion in the /mens/ conception as in the case mentioned is apt to have place.

The act of God - the will of God - the act of God - these are the entities to the designation of which, and which alone, the term cause can in the case in question be properly with consistently with analogy with propriety be employed - these on the one hand - the word cause on the other, are alike names of fictitious entities.

Author, and Creator these alone and not the word cause can with propriety be employed in speaking of God. These as well as God are names of real entities; not names of fictitious entities; author a name applicable to man, or in a word to any being considered as susceptible of design. Creator a term exclusively appropriated to the designation of God, considered with reference to his works.

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