1p29sc.md (905B)
1 Before going any further, I wish here to explain, what 2 we should understand by nature viewed as active (natura 3 naturans), and nature viewed as passive (natura naturata). I say 4 to explain, or rather call attention to it, for I think that, 5 from what has been said, it is sufficiently clear, that by nature 6 viewed as active we should understand that which is in itself, 7 and is conceived through itself, or those attributes of 8 substance, which express eternal and infinite essence, in other 9 words (Prop. xiv., Coroll. i., and Prop. xvii., Coroll. ii) God, 10 in so far as he is considered as a free cause. 11 12 By nature viewed as passive I understand all that which 13 follows from the necessity of the nature of God, or of any of the 14 attributes of God, that is, all the modes of the attributes of 15 God, in so far as they are considered as things which are in God, 16 and which without God cannot exist or be conceived. 17 18