Part 4

* Wherefore there only Remains the _Idea_ of a _God_, wherein I must consider whether there be not something included, which cannot possibly have its _original_ from me. By the word _God_, I mean a certain _Infinite Substance_, _Independent_, _Omniscient_, _Almighty_, by whom both _I my self_, and every thing else that _is_ (if any thing do _Actualy exist_) was created. All which _Attributes_ are of such an _high nature_, that the more attentively I consider them, the less I conceive my self possible to be the _Author_ of these notions.

From what therefore has been said I must conclude that there is a _God_; for tho the _Idea_ of _substance_ may arise in me, because that I my self am a _substance_, yet I could not have the _Idea_ of an _Infinite substance_ (seeing I my self am _finite_) unless it proceeded from a _substance_ which is _really Infinite_. Neither ought I to think that I have no _true Idea_ of _Infinity_, or that I perceive it only by the _negation_ of what is _finite_, as I conceive _rest_ and _darkness_ by the _negation_ or _absence_ of _motion_ or _light_. But on the contrary I plainly understand, that there is _more reality_ in an _Infinite substance_, then in a _Finite_; and that therefore the _perception_ of an _Infinite_ (as _God_) is _antecedent_ to the _notion_ I have of a _finite_ (as _my self_). For how should I know that I _doubt_ or _desire_, that is to say, that I _want_ something, and that I am _not altogether perfect_, unless I had the _Idea_ of a _being more perfect_ then _my self_, by _comparing_ my self to which I may discover my own _Imperfections_.

Neither can it be said that this _Idea_ of _God_ is _false Materialiter_, and that therefore it _proceeds_ from _nothing_, as before I observed of the _Ideas_ of _heat_ and _cold_, _&c._ For on the contrary, seeing this _notion_ is most _clear_ and _distinct_, and contains in it self more _objective reality_ then any other _Idea_, none can be more _true_ in it self, nor in which less _suspition_ of _falshood_ can be found. This _Idea_ (I say) of a _being infinitely perfect_ is most _true_, for tho it may be supposed that such a _being_ does _not exist_, yet it cannot be supposed that the _Idea_ of such a _being_ exhibites to me nothing _real_, as before I have said of the _Idea_ of _cold_. This _Idea_ also is most _clear_ and _distinct_, for whatever I perceive _clearly_ and _distinctly_ to be _real_, and _true_, and _perfect_, is wholy _contain’d_ in this _Idea_ of _God_.

Neither can it be objected, that I cannot _comprehend_ an _Infinite_, or that there are innumerable other things in _God_, which I can neither _conceive_, nor in the least _think upon_; for it is of the _very nature_ of an _Infinite_ not to be _apprehendable_ by _me_ who am _finite_. And ’tis sufficient to me to prove this my _Idea_ of _God_ to be the most _true_, the most _clear_, and the most _distinct Idea_ of all those _Ideas_ I have, upon this _account_, that I understand that _God_ is _not to be understood_, and that I judge that whatever I _clearly_ perceive and know _Implys_ any _perfection_, as also perhaps other innumerable _perfections_, which I am ignorant of, are in _God_ either _formally_ or _eminently_.

_Doubt._ But perhaps _I am_ something _more_ then I take my self to _be_, and perhaps all these _perfections_ which I attribute to _God_, are _potentially_ in me, tho at present they do not shew themselves, and break into action. For I am now fully experienced that my _Knowledge_ may be _encreased_, and I see nothing that hinders why it may not _encrease_ by degrees in _Infinitum_, nor why by my _knowledge_ so _encreased_ I may not attain to the other _perfections_ of _God_; nor lastly, why the _power_ or _aptitude_ of _having_ these perfections may not be sufficient to produce the _Idea_ of them in _me_.

_Solution._ But none of these will do; for first, tho it be true that my _Knowledge_ is capable of being _increased_, and that many things are in me _potentially_, which _actually_ are not, yet none of these go to the making an _Idea_ of _God_, in which I conceive nothing _potentially_, for tis a certain argument of _imperfection_ that a thing _may be encreased Gradually_. Moreover, tho my knowledge may be _more_ and _more encreased_, yet I know that it can never be _actually Infinite_, for it can never arrive to that _height_ of _perfection_, which admits not of an _higher degree_. But I conceive God to be _actually_ so _Infinite_, that nothing can be _added_ to his _perfections_. And lastly, I perceive that the _objective being_ of an _Idea_ cannot be _produced_ only by the _potential being_ of a _thing_ (which in proper speech is _nothing_) but requires an _actual_ or _formal being_ to its _production_.

Of all which forementioned things there is nothing that is not _evident_ by the _light_ of _reason_ to any one that will diligently consider them. Yet because that (when I am careless, and the _Images_ of _sensible_ things _blind_ my _understanding_) I do not so easily call to mind the reasons, why the _Idea_ of a _being more perfect_ then _my self_ should of necessity proceed from a _being_ which is _really more perfect_; It will be requisite to enquire further, whether _I_, who have this _Idea_, can possibly _be_, unless _such_ a _being_ did _exist_. To which end let me aske, _from whence_ should I _be_? From _my self_? or from my _Parents_? or from any other thing _less perfect_ then _God_? for nothing can be thought or supposed _more perfect_, or _equally perfect_ with _God_.

But first, If _I_ were from my self, I should neither _doubt_, nor _desire_, nor _want_ any thing, for I should have given my self all those _perfections_, of which I have any _Idea_, and consequently I my self should be _God_; and I cannot think that those things I _want_, are to be acquired with _greater difficulty_ then those things I _have_; but on the contrary, ’tis manifest, that it were much more _difficult_ that _I_ (that is, _a substance_ that _thinks_) should _arise_ out of _nothing_, then that I should _acquire_ the _knowledge_ of many things whereof I am _Ignorant_, which is only the _accident_ of that _substance_. And certainly if I had that _greater thing_ (viz _being_) from my self, I should not have _denyed_ my self (not only, those things which may be easier acquired, but also) All those things, which I perceived are contain’d in the _Idea_ of a _God_; and the reason is, for that no other things _seem_ to me to be _more difficultly_ done, and certainly if they were _Really more difficult_, they would _seem_ more _difficult_ to me (if whatever _I have_, I _have_ from my self) for in those things I should find my _Power_ put to a stop.

Neither can I Evade the force of these Arguments by supposing my self to _have alwaies Been, what now I am_, and that therefore I need not seek for an _Author_ of my _Being_. For the _Duration_ or _Continuance_ of my life may be _divided_ into _Innumerable Parts_, each of which does not at all _depend_ on the _Other Parts_; Therefore it will not follow, that because _a while ago, I was_, I must of necessity _now Be_. I say, this will not follow, Unless, I suppose some _Cause_ to _Create me_ (as it were) _anew_ for _this_ Moment (that is, _Conserve me_). For ’tis evident to one that Considers the Nature of _Duration_, that the same _Power_ and _Action_ is requisite to the _Conservation_ of a Thing each _Moment_ of its _Being_, as there is to the _Creation_ of that Thing _anew_, if it did _not exist_. So that ’tis one of those _Principles_ which are _Evident_ by the _Light_ of _Nature_: that the _Act_ of _Conservation_ differs only _Ratione_ (as the Philosophers term it) from the _Act of Creation_.

Wherefore I ought to ask my self this Question, whether _I_, who _now_ Am; have any _Power_ to _Cause_ my self to _Be hereafter_? (for had I any such _power_, I should certainly _know_ of it, seeing I am nothing but a _Thinking Thing_, or at least at present I onely treat of that part of me, which is a _Thing_ that _Thinks_) to which, I answer, that I can discover no such _Power_ in Me; And consequently, I evidently know that _I depend_ on some _Other being distinct_ from _my self_.

But what if _I_ say that perhaps this _Being_ is not _God_, but that _I_ am produced either by my _Parents_, or some other _Causes less perfect_ then _God_? In answer to which let me consider (as _I_ have said before) that ’tis _manifest_ that whatever is in the _effect, so much_ at least ought to be in the _cause_; and therefore seeing _I_ am a thing that _thinks_, and have in me an _Idea_ of _God_, it will confessedly follow, that whatever sort of _cause_ I assign of my _own Being_, it also must be a _Thinking Thing_, and must have an _Idea_ of all those _Perfections_, which I attribute to _God_; Of which _Cause_ it may be again Asked, whether it be _from it self_, or from any other _Cause_? If _from it self_, ’tis evident (from what has been said) that it must be _God_; For seeing it has the _Power_ of _Existing of it self_, without doubt it has also the _power_ of _actually Possessing_ all those _Perfections_ whereof it has an _Idea_ in it self, that is, all those _Perfections_ which I conceive in _God_. But if it Be from an _other Cause_, it may again be asked of that _Cause_ whether it be _of it self_, or from an _other_; Till at length We arrive at the _Last Cause_ of All, Which will Be _God_. For ’tis evident, that this _Enquiry_ will not admit of _Progressus in Infinitum_, especially when at Present I treat not only of that Cause which at _first made_ Me; But chiefly of that which _conserves_ me in this _Instant_ time.

Neither can it be supposed that many _partial Causes_ have _concurred_ to the making Me, and that I received the _Idea_ of one of _Gods perfections_ from _One_ of them, and from an _other_ of them the _Idea_ of an _other_; and that therefore all these Perfections are to be found _scattered_ in the World, but not all of them _Joyn’d_ in any one which may Be _God_. For on the contrary, _Unity_, _Simplicity_, or the _inseparability_ of All Gods Attributes is one of the _chief Perfections_ which I conceive in Him; and certainly the _Idea_ of the _Unity_ of the _Divine Perfections_ could not be _created_ in me by any other _cause_, then by _That_, from whence I have received the _Ideas_ of his other _perfections_; For ’tis Impossible to make me conceive these _perfections_, _conjunct_ and _inseparable_, unless he should also make me know what _perfections_ these _are_.

Lastly as touching my _having_ my _Being_ from my _Parents_. Tho whatever Thoughts I have heretofore harbour’d of Them were _True_, yet certainly they _contribute_ nothing to my _conservation_, neither proceed I from them as _I am_ a _Thing_ that _Thinks_, for they have onely _predisposed_ that _material Thing_, wherein _I_, that is, _my mind_ (_which_ only at present I take for _my self_) _Inhabits_. Wherefore I cannot _now_ Question that I am sprung from them. But I must of necessity conclude that because _I am_, and because I have an _Idea_ of a _Being most perfect_, that is, of _God_, it evidently follows that _there is a God_.

* Now it only remains for me to examine, how I have received this _Idea_ of _God_. For I have neither received it by _means_ of _my Senses_, neither comes it to me _without_ my _Forethought_, as the _Ideas_ of _sensible_ things use to do, when such things _Work_ on the Organs of my _Sense_, or at least _seem_ so to work; Neither is this _Idea_ framed by _my self_, for I can neither _detract from_, nor _add_ any thing _thereto_. Wherefore I have only to conclude that it is _Innate_, even as the _Idea_ of me _my self_ is _Natural_ to my self.

And truly ’tis not to be Admired that _God_ in Creating me should _Imprint_ this _Idea_ in me, that it may there remain as a _stamp impressed_ by the _Workman God_ on _me_ his _Work_, neither is it requisite that this _stamp_ should be a Thing _different_ from the _Work_ it self, but ’tis very Credible (from hence only that _God Created_ me) that I am made as it were according to his _likeness_ and _Image_, and that the same _likeness_, in which the _Idea_ of God is contain’d, is _perceived_ by Me with the _same faculty_, with which I _perceive my Self_; That is to say, whilst _I reflect_ upon my self, _I_ do not only _perceive_ that I am an _Imperfect_ thing, having my _dependance_ upon some other thing, and that I am a Thing that Desires _more_ and _better_ things _Indefinitely_; But also at the same time I understand, that _He_ on whom I _depend_ contains in him all those _wish’d for things_ (not only _Indefinitely_ and _Potentially_, but) _Really_, _Indefinitely_; and that therefore he is _God_. The whole stress of which * Argument lies thus, because I know it Impossible for Me to Be of the same Nature I am, _Viz._ Having the _Idea_ of a _God_ in me, unless really there were a _God_, a _God_ (I say) that very _same God_, whose _Idea I_ have in my _Mind_ (that is, Having all those _perfections_, which I cannot _comprehend_, but can as it were _think upon them_) and who is not _subject_ to any _Defects_.

By which ’tis evident that _God_ is no _Deceiver_; for ’tis manifest by the _Light_ of _Nature_, that all _fraud_ and _deceit_ depends on some _defect_. But before I prosecute this any farther, or pry into other _Truthes_ which may be deduced from this, I am willing here to stop, and dwell upon the Contemplation of this _God_, to Consider with my self His _Divine Attributes_, to behold, admire, and adore the Loveliness of this _Immense light_, as much as possibly I am able to accomplish with my _dark_ Understanding. For as by _Faith_ we _believe_ that the greatest _happiness_ of the _next Life_ consists alone in the _Contemplation_ of the _Divine Majesty_, so we _find_ by _Experience_ that now we receive from thence the greatest _pleasure_, whereof we are capable in _this Life_; Tho it be much more _Imperfect_ then that in the _Next_.

MEDITAT. IV.

_Of Truth and Falshood._

Of late it has been so common with me to withdraw _my Mind_ from my _sences_, and I have so throughly consider’d how few things there are appertaining to _Bodies_ that are _truly_ perceived, and that there are more Things touching _Mans mind_, and yet more concerning _God_, which are _well known_; that now without any difficulty _I_ can turn my Thoughts from things _sensible_, to those which are only _Intelligible_, and _Abstracted_ from _Matter_. And truely _I_ have a much more _distinct Idea_ of a _Mans mind_ (as it is a _Thinking Thing_, having no _Corporeal Dimensions_ of _Length_, _Breadth_, and _Thickness_, nor having any other _Corporeal Quality_) then the _Idea_ of any _Corporeal Thing_ can be. And when I reflect upon my self, and consider how that I _doubt_, that is, am an _imperfect dependent Being_, I from hence Collect such a _clear_ and _distinct Idea_ of an _Independent perfect Being_, which is _God_, and from hence only that _I have such an Idea_, that is, because _I_ that have this _Idea_ do _my self Exist_; I do so _clearly_ conclude that _God also Exists_, and that on him my _Being depends_ each Minute; That I am Confident nothing can be known more _Evidently_ and _Certainly_ by _Humane Understanding_.

And now _I_ seem to perceive a _Method_ by which, (from this Contemplation of the _true God_, in whom the Treasures of _Knowledge_ and _Wisdome_ are Hidden) _I_ may attain the _Knowledge_ of other Things.

And first, _I_ know ’tis impossible that this _God_ should _deceive_ me; For in all _cheating_ and _deceipt_ there is something of _imperfection_; and tho to be _able_ to _deceive_ may seem to be an Argument of _ingenuity_ and _power_, yet without doubt to _have_ the _Will_ of _deceiving_ is a sign of _Malice_ and _Weakness_, and therefore is not _Incident_ to _God_.

I have also found in my self a _Judicative faculty_, which certainly (as all other things I possess) I have received from _God_; and seeing he will not _deceive_ me, he has surely given me such a _Judgement_, that I can _never Err_, whilst I make a _Right Use_ of it. Of which truth I can make no doubt, unless it seems, that From hence it will follow, That therefore _I can never Err_; for if whatever I have, I have from _God_, and if he gave me no _Faculty_ of _Erring_, I may seem not to be _able to Err_. And truly so it is whilst I think upon _God_, and wholly convert my self to the _consideration_ of him, I find no occasion of _Error_ or _Deceit_; but yet when I return to the _Contemplation_ of _my self_, I find my self liable to _Innumerable Errors_. Enquiring into the _cause_ of which, I find in my self an _Idea_, not only a _real_ and _positive one_ of a _God_, that is, of a _Being infinitely perfect_, but also (as I may so speak) a _Negative Idea_ of _Nothing_; that is to say, I am so constituted between God and Nothing or between a perfect _Being_ and _No-being_, that as I am _Created_ by the _Highest Being_, I have nothing in Me by which I may be _deceived_ or drawn into _Error_; but as I pertake in a manner of _Nothing_, or of a _No-Being_, that is, as I my self am _not_ the _Highest Being_, and as I _want_ many _perfections_, ’tis no Wonder that I should be _Deceived_.

By which I understand that _Error_ * (as it is _Error_) is not any _real Being_ dependant on _God_, but it is only a _Defect_; And that therefore to make me _Err_ there is not requisite a _faculty_ of _Erring_ given me by _God_, but only it so happens that I _Err_ meerly because the _Judicative faculty_, which he has given me, is not _Infinite_.

But yet this Account is not fully _satisfactory_; for _Error_ is not only a meer _Negation_, but ’tis a _Privation_, or a _want_ of a certain _Knowledge_, which _ought_ (as it were) to be in me. And when I consider the _Nature_ of _God_, it seems impossible that he should give me any _faculty_ which is not _perfect_ in its _kind_, or which should _want_ any of its _due perfections_; for if by how much the more _skilful_ the _Workman_ is, by so much the _Perfecter Works_ proceed from him. What can be made by the _Great Maker_ of all things which is not _fully perfect_? For I cannot Doubt but _God_ may _Create_ me so that I may _never_ be _deceived_, neither can I doubt but that he _Wills_ whatever is _Best_; Is it therefore _better_ for me to be _deceived_, or not to be _deceived?_

These things when I Consider more heedfully, it comes into my Mind, First, that ’tis no cause of Admiration that _God_ should do Things whereof I can give no account, nor must I therefore doubt his _Being_, because there are many things done by him, and I not comprehend _Why_ or _How_ they are done; for seeing I now know that my _Nature_ is very _Weak_ and _Finite_, and that the _Nature_ of _God_ is _Immense_, _Incomprehensible_, _Infinite_; from hence I must fully, understand, that he can do numberless things, the _Causes_ whereof lie _hidden_ to Me. Upon which account only I esteem all those Causes which are Drawn from the End (viz. _Final Causes_) as of no use in _Natural Philosophy_, for I cannot without Rashness Think my self _able_ to Discover _Gods_ Designes.

I perceive this also, that whenever we endeavour to know whether the _Works_ of _God_ are _perfect_, we must not Respect any _one kind_ of Creature _singly_, but the _Whole Universe_ of _Beings_; for perhaps what (if considered _alone_) may Deservedly seem _Imperfect_, yet (as it is a _part_ of the _World_) is most _perfect_; and tho since I have _doubted_ of all things, I have discover’d nothing _certainly_ to _Exist_, but _my self_, and _God_, yet since I have Consider’d the _Omnipotency_ of _God_, I cannot deny, but that many other things _are made_ (or at least, _may be made_) by him, so that I my self _may be_ a _part_ of this _Universe_.

Furthermore, coming nigher to my self, and enquiring what these _Errors_ of mine, are (which are the Only Arguments of my _Imperfection_) * I find them to _depend_ on _two concurring Causes_, on my _faculty_ of _Knowing_, and on my _faculty_ of _Choosing_ or _Freedome_ of my _Will_, that is to say, from my _Understanding_, and my _Will together_. For by my _Understanding alone_ I only perceive _Ideas_, whereon I make _Judgments_, wherein (_precisely_ so taken) there can be no _Error, properly_ so called; for tho perhaps there may be numberless things, whose _Ideas_ I have _not_ in Me, yet I am not _properly_ to be said _Deprived_ of them, but only _negatively wanting_ them; and I cannot prove that _God ought_ to have given me a _greater faculty_ of _Knowing_. And tho I understand him to be a _skilful Workman_, yet I cannot Think, that he _ought_ to have put all those _perfections_ in _each_ Work of his _singly_, with which he might have _endowed some_ of them.

Neither can I complain that _God_ has not given me a _Will_, or _Freedom_ of _Choise_, _large_ and _perfect_ enough; for I have experienced that ’tis _Circumscribed_ by _no Bounds_.