Page:A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More.djvu/58

16 Penetrating, Moving, and Altering the Matter. These Properties and Powers put together make up the Notion and Idea of a Spirit, whereby it is plainly distinguished from a Body, whose parts cannot penetrate one another, is not Self-moveable, nor can contract nor dilate it self, is divisible and separable one part from another; but the parts of a Spirit can be no more separated, though they be dilated, then you can cut off the Rayes of the Sun by a pair of Scissors made of pellucid Crystall. And this will serve for the settling of the Notion of a Sprit; the proof of its Existence belongs not unto this place. And out of this Description it is plain that a Spirit is a notion of more Perfection then a Body, and therefore the more fit to be an Attribute of what is absolutely Perfect then a Body is.

4. But now for the other two hard terms of Eternall and Infinite, if any one would excuse himself from assenting to the Notion of a God by reason of the Incomprehensiblenesse of those Attributes, let him consider, that he shall whether he will or no be forced to acknowledge something Eternall, either God or the world, and the Intricacy is alike in either. And though he would shuffle off the trouble of apprehending an Infinite Deity, yet he will never extricate himself out of the intanglements of an Infinite Space; which Notion will stick as closely to his Soul as her power of Imagination.

5. Now that Goodnesse, Knowledge and Power, which are the three following Attributes, are Attributes of Perfection, if a man consult his own Faculties, it will be undoubtedly concluded; and I know nothing else he can consult with. At least this will be returned as infallibly true, That a Being absolutely Perfect has these, or what supereminently contains these. And that Knowledge or something like it is in God, is manifest, because without Animadversion in some sense or other it is impossible to be Happy. But that a Being should be absolutely Perfect, and yet not Happy, is as impossible. But Knowledge without Goodness is but dry Subtilty or mischievous Craft; and Goodness with Knowledge devoid of Power is but lame and ineffectuall. Wherefore whatever is absolutely Perfect is Infinitely both Good, Wise and Powerfull.

6. And lastly, it is more Perfection that all this be Stable, Immutable and Necessary, then Contingent or but Possible. Therefore the Idea of a Being absolutely Perfect represents to our mindes, That that of which it is the Idea is necessarily to exist: and that which of its own nature doth necessarily exist, must never fail to be. And whether the Atheist will call this absolute Perfect Being God or not, it is all one; I list not to contend about words. But I think any man else at the first sight will say that we have found out the true Idea of God. Rh