Page:A Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Human Liberty (Foote).djvu/25

 have a distinct and determinate idea to the term God, whenever we use it, and as distinct and determinate as that of a triangle or a square; since we can put it into a proposition; since we can compare it with other ideas on account of its distinctness and determinateness; why should we not be able to range our thoughts about God in as clear a method, and with as great perspicuity as about figure and quantity?

I would not hereby be thought to suppose that the idea of God is an adequate idea, and exhausts the subject it refers to, like the idea of a triangle or a square; or that it is as easy to form in our minds as the idea of a triangle or a square; or that it does not require a great comprehension of mind to bring together the various ideas that relate to God, and so compare them together; or that there are not several propositions concerning him that are doubtful, and of which we can arrive at no certainty; or that there are not many propositions concerning him subject to very great difficulties or objections. All these I grant; but I say, they are no reasons to justify obscurity. For, first, an inadequate idea is no less distinct, as such, than an adequate idea, and no less true, as far as it goes; and therefore may be discoursed of with equal clearness and truth. Secondly, though the idea of God be not so easy to form in our minds as the idea of a triangle or a square, and it requires a great comprehension of mind to bring together the various ideas that relate to him, and compare them together; yet these are only reasons for using a greater application, or for not writing at all. Thirdly, if a writer has in relation to his subject any doubts or objections in his mind, which he cannot resolve to his satisfaction, he may express those conceptions or thoughts no less clearly than any other conceptions or thoughts. He should only take care not to exceed the bounds of those conceptions, nor endeavor to make his reader understand what he does not understand himself: for when he exceeds those bounds, his discourse must be dark and his pains useless.