Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/122

 simply as  they  exist  in  God, are, in  reality, distinct  neither from one  another  nor  from the divine  essence, but  are  a Being, supreme, perfect, and indivisible; but  because  the dulness of  our  understanding is unequal  to  the  comprehension of  the  divine  perfections as they  exist  in  themselves,  it endeavours, by  the  employment of  various  ideas  and  distinctions, to  gain  some  slight perception of  them. We then term them  the  divine  attributes, because  we  attribute them to  God  as  distinct  excellences, though, in  fact,  they are most  intimately  united  in essence.

Although the  knowledge  of these  attributes  is  so  high  and sublime that  no  greater  is  to be  found  in  the  world,  it  will, nevertheless, be  to  those  who possess it  practically,  a most excellent rule  for  the  attainment of  all  virtues  and  spiritual blessings; because  it  is  in the  knowledge  of  God,  and  the imitation of  his  virtues,  that our perfection  consists; just as all  sin  and  misery,  on  the other hand,  has  its  source  in ignorance  of  God. “ For to know  thee  is  perfect  justice; and to  know  thy  justice  and thy power  is  the  root  of  immortality.”

It seemed  well,  therefore, to collect  some  acts  of  virtue from the  divine  attributes,  in the  same  manner  as  those above, that,  guided  by  this light, the  devout  Christian may arrive  at  this  knowledge and perfection  of  life,  with the hope  of  attaining  at  length to that  full  and  perfect  justice, which is  the  fruition  of  God himself in  life  eternal.

This is  eternal  life,  that  they may know  Thee, the  only  true God, and  Jesus  Christ  whom thou hast  sent.

1. Thou,  O Lord,  art  the purest essence,  and  therefore infinitely perfect  in  every kind of  perfection;  nor  is there  anything  to  be  added to thee  or  taken  from  thee. Thou art  incomprehensible in respect  of  all  places,  all times, all  wills,  and  all  intelligences; for  thou  exceedest all places,  comprehendest  all differences of  time,  transcendest  all  minds,  and  absorbest all hearts  of  men  and  of  angels, so  that  thou  only  canst worthily comprehend,  measure, understand,  and  love thyself.

2. Thou  art  immeasurable, because thou  fillest,  penetratest,  and  surpassest  all  things, created and  to  be  created. Thou art  immovable,  unconfined, un circumscribed,  because, by  thy  infinity,  thou  infinitely transcendest  all  imaginable bounds  and  spaces; and therefore  in  nature,  in