176 DEFINITIONS. 



and whose laws and properties form the whole Science 

 of Nature. 



5. ISlatural Beings^ or those which have a real and pro- 

 per existence in the universe, appear to be of two very 

 distinct sorts, Continuous and Incontimious. 



6. Of continuous and infinite beings, or those necessa- 

 rily existing without interruption from eternity to eternity, 

 we know only three, viz. One intelligent, the Deity, or 

 Primary Cause; two unintelligent. Time and Space. 



7. It is a necessary truth perfectly demonstrable, that 

 the Deity or Primary Cause of every existence that has 

 had a beginning, must be omnipotent, and we know from 

 a posteriori evidence that he is perfectly wise and good. 

 He is the universal primary cause, and is therefore eter- 

 nal, omnipotent, infinite, and one. Every other perfection 

 attributed to him is not necessary, any further than as be- 

 ing the consequence of his divine will ; for to suppose 

 such quahties otherwise necessary, and therefore indepen- 

 dent upon his will, would evidently be to deny that omni- 

 potence which is his most incontestable attribute. A 

 power existing in any being must either have been im- 

 parted by a foreign cause, or be self-existent; or finally, it 

 must have originated in the being which possesses it. By 

 an attribute of the Deity we understand a power existing 

 in him. Now that an attribute which requires a subject 

 should exist of itself, is perfectly unintelligible; and it is 

 quite as impossible to understand how a quality should be 

 imparted to the Deity by another cause, when he is himself 

 the universal primary cause. It only remains for us, there- 



