Now, as regards the general Natura naturata, or the
modes, or creations which depend on, or have been created
by, God immediately, of these we know no more than two,
namely, motion in matter,[N1] and the understanding in the
thinking thing. These, then, we say, have been from all
eternity, and to all eternity will remain immutable. A work
truly as great as becomes the greatness of the work-master.
[Note N1]: -- What is here said about motion in matter is not said seriously. For the Author still intends to discover the cause thereof, as he has already done to some extent a posteriori. But it can stand just as it is, because nothing is based upon it, or dependent thereon. [B omits this note.] All that specially concerns Motion, such as that it has been from all eternity, and to all eternity will remain immutable; that it is infinite in its kind; that it can neither be, nor be understood through itself, but only by means of Extension, -- all this, I say, since it [Motion] more properly belongs to a treatise on Natural Science rather than here,[N1] we shall not consider in this place, but we shall only say this about it, that it is a Son, Product, or Effect created immediately by God. [Note N1]: In A and B the words "since it ... than here" follow immediately after "Motion" at the beginning of the sentence. As regards the Understanding in the thinking thing, this, like the first, is also a Son, Product, or immediate Creation of God, also created by him from all eternity, and remaining immutable to all eternity. It has but one function,[N1] namely, to understand clearly and distinctly all things at all times; which produces invariably an infinite or most perfect satisfaction, which cannot omit to do what it does. Although what we have just said is sufficiently self-evident, still, we shall prove it more clearly afterwards in our account of the Affects of the Soul, and shall therefore say no more about it here. [Note N1]: Literally: This its attribute is but one. |
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