"They are held in place by laws, Rosendo," the priest replied evasively. But as he made answer he revolved in his own mind that the laws by which an infinite universe is created and maintained must themselves be infinite. "And God made those laws?" "Yes, Rosendo." But, the priest mused, a power great enough to frame infinite laws must be itself all-powerful. And if it has ever been all-powerful, it could never cease to be so, for there could be nothing to deprive it of its power. Omnipotence excludes everything else. Or, what is the same thing, is all-inclusive. But laws originate, even as among human beings, in mind, for a law is a mental thing. So the infinite laws which bind the stars together, and by which the universe was designed and is still maintained, could have originated only in a mind, and that one infinite. "Then God surely must know everything," commented Rosendo, by way of simple and satisfying conclusion. Certainly the creator of an infinite universe--a universe, moreover, which reveals intelligence and knowledge on the part of its cause--the originator of infinite laws, which reveal omnipotence in their maker--must have all knowledge, all wisdom, at his command. But, on the other hand, intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, are ever mental things. What could embrace these things, and by them create an infinite universe, but an infinite _mind_? Josè's thought reverted to Cardinal Newman's reference to God as "an initial principle." Surely the history of the universe reveals the patent fact that, despite the mutations of time, despite growth, maturity, and decay, despite "the wreck of matter and the crash of worlds," _something_ endures. What is it--law? Yes, but more. Ideas? Still more. Mind? Yes, the mind which is the _anima mundi_, the principle, of all things. "But if He is so great, Padre, and knows everything, I don't see why He made the devil," continued Rosendo; "for the devil fights against Him all the time." Ah, simple-hearted child of nature! A mind so pure as yours should give no heed to thoughts of Satan. And the man at your side is now too deeply buried in the channels which run below the superficiality of the world's thought to hear your childish question. Wait. The cause of an infinite effect must itself be infinite. The framer of infinite laws must be an infinite mind. And an infinite mind must contain all knowledge, and have all power. But were it to contain any seeds or germs of decay, or any elements of discord--in a word, any evil--it must disintegrate. Then it would cease to be omnipotent. Verily, to be eternal and perfect _it must be wholly good_! "And so," the priest mused aloud, "we call it God."