Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical OpinionsNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Physics -- Early works to 1800
Whatsoever is Corporeal, is Perceivable; that is, may be perceived in
some manner or other, by reason it hath a Corporeal Being: but, what
Being an Immaterial hath, no Corporeal can perceive. Wherefore, no Part
in Nature can perceive an Immaterial, because it is impossible to have
a perception of that, which is not to be perceived, as not being an
Object fit and proper for Corporeal Perception. In truth, an Immaterial
is no Object, because no Body.
But some may say, that, _A Corporeal may have a Conception, although
not a Perception, of an Immaterial_.
I answer, That, surely, there is an innate Notion of God, in all the
Parts of Nature; but not a perfect knowledg: for if there was, there
would not be so many several Opinions, and Religions, amongst one Kind,
or rather, sort of Creatures, as Mankind, as there are; insomuch, that
there are but few of one and the same Opinion, or Religion: but yet,
that Innate Notion of God, being in all the Parts of Nature, God is
infinitely and eternally worshipped and adored, although after several
manners and ways; yet, all manners and ways, are joyned in one Worship,
because the Parts of Nature are joyned into one Body.
CHAP. IV. Of the Differences between God, and Nature.
God is an Eternal Creator; Nature, his Eternal Creature. GOD, an
Eternal Master: Nature, GOD's Eternal Servant. GOD is an Infinite
and Eternal Immaterial Being: Nature, an Infinite Corporeal Being.
GOD is Immovable, and Immutable: Nature, Moving, and Mutable. GOD is
Eternal, Indivisible, and of an Incompoundable Being: Nature, Eternally
Divisible and Compoundable. GOD, Eternally Perfect: Nature, Eternally
Imperfect. GOD, Eternally Inalterable: Nature Eternally Alterable.
GOD, without Error: Nature, full of Irregularities. GOD knows exactly,
or perfectly, Nature: Nature doth not perfectly know GOD. GOD is
Infinitely and Eternally worshipped: Nature is the Eternal and Infinite
Worshipper.
CHAP. V. All the Parts of Nature worship God.
All Creatures (as I have said) have an Innate Notion of GOD; and as
they have a Notion of God, so they have a Notion to worship GOD: but,
by reason Nature is composed of Parts; so is the Infinite Worship to
God: and, as several Parts are dividing and uniting after several
kinds, sorts, manners and ways; so is their Worship to GOD: but, the
several manners and ways of Worship, make not the Worship to GOD less:
for certainly, all Creatures Worship and Adore GOD; as we may perceive
by the Holy Scripture, where it says, _Let the Heavens, Earth, and
all that therein is, praise God._ But 'tis probable, that some of the
Parts being Creatures of Nature, may have a fuller Notion of GOD than
others; which may cause some Creatures to be more Pious and Devout,
than others: but, the Irregularity of Nature, is the cause of Sin.
CHAP. VI. Whether GOD's Decrees are limited.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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