brighten'd by the Acquifition of new Truths. For from thefe Premifes it unavoidably follows, That the Understanding of fuch a Spirit must be continually improved, or that the Stock of his habitual Knowledge muft daily increase. For where a perpetual Addition is fuppofed on one hand, without any Lofs or Subftraction on the other, there muft neceffarily arise a continual Growth and Progrefs. And while the Memory, like a Faithful Treasurer, preferves that Revenue of Knowledge Undiminished, to which the Induftry of the Understanding is inceffantly making frefh Additions, the Mind muft unavoidably be enrich'd. As to the Premifes, on which this Conclufion is founded; The first, I think, cannot be reafonably question'd; for, as it must be allow'd poffible for the Memory to be raised to such a Degree of Perfection, as to yield the Mind a compleat View of all her paft Thoughts and Reasonings, fo we have Reafon to believe, that all the Faculties of a beatified Spirit will be advanced in the highest Manner. We may well imagine the Memory of fuch a Spirit capable of this Exaltation, fince Hiftory informs us of fome, even among us frail Mortals, who have almoft attain'd to that pitch of Perfection. Witness Monfieur Pafchal, who, we are told, 'till Sicknefs had impair'd his Memory, was endow'd with fo prodigious an Excellence in that Faculty, that he never forgot any thing he had done, read, or heard in his Rational Age. Now as fuch a Memory as this, will afford a Spirit a fure Repofitory for his actual Knowledge; fo the Review and Confideration of his former Difcoveries and Reafonings thus represented to him, will wonderfully affist and and further him in the Purfuit and Attainment of new Knowledge. The Truths he already knows will ferve as standing Rules and Principles, whereby to decide many other Queftions, which may occur to his Thoughts. Some Principles have a furprising Fertility, and draw after them a numerous Train of Confequential Truths. Such is the Connexion and Dependence of one Truth upon another, that the Discovery of one, never fails to open the way to the Discovery of many more. As he, that afcends a Ladder, not only raifes himfelf every Step he takes, but likewife gains thereby the means to advance fill higher; fo the Mind, in its Intellectual Afcent to Truth, proceeds, Step by Step, in a continu'd Gradation of Discoveries, 'till it arrives at length to fuch Heights, as it thought at firft Impoffible to be attain'd; and fuch as indeed it cou'd never have reach'd but by fuch a gradual Progrefs; for, in order to the Discovery of fome Truths, there is neceffarily required the previous Knowledge of a great many more. This is experienced in every Science, but in none fo clearly and fully as in Geometry. This whole Science is one continu'd Chain of Reasoning, deduced with admirable Art and Sagacity from a few clear Axioms and Poftulates. Here we often meet with Propofitions, whofe Demonftration is fo compounded, and depends upon fuch a long Train of Confequences, that to refolve them into their firft Principles, it wou'd be neceffary to run thro' a multitude of Antecedent Propofitions. The fecond Propofition I affum'd, in order to demonftrate the ftill-growing Perfection of a beatified Intelligence, viz. That his Understanding ought to be conceived as inceffantly exercised and employ'd in the Search and Difcovery of new Truths, Truths, is no lefs reasonable than the former. Revelation teaches us, that our future Happiness will confist in the Contemplation and Vision of God, who includes in himfelf all Truth. Therefore the longer we fhall have enjoy'd this Happiness, that is, the longer we fhall have contemplated the Divine Effence, and those eternal Truths, which confift in the Relations of the Divine Ideas, the more we must be advanced in the Knowledge of God, and thofe Eternal Truths. So that the Understandings of the Bleffed will be continually im proved in a twofold manner; First, In Refpect of the Stock of their habitual Knowledge, which will be perpetually enlarged; like a Lake, which, tho' replenish'd by the Inceffaut Influx of many Streams, fhould be fuppofed to have no Outlet. And Secondly, In Refpect of their Difpofition for the Acquirement of new Knowledge, which muft likewife neceffarily increase with their actual Knowledge. The Mind, in its Purfuit of Learning, may be compared to a Conqueror, who not only enlarges the Bounds of his Dominions by every new Victory, but alfo receives thereby a fresh Acceffion of Strength and Power, to enable him to proceed ftill farther; or to a Bird, who, the higher the foars, finds her Ascent still more and more eafie. But, tho' the Mind will thus continually enlarge its Views, and add to the Stock of its Knowledge, yet will it never want new Matter to employ its Thoughts and entertain its Meditations. The Ocean of Truth is Boundless, and can never be exhaufted. Nay, not only the whole Intellectual Syltem, but even every particular Branch, or Science, is infinite. This is what the Mafters. of every Science confefs, who, after they have apply'd themselves with the utmoft Affiduity to the Study of it, and made the greatest Proficiency, are forced at last to acknowledge, That what they know is Nothing, in comparifon with what remains to be known: And of this they are by fo much the more convinced, as they apply themselves to it with greater Diligence. So that the Contemplation of Truth, in which the Minds of the Bleffed will be eternally employ'd, will never be able to cloy or fatiate those happy Spirits; but the infinite Variety of their Entertainment still presenting them with fomething new, will at once maintain, and fatisfy their Curiofity for ever. Nay, fo far will the Mind be from finding any Satiety in Knowledge, that still the more it knows, it will be the more defirous, as well as able, to make a farther Progrefs. The more it fhall have experienced the Delicious Sweetnefs of Truth, the more eagerly will it thirft and long after it. *What an exquifite Pleasure then mult the beatified Spirits enjoy, from the clear Contemplation and open Vifion of the beautiful and infinitely-various Scenes of the intellectual World! Were Truth indeed limited and finite, how delightful foever the Contemplation of it might be, it could not fuffice for an Eternal Entertain Enough for Us we know, that this dark State, Summer, a Poem, tertainment; Because, on that Suppofition, how great foever the Extent of it is, it muft in time he exhausted: And the Mind, after having conquer'd all its Theories, and poffefs'd it felf of all its Systems, would, like another Alexander, fit down and lament for new Worlds of Truth to fubdue, new Provinces of Science to vanquish. But fince Truth is infinitely-various and diffufed, as well as beautiful and charming, 'tis every way qualified to render those happy, who enjoy it. ΟΝ ΤΗΕ BEAUTY OF THE UNIVERSE. TH HERE is nothing that affords a more fenfible Proof both of the Existence and Goodnefs of God, than the Beauty of the Universe, thofe innumerable gay Appearances and delightful Spectacles, which are fcatter'd thro' all the Scenes of the vifible Creation. Thunder, Lightning, Earthquakes and fuch like aftonishing Phænomena of Nature, may perhaps terrifie us into an Apprchenfion of a Superior Power; but This is a Proof which works upon us in the most sweet and agreeable, tho' at the fame time forcible and convin cing |