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  1 Pre|         PREFACE.~In this brief work the author aims at proving in
  2 Pre|        proving in a single argument the existence of God, and whatsoever
  3 Pre|     whatsoever we believe of God. --The difficulty of the task. --
  4 Pre|            God. --The difficulty of the task. --The author writes
  5 Pre|           difficulty of the task. --The author writes in the person
  6 Pre|                The author writes in the person of one who contemplates
  7 Pre|           AFTER I had published, at the solicitous entreaties of
  8 Pre|             brethren, a brief work (the Monologium) as an example
  9 Pre|            example of meditation on the grounds of faith, in the
 10 Pre|            the grounds of faith, in the person of one who investigates,
 11 Pre|           book was knit together by the linking of many arguments,
 12 Pre|       whatever we believe regarding the divine Being.~Although I
 13 Pre|          about to cease, as if from the search for a thing which
 14 Pre|       resisting its importunity, in the very conflict of my thoughts,
 15 Pre|            conflict of my thoughts, the proof of which I had despaired
 16 Pre|             that I eagerly embraced the thoughts which I was strenuously
 17 Pre|         some others, I have written the following treatise, in the
 18 Pre|          the following treatise, in the person of one who strives
 19 Pre|         strives to lift his mind to the contemplation of God, and
 20 Pre|     judgment, neither this work nor the other, which I mentioned
 21 Pre|           called a book, or to bear the name of an author; and yet
 22 Pre|             gave each a title, that the first might be known as,
 23 Pre|            Example of Meditation on the Grounds of Faith, and its
 24 Pre|            me, and especially Hugo, the reverend Archbishop of Lyons,
 25 Pre|            of Lyons, who discharges the apostolic office in Gaul,
 26 Pre|            done more fitly, I named the first, Monologium, that
 27 Pre|           that is, A Soliloquy; but the second, Proslogium, that
 28 1  |           CHAPTER I.~Exhortation of the mind to the contemplation
 29 1  |          Exhortation of the mind to the contemplation of God. --
 30 1  |            see God. Man by sin lost the blessedness for which he
 31 1  |        which he was made, and found the misery for which he was
 32 1  |         think of him, and love him. The believer does not seek to
 33 1  |           little time in him. Enter the inner chamber of your mind;
 34 1  |            has bestowed upon me all the blessing I enjoy; and not
 35 1  |           what remains? He has lost the blessedness for which he
 36 1  |             was made, and has found the misery for which he was
 37 1  |         miserable. Man once did eat the bread of angels, for which
 38 1  |          hungers now; he eateth now the bread of sorrows, of which
 39 1  |            knew not then. Alas! for the mourning of all mankind,
 40 1  |        mourning of all mankind, for the universal lamentation of
 41 1  |            universal lamentation of the sons of Hades! He choked
 42 1  |            did he shut us away from the light, and cover us over
 43 1  |            country into exile, from the vision of God into our present
 44 1  |             present blindness, from the joy of immortality into
 45 1  |             joy of immortality into the bitterness and horror of
 46 1  |          wretched that I am, one of the sons of Eve, far removed
 47 1  |      thoughts. I wished to smile in the joy of my mind, and I am
 48 1  |            am compelled to frown by the sorrow of my heart. Gladness
 49 1  |             have come in poverty to the Rich, in misery to the Compassionate;
 50 1  |           to the Rich, in misery to the Compassionate; let me not
 51 1  |             them; unburden me, that the pit of iniquities may not
 52 1  |           even from afar, even from the depths. Teach me to seek
 53 1  |           by vices, and obscured by the smoke of wrong-doing, that
 54 2  |            there is a God, although the fool has said in his heart,
 55 2  |         there no such nature, since the fool has said in his heart,
 56 2  |        thing for an object to be in the understanding, and another
 57 2  |          another to understand that the object exists. When a painter
 58 2  |           it. But after he has made the painting, be both has it
 59 2  |            has made it.~Hence, even the fool is convinced that something
 60 2  |            that something exists in the understanding, at least,
 61 2  |            is understood, exists in the understanding. And assuredly
 62 2  |          conceived, cannot exist in the understanding alone. For,
 63 2  |           For, suppose it exists in the understanding alone: then
 64 2  |             be conceived, exists in the understanding alone, the
 65 2  |            the understanding alone, the very being, than which nothing
 66 2  |    conceived, and it exists both in the understanding and in reality.~ ~
 67 3  |            a being better than you, the creature would rise above
 68 3  |           creature would rise above the Creator; and this is most
 69 3  |            to exist. Why, then, has the fool said in his heart,
 70 3  |          mind, that you do exist in the highest degree of all? Why,
 71 4  |                     CHAPTER IV.~How the fool has said in his heart
 72 4  |     conceived in two ways: (1) when the word signifying it is conceived; (
 73 4  |           it is conceived; (2) when the thing itself is understood
 74 4  |             is understood As far as the word goes, God can be conceived
 75 4  |      reality he cannot.~BUT how has the fool said in his heart what
 76 4  |           in his heart? since it is the same to say in the heart,
 77 4  |            it is the same to say in the heart, and to conceive.~
 78 4  |            which a thing is said in the heart or conceived. For,
 79 4  |           object is conceived, when the word signifying it is conceived;
 80 4  |     conceived; and in another, when the very entity, which the object
 81 4  |         when the very entity, which the object is, is understood.~
 82 4  |        object is, is understood.~In the former sense, then, God
 83 4  |      conceived not to exist; but in the latter, not at all. For
 84 4  |           water, in accordance with the nature of the facts themselves,
 85 4  |       accordance with the nature of the facts themselves, although
 86 4  |            is possible according to the words. So, then, no one
 87 5  |          than not to be; and he, as the only self-existent being,
 88 5  |          you, except that which, as the highest of all beings, alone
 89 5  |          What good, therefore, does the supreme Good lack, through
 90 6  |          things are sensible, since the senses encompass a body
 91 6  |           is only cognition, or for the sake of cognition, --for
 92 6  |        knowledge in accordance with the proper functions of his
 93 6  |           you are truly sensible in the highest degree in respect
 94 6  |            do cognise all things in the highest degree; and not
 95 7  |          not to have been done, and the like. --how are you capable
 96 7  |             he ought not to do; and the more capable of them he
 97 7  |         more capable of them he is, the more power have adversity
 98 7  |         perversity against him; and the less has he himself against
 99 7  |             say to a man who denies the existence of something: "
100 7  |           as you say it is not." In the same way, we say, "This
101 7  |            when one is said to have the power of doing or experiencing
102 7  |          impotence is understood in the word power. For, the more
103 7  |             in the word power. For, the more he possesses this power,
104 7  |            he possesses this power, the more powerful are adversity
105 7  |         perversity against him, and the more powerless is he against
106 7  |         Therefore, O Lord, our God, the more truly are you omnipotent,
107 8  |   experience, because we experience the effect of compassion. God
108 8  |      because he does not experience the feeling (affectus) of compassion.~
109 8  |          you compassionate, and, at the same time, passionless?
110 8  |          wretched from sympathy for the wretched ; but this it is
111 8  |             so great consolation to the wretched? How, then, are
112 8  |         wretchedness, we experience the effect of compassion, but
113 8  |           but you do not experience the feeling. Therefore, you
114 8  |  compassionate, because you do save the wretched, and spare those
115 9  |                     CHAPTER IX.~How the all-just and supremely just
116 9  |           supremely just God spares the wicked, and justly pities
117 9  |           wicked, and justly pities the wicked. He is better who
118 9  |            is better who is good to the righteous and the wicked
119 9  |           good to the righteous and the wicked than he who is good
120 9  |       wicked than he who is good to the righteous alone. Although
121 9  |     Although God is supremely just, the source of his compassion
122 9  |            supremely just. He saves the just, because justice goes
123 9  |           them; he frees sinners by the authority of justice. God
124 9  |    authority of justice. God spares the wicked out of justice; for
125 9  |              should be good even to the wicked, and should make
126 9  |             wicked, and should make the wicked good. If God ought
127 9  |        pities.~BUT how do you spare the wicked, if you are all just
128 9  |              gracious Lord, good to the righteous and the wicked,
129 9  |           good to the righteous and the wicked, can you save the
130 9  |            the wicked, can you save the wicked, if this is not just,
131 9  | incomprehensible, is this hidden in the unapproachable light wherein
132 9  |        wherein you dwell? Truly, in the deepest and most secret
133 9  |             your goodness is hidden the fountain whence the stream
134 9  |          hidden the fountain whence the stream of your compassion
135 9  |            yet you are kind even to the wicked, even because you
136 9  |             he who is good, both to the righteous and the wicked,
137 9  |           both to the righteous and the wicked, is better than he
138 9  |       better than he who is good to the wicked alone; and he who
139 9  |        alone; and he who is good to the wicked, both by punishing
140 9  |           appears why you do reward the good with goods and the
141 9  |             the good with goods and the evil with evils; yet this,
142 9  |            most wonderful, why you, the all and supremely just,
143 9  |           nothing, bestows goods on the wicked and on those who
144 9  |          who are guilty toward you.~The depth of your goodness,
145 9  |            of your goodness, O God! The source of your compassion
146 9  |         clearly seen! We see whence the river flows, but the spring
147 9  |         whence the river flows, but the spring whence it arises
148 9  |           not seen. For, it is from the abundance of your goodness
149 9  |             sin against you; and in the depth of your goodness is
150 9  |             your goodness is hidden the reason for this kindness.~
151 9  |              although you do reward the good with goods and the
152 9  |             the good with goods and the evil with evils, out of
153 9  |           out of goodness, yet this the concept of justice seems
154 9  |         when you do bestow goods on the evil, and it is known that
155 9  |          evil, and it is known that the supremely Good has willed
156 9  |           to do this, we wonder why the supremely just has been
157 9  |      sinners love you! For you save the just, because justice goes
158 9  |          but sinners you do free by the authority of justice. Those
159 9  |      authority of justice. Those by the help of their deserts; these,
160 9  |              Those by acknowledging the goods you has granted; these
161 9  |         granted; these by pardoning the evils you hate. O boundless
162 9  |           justice? And do you spare the wicked, therefore, out of
163 9  |           who are not good, and not the wicked also. In this way,
164 9  |          just that you should spare the wicked, and make good souls
165 9  |              you do not justly pity the wicked, you ought not to
166 9  |        believe that you justly pity the wicked.~ ~
167 10 |          punishes and justly spares the wicked. --God, in sparing
168 10 |           wicked. --God, in sparing the wicked, is just, according
169 10 |         because he does not inflict the punishment deserved.~BUT
170 10 |         just that you should punish the wicked. For what is more
171 10 |         what is more just than that the good should receive goods,
172 10 |           should receive goods, and the evil, evils? How, then,
173 10 |         just that you should punish the wicked, and, at the same
174 10 |          punish the wicked, and, at the same time, spare the wicked?
175 10 |             at the same time, spare the wicked? Or, in one way,
176 10 |          them? For, when you punish the wicked, it is just, because
177 10 |         their deserts; and when, on the other hand, you sparest
178 10 |             other hand, you sparest the wicked, it is just, not
179 10 |           goodness.~For, in sparing the wicked, you are as just,
180 10 |      affectum), but because we feel the effect (effectum); so you
181 10 |           that which becomes you as the supremely good Being. In
182 11 |                 CHAPTER XI.~How all the ways of God are compassion
183 11 |           cannot comprehend why, of the wicked, he saves these rather
184 11 |              that you should punish the wicked? Surely it is just
185 11 |            did only render goods to the good, and not evils to the
186 11 |          the good, and not evils to the evil. For, he who requites
187 11 |             than he who so requites the good alone. It is, therefore,
188 11 |           sparest.~Truly, then, all the paths of the Lord are mercy
189 11 |              then, all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth (
190 11 |            Psalms xxv. 10); and yet the Lord is righteous in all
191 11 |       sparing also; and this may be the reason why the supremely
192 11 |          this may be the reason why the supremely Just can will
193 11 |             Just can will goods for the evil. But if it can be comprehended
194 11 |            why you can will to save the wicked, yet by no consideration
195 11 |              and why you do condemn the latter rather than the former,
196 11 |      condemn the latter rather than the former, through supreme
197 12 |                 CHAPTER XII.~God is the very life whereby he lives;
198 12 |        yourself. Therefore, you are the very life whereby you live;
199 12 |          life whereby you live; and the wisdom wherewith you are
200 12 |         wherewith you are wise; and the very goodness whereby you
201 12 |             whereby you are good to the righteous and the wicked;
202 12 |           good to the righteous and the wicked; and so of other
203 13 |             in one place, cannot at the same time be in another.
204 13 |            which is, as a whole, at the same time everywhere. And
205 13 |          But circumscribed, and, at the same time, uncircumscribed
206 13 |         anywhere as a whole, can at the same time be somewhere else
207 13 |            created spirits. For, if the soul were not as a whole
208 13 |         soul were not as a whole in the separate members of the
209 13 |             the separate members of the body, it would not feel
210 13 |        would not feel as a whole in the separate members. Therefore,
211 14 |          him to be a being which is the highest of all beings, a
212 14 |       creator and renewer, speak to the desire of my soul, what
213 14 |         this, Lord, why is this? Is the eye of the soul darkened
214 14 |          why is this? Is the eye of the soul darkened by its infirmity,
215 14 |           truth that gives light to the rational mind? How great
216 14 |             is only nothingness and the false? How boundless is
217 14 |             false? How boundless is the truth which sees at one
218 16 |                CHAPTER XVI.~This is the unapproachable light wherein
219 16 |              TRULY, O Lord, this is the unapproachable light in
220 16 |           see, I see through it, as the weak eye sees what it sees
221 16 |           sees what it sees through the light of the sun, which
222 16 |           sees through the light of the sun, which in the sun itself
223 16 |          light of the sun, which in the sun itself it cannot look
224 16 |             comprehend it, nor does the eye of my soul endure to
225 16 |           it long. It is dazzled by the brightness, it is overcome
226 16 |       brightness, it is overcome by the greatness, it is overwhelmed
227 16 |     greatness, it is overwhelmed by the infinity, it is dazed by
228 16 |            infinity, it is dazed by the largeness, of the light.~
229 16 |          dazed by the largeness, of the light.~O supreme and unapproachable
230 17 |          sweetness, pleasantness to the touch, beauty, after his
231 17 |          their sensible manner; but the sinful senses of my soul
232 18 |             not parts, but one, and the very whole which God is,
233 18 |            more. I tried to rise to the light of God, and I have
234 18 |             I was conceived, and in the cover of darkness I was
235 18 |            heal, sharpen, enlighten the eye of my mind, that it
236 18 |            each one of these rather the whole, which you are? For,
237 18 |      Therefore, life and wisdom and the rest are not parts of you,
238 18 |           one; and each of these is the whole, which you are, and
239 18 |        which you are, and which all the rest are.~In this way, then,
240 20 |         transcends all things, even the eternal things. --The eternity
241 20 |          even the eternal things. --The eternity of God is present
242 20 |          transcend all things, even the eternal, because your eternity
243 21 |                CHAPTER XXI.~Is this the age of the age, or ages
244 21 |             XXI.~Is this the age of the age, or ages of ages? --
245 21 |             age, or ages of ages? --The eternity of God contains
246 21 |            eternity of God contains the ages of time themselves,
247 21 |       themselves, and can be called the age of the age or ages of
248 21 |            can be called the age of the age or ages of ages.~Is
249 21 |             of ages.~Is this, then, the age of the age, or ages
250 21 |           Is this, then, the age of the age, or ages of ages? For,
251 21 |         your eternity contains even the ages of time themselves.
252 22 |           For, what is one thing in the whole and another in the
253 22 |            the whole and another in the parts, and in which there
254 23 |          good, and wholly good, and the only good. --Since the Word
255 23 |          and the only good. --Since the Word is true, and is truth
256 23 |         itself, there is nothing in the Father, who utters it, which
257 23 |        which is not accomplished in the Word by which he expresses
258 23 |       expresses himself. Neither is the love which proceeds from
259 23 |           Father and Son unequal to the Father or the Son, for Father
260 23 |            unequal to the Father or the Son, for Father and Son
261 23 |       themselves and one another in the same degree in which what
262 23 |         THIS good you are, you, God the Father; this is your Word,
263 23 |            less than you, can be in the Word by which you do express
264 23 |            do express yourself; for the Word is true, as you are
265 23 |          you are. This very good is the one love common to you and
266 23 |           and to your Son, that is, the Holy Spirit proceeding from
267 23 |             he, you and himself, to the whole extent of your being
268 23 |           can anything proceed from the supreme simplicity, other
269 23 |             separately, this is all the Trinity at once, Father,
270 23 |       separately is none other than the supremely simple unity,
271 23 |         supremely simple unity, and the supremely unitary simplicity
272 23 |             single entire good, and the only good.~ ~
273 24 |      CHAPTER XXIV.~Conjecture as to the character and the magnitude
274 24 |             as to the character and the magnitude of this good. --
275 24 |        magnitude of this good. --If the created life is good, how
276 24 |           life is good, how good is the creative life!~AND now,
277 24 |            that good which contains the pleasantness of all goods;
278 24 |        objects, but as different as the Creator from the creature.
279 24 |       different as the Creator from the creature. For, if the created
280 24 |          from the creature. For, if the created life is good, how
281 24 |           life is good, how good is the creative life! If the salvation
282 24 |            is the creative life! If the salvation given is delightful,
283 24 |       delightful, how delightful is the salvation which has given
284 24 |             salvation! If wisdom in the knowledge of the created
285 24 |          wisdom in the knowledge of the created world is lovely,
286 24 |            is lovely, how lovely is the wisdom which has created
287 24 |       things, what and how great is the delight in him who has made
288 25 |                Joy is multiplied in the blessed from the blessedness
289 25 |      multiplied in the blessed from the blessedness and joy of others.~
290 25 |          nor ear heard, neither has the heart of man conceived (
291 25 |             man, in your search for the goods of your soul and your
292 25 |            soul and your body? Love the one good in which are all
293 25 |             and it suffices. Desire the simple good which is every
294 25 |           delights you, there shall the righteous shine forth as
295 25 |            righteous shine forth as the sun (Matthew xiii. 43) If
296 25 |          and an eternal health. For the righteous shall live for
297 25 |            ever (Wisdom v. 15), and the salvation of the righteous
298 25 |           15), and the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord (
299 25 |    salvation of the righteous is of the Lord (Psalms xxxvii. 39)
300 25 |             shall be satisfied when the glory of the Lord has appeared (
301 25 |         satisfied when the glory of the Lord has appeared (Psalms
302 25 |           abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house (Psalms
303 25 |              If it is melody, there the choirs of angels sing forever,
304 25 |            shall make them drink of the river of your pleasures,
305 25 |           wisdom that delights you, the very wisdom of God will
306 25 |          But what, or how great, is the joy, where such and so great
307 25 |          where such and so great is the good! Heart of man, needy
308 25 |    altogether as yourself possessed the same blessedness, your joy
309 25 |            three, or many more, had the same joy, you would rejoice
310 25 |           shall rejoice for each of the others as for himself.~If,
311 25 |           as for himself.~If, then, the heart of man will scarce
312 25 |            so far as he rejoices in the other's good, and as, in
313 25 |           more than himself and all the others with him; so he will
314 25 |         rejoice beyond reckoning in the felicity of God, more than
315 25 |             his own and that of all the others with him.~But if
316 25 |          their soul, that still all the heart, and all the mind,
317 25 |        still all the heart, and all the mind, and all the soul shall
318 25 |           and all the mind, and all the soul shall not suffice for
319 25 |          soul shall not suffice for the worthiness of this love;
320 25 |            all their soul, that all the heart, and all the mind,
321 25 |         that all the heart, and all the mind, and all the soul shall
322 25 |           and all the mind, and all the soul shall not suffice for
323 25 |          soul shall not suffice for the fulness of their joy.~ ~
324 26 |             XXVI.~Is this joy which the Lord promises made full? --
325 26 |          Lord promises made full? --The blessed shall rejoice according
326 26 |            and my Lord, my hope and the joy of my heart, speak unto
327 26 |             tell me whether this is the joy of which you tell us
328 26 |             mind, and soul, and all the man, are full of that joy,
329 26 |           his heart whether this is the joy into which your servants
330 26 |         enter, who shall enter into the joy of their Lord. But that
331 26 |         neither has it entered into the heart of man (Isaiah lxiv.
332 26 |         neither has it entered into the heart of man in this life,
333 26 |        until that joy shall come to the full. Let the knowledge
334 26 |         shall come to the full. Let the knowledge of you advance
335 26 |             there be made full. Let the love of you increase, and
336 26 |           your joy, O Lord, who are the Three and the One God, blessed
337 26 |         Lord, who are the Three and the One God, blessed for ever