Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

1. The word filling cannot properly be referred to the act of understanding and will. A presence by knowledge is to be granted, but to say such a presence fills a a place, is an improper Speech. Knowledge is not enough to constitute a presence.

1. The word filling cannot properly be referred to the act of understanding and will. A presence by knowledg is to be granted, but to say such a presence fills a a place, is an improper Speech. Knowledge is not enough to constitute a presence.

A man at London knows there is such a City as Paris, and knows many things in it; can he be concluded therefore to be present in Paris, or fill any place there, or be present with the things he knows there? If I know any thing to be distant from me, how can it be present with me? For by knowing it to be distant, I know it not to be present. Besides, filling Heaven and Earth, is distinguished here from Knowing or Seeing. His presence is rendered as an Argument to prove his Knowledge. Now a Proposition, and the proof of that Proposition, are distinct, and not the same.

A man at London knows there is such a City as Paris, and knows many things in it; can he be concluded therefore to be present in Paris, or fill any place there, or be present with the things he knows there? If I know any thing to be distant from me, how can it be present with me? For by knowing it to be distant, I know it not to be present. Besides, filling Heaven and Earth, is distinguisht here from Knowing or Seeing. His presence is render'd as an Argument to prove his Knowledg. Now a Proposition, and the proof of that Proposition, are distinct, and not the same.

It cannot be imagined, that God should prove idem per idem, as we say; for what would be the import of the Speech then? I know all things, I see all things, because I know and see all things