Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

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^*. The Holy Ghost here accommodates himself to the Capacity of men; because we know that a man sees and knows that which is done, where he is corporally present; so he proves, that God knows all things that are done in the most secret Caverns of the Heart, because he is every where in Heaven and Earth, as light is every where in the air, and air every where in the World. Hence the Schools use the term repletivè for the presence of God.

It cannot be imagin'd, 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^*