EMANUEL SWEDENBORG
incompetent to the task. The attempt to penetrate the essence of things—to know things per se—to know noumena—is also an impossible attempt. And yet that God exists, that the World exists, are irresistible convictions. There is another certitude, therefore, besides that derived from demonstration, and this is moral certitude, which is grounded upon belief. I cannot say, 'It is morally certain that God exists,' but I must say, 'I am morally certain that God exists'"[1]
Swedenborg himself wrote in his Principia—
"When therefore the philosopher has arrived at the end of his studies, even supposing him to have acquired so complete a knowledge of all mundane things that nothing more remains for him to learn, he must there stop; for he can never know the nature of the Infinite Being, of His Supreme Intelligence, Supreme Providence, Supreme Love, Supreme Justice, and other infinite attributes. He will therefore acknowledge that in respect to this supremely intelligent and wise Being his knowledge is nothing: he will hence most profoundly venerate Him with the utmost devotion of soul; so that at the mere
- ↑ Lewes: History of Philosophy, ii, 518.
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