"Here will I hold. If there's a power above us, ADDISON'S CATO. FIRST PRINCIPLES. I BELIEVE there is one supreme, most perfect Being, author and father of the gods themselves. For I believe that man is not the most perfect being but one, but rather that there are many degrees of beings superior to him. Also, when I stretch my imagination through and beyond our system of planets, beyond the visible fixed stars themselves, into that space that is every way infinite, and conceive it filled with suns like ours, each with a chorus of worlds for ever moving round him; then this little ball on which we move, seems, even in * This paper bears the date of November 20th, 1728, when the author was twenty-two years old. It purports to be the FIRST PART; but the continuation has never been published.—EDITOR. VOL. II. 1 A my narrow imagination, to be almost nothing, and myself less than nothing, and of no sort of consequence. When I think thus, I imagine it great vanity in me to suppose, that the Supremely Perfect does in the least regard such an inconsiderable nothing as man; more especially, since it is impossible for me to have any clear idea of that which is infinite and incomprehensible, I cannot conceive otherwise, than that he the Infinite Father expects or requires no worship or praise from us, but that he is even infinitely above it. But, since there is in all men something like a natural principle, which inclines them to DEVOTION, or the worship of some unseen power; And since men are endued with reason superior to all other animals, that we are in our world acquainted with; Therefore I think it seems required of me, and my duty as a man, to pay divine regards to SOMETHING. I conceive, then, that the INFINITE has created many beings or gods, vastly superior to man, who can better conceive his perfections than we, and return him a more rational and glorious praise; as, among men, the praise of the ignorant or of children is not regarded by the ingenious painter or architect, who is rather honored and pleased with the approbation of wise men and artists. It may be these created gods are immortal; or it may be, that, after many ages, they are changed, and others supply their places. Howbeit, I conceive that each of these is exceeding wise and good, and very powerful; and that each has made for himself one glorious sun, attended with a beautiful and admirable system of planets. It is that particular wise and good God, who is the author and owner of our system, that I propose for the object of my praise and adoration. |