The Divine Lamp

Chapter 14
That In Order To Acquire Knowledge Of God It Is Necessary To Proceed By The Way Of Remotion.

I. Accordingly having proven that there is a first being which we call God, it behooves us to inquire into His Nature.

II. Now in treating of the divine essence the principle method to be followed is that of remotion.  For the divine essence by its immensity surpasses every form to which our intellect reaches; and thus we cannot apprehend it by knowing what it is.  But we have some knowledge thereof according as we shall be enabled to remove by our intellect a greater number of things therefrom.  For the more completely we wee how a thing differs from others, the more perfectly we know it: since each thing has has in itself its own being distinct from all other things.  Wherefore when we know the definition of a thing, first we place it in a genus, whereby we know in general what it is, and afterwards we add differences, so as to mark its distinction from other things: and thus we arrive at the complete knowledge of a thing’s essence.

III. Since, however, we are unable in treating of the divine essence to take what as a genus, nor can we express its distinction from other things by affirmative differences, we must needs express it by negative differences.  Now just as in affirmative differences one restricts another, and brings us the nearer to a complete description of the thing, according as it makes it to differ from more things, so one negative difference is restricted by another that marks a distinction from more things.  Thus, if we say that God is not an accident, we thereby distinguish Him from all accidents; then if we add that He is not a body, we shall distinguish Him also from certain substances, and thus in gradation He will be differentiated by suchlike negations from all besides Himself: and then when He is known as distinct from all things, we shall arrive at a proper consideration of Him.  It will not, however, be perfect, because we shall not know what He is in Himself.

IV. Wherefore in order to proceed about the knowledge of God by the way of remotion, let us take as principle that which is already made manifest by what we have said above (Ch. 13) , namely that  God is altogether unchangeable.  This is also confirmed by the authority of Holy Writ.  For it is said (Mal 3:6) I am God (Vulgate: Lord) and I change not. (James 1:17) With Whom there is no change; and Numbers (23:19) God is not as a man…that He should be changed.

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