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Now concerning the Essence of Divinity: in
truth it is on no account determined by anything
apart from its own nature, and can in no wise be
comprehended. For whatsoever can be conceived
by man is a reality that hath limitations and is not
unlimited; it is circumscribed, not all-embracing.
It can be comprehended by man, and is controlled
by him. Similarly it is certain that all human conceptions
are contingent, not absolute; that they
have a mental existence, not a material one. Moreover,
differentiation of stages in the contingent
world is an obstacle to understanding. How then
can the contingent conceive the Reality of the absolute?
As previously mentioned, differentiation of
stages in the contingent plane is an obstacle to
understanding. Minerals, plants and animals are
bereft of the mental faculties of man that discover
the realities of all things, but man himself comprehendeth
all the stages beneath him. Every superior
stage comprehendeth that which is inferior and discovereth
the reality thereof, but the inferior one
is unaware of that which is superior and cannot
comprehend it. Thus man cannot grasp the Essence
of Divinity, but can, by his reasoning power, by
observation, by his intuitive faculties and the revealing
power of his faith, believe in God, discover
the bounties of His Grace. He becometh certain