Cosmologia Generalis

And this is the most abundant fruit of general Cosmology, for the sake of which it would deserve to be cultivated, even if it bore no other. It will become clear, however, in its own place and time, that this is not the only one, but that many others can be gleaned from it, even in religion itself, both natural and revealed, when it is to be defended against the doubts of those who waver and the hasty objections of profane men. Furthermore, from the present proposition and its demonstration, it is evident what method we employ in demonstrating the existence of God and what principles we use, and that our method is simultaneously sufficient for determining the divine attributes, so that we may obtain distinct notions of them. And thus, finally, natural Theology—just as the Apostle teaches in Romans 1:20—ascends from the contemplation of the visible world to God, the invisible Author of it, without whom it cannot be conceived, and by the same argument, gathering both His existence and His attributes, it becomes a harmonious system. In honor of God, I am compelled to confess that, in being much concerned with handing down the knowledge of God by a scientific method, I have not found any other path by which it is granted to reach the goal than that which the present proposition shows, nor have I found a philosopher who has properly trodden the same, although those who, especially in our own times, have attempted to apply the demonstrative method to natural theology should not be defrauded of their praise. I suggest these things, therefore, so that those who have at heart and in their care the solid knowledge of God, which will be of the greatest benefit in our own times, may make general Cosmology and the ontological principles that are presupposed in it familiar to themselves, while we occupy ourselves with publishing Psychology and natural Theology. The use of a solid knowledge of the Divine will become clear from the other parts of philosophy, nor is there any need for it to be commended here.

Limits of Cosmology.

In general Cosmology it must be explained how the world proceeds from simple substances. For in general Cosmology, the principles concerning being in general and concerning a composite being must be applied to the world or universe (§. 2). Therefore, since the first thing to be conceived of a being is its intrinsic possibility (§. 144, 154, Ontol.), and a world, being a composite entity, cannot exist without simple ones (§. 686, Ontol.), it must be shown in general Cosmology how some universe proceeds from simple substances.

It is evident, therefore, how far one must proceed in general Cosmology, and that in it the true elements of material things must be determined.