Reason and religion, or, The grounds and measures of devotion, consider'd from the nature of God, and the nature of man in several contemplations : with exercises of devotion applied to every contemplation / by John Norris ...

XXXIII.

This conclusion may be further inferr'd from the Permanency and Im∣mutable Stability of simple Idea's.

I find in my mind certain Idea's of a fix'd and unalterable Nature, such as I can neither add any thing to, or at all diminish from. Thus for instance, the Idea of a Triangle has a determinate and immutable Na∣ture, such as is not in my power any way to alter. I can, indeed, cease to think of a Triangle, and con∣vert my mind to the speculation of some other Figure. But whensoever I do think of a Triangle, I cannot help representing it to my mind af∣ter one and the same determinate way. Which is a certain Argu∣ment that this Idea is not of my own raising or forming, for then it would be Arbitrary, and I might vary it at pleasure; but that 'tis an absolute Nature, distinct from, and independent on my Understanding; and, indeed, that 'tis no other than the Divine Essence it self, after a special mode of Exhibition or Imitability: for nothing but God himself is ab∣solutely Immutable. He only being that Father of Lights, in whom is no varying, nor shadow of turning.