The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

Sect. 2. Of God.

TErtullian saith,* 1.1 that Thales to Croesus, enquiring concerning the Deity, gave no certaine accompt, but desired severall times of de∣liberating to no effect. He seemes to reflect upon the same or a like story to that which is reported of Simonides and Hieron.

But what the opinion of Thales was concerning God, may bee gather'd from two Apothegmes cited by Laertius, repeated with this glosse by* 1.2 Clemens Alexandrinus; And what are not those the sayings of Thales that are derived from hence, That God is glorifi'd for ever and ever, and he openly confesseth that he is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hee who knoweth Hearts. For Thales being demanded what God was, that (saith he) which hath neither beginning nor end. Another asking of a man might doe ill and conceale it from God. How saith he, when a man that thinkes it cannot? Men ought to think (sayes* 1.3 Cicero in his name) that the Gods see all things.

He acknowledged God the first of beings, and Author of the world, asserting (according to Laertius) that the most antient of all things is God, ••or he is not begotten; that the fairest is the world, for it is his work. This is confirmed by Cicero.* 1.4 Thales the Mile••ian (saith he) who first enquired into these things, said, that water was the principle of things, but that God was that mind which formed all things of water. If Gods may be without sence and mind, why did he joyn the mind to water•• why water to the mind, if the mind can subsist without a body? Thus Cice∣ro who understands Thales to intend the materiall principle to be co-eternall with the efficient; which Thales himselfe seems not to mean, when he declared God to be the first of Beings. But that the Mens of ••naxagoras, for the annexing of which to mat∣ter, he was so much famed, was no more then what he borrowed from Thales, the words of Cicero make good.

He affirmed that God by the immutable decree of his provi∣dence governs the world. Thales (saith Stobaeus) being demanded what was most strong, answered Necessity, for it rules all the world. Neces∣sity is the firm judgment and immutable power of providence. Hither we must likewise referre what is cited under his name by the same Stobaeus, that the first mover is immovable, which* 1.5 Aristotle hath bor∣row'd from him, not owning the Author.

Something imperfectly was before delivered by Orpheus, con∣cerning God, alledged by* 1.6 Clemens Alexandrinus and others; but as Cicero saith; Thales was the first among the Grecians, who made any search into these things; and that he brought it out of Aegypt, the Grecians themselves deny not,* 1.7 for they acknowledge, that they received the names of their Gods from thence, and beleeved the Aegyptians to be the first, who looking up to the world a∣bove them, and admiring the nature of the universe, reflected upon the Deity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ap••loge••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. gent. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.2

  Stromat. 5.
• * 1.3

  De legib. 2.
• * 1.4

  De natur. de or 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.5

  Physic. ••. 7.
• * 1.6

  Admonit. ad gent.
• * 1.7

  Herodot. lib. 2.