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CHAP. IX.
Of Ideas.
WHereas matter is a Principle, Plato likewise introduceth other principles besides matter. One as an exemplar, Idaeas; another Paternall, God, the Father and Author of all things. Idaea, as to God, is the notion of God, as to us, the primary Intelli∣gible, as to matter, a manner, as to this sensible world an Exem∣plar, as to it selfe, Essence. For whatsoever is made with under∣standing, must necessarily be referred to something, as if some∣thing be made from another, as my picture from me, the exem∣plar thereof must be presupposed, and if there be nothing eter∣nall, every Artist conceiveth it first within himselfe, then trans∣ferreth the formes thereof into matter.
They define Idaea an eternall exemplar of things which are according to Nature; for, the greater part of Platonists will not allow an Idaea to be of things that are made by Art, as of a Shield, or Lute, nor of things which are praeternaturall, as of a Feavour, or unnaturall Choler; nor of singulars, as of Socrates or Plato; nor of vile abject things, as of silth or strawes; nor of relatives, as of greater and longer: For Idaeas are the eternall notions of God, perfect in themselves.
That there are Idaeas, they prove thus: Whether God be Intel∣lect or something Intelligent, he must have his Intelligibles, and those eternall and immovable; if so, there are Idaeas. For, if mat∣ter it selfe be in it selfe void of measure, it is necessary that it re∣ceive measure from some superiour, that is wholly remote from matter: But the Antecedent is true, therefore the consequent; and if so, there are Idaeas, certain measures void of matter. A∣gain, if the world were not made by chance, it must only be made of something, but by something, and not only so, but after the likenesse of something; but, that after whose likenesse it was made, what is it but an Idaea? whence it followeth, that there are Ideas. Again, if intellect differ from true opinion, that which is intelligible differeth from that which is opinionable; and if so, there are intelligibles distinct from opinionables, wherefore there are first Intelligibles, as well as first Sensibles, whence we conclude there are Idaeas.