The truth of Christian religion in six books / written in Latine by Hugo Grotius ; and now translated into English, with the addition of a seventh book, by Symon Patrick ...

SECT. II. That there is but one GOD.

WE having evinced that there is a God, it follows that we speak of his At∣tributes. The first whereof is this, that there are not more Gods, but one God. This is ga∣thered from hence, that God (as was said before) is what He is necessarily, and of Himself. Now whatsoever is necessarily, or of it self, is considered not in its general no∣tion, but as actually in being. Now things actually in being are particular. But if you suppose more Gods, you cannot find a reason in each of them, why they should necessarily be; nor why two rather than three, or ten

rather than five should be believed.

Besides, the multiplication of those parti∣cular things that are of the same nature, pro∣ceeds from the exuberancy and fruitfulness of the causes whence such things more or less are generated: but of God there is neither beginning nor any cause.

Furthermore, in all particular things, there are certain special and particular properties whereby the same things are severally dist in∣guished: Now to make such a distinction in God, is altogether needless, since that he is most necessary and simple by nature. Neither can any Man perceive any signs or tokens of the plurality of Gods. For this universal Sphere or circumference which we behold, makes up but one compleat World, wherein there is one most beautiful and glorious Sun: Likewise in every Man, the little world, there is but one special governing part, to wit, his soul or mind. Besides, if we should suppose two Gods, or more, freely acting and wil∣ling, what they please, they might will con∣trary things; and then one of them might be hindred by the other, from effecting what he had a mind to have done. But to say that God can be hindred in what He designs, is unworthy of his Majesty.