What does this signify?
BOOK SEVENTH.--PARENTHESIS
CHAPTER V
PRAYER
They pray.
To whom?
To God.
To pray to God,--what is the meaning of these words?
Is there an infinite beyond us?
Is that infinite there, inherent, permanent; necessarily substantial, since it is infinite; and because, if it lacked matter it would be bounded; necessarily intelligent, since it is infinite, and because, if it lacked intelligence, it would end there?
Does this infinite awaken in us the idea of essence, while we can attribute to ourselves only the idea of existence? In other terms, is it not the absolute, of which we are only the relative?
At the same time that there is an infinite without us, is there not an infinite within us?
Are not these two infinites (what an alarming plural!) superposed, the one upon the other?
Is not this second infinite, so to speak, subjacent to the first?
Is it not the latter's mirror, reflection, echo, an abyss which is concentric with another abyss?
Is this second infinity intelligent also? Does it think?
Does it love?
Does it will?