Our Father in Heaven knew that in mortality we would face challenges, tribulation, and turmoil; the Lord knew we would toil with questions, disappointments, temptations, and weaknesses. We must accept the doctrine of free will and the immortality of the soul. A person is only wise if he or she is aware of the limits of the mind in knowing the truth. Knowledge is learned ignorance (docta ignorantia). Endowed with a natural desire for truth, humans seek it through rational inquiry, which is a movement of the reason from something presupposed as certain to a conclusion that is still in doubt. Reasoning involves a relating or comparing of conclusion with premises. The greater the distance between them, the more difficult and uncertain is the conclusion. If the distance is infinite, the mind never reaches its goal, for there is no relation or proportion because the finite and the infinite. Hence, the mind cannot know the infinite. The infinite is an absolute, and the absolute cannot be known by means of relations or comparison. Accordingly, the mind cannot comprehend the infinite God. By rational investigation we can draw ever nearer to the Lord, but cannot reach him. The case is the same with any truth, for every truth is an absolute, not admitting of degrees. Since reason proceeds by steps, relating conclusion to premises, it is relational and hence never arrives at the absolute truth. #RandolphHarris 1 of 8

Our intellect, which is not the truth, never grasps the truth with such precision that is could not be comprehended with infinitely greater precision. As a polygon inscribed in a circle increases in number of sides but never becomes a circle, so the mind approximates to the truth but never coincides with it. Thus, knowledge as beat is conjecture (coniectura). This is no mere guess or supposition that may or may not be true; it is an assertion that is true as far as it goes, although it does not completely measure up to its object. Reason is like an eye that looks at a face from different and even from opposite positions. Each view of the face is true, but it is partial and relative. No one view, nor all taken together, coincides with the face. Similarly, human reason knows a simple and indivisible truth piecemeal and through opposing views, with the result that it never adequately measures up to it. The weakness of human reason is evident because its primary rules is the principle of noncontradiction, which states that contradictories cannot be simultaneously true of the same object. However, there is a coincidence of opposites (coincidentia oppositorum) in reality, especially in the infinite God. In contrast, the principle of noncontradiction stubbornly refuses to admit the compatibility of contradictories in reality. It takes almost a miracle to get some to understand this; and yet without this admission the ascent of mystical theology is impossible. #RandolpHarris 2 of 8

In human beings there is a power of knowing superior to reason called intellect by which we rise above the principle of noncontradiction and see the unity and coincidence of opposites in reality. An example would be when Joshua prayed for the Sun and the Moon to stand sill, this motion of Heavenly spheres is called dusk. And think about how God brought stone into existence in a state containing moisture, the entire definition of stone would be different than what is needed for an inhabitable planet. At first, God has to create substances, which are defined as how they first come into existence in distinct forms, each containing specific, essential properties. Once a certain substance exists in a desired form with its essential properties, only then can God make aberrations in its nature, without altering the actual substance in general. God desired that stone exist—this means an arid, hard substance. So God first brought stone into existence as a dry, hard element, and not as a moist object, which would not be stone. Subsequent to its creation, God can make aberrations. Meaning, first God defined matter by giving each substance specific, unique properties. This occurred during the six days. Only subsequent to the completion of all substances, could God incorporate a suspension of those properties in a few items, but suspension means altering that which already exists. #RandolphHarris 3 of 8

Certain miracles were needed for future events, without which, catastrophe would occur. As it is God’s wish to benefit humanity, the suspension of a few laws was essential to preserve humankind. Therefore, God made concessions to human beings (implied by making these miracles at the last moment possible) by altering law of created matter. All miracles are built into created matter. Miracles are multiple forces operating simultaneously, which some might see as a contradiction. Due to the need for substance to maintain essential, structural properties, matter needed to come into existence as a defined entity. Only once existing in an essential form could God alter it to assist humans. We are most concerned with showing the coincidence of opposites in God. God is the absolute maximum or infinite being, in the sense that he has the fullness of perfection. There is nothing outside of God to oppose him or to limit him. God is the all. God is also the maximum, but not in the sense of the supreme degree in a series. As infinite being he does not enter into relation or proportion with finite beings. As the absolute, the Lord excludes all degrees. If we say he is the maximum, we can also say he is the minimum. In short, in God, the infinite being, all opposition is reconciled in perfect unit. The Holy Ghost binds us to the Lord. By divine assignment, God inspires, testifies, teaches, and prompts us to talk in the light of the Lord. We have the sacred responsibility to learn to recognize his influence in our lives and respond.  #RandolphHarris 4 of 8

 The coincidence of the maximum and minimum in infinity is illustrated by mathematical figures. For example, imagine a circle with a finite diameter. As the size of the circle is increased, the curvature of the circumference decreased. When the diameter is infinite, the circumference is an absolutely straight line. Thus, in infinity the maximum of straightness is identical with the minimum of curvature. Or, to put it another way, an infinite circle is identical with a straight line. There are several priori proofs for the existence of the absolute maximum, or God. For one, the finite is inconceivable without int infinite. What is finite and limited has a beginning and an end, so that there must be a being to which it owes its existence and in which it will have its end. This being is either finite or infinite. If it is finite, then it has its beginning and end in another being. This leads either to an infinite series of actually existing beings, which is impossible, or to an infinite being which is the beginning and end of all finite beings. Consequently, it is absolutely necessary that there be an infinite being, or absolute maximum.  The next proof deals with the absolute truth about the absolute maximum stated in the propositions: It either is or is not. It is and it is not. It either is nor is not. These exhaust all the possibilities, so that one of the must be the absolute truth. Hence there is an absolute truth, and this is what is mean by the absolute maximum. Remember the Lord’s promise: “I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy.” #RandolphHarris 5 of 8

As the absolute maximum, God contains all things; he is their enfolding (complicatio). He is also their unfolding (explication) because they come forth from him. Creatures add nothing to the divine reality; they are simply limited and partial appearances of it. As a face reproduces itself more or less perfectly in a number of mirrors, so God reflects himself in various ways in his creatures. In this case, however, there are no mirrors. God transcends the Universe but is also immanent in it, as a face is present in mirrored images. Each creature is also present in ever other, as each image exists in ever other. Everything is everything else. The most universal of all created forms is the form of the Universe, called the soul of the World. This form embraces in its unity all lower forms, such as those of genera and species. These lower forms are contradictions of the form of the Universe; they are the Universe existing in a limited way. They exist in the Universe, and it in turn exists in a limited way in them. Individuals are further contractions of universal forms—for example Socrates is a contradiction of the form of humanity. The Universe as a whole is a contradiction of the infinite God. Thus, all things exist in a unified manner in the Universe, and the Universe in turn exists in the unity of God. Oppositions and contradictions that appear on the level of individuals and lower universal forms are reconciled in the unity of the Universe and ultimately in the unity of God. #RandolphHarris 6 of 8

Since the Universe mirrors God, it too must be a maximum—not the absolute maximum, to be sure, but the relative maximum, for it contains everything the exists except God. The Universe is absolutely infinite; only God, in his view, cold be described in these terms. However, the Universe has no circumference and consequently is boundless or undetermined—a revolutionary notion in cosmology. Just as the Universe has no circumference, it has no fixed center. The Earth is not the center of the Universe, nor is it absolutely at rest. Like everything else it moves in pace with a motion that is not absolute but is relative to the observer. Beneath this oppositions and contradictions, there is a fundamental unity and harmony, which, when it is recognized by all people, will be the basis of Universal peace. Morality is based on social sense and experience. Many of the traits of the Renaissance people are love of classical antiquity, all-encompassing curiosity, optimism, cultivation of literary styles, critical spirit, preoccupation with the individual, and love of mathematics and science. Religion is a feel for God’s goodness and providence as mirrored in the goodness and beauty of the Creation. Joy that fills our souls brings with it an eternal perspective in contrast to day-to-day living. That joy comes as peace amidst hardship and heartache. It provides comfort and courage, unfolds the truths of the gospel, and expands our love for the Lord and all God’s children. #RandolphHarris 7 of 8

Thanks to be my Lord; God the Adorable, and only to be adored. My Lord, the Eternal, the Ever-existing, the Cherisher, the True Sovereign whose mercy and might overshadow the Universe; the Regulator of the World, and Light of the creation. His is our worship; to God belongs all worship; God existed before all things, and will exist after all that is living has ceased. Thou art the adored, my Lord; Thou art the Master, the Loving and Forgiving. My Lord, Thou art the Helper and the afflicted, the Reliever of all distresses, the Consoler of the broken hearted; Thou art present everywhere to help Thy children. My Lord, Thou art the Creator, I am only created; Thou art my Sovereign, I am only Thy servant; Thou art the Helper, I am the beseecher; Thou art the Forgiver, I am the sinner; Thou, my Lord, art the Merciful, All-knowing, All-loving. Lord, grant to me the love of Thee. Grant that I may love those that love Thee. Grant that I may do the deeds that win Thy love. Make Thy love to be dearer to me than anything else. Lord! Grant me firmness in faith and direction. Assist me in being grateful to Thee and in adorning Thee in every good way. I ask Thee for an innocent heart, which shall not incline to wickedness. I ask Thee for a true tongue. I pray Thee to defend me from that vice which Thou knowest, and for forgiveness of those faults which Thou knowest. My Defender! Assist me in remembering Thee and being grateful to Thee, and in worshipping Thee with the excess of my strength. Forgive me out of Thy loving kindness, and have mercy on me; for verily Thou art the forgiver of offenses and the bestower blessings on Thy Servants. #RandolphHarris 8 of 8