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Orthodox Doctrine (Summary of Christian Divinity)

Metropolitan Platon of Moscow, tr. Pinkerton, 1814

2. Part 1, Section 2: Evidences that There is a God

On entering into the knowledge of ourselves, the first thing we come to understand is, that we could not create ourselves. Hence, we necessarily conclude, that there must be an almighty and uncreated Cause, by which we and every other creature were created. Now, by this first cause, according to general acceptation, we understand God.

1. Every thing in this world is contingent, that is, it might exist or not exist, or exist under some other form. But when something was produced out of nothing, then of necessity there must have been a creative Cause. Agreeable to this are these words of the Psalmist: “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.” Psalm c. 3.

2. On this account also, man is styled “a little world,” by the contemplation of which, and of certain other traces (in nature), we arrive at the knowledge of the Deity.

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