9. A defect which belongs to the memory of man, as finite.
These are defects we may observe in the memory of
one man compared with another. There is another defect which we may conceive to be in the memory of man in
general;--compared with some superior created intellectual beings, which in this faculty may so far excel man,
that they may have constantly in view the whole scene of all their former actions, wherein no one of the thoughts
they have ever had may slip out of their sight. The omniscience of God, who knows all things, past, present, and
to come, and to whom the thoughts of men's hearts always lie open, may satisfy us of the possibility of this. For
who can doubt but God may communicate to those glorious spirits, his immediate attendants, any of his
perfections; in what proportions he pleases, as far as created finite beings can be capable? It is reported of that
prodigy of parts, Monsieur Pascal, that till the decay of his health had impaired his memory, he forgot nothing of
what he had done, read, or thought, in any part of his rational age. This is a privilege so little known to most men,
that it seems almost incredible to those who, after the ordinary way, measure all others by themselves; but yet,
when considered, may help us to enlarge our thoughts towards greater perfections of it, in superior ranks of
spirits. For this of Monsieur Pascal was still with the narrowness that human minds are confined to here,--of
having great variety of ideas only by succession, not all at once. Whereas the several degrees of angels may
probably have larger views; and some of them be endowed with capacities able to retain together, and constantly
set before them, as in one picture, all their past knowledge at once. This, we may conceive, would be no small
advantage to the knowledge of a thinking man,--if all his past thoughts and reasonings could be always present to
him. And therefore we may suppose it one of those ways, wherein the knowledge of separate spirits may
exceedingly surpass ours.
