E2P30D
Demonstration — Part II
Latin
Nostri corporis duratio ab ejus essentia non dependet (per axioma 1 hujus) nec etiam ab absoluta Dei natura (per propositionem 21 partis I). Sed (per propositionem 28 partis I) ad existendum et operandum determinatur a talibus causis quæ etiam ab aliis determinatæ sunt ad existendum et operandum certa ac determinata ratione et hæ iterum ab aliis et sic in infinitum. Nostri igitur corporis duratio a communi naturæ ordine et rerum constitutione pendet. Qua autem ratione constitutæ sint, ejus rei adæquata cognitio datur in Deo quatenus earum omnium ideas et non quatenus tantum humani corporis ideam habet (per corollarium propositionis 9 hujus); quare cognitio durationis nostri corporis est in Deo admodum inadæquata quatenus tantum naturam mentis humanæ constituere consideratur hoc est (per corollarium propositionis 11 hujus) hæc cognitio est in nostra mente admodum inadæquata. Q.E.D.
English (Elwes 1883)
The duration of our body does not depend on its essence (II. Ax. i.), nor on the absolute nature of God (I. xxi.). But (I. xxviii.) it is conditioned to exist and operate by causes, which in their turn are conditioned to exist and operate in a fixed and definite relation by other causes, these last again being conditioned by others, and so on to infinity. The duration of our body therefore depends on the common order of nature, or the constitution of things. Now, however a thing may be constituted, the adequate knowledge of that thing is in God, in so far as he has the ideas of all things, and not in so far as he has the idea of the human body only. (II. ix. Coroll.) Wherefore the knowledge of the duration of our body is in God very inadequate, in so far as he is only regarded as constituting the nature of the human mind; that is (II. xi. Coroll.), this knowledge is very inadequate to our mind. Q.E.D.
Modern English
The duration of our body does not depend on its essence (E2A1), nor does it depend on the absolute nature of God (E1P21). Rather (E1P28), it is determined to exist and to act by causes that are themselves determined to exist and act in a certain and determinate way by other causes, and those in turn by others, and so on to infinity. The duration of our body therefore depends on the common order of nature and the constitution of things. Now, however things may be constituted, an adequate knowledge of that constitution is in God insofar as God has the ideas of all things, not insofar as God has only the idea of the human body (E2P9C). Accordingly, the knowledge of the duration of our body is in God very inadequately insofar as he is regarded only as constituting the nature of the human mind, that is (E2P11C), this knowledge is very inadequate in our mind. Q.E.D.