“Yes,” said Hedvig, “but it must be something quite new.”
“That is a hard task,” I replied, “for how am I to know that what I ask is new to you? However, tell me if one must stop at the first principle of a thing one wants to understand.”
“Certainly, and the reason is that in God there is no first principle, and He is therefore incomprehensible.”
“God be praised! that is how I would have you answer. Can God have any self-consciousness?”
“There my learning is baffled. I know not what to reply. You should not ask me so hard a thing as that.”
“But you wished for something new. I thought the newest thing would be to see you at a loss.”
“That’s prettily said. Be kind enough to reply for me, gentlemen, and teach me what to say.”
Everybody tried to answer, but nothing was said worthy of record. Hedvig at last said,—
“My opinion is that since God knows all, He knows of His own existence, but you must not ask me how He knows it.”
“That’s well said,” I answered; and nobody could throw any further light on the matter.