CHAPTERV
7。But_how_didstthoumaketheheavenandtheearth，andwhatwasthetoolofsuchamightyworkasthine？Foritwasnotlikeahumanworkerfashioningbodyfrombody，accordingtothefancyofhismind，ablesomehoworothertoimposeonitaformwhichthemindperceivedinitselfbyitsinnereyeyethowshouldevenhebeabletodothis，ifthouhadstnotmadethatmind？。Heimposestheformonsomethingalreadyexistingandhavingsomesortofbeing，suchasclay，orstoneorwoodorgoldorsuchlikeandwherewouldthesethingscomefromifthouhadstnotfurnishedthem？。Forthoumadesthisbodyfortheartisan，andthoumadestthemindwhichdirectsthelimbs；thoumadestthematterfromwhichhemakesanything；thoudidstcreatethecapacitybywhichheunderstandshisartandseeswithinhismindwhathemaydowiththethingsbeforehim；thougavesthimhisbodilysensebywhich，asifhehadaninterpreter，hemaycommunicatefrommindtomatterwhatheproposestodoandreportbacktohismindwhathasbeendone，thatthemindmayconsultwiththeTruthwhichpresidethoveritastowhetherwhatisdoneiswelldone。
Allthesethingspraisethee，theCreatorofthemall。Buthowdidstthoumakethem？How，OGod，didstthoumaketheheavenandearth？Fortruly，neitherinheavennoronearthdidstthoumakeheavenandearth——norintheairnorinthewaters，sinceallofthesealsobelongtotheheavenandtheearth。Nowhereinthewholeworlddidstthoumakethewholeworld，becausetherewasnoplacewhereitcouldbemadebeforeitwasmade。Andthoudidstnotholdanythinginthyhandfromwhichtofashiontheheavenandtheearth，[421]forwherecouldstthouhavegottenwhatthouhadstnotmadeinordertomakesomethingwithit？Isthere，indeed，anythingatallexceptbecausethouart？Thusthoudidstspeakandtheyweremade，[422]andbythyWordthoudidstmakethemall。
CHAPTERVI
8。Buthowdidstthouspeak？Wasitinthesamemannerinwhichthevoicecamefromthecloudsaying，”ThisismybelovedSon”[423]？Forthatvoicesoundedforthanddiedaway；itbeganandended。Thesyllablessoundedandpassedaway，thesecondafterthefirst，thethirdafterthesecond，andthenceinorder，tilltheverylastafteralltherest；andsilenceafterthelast。
Fromthisitisclearandplainthatitwastheactionofacreature，itselfintime，whichsoundedthatvoice，obeyingthyeternalwill。Andwhatthesewordswerewhichwereformedatthattimetheouterearconveyedtotheconsciousmind，whoseinnerearlayattentivelyopentothyeternalWord。Butitcomparedthosewordswhichsoundedintimewiththyeternalwordsoundinginsilenceandsaid:”Thisisdifferent；quitedifferent！Thesewordsarefarbelowme；theyarenotevenreal，fortheyflyawayandpass，buttheWordofmyGodremainsabovemeforever。”If，then，inwordsthatsoundandfadeawaythoudidstsaythatheavenandearthshouldbemade，andthus_madest_heavenandearth，thentherewasalreadysomekindofcorporealcreature_before_heavenandearthbywhosemotionsintimethatvoicemighthavehaditsoccurrenceintime。Buttherewasnothingcorporealbeforetheheavenandtheearth；oriftherewas，thenitiscertainthatalready，withoutatime-boundvoice，thouhadstcreatedwhateveritwasoutofwhichthoudidstmakethetime-boundvoicebywhichthoudidstsay，”Lettheheavenandtheearthbemade！”Forwhateveritwasoutofwhichsuchavoicewasmadesimplydidnotexistatalluntilitwasmadebythee。WasitdecreedbythyWordthatabodymightbemadefromwhichsuchwordsmightcome？
CHAPTERVII
9。Thoudostcallus，then，tounderstandtheWord——theGodwhoisGodwiththee——whichisspokeneternallyandbywhichallthingsarespokeneternally。Forwhatwasfirstspokenwasnotfinished，andthensomethingelsespokenuntilthewholeserieswasspoken；butallthings，atthesametimeandforever。
For，otherwise，weshouldhavetimeandchangeandnotatrueeternity，noratrueimmortality。
ThisIknow，OmyGod，andIgivethanks。Iknow，Iconfesstothee，OLord，andwhoeverisnotungratefulforcertaintruthsknowsandblessestheealongwithme。Weknow，OLord，thismuchweknow:thatinthesameproportionasanythingisnotwhatitwas，andiswhatitwasnot，inthatverysameproportionitpassesawayorcomestobe。ButthereisnothinginthyWordthatpassesawayorreturnstoitsplace；foritistrulyimmortalandeternal。And，therefore，untotheWordcoeternalwiththee，atthesametimeandalwaysthousayestallthatthousayest。Andwhateverthousayestshallbemadeismade，andthoumakestnothingotherwisethanbyspeaking。Still，notallthethingsthatthoudostmakebyspeakingaremadeatthesametimeandalways。
CHAPTERVIII
10。Whyisthis，Iaskofthee，OLordmyGod？Iseeitafterafashion，butIdonotknowhowtoexpressit，unlessIsaythateverythingthatbeginstobeandthenceasestobebeginsandceaseswhenitisknowninthyeternalReasonthatitoughttobeginorcease——inthyeternalReasonwherenothingbeginsorceases。AndthisisthyWord，whichisalso”theBeginning，”
becauseitalsospeakstous。[424]Thus，inthegospel，hespokethroughtheflesh；andthissoundedintheoutwardearsofmensothatitmightbebelievedandsoughtforwithin，andsothatitmightbefoundintheeternalTruth，inwhichthegoodandonlyMasterteachethallhisdisciples。[425]There，OLord，Ihearthyvoice，thevoiceofonespeakingtome，sincehewhoteachethusspeakethtous。Buthethatdothnotteachusdothnotreallyspeaktousevenwhenhespeaketh。YetwhoisitthatteachethusunlessitbetheTruthimmutable？Forevenwhenweareinstructedbymeansofthemutablecreation，wearetherebyledtotheTruthimmutable。Therewelearntrulyaswestandandhearhim，andwerejoicegreatly”becauseofthebridegroom’svoice，”[426]
restoringustothesourcewhenceourbeingcomes。Andtherefore，unlesstheBeginningremainedimmutable，therewouldthennotbeaplacetowhichwemightreturnwhenwehadwanderedaway。Butwhenwereturnfromerror，itisthroughourgainingknowledgethatwereturn。Inorderforustogainknowledgeheteachethus，sinceheistheBeginning，andspeakethtous。
CHAPTERIX
11。InthisBeginning，OGod，thouhastmadeheavenandearth——throughthyWord，thySon，thyPower，thyWisdom，thyTruth:allwondrouslyspeakingandwondrouslycreating。Whoshallcomprehendsuchthingsandwhoshalltellofit？Whatisitthatshineththroughmeandstrikethmyheartwithoutinjury，sothatI
bothshudderandburn？IshudderbecauseIamunlikeit；IburnbecauseIamlikeit。ItisWisdomitselfthatshineththroughme，clearingawaymyfog，whichsoreadilyoverwhelmsmesothatI
faintinit，inthedarknessandburdenofmypunishment。Formystrengthisbroughtdowninneediness，sothatIcannotendureevenmyblessingsuntilthou，OLord，whohastbeengracioustoallmyiniquities，alsohealestallmyinfirmities——foritisthouwho”shaltredeemmylifefromcorruption，andcrownmewithloving-kindnessandtendermercy，andshaltsatisfymydesirewithgoodthingssothatmyyouthshallberenewedliketheeagle’s。”[427]Forbythishopewearesaved，andthroughpatienceweawaitthypromises。Lethimthatisableheartheespeakingtohisinnermind。Iwillcryoutwithconfidencebecauseofthyownoracle，”Howwonderfularethyworks，OLord；
inwisdomthouhastmadethemall。”[428]AndthisWisdomistheBeginning，andinthatBeginningthouhastmadeheavenandearth。
CHAPTERX
12。Now，arenotthosestillfulloftheiroldcarnalnature[429]whoaskus:”WhatwasGoddoing_before_hemadeheavenandearth？Forifhewasidle，”theysay，”anddoingnothing，thenwhydidhenotcontinueinthatstateforever——
doingnothing，ashehadalwaysdone？IfanynewmotionhasariseninGod，andanewwilltoformacreature，whichhehadneverbeforeformed，howcanthatbeatrueeternityinwhichanactofwilloccursthatwasnottherebefore？ForthewillofGodisnotacreatedthing，butcomesbeforethecreation——andthisistruebecausenothingcouldbecreatedunlessthewilloftheCreatorcamebeforeit。ThewillofGod，therefore，pertainstohisveryEssence。YetifanythinghasarisenintheEssenceofGodthatwasnottherebefore，thenthatEssencecannottrulybecalledeternal。ButifitwastheeternalwillofGodthatthecreationshouldcometobe，why，then，isnotthecreationitselfalsofrometernity？”[430]
CHAPTERXI
13。Thosewhosaythesethingsdonotyetunderstandthee，O
WisdomofGod，OLightofsouls。Theydonotyetunderstandhowthethingsaremadethataremadebyandinthee。Theyendeavortocomprehendeternalthings，buttheirheartstillfliesaboutinthepastandfuturemotionsofcreatedthings，andisstillunstable。Whoshallholditandfixitsothatitmaycometorestforalittle；andthen，bydegrees，glimpsethegloryofthateternitywhichabidesforever；andthen，comparingeternitywiththetemporalprocessinwhichnothingabides，theymayseethattheyareincommensurable？Theywouldseethatalongtimedoesnotbecomelong，exceptfromthemanyseparateeventsthatoccurinitspassage，whichcannotbesimultaneous。IntheEternal，ontheotherhand，nothingpassesaway，butthewholeissimultaneouslypresent。Butnotemporalprocessiswhollysimultaneous。Therefore，letit[431]seethatalltimepastisforcedtomoveonbytheincomingfuture；thatallthefuturefollowsfromthepast；andthatall，pastandfuture，iscreatedandissuesoutofthatwhichisforeverpresent。Whowillholdtheheartofmanthatitmaystandstillandseehowtheeternitywhichalwaysstandsstillisitselfneitherfuturenorpastbutexpressesitselfinthetimesthatarefutureandpast？Canmyhanddothis，orcanthehandofmymouthbringaboutsodifficultathingevenbypersuasion？
CHAPTERXII
14。How，then，shallIrespondtohimwhoasks，”WhatwasGoddoing_before_hemadeheavenandearth？”Idonotanswer，asacertainoneisreportedtohavedonefacetiouslyshruggingofftheforceofthequestion。”Hewaspreparinghell，”hesaid，”forthosewhoprytoodeep。”Itisonethingtoseetheanswer；
itisanothertolaughatthequestioner——andformyselfIdonotanswerthesethingsthus。MorewillinglywouldIhaveanswered，”IdonotknowwhatIdonotknow，”thancauseonewhoaskedadeepquestiontoberidiculed——andbysuchtacticsgainpraiseforaworthlessanswer。
Rather，Isaythatthou，ourGod，arttheCreatorofeverycreature。Andifintheterm”heavenandearth”everycreatureisincluded，Imakeboldtosayfurther:”BeforeGodmadeheavenandearth，hedidnotmakeanythingatall。Forifhedid，whatdidhemakeunlessitwereacreature？”IdoindeedwishthatIknewallthatIdesiretoknowtomyprofitassurelyasIknowthatnocreaturewasmadebeforeanycreaturewasmade。
CHAPTERXIII
15。Butiftherovingthoughtofsomeoneshouldwanderovertheimagesofpasttime，andwonderthatthou，theAlmightyGod，theAll-creatingandAll-sustaining，theArchitectofheavenandearth，didstforagesunnumberedabstainfromsogreataworkbeforethoudidstactuallydoit，lethimawakeandconsiderthathewondersatillusions。Forinwhattemporalmediumcouldtheunnumberedagesthatthoudidstnotmakepassby，sincethouarttheAuthorandCreatorofalltheages？Orwhatperiodsoftimewouldthosebethatwerenotmadebythee？Orhowcouldtheyhavealreadypassedawayiftheyhadnotalreadybeen？Since，therefore，thouarttheCreatorofalltimes，iftherewasanytime_before_thoumadestheavenandearth，whyisitsaidthatthouwastabstainingfromworking？Forthoumadestthatverytimeitself，andperiodscouldnotpassby_before_thoumadestthewholetemporalprocession。Butiftherewasnotime_before_
heavenandearth，how，then，canitbeasked，”Whatwastthoudoingthen？”Fortherewasno”then”whentherewasnotime。
16。Nordostthouprecedeanygivenperiodoftimebyanotherperiodoftime。Elsethouwouldstnotprecedeallperiodsoftime。Intheeminenceofthyever-presenteternity，thouprecedestalltimespast，andextendestbeyondallfuturetimes，fortheyarestilltocome——andwhentheyhavecome，theywillbepast。But”ThouartalwaystheSelfsameandthyyearsshallhavenoend。”[432]Thyyearsneithergonorcome；butoursbothgoandcomeinorderthatallseparatemomentsmaycometopass。
Allthyyearsstandtogetherasone，sincetheyareabiding。Nordothyyearspastexcludetheyearstocomebecausethyyearsdonotpassaway。Alltheseyearsofoursshallbewiththee，whenallofthemshallhaveceasedtobe。Thyyearsarebutaday，andthydayisnotrecurrent，butalwaystoday。Thy”today”yieldsnottotomorrowanddoesnotfollowyesterday。Thy”today”iseternity。Therefore，thoudidstgeneratetheCoeternal，towhomthoudidstsay，”ThisdayIhavebegottenthee。”[433]Thoumadestalltimeandbeforealltimesthouart，andtherewasneveratimewhentherewasnotime。
CHAPTERXIV
17。Therewasnotime，therefore，whenthouhadstnotmadeanything，becausethouhadstmadetimeitself。Andtherearenotimesthatarecoeternalwiththee，becausethoudostabideforever；butiftimesshouldabide，theywouldnotbetimes。
Forwhatistime？Whocaneasilyandbrieflyexplainit？
Whocanevencomprehenditinthoughtorputtheanswerintowords？Yetisitnottruethatinconversationwerefertonothingmorefamiliarlyorknowinglythantime？Andsurelyweunderstanditwhenwespeakofit；weunderstanditalsowhenwehearanotherspeakofit。
What，then，istime？Ifnooneasksme，Iknowwhatitis。
IfIwishtoexplainittohimwhoasksme，Idonotknow。YetI
saywithconfidencethatIknowthatifnothingpassedaway，therewouldbenopasttime；andifnothingwerestillcoming，therewouldbenofuturetime；andiftherewerenothingatall，therewouldbenopresenttime。
But，then，howisitthattherearethetwotimes，pastandfuture，wheneventhepastisnownolongerandthefutureisnownotyet？Butifthepresentwerealwayspresent，anddidnotpassintopasttime，itobviouslywouldnotbetimebuteternity。If，then，timepresent——ifitbetime——comesintoexistenceonlybecauseitpassesintotimepast，howcanwesaythateventhisis，sincethecauseofitsbeingisthatitwillceasetobe？
Thus，canwenottrulysaythattime_is_onlyasittendstowardnonbeing？
CHAPTERXV
18。Andyetwespeakofalongtimeandashorttime；butneverspeakthiswayexceptoftimepastandfuture。Wecallahundredyearsago，forexample，alongtimepast。Inlikemanner，weshouldcallahundredyearshencealongtimetocome。Butwecalltendaysagoashorttimepast；andtendayshenceashorttimetocome。Butinwhatsenseissomethinglongorshortthatisnonexistent？Forthepastisnotnow，andthefutureisnotyet。Therefore，letusnotsay，”It_is_long”；instead，letussayofthepast，”It_was_long，”andofthefuture，”It_willbe_
long。”Andyet，OLord，myLight，shallnotthytruthmakemockeryofmanevenhere？Forthatlongtimepast:wasitlongwhenitwasalreadypast，orwhenitwasstillpresent？Foritmighthavebeenlongwhentherewasaperiodthatcouldbelong，butwhenitwaspast，itnolongerwas。Inthatcase，thatwhichwasnotatallcouldnotbelong。Letusnot，therefore，say，”Timepastwaslong，”forweshallnotdiscoverwhatitwasthatwaslongbecause，sinceitispast，itnolongerexists。Rather，letussaythat”time_present_waslong，becausewhenitwaspresentit_was_long。”Forthenithadnotyetpassedonsoasnottobe，andthereforeitstillwasinastatethatcouldbecalledlong。
Butafteritpassed，itceasedtobelongsimplybecauseitceasedtobe。
19。Letus，therefore，Ohumansoul，seewhetherpresenttimecanbelong，forithasbeengivenyoutofeelandmeasuretheperiodsoftime。How，then，willyouanswerme？
Isahundredyearswhenpresentalongtime？But，first，seewhetherahundredyearscanbepresentatonce。Forifthefirstyearinthecenturyiscurrent，thenitispresenttime，andtheotherninetyandninearestillfuture。Therefore，theyarenotyet。But，then，ifthesecondyeariscurrent，oneyearisalreadypast，thesecondpresent，andalltherestarefuture。
Andthus，ifwefixonanymiddleyearofthiscenturyaspresent，thosebeforeitarepast，thoseafteritarefuture。Therefore，ahundredyearscannotbepresentallatonce。
Letussee，then，whethertheyearthatisnowcurrentcanbepresent。Forifitsfirstmonthiscurrent，thentherestarefuture；ifthesecond，thefirstisalreadypast，andtheremainderarenotyet。Therefore，thecurrentyearisnotpresentallatonce。Andifitisnotpresentasawhole，thentheyearisnotpresent。Forittakestwelvemonthstomaketheyear，fromwhicheachindividualmonthwhichiscurrentisitselfpresentoneatatime，buttherestareeitherpastorfuture。
20。Thusitcomesoutthattimepresent，whichwefoundwastheonlytimethatcouldbecalled”long，”hasbeencutdowntothespaceofscarcelyasingleday。Butletusexamineeventhat，foronedayisneverpresentasawhole。Foritismadeupoftwenty-fourhours，dividedbetweennightandday。Thefirstofthesehourshastherestofthemasfuture，andthelastofthemhastherestaspast；butanyofthosebetweenhasthosethatprecededitaspastandthosethatsucceeditasfuture。Andthatonehouritselfpassesawayinfleetingfractions。Thepartofitthathasfledispast；whatremainsisstillfuture。Ifanyfractionoftimebeconceivedthatcannotnowbedividedevenintothemostminutemomentarypoint，thisaloneiswhatwemaycalltimepresent。Butthisfliessorapidlyfromfuturetopastthatitcannotbeextendedbyanydelay。Forifitisextended，itisthendividedintopastandfuture。Butthepresenthasnoextension[434]whatever。
Where，therefore，isthattimewhichwemaycall”long”？Isitfuture？Actuallywedonotsayofthefuture，”Itislong，”
forithasnotyetcometobe，soastobelong。Instead，wesay，”Itwillbelong。”_When_willitbe？Forsinceitisfuture，itwillnotbelong，forwhatmaybelongisnotyet。Itwillbelongonlywhenitpassesfromthefuturewhichisnotasyet，andwillhavebeguntobepresent，sothattherecanbesomethingthatmaybelong。Butinthatcase，timepresentcriesaloud，inthewordswehavealreadyheard，thatitcannotbe”long。”
CHAPTERXVI
21。Andyet，OLord，wedoperceiveintervalsoftime，andwecomparethemwitheachother，andwesaythatsomearelongerandothersareshorter。Weevenmeasurehowmuchlongerorshorterthistimemaybethanthattime。Andwesaythatthistimeistwiceaslong，orthreetimesaslong，whilethisothertimeisonlyjustaslongasthatother。Butwemeasurethepassageoftimewhenwemeasuretheintervalsofperception。Butwhocanmeasuretimespastwhichnowarenolonger，ortimesfuturewhicharenotyet——unlessperhapssomeonewilldaretosaythatwhatdoesnotexistcanbemeasured？Therefore，whiletimeispassing，itcanbeperceivedandmeasured；butwhenitispast，itcannot，sinceitisnot。
CHAPTERXVII
22。Iamseekingthetruth，OFather；Iamnotaffirmingit。
OmyGod，directandruleme。
Whoistherewhowilltellmethattherearenotthreetimes——aswelearnedwhenboysandaswehavealsotaughtboys——timepast，timepresent，andtimefuture？Whocansaythatthereisonlytimepresentbecausetheothertwodonotexist？Ordotheyalsoexist；butwhen，fromthefuture，timebecomespresent，itproceedsfromsomesecretplace；andwhen，fromtimespresent，itbecomespast，itrecedesintosomesecretplace？Forwherehavethosemenwhohaveforetoldthefutureseenthethingsforetold，ifthentheywerenotyetexisting？Forwhatdoesnotexistcannotbeseen。Andthosewhotellofthingspastcouldnotspeakofthemasiftheyweretrue，iftheydidnotseethemintheirminds。Thesethingscouldinnowaybediscernediftheydidnotexist。Therearethereforetimespresentandtimespast。
CHAPTERXVIII
23。Givemeleave，OLord，toseekstillfurther。OmyHope，letnotmypurposebeconfounded。Foriftherearetimespastandfuture，Iwishtoknowwheretheyare。ButifIhavenotyetsucceededinthis，Istillknowthatwherevertheyare，theyarenotthereasfutureorpast，butaspresent。Foriftheyarethereasfuture，theyarethereas”notyet”；iftheyarethereaspast，theyarethereas”nolonger。”Wherevertheyareandwhatevertheyaretheyexistthereforeonlyaspresent。Althoughwetellofpastthingsastrue，theyaredrawnoutofthememory——notthethingsthemselves，whichhavealreadypassed，butwordsconstructedfromtheimagesoftheperceptionswhichwereformedinthemind，likefootprintsintheirpassagethroughthesenses。
Mychildhood，forinstance，whichisnolonger，stillexistsintimepast，whichdoesnotnowexist。ButwhenIcalltominditsimageandspeakofit，Iseeitinthepresentbecauseitisstillinmymemory。Whetherthereisasimilarexplanationfortheforetellingoffutureevents——thatis，oftheimagesofthingswhicharenotyetseenasiftheywerealreadyexisting——I
confess，OmyGod，Idonotknow。ButthisIcertainlydoknow:
thatwegenerallythinkaheadaboutourfutureactions，andthispremeditationisintimepresent；butthattheactionwhichwepremeditateisnotyet，becauseitisstillfuture。Whenweshallhavestartedtheactionandhavebeguntodowhatwewerepremeditating，thenthatactionwillbeintimepresent，becausethenitisnolongerintimefuture。
24。Whatevermaybethemannerofthissecretforeseeingoffuturethings，nothingcanbeseenexceptwhatexists。Butwhatexistsnowisnotfuture，butpresent。When，therefore，theysaythatfutureeventsareseen，itisnottheeventsthemselves，fortheydonotexistasyetthatis，theyarestillintimefuture，butperhaps，instead，theircausesandtheirsignsareseen，whichalreadydoexist。Therefore，tothosealreadybeholdingthesecausesandsigns，theyarenotfuture，butpresent，andfromthemfuturethingsarepredictedbecausetheyareconceivedinthemind。Theseconceptions，however，exist_now_，andthosewhopredictthosethingsseetheseconceptionsbeforethemintimepresent。
Letmetakeanexamplefromthevastmultitudeandvarietyofsuchthings。Iseethedawn；Ipredictthatthesunisabouttorise。WhatIseeisintimepresent，whatIpredictisintimefuture——notthatthesunisfuture，foritalreadyexists；butitsrisingisfuture，becauseitisnotyet。YetIcouldnotpredictevenitsrising，unlessIhadanimageofitinmymind；
as，indeed，IdoevennowasIspeak。ButthatdawnwhichIseeintheskyisnottherisingofthesunthoughitdoesprecedeit，norisitaconceptioninmymind。Thesetwo[435]areseenintimepresent，inorderthattheeventwhichisintimefuturemaybepredicted。
Futureevents，therefore，arenotyet。Andiftheyarenotyet，theydonotexist。Andiftheydonotexist，theycannotbeseenatall，buttheycanbepredictedfromthingspresent，whichnowareandareseen。
CHAPTERXIX
25。Now，therefore，ORulerofthycreatures，whatisthemodebywhichthouteachestsoulsthosethingswhicharestillfuture？Forthouhasttaughtthyprophets。Howdostthou，towhomnothingisfuture，teachfuturethings——orratherteachthingspresentfromthesignsofthingsfuture？Forwhatdoesnotexistcertainlycannotbetaught。Thiswayofthineistoofarfrommysight；itistoogreatforme，Icannotattaintoit。[436]
ButIshallbeenabledbythee，whenthouwiltgrantit，OsweetLightofmysecreteyes。
CHAPTERXX
26。Butevennowitismanifestandclearthatthereareneithertimesfuturenortimespast。Thusitisnotproperlysaidthattherearethreetimes，past，present，andfuture。Perhapsitmightbesaidrightlythattherearethreetimes:atimepresentofthingspast；atimepresentofthingspresent；andatimepresentofthingsfuture。Forthesethreedocoexistsomehowinthesoul，forotherwiseIcouldnotseethem。Thetimepresentofthingspastismemory；thetimepresentofthingspresentisdirectexperience；thetimepresentofthingsfutureisexpectation。[437]Ifweareallowedtospeakofthesethingsso，Iseethreetimes，andIgrantthattherearethree。Letitstillbesaid，then，asourmisappliedcustomhasit:”Therearethreetimes，past，present，andfuture。”Ishallnotbetroubledbyit，norargue，norobject——alwaysprovidedthatwhatissaidisunderstood，sothatneitherthefuturenorthepastissaidtoexistnow。Therearebutfewthingsaboutwhichwespeakproperly——andmanymoreaboutwhichwespeakimproperly——thoughweunderstandoneanother’smeaning。
CHAPTERXXI
27。Ihavesaid，then，thatwemeasureperiodsoftimeastheypasssothatwecansaythatthistimeistwiceaslongasthatoneorthatthisisjustaslongasthat，andsoonfortheotherfractionsoftimewhichwecancountbymeasuring。
So，then，asIwassaying，wemeasureperiodsoftimeastheypass。Andifanyoneasksme，”Howdoyouknowthis？”，Icananswer:”Iknowbecausewemeasure。Wecouldnotmeasurethingsthatdonotexist，andthingspastandfuturedonotexist。”Buthowdowemeasurepresenttimesinceithasnoextension？Itismeasuredwhileitpasses，butwhenithaspasseditisnotmeasured；forthenthereisnothingthatcouldbemeasured。Butwhence，andhow，andwhitherdoesitpasswhileitisbeingmeasured？Whence，butfromthefuture？Whichway，savethroughthepresent？Whither，butintothepast？Therefore，fromwhatisnotyet，throughwhathasnolength，itpassesintowhatisnownolonger。Butwhatdowemeasure，unlessitisatimeofsomelength？Forwecannotspeakofsingle，anddouble，andtriple，andequal，andalltheotherwaysinwhichwespeakoftime，exceptintermsofthelengthoftheperiodsoftime。Butinwhat”length，”then，dowemeasurepassingtime？Isitinthefuture，fromwhichitpassesover？Butwhatdoesnotyetexistcannotbemeasured。Or，isitinthepresent，throughwhichitpasses？Butwhathasnolengthwecannotmeasure。Orisitinthepastintowhichitpasses？Butwhatisnolongerwecannotmeasure。
CHAPTERXXII
28。Mysoulburnsardentlytounderstandthismostintricateenigma。OLordmyGod，OgoodFather，IbeseechtheethroughChrist，donotcloseoffthesethings，boththefamiliarandtheobscure，frommydesire。Donotbaritfromenteringintothem；
butlettheirlightdawnbythyenlighteningmercy，OLord。OfwhomshallIinquireaboutthesethings？AndtowhomshallI
confessmyignoranceofthemwithgreaterprofitthantothee，towhomthesestudiesofmineardentlylongingtounderstandthyScripturesarenotabore？GivemewhatIlove，forIdoloveit；andthisthouhastgivenme。OFather，whotrulyknowesthowtogivegoodgiftstothychildren，givethistome。Grantit，sinceIhaveundertakentounderstandit，andhardlaborismylotuntilthouopenestit。Ibeseechthee，throughChristandinhisname，theHolyofHolies，letnomaninterruptme。”ForIhavebelieved，andthereforedoIspeak。”[438]Thisismyhope；forthisIlive:thatImaycontemplatethejoysofmyLord。[439]
Behold，thouhastmademydaysgrowold，andtheypassaway——andhowIdonotknow。
Wespeakofthistimeandthattime，andthesetimesandthosetimes:”Howlongagosincehesaidthis？””Howlongagosincehedidthis？””HowlongagosinceIsawthat？””Thissyllableistwiceaslongasthatsingleshortsyllable。”Thesewordswesayandhear，andweareunderstoodandweunderstand。
Theyarequitecommonplaceandordinary，andstillthemeaningoftheseverysamethingsliesdeeplyhidanditsdiscoveryisstilltocome。
CHAPTERXXIII
29。Ionceheardalearnedmansaythatthemotionsofthesun，moon，andstarsconstitutedtime；andIdidnotagree。Forwhyshouldnotthemotionsofallbodiesconstitutetime？Whatifthelightsofheavenshouldcease，andapotter’swheelstillturnround:wouldtherebenotimebywhichwemightmeasurethoserotationsandsayeitherthatitturnedatequalintervals，or，ifitmovednowmoreslowlyandnowmorequickly，thatsomerotationswerelongerandothersshorter？Andwhileweweresayingthis，wouldwenotalsobespeakingintime？Orwouldtherenotbeinourwordssomesyllablesthatwerelongandothersshort，becausethefirsttookalongertimetosound，andtheothersashortertime？OGod，grantmentoseeinasmallthingthenotionsthatarecommon[440]toallthings，bothgreatandsmall。Boththestarsandthelightsofheavenare”forsignsandseasons，andfordaysandyears。”[441]Thisisdoubtlessthecase，butjustasI
shouldnotsaythatthecircuitofthatwoodenwheelwasaday，neitherwouldthatlearnedmansaythattherewas，therefore，notime。
30。Ithirsttoknowthepowerandthenatureoftime，bywhichwemeasurethemotionsofbodies，andsay，forexample，thatthismotionistwiceaslongasthat。ForIask，sincetheword”day”refersnotonlytothelengthoftimethatthesunisabovetheearthwhichseparatesdayfromnight，butalsoreferstothesun’sentirecircuitfromeastallthewayaroundtoeast——onaccountofwhichwecansay，”Somanydayshavepassed”thenightsbeingincludedwhenwesay，”Somanydays，”andtheirlengthsnotcountedseparately——since，then，thedayisendedbythemotionofthesunandbyhispassagefromeasttoeast，I
askwhetherthemotionitselfistheday，orwhetherthedayistheperiodinwhichthatmotioniscompleted；orboth？Forifthesun’spassageistheday，thentherewouldbeadayevenifthesunshouldfinishhiscourseinasshortaperiodasanhour。Ifthemotionitselfistheday，thenitwouldnotbeadayiffromonesunrisetoanothertherewereaperiodnolongerthananhour。
Butthesunwouldhavetogoroundtwenty-fourtimestomakejustoneday。Ifitisboth，thenthatcouldnotbecalledadayifthesunranhisentirecourseintheperiodofanhour；norwoulditbeadayif，whilethesunstoodstill，asmuchtimepassedasthesunusuallycoveredduringhiswholecourse，frommorningtomorning。Ishall，therefore，notaskanymorewhatitisthatiscalledaday，butratherwhattimeis，foritisbytimethatwemeasurethecircuitofthesun，andwouldbeabletosaythatitwasfinishedinhalftheperiodoftimethatitcustomarilytakesifitwerecompletedinaperiodofonlytwelvehours。If，then，wecomparetheseperiods，wecouldcalloneofthemasingleandtheotheradoubleperiod，asifthesunmightrunhiscoursefromeasttoeastsometimesinasingleperiodandsometimesinadoubleperiod。
Letnomantellme，therefore，thatthemotionsoftheheavenlybodiesconstitutetime。Forwhenthesunstoodstillattheprayerofacertainmaninorderthathemightgainhisvictoryinbattle，thesunstoodstillbuttimewenton。Forinaslongaspanoftimeaswassufficientthebattlewasfoughtandended。[442]
Isee，then，thattimeisacertainkindofextension。ButdoIseeit，ordoIonlyseemto？Thou，OLightandTruth，wiltshowme。
CHAPTERXXIV
31。DostthoucommandthatIshouldagreeifanyonesaysthattimeis”themotionofabody”？Thoudostnotsocommand。
ForIhearthatnobodyismovedbutintime；thisthoutellestme。ButthatthemotionofabodyitselfistimeIdonothear；
thoudostnotsayso。Forwhenabodyismoved，Imeasurebytimehowlongitwasmovingfromthetimewhenitbegantobemoveduntilitstopped。AndifIdidnotseewhenitbegantobemoved，andifitcontinuedtomovesothatIcouldnotseewhenitstopped，Icouldnotmeasurethemovement，exceptfromthetimewhenIbegantoseeituntilIstopped。ButifIlookatitforalongtime，Icanaffirmonlythatthetimeislongbutnothowlongitmaybe。Thisisbecausewhenwesay，”Howlong？”，wearespeakingcomparativelyas:”Thisisaslongasthat，”or，”Thisistwiceaslongasthat”；orothersuchsimilarratios。Butifwewereabletoobservethepointinspacewhereandfromwhichthebody，whichismoved，comesandthepointtowhichitismoved；orifwecanobserveitspartsmovingasinawheel，wecansayhowlongthemovementofthebodytookorthemovementofitspartsfromthisplacetothat。Since，therefore，themotionofabodyisonething，andthenormbywhichwemeasurehowlongittakesisanotherthing，wecannotseewhichofthesetwoistobecalledtime。For，althoughabodyissometimesmovedandsometimesstandsstill，wemeasurenotonlyitsmotionbutalsoitsrestaswell；andbothbytime！Thuswesay，”Itstoodstillaslongasitmoved，”or，”Itstoodstilltwiceorthreetimesaslongasitmoved”——oranyotherratiowhichourmeasuringhaseitherdeterminedorimagined，eitherroughlyorprecisely，accordingtoourcustom。Therefore，timeisnotthemotionofabody。
CHAPTERXXV
32。AndIconfesstothee，OLord，thatIamstillignorantastowhattimeis。AndagainIconfesstothee，OLord，thatI
knowthatIamspeakingallthesethingsintime，andthatIhavealreadyspokenoftimealongtime，andthat”verylong”isnotlongexceptwhenmeasuredbythedurationoftime。How，then，doIknowthis，whenIdonotknowwhattimeis？Or，isitpossiblethatIdonotknowhowIcanexpresswhatIdoknow？Alasforme！
Idonotevenknowtheextentofmyownignorance。Behold，OmyGod，inthypresenceIdonotlie。Asmyheartis，soIspeak。
Thoushaltlightmycandle；thou，OLordmyGod，wiltenlightenmydarkness。[443]
CHAPTERXXVI
33。DoesnotmysoulmosttrulyconfesstotheethatIdomeasureintervalsoftime？ButwhatisitthatIthusmeasure，O
myGod，andhowisitthatIdonotknowwhatImeasure？I
measurethemotionofabodybytime，butthetimeitselfIdonotmeasure。But，truly，couldImeasurethemotionofabody——howlongittakes，howlongitisinmotionfromthisplacetothat——
unlessIcouldmeasurethetimeinwhichitismoving？
How，then，doImeasurethistimeitself？Dowemeasurealongertimebyashortertime，aswemeasurethelengthofacrossbeamintermsofcubits？[444]Thus，wecansaythatthelengthofalongsyllableismeasuredbythelengthofashortsyllableandthussaythatthelongsyllableisdouble。Soalsowemeasurethelengthofpoemsbythelengthofthelines，andthelengthofthelinebythelengthofthefeet，andthelengthofthefeetbythelengthofthesyllable，andthelengthofthelongsyllablesbythelengthoftheshortones。Wedonotmeasurebypages——forinthatwaywewouldmeasurespaceratherthantime——butwhenwespeakthewordsastheypassbywesay:”Itisalongstanza，becauseitismadeupofsomanyverses；theyarelongversesbecausetheyconsistofsomanyfeet；theyarelongfeetbecausetheyextendoversomanysyllables；thisisalongsyllablebecauseitistwicethelengthofashortone。”
Butnocertainmeasureoftimeisobtainedthisway；sinceitispossiblethatifashorterverseispronouncedslowly，itmaytakeupmoretimethanalongeroneifitispronouncedhurriedly。
Thesamewouldholdforastanza，orafoot，orasyllable。Fromthisitappearstomethattimeisnothingotherthanextendedness；[445]butextendednessofwhatIdonotknow。Thisisamarveltome。Theextendednessmaybeoftheminditself。
ForwhatisitImeasure，Iaskthee，OmyGod，whenIsayeither，roughly，”Thistimeislongerthanthat，”or，moreprecisely，”Thisis_twice_aslongasthat。”IknowthatIammeasuringtime。ButIamnotmeasuringthefuture，foritisnotyet；andI
amnotmeasuringthepresentbecauseitisextendedbynolength；
andIamnotmeasuringthepastbecauseitnolongeris。Whatisit，therefore，thatIammeasuring？Isittimeinitspassage，butnottimepast[praetereuntiatempora，nonpraeterita]？ThisiswhatIhavebeensaying。
CHAPTERXXVII
34。Presson，Omymind，andattendwithallyourpower。
GodisourHelper:”itishethathathmadeusandnotweourselves。”[446]Giveheedwherethetruthbeginstodawn。[447]
Supposenowthatabodilyvoicebeginstosound，andcontinuestosound——onandon——andthenceases。Nowthereissilence。Thevoiceispast，andthereisnolongerasound。Itwasfuturebeforeitsounded，andcouldnotbemeasuredbecauseitwasnotyet；andnowitcannotbemeasuredbecauseitisnolonger。
Therefore，whileitwassounding，itmighthavebeenmeasuredbecausethentherewassomethingthatcouldbemeasured。Buteventhenitdidnotstandstill，foritwasinmotionandwaspassingaway。Couldit，onthataccount，beanymorereadilymeasured？
Forwhileitwaspassingaway，itwasbeingextendedintosomeintervaloftimeinwhichitmightbemeasured，sincethepresenthasnolength。Supposing，though，thatitmighthavebeenmeasured——thenalsosupposethatanothervoicehadbeguntosoundandisstillsoundingwithoutanyinterruptiontobreakitscontinuedflow。Wecanmeasureitonlywhileitissounding，forwhenithasceasedtosounditwillbealreadypastandtherewillnotbeanythingtherethatcanbemeasured。Letusmeasureitexactly；andletussayhowmuchitis。Butwhileitissounding，itcannotbemeasuredexceptfromtheinstantwhenitbegantosound，downtothefinalmomentwhenitleftoff。Forwemeasurethetimeintervalitselffromsomebeginningpointtosomeend。
Thisiswhyavoicethathasnotyetendedcannotbemeasured，sothatonecouldsayhowlongorhowbrieflyitwillcontinue。Norcanitbesaidtobeequaltoanothervoiceorsingleordoubleincomparisontoitoranythinglikethis。Butwhenitisended，itisnolonger。How，therefore，mayitbemeasured？Andyetwemeasuretimes；notthosewhicharenotyet，northosewhichnolongerare，northosewhicharestretchedoutbysomedelay，northosewhichhavenolimit。Therefore，wemeasureneithertimesfuturenortimespast，nortimespresent，nortimespassingby；
andyetwedomeasuretimes。
35。DeusCreatoromnium[448]:thisverseofeightsyllablesalternatesbetweenshortandlongsyllables。Thefourshortones——thatis，thefirst，third，fifth，andseventh——aresingleinrelationtothefourlongones——thatis，thesecond，fourth，sixth，andeighth。Eachofthelongonesisdoublethelengthofeachoftheshortones。Iaffirmthisandreportit，andcommonsenseperceivesthatthisindeedisthecase。Bycommonsense，then，Imeasurealongsyllablebyashortone，andIfindthatitistwiceaslong。Butwhenonesoundsafteranother，ifthefirstbeshortandthelatterlong，howcanIholdtheshortoneandhowcanIapplyittothelongoneasameasure，sothatIcandiscoverthatthelongoneistwiceaslong，when，infact，thelongonedoesnotbegintosounduntiltheshortoneleavesoffsounding？ThatsamelongsyllableIdonotmeasureaspresent，sinceIcannotmeasureituntilitisended；butitsendingisitspassingaway。
Whatisit，then，thatIcanmeasure？WhereistheshortsyllablebywhichImeasure？WhereisthelongonethatIammeasuring？Bothhavesounded，haveflownaway，havepassedon，andarenolonger。AndstillImeasure，andIconfidentlyanswer——asfarasatrainedearcanbetrusted——thatthissyllableissingleandthatsyllabledouble。AndIcouldnotdothisunlesstheybothhadpassedandwereended。ThereforeIdonotmeasurethem，fortheydonotexistanymore。ButImeasuresomethinginmymemorywhichremainsfixed。
36。Itisinyou，Omindofmine，thatImeasuretheperiodsoftime。Donotshoutmedownthatitexists[objectively]；donotoverwhelmyourselfwiththeturbulentfloodofyourimpressions。Inyou，asIhavesaid，Imeasuretheperiodsoftime。Imeasureastimepresenttheimpressionthatthingsmakeonyouastheypassbyandwhatremainsaftertheyhavepassedby——Idonotmeasurethethingsthemselveswhichhavepassedbyandlefttheirimpressiononyou。ThisiswhatImeasurewhenI
measureperiodsoftime。Either，then，thesearetheperiodsoftimeorelseIdonotmeasuretimeatall。
Whatarewedoingwhenwemeasuresilence，andsaythatthissilencehaslastedaslongasthatvoicelasts？Dowenotprojectourthoughttothemeasureofasound，asifitwerethensounding，sothatwecansaysomethingconcerningtheintervalsofsilenceinagivenspanoftime？For，evenwhenboththevoiceandthetonguearestill，wereview——inthought——poemsandverses，anddiscourseofvariouskindsorvariousmeasuresofmotions，andwespecifytheirtimespans——howlongthisisinrelationtothat——justasifwewerespeakingthemaloud。Ifanyonewishestoutteraprolongedsound，andif，inforethought，hehasdecidedhowlongitshouldbe，thatmanhasalreadyinsilencegonethroughaspanoftime，andcommittedhissoundtomemory。Thushebeginstospeakandhisvoicesoundsuntilitreachesthepredeterminedend。Ithastrulysoundedandwillgoonsounding。Butwhatisalreadyfinishedhasalreadysoundedandwhatremainswillstillsound。Thusitpasseson，untilthepresentintentioncarriesthefutureoverintothepast。Thepastincreasesbythediminutionofthefutureuntilbytheconsumptionofallthefutureallispast。[449]
CHAPTERXXVIII
37。Buthowisthefuturediminishedorconsumedwhenitdoesnotyetexist？Orhowdoesthepast，whichexistsnolonger，increase，unlessitisthatinthemindinwhichallthishappenstherearethreefunctions？Forthemindexpects，itattends，anditremembers；sothatwhatitexpectspassesintowhatitremembersbywayofwhatitattendsto。Whodeniesthatfuturethingsdonotexistasyet？Butstillthereisalreadyinthemindtheexpectationofthingsstillfuture。Andwhodeniesthatpastthingsnowexistnolonger？Stillthereisinthemindthememoryofthingspast。Whodeniesthattimepresenthasnolength，sinceitpassesawayinamoment？Yet，ourattentionhasacontinuityanditisthroughthisthatwhatispresentmayproceedtobecomeabsent。Therefore，futuretime，whichisnonexistent，isnotlong；but”alongfuture”is”alongexpectationofthefuture。”Noristimepast，whichisnownolonger，long；a”longpast”is”alongmemoryofthepast。”
38。IamabouttorepeatapsalmthatIknow。BeforeI
begin，myattentionencompassesthewhole，butonceIhavebegun，asmuchofitasbecomespastwhileIspeakisstillstretchedoutinmymemory。Thespanofmyactionisdividedbetweenmymemory，whichcontainswhatIhaverepeated，andmyexpectation，whichcontainswhatIamabouttorepeat。Yetmyattentioniscontinuallypresentwithme，andthroughitwhatwasfutureiscarriedoversothatitbecomespast。Themorethisisdoneandrepeated，themorethememoryisenlarged——andexpectationisshortened——untilthewholeexpectationisexhausted。Thenthewholeactionisendedandpassedintomemory。Andwhattakesplaceintheentirepsalmtakesplacealsoineachindividualpartofitandineachindividualsyllable。Thisalsoholdsintheevenlongeractionofwhichthatpsalmisonlyaportion。Thesameholdsinthewholelifeofman，ofwhichalltheactionsofmenareparts。Thesameholdsinthewholeageofthesonsofmen，ofwhichallthelivesofmenareparts。
CHAPTERXXIX
39。But”sincethyloving-kindnessisbetterthanlifeitself，”[450]observehowmylifeisbutastretchingout，andhowthyrighthandhasupheldmeinmyLord，theSonofMan，theMediatorbetweenthee，theOne，andus，themany——insomanywaysandbysomanymeans。ThusthroughhimImaylayholduponhiminwhomIamalsolaidholdupon；andImaybegatheredupfrommyoldwayoflifetofollowthatOneandtoforgetthatwhichisbehind，nolongerstretchedoutbutnowpulledtogetheragain——stretchingforthnottowhatshallbeandshallpassawaybuttothosethingsthat_are_beforeme。Notdistractedlynow，butintently，Ifollowonfortheprizeofmyheavenlycalling，[451]whereImayhearthesoundofthypraiseandcontemplatethydelights，whichneithercometobenorpassaway。
Butnowmyyearsarespentinmourning。[452]Andthou，O
Lord，artmycomfort，myeternalFather。ButIhavebeentornbetweenthetimes，theorderofwhichIdonotknow，andmythoughts，eventheinmostanddeepestplacesofmysoul，aremangledbyvariouscommotionsuntilIshallflowtogetherintothee，purgedandmolteninthefireofthylove。
CHAPTERXXX
40。AndIwillbeimmovableandfixedinthee，andthytruthwillbemymold。AndIshallnothavetoendurethequestionsofthosemenwho，asifinamorbiddisease，thirstformorethantheycanholdandsay，”WhatdidGodmakebeforehemadeheavenandearth？”or，”Howdiditcomeintohismindtomakesomethingwhenhehadneverbeforemadeanything？”Grantthem，OLord，toconsiderwellwhattheyaresaying；andgrantthemtoseethatwherethereisnotimetheycannotsay”never。”When，therefore，heissaid”nevertohavemade”something——whatisthisbuttosaythatitwasmadeinnotimeatall？Letthemthereforeseethattherecouldbenotimewithoutacreatedworld，andletthemceasetospeakvanityofthiskind。Letthemalsobestretchedouttothosethingswhicharebeforethem，andunderstandthatthou，theeternalCreatorofalltimes，artbeforealltimesandthatnotimesarecoeternalwiththee；norisanycreature，evenifthereisacreature”abovetime。”
CHAPTERXXXI
41。OLordmyGod，whatachasmthereisinthydeepsecret！
Howfarshortofithavetheconsequencesofmysinscastme？
Healmyeyes，thatImayenjoythylight。Surely，ifthereisamindthatsogreatlyaboundsinknowledgeandforeknowledge，towhichallthingspastandfutureareaswellknownasonepsalmiswellknowntome，thatmindwouldbeanexceedingmarvelandaltogetherastonishing。ForwhateverispastandwhateverisyettocomewouldbenomoreconcealedfromhimthanthepastandfutureofthatpsalmwerehiddenfrommewhenIwaschantingit:
howmuchofithadbeensungfromthebeginningandwhatandhowmuchstillremainedtilltheend。Butfarbeitfromthee，O
Creatoroftheuniverse，andCreatorofoursoulsandbodies——
farbeitfromtheethatthoushouldstmerelyknowallthingspastandfuture。Far，farmorewonderfully，andfarmoremysteriouslythouknowestthem。Foritisnotasthefeelingsofonesingingfamiliarsongs，orhearingafamiliarsonginwhich，becauseofhisexpectationofwordsstilltocomeandhisremembranceofthosethatarepast，hisfeelingsarevariedandhissensesaredivided。Thisisnotthewaythatanythinghappenstothee，whoartunchangeablyeternal，thatis，thetrulyeternalCreatorofminds。Asinthebeginningthouknewestboththeheavenandtheearthwithoutanychangeinthyknowledge，sothoudidstmakeheavenandearthintheirbeginningswithoutanydivisioninthyaction。[453]Lethimwhounderstandsthisconfesstothee；andlethimwhodoesnotunderstandalsoconfesstothee！Oh，exaltedasthouart，stillthehumbleinheartarethydwellingplace！
ForthouliftestthemwhoarecastdownandtheyfallnotforwhomthouarttheMostHigh。[454]
BOOKTWELVE
ThemodeofcreationandthetruthofScripture。Augustineexplorestherelationofthevisibleandformedmatterofheavenandearthtothepriormatrixfromwhichitwasformed。Thisleadstoanintricateanalysisof”unformedmatter”andtheprimal”possibility”fromwhichGodcreated，itselfcreateddenihilo。
HefindsareferencetothisinthemisconstruedScripturalphrase”theheavenofheavens。”RealizingthathisinterpretationofGen。
1:1，2，isnotself-evidentlytheonlypossibility，Augustineturnstoanelaboratediscussionofthemultiplicityofperspectivesinhermeneuticsand，inthecourseofthis，reviewsthevariouspossibilitiesoftrueinterpretationofhisScripturetext。Heemphasizestheimportanceoftolerancewheretherearepluraloptions，andconfidencewherebasicChristianfaithisconcerned。
CHAPTERI
1。Myheartisdeeplystirred，OLord，wheninthispoorlifeofminethewordsofthyHolyScripturestrikeuponit。Thisiswhythepovertyofthehumanintellectexpressesitselfinanabundanceoflanguage。Inquiryismoreloquaciousthandiscovery。
Demandingtakeslongerthanobtaining；andthehandthatknocksismoreactivethanthehandthatreceives。Butwehavethepromise，andwhoshallbreakit？”IfGodbeforus，whocanbeagainstus？”[455]”Ask，andyoushallreceive；seek，andyoushallfind；
knock，anditshallbeopeneduntoyou；foreveryonethatasksreceives，andhewhoseeksfinds，andtohimthatknocks，itshallbeopened。”[456]Thesearethyownpromises，andwhoneedfeartobedeceivedwhentruthpromises？
CHAPTERII
2。Inlowlinessmytongueconfessestothyexaltation，forthoumadestheavenandearth。ThisheavenwhichIsee，andthisearthonwhichIwalk——fromwhichcamethis”earth”thatIcarryaboutme——thoudidstmake。
Butwhereisthatheavenofheavens，OLord，ofwhichwehearinthewordsofthepsalm，”TheheavenofheavensistheLord’s，buttheearthhehathgiventothechildrenofmen”？[457]Whereistheheaventhatwecannotsee，inrelationtowhichallthatwecanseeisearth？Forthiswholecorporealcreationhasbeenbeautifullyformed——thoughnoteverywhereinitsentirety——andourearthisthelowestoftheselevels。Still，comparedwiththatheavenofheavens，eventheheavenofourownearthisonlyearth。Indeed，itisnotabsurdtocalleachofthosetwogreatbodies[458]”earth”incomparisonwiththatineffableheavenwhichistheLord’s，andnotforthesonsofmen。
CHAPTERIII
3。Andtrulythisearthwasinvisibleandunformed，[459]andtherewasaninexpressiblyprofoundabyss[460]abovewhichtherewasnolightsinceithadnoform。Thoudidstcommanditwrittenthat”darknesswasonthefaceofthedeep。”[461]Whatelseisdarknessexcepttheabsenceoflight？Foriftherehadbeenlight，wherewouldithavebeenexceptbybeingoverall，showingitselfrisingaloftandgivinglight？Therefore，wheretherewasnolightasyet，whywasitthatdarknesswaspresent，unlessitwasthatlightwasabsent？Darkness，then，washeavyuponit，becausethelightfromabovewasabsent；justasthereissilencewherethereisnosound。Andwhatisittohavesilenceanywherebutsimplynottohavesound？Hastthounot，OLord，taughtthissoulwhichconfessestothee？Hastthounotthustaughtme，O
Lord，thatbeforethoudidstformandseparatethisformlessmattertherewas_nothing_:neithercolor，norfigure，norbody，norspirit？Yetitwasnotabsolutelynothing；itwasacertainformlessnesswithoutanyshape。
CHAPTERIV
4。What，then，shouldthatformlessnessbecalledsothatsomehowitmightbeindicatedtothoseofsluggishmind，unlessweusesomewordincommonspeech？Butwhatcanbefoundanywhereintheworldnearertoatotalformlessnessthantheearthandtheabyss？Becauseoftheirbeingonthelowestlevel，theyarelessbeautifulthanaretheotherandhigherparts，alltranslucentandshining。Therefore，whymayInotconsidertheformlessnessofmatter——whichthoudidstcreatewithoutshapelyform，fromwhichtomakethisshapelyworld——asfittinglyindicatedtomenbythephrase，”Theearthinvisibleandunformed”？
CHAPTERV
5。Whenourthoughtseekssomethingforoursensetofastento[inthisconceptofunformedmatter]，andwhenitsaystoitself，”Itisnotanintelligibleform，suchaslifeorjustice，sinceitisthematerialforbodies；anditisnotaformerperception，forthereisnothingintheinvisibleandunformedwhichcanbeseenandfelt”——whilehumanthoughtsayssuchthingstoitself，itmaybeattemptingeithertoknowbybeingignorantorbyknowinghownottoknow。
CHAPTERVI
6。Butif，OLord，Iamtoconfesstothee，bymymouthandmypen，thewholeofwhatthouhasttaughtmeconcerningthisunformedmatter，ImustsayfirstofallthatwhenIfirstheardofsuchmatteranddidnotunderstandit——andthosewhotoldmeofitcouldnotunderstanditeither——Iconceivedofitashavingcountlessandvariedforms。Thus，Ididnotthinkaboutitrightly。Mymindinitsagitationusedtoturnupallsortsoffoulandhorrible”forms”；butstilltheywere”forms。”AndstillIcalleditformless，notbecauseitwasunformed，butbecauseithadwhatseemedtomeakindofformthatmymindturnedawayfrom，asbizarreandincongruous，beforewhichmyhumanweaknesswasconfused。AndevenwhatIdidconceiveofasunformedwasso，notbecauseitwasdeprivedofallform，butonlyasitcomparedwithmorebeautifulforms。Rightreason，then，persuadedmethatIoughttoremovealtogetherallvestigesofformwhateverifI
wishedtoconceivematterthatwaswhollyunformed；andthisI
couldnotdo。ForIcouldmorereadilyimaginethatwhatwasdeprivedofallformsimplydidnotexistthanIcouldconceiveofanythingbetweenformandnothing——somethingwhichwasneitherformednornothing，somethingthatwasunformedandnearlynothing。
Thusmymindceasedtoquestionmyspirit——filledasitwaswiththeimagesofformedbodies，changingandvaryingthemaccordingtoitswill。AndsoIappliedmyselftothebodiesthemselvesandlookedmoredeeplyintotheirmutability，bywhichtheyceasetobewhattheyhadbeenandbegintobewhattheywerenot。ThistransitionfromformtoformIhadregardedasinvolvingsomethinglikeaformlesscondition，thoughnotactualnothingness。[462]
ButIdesiredtoknow，nottoguess。And，ifmyvoiceandmypenweretoconfesstotheeallthevariousknotsthouhastuntiedformeaboutthisquestion，whoamongmyreaderscouldenduretograspthewholeoftheaccount？Still，despitethis，myheartwillnotceasetogivehonortotheeortosingthypraisesconcerningthosethingswhichitisnotabletoexpress。[463]
Forthemutabilityofmutablethingscarrieswithitthepossibilityofallthoseformsintowhichmutablethingscanbechanged。Butthismutability——whatisit？Isitsoul？Isitbody？Isittheexternalappearanceofsoulorbody？Coulditbesaid，”Nothingwassomething，”and”Thatwhichis，isnot”？Ifthiswerepossible，Iwouldsaythatthiswasit，andinsomesuchmanneritmusthavebeeninordertoreceivethesevisibleandcompositeforms。[464]
CHAPTERVII
7。Whenceandhowwasthis，unlessitcamefromthee，fromwhomallthingsare，insofarastheyare？Butthefarthersomethingisfromthee，themoreunliketheeitis——andthisisnotamatterofdistanceorplace。
Thusitwasthatthou，OLord，whoartnotonethinginoneplaceandanotherthinginanotherplacebuttheSelfsame，andtheSelfsame，andtheSelfsame——”Holy，Holy，Holy，LordGodAlmighty”[465]——thusitwasthatinthebeginning，andthroughthyWisdomwhichisfromtheeandbornofthysubstance，thoudidstcreatesomethingandthatoutofnothing。[466]Forthoudidstcreatetheheavenandtheearth——notoutofthyself，forthentheywouldbeequaltothyonlySonandtherebytothee。Andthereisnosenseinwhichitwouldberightthatanythingshouldbeequaltotheethatwasnotofthee。Butwhatelsebesidestheewasthereoutofwhichthoumightestcreatethesethings，OGod，oneTrinity，andtrineUnity？[467]And，therefore，itwasoutofnothingatallthatthoudidstcreatetheheavenandearth——
somethinggreatandsomethingsmall——forthouartAlmightyandGood，andabletomakeallthingsgood:eventhegreatheavenandthesmallearth。Thouwast，andtherewasnothingelsefromwhichthoudidstcreateheavenandearth:thesetwothings，onenearthee，theotherneartonothing；theonetowhichonlythouartsuperior，theothertowhichnothingelseisinferior。
CHAPTERVIII
8。Thatheavenofheavenswasthine，OLord，buttheearthwhichthoudidstgivetothesonsofmentobeseenandtouchedwasnottheninthesameformasthatinwhichwenowseeitandtouchit。Forthenitwasinvisibleandunformedandtherewasanabyssoverwhichtherewasnolight。Thedarknesswastruly_over_theabyss，thatis，morethanjust_in_theabyss。Forthisabyssofwaterswhichnowisvisiblehaseveninitsdepthsacertainlightappropriatetoitsnature，perceptibleinsomefashiontofishesandthethingsthatcreepaboutonthebottomofit。Butthentheentireabysswasalmostnothing，sinceitwasstillaltogetherunformed。Yeteventhere，therewassomethingthathadthepossibilityofbeingformed。Forthou，OLord，hadstmadetheworldoutofunformedmatter，andthisthoudidstmakeoutofnothinganddidstmakeitintoalmostnothing。Fromitthouhastthenmadethesegreatthingswhichwe，thesonsofmen，marvelat。Forthiscorporealheavenistrulymarvelous，thisfirmamentbetweenthewaterandthewaterswhichthoudidstmakeontheseconddayafterthecreationoflight，saying，”Letitbedone，”anditwasdone。[468]Thisfirmamentthoudidstcallheaven，thatis，theheavenofthisearthandseawhichthoumadestonthethirdday，givingavisibleshapetotheunformedmatterwhichthouhadstmadebeforeallthedays。Forevenbeforeanydaythouhadstalreadymadeaheaven，butthatwastheheavenofthisheaven:forinthebeginningthouhadstmadeheavenandearth。
Butthisearthitselfwhichthouhadstmadewasunformedmatter；itwasinvisibleandunformed，anddarknesswasovertheabyss。Outofthisinvisibleandunformedearth，outofthisformlessnesswhichisalmostnothing，thoudidstthenmakeallthesethingsofwhichthechangeableworldconsists——andyetdoesnotfullyconsistinitself[469]——foritsverychangeablenessappearsinthis，thatitstimesandseasonscanbeobservedandnumbered。Theperiodsoftimearemeasuredbythechangesofthings，whiletheforms，whosematteristheinvisibleearthofwhichwehavespoken，arevariedandaltered。
CHAPTERIX
9。AndthereforetheSpirit，theTeacherofthyservant，[470]whenhementionsthat”inthebeginningthoumadestheavenandearth，”saysnothingabouttimesandissilentastothedays。For，clearly，thatheavenofheavenswhichthoudidstcreateinthebeginningisinsomewayanintellectualcreature，althoughinnowaycoeternalwiththee，OTrinity。Yetitisnonethelessapartakerinthyeternity。Becauseofthesweetnessofitsmosthappycontemplationofthee，itisgreatlyrestrainedinitsownmutabilityandcleavestotheewithoutanylapsefromthetimeinwhichitwascreated，surpassingalltherollingchangeoftime。Butthisshapelessness——thisearthinvisibleandunformed——wasnotnumberedamongthedaysitself。Forwherethereisnoshapeororderthereisnothingthateithercomesorgoes，andwherethisdoesnotoccurtherecertainlyarenodays，noranyvicissitudeofduration。
CHAPTERX
10。OTruth，OLightofmyheart，letnotmyowndarknessspeaktome！Ihadfallenintothatdarknessandwasdarkenedthereby。Butinit，eveninitsdepths，Icametolovethee。I
wentastrayandstillIrememberedthee。Iheardthyvoicebehindme，biddingmereturn，thoughIcouldscarcelyhearitforthetumultsofmyboisterouspassions。Andnow，behold，Iamreturning，burningandthirstingafterthyfountain。Letnoonehinderme；herewillIdrinkandsohavelife。Letmenotbemyownlife；forofmyselfIhavelivedbadly。Iwasdeathtomyself；intheeIhaverevived。Speaktome；conversewithme。I
havebelievedthybooks，andtheirwordsareverydeep。
CHAPTERXI
11。Thouhasttoldmealready，OLord，withastrongvoiceinmyinnerear，thatthouarteternalandalonehastimmortality。
Thouartnotchangedbyanyshapeormotion，andthywillisnotalteredbytemporalprocess，becausenowillthatchangesisimmortal。Thisiscleartome，inthysight；letitbecomeclearerandclearer，Ibeseechthee。Inthatlightletmeabidesoberlyunderthywings。
Thouhastalsotoldme，OLord，withastrongvoiceinmyinnerear，thatthouhastcreatedallnaturesandallsubstances，whicharenotwhatthouartthyself；andyettheydoexist。Onlythatwhichisnothingatallisnotfromthee，andthatmotionofthewillawayfromthee，whoart，towardsomethingthatexistsonlyinalesserdegree——suchamotionisanoffenseandasin。
Noone’ssineitherhurtstheeordisturbstheorderofthyrule，eitherfirstorlast。Allthis，inthysight，iscleartome。
Letitbecomeclearerandclearer，Ibeseechthee，andinthatlightletmeabidesoberlyunderthywings。
12。Likewise，thouhasttoldme，withastrongvoiceinmyinnerear，thatthiscreation——whosedelightthoualoneart——
isnotcoeternalwiththee。Withamostperseveringpurityitdrawsitssupportfromtheeandnowhereandneverbetraysitsownmutability，forthouarteverpresentwithit；anditcleavestotheewithitsentireaffection，havingnofuturetoexpectandnopastthatitremembers；itisvariedbynochangeandisextendedbynotime。
Oblessedone——ifsuchtherebe——clingingtothyblessedness！Itisblestinthee，itseverlastingInhabitantanditsLight。IcannotfindatermthatIwouldjudgemorefittingfor”theheavenoftheheavensoftheLord”than”Thyhouse”——
whichcontemplatesthydelightswithoutanydeclinationtowardanythingelseandwhich，withapuremindinmostharmoniousstability，joinsalltogetherinthepeaceofthosesaintlyspiritswhoarecitizensofthycityinthoseheavensthatareabovethisvisibleheaven。
13。Fromthisletthesoulthathaswanderedfarawayfromtheeunderstand——ifnowitthirstsforthee；ifnowitstearshavebecomeitsbread，whiledailytheysaytoit，”WhereisyourGod？”[471]；ifnowitrequestsoftheejustonethingandseeksafterthis:thatitmaydwellinthyhouseallthedaysofitslifeandwhatisitslifebutthee？Andwhatarethydaysbutthyeternity，likethyyearswhichdonotfail，sincethouarttheSelfsame？——fromthis，Isay，letthesoulunderstandasfarasitcanhowfarabovealltimesthouartinthyeternity；andhowthyhousehasneverwanderedawayfromthee；and，althoughitisnotcoeternalwiththee，itcontinuallyandunfailinglyclingstotheeandsuffersnovicissitudesoftime。This，inthysight，iscleartome；mayitbecomeclearerandclearertome，Ibeseechthee，andinthislightmayIabidesoberlyunderthywings。
14。NowIdonotknowwhatkindofformlessnessthereisinthesemutationsoftheselastandlowestcreatures。Yetwhowilltellme，unlessitissomeonewho，intheemptinessofhisownheart，wandersaboutandbeginstobedizzyinhisownfancies？
Whoexceptsuchaonewouldtellmewhether，ifallformwerediminishedandconsumed，formlessnessalonewouldremain，throughwhichathingwaschangedandturnedfromonespeciesintoanother，sothatsheerformlessnesswouldthenbecharacterizedbytemporalchange？Andsurelythiscouldnotbe，becausewithoutmotionthereisnotime，andwherethereisnoformthereisnochange。
CHAPTERXII
15。ThesethingsIhaveconsideredasthouhastgivenmeability，OmyGod，asthouhastexcitedmetoknock，andasthouhastopenedtomewhenIknock。TwothingsIfindwhichthouhastmade，notwithinintervalsoftime，althoughneitheriscoeternalwiththee。Oneofthemissoformedthat，withoutanywaveringinitscontemplation，withoutanyintervalofchange——mutablebutnotchanged——itmayfullyenjoythyeternityandimmutability。
Theotherissoformlessthatitcouldnotchangefromoneformtoanothereitherofmotionorofrest，andsotimehasnoholduponit。Butthoudidstnotleavethisformless，for，beforeany”day”inthebeginning，thoudidstcreateheavenandearth——
thesearethetwothingsofwhichIspoke。
But”theearthwasinvisibleandunformed，anddarknesswasovertheabyss。”Bythesewordsitsformlessnessisindicatedtous——sothatbydegreestheymaybeledforwardwhocannotwhollyconceiveoftheprivationofallformwithoutarrivingatnothing。
Fromthisformlessnessasecondheavenmightbecreatedandasecondearth——visibleandwellformed，withtheorderedbeautyofthewaters，andwhateverelseisrecordedascreatedthoughnotwithoutdaysintheformationofthisworld。Andallthisbecausesuchthingsaresoorderedthatinthemthechangesoftimemaytakeplacethroughtheorderedprocessesofmotionandform。
CHAPTERXIII
16。MeanwhilethisiswhatIunderstand，OmyGod，whenI
hearthyScripturesaying，”InthebeginningGodmadetheheavenandtheearth，buttheearthwasinvisibleandunformed，anddarknesswasovertheabyss。”Itdoesnotsayonwhatdaythoudidstcreatethesethings。Thus，forthetimebeingIunderstandthat”heavenofheavens”tomeantheintelligibleheaven，wheretounderstandistoknowallatonce——not”inpart，”not”darkly，”
not”throughaglass”——butasasimultaneouswhole，infullsight，”facetoface。”[472]Itisnotthisthingnowandthenanotherthing，butaswesaidknowledgeallatoncewithoutanytemporalchange。Andbytheinvisibleandunformedearth，I
understandthatwhichsuffersnotemporalvicissitude。Temporalchangecustomarilymeanshavingonethingnowandanotherlater；
butwherethereisnoformtherecanbenodistinctionbetweenthisorthat。Itis，then，bymeansofthesetwo——onethingwellformedinthebeginningandanotherthingwhollyunformed，theoneheaventhatis，theheavenofheavensandtheotheroneearthbuttheearthinvisibleandunformed——itisbymeansofthesetwonotionsthatIamabletounderstandwhythyScripturesaid，withoutmentionofdays，”InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth。”Foritimmediatelyindicatedwhichearthitwasspeakingabout。When，onthesecondday，thefirmamentisrecordedashavingbeencreatedandcalledheaven，thissuggeststouswhichheavenitwasthathewasspeakingaboutearlier，withoutspecifyingaday。