CHAPTERXIV
17。Marvelousisthedepthofthyoracles。Theirsurfaceisbeforeus，invitingthelittleones；andyetwonderfulistheirdepth，OmyGod，marvelousistheirdepth！Itisafearfulthingtolookintothem:anaweofhonorandatremoroflove。TheirenemiesIhatevehemently。Oh，ifthouwouldstslaythemwiththytwo-edgedsword，sothattheyshouldnotbeenemies！ForIwouldpreferthattheyshouldbeslaintothemselves，thattheymightlivetothee。Butsee，thereareotherswhoarenotcriticsbutpraisersofthebookofGenesis；theysay:”TheSpiritofGodwhowrotethesethingsbyhisservantMosesdidnotwishthesewordstobeunderstoodlikethis。Hedidnotwishtohaveitunderstoodasyousay，butaswesay。”Tothem，OGodofusall，thyselfbeingthejudge，Igiveanswer。
CHAPTERXV
18。”WillyousaythatthesethingsarefalsewhichTruthtellsme，withaloudvoiceinmyinnerear，abouttheveryeternityoftheCreator:thathisessenceischangedinnorespectbytimeandthathiswillisnotdistinctfromhisessence？Thus，hedothnotwillonethingnowandanotherthinglater，buthewillethonceandforalleverythingthathewilleth——notagainandagain；andnotnowthisandnowthat。Nordoeshewillafterwardwhathedidnotwillbefore，nordoesheceasetowillwhathehadwilledbefore。Suchawillwouldbemutableandnomutablethingiseternal。ButourGodiseternal。”Again，hetellsmeinmyinnerearthattheexpectationoffuturethingsisturnedtosightwhentheyhavecometopass。Andthissamesightisturnedintomemorywhentheyhavepassed。
Moreover，allthoughtthatvariesthusismutable，andnothingmutableiseternal。ButourGodiseternal。”ThesethingsIsumupandputtogether，andIconcludethatmyGod，theeternalGod，hathnotmadeanycreaturebyanynewwill，andhisknowledgedoesnotadmitanythingtransitory。
19。”What，then，willyousaytothis，youobjectors？Arethesethingsfalse？””No，”theysay。”Whatthen？Isitfalsethateveryentityalreadyformedandallmattercapableofreceivingformisfromhimalonewhoissupremelygood，becauseheissupreme？””Wedonotdenythis，either，”theysay。”Whatthen？Doyoudenythis:thatthereisacertainsublimecreatedorderwhichcleaveswithsuchachastelovetothetrueandtrulyeternalGodthat，althoughitisnotcoeternalwithhim，yetitdoesnotseparateitselffromhim，anddoesnotflowawayintoanymutationofchangeorprocessbutabidesintruecontemplationofhimalone？”Ifthou，OGod，dostshowthyselftohimwholovestheeasthouhastcommanded——andartsufficientforhim——then，suchaonewillneitherturnhimselfawayfromtheenorturnawaytowardhimself。Thisis”thehouseofGod。”Itisnotanearthlyhouseanditisnotmadefromanycelestialmatter；butitisaspiritualhouse，anditpartakesinthyeternitybecauseitiswithoutblemishforever。Forthouhastmadeitsteadfastforeverandever；thouhastgivenitalawwhichwillnotberemoved。
Still，itisnotcoeternalwiththee，OGod，sinceitisnotwithoutbeginning——itwascreated。
20。For，althoughwecanfindnotimebeforeitforwisdomwascreatedbeforeallthings，[473]thisiscertainlynotthatWisdomwhichisabsolutelycoeternalandequalwiththee，ourGod，itsFather，theWisdomthroughwhomallthingswerecreatedandinwhom，inthebeginning，thoudidstcreatetheheavenandearth。
ThisistrulythecreatedWisdom，namely，theintelligiblenaturewhich，initscontemplationoflight，islight。Forthisisalsocalledwisdom，evenifitisacreatedwisdom。ButthedifferencebetweentheLightthatlightensandthatwhichisenlightenedisasgreatasisthedifferencebetweentheWisdomthatcreatesandthatwhichiscreated。SoalsoisthedifferencebetweentheRighteousnessthatjustifiesandtherighteousnessthatismadebyjustification。Forwealsoarecalledthyrighteousness，foracertainservantofthinesays，”ThatwemightbemadetherighteousnessofGodinhim。”[474]Therefore，thereisacertaincreatedwisdomthatwascreatedbeforeallthings:therationalandintelligiblemindofthatchastecityofthine。Itisourmotherwhichisaboveandisfree[475]and”eternalintheheavens”[476]——butinwhatheavensexceptthosewhichpraisethee，the”heavenofheavens”？Thisalsoisthe”heavenofheavens”whichistheLord’s——althoughwefindnotimebeforeit，sincewhathasbeencreatedbeforeallthingsalsoprecedesthecreationoftime。Still，theeternityoftheCreatorhimselfisbeforeit，fromwhomittookitsbeginningascreated，thoughnotintimesincetimeasyetwasnot，eventhoughtimebelongstoitscreatednature。
21。Thusitisthattheintelligibleheavencametobefromthee，ourGod，butinsuchawaythatitisquiteanotherbeingthanthouart；itisnottheSelfsame。Yetwefindthattimeisnotonlynot_before_it，butnoteven_in_it，thusmakingitabletobeholdthyfaceforeverandnoteverbeturnedaside。
Thus，itisvariedbynochangeatall。Butthereisstillinitthatmutabilityinvirtueofwhichitcouldbecomedarkandcold，ifitdidnot，bycleavingtotheewithasupernallove，shineandglowfromtheelikeaperpetualnoon。Ohousefulloflightandsplendor！”IhavelovedyourbeautyandtheplaceofthehabitationofthegloryofmyLord，”[477]yourbuilderandpossessor。Inmywanderingletmesighforyou；thisIaskofhimwhomadeyou，thatheshouldalsopossessmeinyou，seeingthathehathalsomademe。”Ihavegoneastraylikealostsheep[478]；
yetupontheshouldersofmyShepherd，whoisyourbuilder，IhavehopedthatImaybebroughtbacktoyou。”[479]
22。”Whatwillyousaytomenow，youobjectorstowhomI
spoke，whostillbelievethatMoseswastheholyservantofGod，andthathisbooksweretheoraclesoftheHolySpirit？Isitnotinthis’houseofGod’——notcoeternalwithGod，yetinitsownmode’eternalintheheavens’——thatyouvainlyseekfortemporalchange？Youwillnotfinditthere。Itrisesaboveallextensionandeveryrevolvingtemporalperiod，anditrisestowhatisforevergoodandcleavesfasttoGod。””Itisso，”theyreply。”What，then，aboutthosethingswhichmyheartcriedouttomyGod，whenitheard，within，thevoiceofhispraise？What，then，doyoucontendisfalseinthem？
Isitbecausematterwasunformed，andsincetherewasnoformtherewasnoorder？Butwheretherewasnoordertherecouldhavebeennotemporalchange。Yeteventhis’almostnothing，’sinceitwasnotaltogethernothing，wastrulyfromhimfromwhomeverythingthatexistsisinwhateverstateitis。””Thisalso，”
theysay，”wedonotdeny。”
CHAPTERXVI
23。Now，Iwouldliketodiscussalittlefurther，inthypresence，OmyGod，withthosewhoadmitthatallthesethingsaretruethatthyTruthhasindicatedtomymind。Letthosewhodenythesethingsbarkanddrowntheirownvoiceswithasmuchclamorastheyplease。Iwillendeavortopersuadethemtobequietandtopermitthywordtoreachthem。Butiftheyareunwilling，andiftheyrepelme，Iaskofthee，OmyGod，thatthoushouldstnotbesilenttome。[480]Speaktrulyinmyheart；ifonlythouwouldstspeakthus，Iwouldsendthemaway，blowingupthedustandraisingitintheirowneyes。AsformyselfIwillenterintomycloset[481]andtheresingtotheethesongsoflove，groaningwithgroaningsthatareunutterablenowinmypilgrimage，[482]andrememberingJerusalemwithmyheartupliftedtoJerusalemmycountry，Jerusalemmymother[483]；andtotheethyself，theRulerofthesourceofLight，itsFather，Guardian，Husband；itschasteandstrongdelight，itssolidjoyandallitsgoodsineffable——
andallofthisatthesametime，sincethouarttheonesupremeandtrueGood！AndIwillnotbeturnedawayuntilthouhastbroughtbacktogetherallthatIamfromthisdispersionanddeformitytothepeaceofthatdearestmother，wherethefirstfruitsofmyspiritaretobefoundandfromwhichallthesethingsarepromisedmewhichthoudostconformandconfirmforever，OmyGod，myMercy。Butasforthosewhodonotsaythatallthesethingswhicharetruearefalse，whostillhonorthyScripturesetbeforeusbytheholyMoses，whojoinusinplacingitonthesummitofauthorityforustofollow，andyetwhoopposeusinsomeparticulars，Isaythis:”Bethou，OGod，thejudgebetweenmyconfessionsandtheirgainsaying。”
CHAPTERXVII
24。Fortheysay:”Evenifthesethingsaretrue，stillMosesdidnotrefertothesetwothingswhenhesaid，bydivinerevelation，’InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth。’Bytheterm’heaven’hedidnotmeanthatspiritualorintelligiblecreatedorderwhichalwaysbeholdsthefaceofGod。
Andbytheterm’earth’hewasnotreferringtounformedmatter。””Whatthendothesetermsmean？”
Theyreply，”Thatman[Moses]meantwhatwemean；thisiswhathewassayinginthoseterms。””Whatisthat？””Bythetermsofheavenandearth，”theysay，”hewishedfirsttoindicateuniversallyandbrieflythiswholevisibleworld；thenafterthis，byanenumerationofthedays，hecouldpointout，onebyone，allthethingsthatithaspleasedtheHolySpirittorevealinthisway。Forthepeopletowhomhespokewererudeandcarnal，sothathejudgeditprudentthatonlythoseworksofGodwhichwerevisibleshouldbementionedtothem。”
Buttheydoagreethatthephrases，”Theearthwasinvisibleandunformed，”and”Thedarkenedabyss，”maynotinappropriatelybeunderstoodtorefertothisunformedmatter——andthatoutofthis，asitissubsequentlyrelated，allthevisiblethingswhichareknowntoallweremadeandsetinorderduringthosespecified”days。”
25。Butnow，whatifanotheroneshouldsay，”Thissameformlessnessandchaosofmatterwasfirstmentionedbythenameofheavenandearthbecause，outofit，thisvisibleworld——withallitsentitieswhichclearlyappearinitandwhichweareaccustomedtobecalledbythenameofheavenandearth——wascreatedandperfected”？Andwhatifstillanothershouldsay:”Theinvisibleandvisiblenatureisquitefittinglycalledheavenandearth。Thus，thewholecreationwhichGodhasmadeinhiswisdom——thatis，inthebeginning——wasincludedunderthesetwoterms。Yet，sinceallthingshavebeenmade，notfromtheessenceofGod，butfromnothing；andbecausetheyarenotthesamerealitythatGodis；andbecausethereisinthemallacertainmutability，whethertheyabideastheeternalhouseofGodabidesorwhethertheyarechangedasthesoulandbodyofmanarechanged——thenthecommonmatterofallthingsinvisibleandvisiblestillformlessbutcapableofreceivingformfromwhichheavenandearthweretobecreatedthatis，thecreaturealreadyfashioned，invisibleaswellasvisible——allthiswasspokenofinthesametermsbywhichtheinvisibleandunformedearthandthedarknessovertheabysswouldbecalled。Therewasthisdifference，however:thattheinvisibleandunformedearthistobeunderstoodashavingcorporealmatterbeforeithadanymannerofform；butthedarknessovertheabysswas_spiritual_matter，beforeitsunlimitedfluiditywasharnessed，andbeforeitwasenlightenedbyWisdom。”
26。Andifanyonewished，hemightalsosay，”Theentitiesalreadyperfectedandformed，invisibleandvisible，arenotsignifiedbytheterms’heavenandearth，’whenitreads，’InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth’；instead，theunformedbeginningofthings，themattercapableofreceivingformandbeingmadewascalledbytheseterms——becausethechaoswascontainedinitandwasnotyetdistinguishedbyqualitiesandforms，whichhavenowbeenarrangedintheirownordersandarecalledheavenandearth:theformeraspiritualcreation，thelatteraphysicalcreation。”
CHAPTERXVIII
27。Whenallthesethingshavebeensaidandconsidered，I
amunwillingtocontendaboutwords，forsuchcontentionisprofitablefornothingbutthesubvertingofthehearer。[484]Butthelawisprofitableforedificationifamanuseitlawfully:
fortheendofthelaw”isloveoutofapureheart，andagoodconscience，andfaithunfeigned。”[485]AndourMasterknewitwell，foritwasonthesetwocommandmentsthathehungalltheLawandtheProphets。Andhowwoulditharmme，OmyGod，thouLightofmyeyesinsecret，ifwhileIamardentlyconfessingthesethings——sincemanydifferentthingsmaybeunderstoodfromthesewords，allofwhichmaybetrue——whatharmwouldbedoneifIshouldinterpretthemeaningofthesacredwriterdifferentlyfromthewaysomeothermaninterprets？Indeed，allofuswhoreadaretryingtotraceoutandunderstandwhatourauthorwishedtoconvey；andsincewebelievethathespeakstrulywedarenotsupposethathehasspokenanythingthatweeitherknoworsupposetobefalse。Therefore，sinceeverypersontriestounderstandintheHolyScripturewhatthewriterunderstood，whatharmisdoneifamanunderstandswhatthou，theLightofalltruth-speakingminds，showesthimtobetrue，althoughtheauthorhereadsdidnotunderstandthisaspectofthetrutheventhoughhedidunderstandthetruthinadifferentmeaning？[486]
CHAPTERXIX[487]
28。Foritiscertainlytrue，OLord，thatthoudidstcreatetheheavenandtheearth。Itisalsotruethat”thebeginning”isthywisdominwhichthoudidstcreateallthings。Itislikewisetruethatthisvisibleworldhasitsowngreatdivisiontheheavenandtheearthandthesetwotermsincludeallentitiesthathavebeenmadeandcreated。Itisfurthertruethateverythingmutableconfrontsourmindswithacertainlackofform，wherebyitreceivesform，orwherebyitiscapableoftakingform。Itistrue，yetagain，thatwhatcleavestothechangelessformsocloselythateventhoughitismutableitisnotchangedisnotsubjecttotemporalprocess。Itistruethattheformlessnesswhichisalmostnothingcannothavetemporalchangeinit。Itistruethatthatfromwhichsomethingismadecan，inamannerofspeaking，becalledbythesamenameasthethingthatismadefromit。Thusthatformlessnessofwhichheavenandearthweremademightbecalled”heavenandearth。”Itistruethatofallthingshavingformnothingisnearertotheunformedthantheearthandtheabyss。ItistruethatnotonlyeverycreatedandformedthingbutalsoeverythingcapableofcreationandofformwerecreatedbyThee，fromwhomallthingsare。[488]Itistrue，finally，thateverythingthatisformedfromwhatisformlesswasformlessbeforeitwasformed。
CHAPTERXX
29。Fromallthesetruths，whicharenotdoubtedbythosetowhomthouhastgrantedinsightinsuchthingsintheirinnereyeandwhobelieveunshakablythatthyservantMosesspokeinthespiritoftruth——fromallthesetruths，then，onemantakesthesenseof”InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth”
tomean，”InhisWord，coeternalwithhimself，Godmadeboththeintelligibleandthetangible，thespiritualandthecorporealcreation。”Anothertakesitinadifferentsense，that”InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth”means，”InhisWord，coeternalwithhimself，Godmadetheuniversalmassofthiscorporealworld，withalltheobservableandknownentitiesthatitcontains。”Stillanotherfindsadifferentmeaning，that”InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth”means，”InhisWord，coeternalwithhimself，Godmadetheunformedmatterofthespiritualandcorporealcreation。”Anothercantakethesensethat”InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth”means，”InhisWord，coeternalwithhimself，Godmadetheunformedmatterofthephysicalcreation，inwhichheavenandearthwereasyetindistinguished；butnowthattheyhavecometobeseparatedandformed，wecannowperceivethembothinthemightymassofthisworld。”[489]Anothertakesstillafurthermeaning，that”InthebeginningGodcreatedheavenandearth”means，”Intheverybeginningofcreatingandworking，Godmadethatunformedmatterwhichcontained，undifferentiated，heavenandearth，fromwhichbothofthemwereformed，andbothnowstandoutandareobservablewithallthethingsthatareinthem。”
CHAPTERXXI
30。Again，regardingtheinterpretationofthefollowingwords，onemanselectsforhimself，fromallthevarioustruths，theinterpretationthat”theearthwasinvisibleandunformedanddarknesswasovertheabyss”means，”ThatcorporealentitywhichGodmadewasasyettheformlessmatterofphysicalthingswithoutorderandwithoutlight。”Anothertakesitinadifferentsense，that”Buttheearthwasinvisibleandunformed，anddarknesswasovertheabyss”means，”Thistotalitycalledheavenandearthwasasyetunformedandlightlessmatter，outofwhichthecorporealheavenandthecorporealearthweretobemade，withallthethingsinthemthatareknowntoourphysicalsenses。”Anothertakesitstilldifferentlyandsaysthat”Buttheearthwasinvisibleandunformed，anddarknesswasovertheabyss”means，”Thistotalitycalledheavenandearthwasasyetanunformedandlightlessmatter，fromwhichweretobemadethatintelligibleheavenwhichisalsocalled’theheavenofheavens’andtheearthwhichreferstothewholephysicalentity，underwhichtermmaybeincludedthiscorporealheaven——thatis，Hemadetheintelligibleheavenfromwhicheveryinvisibleandvisiblecreaturewouldbecreated。”Hetakesitinyetanothersensewhosaysthat”Buttheearthwasinvisibleandunformed，anddarknesswasovertheabyss”means，”TheScripturedoesnotrefertothatformlessnessbytheterm’heavenandearth’；thatformlessnessitselfalreadyexisted。Thisitcalledtheinvisible’earth’andtheunformedandlightless’abyss，’fromwhich——asithadsaidbefore——Godmadetheheavenandtheearthnamely，thespiritualandthecorporealcreation。”Stillanothersaysthat”Buttheearthwasinvisibleandformless，anddarknesswasovertheabyss”
means，”Therewasalreadyanunformedmatterfromwhich，astheScripturehadalreadysaid，Godmadeheavenandearth，namely，theentirecorporealmassoftheworld，dividedintotwoverygreatparts，onesuperior，theotherinferior，withallthosefamiliarandknowncreaturesthatareinthem。”
CHAPTERXXII
31。Nowsupposethatsomeonetriedtoargueagainsttheselasttwoopinionsasfollows:”Ifyouwillnotadmitthatthisformlessnessofmatterappearstobecalledbytheterm’heavenandearth，’thentherewassomethingthatGodhadnotmadeoutofwhichhedidmakeheavenandearth。AndScripturehasnottoldusthatGodmade_this_matter，unlessweunderstandthatitisimpliedintheterm’heavenandearth’ortheterm’earth’alone
whenitissaid，’InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandearth。’Thus，inwhatfollows——’theearthwasinvisibleandunformed’——eventhoughitpleasedMosesthustorefertounformedmatter，yetwecanonlyunderstandbyitthatwhichGodhimselfhathmade，asitstandswritteninthepreviousverse，’Godmadeheavenandearth。’”Thosewhomaintaineitheroneortheotherofthesetwoopinionswhichwehavesetoutabovewillanswertosuchobjections:”WedonotdenyatallthatthisunformedmatterwascreatedbyGod，fromwhomallthingsare，andareverygood——becauseweholdthatwhatiscreatedandendowedwithformisahighergood；andwealsoholdthatwhatismadecapableofbeingcreatedandendowedwithform，thoughitisalessergood，isstillagood。ButtheScripturehasnotsaidspecificallythatGodmadethisformlessness——anymorethanithassaiditspecificallyofmanyotherthings，suchastheordersof’cherubim’and’seraphim’andthoseothersofwhichtheapostledistinctlyspeaks:’thrones，’’dominions，’’principalities，’
’powers’[490]——yetitisclearthatGodmadeallofthese。Ifinthephrase’Hemadeheavenandearth’allthingsareincluded，whatarewetosayaboutthewatersuponwhichtheSpiritofGodmoved？Foriftheyareunderstoodasincludedintheterm’earth，’thenhowcanunformedmatterbemeantbytheterm’earth’
whenweseethewaterssobeautifullyformed？Or，ifitbetakenthus，why，then，isitwrittenthatoutofthesameformlessnessthefirmamentwasmadeandcalledheaven，andyetisitnotspecificallywrittenthatthewatersweremade？Forthesewaters，whichweperceiveflowinginsobeautifulafashion，arenotformlessandinvisible。ButiftheyreceivedthatbeautyatthetimeGodsaidofthem，’Letthewaterswhichareunderthefirmamentbegatheredtogether，’[491]thusindicatingthattheirgatheringtogetherwasthesamethingastheirreceptionofform，what，then，istobesaidaboutthewatersthatare_above_thefirmament？Becauseiftheyareunformed，theydonotdeservetohaveaseatsohonorable，andyetitisnotwrittenbywhatspecificwordtheywereformed。If，then，GenesisissilentaboutanythingthatGodhathmade，whichneithersoundfaithnorunerringunderstandingdoubtsthatGodhathmade，letnotanysoberteachingdaretosaythatthesewaterswerecoeternalwithGodbecausewefindthemmentionedinthebookofGenesisanddonotfinditmentionedwhentheywerecreated。IfTruthinstructsus，whymaywenotinterpretthatunformedmatterwhichtheScripturecallstheearth——invisibleandunformed——andthelightlessabyssashavingbeenmadebyGodfromnothing；andthusunderstandthattheyarenotcoeternalwithhim，althoughthenarrativefailstotelluspreciselywhentheyweremade？”
CHAPTERXXIII
32。Ihaveheardandconsideredthesetheoriesaswellasmyweakapprehensionallows，andIconfessmyweaknesstoThee，O
Lord，thoughalreadythouknowestit。ThusIseethattwosortsofdisagreementsmayarisewhenanythingisrelatedbysigns，evenbytrustworthyreporters。Thereisonedisagreementaboutthetruthofthethingsinvolved；theotherconcernsthemeaningoftheonewhoreportsthem。ItisonethingtoinquireastowhatistrueabouttheformationoftheCreation。Itisanotherthing，however，toaskwhatthatexcellentservantofthyfaith，Moses，wouldhavewishedforthereaderandhearertounderstandfromthesewords。Asforthefirstquestion，letallthosedepartfrommewhoimaginethatMosesspokethingsthatarefalse。Butletmebeunitedwiththeminthee，OLord，anddelightmyselfintheewiththosewhofeedonthytruthinthebondoflove。Letusapproachtogetherthewordsofthybookandmakediligentinquiryinthemforthymeaningthroughthemeaningofthyservantbywhosepenthouhastgiventhemtous。
CHAPTERXXIV
33。Butinthemidstofsomanytruthswhichoccurtotheinterpretersofthesewordsunderstoodastheycanbeindifferentways，whichoneofuscandiscoverthatsingleinterpretationwhichwarrantsoursayingconfidentlythatMosesthought_thus_andthatinthisnarrativehewishes_this_tobeunderstood，asconfidentlyashewouldsaythat_this_istrue，whetherMosesthoughttheoneortheother。Forsee，OmyGod，I
amthyservant，andIhavevowedinthisbookanofferingofconfessiontothee，[492]andIbeseechtheethatbythymercyI
maypaymyvowtothee。Now，see，couldIassertthatMosesmeantnothingelsethan_this_[i。e。，myinterpretation]whenhewrote，”InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth，”asconfidentlyasIcanassertthatthouinthyimmutableWordhastcreatedallthings，invisibleandvisible？No，Icannotdothisbecauseitisnotascleartomethat_this_wasinhismindwhenhewrotethesethings，asIseeittobecertaininthytruth。
Forhisthoughtsmightbesetupontheverybeginningofthecreationwhenhesaid，”Inthebeginning”；andhemighthavewisheditunderstoodthat，inthispassage，”heavenandearth”
referstonoformedandperfectentity，whetherspiritualorcorporeal，buteachofthemonlynewlybegunandstillformless。
WhicheverofthesepossibilitieshasbeenmentionedIcanseethatitmighthavebeensaidtruly。ButwhichofthemhedidactuallyintendtoexpressinthesewordsIdonotclearlysee。However，whetheritwasoneoftheseorsomeothermeaningwhichIhavenotmentionedthatthisgreatmansawinhismindwhenheusedthesewordsIhavenodoubtwhateverthathesawittrulyandexpresseditsuitably。
CHAPTERXXV
34。Letnomanfretmenowbysaying，”Mosesdidnotmeanwhat_you_say，butwhat_I_say。”Nowifheasksme，”HowdoyouknowthatMosesmeantwhatyoudeducefromhiswords？”，IoughttorespondcalmlyandreplyasIhavealreadydone，orevenmorefullyifhehappenstobeuntrained。Butwhenhesays，”Mosesdidnotmeanwhat_you_say，butwhat_I_say，”andthendoesnotdenywhateitherofussaysbutallowsthat_both_aretrue——then，O
myGod，lifeofthepoor，inwhosebreastthereisnocontradiction，pourthysoothingbalmintomyheartthatImaypatientlybearwithpeoplewhotalklikethis！Itisnotbecausetheyaregodlymenandhaveseenintheheartofthyservantwhattheysay，butrathertheyareproudmenandhavenotconsideredMoses’meaning，butonlylovetheirown——notbecauseitistruebutbecauseitistheirown。Otherwisetheycouldequallyloveanothertrueopinion，asIlovewhattheysaywhenwhattheyspeakistrue——notbecauseitistheirsbutbecauseitistrue，andthereforenottheirsbuttrue。Andiftheyloveanopinionbecauseitistrue，itbecomesboththeirsandmine，sinceitisthecommonpropertyofallloversofthetruth。[493]ButI
neitheracceptnorapproveofitwhentheycontendthatMosesdidnotmeanwhatIsaybutwhattheysay——andthisbecause，evenifitwereso，suchrashnessisbornnotofknowledge，butofimpudence。Itcomesnotfromvisionbutfromvanity。
Andtherefore，OLord，thyjudgmentsshouldbeheldinawe，becausethytruthisneitherminenorhisnoranyoneelse’s；butitbelongstoallofuswhomthouhastopenlycalledtohaveitincommon；andthouhastwarnedusnottoholdontoitasourownspecialproperty，forifwedoweloseit。Forifanyonearrogatestohimselfwhatthouhastbestowedonalltoenjoy，andifhedesiressomethingforhisownthatbelongstoall，heisforcedawayfromwhatiscommontoalltowhatis，indeed，hisveryown——thatis，fromtruthtofalsehood。Forhewhotellsaliespeaksofhisownthought。[494]
35。Hear，OGod，bestjudgeofall！OTruthitself，hearwhatIsaytothisdisputant。Hearit，becauseIsayitinthypresenceandbeforemybrethrenwhousethelawrightlytotheendoflove。HearandgiveheedtowhatIshallsaytohim，ifitpleasesthee。
ForIwouldreturnthisbrotherlyandpeacefulwordtohim:”Ifwebothseethatwhatyousayistrue，andifwebothsaythatwhatIsayistrue，whereisit，Iaskyou，thatweseethis？
Certainly，Idonotseeitinyou，andyoudonotseeitinme，butbothofusseeitintheunchangeabletruthitself，whichisaboveourminds。”[495]If，then，wedonotdisagreeaboutthetruelightoftheLordourGod，whydowedisagreeaboutthethoughtsofourneighbor，whichwecannotseeasclearlyastheimmutableTruthisseen？IfMoseshimselfhadappearedtousandsaid，”ThisiswhatImeant，”itwouldnotbeinorderthatweshouldseeitbutthatweshouldbelievehim。Letusnot，then，”gobeyondwhatiswrittenandbepuffedupfortheoneagainsttheother。”[496]Letus，instead，”lovetheLordourGodwithallourheart，withalloursoul，andwithallourmind，andourneighborasourself。”[497]UnlesswebelievethatwhateverMosesmeantinthesebookshemeanttobeorderedbythesetwopreceptsoflove，weshallmakeGodaliar，ifwejudgeofthesoulofhisservantinanyotherwaythanashehastaughtus。Seenow，howfoolishitis，inthefaceofsogreatanabundanceoftrueopinionswhichcanbeelicitedfromthesewords，rashlytoaffirmthatMosesespeciallyintendedonlyoneoftheseinterpretations；
andthen，withdestructivecontention，toviolateloveitself，onbehalfofwhichhehadsaidallthethingsweareendeavoringtoexplain！
CHAPTERXXVI
36。Andyet，OmyGod，thouexaltationofmyhumilityandrestofmytoil，whohearestmyconfessionsandforgivestmysins，sincethoucommandestmetolovemyneighborasmyself，IcannotbelievethatthougavestthymostfaithfulservantMosesalessergiftthanIshouldwishanddesireformyselffromthee，ifIhadbeenborninhistime，andifthouhadstplacedmeinthepositionwhere，bytheuseofmyheartandmytongue，thosebooksmightbeproducedwhichsolongafterweretoprofitallnationsthroughoutthewholeworld——fromsuchagreatpinnacleofauthority——andweretosurmountthewordsofallfalseandproudteachings。IfI
hadbeenMoses——andweallcomefromthesamemass，[498]andwhatismanthatthouartmindfulofhim？[499]——ifIhadbeenMosesatthetimethathewas，andifIhadbeenorderedbytheetowritethebookofGenesis，Iwouldsurelyhavewishedforsuchapowerofexpressionandsuchanartofarrangementtobegivenme，thatthosewhocannotasyetunderstand_how_Godcreatethwouldstillnotrejectmywordsassurpassingtheirpowersofunderstanding。AndIwouldhavewishedthatthosewhoarealreadyabletodothiswouldfindfullycontainedinthelaconicspeechofthyservantwhatevertruthstheyhadarrivedatintheirownthought；andif，inthelightoftheTruth，someothermansawsomefurthermeaning，thattoowouldbefoundcongruenttomywords。
CHAPTERXXVII
37。Forjustasaspringdammedupismoreplentifulandaffordsalargersupplyofwaterformorestreamsoverwiderfieldsthananysinglestreamledofffromthesamespringoveralongcourse——soalsoisthenarrationofthyminister:itisintendedtobenefitmanywhoarelikelytodiscourseaboutitand，withaneconomyoflanguage，itoverflowsintovariousstreamsofcleartruth，fromwhicheachonemaydrawoutforhimselfthatparticulartruthwhichhecanaboutthesetopics——thisonethattruth，thatoneanothertruth，bythebroadersurveyofvariousinterpretations。Forsomepeople，whentheyreadorhearthesewords，[500]thinkthatGod，likesomesortofmanorlikesomesortofhugebody，bysomenewandsuddendecision，producedoutsidehimselfandatacertaindistancetwogreatbodies:oneabove，theotherbelow，withinwhichallcreatedthingsweretobecontained。Andwhentheyhear，”Godsaid，’Letsuchandsuchbedone，’anditwasdone，”theythinkofwordsbegunandended，soundingintimeandthenpassingaway，followedbythecomingintobeingofwhatwascommanded。Theythinkofotherthingsofthesamesortwhichtheirfamiliaritywiththeworldsuggeststothem。
Inthesepeople，whoarestilllittlechildrenandwhoseweaknessisborneupbythishumblelanguageasifonamother’sbreast，theirfaithisbuiltuphealthfullyandtheycometopossessandtoholdascertaintheconvictionthatGodmadeallentitiesthattheirsensesperceiveallaroundtheminsuchmarvelousvariety。Andifonedespisesthesewordsasiftheyweretrivial，andwithproudweaknessstretcheshimselfbeyondhisfosteringcradle，hewill，alas，fallawaywretchedly。Havepity，OLordGod，lestthosewhopassbytrampleontheunfledgedbird，[501]andsendthyangelwhomayrestoreittoitsnest，thatitmayliveuntilitcanfly。
CHAPTERXXVIII
38。Butothers，towhomthesewordsarenolongeranestbut，rather，ashadythicket，spythefruitsconcealedinthemandflyaroundrejoicingandsearchamongthemandpluckthemwithcheerfulchirpings:Forwhentheyreadorhearthesewords，OGod，theyseethatalltimespastandtimesfuturearetranscendedbythyeternalandstablepermanence，andtheyseealsothatthereisnotemporalcreaturethatisnotofthymaking。Bythywill，sinceitisthesameasthybeing，thouhastcreatedallthings，notbyanymutationofwillandnotbyanywillthatpreviouslywasnonexistent——andnotoutofthyself，butinthyownlikeness，thoudidstmakefromnothingtheformofallthings。
Thiswasanunlikenesswhichwascapableofbeingformedbythylikenessthroughitsrelationtothee，theOne，aseachthinghasbeengivenformappropriatetoitskindaccordingtoitspreordainedcapacity。Thus，allthingsweremadeverygood，whethertheyremainaroundtheeorwhether，removedintimeandplacebyvariousdegrees，theycauseorundergothebeautifulchangesofnaturalprocess。
Theyseethesethingsandtheyrejoiceinthelightofthytruthtowhateverdegreetheycan。
39。Again，oneofthesemen[502]directshisattentiontotheverse，”InthebeginningGodmadetheheavenandtheearth，”
andhebeholdsWisdomasthetrue”beginning，”becauseitalsospeakstous。Anothermandirectshisattentiontothesamewords，andby”beginning”heunderstandssimplythecommencementofcreation，andinterpretsitthus:”Inthebeginninghemade，”
asifitwerethesamethingastosay，”Atthefirstmoment，Godmade……”Andamongthosewhointerpret”Inthebeginning”tomeanthatinthywisdomthouhastcreatedtheheavenandearth，onebelievesthatthematteroutofwhichheavenandearthweretobecreatediswhatisreferredtobythephrase”heavenandearth。”Butanotherbelievesthattheseentitieswerealreadyformedanddistinct。Stillanotherwillunderstandittorefertooneformedentity——aspiritualone，designatedbytheterm”heaven”——andtoanotherunformedentityofcorporealmatter，designatedbytheterm”earth。”Butthosewhounderstandthephrase”heavenandearth”tomeantheyetunformedmatterfromwhichtheheavenandtheearthweretobeformeddonottakeitinasimplesense:onemanregardsitasthatfromwhichtheintelligibleandtangiblecreationsarebothproduced；andanotheronlyasthatfromwhichthetangible，corporealworldisproduced，containinginitsvastbosomthesevisibleandobservableentities。Noraretheyinsimpleaccordwhobelievethat”heavenandearth”referstothecreatedthingsalreadysetinorderandarranged。Onebelievesthatitreferstotheinvisibleandvisibleworld；another，onlytothevisibleworld，inwhichweadmiretheluminousheavensandthedarkenedearthandallthethingsthattheycontain。
CHAPTERXXIX
40。Buthewhounderstands”Inthebeginninghemade”asifitmeant，”Atfirsthemade，”cantrulyinterpretthephrase”heavenandearth”asreferringonlytothe”matter”ofheavenandearth，namely，oftheprioruniversal，whichistheintelligibleandcorporealcreation。Forifhewouldtrytointerpretthephraseasapplyingtotheuniversealreadyformed，itthenmightrightlybeaskedofhim，”IfGodfirstmadethis，whatthendidhedoafterward？”And，aftertheuniverse，hewillfindnothing。
Butthenhemust，howeverunwillingly，facethequestion，Howisthisthefirstifthereisnothingafterward？ButwhenhesaidthatGodmadematterfirstformlessandthenformed，heisnotbeingabsurdifheisabletodiscernwhatprecedesbyeternity，andwhatproceedsintime；whatcomesfromchoice，andwhatcomesfromorigin。Ineternity，Godisbeforeallthings；inthetemporalprocess，theflowerisbeforethefruit；intheactofchoice，thefruitisbeforetheflower；inthecaseoforigin，soundisbeforethetune。Ofthesefourrelations，thefirstandlastthatIhavereferredtoareunderstoodwithmuchdifficulty。
Thesecondandthirdareveryeasilyunderstood。Foritisanuncommonandloftyvision，OLord，tobeholdthyeternityimmutablymakingmutablethings，andtherebystandingalwaysbeforethem。Whosemindisacuteenoughtobeable，withoutgreatlabor，todiscoverhowthesoundcomesbeforethetune？Foratuneisaformedsound；andanunformedthingmayexist，butathingthatdoesnotexistcannotbeformed。Inthesameway，matterispriortowhatismadefromit。Itisnotpriorbecauseitmakesitsproduct，foritisitselfmade；anditspriorityisnotthatofatimeinterval。Forintimewedonotfirstutterformlesssoundswithoutsingingandthenadaptorfashionthemintotheformofasong，aswoodorsilverfromwhichachestorvesselismade。Suchmaterialsprecedeintimetheformsofthethingswhicharemadefromthem。Butinsingingthisisnotso。
Forwhenasongissung，itssoundisheardatthesametime。
Thereisnotfirstaformlesssound，whichafterwardisformedintoasong；butjustassoonasithassoundeditpassesaway，andyoucannotfindanythingofitwhichyoucouldgatherupandshape。Therefore，thesongisabsorbedinitsownsoundandthe”sound”ofthesongisits”matter。”Butthesoundisformedinorderthatitmaybeatune。Thisiswhy，asIwassaying，thematterofthesoundispriortotheformofthetune。Itisnot”before”inthesensethatithasanypowerofmakingasoundortune。Noristhesounditselfthecomposerofthetune；rather，thesoundissentforthfromthebodyandisorderedbythesoulofthesinger，sothatfromithemayformatune。Noristhesoundfirstintime，foritisgivenforthtogetherwiththetune。
Norisitfirstinchoice，becauseasoundisnobetterthanatune，sinceatuneisnotmerelyasoundbutabeautifulsound。
Butitisfirstinorigin，becausethetuneisnotformedinorderthatitmaybecomeasound，butthesoundisformedinorderthatitmaybecomeatune。
Fromthisexample，lethimwhoisabletounderstandseethatthematterofthingswasfirstmadeandwascalled”heavenandearth”becauseoutofittheheavenandearthweremade。Thisprimalformlessnesswasnotmadefirstintime，becausetheformofthingsgivesrisetotime；butnow，intime，itisintuitedtogetherwithitsform。Andyetnothingcanberelatedofthisunformedmatterunlessitisregardedasifitwerethefirstinthetimeseriesthoughthelastinvalue——becausethingsformedarecertainlysuperiortothingsunformed——anditisprecededbytheeternityoftheCreator，sothatfromnothingtheremightbemadethatfromwhichsomethingmightbemade。
CHAPTERXXX
41。InthisdiscordoftrueopinionsletTruthitselfbringconcord，andmayourGodhavemercyonusall，thatwemayusethelawrightlytotheendofthecommandmentwhichispurelove。
Thus，ifanyoneasksmewhichoftheseopinionswasthemeaningofthyservantMoses，thesewouldnotbemyconfessionsdidInotconfesstotheethatIdonotknow。YetIdoknowthatthoseopinionsaretrue——withtheexceptionofthecarnalones——
aboutwhichIhavesaidwhatIthoughtwasproper。YetthoselittleonesofgoodhopearenotfrightenedbythesewordsofthyBook，fortheyspeakofhighthingsinalowlywayandofafewbasicthingsinmanyvariedways。Butletallofus，whomI
acknowledgetoseeandspeakthetruthinthesewords，loveoneanotherandalsolovethee，ourGod，OFountainofTruth——aswewillifwethirstnotaftervanitybutfortheFountainofTruth。
Indeed，letussohonorthisservantofthine，thedispenserofthisScripture，fullofthySpirit，sothatwewillbelievethatwhenthoudidstrevealthyselftohim，andhewrotethesethingsdown，heintendedthroughthemwhatwillchieflyministerbothforthelightoftruthandtotheincreaseofourfruitfulness。
CHAPTERXXXI
42。Thus，whenonemansays，”MosesmeantwhatImean，”andanothersays，”No，hemeantwhatIdo，”IthinkthatIspeakmorefaithfullywhenIsay，”Whycouldhenothavemeantbothifbothopinionsaretrue？”Andifthereshouldbestillathirdtruthorafourthone，andifanyoneshouldseekatruthquitedifferentinthosewords，whywoulditnotberighttobelievethatMosessawallthesedifferenttruths，sincethroughhimtheoneGodhastemperedtheHolyScripturestotheunderstandingofmanydifferentpeople，whoshouldseetruthsiniteveniftheyaredifferent？Certainly——andIsaythisfearlesslyandfrommyheart——ifIweretowriteanythingonsuchasupremeauthority，Iwouldprefertowriteitsothat，whateveroftruthanyonemightapprehendfromthematterunderdiscussion，mywordsshouldre-
echointheseveralmindsratherthanthattheyshouldsetdownonetrueopinionsoclearlyononepointthatIshouldexcludetherest，eventhoughtheycontainednofalsehoodthatoffendedme。
Therefore，Iamunwilling，OmyGod，tobesoheadstrongasnottobelievethatthisman[Moses]hasreceivedatleastthismuchfromthee。Surelywhenhewaswritingthesewords，hesawfullyandunderstoodallthetruthwehavebeenabletofindinthem，andalsomuchbesidesthatwehavenotbeenabletodiscern，orarenotyetabletofindout，thoughitisthereinthemstilltobefound。
CHAPTERXXXII
43。Finally，OLord——whoartGodandnotfleshandblood——ifanymanseesanythingless，cananythingliehidfrom”thygoodSpirit”whoshall”leadmeintothelandofuprightness，”[503]whichthouthyself，throughthosewords，wastrevealingtofuturereaders，eventhoughhethroughwhomtheywerespokenfixedononlyoneamongthemanyinterpretationsthatmighthavebeenfound？Andifthisisso，letitbeagreedthatthemeaninghesawismoreexaltedthantheothers。Buttous，O
Lord，eitherpointoutthesamemeaningoranyothertrueone，asitpleasesthee。Thus，whetherthoumakestknowntouswhatthoumadestknowntothatmanofthine，orsomeothermeaningbytheagencyofthesamewords，stilldothoufeedusandleterrornotdeceiveus。Behold，OLord，myGod，howmuchwehavewrittenconcerningthesefewwords——howmuch，indeed！Whatstrengthofmind，whatlengthoftime，wouldsufficeforallthybookstobeinterpretedinthisfashion？[504]Allowme，therefore，intheseconcludingwordstoconfessmorebrieflytotheeandselectsomeone，true，certain，andgoodsensethatthoushaltinspire，althoughmanymeaningsofferthemselvesandmanyindeedarepossible。[505]Thisisthefaithofmyconfession，thatifI
couldsaywhatthyservantmeant，thatistruestandbest，andforthatImuststrive。YetifIdonotsucceed，mayitbethatI
shallsayatleastwhatthyTruthwishedtosaytomethroughitswords，justasitsaidwhatitwishedtoMoses。
BOOKTHIRTEEN
Themysteriesandallegoriesofthedaysofcreation。
AugustineundertakestointerpretGen。1:2-31inamysticalandallegoricalfashionsoastoexhibittheprofunditiesofGod’spowerandwisdomandlove。Heisalsointerestedindevelopinghistheoriesofhermeneuticsonhisfavoritetopic:creation。HefindstheTrinityintheaccountofcreationandheponderstheworkoftheSpiritmovingoverthewaters。InthefirmamenthefindstheallegoryofHolyScriptureandinthedrylandandbitterseahefindsthedivisionbetweenthepeopleofGodandtheconspiracyoftheunfaithful。Hedevelopsthethemeofman’sbeingmadeintheimageandlikenessofGod。HebringshissurveytoaclimaxandhisconfessionstoanendwithameditationonthegoodnessofallcreationandthepromisedrestandblessednessoftheeternalSabbath，onwhichGod，whoiseternalrest，”rested。”
CHAPTERI
1。Icallonthee，myGod，myMercy，whomadestmeanddidstnotforgetme，thoughIwasforgetfulofthee。Icalltheeintomysoul，whichthoudidstprepareforthyreceptionbythedesirewhichthouinspirestinit。DonotforsakemewhenIcallonthee，whodidstanticipatemebeforeIcalledandwhodidstrepeatedlyurgewithmanifoldcallingthatIshouldheartheeafaroffandbeturnedandcalluponthee，whocallestme。Forthou，O
Lord，hastblottedoutallmyevildeserts，notpunishingmeforwhatmyhandshavedone；andthouhastanticipatedallmygooddesertssoastorecompensemeforwhatthyhandshavedone——thehandswhichmademe。BeforeIwas，thouwast，andIwasnotanythingatallthatthoushouldstgrantmebeing。Yet，seehowI
existbyreasonofthygoodness，whichmadeprovisionforallthatthoumadestmetobeandallthatthoumadestmefrom。Forthoudidstnotstandinneedofme，noramIthekindofgoodentitywhichcouldbeahelptothee，myLordandmyGod。ItisnotthatImayservetheeasifthouwertfatiguedinworking，orasifthypowerwouldbethelessifitlackedmyassistance。NoristheserviceIpaytheelikethecultivationofafield，sothatthouwouldstgountendedifIdidnottendthee。[506]Instead，itisthatImayserveandworshiptheetotheendthatImayhavemywell-beingfromthee，fromwhomcomesmycapacityforwell-being。
CHAPTERII
2。Indeed，itisfromthefullnessofthygoodnessthatthycreationexistsatall:totheendthatthecreatedgoodmightnotfailtobe，eventhoughitcanprofittheenothing，andisnothingoftheenorequaltothee——sinceitscreatedexistencecomesfromthee。
Forwhatdidtheheavenandearth，whichthoudidstmakeinthebeginning，everdeservefromthee？Letthemdeclare——thesespiritualandcorporealentities，whichthoumadestinthywisdom——letthemdeclarewhattheymeritedatthyhands，sothattheinchoateandtheformless，whetherspiritualorcorporeal，woulddeservetobeheldinbeinginspiteofthefactthattheytendtowarddisorderandextremeunlikenesstothee？Anunformedspiritualentityismoreexcellentthanaformedcorporealentity；
andthecorporeal，evenwhenunformed，ismoreexcellentthanifitweresimplynothingatall。Still，theseformlessentitiesareheldintheirstateofbeingbythee，untiltheyarerecalledtothyunityandreceiveformandbeingfromthee，theonesovereignGood。Whathavetheydeservedofthee，sincetheywouldnotevenbeunformedentitiesexceptfromthee？
3。Whathascorporealmatterdeservedofthee——eveninitsinvisibleandunformedstate——sinceitwouldnotexisteveninthisstateifthouhadstnotmadeit？And，ifitdidnotexist，itcouldnotmerititsexistencefromthee。
Or，whathasthatformlessspiritualcreationdeservedofthee——thatitshouldflowlightlesslyliketheabyss——sinceitissounliketheeandwouldnotexistatallifithadnotbeenturnedbytheWordwhichmadeitthatsameWord，and，illuminedbythatWord，hadbeen”madelight”[507]althoughnotasthyequalbutonlyasanimageofthatForm[ofLight]whichisequaltothee？For，inthecaseofabody，itsbeingisnotthesamethingasitsbeingbeautiful；elseitcouldnotthenbeadeformedbody。
Likewise，inthecaseofacreatedspirit，livingisnotthesamestateaslivingwisely；elseitcouldthenbeimmutablywise。Butthetruegoodofeverycreatedthingisalwaystocleavefasttothee，lest，inturningawayfromthee，itlosethelightithadreceivedinbeingturnedbythee，andsorelapseintoalifelikethatofthedarkabyss。
Asforourselves，whoareaspiritualcreationbyvirtueofoursouls，whenweturnedawayfromthee，OLight，wewereinthatformerlifeofdarkness；andwetoilamidtheshadowsofourdarknessuntil——throughthyonlySon——webecomethyrighteousness，[508]likethemountainsofGod。Forwe，likethegreatabyss，[509]havebeentheobjectsofthyjudgments。
CHAPTERIII
4。Nowwhatthousaidstinthebeginningofthecreation——”Lettherebelight:andtherewaslight”——Iinterpret，notunfitly，asreferringtothespiritualcreation，becauseitalreadyhadakindoflifewhichthoucouldstilluminate。But，sinceithadnotmeritedfromtheethatitshouldbealifecapableofenlightenment，soneither，whenitalreadybegantoexist，diditmeritfromtheethatitshouldbeenlightened。Forneithercoulditsformlessnesspleasetheeuntilitbecamelight——anditbecamelight，notfromthebarefactofexisting，butbytheactofturningitsfacetothelightwhichenlightenedit，andbycleavingtoit。Thusitowedthefactthatitlived，andlivedhappily，tonothingwhatsoeverbutthygrace，sinceithadbeenturned，byachangeforthebetter，towardthatwhichcannotbechangedforeitherbetterorworse。Thoualoneart，becausethoualoneartwithoutcomplication。Fortheeitisnotonethingtoliveandanotherthingtoliveinblessedness；forthouartthyselfthyownblessedness。
CHAPTERIV
5。What，therefore，wouldtherehavebeenlackinginthygood，whichthouthyselfart，evenifthesethingshadneverbeenmadeorhadremainedunformed？Thoudidstnotcreatethemoutofanylackbutoutoftheplenitudeofthygoodness，orderingthemandturningthemtowardform，[510]butnotbecausethyjoyhadtobeperfectedbythem。Forthouartperfect，andtheirimperfectionisdispleasing。Thereforeweretheyperfectedbytheeandbecamepleasingtothee——butnotasifthouwertbeforethatimperfectandhadtobeperfectedintheirperfection。ForthygoodSpiritwhichmovedoverthefaceofthewaters[511]wasnotborneupbythemasifherestedonthem。ForthoseinwhomthygoodSpiritissaidtorestheactuallycausestorestinhimself。Butthyincorruptibleandimmutablewill——initselfall-sufficientforitself——movedoverthatlifewhichthouhadstmade:inwhichlivingisnotatallthesamethingaslivinghappily，sincethatlifestilllivesevenasitflowsinitsowndarkness。Butitremainstobeturnedtohimbywhomitwasmadeandtolivemoreandmorelike”thefountainoflife，”andinhislight”toseelight，”[512]andtobeperfected，andenlightened，andmadeblessed。
CHAPTERV
6。Seenow，[513]howtheTrinityappearstomeinanenigma。
AndthouarttheTrinity，OmyGod，sincethou，OFather——inthebeginningofourwisdom，thatis，inthywisdombornofthee，equalandcoeternalwiththee，thatis，thySon——createdtheheavenandtheearth。Manythingswehavesaidabouttheheavenofheavens，andabouttheearthinvisibleandunformed，andabouttheshadowyabyss——speakingoftheaimlessfluxofitsbeingspirituallydeformedunlessitisturnedtohimfromwhomithasitslifesuchasitisandbyhisLightcomestobealifesuffusedwithbeauty。Thusitwouldbea[lower]heavenofthat[higher]heaven，whichafterwardwasmadebetweenwaterandwater。[514]
AndnowIcametorecognize，inthenameofGod，theFatherwhomadeallthesethings，andintheterm”theBeginning”torecognizetheSon，throughwhomhemadeallthesethings；andsinceIdidbelievethatmyGodwastheTrinity，IsoughtstillfurtherinhisholyWord，and，behold，”ThySpiritmovedoverthewaters。”Thus，seetheTrinity，OmyGod:Father，Son，andHolySpirit，theCreatorofallcreation！
CHAPTERVI
7。Butwhy，Otruth-speakingLight？TotheeIliftupmyheart——letitnotteachmevainnotions。Disperseitsshadowsandtellme，Ibeseechthee，bythatLovewhichisourmother；
tellme，Ibeseechthee，thereasonwhy——afterthereferencetoheavenandtotheinvisibleandunformedearth，anddarknessovertheabyss——thyScriptureshouldthenatlonglastrefertothySpirit？Wasitbecauseitwasappropriatethatheshouldfirstbeshowntousas”movingover”；andthiscouldnothavebeensaidunlesssomethinghadalreadybeenmentionedoverwhichthySpiritcouldbeunderstoodas”moving”？Forhedidnot”moveover”theFatherandtheSon，andhecouldnotproperlybesaidtobe”movingover”ifhewere”movingover”nothing。Thus，whatitwashewas”movingover”hadtobementionedfirstandhewhomitwasnotpropertomentionotherwisethanas”movingover”couldthenbementioned。Butwhywasitnotfittingthatheshouldhavebeenintroducedinsomeotherwaythaninthiscontextof”movingover”？
CHAPTERVII
8。Nowlethimwhoisablefollowthyapostlewithhisunderstandingwhenhesays，”ThyloveisshedabroadinourheartsbytheHolySpirit，whoisgiventous”[515]andwhoteachethusaboutspiritualgifts[516]andshowethusamoreexcellentwayoflove；andwhobowshiskneeuntotheeforus，thatwemaycometothesurpassingknowledgeoftheloveofChrist。[517]Thus，fromthebeginning，hewhoisaboveallwas”movingover”thewaters。
TowhomshallItellthis？HowcanIspeakoftheweightofconcupiscencewhichdragsusdownwardintothedeepabyss，andofthelovewhichliftsusupbythySpiritwhomovedoverthewaters？TowhomshallItellthis？HowshallItellit？Forconcupiscenceandlovearenotcertain”places”intowhichweareplungedandoutofwhichweareliftedagain。Whatcouldbemorelike，andyetwhatmoreunlike？Theyarebothfeelings；theyarebothloves。Theuncleannessofourownspiritflowsdownwardwiththeloveofworldlycare；andthesanctityofthySpiritraisesusupwardbytheloveofreleasefromanxiety——thatwemayliftourheartstotheewherethySpiritis”movingoverthewaters。”Thus，weshallhavecometothatsupremerestwhereoursoulsshallhavepassedthroughthewaterswhichgivenostandingground。[518]
CHAPTERVIII
9。Theangelsfell，andthesoulofmanfell；thustheyindicatetousthedeepdarknessoftheabyss，whichwouldhavestillcontainedthewholespiritualcreationifthouhadstnotsaid，inthebeginning，”Lettherebelight:andtherewaslight”——
andifeveryobedientmindinthyheavenlycityhadnotadheredtotheeandhadnotreposedinthySpirit，whichmovedimmutableoverallthingsmutable。Otherwise，eventheheavenofheavensitselfwouldhavebeenadarkshadow，insteadofbeing，asitisnow，lightintheLord。[519]Forevenintherestlessmiseryofthefallenspirits，whoexhibittheirowndarknesswhentheyarestrippedofthegarmentsofthylight，thoushowestclearlyhownoblethoudidstmaketherationalcreation，forwhoserestandbeatitudenothingsufficessavetheethyself。Andcertainlyitisnotitselfsufficientforitsbeatitude。Foritisthou，OourGod，whowiltenlightenourdarkness；fromtheeshallcomeourgarmentsoflight；andthenourdarknessshallbeasthenoonday。
Givethyselftome，OmyGod，restorethyselftome！See，Ilovethee；andifitbetoolittle，letmelovetheestillmorestrongly。IcannotmeasuremylovesothatImaycometoknowhowmuchthereisstilllackinginmebeforemylifecanruntothyembraceandnotbeturnedawayuntilitishiddenin”thecovertofthypresence。”[520]OnlythisIknow，thatmyexistenceismywoeexceptinthee——notonlyinmyoutwardlife，butalsowithinmyinmostself——andallabundanceIhavewhichisnotmyGodispoverty。
CHAPTERIX
10。ButwasneithertheFathernortheSon”movingoverthewaters”？Ifweunderstandthisasamotioninspace，asabodymoves，thennoteventheHolySpirit”moved。”ButifweunderstandthechangelesssupereminenceofthedivineBeingaboveeverychangeablething，thenFather，Son，andHolySpirit”movedoverthewaters。”
Why，then，isthissaidofthySpiritalone？Whyisitsaidofhimonly——asifhehadbeenina”place”thatisnotaplace——aboutwhomaloneitiswritten，”Heisthygift”？Itisinthygiftthatwerest。Itistherethatweenjoythee。Ourrestisour”place。”Loveliftsusuptowardthatplace，andthygoodSpiritliftsourlowlinessfromthegatesofdeath。[521]Ourpeacerestsinthegoodnessofwill。Thebodytendstowarditsownplacebyitsowngravity。Aweightdoesnottenddownwardonly，butmovestoitsownplace。Firetendsupward；astonetendsdownward。Theyarepropelledbytheirownmass；theyseektheirownplaces。Oilpouredunderthewaterrisesabovethewater；waterpouredonoilsinksundertheoil。Theyaremovedbytheirownmass；theyseektheirownplaces。Iftheyareoutoforder，theyarerestless；whentheirorderisrestored，theyareatrest。Myweightismylove。ByitIamcarriedwhereverIamcarried。Bythygift，[522]weareenkindledandarecarriedupward。Weburninwardlyandmoveforward。Weascendthyladderwhichisinourheart，andwesingacanticleofdegrees[523]；weglowinwardlywiththyfire——withthygoodfire[524]——andwegoforwardbecausewegouptothepeaceofJerusalem[525]；forI
wasgladwhentheysaidtome，”LetusgointothehouseoftheLord。”[526]Therethygoodpleasurewillsettleussothatwewilldesirenothingmorethantodwellthereforever。[527]
CHAPTERX
11。Happywouldbethatcreaturewho，thoughitwasinitselfotherthanthou，stillhadknownnootherstatethanthisfromthetimeitwasmade，sothatitwasneverwithoutthygiftwhichmovesovereverythingmutable——whohadbeenborneupbythecallinwhichthousaidst，”Lettherebelight:andtherewaslight。”[528]Forinusthereisadistinctionbetweenthetimewhenweweredarknessandthetimewhenweweremadelight。Butwearenottoldwhatwouldhavebeenthecasewiththatcreatureifthelighthadnotbeenmade。Itisspokenofasthoughtherehadbeensomethingoffluxanddarknessinitbeforehandsothatthecausebywhichitwasmadetobeotherwisemightbeevident。
Thisistosay，bybeingturnedtotheunfailingLightitmightbecomelight。Lethimwhoisableunderstandthis；andlethimwhoisnotaskofthee。Whytroubleme，asifIcould”enlighteneverymanthatcomesintotheworld”[529]？
CHAPTERXI
12。WhocanunderstandtheomnipotentTrinity？Andyetwhodoesnotspeakaboutit，ifindeeditisofitthathespeaks？
Rareisthesoulwho，whenhespeaksofit，alsoknowsofwhathespeaks。Andmencontendandstrive，butnomanseesthevisionofitwithoutpeace。
Icouldwishthatmenwouldconsiderthreethingswhicharewithinthemselves。ThesethreethingsarequitedifferentfromtheTrinity，butImentiontheminorderthatmenmayexercisetheirmindsandtestthemselvesandcometorealizehowdifferentfromittheyare。[530]
ThethreethingsIspeakofare:tobe，toknow，andtowill。
ForIam，andIknow，andIwill。Iamaknowingandawillingbeing；IknowthatIamandthatIwill；andIwilltobeandtoknow。Inthesethreefunctions，therefore，lethimwhocanseehowintegralalifeis；forthereisonelife，onemind，oneessence。Finally，thedistinctiondoesnotseparatethethings，andyetitisadistinction。Surelyamanhasthisdistinctionbeforehismind；lethimlookintohimselfandsee，andtellme。
Butwhenhediscoversandcansayanythingaboutanyoneofthese，lethimnotthinkthathehastherebydiscoveredwhatisimmutableabovethemall，which_is_immutablyand_knows_immutablyand_wills_immutably。ButwhetherthereisaTrinitytherebecausethesethreefunctionsexistintheoneGod，orwhetherallthreeareineachPersonsothattheyareeachthreefold，orwhetherboththesenotionsaretrueand，insomemysteriousmanner，theInfiniteisinitselfitsownSelfsameobject——atonceoneandmany，sothatbyitselfitisandknowsitselfandsufficestoitselfwithoutchange，sothattheSelfsameistheabundantmagnitudeofitsUnity——whocanreadilyconceive？Whocaninanyfashionexpressitplainly？Whocaninanywayrashlymakeapronouncementaboutit？
CHAPTERXII
13。Goforwardinyourconfession，Omyfaith；saytotheLordyourGod，”Holy，holy，holy，OLordmyGod，inthynamewehavebeenbaptized，inthenameoftheFather，Son，andHolySpirit。”Inthynamewebaptize，inthenameoftheFather，theSon，andtheHolySpirit。ForamongusalsoGodinhisChristmade”heavenandearth，”namely，thespiritualandcarnalmembersofhisChurch。Andtrueitisthatbeforeitreceived”theformofdoctrine，”our”earth”[531]was”invisibleandunformed，”andwewerecoveredwiththedarknessofourignorance；forthoudostcorrectmanforhisiniquity，[532]and”thyjudgmentsareagreatabyss。”[533]ButbecausethySpiritwasmovingoverthesewaters，thymercydidnotforsakeourwretchedness，andthousaidst，”Lettherebelight；repent，forthekingdomofheavenisathand。”[534]Repent，andlettherebelight。Becauseoursoulwastroubledwithinus，werememberedthee，OLord，fromthelandofJordan，andfromthemountain[535]——andaswebecamedispleasedwithourdarknessweturnedtothee，”andtherewaslight。”Andbehold，wewereheretoforeindarkness，butnowwearelightintheLord。[536]
CHAPTERXIII
14。Butevenso，westilllivebyfaithandnotbysight，forwearesavedbyhope；buthopethatisseenisnothope。Thusfardeepcallsuntodeep，butnowin”thenoiseofthywaterfalls。”[537]Andthusfarhewhosaid，”Icouldnotspeaktoyouasifyouwerespiritualones，butonlyasifyouwerecarnal”[538]——thusfarevenhedoesnotcounthimselftohaveapprehended，butforgettingthethingsthatarebehindandreachingforthtothethingsthatarebefore，hepressesontothosethingsthatareahead，[539]andhegroansunderhisburdenandhissoulthirstsafterthelivingGodasthestagpantsforthewaterbrooks，[540]andsays，”WhenshallIcome？”[541]——”desiringtobefurtherclothedbyhishousewhichisfromheaven。”[542]Andhecalledtothislowerdeep，saying，”Benotconformedtothisworld，butbetransformedbytherenewingofyourmind。”[543]And”benotchildreninunderstanding，althoughinmalicebechildren，”inorderthat”inunderstandingyoumaybecomeperfect。”[544]”OfoolishGalatians，whohasbewitchedyou？”[545]Butthisisnotnowonlyinhisownvoicebutinthyvoice，whosentthySpiritfromabovethroughHimwhoboth”ascendeduponhigh”[546]andopenedupthefloodgatesofhisgifts，thattheforceofhisstreamsmightmakegladthecityofGod。[547]
ForthatcityandforhimsighstheBridegroom’sfriend，[548]
whohasnowthefirstfruitsoftheSpiritlaidupwithhim，butwhoisstillgroaningwithinhimselfandwaitingforadoption，thatis，theredemptionofhisbody。[549]ToHimhesighs，forheisamemberoftheBride[550]；forhimheisjealous，notforhimself，butbecausenotinhisownvoicebutinthevoiceofthywaterfallshecallsonthatotherdeep，ofwhichheisjealousandinfear；forhefearslest，astheserpentseducedEvebyhissubtlety，hismindshouldbecorruptedfromthepuritywhichisinourBridegroom，thyonlySon。Whatalightofbeautythatwillbewhen”weshallseehimasheis”[551]！——andwhenthesetearsshallpassawaywhich”havebeenmymeatdayandnight，whiletheycontinuallysayuntome，’WhereisyourGod？’”[552]
CHAPTERXIV
15。AndImyselfsay:”OmyGod，whereartthou？Seenow，whereartthou？”IntheeItakemybreathforalittlewhile，whenIpouroutmysoulbeyondmyselfinthevoiceofjoyandpraise，inthevoiceofhimthatkeepsholyday。[553]Andstillitiscastdownbecauseitrelapsesandbecomesanabyss，orratheritfeelsthatitstillisanabyss。Myfaithspeakstomysoul——
thefaiththatthoudostkindletolightmypathinthenight:”Whyareyoucastdown，Omysoul，andwhyareyoudisquietedinme？HopeinGod。”[554]Forhiswordisalamptoyourfeet。[555]
Hopeandpersevereuntilthenightpasses——thatmotherofthewicked；untiltheLord’swrathsubsides——thatwrathwhosechildrenoncewewere，ofwhomwewerebeforehandindarkness，whoseresiduewestillbearaboutusinourbodies，deadbecauseofsin。[556]Hopeandendureuntilthedaybreaksandtheshadowsfleeaway。[557]HopeintheLord:inthemorningIshallstandinhispresenceandkeepwatch[558]；Ishallforevergivepraisetohim。InthemorningIshallstandandshallseemyGod，whoisthehealthofmycountenance，[559]whoalsowillquickenourmortalbodiesbytheSpiritthatdwellsinus，[560]becauseinmercyhewasmovingoverourlightlessandrestlessinnerdeep。
Fromthiswehavereceivedanearnest，evennowinthispilgrimage，thatwearenowinthelight，sincealreadywearesavedbyhopeandarechildrenofthelightandchildrenoftheday——notchildrenofthenight，norofthedarkness，[561]whichwehavebeenhitherto。Betweenthosechildrenofthenightandourselves，inthisstilluncertainstateofhumanknowledge，onlythoucanstrightlydistinguish——thouwhodosttesttheheartandwhodostcallthelightday，andthedarknessnight。[562]Forwhocanseeusclearlybutthee？Whatdowehavethatwehavenotreceivedfromthee，whomadestfromthesamelumpsomevesselstonoble，andotherstoignoble，use[563]？
CHAPTERXV
16。Nowwhobutthee，ourGod，didstmakeforusthatfirmamentoftheauthorityofthydivineScripturetobeoverus？
For”theheavenshallbefoldeduplikeascroll”[564]；butnowitisstretchedoveruslikeaskin。ThydivineScriptureisofmoresublimeauthoritynowthatthosemortalmenthroughwhomthoudidstdispenseittoushavedepartedthislife。Andthouknowest，OLord，thouknowesthowthoudidstclothemenwithskinswhentheybecamemortalbecauseofsin。[565]Insomethingofthesameway，thouhaststretchedoutthefirmamentofthyBookasaskin——thatistosay，thouhastspreadthyharmoniouswordsoverusthroughtheministryofmortalmen。Forbytheirverydeaththatsolidfirmamentofauthorityinthysayings，spokenforthbythem，stretcheshighoverallthatnowdriftunderit；whereaswhiletheylivedonearththeirauthoritywasnotsowidelyextended。Thenthouhadstnotyetspreadouttheheavenlikeaskin；thouhadstnotyetspreadabroadeverywherethefameoftheirdeath。
17。Letussee，OLord，”theheavens，theworkofthyfingers，”[566]andclearawayfromoureyesthefogwithwhichthouhastcoveredthem。Inthem[567]isthattestimonyofthinewhichgiveswisdomeventothelittleones。OmyGod，outofthemouthofbabesandsucklings，perfectthypraise。[568]Forweknownootherbooksthatsodestroyman’spride，thatsobreakdowntheadversaryandtheself-defenderwhoresiststhyreconciliationbyanefforttojustifyhisownsins。Idonotknow，OLord，Idonotknowanyothersuchpurewordsthatsopersuademetoconfessionandmakemynecksubmissivetothyyoke，andinvitemetoservetheefornothingelsethanthyownsake。
Letmeunderstandthesethings，OgoodFather。Grantthistome，sinceIamplacedunderthem；forthouhastestablishedthesethingsforthoseplacedunderthem。
18。Thereareotherwatersthatareabovethisfirmament，andIbelievethattheyareimmortalandremovedfromearthlycorruption。Letthempraisethyname——thissuper-celestialsociety，thyangels，whohavenoneedtolookupatthisfirmamentortogainaknowledgeofthyWordbyreadingit——letthempraisethee。Fortheyalwaysbeholdthyfaceandreadtherein，withoutanysyllablesintime，whatthyeternalwillintends。
Theyread，theychoose，theylove。[569]Theyarealwaysreading，andwhattheyreadneverpassesaway。Forbychoosingandbylovingtheyreadtheveryimmutabilityofthycounsel。Theirbookisneverclosed，noristhescrollfoldedup，becausethouthyselfartthistothem，andartthistothemeternally；becausethoudidstrangethemabovethisfirmamentwhichthoumadestfirmovertheinfirmitiesofthepeoplebelowtheheavens，wheretheymightlookupandlearnthymercy，whichproclaimsintimetheewhomadestalltimes。”Forthymercy，OLord，isintheheavens，andthyfaithfulnessreachestotheclouds。”[570]Thecloudspassaway，buttheheavensremain。ThepreachersofthyWordpassawayfromthislifeintoanother；butthyScriptureisspreadabroadoverthepeople，eventotheendoftheworld。Indeed，bothheavenandearthshallpassaway，butthywordsshallneverpassaway。[571]Thescrollshallberolledtogether，andthe”grass”
overwhichitwasspreadshall，withallitsgoodliness，passaway；butthyWordremainsforever[572]——thyWordwhichnowappearstousinthedarkimageofthecloudsandthroughtheglassofheaven，andnotasitreallyis。Andevenifwearethewell-belovedofthySon，ithasnotyetappearedwhatweshallbe。[573]Hehathseenusthroughtheentanglement[574]ofourflesh，andheisfair-speaking，andhehathenkindledus，andwerunafterhisfragrance。[575]But”whenheshallappear，thenweshallbelikehim，forweshallseehimasheis。”[576]Asheis，OLord，weshallseehim——althoughthattimeisnotyet。
CHAPTERXVI
19。ForjustasthouarttheutterlyReal，thoualonedostfullyknow，sincethouartimmutably，andthouknowestimmutably，andthouwillestimmutably。AndthyEssenceknowsandwillsimmutably。ThyKnowledgeisandwillsimmutably。ThyWillisandknowsimmutably。AnditdoesnotseemrighttotheethattheimmutableLightshouldbeknownbytheenlightenedbutmutablecreatureinthesamewayasitknowsitself。Therefore，totheemysoulisasalandwherenowateris[577]；for，justasitcannotenlightenitselfbyitself，soitcannotsatisfyitselfbyitself。Thusthefountainoflifeiswiththee，and”inthylightshallweseelight。”[578]