General or Special Providence.
2451.
Now, if it be taught that there is a providence, and that the world was made by it,
other questions meet us which must be discussed.
2452.
For it will be asked, In what way providence acts, whether generally towards the whole,
or specially towards the parts, or generally also towards the parts,
or both generally towards the whole, and specially towards the parts?
2453.
Yet by general providence we mean this:
as if God, at first making the world, has given an order and appointed a course to things,
and has ceased to take any further care of what is done.
2454.
Yet special providence towards the parts is of this sort,
that He exercises providence over some men or places, but not over others.
2455.
Yet general over all, and at the same time special over the parts, is in this wise:
if God made all things at first, and exercises providence over each individual even to the end,
and renders to every one according to his deeds.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR
Divisions 2456-2485
Book 8
RECOGNITIONS 8
Prayer Inconsistent with Genesis.
2456.
Therefore that first proposition, which declares that God made all things in the beginning,
and having imposed a course and order upon things, takes no further account of them,
affirms that all things are done according to genesis.
2457.
To this, therefore, we shall first reply;
and especially to those who worship the gods and defend genesis.
2458.
Assuredly, these men, when they sacrifice to the gods and pray to them,
hope that they shall obtain something in opposition to genesis, and so they annul genesis.
2459.
Yet when they laugh at those who incite to virtue and exhort to continence,
and say that nobody can do or suffer anything unless what is decreed to him by fate,
they assuredly cut up by the roots all worship of the Divinity.
2460.
For why should you worship those from whom you can obtain nothing which the method of what is decreed does not allow?
2461.
Let this suffice in the meantime, in opposition to these men.
2462.
Yet I say that the world is made by God, and that it is at some time to be destroyed by Him,
that that world may appear which is eternal, and which is made for this end,
that it may be always, and that it may receive those who, in the judgment of God, are worthy of it.
|
|
|
2463.
Yet that there is another and invisible world, which contains this visible world within itself,
— after we have finished our discussion concerning the visible world, we shall come to it also.
A Creator Necessary.
2464.
Now, in the meantime, that this visible world has been made,
very many wise men among the philosophers do testify.
2465.
Yet that we may not seem to make use of assertions as witnesses, as though we needed them,
let us inquire, if you please, concerning its principles.
2466.
That this visible world is material, is sufficiently evident from the fact that it is visible.
2467.
Yet every body receives one of two Differentiæ;
for it is either compact and solid, or divided and separate.
2468.
And if the body of which the world was made was compact and solid, and that body was parted and divided through diverse species and parts according to its differences, there must necessarily be understood to have been some one to separate the body which was compact and solid, and to draw it into many parts and diverse forms;
2469.
or if all this mass of the world was compounded and compacted from diverse and dispersed parts of bodies, still there must be understood to have been some one to collect into one the dispersed parts, and to invest these things with their different species.
Mode of Creation.
2470.
And, indeed, I know that several of the philosophers were rather of this opinion,
that God the Creator made divisions and distinctions from one body, which they call Matter,
which yet consisted of four elements, mingled into one by a certain tempering of divine providence.
2471.
For I think that what some have said is vain, that the body of the world is simple,
that is, without any conjunction;
since it is evident that what is simple can neither be a body, nor can be mixed,
or propagated, or dissolved;
all which, we see, happen to the bodies of the world.
2472.
For how could it be dissolved if it were simple,
and had not within it that from which it might be resolved and divided?
|
|
|
2473.
Yet if bodies seem to be composed of two, or three, or even of four elements,
— who that has even a small portion of sense does not perceive that there must have been some one who collected several into one, and preserving the measure of tempering, made a solid body out of diverse parts?
2474.
This some one, therefore, we call God, the Creator of the world,
and acknowledge Him as the author of the universe.
Theories of Creation.
2475.
For the Greek philosophers, inquiring into the beginnings of the world, have gone into the matter,
some in one way and some in another.
2476.
In short, Pythagoras says that numbers are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
Callistratus, that qualities are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
2477.
Alcmæon, that contrarieties are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
Anaximander, that immensity are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
2478.
Anaxagoras, that equalities of parts are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
Epicurus, that atoms are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
2479.
Diodorus, that ἀμερῆ,
that is, things in which there are no parts are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
Asclepius, that ὄγκοι,
which we may call tumours or swellings are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
2480.
the geometricians, that ends are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
Democritus, that ideas are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
2481.
Thales, that water are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
Heraclitus, that fire are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
2482.
Diogenes, that air are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
Parmenides, that earth are the elements of the worlds beginnings;
2483.
Zeno, Empedocles, Plato, that fire, water, air, and earth are the elements of the worlds beginnings.
2484.
Aristotle also introduces a fifth element, which he called ἀκατονόμαστον;
that is, that which cannot be named; [ineffable, or indescribable, terms used by the Gnostics]
|
|
|
without doubt indicating Him who made the world, by joining the four elements into one.
2485.
Whether, therefore, there be two, or three, or four, or more,
or innumerable elements, of which the world consists,
in every supposition there is shown to be a God, who collected many into one,
and again drew them, when collected, into diverse species;
and by this it is proved that the machine of the world could not have subsisted without a maker and a disposer.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE
Divisions 2486-2520
Book 8
RECOGNITIONS 8
Дата добавления: 2019-02-13; просмотров: 224; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы! |
Мы поможем в написании ваших работ!