A contest of providing hospitality.
2606.
When Niceta had thus spoken, the old man answered:
2607.
You indeed, my son, have conducted your argument wisely and vigorously;
so much so, that I do not think the subject of providence could be better treated.
2608.
Yet as it is now late, I wish to say some things tomorrow in answer to what you have argued;
and if on these you can satisfy me, I shall confess myself a debtor to your favour.
2609.
And when the old man said this, Peter rose up.
2610.
Then one of those present, a chief man of the Laodiceans, requested of Peter and us that he might give the old man other clothes instead of the mean and torn ones that he wore.
2611.
This man Peter and we embraced;
and praising him for his honourable and excellent intention, said:
2612.
We are not so foolish and impious as not to bestow the things which are necessary for bodily uses upon him to whom we have committed so precious words; and we hope that he will willingly receive them, as a father from his sons, and also we trust that he will share with us our house and our living.
2613.
While we said this, and that chief man of the city strove to take the old man away from us with the greatest urgency and with many blandishments, while we the more eagerly strove to keep him with us, all the people cried out that it should rather be done as the old man himself pleased;
and when silence was obtained, the old man, with an oath, said:
2614.
Today I shall stay with no one, nor take anything from any one, lest the choice of the one should prove the sorrow of the other; afterwards these things may be, if so it seem right.
Arrangements for To-Morrow.
2615.
And when the old man had said this, Peter said to the chief man of the city:
2616.
Since you have shown your good-will in our presence, it is not right that you should go away sorrowful; yet we will accept from you favour for favour.
2617.
Show us your house, and make it ready, so that the discussion which is to be tomorrow may be held there, and that any who wish to be present to hear it may be admitted.
2618.
When the chief man of the city heard this, he rejoiced greatly; and all the people also heard it gladly.
2619.
And when the crowds had dispersed, he pointed out his house; and the old man also was preparing to depart.
2620.
Yet I commanded one of my attendants to follow the old man secretly, and find out where he stayed.
2621.
And when we returned to our lodging, we told our brethren all our dealings with the old man;
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and so, as usual, we supped and went to sleep.
The Form of Sound Words, Which You Have Heard of Me.
2622.
But on the following day Peter arose early and called us, and we went together to the secret place in which we had been on the previous day, for the purpose of prayer.
2623.
And when, after prayer, we were coming thence to the appointed place, he exhorted us by the way, saying:
Hear me, most beloved fellow-servants:
2624.
t is good that every one of you, according to his ability, contribute to the advantage of those who are approaching to the faith of our religion;
2625.
and therefore do not shrink from instructing the ignorant, and teaching according to the wisdom which has been bestowed upon you by the providence of God, yet so that you only join the eloquence of your discourse with those things which you have heard from me, and which have been committed to you.
2626.
Yet do not speak anything which is your own, and which has not been committed to you, though it may seem to yourselves to be true;
yet hold forth those things, as I have said, which I myself have received from the true Jesus,
and have delivered to you, although they may seem to be less full of authority.
2627.
For thus it often happens that men turn away from the truth, while they believe that they have found out, by their own thoughts, a form of truth more true and powerful.
The Chief Man's House.
2628.
To these counsels of Peter we willingly assented,
saying to him that we should do nothing except what was pleasing to him.
2629.
Then said he:
That you may therefore be exercised without danger, each of you conduct the discussion in my presence, one succeeding another, and each one elucidating his own questions.
2630.
Now, then, as Niceta discoursed sufficiently yesterday, let Aquila conduct the discussion today;
and after Aquila, Clement; and then I, if the case shall require it, will add something.
2631.
Meanwhile, while we were talking in this way, we came to the house;
and the master of the house welcomed us, and led us to a certain apartment,
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arranged after the manner of a theatre, and beautifully built.
2632.
There we found great crowds waiting for us, who had come during the night,
and among them the old man who had argued with us yesterday.
2633.
Therefore we entered, having Peter in the midst of us, looking about if we could see the old man anywhere; and when Peter saw him hiding in the midst of the crowd, he called him to him, saying:
2634.
Since you possess a soul more enlightened than most, why do you hide yourself, and conceal yourself in modesty?
2635.
Rather come hither, and propound your sentiments.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER NINETY
Divisions 2636-2670
Book 8
RECOGNITIONS 8
Recapitulation of Yesterday's Argument.
2636.
When Peter had thus spoken, immediately the crowd began to make room for the old man.
2637.
And when he had come forward, he thus began:
Although I do not remember the words of the discourse which the young man delivered yesterday, yet I recollect the purport and the order of it;
2638.
and therefore I think it necessary, for the sake of those who were not present yesterday, to call up what was said, and to repeat everything shortly, that, although something may have escaped me,
I may be reminded of it by him who delivered the discourse, who is now present.
2639.
This, then, was the purport of yesterday's discussion:
that all things that we see, inasmuch as they consist in a certain proportion,
and art, and form, and species, must be believed to have been made by intelligent power;
2640.
yet if it be mind and reason that has formed them,
it follows that the world is governed by the providence of the same reason,
although the things which are done in the world may seem to us to be not quite rightly done.
2641.
Yet it follows, that if God and mind is the creator of all things, He must also be just;
yet if He is just, He necessarily judges.
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2642.
If He judges, it is of necessity that men be judged with respect to their doings;
and if every one is judged in respect of his doings, there shall at some time be a righteous separation between righteous men and sinners.
2643.
This, I think, was the substance of the whole discourse.
Genesis.
2644.
If, therefore, it can be shown that mind and reason created all things,
it follows that those things which come after are also managed by reason and providence.
2645.
Yet if unintelligent and blind nature produces all things,
the reason of judgment is undoubtedly overthrown;
and there is no ground to expect either punishment of sin or reward of well-doing where there is no judge.
2646.
Since, then, the whole matter depends upon this, and hangs by this head,
do not take it amiss, if I wish this to be discussed and handled somewhat more fully.
2647.
For in this the first gate, as it were, is shut towards all things which are propounded,
and therefore I wish first of all to have it opened to me.
2648.
Now therefore hear what my doctrine is; and if any one of you pleases, let him reply to me:
for I shall not be ashamed to learn, if I hear that which is true, and to assent to him who speaks rightly.
2649.
The discourse, then, which you delivered yesterday, which asserted that all things consist by art, and measure, and reason, does not fully persuade me that it is mind and reason that has made the world;
for I have many things which I can show to consist by competent measure, and form, and species, and which yet were not made by mind and reason.
2650.
Then, besides, I see that many things are done in the world without arrangement, consequence, or justice, and that nothing can be done without the course of Genesis.
2651.
This I shall in the sequel prove most clearly from my own case.
The Rainbow.
2652.
When the old man had thus spoken, Aquila answered:
As you yourself proposed that any one who pleased should have an opportunity of answering to what you might say, my brother Niceta permits me to conduct the argument today.
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2653.
Then the old man:
Go on, my son, as you please.
2654.
And Aquila answered:
You promised that you would show that there are many things in the world which have a form and species arranged by equal reason, which yet it is evident were not effected by God as their Creator.
2655.
Now, then, as you have promised, point out these things.
2656.
Then said the old man:
Behold, we see the bow in the heaven assume a circular shape, completed in all proportion, and have an appearance of reality, which perhaps neither mind could have constructed nor reason described;
and yet it is not made by any mind.
2657.
Behold, I have set forth the whole in a word:
now answer me.
Types and Forms.
2658.
Then said Aquila:
If anything is expressed from a type and form,
it is at once understood that it is from reason, and that it could not be made without mind;
since the type itself, which expresses figures and forms, was not made without mind.
2659.
For example, if wax be applied to an engraved ring, it takes the stamp and figure from the ring,
which undoubtedly is without sense; but then the ring, which expresses the figure,
was engraven by the hand of a workman, and it was mind and reason that gave the type to the ring.
2660.
So then the bow also is expressed in the air; for the sun, impressing its rays on the clouds in the process of rarefaction, and affixing the type of its circularity to the cloudy moisture,
as it were to soft wax, produces the appearance of a bow;
2661.
and this, as I have said, is effected by the reflection of the sun's brightness upon the clouds,
and reproducing the brightness of its circle from them.
2662.
Now this does not always take place,
yet only when the opportunity is presented by the rarefaction of moistened clouds.
2663.
And consequently, when the clouds again are condensed and unite,
the form of the bow is dissolved and vanishes.
2664.
Finally, the bow never is seen without sun and clouds,
just as the image is not produced, unless there be the type, and wax, or some other material.
2665.
Nor is it wonderful if God the Creator in the beginning made types,
from which forms and species may now be expressed.
2666.
Yet this is similar to that, that in the beginning God created insensible elements,
which He might use for forming and developing all other things.
2667.
Yet even those who form statues, first make a mould of clay or wax,
and from it the figure of the statue is produced.
2668.
And then afterwards a shadow is also produced from the statue,
which shadow always bears the form and likeness of the statue.
2669.
What shall we say then?
That the insensible statue forms a shadow finished with as diligent care as the statue itself?
2670.
Or shall the finishing of the shadow be unhesitatingly ascribed to him who has also fashioned the statue?
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER NINETY ONE
Divisions 2671-2700
Book 8
RECOGNITIONS 8
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