Freedom of Discussion Allowed.
2396.
When Peter was about to reply to this, Niceta, anticipating him, said:
Would my lord Peter allow me to answer to this; and let it not be thought forward that I, a young man, should have an encounter with an old man, but rather let me converse as a son with a father.
2397.
Then said the old man:
Not only do I wish, my son, that you should set forth your opinions;
yet also if any one of your associates, if anyone even of the bystanders,
thinks that he knows anything, let him unhesitatingly state it:
2398.
we shall gladly hear it;
for it is by the contribution of many that the things that are unknown are more easily found out.
2399.
Then Niceta therefore answered:
Do not deem me to have done rashly, my father,
because I have interrupted the speech of my lord Peter;
yet rather I meant to honour him by doing this.
2400.
For he is a man of God, full of all knowledge, who is not ignorant even of Greek learning,
because he is filled with the Spirit of God, to whom nothing is unknown.
2401.
Yet because it is suitable to him to speak of heavenly things,
I shall answer concerning those things which pertain to the babbling of the Greeks.
2402.
Yet after we have disputed in the Grecian manner,
and we have come to that point where no issue appears, then he, as filled with the knowledge of God,
shall openly and clearly disclose to us the truth on all matters, so that not we only,
yet also all who are around us as hearers, shall learn the way of truth.
2403.
And therefore now let him sit as umpire;
and when either of us shall yield, then let him, taking up the matter, give an unquestionable judgment.
The Other Side of the Question Stated.
2404.
When Niceta had thus spoken, those who had assembled conversed among themselves:
2405.
Is this that Peter of whom we heard,
the most approved disciple of Him who appeared in Judæa and wrought many signs and miracles?
2406.
And they stood gazing upon him with great fear and veneration,
as conferring upon the Lord the honour of His good servant.
2407.
Which when Peter observed, he said to them:
Let us hear with all attention, holding an impartial judgment of what shall be said by each;
and after their encounter we also shall add what may seem necessary.
2408.
And when Peter had said this, the crowds rejoiced.
2409.
Then Niceta began to speak as follows:
You have laid down, my father, that the world is not governed by the providence of God,
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yet that all things are subject to genesis,
whether the things which relate to the dispositions, or those which relate to the doings of every one.
2410.
This I could answer immediately;
yet because it is right to observe order, we also lay down what we hold, as you yourself requested should be done.
2411.
I say that the world is governed by the providence of God,
at least in those things which need His government.
2412.
For He it is alone who holds all things in His hand, who also made the world;
the just God, who shall at some time render to every one according to his deeds.
2413.
Now, then, you have our position; go on as you please, either overthrowing mine or establishing your own, that I may meet your statements.
2414.
Or if you wish me to speak first, I shall not hesitate.
The Way Cleared.
2415.
Then the old man answered:
Whether it pleases you, my son, to speak first, or whether you prefer that I should speak, makes no difference, especially with those who discuss in a friendly spirit.
2416.
However, speak you first, and I will gladly hear;
and I wish you may be able even to follow out those things that are to be spoken by me,
and to put in opposition to them those things that are contrary to them,
and from the comparison of both to show the truth.
2417.
Niceta answered:
If you wish it, I can even state your side of the argument, and then answer it.
2418.
Then the old man said:
Show me first how you can know what I have not yet spoken,
and so I shall believe that you can follow out my side of the argument.
2419.
Then Niceta said:
Your sect is manifest, even by the proposition which you have laid down,
to those who are skilled in doctrines of this sort; and its consequence is certain.
2420.
And because I am not ignorant what are the propositions of the philosophers,
I know what follows from those things which you have propounded;
especially because I have frequented the schools of Epicurus in preference to the other philosophers.
2421.
Yet my brother Aquila has attended more to the Pyrrhonists,
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and our other brother to the Platonists and Aristotelians;
therefore you have to do with learned hearers.
2422.
Then said the old man:
You have well and logically informed us how you perceived the things that follow from the statements which have been enunciated.
2423.
Yet I professed something more than the tenet of Epicurus;
for I introduced the genesis, and asserted that it is the cause of all the doings of men.
Instincts.
2424.
When the old man had said this, I, Clement, said to him,
Hear, my father,
If my brother Niceta brings you to acknowledge that the world is not governed without the providence of God, I shall be able to answer you in that part which remains concerning the genesis;
for I am well acquainted with this doctrine.
2425.
And when I had thus spoken, my brother Aquila said:
What is the use of our calling him father, when we are commanded to call no man father upon earth?
Matthew 23:9
2426.
Then, looking to the old man, he said,
Do not take it amiss, my father, that I have found fault with my brother for calling you father,
for we have a precept not to call any one by that name.
2427.
When Aquila said that, all the assembly of the bystanders, as well as the old man and Peter, laughed.
2428.
And when Aquila asked the reason of their all laughing, I said to him:
Because you yourself do the very thing which you find fault with in another;
for you called the old man father.
2429.
Yet he denied it, saying:
I am not aware that I called him father. Meantime Peter was moved with certain suspicions,
as he told us afterwards;
2430.
and looking to Niceta, he said,
Go on with what you have proposed.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER EIGHTY THREE
Divisions 2431-2455
Book 8
RECOGNITIONS 8
Simple and Compound.
2431.
Then Niceta began as follows:
Everything that is, is either simple or compound.
2432.
That which is simple is without number, division, colour, difference, roughness, smoothness, weight, lightness, quality, quantity, and therefore without end.
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2433.
Yet that which is compound is either compounded of two, or of three, or even of four elements, or at all events of several; and things which are compounded can also of necessity be divided.
2434.
The old man, hearing this, said:
You speak most excellently and learnedly, my son.
2435.
Then Niceta went on:
Therefore that which is simple, and which is without any of those things by which that which subsists can be dissolved, is without doubt incomprehensible and infinite, knowing neither beginning nor end, and therefore is one and alone, and subsisting without an author.
2436.
Yet that which is compound is subject to number, and diversity, and division,
— is necessarily compounded by some author, and is a diversity collected into one species.
2437.
That which is infinite is therefore, in respect of goodness, a Father; in respect of power, a Creator.
2438.
Nor can the power of creating cease in the Infinite, nor the goodness be quiescent;
yet He is impelled by goodness to change existing things, and by power to arrange and strengthen them.
2439.
Therefore some things, as we have said, are changed,
and composed of two or three, some of four, others of more elements.
2440.
Yet since our inquiry at present is concerning the method of the world and its substance, which, it is agreed, is compounded of four elements, to which all those ten differences belong which we have mentioned above, let us begin at these lower steps, and come to the higher.
2441.
For a way is afforded us to intellectual and invisible things from those which we see and handle;
as is contained in arithmetical instructions, where, when inquiry is made concerning divine things,
we rise from the lower to the higher numbers; yet when the method respecting present and visible things is expounded, the order is directed from the higher to the lower numbers.
2442.
Is it not so?
Creation Implies Providence.
2443.
Then the old man said:
You are following it out exceedingly well.
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2444.
Then Niceta:
Now, then, we must inquire concerning the method of the world;
of which the first inquiry is divided into two parts.
2445.
For it is asked whether it has been made or not?
2446.
And if it has not been made, it must be that 'Unbegotten' from which all things are.
2447.
Yet if it has been made, concerning this again the question is divided into two parts,
whether it was made by itself, or by another.
2448.
And if indeed it was made by itself, then without doubt providence is excluded.
2449.
If providence is not admitted, in vain is the mind incited to virtue,
in vain justice is maintained, if there be no one to render to the just man according to his merits.
2450.
Yet even the soul itself will not appear to be immortal, if there be no dispensation of providence to receive it after its escape from the body.
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