Things Apparently Useless and Vile Made by God.
2671.
If, then, it seems to you that this is so, and what has been said on this subject is enough, let us come to inquire into other matters; or if you think that something is still wanting, let us go over it again.
2672.
And the old man said:
I wish you would go over this again,
since there are many other things which I see to be made in like manner:
2673.
for both the fruits of trees are produced in like manner, beautifully formed and wonderfully rounded;
and the appearance of the leaves is formed with immense gracefulness,
and the green membrane is woven with exquisite art:
2674.
then, moreover, fleas, mice, lizards,and such like,
shall we say that these are made by God?
2675.
Hence, from these vile objects a conjecture is derived concerning the superior,
that they are by no means formed by the art of mind.
2676.
You infer well, said Aquila, concerning the texture of leaves,
and concerning small animals, that from these belief is withdrawn from the superior creatures;
2677.
yet let not these things deceive you, that you should think
that God, working as it were only with two hands, could not complete all things that are made;
2678.
yet remember how my brother Niceta answered you yesterday,
and truly disclosed the mystery before the time, as a son speaking with his father,
and explained why and how things are made which seem to be useless.
Ordinate and Inordinate.
2679.
Then the old man:
I should like to hear from you why those useless things are made by the will of that supreme mind?
2680.
If,said he, it is fully manifest to you that there is in them the work of mind and reason, then you will not hesitate to say also why they were made, and to declare that they have been rightly made.
2681.
To this the old man answered:
I am not able, my son, to say that those things which seem formed by art are made by mind, by reason of other things which we see to be done unjustly and disorderly in the world.
2682.
If, says Aquila, those things which are done disorderly do not allow you say that they are done by the providence of God, why do not those things which are done orderly compel you to say that they are done by God, and that irrational nature cannot produce a rational work?
2683.
For it is certain, nor do we at all deny, that in this world some things are done orderly, and some disorderly.
2684.
Those things, therefore, that are done rationally, believe that they are done by providence;
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yet those that are done irrationally and inordinately, that they befall naturally, and happen accidentally.
2685.
Yet I wonder that men do not perceive, that where there is sense things may be done ordinately and inordinately, yet where there is no sense neither the one nor the other can be done;
for reason makes order, and the course of order necessarily produces something inordinate,
if anything contrary happen to disturb order.
2686.
Then the old man:
This very thing I wish you to show me.
Motions of the Sun and Moon.
2687.
Says Aquila:
I shall do so without delay.
2688.
Two visible signs are shown in heaven— one of the sun, the other of the moon;
and these are followed by five other stars, each describing its own separate orbit.
2689.
These, therefore, God has placed in the heaven, by which the temperature of the air may be regulated according to the seasons, and the order of vicissitudes and alternations may be kept.
2690.
Yet by means of the very same signs, if at any time plague and corruption is sent upon the earth for the sins of men, the air is disturbed, pestilence is brought upon animals, blight upon crops, and a destructive year in every way upon men;
and thus it is that by one and the same means order is both kept and destroyed.
2691.
For it is manifest even to the unbelieving and unskilful, that the course of the sun, which is useful and necessary to the world, and which is assigned by providence, is always kept orderly;
yet the courses of the moon, in comparison of the course of the sun,
seem to the unskilful to be inordinate and unsettled in her waxings and wanings.
2692.
For the sun moves in fixed and orderly periods:
for from him are hours, from him the day when he rises, from him also the night when he sets;
from him months and years are reckoned, from him the variations of seasons are produced;
2693.
while, rising to the higher regions, he tempers the spring;
yet when he reaches the top of the heaven, he kindles the summer's heats:
2694.
again, sinking, he produces the temper of autumn;
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and when he returns to his lowest circle,
he bequeaths to us the rigour of winter's cold from the icy binding of heaven.
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