St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE CITTIE OF GOD: Written by Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo, vnto Marcellinus.

Whether diuinity be to be found in the select Gods, since it is not extant in the Politique Theologie. CHAP. 1.

VVHereas I employ my most diligent endeauor about the extirpa∣tion of inueterate and depraued opinions, which the continu∣ance of error hath deeply rooted in the hearts of mortall men: and whereas I worke by that grace of GOD (who as the true GOD is able to bring this worke to effect) according to my poore talent: The quicke and apprehensiue spirits that haue drawne full satisfaction from the workes precedent, must beare my proceedings with pardon, and pacience: and not thinke my subsequent discourse to bee super∣fluous vnto others because it is needlesse vnto them. The affirmation that diui∣nity is not to bee sought for terrestriall vies (though thence wee must desire all * 1.1 earthly supplies that we neede) but for the celestiall glory which is neuer not e∣ternall, is a great matter. This diuinity, or, let mee say deity; for this (a) word our Christians haue now in vse as expressly traduced from the Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. This diuinity therefore or deity is not in that politique Theology which M. Varro dis∣courseth of in his 16. bookes: that is, the worship of any god there expressed will not yeeld to man eternall life: hee that will not bee perswaded this is true, out of our sixth booke last finished, when hee hath read this, I beleeue shall not finde any point of this question left vndiscussed: for some perhaps may thinke that the selected gods of Varro's last booke (whereof wee sayd some what) and none but they are to bee honored for this eternall beatitude. I say not herein as (b) Tertullian said, with more conceite prehaps then truth: if the gods be chosen like (c) scallions, then the rest are counted wicked. This I say not, for I see that out of an elected sort, another perticular election may be made: as out of a com∣pany of elected souldiars one is elected for this office in armes and another for one not so weighty: and in the church, when the elders are elected, the others are not held reprobate: beeing all GODS good faithfull elect. In architecture, corner and foundation stones are chosen, yet the rest are not refused but will fit other places. Grapes are chosen to eate: but they are not worth nought which we leaue for wine. The matter is plaine and needes no farther processe. Wherefore neither the gods nor their seruants are falty, in that they are selec∣ted from many: but let vs rather looke what the selected are, and what is the end of their selection.

L. VIVES.

THis (a) word] Vsed by Hierome, Lactantius and Fulgentius: the Greekes deriued the sub∣stantiue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, diuinity, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, diuine: which substantiue the Christians tooke in as large a sence as the word it selfe Diuine: and when the would expresse Gods nature with the fit∣test tearme, they vsed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. So doth Athanas. both the Gregories and other Grecians: which they might rather do (saith Quintillian) then the Latines. But yet all the strict rules of art could

not keepe the latines from vsing Deitas, the deity in expressing Gods proper nature: nor is it extended so farre as Diuine, is, or diuinity: for they are spoken of bookes, deeds, men, &c. But neither Deitas, or Deus are praedicates for them, though they bee diuine. And therefore me∣thinkes Ualla doth blame the Christian writers vndeseruedly, to say they vse a new word, not heard of before. (In Dialectica.) For to take away the Greekes authority of framing them∣selues words, is to cancell their old priuiledges. (b) Tertullian.] Of him read Hierome de scriptor. Eccl. Hee was a Priest of Carthage Sonne to a vice consull: quicke witted and vehement: he liued in the times of Seuerus and Caracalla, and wrot much: which being recorded I sur∣cease 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…count. Ciprian the Martir passed not a day without reading a peece of his workes: but called him his Maister, yet fell hee to bee a Montanist, through the enuy and malice of the clergy of Rome. All this hath Hierome. His bookes, lay many ages lost, at last this very yeare when this booke came forth, Beatus Rhenanus of Sletstad, a learned scoller found them in Ger∣manie, and set them forth at Frobenius his presse. (c) Scallions.] Bulbus is a name to all rootes that are like onions. Palladius vseth it for the lilly roote: but the proper Bulbi are they * 1.2 that t•…•… Arabians all Mergarides, and prouoke lust as Martiall shewes. Plinny. lib. 1. saith the chiefe of those Bulbi are the squillae or sea vnions, of which sort the roote called Epimenidia is onely fit to eate. Theophrast. lib. 7. The rest are not for meate.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Diuinity wherefore to bee sought.
• * 1.2

  Mergarides perhaps our English po∣tatoes.