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THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF THE CITTIE OF GOD. Written by Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo, vnto Marcellinus.
Of the questions of naturall Theologie to bee handled with the most excellent Philosophers. CHAP. 1.
NOw had wee need to call our wittes together in farre more ex∣acte manner then we vsed in our precedent discourses; for now wee are to haue to doe with the Theology called naturall, nor deale wee against each fellow (for this is neither the ciuill, nor stage-theology, the one of which recordes the gods filthy crimes, and the other their more filthy desires, and both shew •…•…lls and not gods) but against Philosophers whose very name (a) truely i•…•…ed, professeth a loue of wisdome. Now if GOD (b) bee wisdome as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 scripture testifieth, then a true Philosopher is a louer of GOD. But (〈◊〉〈◊〉) the thing thus called, is not in all men that boast of that name (for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are called Philosophers are not louers of the true wisdome,) we must 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as wee know how they stand affected by their writings, and with •…•…te of this question in due fashion. I vndertake not here to refute all •…•…ophers assertions that concerne other matters, but such onely as per∣•…•… Theology, (which (e) word in greeke signifieth speech of diuinity) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that kinde either. but onely such as holding a deity respecting mat∣•…•… •…•…iall, yet affirme that the adoration of one vnchangeable GOD suf∣•…•… vnto eternall life, but that many such are made and ordained by him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…red also for this respect. For these doe surpasse Varro his opinion in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at the truth: for hee could carry his naturall Theology no farther 〈◊〉〈◊〉 world and the worldes soule: but these beyond all nature liuing, ac∣•…•… a GOD, creator not only of this visible world, (vsually called Heauen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.) but of euery liuing soule also: and one that doth make the reason∣•…•… blessed, by the perticipation of his incorporeall and vnchangeable 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that these Philosophers were called Platonists, of their first founder Plato, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that none that hath heard of these opinions but knoweth.
L. VIVES.
V•…•…y (a) name] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 wisdomes loue: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, wisdomes louer whose contrary is 〈◊〉〈◊〉, opposition to wisdome, as Speusippus saith. (b) Bee wisdome] Wisdome the 7. P•…•…o the Hebrewes chapter 1. Doe call the sonne, the wisdome of the father, by which hee •…•…de the world. c. The thing] Lactantius holds this point strongly against the Philosophers: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…eins hath an elegant saying. I hate (saith hee) the men that are idle indeede and Phi∣•…•…all in word. But many haue handled this theme. (d) All that] A different reading, all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 p•…•…rpose. (e) Word in greek•…•…] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, speech, or discourse, or reason concerning GOD 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is all these.