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

The meaning of this place, The Deuill sinneth from the beginning. CHA. 15.

ANd that that Iohn saith of the Deuill, The (a) deuill sinneth from the beginning, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…hey (b) make it naturall to him, it can be no sinne. But how then will they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Prophets, as Esayes prefiguring the Prince of Babilon saith: How art t•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…rom heauen, O Lucifer, sonne of the morning? and Ezechiel: Thou hast 〈◊〉〈◊〉 * 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gods garden, euery precious stone was in thy raiment? This prooues him * 1.2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so doth that which followes more plainly: Thou wast perfect i•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…y t•…•… wast created, &c. Which places if they haue none other * 1.3 fit•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ do prooue that he was in the truth, but abode not therein: & that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 place, H•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not in the truth, prooues him once in the truth, but not per•…•…∣uering, •…•…nd that also; He sinneth from the beginning, meaneth the beginning of 〈◊〉〈◊〉,

〈◊〉〈◊〉 from his pride, but not from his creation. Now must the place of Iob, con∣•…•… •…•…he deuill, (He (c) is the beginning of Gods works, to be deluded by the Angels: * 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…f the Psalme, this dragon whom thou hast made to scorne him:) are to bee ta∣•…•… God had made the deuil at first, fit for the Angells to deride, but y^• that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ned for his punishment after his sin. Hee is the beginning of Gods workes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is no nature in the smallest beast, which God made not, from him is all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…sistence and order: wherefore much more must the creature that is an∣•…•… by the natural dignity haue their preheminence of al Gods other works.

L. VIVES.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 (a) deuill▪ Wee may not drawe nay wrest) the gospell to those gramm•…•…ticismes. A mo∣•…•… or two breakes no square in this phrase from the beginning. So we say, Enuy in bro∣•…•… from the beginning: a little time doth not prooue this false. (b) They] The Mani∣•…•… •…•…as, and those that say the Angells could not sin in the moment of their creati∣•…•… it, because otherwise the author of their worke should beare the blame rather then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 worke. And so Origen seemes to hold saying. The serpent opposed not the truth, nor was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 go vpon his belly, euer from the point of his creation But as Adam and Eue were, a while 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ •…•…o was the serpent no serpent, one while of his beeing in the Paradice of delight, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not malice. In Ezechiel. So Augustine thought, that the first parents offended not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they were created. (c) He is] Iob. 44. the words, to bee deluded by the Angells, are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Septuagints.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•…4. 12
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 28. 13.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15.
• * 1.4

  Iob. 40. Psal. 104