Of the beauty of this vniuerse, augmented, by Gods ordinance, out of contraries. CHAP. 18.
FOr God would neuer haue fore-knowne vice in any worke of his, Angell, or Man, but that hee knew in like manner, what good vse to put it vnto, so make∣ing the worldes course, like a faire poeme, more gratious by Antitheti{que} figures. Antitheta, (a) called in Latine, opposites, are the most decent figures of all elocu∣tion: some, more expresly call them Contra-posites. But wee haue no vse of this word, though for the figure, the latine, and all the tongues of the world vse it. (b) S. Paul vseth it rarely vpon that place to the Corynthes where he saith. By the arm•…•… of righteousnesse on the right hand, and the left: by honor and dishonor, by euill report and good, as deceiuers, and yet true, as vnknowne and yet knowne, as dying, and behold 〈◊〉〈◊〉 li•…•…e, as chastned, and yet not killed, as sorrowing and yet euer glad, as poore, and yet make 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ritch, as hauing nothing, yet possessing althings. Thus as these contraries op∣posed doe giue the saying an excellent grace, so is the worlds beauty composed of contrarieties, not in figure, but in nature. This is pla•…•…e in Ecclesiasticus, in this verse? Against euill, is good, and against death is life, so is the Godly against the sinner: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 looke for in all thy workes of the highest, two and two, one against one.
L. VIVES.
AN•…•…a (a) are] Contraposites, in word, and sentence. Cic. ad Heren. lib. 4. calleth it 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Co•…•…position (saith Quintilian) con•…•…tion, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, is diuersly vsed. First in op∣position of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…o one: as, feare yeelded to boldnesse, shame to lust: it is not out witte b•…•… your helpe. Secondly of sentence to sentence: as, He may rule in orations, but must yeeld in iudge∣ments 〈◊〉〈◊〉. There also is more to this purpose, so as I see no reason why Augustine should say the word 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with vs. (b) S. Paul] Augustine makes Paul a Rhetorician. [Well it is to∣lerable, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saith i•…•…d one of vs said so, our eares should ring of herefie presently, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are so ready 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some mens •…•…ongue ends, because indeed they are so full of it themselues.]