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

Of the tripartite diuision of All Phylosophicall discipline. CHAP. 25.

HEnce was it (as far as we conceiue) that Phylosophy got three parts: or rather that the Phylosophers obserued the three parts. They did not inuent them, but they obserued the naturall, rationall and morrall, from hence. These are the La∣tine names, ordinarily vsed, as wee shewed in our eighth booke: not that it fol∣loweth that herein they conceiued a whit of the Trinity: though Plato were the first that is sayd to finde out and record this diuision: and that vnto him none but God seemed the author of all nature, or the giuer of reason, or the inspirer of ho∣nesty. But whereas in these poynts of nature, inquisition of truth, and the finall good, there are many diuers opinions, yet al their controuersie lieth in those three great, and generall questions: euery one maketh a discrepant opinion from ano∣ther in all three, and yet all doe hold, that nature hath some cause, knowledge,

〈◊〉〈◊〉, and life some direction and summe. For three things are sought out in * 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nature, skill and practise, his nature to bee iudged off by witte, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…y knowledge, and his practise (a) by the vse. (b) I know well that •…•…elongs to fruition properly, and vse to the vser: (And that they seeme to •…•…ently vsed, fruition of a thing which beeing desired for it selfe onely, de∣•…•… vs: and vse of that which we seeke for another respect: in which sence we •…•…her vse, then inioy temporalityes, to deserue the fruition of eternity: •…•…e wicked inioyes money, and vseth GOD, spending not money for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ut honouring him for money) Yet in common phraze of speech wee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ruition, and inioy vse. For fruites properly are the fieldes increase, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ppon wee liue: So then thus I take vse in three obseruations of an ar∣•…•… nature, skill and vse. From which the Phylosophers inuented the seue∣•…•… •…•…lines, tending all to beatitude: The naturall for nature, the rationall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…e, the morall for vse. So that if our nature were of it selfe, wee should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 owne wisedome, and neuer go about to know it by learning, ab exter∣•…•… if our loue had originall of it selfe, and returned vppon it selfe; it would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto beatitude, exempting vs from need of any other good. But seeing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath beeing from GOD our author, doubtlesse wee must both 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to teach vs true wisedome, and to inspire vs with the meanes to be•…•… •…•…essed, by his high sweetnesse.

L. VIVES.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 (a) by the vse] [vsu•…•…, I translate, practise, fructus vse: otherwise] Here seemes to bee an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the word vse, for whereas he sayth, workmanships stands on three grounds, na∣•…•… •…•…d * 1.2 vse, vse is here practise. But he wrested it to his meaning, namely the practise of e∣•…•… •…•…eferred to vse or profit, & therby iudged. (b) I Know] we haue fruition of y^• wee de∣•…•… •…•…er end: therfore saith Aug. We only inioy God, and vse al things else. Of this read •…•…tr. Christ. In 80. quest. De trinit: where he ties fruition, to eternal felicity, vse to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him had Peter Lumbard inough: Sent. l. 1. & the schoolmē, euen more then inough.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The parts of a vvorke man.
• * 1.2

  Vse. Fruit. Fruiti•…•….