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

That no nature or forme of any thing liuing hath any other Creator but God. CHAP. 25.

WHereas there is one forme giuen externally to all corporall substances ac∣cording to the which Potters, Carpenters and other shape antiques, and figures of creatures: and another that containeth the efficient causes hereof in the secret power of the vniting and vnderstanding nature, which maketh not onely the natural formes, but euen the liuing soules, when they are not extant. The first, each artificer hath in his brayne, but the later belongs to none but God, who for∣med the world and the Angells without either world or Angells, for from that (〈◊〉〈◊〉) all diuiding, and all effectiue diuine power, which cannot be made, but makes, and which in the beginning gaue rotundity both to the Heauens & Sunne, from

the same, had the eye the apple, and all other round figures that wee see in nature their rotundity not from any externall effectiue, but from the depth of that crea∣tors power that said. I fill heauen and earth: and whose wisdome reacheth from end to end, ordering all in a delicate Decorum: wherefore what vse he made of the Angels in the creation, making all himselfe, I know not. I dare neither ascribe them more then their power, nor detract any thing from that. But with their fa∣uours, I attribute the estate of althings as they are natures vnto God, onely of whome they thankefully aknowledge their being: we do not then call husband∣men the creators of trees or plants, or any thing else: fot we read, Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God, that giueth the increase. No, not * 1.1 the earth neither, though it seemes the fruitful mother of al things that grow: for * 1.2 wee read also. God giueth bodies vnto what hee will, euen to euery seed his owne body. Nor call wee a woman the creatrixe of her child, but him that said to a seruant of his. Before I formed thee in the wombe I knew thee: & although the womans soule * 1.3 being thus or thus affected, may put some quality vpon her burthen (b) as we read that Iacob coloured his sheepe diuersly by spotted stickes: yet shee can no more make the nature that is produced, then shee could make her selfe: what seminall causes then soeuer that Angells, or men do vse in producing of things liuing or dead, or (c) proceed from the copulation of male and female, (d) or what affec∣tions soeuer of the mother dispose thus or thus of the coullour or feature of her conception, the natures, thus or thus affected in each of their kindes are the workes of none but God: whose secret power passeth through all, giuing all be∣ing to all what soeuer, in that it hath being: (e) because without that hee made it, it should not bee thus, nor thus, but haue no being at all, wherefore if in those formes externall, imposed vpon things corporall, we say that (not workemen, but) Kings, Romulus was the builder of Rome, and Alexander of (f) Alexandria, be∣cause by their direction these citties were built: how much the rather ought we to call God the builder of nature, who neither makes any thing of any substance but what hee had made before, nor by any other ministers but those hee had made before: and if hee withdraw his (g) efficient power from things, they shall haue no more being then they had ere they were created: Ere they were, I meane in eternity, not in time: for who created time, but he that made them creatures, whose motions time followeth.

L. VIVES.

THat (a) all-diuiding.] All diuiding may be some addition, the sence is good without it. (b) * 1.4 As we.] Pliny, saith that looke in the Rammes mouth, and the collour of the veines vnder his tongue, shalbe the colour of the lambe he getteth: if diuers, diuers: and change of waters varieth it. Their shepehards then may haue sheep of what collour they will: which Iacob knew well inough, for he liking the particolours cast white straked rods into the watring places, at Ramming time, that the sight of them might forme the Images of such collours in the con∣ception, and so it did. Gen. 30. (c) Proceed.] The same Pliny. lib 7. saith that the mind hath are▪ collection of similitudes in it, wherein a chance of sight, hearing or remembrance is of much effect, the images taken into the conceit at the time of conception are held to be powerfull in framing the thing conceiued: and so is the cogitation of either party, how swift soeuer it be: wherevpon is more difference in man then in any other creature, but the swiftnes of thought, and variety of conceites formeth vs so diuersly: the thoughts of other creatures being immo∣ueable and like themselues in all kinds. Thus much Pliny. The Philosophers stand wholly vp∣on immagination in conception. At Hertzogenbosh in Brabant on a certaine day of the yeare

whereon they say there chiefe Church was dedicated) they haue publike playes vnto the honor of the Saints as they haue in other places also of that country, some act Saints and some * 1.5 deuils, one of these diuels spying a pretty wench, grew hot, & in al hast, danceth home, & casting his wife vpon a bed, told her he would beget a yong diu•…•…l vpon her, & so lay with her, the wo∣man conceiued, & the child was no sooner borne, but it began to dance, & was rust of the shape that we paynt our deuills in. This Margueret of Austria Maximilians Daughter, Charles the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, told Iohn Lamuza, King Ferdinands graue ambassador, and now Charles his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Aragon, a man as able to discharge the place of a Prince as of a Lieu•…•…enant (d) What * 1.6 •…•…ctions.] Child-bearing women do often long for many euill things, as coales, and ashes. I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one long for a bit of a young mans neeke, and had lost her birth but that shee bitte of his •…•…ke vntill he was almost dead, shee tooke such hold. The Phisicians write much hereof, •…•…d the Philosophers somewhat. Arist de animall. They all ascribe it to the vicious humors in the stomake, which if they happen in men, procure the like distemper. (e) Because. So read the old bookes. (f) Alexandria.] Asia, Sogdia, Troas, Cilicia, India, and Egipt haue al cities called Alexandria, built by Alexander the great, this that Augustine meanes of, is that of Egipt the most famous of all: sytuate vpon the Mediterrane sea, neare Bicchieri, the mouth of Nile: called * 1.7 now Scanderia, or Scandaroun. (g) Efficient.] Fabricatiuam: pertayning to composition and diui∣•…•… of matter: in things created by it selfe, for these are not the workes of creation. Angells 〈◊〉〈◊〉, beasts, and liuelesse things, can effect them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Cor. 37.
• * 1.2

  1. Cor. 1538
• * 1.3

  Hier. 1.
• * 1.4

  Pli•…•…ib. 8.
• * 1.5

  A child like a d•…•…uill.
• * 1.6

  Iohn La∣muza. Womens longing that are with child.
• * 1.7

  Alexandria