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

L VIVES.

APostaticall (a) powers] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A forsaker, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; The diuels are such that fall from GOD. Theodoret writing of Goddes and Angells, sayth the Hebrew word is Satan; the Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Hierome interpreteth it an aduersary, or transgressor. (b) * 1.1 Not GOD] Least some should thinke GOD created not their nature. (c) I am] Of this already in the eight booke. (d) To some] Arist de mundo. The nearest vnto GOD (sayth Apuleius▪) doe gayne from his power the most celestiall bodies, and euery thing the nea∣rer him, the more Diuine, and the farther, the lesser. Thus is GODS goodnesse, de∣riued gradually from Heauen vnto vs. And our beleefe of this extension of GODS power, wee must thinke that the nearer, or farder off that hee is, the more, or lesse benefite nature feeleth. Which the Phylosopher gaue him to vnderstand when hee sayd That Gods essence is communicated to some more, and to some lesse. For in his predicaments, he di∣rectly affirmeth that essence admitteth neither intention nor remission, more nor lesse. A stone hath essence as well as an Angell. This therefore is referred to the excellence and qualityes adherent or infused into the essence, which admitte augmentation, and diminution. (e) The word

is.] Not so new but that Flauius Sergius vsed it before Quintilian, but indeed it was not in generall vse till of late, when Philosophy grew into the latine tongue. (f) For that.] Nothing (saith Aristotle) is contrary to substance: taking contrary, for two opposites of one kinde: as blacke and white, both colours, for he reckneth not priuations, nor contradictories, for con∣traries, as he sheweth in his diuision of opposites into foure species.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Apo•…•…a.