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

How Gods breathing life into Adam, and Christs breathing vpon his Apostles when be said, receiue the holy spirit, are to be vnderstood. CHAP. 24.

S•…•…e therefore do vnaduisedly thinke that God, when he breathed in his face the •…•…th of life and man became a liuing soule, did (a) not then giue him a soule but by the holy spirit onely quickned a soule that was in him before. They ground 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christs breathing vpon his Apostles after his resurrection and saying, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Holy spirit: thinking that this •…•…was such another breathing, so that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…angelist might haue sayd, they became liuing soules, which if hee had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it would haue caused vs to imagine all reasonable soules dead that are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…kned by Gods spirit, though their bodies seeme to bee a liue. But it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so when man was made, as the Scripture sheweth plaine, in these words (〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…d GOD formed man being dust of the Earth: which some thinking to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, translate. (c) And GOD framed man of the Lome of the Earth

because it was said before, amist went vp from the earth and watred all the earth: that lome should seeme to be produced by this mixture of earth and water for immediatly followeth. And God framed man being dust of the earth, as the Greeke translations (d) whence our latine is, do read it: but whether the Gree•…•…e 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, be formed, or framed, it maketh no matter: (e) framed, is the more pro∣per word, but they that vsed formed thought they avoyded ambiguity, because * 1.1 that fingo, in the latine is vsed (f) commonly for to feygne, by lying or illuding. This man therefore being framed of dust, or lome, (for lome is moystned dust) that this dust of the earth (to speake with the scripture more expressly) when it receiued a soule was made an animate body, the Apostle affirmeth saying, the man was made a liuing soule: that is, this dust being formed was made a liuing soule. I (say they) but hee had a soule, now, already, other-wise hee could not haue beene man being neither soule only, nor body only, but consisting of both. T'is true, the soule is not whole man, but the better part onely, nor the body whole man but the worse part only, and both conioyned make man, yet when we speake of them disioyned, they loose not that name; for who may not follow custome, and say, such a man is dead? such a man is now in ioy, or in paine, and speake but of the soule onely? or such a man is in his graue, and meane but the body onely? will they say the scripture vseth no such phrase? yes, it both calles the body and soule conioyned by the name of man and also diuiding them, calles the soule the inward man, and the body the outward, as if they were two men, and not both composi•…•…gone.

And marke in what respect man is called Gods image and man of earth, retur∣ning to earth, the first is in respect of the reasonable soule which God breathed or inspired into man, that is, into mans body: and the la•…•…er is in respect of the body which God made of the dust, and gaue it a soule, whereby it became a liuing body, that is, man became a liuing soule: and therefore whereas Christ breathing vpon his Apostles, said, receue the holy spirit: this was to shew that the spirit was his, aswell as the Fathers, for the spirit is the Fathers, and the Sonnes, making vp the Trinity of Father, Sonne, and Holy Spirit, being no creature, but a creator? That breath which was carnally breathed, was not the substantiall nature of the Holy * 1.2 Spirit, but rather a signification (as I said) of the Sonnes communication of the spirit with his Father, it being not particular to either, but common to both. The scriptures in Greeke calleth it alwaies 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as the Lord called it here, when by signifiing it with his breath, hee gaue it to his disciples: and I neuer read it otherwise called in any place of Gods booke. But here, whereas it is sayd * 1.3 that God formed man being dust of the earth, and breathed in his face the spirit (or breath) of life: the Greeke is (g) not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: which word is read oftener for the creature then the creator: and therefore some latinists (for dif∣ference sake) do not interpret this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 spirit, but breath, for so it is in Esay, where God saith (h) I haue made all breath: meaning doubtlesse euery soule. There∣fore that which the Greekes call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, wee do sometimes call breath; some-time spirit, some-time inspiration, and aspiration, and some-times (i) soule: but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 neuer but spirit, either of man, as the Apostle saith, what man knoweth the things of a man but the spirit of a man which is in him: or of a beast as wee read in the * 1.4 preacher: Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascendeth vpwardes, and the spirit of the beast downewards to the earth? or that bodily spirit which wee call wind, as the Psalme saith, fire, hayle, snow, Ice, and the spirit of tempests: or of no creature, but

the creator himselfe: whereof our Sauiour said in the Gospell: Receiue the holy 〈◊〉〈◊〉: signifying it in his bodily breath: and there also where hee saith, Goe, and b•…•…ise all nations in the name of the father, the sonne, and the holy spirit, plainly and excellently intimating the full Trinity vnto vs: and there also where wee read; God is a spirit, and in many other places of scripture. In all those places of Scrip∣t•…•…, * 1.5 the Greeke wee see hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the Latine, flatus, and not spi•…•…us. And therefore if in that place, Hee breathed into his face the breath of life, t•…•… Greeke had not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (as it hath) but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, yet were it no consequent that wee should take it for the holy spirit, the third person in Trinity, because 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is v•…•… for a creature, as well as the creator, and as ordinarily. O but (•…•…ay they) hee •…•…ld not haue added vitae, of life, but that hee meant that spirit: a•…•…d whereas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 s•…•…id; Man became a soule, hee would not haue added liuing, but that he meant the soules life; which is giuen from aboue by the spirit of God: for the soule ha∣•…•…g a proper life by it selfe, why should hee adde liuing, but to intimate the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 giuen by the holy spirit? But what is this but folly to respect coniecture, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to neglect scripture? for what need we goe further then a chapter, and be∣•…•…old: let the earth bring forth the liuing soule: speaking of the creation of all e•…•…ly creatures: and besides for fiue or sixe Chapters onely after, why might 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ot obserue this: Euery thing in whose nosthrills the spirit of life did breath, * 1.6 •…•…soeuer they were in the drye land, dyed; relating the destruction of euery liuing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon earth, by the deluge? If then wee finde a liuing soule, and a spirit of life in beasts, as the Scripture saith plainly, vsing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in this ve∣ry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 place: why may wee not as well say, why added hee liuing there, seeing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 soule cannot bee vnlesse it liue? and why added hee, Of life, here, hauing •…•…d spirit? But wee vnderstand the Scriptures ordinary vsage of the liuing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the spirit of life, for animated bodyes, naturall, and sensitiue: and yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this vsuall phrase of Scripture, when it commeth to bee vsed concerning 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of man: Whereas it implieth that man receiued a reasonable soule of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ated by his breath, (k) not as the other were, produced out of water and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and yet so, that it was made in that body to liue therein, and make it an ani∣•…•… body, and a liuing soule, as the other creatures were, whereof the Scrip∣ture sayd: Let the earth bring forth a liuing soule: and that in whose nostrills was the •…•…rit of life, which the Greek text calleth not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, meaning not the holy spirit, but their life. But wee (say they) doe conceiue Gods breath to come from the mouth of God; now if that bee a soule, (l) wee must holde it equall, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…substantiall with that wisdome, or Worde of GOD, which saith, I am come 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the mouth of the most high. Well: it saith not, that it was breathed from * 1.7 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…outh, but came out of it And as wee men (not out of our owne nature, but) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ayre about vs, can make a contraction into our selues, and giue it out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in a breath, so Almighty GOD (not onely out of his owne nature, or of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…feriour creature, but) euen of nothing can make a breath, which hee may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most fitly said to breath or inspire into man, it being as hee is, incorporeall, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ot as hee is, immutable, because it is created, as he is not.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 to let those men see that will talke of Scriptures, and yet marke not what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doe intend, that some-thing may bee sayd to come forth of GODS mouth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that which is equall and consubstantiall with him, let them read or heare 〈◊〉〈◊〉 owne words: Because thou art luke warme, and neither colde nor hotte, it will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to passe that I shall spew thee out of my mouth. Therefore wee haue to contra∣•…•… the Apostles plainenesse in distinguishing the naturall body wherein wee

now are, from the spirituall wherein wee shall bee: where he saith; It is sowen a naturall body, but ariseth a spirituall body: as it is also written: The first man Adam was made a liuing soule, and the last Adam, a quickning spirit. The first was of earth, earthly, the second of heauen, heauenly: as is the earthly, such are all the earthly, and as the heauenly is, such are the heauenly. And as wee haue borne the Image of the earth∣ly, so shall wee beare the Image of the heauenly. Of all which words, wee spake be∣fore. Therefore the naturall body wherein man was first made, was not made immortall: but yet was made so that it should not haue dyed, vnlesse man had offended. But the body that shall bee spirituall and immortall, shall neuer haue power to dye, as the soule is created immortall, who though it doe in a man∣ner lose the life, by loosing the spirit of God, which should aduance it vnto beati∣tude, yet it reserueth the proper life, that is, it liueth in misery for euer, for it can∣not dye wholy. The Apostaticall Angels, after a sort, are dead by sinning: be∣cause they forsooke God, the fountaine of life, whereat they might haue drunke * 1.8 eternall felicity: yet could they not dye so, that their proper life and sence should leaue them, because they were made immortall; and at the last iudgement they shal be thrown headlong into the second death, yet so as they shal liue therin for * 1.9 euer, in perpetuall sence of torture. But the Saints (the Angels fellow-cittizens) belonging to the grace of God, shall be so inuested in spiritual bodies, that from thence-forth they shall neither sinne nor die: becomming so immortall (as the Angels are) that sinne can neuer subuert their eternity, the nature of flesh shall still be theirs, but quite extracted from all corruption, vnweeldynesse and pon∣derosity. Now followeth another question, which (by the true Gods helpe) we meane to decide; and that is this; If the motion of concupiscence arose in the rebelling members of our first parents, immediately vppon their transgression, where-vppon they saw, that is, they did more curiously ob∣ser•…•…e their owne nakednesse, and because the vncleane motion resisted their wils, couered their priuie partes; how should they haue begotten children, had they remayned as they were created, without preuarication? But this booke being fit for an end, and this question not fit for a too succinct discussion, it is better to leaue it to the next volume.

L. VIVES.

DId not (a) then] This the Manichees held. Aug. de Genes. ad lit. lib. 2. Ca•…•…. 8. (b) And GOD formed] They doe translate it, And God framed man of earth ta∣ken from the earth: I thinke Augustine wanteth a word, taken or taking: Laurinus his co∣py teadeth it as the Septuagints do. Yet the Chaldee Thargum, or paraphraze, reading it as Augustine hath it; and so it is in the Bible that Cardinall Ximenes, my patron, Cr•…•… his predecessor, published in foure languages beeing assisted by many learned men, but for the greeke especially by Iohn Vergara, a deepe vprightly iudicious, and vnvulgar Scholler. * 1.10 Their Pentateuch, Lewis Coronelli lent me forbearing al the while that I was in hand with this worke, for the common good. (c) And God framed] Hieromes translation. (d) Whence 〈◊〉〈◊〉] Shewing that in his time, the Church vsed the Latine translation, from the seauentie, and no•…•… Hi•…•…s. I wonder therefore that men should be excluded from sober vsing of diuerse transla∣tions. (e) 〈◊〉〈◊〉] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Greeke is, we vse it of those that forme any thing out of claye: that is [•…•…gere] and great authors vse it concerning men. He made them [finxit] gree∣die and gluttonous. Salust. He made thee [finxit] wise, temperate, &c. by nature. Cic. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 M•…•…. speaking of Cato Mai•…•…r. To forme I thinke is nothing but to giue forme property.

(f) Commonly] [If a moderne diuine had plaide the Gramarian thus, hee should haue heard of it. But Augustine may: but if he and Paul liued now adayes, hee should be held a Pedant, * 1.11 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a petty orator, and Paul a madde man, or an heretique.] Not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] The Chaldees read, a speaking spirit. Here Augustine shewes plainly how necessarie the true knowledge of the mea∣•…•…gs of words is in art and discipline. (h) I haue made] I say. 57. 16. the 70. also read it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, all breath. Many of the Latinists animus, and anima, for ayre, and breath. Uirg.

Semina terrarum{que} animaeque marisque fuissent. They had beene seeds of earth, of ayre and sea:

And Tully in his Academikes vseth it for breath: Si vnus & simplex, vtrum sit ignis, an anima, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 s•…•…guis: If it be simply one, whether is it fire, breath, or bloud. Terenc. Compressi animam: I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my breath. Plaut. Faetet anima vxoris tuae. Your wiues breath stinkes, and Pliny Anima 〈◊〉〈◊〉 virus graue: A Lions breath is deadly poison. (i) Soule] I like this reading better then B•…•…es copies: it squares better with the following Scriptures. (k) Not as the] If we say that Augustine held mans soule created without the body, and then infused, as Aristotle seemes to •…•…rre, De generat. animal, S. Thomas, and a many more moderne authors goe downe the winde. But if wee say it is not created as the mortall ones are, that are produced out of the •…•…osition of the substances wherein they are: but that it is created from aboue, within man, •…•…out all power of the materiall parts, to worke any such effect, this were the most common opinion, and Aristotle should be thus vnderstood: which seemes not to agree with this asser∣tion, that it commeth ab externo: nor with his opinion that holdeth it immortall, and in∣borne, if I vnderstand his minde aright, whereof I see his interpretors are very vncertaine, (l) We must hold] There were not onely a many Pagans (as wee haue shewen) but some Chri∣•…•… also that held the soule to be of Gods substance: nor were these heretiques onely, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…risilliannists, and some others, but euen that good Christian Lactantius: not that I, or * 1.12 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wiser then I, will approoue him in this, but in that hee seemeth to stand zealously •…•…d vnto Christ. His words are these: Hauing made the body, he breathed into it a soule, out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 l•…•…ing fountaine of his owne spirit, which is eternall. Institut. diuin. lib. 2. wherein hee seemes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that mans soule was infused into him from the spirit of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Man for∣med.
• * 1.2

  Man how created.
• * 1.3

  Isa. 57. 16.
• * 1.4

  I Co•…•…. 2. 11 Eccl•…•…3. 21. Psa. 148. 8.
• * 1.5

  Iohn. 4. 24.
• * 1.6

  Genes, 7. 22.
• * 1.7

  Eccl, 24. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  The Apos∣tatical Angels.
• * 1.9

  The diuel at the iudg∣ment shal be cast into the second death.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ver∣g•…•…ra. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Co∣•…•…li.
• * 1.11

  [The Lo∣uaine co∣py defec∣tiue.
• * 1.12

  Lanctanti∣us.