Confessions, Book VII

Book VII

• Confessions VII.1 — He Regarded Not God Indeed Under the Form of a Human Body, But as a Corporeal Substance Diffused Through Space. Chapter I.—He Regarded Not God Indeed Under the Form of a Human Body, But as a Corporeal Substance…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.2 — The Disputation of Nebridius Against the Manichæans, on the Question ‘Whether God Be Corruptible or Incorruptible.’. Chapter II.—The Disputation of Nebridius Against the Manichæans, on the Question “Whether God Be…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.3 — That the Cause of Evil is the Free Judgment of the Will. 4. But I also, as yet, although I said and was firmly persuaded, that Thou our Lord, the true God, who madest not only our souls but our bodies, and not our…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.4 — That God is Not Corruptible, Who, If He Were, Would Not Be God at All. 6. For I was so struggling to find out the rest, as having already found that what was incorruptible must be better than the corruptible; and…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.5 — Questions Concerning the Origin of Evil in Regard to God, Who, Since He is the Chief Good, Cannot Be the Cause of Evil. Chapter V.—Questions Concerning the Origin of Evil in Regard to God, Who, Since He is the Chief…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.6 — He Refutes the Divinations of the Astrologers, Deduced from the Constellations. Chapter VI.—He Refutes the Divinations of the Astrologers, Deduced from the Constellations. 8. Now also had I repudiated the lying…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.7 — He is Severely Exercised as to the Origin of Evil. 11. And now, O my Helper, hadst Thou freed me from those fetters; and I inquired, “Whence is evil?” and found no result. But Thou sufferedst me not to be carried…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.8 — By God’s Assistance He by Degrees Arrives at the Truth. 12. “But Thou, O Lord, shall endure for ever,” yet not for ever art Thou angry with us, because Thou dost commiserate our dust and ashes; and it was pleasing in…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.9 — He Compares the Doctrine of the Platonists Concerning the Λόγος With the Much More Excellent Doctrine of Christianity. Chapter IX.—He Compares the Doctrine of the Platonists Concerning the Λόγος With the Much More…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.10 — Divine Things are the More Clearly Manifested to Him Who Withdraws into the Recesses of His Heart. Chapter X.—Divine Things are the More Clearly Manifested to Him Who Withdraws into the Recesses of His Heart. 16. And…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.11 — That Creatures are Mutable and God Alone Immutable. 17. And I viewed the other things below Thee, and perceived that they neither altogether are, nor altogether are not. They are, indeed, because they are from Thee;…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.12 — Whatever Things the Good God Has Created are Very Good. 18. And it was made clear unto me that those things are good which yet are corrupted, which, neither were they supremely good, nor unless they were good, could…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.13 — It is Meet to Praise the Creator for the Good Things Which are Made in Heaven and Earth. Chapter XIII.—It is Meet to Praise the Creator for the Good Things Which are Made in Heaven and Earth. 19. And to Thee is there…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.14 — Being Displeased with Some Part Of God’s Creation, He Conceives of Two Original Substances. Chapter XIV.—Being Displeased with Some Part Of God’s Creation, He Conceives of Two Original Substances. 20. There is no…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.15 — Whatever Is, Owes Its Being to God. 21. And I looked back on other things, and I perceived that it was to Thee they owed their being, and that they were all bounded in Thee; but in another way, not as being in space,…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.16 — Evil Arises Not from a Substance, But from the Perversion of the Will. 22. And I discerned and found it no marvel, that bread which is distasteful to an unhealthy palate is pleasant to a healthy one; and that the…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.17 — Above His Changeable Mind, He Discovers the Unchangeable Author of Truth. 23. And I marvelled that I now loved Thee, and no phantasm instead of Thee. And yet I did not merit to enjoy my God, but was transported to…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.18 — Jesus Christ, the Mediator, is the Only Way of Safety. 24. And I sought a way of acquiring strength sufficient to enjoy Thee; but I found it not until I embraced that “Mediator between God and man, the man Christ…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.19 — He Does Not Yet Fully Understand the Saying of John, that ‘The Word Was Made Flesh.’. Chapter XIX.—He Does Not Yet Fully Understand the Saying of John, that “The Word Was Made Flesh.” 25. But I thought differently,…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.20 — He Rejoices that He Proceeded from Plato to the Holy Scriptures, and Not the Reverse. Chapter XX.—He Rejoices that He Proceeded from Plato to the Holy Scriptures, and Not the Reverse. 26. But having then read those…vatican.va
• Confessions VII.21 — What He Found in the Sacred Books Which are Not to Be Found in Plato. 27. Most eagerly, then, did I seize that venerable writing of Thy Spirit, but more especally the Apostle Paul; and those difficulties vanished…vatican.va