49. If, then, Wisdom, in saying that it was mindful of the things which have been performed since the beginning of the ages, said that it was created for the works of God and for the ways of God; and yet, while saying that it was created, taught that it was established before the ages, lest we should suppose that the mystery of that created form, so variously and frequently assumed, involved some change in its nature;—for although the firmness with which it was established would not allow of any disturbance that could overthrow it, yet, lest the establishment might seem to mean something less than birth, Wisdom declared itself to be begotten before all things:—if this is so, why is the term ‘creation’ now applied to the birth of that which was both begotten before all things, and also established before the ages? Because that which was established before the ages was created anew from the commencement of the ages for the beginning of the ways of God and for His works. In this sense must we understand the difference between creation from the commencement of the ages and that birth which precedes the ages and all things. Impiety at least has not this excuse, that it can plead error as the cause of its profanity.

49. Creatio nativitati aeternae nequit deputari.--- Si igitur Sapientia, memorem se eorum quae a saeculo 0464D gesta sunt dicens, in opera 438 Dei atque in 0465A vias Dei creatam esse se dixit; atque ita creatam, ut fundatam se ante saecula doceret, ne assumptae illius varie ac frequenter creationis sacramentum demutasse naturam videretur, cum fundationis firmitas convellendi status non reciperet perturbationem; at vero ne fundatio aliud quidquam quam nativitatem videretur ostendere, ante omnia professa est esse se genitam: nunc vero cur creatio ad nativitatem deputatur, cum quae genita ante omnia est, ipsa fundata ante saecula est; quae autem fundata ante saeculum est, ea ipsa in initium viarum Dei et in opera ejus creata a saeculis est: ut creatio a saeculis differre intelligeretur ab ea, quae ante saecula et quae ante universa nativitas est. Non habet saltem impietas veniam, ut praetendat impietatis errorem.