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ON THE UNCHANGABLENESS OF GOD
I. (1) And after this, says Moses, it came to pass that the angels of God went in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children unto them.1 It
II. (5) His disciple and successor was Hannah. The gift of the wisdom of God, for the interpretation of the name is her grace. For when she had become
III. (10) Now the most evident sign of a soul devoted to God is that song in which that expression occurs, She that was barren has borne seven childr
IV. (16) But some persons, through their selflove, have incurred not only defeat but even death also. At all events Onan, knowing that the seed shoul
V. (20) However, we have said enough on this head let us now connect what follows with It:�the Lord God, therefore, says Moses, seeing that the wi
VI. (23) And it seems good to the lawgiver that the perfect man should desire tranquillity for it was said to the wise man in the character of God,
VII. (33) Having therefore now sufficiently discussed the question of the living God never knowing repentance, it comes next in order for us to explai
VIII. (37) And he has given to plants a nature which he has combined of as many powers as possible, that is of the nutritive, and the changeable, and
IX. (41) And the Creator has made the soul to differ from nature in these things�in the outwards sense, and imagination, and impetuosity for plants a
X. Man, then, has received this one extraordinary gift, intellect, which is accustomed to comprehend the nature of all bodies and of all things at the
XI. (51) Having now therefore explained these matters sufficiently, let us pass on to what comes next. And this is what follows: I will destroy, say
XII. But God, inasmuch as he is uncreated, and the Being who has brought all other things to creation, stood in need of none of those things which are
XIII. (60) Why, then, does Moses speak of the Uncreate as having feet and hands, and as coming in and as going out? And why does he speak of him as cl
XIV. (63) But those who have received a duller and more sluggish nature, and who have been wrongly brought up as children, and who are unable to see a
XV. (70) Such, then, are the things which it was proper to premise before we entered upon the following investigation:�But we must now go back again t
XVI. (74) On which account God now says, that Noah found grace in his sight, when all the rest of mankind appearing ungrateful were about to receive p
XVII. (77) On which account he says in another passage, The cup is in the hand of the Lord full of the mixture of unmixed wine 17 and yet that whic
XVIII. (82) And similar to what has been previously said, is that passage which occurs in another place, God spake once, and twice I have also heard
XIX. (86) But what is the meaning of the sentence, Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord God? Let us now consider this: for those who find anyth
XX. (91) And we have often met with such things as previously we had never seen even in a dream like a husbandman whom some persons say while digging
XXI. (94) To these men the law-giver says were given, Great and beautiful cities, which they had not built houses full of good things, which they ha
XXII. (99) Therefore the law says that some persons, having made a violent effort, went up to the mountain, And the Amorites came forth who dwell on
XXIII. (104) We must now consider the question which is meant by Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord God.25 Is the meaning of what is here exp
XXIV. (109) But here we must observe that Moses says, that Noah pleased the powers of the living God, the Lord and God, but that he tells us that
XXV. (116) Reject therefore with all your might all idea of pleasing the keepers of the prison but on the contrary, with all your ability and all you
XXVI. (122) And one may here very fitly raise the question for what reason it was that after mentioning the perfection of Noah in virtue, he then imme
XXVII. (127) On which account Moses also establishes a most extraordinary law, in which he enjoins that the man who is in part leprous shall be accou
XXVIII. (131) And like this is the injunction given respecting the house in which it happens that leprosy often arises for Moses says that, If there
XXIX. (136) And the woman who met the prophet, 36 in the book of Kings, resembles this fact: And she is a widow not meaning by that, as we generall
XXX. (140) Very properly, therefore, the most sacred Moses says that, the earth was corrupted at that time when the virtues of the just Noah were made
XXXI. (145) Therefore the ambassadors who are sent speak as follows:--We will pass on through thy land we will not pass through thy fields nor throu
XXXII. (148) But it is not allowed to one man alone to boast before Moses who has been instructed in the highest perfection of wisdom, but it belongs
XXXIII. (152) What is the advantage then of passing over all the mortal advantages of mortal man, and passing them by too, not in accordance with righ
XXXIV. (156) Moreover, should we while draining draughts stored up by the contrivance of men through distrust, seek a refuge and place of escape where
XXXV. (164) But that we may not, through deviating from the right road, be compelled to yield to one of two rival faults, let us desire and pray to be
XXXVI. (169) For if, says Israel, I and my cattle drink of thy water, I will pay you a price for it. Not meaning by that such price as is spoken o
XXXVII. (177) No one, therefore, of all the objects of human anxiety or of human labour, is of any importance or value but every such thing is a mere
