Homily I.

 1. It is right that any one beginning to narrate the formation of the world should begin with the good order which reigns in visible things. I am abou

 2. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” I stop struck with admiration at this thought. What shall I first say? Where shall I begin

 3. Do not then imagine, O man! that the visible world is without a beginning and because the celestial bodies move in a circular course, and it is di

 4. One day, doubtless, their terrible condemnation will be the greater for all this worldly wisdom, since, seeing so clearly into vain sciences, they

 5. It appears, indeed, that even before this world an order of things existed of which our mind can form an idea, but of which we can say nothing, bec

 6. Such being the different senses of the word beginning, see if we have not all the meanings here. You may know the epoch when the formation of this

 7. Among arts, some have in view production, some practice, others theory. The object of the last is the exercise of thought, that of the second, the

 8. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” If we were to wish to discover the essence of each of the beings which are offered for our

 9. Do you suppose that a heavier body prevents the earth from falling into the abyss? Then you must consider that this support needs itself a support

 10. There are inquirers into nature who with a great display of words give reasons for the immobility of the earth. Placed, they say, in the middle of

 11. We might say the same thing of the heavens. With what a noise of words the sages of this world have discussed their nature! Some have said that he

 Homily II.

 1. In the few words which have occupied us this morning we have found such a depth of thought that we despair of penetrating further. If such is the f

 2. But the corrupters of the truth, who, incapable of submitting their reason to Holy Scripture, distort at will the meaning of the Holy Scriptures, p

 3. God created the heavens and the earth, but not only half —He created all the heavens and all the earth, creating the essence with the form. For He

 4. “Darkness was upon the face of the deep.” A new source for fables and most impious imaginations if one distorts the sense of these words at the wil

 5. Do not then go beyond yourself to seek for evil, and imagine that there is an original nature of wickedness. Each of us, let us acknowledge it, is

 6.  And the Spirit of God was borne upon the face of the waters  .

 7.  And God said, Let there be light  .

 8. “  And God called the light Day and the darkness he called Night  .”

 Homily III.

 1. We have now recounted the works of the first day, or rather of one day. Far be it from me indeed, to take from it the privilege it enjoys of having

 2. And God said “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Yesterday we heard God’s decree,

 3. In the second place, does the firmament that is called heaven differ from the firmament that God made in the beginning? Are there two heavens? The

 4. “  And God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and

 5. But let us continue our explanation: “  Let it divide the waters from the waters  .”

 6. Survey creation you will see the power of heat reigning over all that is born and perishes. On account of it comes all the water spread over the e

 7. Therefore we read: “  Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters  .” I have said what the wo

 8. “  And God called the firmament heaven  .”

 9. But as far as concerns the separation of the waters I am obliged to contest the opinion of certain writers in the Church who, under the shadow of h

 10. “  And God saw that it was good  .” God does not judge of the beauty of His work by the charm of the eyes, and He does not form the same idea of b

 Homily IV.

 1. There are towns where the inhabitants, from dawn to eve, feast their eyes on the tricks of innumerable conjurors. They are never tired of hearing d

 2. “  And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear, and it was so  .” And the water

 3. “Let the waters be gathered together.” It was ordered that it should be the natural property of water to flow, and in obedience to this order, the

 4. To say that the waters were gathered in one place indicates that previously they were scattered in many places. The mountains, intersected by deep

 5. And God said: “  Let the waters be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear  .” He did not say let the earth appear, so as not

 6. “  And God saw that it was good  .”

 7. Thus, in the eyes of God, the sea is good, because it makes the under current of moisture in the depths of the earth. It is good again, because fro

 Homily V.

 1. “  And God said Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself 

 2. “  Let the earth bring forth grass yielding seed after his kind  .” So that although some kind of grass is of service to animals, even their gain i

 3. Up to this point, the order in which plants shoot bears witness to their first arrangement. Every herb, every plant proceeds from a germ. If, like

 4. What shall I say? What shall I leave unsaid? In the rich treasures of creation it is difficult to select what is most precious the loss of what is

 5. “  Let the earth bring forth grass  .” What spontaneous provision is included in these words,—that which is present in the root, in the plant itsel

 6. “  Let the earth  ,” the Creator adds, “  bring forth the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself 

 7. But let us return to the examination of the ingenious contrivances of creation. How many trees then arose, some to give us their fruits, others to

 8. Plants reproduce themselves in so many different ways, that we can only touch upon the chief among them. As to fruits themselves, who could review

 9. But what need is there to continue, when in the same fig tree we have the most opposite flavours, as bitter in the sap as it is sweet in the fruit?

 10. “  Let the earth bring forth  .” This short command was in a moment a vast nature, an elaborate system. Swifter than thought it produced the count

 Homily VI.

 1. At the shows in the circus the spectator must join in the efforts of the athletes. This the laws of the show indicate, for they prescribe that all

 2. “  And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to divide the day from the night  .”

 3. And let no one suppose it to be a thing incredible that the brightness of the light is one thing, and the body which is its material vehicle is ano

 4. “  And let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years  .”

 5. But those who overstep the borders, making the words of Scripture their apology for the art of casting nativities, pretend that our lives depend up

 6. But what effects are produced? Such an one will have curly hair and bright eyes, because he is born under the Ram such is the appearance of a ram.

 7. They do not, however, stop here even our acts, where each one feels his will ruling, I mean, the practice of virtue or of vice, depend, according

 8. Let us return to the words which follow. “Let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.” We have spoken about signs. By times, we u

 9. “  And God made two great lights  .”

 10. See again another evident proof of its greatness. Although the heaven may be full of stars without number, the light contributed by them all could

 11. On its variations depends also the condition of the air, as is proved by sudden disturbances which often come after the new moon, in the midst of

 Homily VII.

 1. “  And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life  ” after their kind, “  and fowl that may fly above the e

 2. “Let the waters bring forth moving creatures after their kind.” God caused to be born the firstlings of each species to serve as seeds for nature.

 3. The food of fish differs according to their species. Some feed on mud others eat sea weed others content themselves with the herbs that grow in w

 4. It is not thus with us. Why? Because we incessantly move the ancient landmarks which our fathers have set. We encroach, we add house to house, fiel

 5. I myself have seen these marvels, and I have admired the wisdom of God in all things. If beings deprived of reason are capable of thinking and of p

 6. Let husbands listen as well: here is a lesson for them. The viper vomits forth its venom in respect for marriage and you, will you not put aside t

 Homily VIII.

 1. And God said “  Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle and creeping things, and beast of the earth after his kind an

 2. “  Let the earth bring forth a living soul  .” Why did the earth produce a living soul? so that you may make a difference between the soul of cattl

 3. There are also innumerable kinds of birds. If we review them all, as we have partly done the fish, we shall find that under one name, the creatures

 4. What a variety, I have said, in the actions and lives of flying creatures. Some of these unreasoning creatures even have a government, if the featu

 5. How shall we make an exact review of all the peculiarities of the life of birds? During the night cranes keep watch in turn some sleep, others mak

 6. It is said that the turtle-dove, once separated from her mate, does not contract a new union, but remains in widowhood, in remembrance of her first

 7. “  Let the waters bring forth the moving creatures that have life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven  .” They r

 8. If we simply read the words of Scripture we find only a few short syllables. “Let the waters bring forth fowl that may fly above the earth in the o

 Homily IX.

 1. How did you like the fare of my morning’s discourse? It seemed to me that I had the good intentions of a poor giver of a feast, who, ambitious of h

 2. “  Let the earth bring forth the living creature  .”

 3. “  Let the earth bring forth the living creature  .” Thus when the soul of brutes appeared it was not concealed in the earth, but it was born by th

 4. Virtues exist in us also by nature, and the soul has affinity with them not by education, but by nature herself. We do not need lessons to hate ill

 5. But let us return to the spectacle of creation. The easiest animals to catch are the most productive. It is on account of this that hares and wild

 6. Beasts bear witness to the faith. Hast thou confidence in the Lord? “Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk and thou shalt trample under fee

7. Therefore we read: “  Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters .” I have said what the word firmament in Scripture means. It is not in reality a firm and solid substance which has weight and resistance; this name would otherwise have better suited the earth. But, as the substance of superincumbent bodies is light, without consistency, and cannot be grasped by any one of our senses, it is in comparison with these pure and imperceptible substances that the firmament has received its name. Imagine a place fit to divide the moisture, sending it, if pure and filtered, into higher regions, and making it fall, if it is dense and earthy; to the end that by the gradual withdrawal of the moist particles the same temperature may be preserved from the beginning to the end. You do not believe in this prodigious quantity of water; but you do not take into account the prodigious quantity of heat, less considerable no doubt in bulk, but exceedingly powerful nevertheless, if you consider it as destructive of moisture. It attracts surrounding moisture, as the melon shows us, and consumes it as quickly when attracted, as the flame of the lamp draws to it the fuel supplied by the wick and burns it up. Who doubts that the æther is an ardent fire?  41  So the “liquidissimus æther” of the Epicurean Lucretius (v. 501), “Suos ignes fert;” i.e. the fiery stars are of the nature of the element in which they move. cf. the Stoic Manilius i. 149, “Ignis in æthereas volucer se sustulit oras summaque complexus stellantis culmina cœli, Flammarum vallo naturæ mœnia fecit.” If an impassable limit had not been assigned to it by the Creator, what would prevent it from setting on fire and consuming all that is near it, and absorbing all the moisture from existing things? The aerial waters which veil the heavens with vapours that are sent forth by rivers, fountains, marshes, lakes, and seas, prevent the æther from invading and burning up the universe. Thus we see even this sun, in the summer season, dry up in a moment a damp and marshy country, and make it perfectly arid. What has become of all the water? Let these masters of omniscience tell us. Is it not plain to every one that it has risen in vapour, and has been consumed by the heat of the sun? They say, none the less, that even the sun is without heat. What time they lose in words! And see what proof they lean upon to resist what is perfectly plain. Its colour is white, and neither reddish nor yellow. It is not then fiery by nature, and its heat results, they say, from the velocity of its rotation.  42  So Aristotle, Meteor. i. 3, 30. ῾Ορῶμεν δὴ τὴν κίνησιν ὅτι δύναται διακρίνειν τὸν ἀ& 153·ρα καὶ ἐκπυροῦν ὥστε καὶ τὰ φερόμενα τηκόμενα φαίνεσθαι πολλάκις. Τὸ μὲν οὖν γίγνεσθαι τὴν ἀλέαν καὶ τὴν θερμότητα ἱκανή ἐστι παρασκευάζειν καὶ ἡ τοῦ ἡλίου φορὰ μόνον. What do they gain? That the sun does not seem to absorb moisture? I do not, however, reject this statement, although it is false, because it helps my argument. I said that the consumption of heat required this prodigious quantity of water. That the sun owes its heat to its nature, or that heat results from its action, makes no difference, provided that it produces the same effects upon the same matter. If you kindle fire by rubbing two pieces of wood together, or if you light them by holding them to a flame, you will have absolutely the same effect. Besides, we see that the great wisdom of Him who governs all, makes the sun travel from one region to another, for fear that, if it remained always in the same place, its excessive heat would destroy the order of the universe. Now it passes into southern regions about the time of the winter solstice, now it returns to the sign of the equinox; from thence it betakes itself to northern regions during the summer solstice, and keeps up by this imperceptible passage a pleasant temperature throughout all the world.

Let the learned people see if they do not disagree among themselves. The water which the sun consumes is, they say, what prevents the sea from rising and flooding the rivers; the warmth of the sun leaves behind the salts and the bitterness of the waters, and absorbs from them the pure and drinkable particles,  43  cf. Diog. Laert. vii. on Zeno. Τρέπεσθαι δὲ τὰ ἔμπυρα ταῦτα καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ἄστρα, τὸν μὴν ἥλιον ἐκ τῆς μεγάλης θαλάττης. So Zeno, Chrysippus, and Posidonius. thanks to the singular virtue of this planet in attracting all that is light and in allowing to fall, like mud and sediment, all which is thick and earthy. From thence come the bitterness, the salt taste and the power of withering and drying up which are characteristic of the sea. While as is notorious, they hold these views, they shift their ground and say that moisture cannot be lessened by the sun.  44  Pliny (ii. 103, 104) writes: “Itaque solis ardore siccatur liquor;…sic mari late patenti saporem incoqui salis, aut quia exhausto inde dulci tenuique, quod facillime, trahat vis ignea, omne asperius crassiusque linquatur: ideo summa æquarum aqua dulciorem profundam: hanc esse veriorem causam asperi saporis, quam quod mare terræ sudor sit æternus: aut quia plurimum ex arido misceatur illi vapore, aut quia terræ natura sicut medicatas aquas inficiat.” The first of these three theories was that of Hippocrates (De Aere, Locis, et Aquis, iv. 197) and of Anaximander (Plutarch περὶ τῶν ἀρέσκ, etc. ii. 552). On the second vide Arist., Prob. xxiii. 30. The idea of the sea being the earth’s sweat was that of Empedocles. cf. Arist., Meteor. ii. 1.

41 So the “liquidissimus æther” of the Epicurean Lucretius (v. 501), “Suos ignes fert;” i.e. the fiery stars are of the nature of the element in which they move. cf. the Stoic Manilius i. 149, “Ignis in æthereas volucer se sustulit oras summaque complexus stellantis culmina cœli, Flammarum vallo naturæ mœnia fecit.”
42 So Aristotle, Meteor. i. 3, 30. ῾Ορῶμεν δὴ τὴν κίνησιν ὅτι δύναται διακρίνειν τὸν ἀ& 153·ρα καὶ ἐκπυροῦν ὥστε καὶ τὰ φερόμενα τηκόμενα φαίνεσθαι πολλάκις. Τὸ μὲν οὖν γίγνεσθαι τὴν ἀλέαν καὶ τὴν θερμότητα ἱκανή ἐστι παρασκευάζειν καὶ ἡ τοῦ ἡλίου φορὰ μόνον.
43 cf. Diog. Laert. vii. on Zeno. Τρέπεσθαι δὲ τὰ ἔμπυρα ταῦτα καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ἄστρα, τὸν μὴν ἥλιον ἐκ τῆς μεγάλης θαλάττης. So Zeno, Chrysippus, and Posidonius.
44 Pliny (ii. 103, 104) writes: “Itaque solis ardore siccatur liquor;…sic mari late patenti saporem incoqui salis, aut quia exhausto inde dulci tenuique, quod facillime, trahat vis ignea, omne asperius crassiusque linquatur: ideo summa æquarum aqua dulciorem profundam: hanc esse veriorem causam asperi saporis, quam quod mare terræ sudor sit æternus: aut quia plurimum ex arido misceatur illi vapore, aut quia terræ natura sicut medicatas aquas inficiat.” The first of these three theories was that of Hippocrates (De Aere, Locis, et Aquis, iv. 197) and of Anaximander (Plutarch περὶ τῶν ἀρέσκ, etc. ii. 552). On the second vide Arist., Prob. xxiii. 30. The idea of the sea being the earth’s sweat was that of Empedocles. cf. Arist., Meteor. ii. 1.

Διὰ τοῦτο Γενηθήτω στερέωμα ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ ὕδατος, καὶ ἔστω διαχωρίζον ἀνὰ μέσον ὕδατος καὶ ὕδατος. Εἴρηται τί τὸ σημαινόμενον παρὰ τῇ Γραφῇ τὸ τοῦ στερεώματος ὄνομα. Ὅτι οὐχὶ τὴν ἀντίτυπον καὶ στερέμνιον φύσιν, τὴν ἔχουσαν βάρος καὶ ἀντέρεισιν, οὐ ταύτην λέγει στερέωμα. Ἢ οὕτω ἂν κυριώτερον ἡ γῆ τῆς τοιαύτης κλήσεως ἠξιώθη. Ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν φύσιν τῶν ὑπερκειμένων λεπτὴν οὖσαν καὶ ἀραιὰν καὶ οὐδεμιᾷ αἰσθήσει καταληπτὴν, στερέωμα τοῦτο ὠνόμασε, συγκρίσει τῶν λεπτοτάτων καὶ τῇ αἰσθήσει ἀκαταλήπτων. Καὶ νόει μοι τόπον τινὰ διακριτικὸν τοῦ ὑγροῦ: τὸ μὲν λεπτὸν καὶ διηθούμενον ἐπὶ τὰ ἄνω διιέντα, τὸ δὲ παχύτατον καὶ γεῶδες ἐναφιέντα τοῖς κάτω, ἵν' ἐξ ἀρχῆς μέχρι τέλους ἡ αὐτὴ εὐκρασία συντηρηθῇ, κατὰ μέρος τῆς ὑφαιρέσεως τῶν ὑγρῶν γινομένης. Σὺ δὲ τῷ μὲν πλήθει τοῦ ὕδατος ἀπιστεῖς, πρὸς δὲ τοῦ θερμοῦ τὸ πλῆθος οὐκ ἀποβλέπεις: ὃ κἂν ὀλίγον ᾖ τῷ μεγέθει, πολλῆς ἐστι διὰ τὴν δύναμιν ἀναλωτικὸν ὑγρασίας. Ἐφέλκεται μὲν γὰρ τὸ παρακείμενον ὑγρὸν, ὡς δηλοῖ ἡ σικύα: δαπανητικὸν δέ ἐστι τοῦ ἑλκυσθέντος κατὰ τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ λυχνιαίου πυρὸς, ὃ διὰ τῆς θρυαλλίδος τὴν παρακειμένην τροφὴν ἐπισπασάμενον, ταχέως διὰ τῆς μεταβολῆς ἀπῃθάλωσε. Τὸν δὲ αἰθέρα τίς ἀμφιβάλλει μὴ οὐχὶ πυρώδη εἶναι καὶ διακαῆ; ὃς εἰ μὴ τῷ ἀναγκαίῳ τοῦ ποιήσαντος αὐτὸν ὅρῳ κατείχετο, τί ἂν ἐκώλυσεν αὐτὸν πάντα φλογίζοντα καὶ καταπιμπρῶντα τὰ συνεχῆ, πᾶσαν ὁμοῦ τὴν ἐν τοῖς οὖσιν ἐξαναλῶσαι νοτίδα; Διὰ ταῦτα ὕδωρ ἀέριον, νεφουμένου τοῦ ἄνω τόπου ἐκ τῆς ἀναφορᾶς τῶν ἀτμῶν, οὓς ποταμοὶ, καὶ κρῆναι, καὶ τενάγη, καὶ λίμναι, καὶ πελάγη πάντα προΐενται, ὡς ἂν μὴ πάντα πυρακτῶν ὁ αἰθὴρ ἐπιλάβοι: ὅπου γε καὶ τὸν ἥλιον τοῦτον ὁρῶμεν, ὥρᾳ θέρους διάβροχον πολλάκις καὶ τεναγώδη χώραν ἐν βραχυτάτῃ χρόνου ῥοπῇ ἄνικμον παντελῶς καὶ ξηρὰν καταλιμπάνοντα. Ποῦ τοίνυν ἐκεῖνο τὸ ὕδωρ; Δεικνύτωσαν ἡμῖν οἱ τὰ πάντα δεινοί. Ἆρ' οὐχὶ παντὶ δῆλον, ὅτι τῇ θερμότητι τοῦ ἡλίου διατμηθὲν ἀνηλώθη; Καίτοιγε οὐδὲ θερμὸν εἶναι τὸν ἥλιον ἐκεῖνοι λέγουσι: τοσοῦτον αὐτοῖς τοῦ λέγειν περίεστι. Καὶ σκοπεῖτε ποταπῇ ἀποδείξει ἐπερειδόμενοι πρὸς τὴν ἐνάργειαν ἀντιβαίνουσιν. Ἐπειδὴ λευκός ἐστι, φασὶ, τὴν χροίαν, ἀλλ' οὐχὶ ὑπέρυθρος, οὐδὲ ξανθὸς, τούτου ἕνεκεν οὐδὲ πυρώδης τὴν φύσιν: ἀλλὰ καὶ τούτου φασὶ τὸ θερμὸν ἐκ τῆς ταχείας εἶναι περιστροφῆς. Τί ἐντεῦθεν ἑαυτοῖς διοικούμενοι; Ὡς μηδὲν δόξαι τῶν ὑγρῶν ἀπαναλίσκειν τὸν ἥλιον. Ἐγὼ δὲ κἂν μὴ ἀληθὲς ᾖ τὸ λεγόμενον, ἀλλ' ὡς συγκατασκευάζον ἐμοὶ τὸν λόγον οὐκ ἀπωθοῦμαι. Ἐλέγετο γὰρ, διὰ τὴν ἐκ τοῦ θερμοῦ δαπάνην ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι τῶν ὑδάτων τὸ πλῆθος. Διαφέρει δὲ οὐδὲν, ἐκ φύσεως εἶναι θερμὸν, ἢ ἐκ πάθους ἔχειν τὴν πύρωσιν πρός γε τὸ τὰ αὐτὰ συμπτώματα περὶ τὰς αὐτὰς ὕλας ἀπογεννᾶν. Ἐάν τε γὰρ τριβόμενα ξύλα πρὸς ἄλληλα πῦρ καὶ φλόγα ἀνάψῃ, ἐάν τε ἐκ φλογὸς ἀναπτομένης κατακαυθῇ, ἴσον ἐστὶ καὶ παραπλήσιον ἐξ ἀμφοτέρων τὸ τέλος. Καίτοιγε ὁρῶμεν τὴν μεγάλην τοῦ τὰ πάντα κυβερνῶντος σοφίαν, μετατιθεῖσαν τὸν ἥλιον ἐξ ἑτέρων εἰς ἕτερα, ἵνα μὴ τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἀεὶ προσδιατρίβων, τῇ πλεονεξίᾳ τοῦ θερμοῦ λυμήνηται τὴν διακόσμησιν: ἀλλὰ νῦν μὲν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ νότιον μέρος κατὰ τὰς χειμερινὰς τροπὰς ἀπάγοντα, νῦν δὲ ἐπὶ τὰ ἰσημερινὰ σημεῖα μετατιθέντα, κἀκεῖθεν ἐπὶ τὰ προσάρκτια ὑπὸ τὰς θερινὰς τροπὰς ἐπανάγοντα, ὥστε τῇ κατὰ μικρὸν αὐτοῦ μεταβάσει τῷ περὶ γῆν τόπῳ τὴν εὐκρασίαν φυλάσσεσθαι. Σκοπείτωσαν δὲ εἰ μὴ αὐτοὶ ἑαυτοῖς περιπίπτουσιν, οἵ γε τὴν θάλασσαν λέγουσι μήτε πλημμυρεῖν τοῖς ποταμοῖς ἐκ τῆς τοῦ ἡλίου δαπάνης, καὶ προσέτι ἁλμυρὰν καὶ πικρὰν ἀπολείπεσθαι, τοῦ λεπτοῦ καὶ ποτίμου ὑπὸ τῆς θέρμης ἀναλωθέντος: ὅπερ ἐκ τῆς τοῦ ἡλίου μάλιστα γίνεται διακρίσεως, τὸ μὲν κοῦφον ἀπάγοντος, τὸ δὲ παχὺ καὶ γεῶδες οἷόν τινα ἰλὺν καὶ ὑποστάθμην ἐναφιέντος: ἐξ οὗ τὸ πικρὸν καὶ ἁλμυρὸν καὶ ξηραντικὸν τῇ θαλάσσῃ προσεῖναι. Οἱ δὴ ταῦτα περὶ θαλάσσης λέγοντες, πάλιν μεταβαλλόμενοι, μηδεμίαν τοῦ ὑγροῦ γίνεσθαι μείωσιν ἐκ τοῦ ἡλίου φασί.