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| A Curious Inconsistency in Hermogenes Exposed. Certain Expressions in The History of Creation Vindicated in The True Sense. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter XXVIII.—A
Curious Inconsistency in Hermogenes Exposed. Certain
Expressions in The History of Creation Vindicated in
The True Sense.
But we shall show not only that this
condition6392 agreed with this
earth of ours, but that it did not agree with that other
(insisted on by Hermogenes). For, inasmuch as pure Matter was thus
subsistent with God,6393 without the
interposition indeed of any element at all (because as yet there
existed nothing but itself and God), it could not of course have been
invisible. Because, although Hermogenes contends that darkness
was inherent in the substance of Matter, a position which we shall have
to meet in its proper place,6394
6394 See below, ch. xxx. p.
494. | yet darkness is
visible even to a human being (for the very fact that there is the
darkness is an evident one), much more is it so to God. If indeed
it6395 had been invisible, its quality would not
have been by any means discoverable. How, then, did Hermogenes find
out6396
6396 “Compertus
est” is here a deponent verb. | that that substance was “without
form,” and confused and disordered, which, as being invisible,
was not palpable to his senses? If this mystery was revealed to him by
God, he ought to give us his proof. I want to know also, whether (the
substance in question) could have been described as “void.”
That certainly is “void” which is imperfect. Equally
certain is it, that nothing can be imperfect but that which is made; it
is imperfect when it is not fully made.6397
Certainly, you admit. Matter, therefore, which was not made at all,
could not have been imperfect; and what was not imperfect was not
“void.” Having no beginning, because it was not made, it
was also unsusceptible of any void-condition.6398
6398 Rudimento. Tertullian
uses the word “rudis” (unformed) for the scriptural term
(“void”); of this word “rudimentum” is the
abstract. |
For this void-condition is an accident of beginning. The earth, on the
contrary, which was made, was deservedly called
“void.” For as soon as it was made, it had the
condition of being imperfect, previous to its
completion.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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