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| The rationality and order of the Universe proves that it is the work of the Reason or Word of God.
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§40. The rationality and order of the
Universe proves that it is the work of the Reason or Word of
God.
Who then might this Maker be? for this is a point
most necessary to make plain, lest, from ignorance with regard to him,
a man should suppose the wrong maker, and fall once more into the same
old godless error, but I think no one is really in doubt about it. For
if our argument has proved that the gods of the poets are no gods, and
has convicted of error those that deify creation, and in general has
shewn that the idolatry of the heathen is godlessness and impiety, it
strictly follows from the elimination of these that the true religion
is with us, and that the God we worship and preach is the only true
One, Who is Lord of Creation and Maker of all existence. 2. Who then is
this, save the Father of Christ, most holy and above all created
existence161
| 161 Cf.
above 2. 2 and note, also 35. 1. | , Who like an excellent pilot, by His
own Wisdom and His own Word, our Lord and Saviour Christ, steers and
preserves and orders all things, and does as seems to Him best? But
that is best which has been done, and which we see taking place, since
that is what He wills; and this a man can hardly refuse to believe. 3.
For if the movement of creation were irrational, and the universe were
borne along without plan, a man might fairly disbelieve what we say.
But if it subsist in reason and wisdom and skill, and is perfectly
ordered throughout, it follows that He that is over it and has ordered
it is none other than the [reason or] Word of God. 4. But by Word I
mean, not that which is involved and inherent in all things created,
which some are wont to call the seminal162
principle, which is without soul and has no power of reason or thought,
but only works by external art, according to the skill of him that
applies it,—nor such a word as belongs to rational beings and
which consists of syllables, and has the air as its vehicle of
expression,—but I mean the living and powerful Word of the good
God, the God of the Universe, the very Word which is God163
, Who while different from things that are
made, and from all Creation, is the One own Word of the good Father,
Who by His own providence ordered and illumines this Universe. 5. For
being the good Word of the Good Father He produced the order of all
things, combining one with another things contrary, and reducing them
to one harmonious order. He being the Power of God and Wisdom of God
causes the heaven to revolve, and has suspended the earth, and made it
fast, though resting upon nothing, by His own nod164
| 164 νεῦμα, i.e. act
of will, or fiat. | .
Illumined by Him, the sun gives light to the world, and the moon has
her measured period of shining. By reason of Him the water is suspended
in the clouds; the rains shower upon the earth, and the sea is kept within bounds, while the earth bears
grasses and is clothed with all manner of plants. 6. And if a man were
incredulously to ask, as regards what we are saying, if there be a Word
of God at all165
, such an one would indeed be mad to
doubt concerning the Word of God, but yet demonstration is possible
from what is seen, because all things subsist by the Word and Wisdom of
God, nor would any created thing have had a fixed existence had it not
been made by reason, and that reason the Word of God, as we have
said.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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