ignorant of the courses of the stars, and the proportions2294 of the celestial and terrestrial
bodies. Behold the fair beauty of the world, and praise its Creator’s counsel. Behold what
He has made, and love Him who made it: be this thy greatest care. Love Him who made it;
for He made thee also after His own image, that thou mightest love Him.
3. If then it is strange that those things of which Christ said, “Thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent,” were hidden from such wise men as these, who, occupied wholly
about the creatures, chose to seek the Creator carelessly, and could not find Him; still more
strange is it that there should even be found some “wise and prudent” men who were able
to know Him. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, and
unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”2295 Perhaps thou dost ask,
what truth do they hold in unrighteousness? “Because that which may be known of God is
manifest among them.” How is it manifest? He goes on to say, “For God hath manifested
it to them.”2296 Dost thou still enquire how He manifested it to them to whom He gave not
the law? How? “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made.”2297 There were then some such, not
as Moses the servant of God, not as many Prophets who had an insight into and knowledge
of these things, and were aided by the Spirit of God, which they drew in by faith, and drank
with the throat2298 of godliness, and poured2299 forth again by the mouth of the interior
man. Not such as these were they; but far unlike them, who by means of this visible creation
were able to attain to the understanding of the Creator, and to say of these things which
God hath made;2300 Behold what things He hath made, He governeth and containeth also.
He who hath made them, Himself filleth what He hath made with His own presence. Thus
much they were enabled to say. For these Paul also made mention of in the Acts of the
Apostles, where, when he had said of God, “For in Him we live and move and have our be-
ing”2301 (forasmuch as he was speaking to the Athenians among whom those learned men
had existed); he subjoined immediately; “As certain also of your own have said.” Now it was
no trivial thing they said; “That in Him we live and move and have our being.”
4. In what then were they unlike the others? why were they blamed? why rightly accused?
Hear the words of the Apostle which I had begun to quote; “The wrath of God,” saith he,
2294 Numeros.
2295 Rom. i. 18.
2296 Rom. i. 19.
2297 Rom. i. 20.
2298 Faucibus.
2299 Ructuaverunt.
2300 Vid. Conf. vii. 9 (13–15).
2301 Acts xvii. 28.
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Again on the words of the Gospel, Matt. xi. 25, ‘I thank thee, O Father,…