But whither shall we go? To the heaven, to dispute of the sun and moon and stars? To the
earth, to dispute of shrubs, and trees, and animals which fill the earth? Or of the heaven and
the earth itself, which contain all the things that are in heaven and earth? How long, O man,
wilt thou roam over the creation? Return unto thyself, see, consider, examine thine own
self. Thou art searching among the creatures for some three things which are separately
exhibited, whose operation is yet inseparable; if then thou art searching for this among the
creatures, search for it first in thine own self. For thou art not other than a creature. It is a
resemblance thou art searching for. Wouldest thou search for it among the cattle? For of
God it was thou wast speaking, when thou wast in search for this resemblance. Thou wast
speaking of the Trinity of Majesty ineffable, and because thou didst fail in contemplating
1872 the Divine Nature, and with becoming humility didst confess thine infirmity, thou didst
come down to human nature; there then pursue thine enquiry. Wilt thou make thy search
among the cattle, in the sun, or the stars? What of these was made after the image and likeness
of God? Thou mayest search in thine own self for something more familiar to thee, and
more excellent than all these. For God made man after His own image and likeness. Search
then in thine own self, if haply the image of the Trinity bear not some vestige of the Trinity.
And what is this image? It is an image very different from its model; yet different as it is, it
is an image and a likeness notwithstanding, not indeed in the same way as the Son is the
Image, being the Same Which the Father is. For an image is in one sort in a son, and in an-
other in a mirror. There is great difference between them. Thine image in thy son is thine
own self, for the son is by nature what thou art. In substance the same as thou, in person
other than thou. Man then is not an image as the Only-begotten Son is, but made after a
sort of image and likeness. Let him then search for something in himself, if so be he may
find it, even for some three things which are exhibited1873 separately, whose operation is
yet inseparable. I will search, and do ye search with me. I will not search in you, but do ye
search in yourselves, and I in myself. Let us search in concert, and in concert discuss our
common nature and substance.
18. See, O man, and consider whether what I am saying be true. Hast thou a body and
flesh? I have, you say. For how am I in this place that I now occupy, and how do I move
from place to place? How do I hear the words of one who is speaking, but by the ears of my
body? How do I see the mouth of him who is speaking, but by the eyes of my body? It is
plain then that thou hast a body, no need is there to trouble one’s self about so plain a matter.
Consider then another point, consider what it is that acts through this body. For thou hearest
by means of the ear, but it is not the ear that hears. There is something else within which
1872 Defecisti in divinis.
1873 Pronuntientur.
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Of the words of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chap. iii. 13, 'Then Jesus cometh…