Chapter XIII.—Evil by No
Means Found in the Stars and Constellations; All the Evils of Life Vain
in the Manichæan Opinion, Which Bring on the Extinction of Life;
Their Fancy Having Been Above Explained Concerning the Transportation
of Souls from the Moon to the Sun.
But what things does he call evil? As for the sun
and moon, indeed, there is nothing lacking; but with respect to the
heavens and the stars, whether he says that there is some such thing,
and what it is, it is right that we should next in order examine.
But irregularity is according to them evil, and unordered motion, but
these things are always the same, and in the same manner; nor will any
one have to blame any of the planets for venturing to delay at any time
in the zodiac beyond the fixed period; nor again any of the fixed
stars, as if it did not abide in the same seat and position, and did
not by circumvolution revolve equally around the world, moving as it
were one step backward in a hundred years. But on the earth, if
he accuses the roughness of some spots, or if pilots are offended at
the storms on the sea; first, indeed, as they think, these things have
a share of good in them. For should nothing germinate upon earth,
all the animals must presently perish. But this result will send
on much of the virtue which is intermingled with matter to God, and
there will be a necessity for many moons, to accommodate the great
multitude that suddenly approaches. And the same language they
hold with respect to the sea. For it is a piece of unlooked-for
luck to perish, in order that those things which perish may pursue the
road which leads most quickly to God. And the wars which are upon
the earth, and the famines, and everything which tends to the
destruction of life, are held in very great honour by them. For
everything which is the cause of good is to be had in honour. But
these things are the cause of good, because of the destruction which
accompanies them, if they transmit to God the virtue which is separated
from those who perish.