Testimonia

{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c006\">In addition to all that he has already said, Celsus subjoins\r\nthe following: “All things, accordingly, were not made for\r\nman, any more than they were made for lions, or eagles, or\r\ndolphins, but that this world, as being God’s work, might be perfect\r\nand entire in all respects. For this reason all things have\r\nbeen adjusted, not with reference to each other, but with regard\r\nto their bearing upon the whole.<a id=\"r841\"></a><a class=\"c008 pginternal\" href=\"#f841\"><sup>[841]</sup></a> And God takes care of the\r\nwhole, and [His] providence will never forsake it; and it does\r\nnot become worse; nor does God after a time bring it back to\r\nhimself; nor is He angry on account of men any more than on\r\naccount of apes or flies; nor does He threaten these beings, each\r\none of which has received its appointed lot in its proper place.”\r\nLet us then briefly reply to these statements. I think, indeed,\r\nthat I have shown in the preceding pages that all things were\r\ncreated for man, and every rational being, and that it was\r\nchiefly for the sake of the rational creature that the creation\r\ntook place. Celsus, indeed, may say that this was done not\r\nmore for man than for lions, or the other creatures which he\r\nmentions; but we maintain that the Creator did not form these\r\nthings for lions, or eagles, or dolphins, but all for the sake of\r\nthe rational creature, and “in order that this world, as being\r\nGod’s work, might be perfect and complete in all things.” For\r\nto this sentiment we must yield our assent as being well said.\r\nAnd God takes care, not, as Celsus supposes, merely of the\r\n<i>whole</i>, but beyond the whole, in a special degree of every\r\nrational being. Nor will Providence ever abandon the whole;\r\nfor although it should become more wicked, owing to the sin\r\nof the rational being, which is a portion of the whole, He makes\r\narrangements to purify it, and after a time to bring back the\r\nwhole to Himself. Moreover, He is not angry with apes or\r\nflies; but on human beings, as those who have transgressed the\r\nlaws of nature, He sends judgments and chastisements, and\r\nthreatens them by the mouth of the prophets, and by the\r\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_267\">267</span>Saviour who came to visit the whole human race, that those\r\nwho hear the threatenings may be converted by them, while\r\nthose who neglect these calls to conversion may deservedly\r\nsuffer those punishments which it becomes God, in conformity\r\nwith that will of His which acts for the advantage of the\r\nwhole, to inflict upon those who need such painful discipline\r\nand correction. But as our fourth book has now attained sufficient\r\ndimensions, we shall here terminate our discourse. And\r\nmay God grant, through His Son, who is God the Word, and\r\nWisdom, and Truth, and Righteousness, and everything else\r\nwhich the sacred Scriptures when speaking of God call Him,\r\nthat we may make a good beginning of the fifth book, to the\r\nbenefit of our readers, and may bring it to a successful conclusion,\r\nwith the aid of His word abiding in our soul.</p>","headings":["The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 of 2","BOOK IV.","Chapter XCIX."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70693-paragraph-327"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"379fe8c7de8688e275a3bb2925b183684ca194c5ec58f53de696bbaf19318550","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie","W. H. Cairns"],"edition_year":1872,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg70693-f841","license_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html","public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"original-editor-translator-note","review_required":["work and recension attribution","original-work chronology","Bible reference numbering and citation kind","English edition rights and attribution"],"review_status":"needs_review","rights_evidence":"Project Gutenberg metadata: Public domain in the USA. Existing 1872 English edition; listed translators died 1889 and 1872. Electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"f841","source_ebook":70693,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f841\">\n<p class=\"c007\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r841\">841</a>.  </span><span lang=\"grc\">ἀλλ’ εἰ μὴ πᾶν ἔργον.</span> “Gelenius does not recognise these words, and\r\nGuietus regards them as superfluous.” They are omitted in the translation.</p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"76ed9a9fd752c1d5095189e38fe3dcbbea0fd23d6be719db17360e4da14552fa","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70693/pg70693-images.html#f841","text_sha256":"e4c965801d54acb84a3a8d434585399ecf3a34d0184cb8f03cef3a8a738fbb56","verified":false,"work_id":null}

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