19. And learn this also, that the soul,
before it came into this world, had committed no sin “The Orphic poets
were under the impression that the soul is suffering the punishment of
sin, and that the body is an enclosure or prison in which the soul is
incarcerated and kept (σώζεται) as the name
σῶμα implies,
until the penalty is paid.” Plato, Cratyl.
400. Clement of Alexandria (Strom. III. iii. 17), after
referring to this passage of Plato, quotes Philolaus the Pythagorean,
as saying: “The ancient theologians and soothsayers also
testify that the soul has been chained to the body for a kind of
punishment, and is buried in it as in a tomb.“,
but having come in sinless, we now sin of our free-will. Listen
not, I pray thee, to any one perversely interpreting the words, But
if I do that which I would not Rom. vii. 16.: but
remember Him who saith, If ye be willing, and hearken unto Me, ye
shall eat the good things of the land: but if ye be not willing,
neither hearken unto Me, the sword shall devour you,
&c. Is. i. 19, 20.: and again,
As ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to
iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to
righteousness unto sanctification Rom. vi. 19.. Remember
also the Scripture, which saith, Even as they did not like to retain
God in their knowledge Rom. i. 28.: and, That
which may be known of God is manifestin them Rom. i. 19.; and again, their eyes they have
closed Matt. xiii. 15.. Also remember
how God again accuseth them, and saith, Yet I planted thee a
fruitful vine, wholly true: how art thou turned to bitterness,
thou the strange vine Jer. ii. 21.?