7. But let no one tolerate any who say that
one is the Creator of the light, and another of darkness See note 3 on Cat.
iii. 33.: for let him remember how Isaiah says,
I am the God who made the light, and created darkness Is. xlv. 7. Compare the Homily of Chrysostom
on this text.. Why, O man, art thou vexed
thereat? Why art thou offended at the time that is given thee for
rest Whewell,
Astromomy. p. 38: “Animals also have a period in
their functions and habits; as in the habits of waking, sleeping,
eating, &c., and their well-being appears to depend on the
coincidence of this period with the length of the natural
day.”? A servant would have had no rest from
his masters, had not the darkness necessarily brought a respite.
And often after wearying ourselves in the day, how are we refreshed in
the night, and he who was yesterday worn with toils, rises vigorous in
the morning because of the night’s rest Chrysostom, VI. p.
171: “As the day brings man out to his work, so the night
succeeding releases him from his countless toils and thoughts, and
lulling his weary eyes to sleep, and closing their lids, prepares him
to welcome the sunbeam again with his force in full vigour.”? And what more helpful to wisdom than
the night Clement of
Alexandria (Stromat. IV. 22, E. Tr.): “And in this
way they seem to have called the night Euphrone, since then the soul
released from the perceptions of sense turns in on itself, and has a
truer hold of intelligence (φρόνησις).”? For herein
oftentimes we set before our minds the things of God; and herein we
read and contemplate the Divine Oracles. And when is our mind
most attuned to Psalmody and Prayer? Is it not at night?
And when have we often called our own sins to remembrance? Is not
at night Chrysostom (Tom. II.
p. 793): “We usually take the reckoning of our money early
in the morning, but of our actions, of all that we have said and done
by day, let us demand of ourselves the account after supper, and even
after nightfall, as we lie upon our bed, with none to trouble, none to
disturb us. And if we see anything done amiss, let us chastise
our conscience, let us rebuke our mind, let us so vehemently impugn our
account, that we may no more dare to rise up and bring ourselves to the
same pit of sin, being mindful of the scourging at night.”? Let us not
then admit the evil thought, that another is the maker of
darkness: for experience shews that this also is good and
useful.