Chapter
XIII.—Monoïmus.
But the followers of Monoïmus the Arabian
assert that the originating principle of the universe is a primal man
and son of man; and that, as Moses states, the things that have been
produced were produced not by the primal man, but by the Son of that
primal man,
yet
not by the entire
Son
, but by part of
Him. And (Monoïmus asserts) that the Son of man is iota,
which stands for ten, the principal number in which is (inherent) the
subsistence of all number (in general, and) through which every number
(in particular) consists, as well as the generation of the universe,
fire, air, water,
and
earth. But inasmuch as this is one
iota and one tittle,
and
what is perfect (emanates) from what is
perfect,
or, in other words
, a tittle flows down from above,
containing all things in itself; (therefore,) whatsoever things also
the man possesses, the Father of the Son of man
possesses
likewise
. Moses, therefore, says that the world was made in
six days, that is, by six powers, out of which the world was made by
the one tittle. For cubes, and octahedrons, and pyramids, and all
figures similar to these, having equal superficies, out of which
consist fire, air, water,
and
earth, have been produced from
numbers comprehended in that simple tittle of the iota, which is Son of
man. When, therefore, says (Monoïmus), Moses mentions the
rod’s being brandished for the purpose
of bringing
the
plagues upon Egypt, he alludes allegorically to the (alterations of
the) world of iota; nor did he frame more than ten plagues. If,
however, says he, you wish to become acquainted with the universe,
search within yourself who is it that says, “My soul, my flesh,
and
my mind,” and who is it that appropriates each one
thing unto himself, as another (would do) for himself. Understand
that this is a perfect
one
arising from (one that is) perfect,
and that he considers as his own all so-called nonentities and all
entities. These, then, are the opinions of Monoïmus
also.