{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c005\">14. Come now, and let us use the following image<a id=\"r498\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f498\"><sup>[498]</sup></a> from\r\nthe Gospel. There is a certain rock, with a little surface-soil,\r\non which, if seeds fall, they quickly spring up; but when\r\nsprung up, as not having root, they are burned and withered\r\nwhen the sun has arisen. Now this rock is a human soul,\r\nhardened on account of its negligence, and converted to stone\r\nbecause of its wickedness; for no one receives from God a\r\nheart created of stone, but it becomes such in consequence of\r\nwickedness. If one, then, were to find fault with the husbandman\r\nfor not sowing his seed sooner upon the rocky soil,\r\nwhen he saw other rocky ground which had received seed\r\nflourishing, the husbandman would reply, “I shall sow this\r\nground more slowly, casting in seeds that will be able to\r\nretain their hold, this slower method being better for the\r\nground, and more secure than that which receives the seed\r\nin a more rapid manner, and more upon the surface.” [The\r\nperson finding fault] would yield his assent to the husbandman,\r\nas one who spoke with sound reason, and who acted\r\nwith skill: so also the great Husbandman of all nature postpones\r\nthat benefit which might be deemed premature,<a id=\"r499\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f499\"><sup>[499]</sup></a> that\r\nit may not prove superficial. But it is probable that here\r\nsome one may object to us with reference to this: “Why\r\ndo some of the seeds fall upon the earth that has superficial\r\nsoil, the soul being, as it were, a rock?” Now we must say,\r\nin answer to this, that it was better for this soul, which desired\r\nbetter things precipitately,<a id=\"r500\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f500\"><sup>[500]</sup></a> and not by a way which led\r\nto them, to obtain its desire, in order that, condemning itself\r\non this account, it may, after a long time, endure to receive\r\nthe husbandry which is according to nature. For souls are,\r\nas one may say, innumerable; and their habits are innumerable,\r\nand their movements, and their purposes, and their\r\nassaults, and their efforts, of which there is only one admirable\r\nadministrator, who knows both the seasons, and the\r\nfitting helps, and the avenues, and the ways, viz. the God\r\nand Father of all things, who knows how He conducts even\r\nPharaoh by so great events, and by drowning in the sea, with\r\nwhich latter occurrence His superintendence of Pharaoh does\r\nnot cease. For he was not annihilated when drowned: “For\r\nin the hand of God are both we and our words; all wisdom\r\nalso, and knowledge of workmanship.”<a id=\"r501\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f501\"><sup>[501]</sup></a> And such is a moderate\r\ndefence with regard to the statements that “Pharaoh’s\r\nheart was hardened,” and that “God hath mercy upon whom\r\nHe will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth.”</p>","headings":["The Writings of Origen, Vol. 1 of 2","ORIGEN DE PRINCIPIIS.","BOOK III.","FROM THE GREEK."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70561-paragraph-224"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"bc7da18b8843cca56eb3d98a85e55cc156463adc0442fcb268186b17987198eb","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 1 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1869,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg70561-f499","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 1869 English translation; translator died 1889. Electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"f499","source_ebook":70561,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f499\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r499\">499</a>. </span><span lang=\"grc\">τάχιον.</span></p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"de125e213d16053354f22b34a1c8d477ac23f201e660e4f4841b2ed7e05bb367","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70561/pg70561-images.html#f499","text_sha256":"a375f6619f9a7b878e61f69d037f610f98113ae82b135d0637381b519aa9544b","verified":false,"work_id":null}