{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c005\">7. It is, however, a matter attended with considerable\r\nlabour, to point out, in every instance, how and when the\r\npredictions of the prophets were fulfilled, so as to appear to\r\nconfirm those who are in doubt, seeing it is possible for every\r\none who wishes to become more thoroughly acquainted with\r\nthese things, to gather abundant proofs from the records of\r\nthe truth themselves. But if the sense of the letter, which\r\nis beyond man, does not appear to present itself at once, on\r\nthe first glance, to those who are less versed in divine discipline,\r\nit is not at all to be wondered at, because divine things\r\nare brought down somewhat slowly to [the comprehension of]\r\nmen, and elude the view in proportion as one is either sceptical\r\nor unworthy. For although it is certain that all things\r\nwhich exist in this world, or take place in it, are ordered by\r\nthe providence of God, and certain events indeed do appear\r\nwith sufficient clearness to be under the disposal of His providential\r\ngovernment, yet others again unfold themselves so\r\nmysteriously and incomprehensibly, that the plan of Divine\r\nProvidence with regard to them is completely concealed; so\r\nthat it is occasionally believed by some that particular occurrences\r\ndo not belong to [the plan of] Providence, because\r\nthe principle eludes their grasp, according to which the works\r\nof Divine Providence are administered with indescribable\r\nskill; which principle of administration, however, is not\r\nequally concealed from all. For even among men themselves,\r\none individual devotes less consideration to it, another\r\nmore; while by every man, He who is on earth, whoever is\r\nthe inhabitant of heaven, is more acknowledged.<a id=\"r825\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f825\"><sup>[825]</sup></a> And the\r\nnature of bodies is clear to us in one way, that of trees in\r\nanother, that of animals in a third; the nature of souls,\r\nagain, is concealed in a different way; and the manner in\r\nwhich the diverse movements of rational understandings are\r\nordered by Providence, eludes the view of men in a greater\r\ndegree, and even, in my opinion, in no small degree that of\r\nthe angels also. But as the existence of divine providence\r\nis not refuted by those especially who are certain of its existence,\r\nbut who do not comprehend its workings or arrangements\r\nby the powers of the human mind; so neither will the\r\ndivine inspiration of holy Scripture, which extends throughout\r\nits body, be believed to be non-existent, because the\r\nweakness of our understanding is unable to trace out the\r\nhidden and secret meaning in each individual word, the\r\ntreasure of divine wisdom being hid in the vulgar and unpolished\r\nvessels of words,<a id=\"r826\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f826\"><sup>[826]</sup></a> as the apostle also points out\r\nwhen he says, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels,”<a id=\"r827\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f827\"><sup>[827]</sup></a>\r\nthat the virtue of the divine power may shine out the more\r\nbrightly, no colouring of human eloquence being intermingled\r\nwith the truth of the doctrines. For if our books induced men\r\nto believe because they were composed either by rhetorical\r\narts or by the wisdom of philosophy, then undoubtedly our\r\nfaith would be considered to be based on the art of words, and\r\non human wisdom, and not upon the power of God; whereas\r\nit is now known to all that the word of this preaching has\r\nbeen so accepted by numbers throughout almost the whole\r\nworld, because they understood their belief to rest not on the\r\npersuasive words of human wisdom, but on the manifestation\r\nof the Spirit and of power. On which account, being led by\r\na heavenly, nay, by a more than heavenly power, to faith\r\nand acceptance,<a id=\"r828\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f828\"><sup>[828]</sup></a> that we may worship the sole Creator of all\r\nthings as our God, let us also do our utmost endeavour, by\r\nabandoning the language of the elements of Christ, which\r\nare but the first beginnings of wisdom, to go on to perfection,\r\nin order that that wisdom which is given to them who are\r\nperfect, may be given to us also. For such is the promise of\r\nhim to whom was entrusted the preaching of this wisdom, in\r\nthe words: “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are\r\nperfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes\r\nof this world, who will be brought to nought;”<a id=\"r829\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f829\"><sup>[829]</sup></a> by which\r\nhe shows that this wisdom of ours has nothing in common,\r\nso far as regards the beauty of language, with the wisdom of\r\nthis world. This wisdom, then, will be inscribed more clearly\r\nand perfectly on our hearts, if it be made known to us according\r\nto the revelation of the mystery which has been hid\r\nfrom eternity,<a id=\"r830\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f830\"><sup>[830]</sup></a> but now is manifest through the Scriptures of\r\nprophecy, and the advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus\r\nChrist, to whom be glory for ever. Amen.\r\nMany, not understanding the Scriptures in a spiritual\r\nsense, but incorrectly,<a id=\"r831\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f831\"><sup>[831]</sup></a> have fallen into heresies.</p>","headings":["The Writings of Origen, Vol. 1 of 2","ORIGEN DE PRINCIPIIS.","BOOK IV.","FROM THE LATIN."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70561-paragraph-300"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"376c8d1bc71169f6c25ffcf117b807cddc93f0b0bc714ffdd88ee43217021c48","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 1 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1869,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg70561-f826","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":"f826","source_ebook":70561,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f826\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r826\">826</a>. </span><span lang=\"la\">In vilioribus et incomptis verborum vasculis.</span></p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"de125e213d16053354f22b34a1c8d477ac23f201e660e4f4841b2ed7e05bb367","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70561/pg70561-images.html#f826","text_sha256":"018365999f7c597063c1c74d21b66cd18b44ec1d23b4142b57298234b6f0e26d","verified":false,"work_id":null}