P. 785 P. 786 CHAP. BOOK XV CONTENTS I. Preface concerning the whole argument. . p. 788 a IL. On the philosophy of Aristotle, and his personal history. From Aristocles the Peripatetic P. 791 b III. On the doctrines of Aristotle, who was at variance with IX. The same against the same, as at variance with Plato X. Plotinus, from the second Book On the immortality of the p. 793 d P. 794 © p. 798 c XI. Porphyry on the same, from the answer to Boethus On ment Concerning the universal soul. From the same XVI. Porphyry, against the opinion of the Stoics concerning XX. What the same sect think concerning the soul. XXII. In answer to the Stoics, that the soul cannot possibly be corporeal. From Plotinus On the soul, Book I XXX. What is the substance of the planets and fixed stars p. 838 d XXXI. On the shapes of the stars XXXV. Whether the world is imperishable XXXVI. From what source the world is sustained. XXXVII. From what God first began to create the world XLL. Which is the right and which the left side of the world p. 845 a XLVI. Of the order of the stars XLVII. Of the course and motion of the heavenly bodies XLVIII. Whence the stars derive their light XLIX. Of the so-called Dioscuri L. Of an eclipse of the sun LI. Of an eclipse of the moon LIL. Of the appearance of the moon, and why it appears earthy LIII. Of its distances LXIL That even Socrates, the wisest of the Greeks, used to p. 853 c P. 788 PREFACE CONCERNING THE WHOLE SUBJECT I THOUGHT it important in the beginning of the Preparation for the Gospel to refute the polytheistic error of all the nations, in order to commend and excuse our b separation from them, which we have made with good reason and judgement. Therefore before all else in the first three Books, I thoroughly examined not only the fables concerning their gods which have been turned into ridicule by their own theologians and poets, but also the solemn and secret physical theories of these latter, which have been transported by their grand philosophy high up to heaven and to the various parts of the world; although their theologians themselves declared that there was no need at all to talk gravely on these matters. с We must therefore carefully observe that the oldest of their theologians were proved on the highest testimony to have no special knowledge of the history, but to rely solely on the fables. Hence naturally in all cities and villages, according to the narratives of these ancient authors, initiatory rites and mysteries of the gods corresponding to the earlier mythical tales have been handed down by tradition; so that even to the present time the marriages of their gods and their procreation of children, their lamentations and their drunkenness, the wanderings of some, the amours of others, their anger, and their different disasters and adventures of all kinds, are traditionally received in accordance with the notices recorded by the most ancient authors, in their d initiatory rites, and in their hymns, and in the songs composed in honour of their gods. But nevertheless, as a work of supererogation, I also brought out to light the refinements of these later authors themselves which they had pompously exhibited in physical explanations, and the subtleties of the sophists and philosophers. Moreover, as to the account of the renowned oracles, and the false opinion concerning fate so celebrated among the multitude, these I laid bare by evidence as clear as day in other three books following next after the p. 789 first three; and for the proof against them I made use not only of my own dialectic efforts, but also especially of the sayings of the Greek philosophers themselves. Passing on thence to the oracles of the Hebrews, I showed, in the same number of books again, by what reasonings we accepted the dogmatic theology contained in them, and the universal history taught by them and confirmed by the testimony of the Greeks themselves. Next in order I refuted the method of the Greeks, and clearly showed how they had been helped in all things by Barbarians, and that they bring forward no serious learning of their own, making also a comparative table b of the times in which the celebrated Greeks and the Hebrew prophets lived. Again in the next three books I showed the agreement of the best-esteemed philosophers of the Greeks with the opinions of the Hebrews, and again made their own utterances my witnesses. Moreover in the book preceding this I clearly detected those Greek philosophers who differ from our opinions as being at variance not with us only but also with their c own countrymen, and as having been overthrown by their own disciples. Throughout all these discussions *** (2) Bb 849 I show to my readers that the judgement of my own mind is impartial, and by the very facts and deeds, so to say, I have brought forward my proofs, that with no want of consideration, but with well-judged and sound reasoning, we have chosen the philosophy and religion of the Hebrews, which is both ancient and true, in preference d to that of the Greeks, which result was also confirmed by the comparison of the statements of the Greeks. As we have been deferring up to the present time our final discourse hereon, which is the fifteenth Book of the treatise in hand, we will now make up what is lacking to the discussions which we have travelled through, by still further dragging into light the solemn doctrines of the fine philosophy of the Greeks, and laying bare before the eyes of all the useless learning therein. And before all things we shall show that not from ignorance of the things which they admire, but from contempt of the unprofitable study therein we have cared very little for them, and devoted our own souls to the practice of things far better. When therefore by God's help this book shall have received the seal of truth, my work on the Preparation shall here be brought to a close; and passing on to the p. 790 more complete argument of the Demonstration of the Gospel, I shall connect the commencement of my second treatise with the consideration of the remaining charge brought against us. Now the fault alleged against us was this, that though we honoured the oracles of the Hebrews above those of our own country, we did not emulate and choose a life like that of the Jews. Against that charge I shall, with the help of God, endeavour to make answer after the completion of my present discourse. For in this way I think that the second part being connected in one bond, as it were, with the first, will unite and complete the general purpose of the whole discussion. b. As to our present task, however, in the preceding Books |