And consequently, even if they have always existed, they were created;neither, if they have always existed, are they therefore co-eternal with the Creator.For He has always existed in unchangeable eternity; while they were created, and are said to have been always, because they have been in all time, time being impossible without the creature.But time passing away by its changefulness, cannot be co eternal with changeless eternity.And consequently, though the immortality of the angels does not pass in time, does not become past as if now it were not, nor has a future as if it were not yet, still their movements, which are the basis of time, do pass from future to past; and therefore they cannot be co-eternal with the Creator, in whose movement we cannot say that there has been that which now is not, or shall be that which is not yet.Wherefore, if God always has been Lord, He has always had creatures under His dominion,--creatures, however, not begotten of Him, but created by Him out of nothing; nor co-eternal with Him, for He was before them though at no time without them, because He preceded them, not by the lapse of time, but by His abiding eternity.But if I make this reply to those who demand how He was always Creator, always Lord, if there were not always a subject creation; or how this was created, and not rather co-eternal with its Creator, if it always was, I fear I may be accused of recklessly affirming what I know not, instead of teaching what I know.I return, therefore, to that which our Creator has seen fit that we should know;and those things which He has allowed the abler men to know in this life, or has reserved to be known in the next by the perfected saints, I acknowledge to be beyond my capacity.
But I have thought it right to discuss these matters without making positive assertions, that they who read may be warned to abstain from hazardous questions, and may not deem themselves fit for everything.Let them rather endeavor to obey the wholesome injunction of the apostle, when he says, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."(1) For if an infant receive nourishment suited to its strength, it becomes capable, as it grows, of taking more; but if its strength and capacity be overtaxed, it dwines away in place of growing.
CHAP.16.--HOW WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S PROMISE OF LIFE ETERNAL, WHICHWAS
UTTERED BEFORE THE "ETERNAL TIMES."
I own that I do not know what ages passed before the human race was created, yet I have no doubt that no created thing is co-eternal with the Creator.But even the apostle speaks of time as eternal, and this with reference, not to the future, but, which is more surprising, to the past.For he says, "In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie promised before the eternal times, but hath in clue times manifested His word."(1) You see he says that in the past there have been eternal times, which, however, were not co-eternal with God.And since God before these eternal times not only existed, but also, "promised" life eternal, which He manifested in its own times (that is to say, in due times), what else is this than His word? For this is life eternal.But then, how did He promise; for the promise was made to men, and yet they had no existence before eternal times?
Does this not mean that, in His own eternity, and in His co-eternal word, that which was to be in its own time was already predestined and fixed?
CHAP.17.--WHAT DEFENCE IS MADE BY SOUND FAITH REGARDING GOD'S UNCHANGEABLECOUNSEL AND WILL, AGAINST THE REASONINGS OF THOSE WHO HOLD THAT THEWORKS OF
GOD ARE ETERNALLY REPEATED IN REVOLVING CYCLES THAT RESTORE ALL THINGSAS THEY
WERE.
