Anselm (1033-1109):

Monologium
Preface
I. There is a being which is best, and greatest, and highest of all
existing beings
II. The same subject continued
III. There is a certain Nature through which whatever is exists,
etc.
IV. The same subject continued
V. Just as this Nature exists through itself, and other beings
through it, so it derives existence from itself, and other beings
from it
VI. This Nature was not brought into existence with the help of
any external cause, yet it does not exist through nothing, or
derive existence from nothing
VII. In what way all other beings exist through this Nature and
derive existence from it
VIII. How it is to be understood that this Nature created all
things from nothing
IX. Those things which were created from nothing had an
existence before their creation in the thought of the reator
X. This thought is a !ind of expression of the thoughts created
" locutio rerum #, li!e the expression which an artisan forms in
his mind for what he intends to ma!e
XI. The analogy, however, between the expression of the
reator and the expression of the artisan is very complete
XII. This expression of the supreme $eing is the supreme
$eing
XIII. %s all things were created through the supreme $eing, so
all live through it
XIV. This $eing is in all things. and throughout all
XV. &hat can or cannot be stated concerning the substance of
this $eing
XVI. 'or this $eing it is the same to be just that it is to be
justice
XVII. It is simple in such a way that all things that can be said
of its essence are one and the same in it
XVIII. It is without beginning and without end
XIX. In what sense nothing existed before or will exist after
this $eing
XX. It exists in every place and at every time
XXI. It exists in no place or time
XXII. How it exists in every place and time, and in none
XXIII. How it is better conceived to exist everywhere than in
every place
XXIV. How it is better understood to exist always than at every
time
XXV. It cannot suffer change by any accidents
XXVI. How this $eing is said to be substance
XXVII. It is not included among substances as commonly
treated, yet it is a substance and an indivisible spirit
XXVIII. This (pirit exists simply, and created beings are not
comparable with him
XXIX. His expression is identical with himself, and
consubstantial with him
XXX. This expression does not consist of more words than one,
but is one &ord
XXXI. This &ord itself is not the li!eness of created beings,
but the reality of their being
XXXII. The supreme (pirit expresses himself by a coeternal
&ord
XXXIII. He utters himself and what he creates by a single
consubstantial &ord
XXXIV. How he can express the created world by his &ord
XXXV. &hatever has been created is in his &ord and
!nowledge, life and truth
XXXVI. In how incomprehensible a way he expresses or
!nows the objects created by him
XXXVII. &hatever his relations to his creatures, this relation
his &ord also sustains
XXXVIII. It cannot be explained why they are two, although
they must be so
XXXIX. This &ord derives existence from the supreme (pirit
by birth
XL. He is most truly a parent, and that &ord his offspring
XLI. He most truly begets, and it is most truly begotten
XLII. It is the property of the one to be most truly progenitor
and 'ather, and of the other to be begotten and (on
XLIII. onsideration of the common attributes of both and the
individual properties of each
XLIV. How one is the essence of the other
XLV. The (on may more appropriately be called the essence of
the 'ather, than the 'ather the essence of the son
XLVI. How some of these truths which are thus expounded
may also be conceived of in another way
XLVII. The (on is the intelligence of intelligence and the truth
of truth
XLVIII. How the (on is the intelligence or wisdom of memory
or the memory of the 'ather and of memory
XLIX. The supreme (pirit loves himself
L. The same love proceeds e)ually from 'ather and (on
LI. *ach loves himself and the other with e)ual love
LII. This love is as great as the supreme (pirit himself
LIII. This +ove is identical with the supreme (pirit, and yet it
is itself with the 'ather and the (on one spirit
LIV. It proceeds as a whole from the 'ather, and as a whole
from the (on, and yet does not exist except as one love
LV. This love is not their (on
LVI. ,nly the 'ather begets and is unbegotten- only the (on is
begotten- only love neither begotten nor unbegotten
LVII. This love is uncreated and creator, as are 'ather and (on-
it may be called the (pirit of 'ather and (on
LVIII. %s the (on is the essence or wisdom of the 'ather in the
sense that he has the same essence or wisdom that the 'ather
has- so li!ewise the (pirit is the essence and wisdom etc. of
'ather and (on
LIX. The 'ather and the (on and their (pirit exist e)ually the
one in the other
LX. To none of these is another necessary that he may
remember, conceive, or love
LXI. .et there are not three, but one 'ather and one (on and
one (pirit
LXII. How it seems that of these three more sons than one are
born
LXIII. How among them there is only one (on of one 'ather,
that is, one &ord, and that from the 'ather alone
LXIV. Though this truth is inexplicable, it demands belief
LXV. How real truth may be reached in the discussion of an
ineffable subject
LXVI. Through the rational mind is the nearest approach to the
supreme $eing
LXVII. The mind itself is the mirror and image of that $eing
LXVIII. The rational creature was created in order that it might
love this $eing
LXIX. The soul that ever loves this *ssence lives at some time
in true blessedness
LXX. This $eing gives itself in return to the creature that loves
it, that that creature may be eternally blessed
LXXI. The soul that despises this being will be eternally
miserable
LXXII. *very human soul is immortal. %nd it is either forever
miserable, or at some time truly blessed.
LXXIII. No soul is unjustly deprived of the supreme good, and
every effort must be directed toward that good
LXXIV. The supreme $eing is to be hoped for
LXXV. &e must believe in this $eing, that is, by believing we
must reach for it
LXXVI. &e should believe in 'ather and (on and in their
(pirit e)ually, and in each separately, and in the three at once
LXXVII. &hat is living and what dead faith
LXXVIII. The supreme $eing may in some sort be called
Three
LXXIX. The *ssence itself is /od, who alone is lord and ruler
of all

ANSELM'S MONOLOGIUM
ON THE BEING OF GOD
PREFACE.
In this book Anselm discusses, under the form of a
meditation, the Being of God, basing his argument not on
the authority of Scripture, but on the force of reason. It
contains nothing that is inconsistent with the writings of the
Holy Fathers, and especially nothing that is inconsistent with
those of St. Augustine. !he Greek terminology is employed
in "hapter #$$%III., where it is stated that the !rinity may be
said to consist of three substances, that is, three persons.
CERTAIN brethren have often and earnestly entreated me to
!t "n #r"t"n$ some tho!$hts that I had o%ered them "n
fam"l"ar &onversat"on' re$ard"n$ med"tat"on on the Be"n$ of
God' and on some other to"&s &onne&ted #"th th"s s!b(e&t'
!nder the form of a med"tat"on on these themes. It "s "n
a&&ordan&e #"th the"r #"sh' rather than #"th my ab"l"ty' that
they have res&r"bed s!&h a form for the #r"t"n$ of th"s
med"tat"on) "n order that noth"n$ "n *&r"t!re sho!ld be
!r$ed on the a!thor"ty of *&r"t!re "tself' b!t that #hatever
the &on&l!s"on of "ndeendent "nvest"$at"on sho!ld de&lare
to be tr!e' sho!ld' "n an !nadorned style' #"th &ommon
roofs and #"th a s"mle ar$!ment' be br"e+y enfor&ed by
the &o$en&y of reason' and la"nly e,o!nded "n the l"$ht of
tr!th. It #as the"r #"sh also' that I sho!ld not d"sda"n to meet
s!&h s"mle and almost fool"sh ob(e&t"ons as o&&!r to me.
Th"s tas- I have lon$ ref!sed to !nderta-e. And' re+e&t"n$ on
the matter' I have tr"ed on many $ro!nds to e,&!se myself)
for the more they #anted th"s #or- to be adatable to
ra&t"&al !se' the more #as #hat they en(o"ned on me
d".&!lt of e,e&!t"on. Over&ome at last' ho#ever' both by the
modest "mort!n"ty of the"r entreat"es and by the not
&ontemt"ble s"n&er"ty of the"r /eal) and rel!&tant as I #as
be&a!se of the d".&!lty of my tas- and the #ea-ness of my
talent' I entered !on the #or- they as-ed for. B!t "t "s #"th
leas!re "ns"red by the"r a%e&t"on that' so far as I #as able'
I have rose&!ted th"s #or- #"th"n the l"m"ts they set.
I #as led to th"s !nderta-"n$ "n the hoe that #hatever I
m"$ht a&&oml"sh #o!ld soon be over#helmed #"th
&ontemt' as by men d"s$!sted #"th some #orthless th"n$.
For I -no# that "n th"s boo- I have not so m!&h sat"s0ed
those #ho entreated me' as !t an end to the entreat"es that
follo#ed me so !r$ently. 1et' someho# "t fell o!t' &ontrary to
my hoe' that not only the brethren ment"oned above' b!t
several others' by ma-"n$ &o"es for the"r o#n !se'
&ondemned th"s #r"t"n$ to lon$ remembran&e. And' after
fre2!ent &ons"derat"on' I have not been able to 0nd that I
have made "n "t any statement #h"&h "s "n&ons"stent #"th the
#r"t"n$s of the Cathol"& Fathers' or ese&"ally #"th those of
*t. A!$!st"ne. 3herefore' "f "t shall aear to any man that I
have o%ered "n th"s #or- any tho!$ht that "s e"ther too novel
or d"s&ordant #"th the tr!th' I as- h"m not to deno!n&e me at
on&e as one #ho boldly se"/es !on ne# "deas' or as a
ma"nta"ner of falsehood) b!t let h"m 0rst read d"l"$ently
A!$!st"ne4s boo-s on the Tr"n"ty' and then (!d$e my treat"se
"n the l"$ht of those.
In stat"n$ that the s!reme Tr"n"ty may be sa"d to &ons"st of
three s!bstan&es' I have follo#ed the Gree-s' #ho
a&-no#led$e three s!bstan&es "n one Essen&e' "n the same
fa"th #here"n #e a&-no#led$e three ersons "n one
*!bstan&e. For they des"$nate by the #ord substance that
attr"b!te of God #h"&h #e des"$nate by the #ord person.
3hatever I have sa"d on that o"nt' ho#ever' "s !t "n the
mo!th of one debat"n$ and "nvest"$at"n$ "n sol"tary
re+e&t"on' 2!est"ons to #h"&h he had $"ven no attent"on
before. And th"s method I -ne# to be "n a&&ordan&e #"th the
#"sh of those #hose re2!est I #as str"v"n$ to f!l0l. B!t "t "s
my rayer and earnest entreaty' that "f any shall #"sh to
&oy th"s #or-' he shall be &aref!l to la&e th"s refa&e at
the be$"nn"n$ of the boo-' before the body of the med"tat"on
"tself. For I bel"eve that one #"ll be m!&h heled "n
!nderstand"n$ the matter of th"s boo-' "f he has ta-en note
of the "ntent"on' and the method a&&ord"n$ to #h"&h "t "s
d"s&!ssed. It "s my o"n"on' too' that one #ho has 0rst seen
th"s refa&e #"ll not rono!n&e a rash (!d$ment' "f he shall
0nd o%ered here any tho!$ht that "s &ontrary to h"s o#n
bel"ef.

CHAPTER I.
There "s a be"n$ #h"&h "s best' and $reatest' and h"$hest of
all e,"st"n$ be"n$s.
IF any man' e"ther from "$noran&e or !nbel"ef' has no
-no#led$e of the e,"sten&e of one Nat!re #h"&h "s h"$hest of
all e,"st"n$ be"n$s' #h"&h "s also s!.&"ent to "tself "n "ts
eternal blessedness' and #h"&h &onfers !on and e%e&ts "n
all other be"n$s' thro!$h "ts omn"otent $oodness' the very
fa&t of the"r e,"sten&e' and the fa&t that "n any #ay the"r
e,"sten&e "s $ood) and "f he has no -no#led$e of many other
th"n$s' #h"&h #e ne&essar"ly bel"eve re$ard"n$ God and h"s
&reat!res' he st"ll bel"eves that he &an at least &onv"n&e
h"mself of these tr!ths "n $reat art' even "f h"s mental
o#ers are very ord"nary' by the for&e of reason alone.
And' altho!$h he &o!ld do th"s "n many #ays' I shall adot
one #h"&h I &ons"der eas"est for s!&h a man. For' s"n&e all
des"re to en(oy only those th"n$s #h"&h they s!ose to be
$ood' "t "s nat!ral that th"s man sho!ld' at some t"me' t!rn
h"s m"nd4s eye to the e,am"nat"on of that &a!se by #h"&h
these th"n$s are $ood' #h"&h he does not des"re' e,&et as
he (!d$es them to be $ood. *o that' as reason leads the #ay
and follo#s ! these &ons"derat"ons' he advan&es rat"onally
to those tr!ths of #h"&h' #"tho!t reason' he has no
-no#led$e. And "f' "n th"s d"s&!ss"on' I !se any ar$!ment
#h"&h no $reater a!thor"ty add!&es' I #"sh "t to be re&e"ved
"n th"s #ay5 altho!$h' on the $ro!nds that I shall see 0t to
adot' the &on&l!s"on "s rea&hed as "f ne&essar"ly' yet "t "s
not' for th"s reason' sa"d to be absol!tely ne&essary' b!t
merely that "t &an aear so for the t"me be"n$.
It "s easy' then' for one to say to h"mself5 *"n&e there are
$oods so "nn!merable' #hose $reat d"vers"ty #e e,er"en&e
by the bod"ly senses' and d"s&ern by o!r mental fa&!lt"es'
m!st #e not bel"eve that there "s some one th"n$' thro!$h
#h"&h all $oods #hatever are $ood6 Or are they $ood one
thro!$h one th"n$ and another thro!$h another6 To be s!re'
"t "s most &erta"n and &lear' for all #ho are #"ll"n$ to see' that
#hatsoever th"n$s are sa"d to ossess any attr"b!te "n s!&h a
#ay that "n m!t!al &omar"son they may be sa"d to ossess
"t "n $reater' or less' or e2!al de$ree' are sa"d to ossess "t
by v"rt!e of some fa&t' #h"&h "s not !nderstood to be one
th"n$ "n one &ase and another "n another' b!t to be the same
"n d"%erent &ases' #hether "t "s re$arded as e,"st"n$ "n these
&ases "n e2!al or !ne2!al de$ree. For' #hatsoever th"n$s are
sa"d to be &ust, #hen &omared one #"th another' #hether
e2!ally' or more' or less' &annot be !nderstood as (!st'
e,&et thro!$h the 2!al"ty of &ustness, #h"&h "s not one th"n$
"n one "nstan&e' and another "n another.
*"n&e "t "s &erta"n' then' that all $oods' "f m!t!ally &omared'
#o!ld rove e"ther e2!ally or !ne2!ally $ood' ne&essar"ly
they are all $ood by v"rt!e of someth"n$ #h"&h "s &on&e"ved
of as the same "n d"%erent $oods' altho!$h somet"mes they
seem to be &alled $ood' the one by v"rt!e of one th"n$' the
other by v"rt!e of another. For' aarently "t "s by v"rt!e of
one 2!al"ty' that a horse "s &alled good, be&a!se he "s
stron$' and by v"rt!e of another' that he "s &alled good,
be&a!se he "s s#"ft. For' tho!$h he seems to be &alled $ood
by v"rt!e of h"s stren$th' and $ood by v"rt!e of h"s s#"ftness'
yet s#"ftness and stren$th do not aear to be the same
th"n$.
B!t "f a horse' be&a!se he "s stron$ and s#"ft' "s therefore
$ood' ho# "s "t that a stron$' s#"ft robber "s bad6 Rather'
then' (!st as a stron$' s#"ft robber "s bad' be&a!se he "s
harmf!l' so a stron$' s#"ft horse "s $ood' be&a!se he "s
!sef!l. And' "ndeed' noth"n$ "s ord"nar"ly re$arded as $ood'
e,&et e"ther for some !t"l"ty 77 as' for "nstan&e' safety "s
&alled $ood' and those th"n$s #h"&h romote safety 77or for
some honorable &hara&ter 77 as' for "nstan&e' bea!ty "s
re&-oned to be $ood' and #hat romotes bea!ty.
B!t' s"n&e the reason"n$ #h"&h #e have observed "s "n no
#"se ref!table' ne&essar"ly' a$a"n' all th"n$s' #hether !sef!l
or honorable' "f they are tr!ly $ood' are $ood thro!$h that
same be"n$ thro!$h #h"&h all $oods e,"st' #hatever that
be"n$ "s. B!t #ho &an do!bt th"s very be"n$' thro!$h #h"&h
all $oods e,"st' to be a $reat $ood6 Th"s m!st be' then' a
$ood thro!$h "tself' s"n&e ever other $ood "s thro!$h "t.
It follo#s' therefore' that all other $oods are $ood thro!$h
another be"n$ than that #h"&h they themselves are' and th"s
be"n$ alone "s $ood thro!$h "tself. Hen&e' th"s alone "s
s!remely $ood' #h"&h "s alone $ood thro!$h "tself. For "t "s
s!reme' "n that "t so s!rasses other be"n$s' that "t "s
ne"ther e2!alled nor e,&elled. B!t that #h"&h "s s!remely
$ood "s also s!remely $reat. There "s' therefore' some one
be"n$ #h"&h "s s!remely $ood' and s!remely $reat' that "s'
the h"$hest of all e,"st"n$ be"n$s.

CHAPTER II.
The same s!b(e&t &ont"n!ed.
B8T' (!st as "t has been roved that there "s a be"n$ that "s
s!remely $ood' s"n&e all $oods are $ood thro!$h a s"n$le
be"n$' #h"&h "s $ood thro!$h "tself) so "t "s ne&essar"ly
"nferred that there "s someth"n$ s!remely $reat' #h"&h "s
$reat thro!$h "tself. B!t' I do not mean hys"&ally $reat' as a
mater"al ob(e&t "s $reat' b!t that #h"&h' the $reater "t "s' "s
the better or the more #orthy' 77#"sdom' for "nstan&e. And
s"n&e there &an be noth"n$ s!remely $reat e,&et #hat "s
s!remely $ood' there m!st be a be"n$ that "s $reatest and
best' ". e.' the h"$hest of all e,"st"n$ be"n$s.

CHAPTER III.
There "s a &erta"n Nat!re thro!$h #h"&h #hatever "s e,"sts'
and #h"&h e,"sts thro!$h "tself' and "s the h"$hest of all
e,"st"n$ be"n$s.
THEREFORE' not only are all $ood th"n$s s!&h thro!$h
someth"n$ that "s one and the same' and all $reat th"n$s
s!&h thro!$h someth"n$ that "s one and the same) b!t
#hatever "s' aarently e,"sts thro!$h someth"n$ that "s one
and the same. For' everyth"n$ that "s' e,"sts e"ther thro!$h
someth"n$' or thro!$h noth"n$. B!t noth"n$ e,"sts thro!$h
noth"n$. For "t "s alto$ether "n&on&e"vable that anyth"n$
sho!ld not e,"st by v"rt!e of someth"n$.
3hatever "s' then' does not e,"st e,&et thro!$h someth"n$.
*"n&e th"s "s tr!e' e"ther there "s one be"n$' or there are more
than one' thro!$h #h"&h all th"n$s that are e,"st. B!t "f there
are more than one' e"ther these are themselves to be
referred to some one be"n$' thro!$h #h"&h they e,"st' or
they e,"st searately' ea&h thro!$h "tself' or they e,"st
m!t!ally thro!$h one another.
B!t' "f these be"n$s e,"st thro!$h one be"n$' then all th"n$s
do not e,"st thro!$h more than one' b!t rather thro!$h that
one be"n$ thro!$h #h"&h these e,"st.
If' ho#ever' these e,"st searately' ea&h thro!$h "tself' there
"s' at any rate' some o#er or roerty of e,"st"n$ thro!$h
self 9e'istendi per se:' by #h"&h they are able to e,"st ea&h
thro!$h "tself. B!t' there &an be no do!bt that' "n that &ase'
they e,"st thro!$h th"s very o#er' #h"&h "s one' and
thro!$h #h"&h they are able to e,"st' ea&h thro!$h "tself.
;ore tr!ly' then' do all th"n$s e,"st thro!$h th"s very be"n$'
#h"&h "s one' than thro!$h these' #h"&h are more than one'
#h"&h' #"tho!t th"s one' &annot e,"st.
B!t that these be"n$s e,"st m!t!ally thro!$h one another' no
reason &an adm"t) s"n&e "t "s an "rrat"onal &on&et"on that
anyth"n$ sho!ld e,"st thro!$h a be"n$ on #h"&h "t &onfers
e,"sten&e. For not even be"n$s of a relat"ve nat!re e,"st th!s
m!t!ally' the one thro!$h the other. For' tho!$h the terms
master and ser(ant are !sed #"th m!t!al referen&e' and the
men th!s des"$nated are ment"oned as hav"n$ m!t!al
relat"ons' yet they do not at all e,"st m!t!ally' the one
thro!$h the other' s"n&e these relat"ons e,"st thro!$h the
s!b(e&ts to #h"&h they are referred.
Therefore' s"n&e tr!th alto$ether e,&l!des the s!os"t"on
that there are more be"n$s than one' thro!$h #h"&h all
th"n$s e,"st' that be"n$' thro!$h #h"&h all e,"st' m!st be one.
*"n&e' then' all th"n$s that are e,"st thro!$h th"s one be"n$'
do!btless th"s one be"n$ e,"sts thro!$h "tself. 3hatever
th"n$s there are else then' e,"st thro!$h someth"n$ other
than themselves' and th"s alone thro!$h "tself. B!t #hatever
e,"sts thro!$h another "s less than that' thro!$h #h"&h all
th"n$s are' and #h"&h alone e,"sts thro!$h "tself. Therefore'
that #h"&h e,"sts thro!$h "tself e,"sts "n the $reatest de$ree
of all th"n$s.
There "s' then' some one be"n$ #h"&h alone e,"sts "n the
$reatest and the h"$hest de$ree of all. B!t that #h"&h "s
$reatest of all' and thro!$h #h"&h e,"sts #hatever "s $ood or
$reat' and' "n short' #hatever has any e,"sten&e 77 that m!st
be s!remely $ood' and s!remely $reat' and the h"$hest of
all e,"st"n$ be"n$s.

CHAPTER I<.
The same s!b(e&t &ont"n!ed.
F8RTHER;ORE' "f one observes the nat!re of th"n$s be
er&e"ves' #hether he #"ll or no' that not all are embra&ed "n
a s"n$le de$ree of d"$n"ty) b!t that &erta"n amon$ them are
d"st"n$!"shed by "ne2!al"ty of de$ree. For' he #ho do!bts
that the horse "s s!er"or "n "ts nat!re to #ood' and man
more e,&ellent than the horse' ass!redly does not deserve
the name of man. Therefore' altho!$h "t &annot be den"ed
that some nat!res are s!er"or to others' nevertheless
reason &onv"n&es !s that some nat!re "s so reem"nent
amon$ these' that "t has no s!er"or. For' "f the d"st"n&t"on of
de$rees "s "n0n"te' so that there "s amon$ them no de$ree'
than #h"&h no h"$her &an be fo!nd' o!r &o!rse of reason"n$
rea&hes th"s &on&l!s"on5 that the m!lt"t!de of nat!res
themselves "s not l"m"ted by any bo!nds. B!t only an
abs!rdly fool"sh man &an fa"l to re$ard s!&h a &on&l!s"on as
abs!rdly fool"sh. There "s' then' ne&essar"ly some nat!re
#h"&h "s so s!er"or to some nat!re or nat!res' that there "s
none "n &omar"son #"th #h"&h "t "s ran-ed as "nfer"or.
No#' th"s. nat!re #h"&h "s s!&h' e"ther "s s"n$le' or there are
more nat!res than one of th"s sort' and they are of e2!al
de$ree.
B!t' "f they are more than one and e2!al' s"n&e they &annot
be e2!al thro!$h any d"verse &a!ses' b!t only thro!$h some
&a!se #h"&h "s one and the same' that one &a!se' thro!$h
#h"&h they are e2!ally so $reat' e"ther "s "tself #hat they are'
that "s' the very essen&e of these nat!res) or else "t "s
another than #hat they are.
B!t "f "t "s noth"n$ else than the"r very essen&e "tself' (!st as
they have not more than one essen&e' b!t a s"n$le essen&e'
so they have not more than one nat!re' b!t a s"n$le nat!re.
For I here !nderstand nature as "dent"&al #"th essence.
If' ho#ever' that thro!$h #h"&h these nat!res are so $reat "s
another than that #h"&h they are' then' &erta"nly' they are
less than that thro!$h #h"&h they are so $reat. For' #hatever
"s $reat thro!$h someth"n$ else "s less than that thro!$h
#h"&h "t "s $reat. Therefore' they are not so $reat that there
"s noth"n$ else $reater than they.
B!t "f' ne"ther thro!$h #hat they are nor thro!$h anyth"n$
other than themselves' &an there be more s!&h nat!res than
one' than #h"&h noth"n$ else shall be more e,&ellent' then "n
no #"se &an there be more than one nat!re of th"s -"nd. 3e
&on&l!de' then' that there "s some nat!re #h"&h "s one and
s"n$le' and #h"&h "s so s!er"or to others that "t "s "nfer"or to
none. B!t that #h"&h "s s!&h "s the $reatest and best of all
e,"st"n$ be"n$s. Hen&e' there "s a &erta"n nat!re #h"&h "s the
h"$hest of all e,"st"n$ be"n$s. Th"s' ho#ever' "t &annot be'
!nless "t "s #hat "t "s thro!$h "tself' and all e,"st"n$ be"n$s
are #hat they are thro!$h "t.
For s"n&e' as o!r reason"n$ sho#ed !s not lon$ s"n&e' that
#h"&h e,"sts thro!$h "tself' and thro!$h #h"&h all other
th"n$s e,"st' "s the h"$hest of all e,"st"n$ be"n$s) e"ther
&onversely' that #h"&h "s the h"$hest e,"sts thro!$h "tself'
and all others thro!$h "t) or' there #"ll be more than one
s!reme be"n$. B!t "t "s man"fest that there &annot be more
than one s!reme be"n$. There "s' therefore' a &erta"n
Nat!re' or *!bstan&e' or Essen&e' #h"&h "s thro!$h "tself
$ood and $reat' and thro!$h "tself "s #hat "t "s) and thro!$h
#h"&h e,"sts #hatever "s tr!ly $ood' or $reat' or has any
e,"sten&e at all) and #h"&h "s the s!reme $ood be"n$' the
s!reme $reat be"n$' be"n$ or s!bs"st"n$ as s!reme' that
"s' the h"$hest of all e,"st"n$ be"n$s.

CHAPTER <.
=!st as th"s Nat!re e,"sts thro!$h "tself' and other be"n$s
thro!$h "t' so "t der"ves e,"sten&e from "tself' and other
be"n$s from "t.
*ee"n$' then' that the tr!th already d"s&overed has been
sat"sfa&tor"ly demonstrated' "t "s ro0table to e,am"ne
#hether th"s Nat!re' and all th"n$s that have any e,"sten&e'
der"ve e,"sten&e from no other so!r&e than "t' (!st as they do
not e,"st e,&et thro!$h "t.
B!t "t "s &lear that one may say' that #hat der"ves e,"sten&e
from someth"n$ e,"sts thro!$h the same th"n$) and #hat
e,"sts thro!$h someth"n$ also der"ves e,"sten&e from "t. For
"nstan&e' #hat der"ves e,"sten&e from matter' and e,"sts
thro!$h the art"0&er' may also be sa"d to e,"st thro!$h
matter' and to der"ve e,"sten&e from the art"0&er' s"n&e "t
e,"sts thro!$h both' and der"ves e,"sten&e from both. That
"s' "t "s endo#ed #"th e,"sten&e by both' altho!$h "t e,"sts
thro!$h matter and from the art"0&er "n another sense than
that "n #h"&h "t e,"sts thro!$h' and from' the art"0&er.
It follo#s' then' that (!st as all e,"st"n$ be"n$s are #hat they
are' thro!$h the s!reme Nat!re' and as that Nat!re e,"sts
thro!$h "tself' b!t other be"n$s thro!$h another than
themselves' so all e,"st"n$ be"n$s der"ve e,"sten&e from th"s
s!reme Nat!re. And therefore' th"s Nat!re der"ves
e,"sten&e from "tself' b!t other be"n$s from "t.

CHAPTER <I.
Th"s Nat!re #as not bro!$ht "nto e,"sten&e #"th the hel of
any e,ternal &a!se' yet "t does not e,"st thro!$h noth"n$' or
der"ve e,"sten&e from noth"n$. 77Ho# e,"sten&e thro!$h self'
and der"ved from self' "s &on&e"vable.
*INCE the same mean"n$ "s not al#ays atta&hed to the
hrase' >e,"sten&e thro!$h> someth"n$' or' to the hrase'
>e,"sten&e der"ved from> someth"n$' very d"l"$ent "n2!"ry
m!st be made' "n #hat #ay all e,"st"n$ be"n$s e,"st thro!$h
the s!reme Nat!re' or der"ve e,"sten&e from "t. For' #hat
e,"sts thro!$h "tself' and #hat e,"sts thro!$h another' do not
adm"t the same $ro!nd of e,"sten&e. ?et !s 0rst &ons"der'
searately' th"s s!reme Nat!re' #h"&h e,"sts thro!$h self)
then these be"n$s #h"&h e,"st thro!$h another.
*"n&e "t "s ev"dent' then' that th"s Nat!re "s #hatever "t "s'
thro!$h "tself' and all other be"n$s are #hat they are'
thro!$h "t' ho# does "t e,"st thro!$h "tself6 For' #hat "s sa"d
to e,"st thro!$h anyth"n$ aarently e,"sts thro!$h an
e.&"ent a$ent' or thro!$h matter' or thro!$h some other
e,ternal a"d' as thro!$h some "nstr!ment. B!t' #hatever
e,"sts "n any of these three #ays e,"sts thro!$h another than
"tself' and "s of later e,"sten&e' and' "n some sort' less than
that thro!$h #h"&h "t obta"ns e,"sten&e.
B!t' "n no #"se does the s!reme Nat!re e,"st thro!$h
another' nor "s "t later or less than "tself or anyth"n$ else.
Therefore' the s!reme Nat!re &o!ld be &reated ne"ther by
"tself' nor by another) nor &o!ld "tself or an other be the
matter #hen&e "t sho!ld be &reated) nor d"d "t ass"st "tself "n
any #ay) nor d"d anyth"n$ ass"st "t to be #hat "t #as not
before.
3hat "s to be "nferred6 For that #h"&h &annot have &ome "nto
e,"sten&e by any &reat"ve a$ent' or from any matter' or #"th
any e,ternal a"ds' seems e"ther to be noth"n$' or' "f "t has
any e,"sten&e' to e,"st thro!$h noth"n$' and der"ve e,"sten&e
from noth"n$. And altho!$h' "n a&&ordan&e #"th the
observat"ons I have already made' "n the l"$ht of reason'
re$ard"n$ the s!reme *!bstan&e' I sho!ld th"n- s!&h
roos"t"ons &o!ld "n no #"se be tr!e "n the &ase of s!reme
*!bstan&e) yet' I #o!ld not ne$le&t to $"ve a &onne&ted
demonstrat"on of th"s matter.
For' see"n$ that th"s my med"tat"on has s!ddenly bro!$ht me
to an "mortant and "nterest"n$ o"nt' I am !n#"ll"n$ to ass
over &arelessly even any s"mle or almost fool"sh ob(e&t"on
that o&&!rs to me' "n my ar$!ment) "n order that by leav"n$
no amb"$!"ty "n my d"s&!ss"on ! to th"s o"nt' I may have
the better ass!red stren$th to advan&e to#ard #hat follo#s)
and "n order that "f' er&han&e' I shall #"sh to &onv"n&e any
one of the tr!th of my se&!lat"ons' even one of the slo#er
m"nds' thro!$h the removal of every obsta&le' ho#ever
sl"$ht' may a&2!"es&e "n #hat "t 0nds here.
That th"s Nat!re' then' #"tho!t #h"&h no nat!re e,"sts' "s
noth"n$' "s as false as "t #o!ld be abs!rd to say that
#hatever "s "s noth"n$. And' moreover' "t does not e,"st
thro!$h noth"n$' be&a!se "t "s !tterly "n&on&e"vable that
#hat "s someth"n$ sho!ld e,"st thro!$h noth"n$. B!t' "f "n
any #ay "t der"ves e,"sten&e from noth"n$' "t does so thro!$h
"tself' or thro!$h another' or thro!$h noth"n$. B!t "t "s
ev"dent that "n no #"se does anyth"n$ e,"st thro!$h noth"n$.
If' then' "n any #ay "t der"ves e,"sten&e from noth"n$' "t does
so e"ther thro!$h "tself or thro!$h another.
B!t noth"n$ &an' thro!$h "tself' der"ve e,"sten&e from
noth"n$' be&a!se "f anyth"n$ der"ves e,"sten&e from noth"n$'
thro!$h someth"n$' then that thro!$h #h"&h "t e,"sts m!st
e,"st before "t. *ee"n$ that th"s Be"n$' then' does not e,"st
before "tself' by no means does "t der"ve e,"sten&e from
"tself.
B!t "f "t "s s!osed to have der"ved e,"sten&e from some
other nat!re' then "t "s not the s!reme Nat!re' b!t some
"nfer"or one' nor "s "t #hat "t "s thro!$h "tself' b!t thro!$h
another.
A$a"n5 "f th"s Nat!re der"ves e,"sten&e from noth"n$' thro!$h
someth"n$' that thro!$h #h"&h "t e,"sts #as a $reat $ood'
s"n&e "t #as the &a!se of $ood. B!t no $ood &an be
!nderstood as e,"st"n$ before that $ood' #"tho!t #h"&h
noth"n$ "s $ood) and "t "s s!.&"ently &lear that th"s $ood'
#"tho!t #h"&h there "s no $ood' "s the s!reme Nat!re #h"&h
"s !nder d"s&!ss"on. Therefore' "t "s not even &on&e"vable that
th"s Nat!re #as re&eded by any be"n$' thro!$h #h"&h "t
der"ved e,"sten&e from noth"n$.
Hen&e' "f "t has any e,"sten&e thro!$h noth"n$' or der"ves
e,"sten&e from noth"n$' there "s no do!bt that e"ther'
#hatever "t "s' "t does not e,"st thro!$h "tself' or der"ve
e,"sten&e from "tself' or else "t "s "tself noth"n$. It "s
!nne&essary to sho# that both these s!os"t"ons are false.
The s!reme *!bstan&e' then' does not e,"st thro!$h any
e.&"ent a$ent' and does not der"ve e,"sten&e from any
matter' and #as not a"ded "n be"n$ bro!$ht "nto e,"sten&e by
any e,ternal &a!ses. Nevertheless' "t by no means e,"sts
thro!$h noth"n$' or der"ves e,"sten&e from noth"n$) s"n&e'
thro!$h "tself and from "tself' "t "s #hatever "t "s.
F"nally' as to ho# "t sho!ld be !nderstood to e,"st thro!$h
"tself' and to der"ve e,"sten&e from "tself5 "t d"d not &reate
"tself' nor d"d "t sr"n$ ! as "ts o#n matter' nor d"d "t "n any
#ay ass"st "tself to be&ome #hat "t #as not before' !nless'
haly' "t seems best to &on&e"ve of th"s s!b(e&t "n the #ay "n
#h"&h one says that the light lights or "s lucent, thro!$h and
from "tself. For' as are the m!t!al relat"ons of the light and to
light and lucent 9lu', lucere, lucens:' s!&h are the relat"ons
of essence, and to be and being, that "s' e'isting or
subsisting. *o the s!reme Being, and to be "n the h"$hest
de$ree' and being "n the h"$hest de$ree' bear m!&h the
same relat"ons' one to another' as the light and to light and
lucent.

CHAPTER <II.
In #hat #ay all other be"n$s e,"st thro!$h th"s Nat!re and
der"ve e,"sten&e from "t.
THERE no# rema"ns the d"s&!ss"on of that #hole &lass of
be"n$s that e,"st thro!$h another' as to ho# they e,"st
thro!$h the s!reme *!bstan&e' #hether be&a!se th"s
*!bstan&e &reated them all' or be&a!se "t #as the mater"al
of all. For' there "s no need to "n2!"re #hether all e,"st
thro!$h "t' for th"s reason' namely' that there be"n$ another
&reat"ve a$ent' or another e,"st"n$ mater"al' th"s s!reme
*!bstan&e has merely a"ded "n br"n$"n$ abo!t the e,"sten&e
of all th"n$s5 s"n&e "t "s "n&ons"stent #"th #hat has already
been sho#n' that #hatever th"n$s are sho!ld e,"st
se&ondar"ly' and not r"mar"ly' thro!$h "t.
F"rst' then' "t seems to me' #e o!$ht to "n2!"re #hether that
#hole &lass of be"n$s #h"&h e,"st thro!$h another der"ve
e,"sten&e from any mater"al. B!t I do not do!bt that all th"s
sol"d #orld' #"th "ts arts' (!st as #e see' &ons"sts of earth'
#ater' 0re' and a"r. These fo!r elements' of &o!rse' &an be
&on&e"ved of #"tho!t these forms #h"&h #e see "n a&t!al
ob(e&ts' so that the"r formless' or even &onf!sed' nat!re
aears to be the mater"al of all bod"es' d"st"n$!"shed by
the"r o#n forms. 77 I say that I do not do!bt th"s. B!t I as-'
#hen&e th"s very mater"al that I have ment"oned' the
mater"al of the m!ndane mass' der"ves "ts e,"sten&e. For' "f
there "s some mater"al of th"s mater"al' then that "s more
tr!ly the mater"al of the hys"&al !n"verse.
If' then' the !n"verse of th"n$s' #hether v"s"ble or "nv"s"ble'
der"ves e,"sten&e from any mater"al' &erta"nly "t not only
&annot be' b!t "t &annot even be s!osed to be' from any
other mater"al than from the s!reme Nat!re or from "tself'
or from some th"rd be"n$ 77 b!t th"s last' at any rate' does
not e,"st. For' "ndeed' noth"n$ "s even &on&e"vable e,&et
that h"$hest of all be"n$s' #h"&h e,"sts thro!$h "tself' and the
!n"verse of be"n$s #h"&h e,"st' not thro!$h themselves' b!t
thro!$h th"s s!reme Be"n$. Hen&e' that #h"&h has no
e,"sten&e at all "s not the mater"al of anyth"n$.
From "ts o#n nat!re the !n"verse &annot der"ve e,"sten&e'
s"n&e' "f th"s #ere the &ase' "t #o!ld "n some sort e,"st
thro!$h "tself and so thro!$h another than that thro!$h
#h"&h all th"n$s e,"st. B!t all these s!os"t"ons are false.
A$a"n' everyth"n$ that der"ves e,"sten&e from mater"al
der"ves e,"sten&e from another' and e,"sts later than that
other. Therefore' s"n&e noth"n$ "s other than "tself' or later
than "tself' "t follo#s that noth"n$ der"ves mater"al e,"sten&e
from "tself.
B!t "f' from the mater"al of the s!reme Nat!re "tself' any
lesser be"n$ &an der"ve e,"sten&e' the s!reme $ood "s
s!b(e&t to &han$e and &orr!t"on. B!t th"s "t "s "m"o!s to
s!ose. Hen&e' s"n&e everyth"n$ that "s other than th"s
s!reme Nat!re "s less than "t' "t "s "moss"ble that anyth"n$
other than "t "n th"s #ay der"ves e,"sten&e from "t.
F!rthermore5 do!btless that "s "n no #"se $ood' thro!$h
#h"&h the s!reme $ood "s s!b(e&ted to &han$e or
&orr!t"on. B!t' "f any lesser nat!re der"ves e,"sten&e from
the mater"al of the s!reme $ood' "nasm!&h as noth"n$
e,"sts #hen&esoever' e,&et thro!$h the s!reme Be"n$' the
s!reme $ood "s s!b(e&ted to &han$e and &orr!t"on thro!$h
the s!reme Be"n$ "tself. Hen&e' the s!reme Be"n$' #h"&h "s
"tself the s!reme $ood' "s by no means $ood) #h"&h "s a
&ontrad"&t"on. There "s' therefore' no lesser nat!re #h"&h
der"ves e,"sten&e "n a mater"al #ay from the s!reme
Nat!re.
*"n&e' then' "t "s ev"dent that the essen&e of those th"n$s
#h"&h e,"st thro!$h another does not der"ve e,"sten&e as "f
mater"ally' from the s!reme Essen&e' nor from "tself' nor
from another' "t "s man"fest that "t der"ves e,"sten&e from no
mater"al. Hen&e' see"n$ that #hatever "s e,"sts thro!$h the
s!reme Be"n$' nor &an anyth"n$ else e,"st thro!$h th"s
Be"n$' e,&et by "ts &reat"on' or by "ts e,"sten&e as mater"al'
"t follo#s' ne&essar"ly' that noth"n$ bes"des "t e,"sts' e,&et
by "ts &reat"on. And' s"n&e noth"n$ else "s or has been' e,&et
that s!reme Be"n$ and the be"n$s &reated by "t' "t &o!ld
&reate noth"n$ at all thro!$h any other "nstr!ment or a"d
than "tself. B!t all that "t has &reated' "t has do!btless
&reated e"ther from someth"n$' as from mater"al' or from
noth"n$.
*"n&e' then' "t "s most atent that the essen&e of all be"n$s'
e,&et the s!reme Essen&e' #as &reated by that s!reme
Essen&e' and der"ves e,"sten&e from no mater"al' do!btless
noth"n$ &an be more &lear than that th"s s!reme Essen&e
nevertheless rod!&ed from noth"n$' alone and thro!$h
"tself' the #orld of mater"al th"n$s' so n!mero!s a m!lt"t!de'
formed "n s!&h bea!ty' var"ed "n s!&h order' so 0tly
d"vers"0ed.

CHAPTER <III.
Ho# "t "s to be !nderstood that th"s Nat!re &reated all th"n$s
from noth"n$.
B8T #e are &onfronted #"th a do!bt re$ard"n$ th"s term
nothing. For' from #hatever so!r&e anyth"n$ "s &reated' that
so!r&e "s the &a!se of #hat "s &reated from "t' and'
ne&essar"ly' every &a!se a%ords some ass"stan&e to the
be"n$ of #hat "t e%e&ts. Th"s "s so 0rmly bel"eved' as a res!lt
of e,er"en&e' by every one' that the bel"ef &an be #rested
from no one by ar$!ment' and &an s&ar&ely be !rlo"ned by
soh"stry.
A&&ord"n$ly' "f anyth"n$ #as &reated from noth"n$' th"s very
noth"n$ #as the &a!se of #hat #as &reated from "t. B!t ho#
&o!ld that #h"&h had no e,"sten&e' ass"st anyth"n$ "n &om"n$
"nto e,"sten&e6 If' ho#ever' no a"d to the e,"sten&e of
anyth"n$ ever had "ts so!r&e "n noth"n$' #ho &an be
&onv"n&ed' and ho#' that anyth"n$ "s &reated o!t of noth"n$6
;oreover' noth"n$ e"ther means someth"n$' or does not
mean someth"n$. B!t "f noth"n$ "s someth"n$' #hatever has
been &reated from noth"n$ has been &reated from
someth"n$. If' ho#ever' noth"n$ "s not someth"n$) s"n&e "t "s
"n&on&e"vable that anyth"n$ sho!ld be &reated from #hat
does not e,"st' noth"n$ "s &reated from noth"n$) (!st as all
a$ree that noth"n$ &omes from noth"n$. 3hen&e' "t ev"dently
follo#s' that #hatever "s &reated "s &reated from someth"n$)
for "t "s &reated e"ther from someth"n$ or from noth"n$.
3hether' then' noth"n$ "s someth"n$' or noth"n$ "s not
someth"n$' "t aarently follo#s' that #hatever has been
&reated #as &reated from someth"n$.
B!t' "f th"s "s os"ted as a tr!th' then "t "s so os"ted "n
oos"t"on to the #hole ar$!ment roo!nded "n the
re&ed"n$ &hater. Hen&e' s"n&e #hat #as noth"n$ #"ll th!s
be someth"n$' that #h"&h #as someth"n$ "n the h"$hest
de$ree #"ll be noth"n$. For' from the d"s&overy of a &erta"n
*!bstan&e e,"st"n$ "n the $reatest de$ree of all e,"st"n$
be"n$s' my reason"n$ had bro!$ht me to th"s &on&l!s"on'
that all other be"n$s #ere so &reated by th"s *!bstan&e' that
that from #h"&h they #ere &reated #as noth"n$. Hen&e' "f
that from #h"&h they #ere &reated' #h"&h I s!osed to be
noth"n$' "s someth"n$' #hatever I s!osed to have been
as&erta"ned re$ard"n$ the s!reme Be"n$' "s noth"n$.
3hat' then' "s to be o!r !nderstand"n$ of the term nothing)
77 For I have already determ"ned not to ne$le&t "n th"s
med"tat"on any oss"ble ob(e&t"on' even "f "t be almost
fool"sh. 77In three #ays' then 77 and th"s s!.&es for the
removal of the resent obsta&le 77 &an the statement that
any s!bstan&e #as &reated from noth"n$ be e,la"ned.
There "s one #ay' a&&ord"n$ to #h"&h #e #"sh "t to be
!nderstood' that #hat "s sa"d to have been &reated from
noth"n$ has not been &reated at all) (!st as' to one #ho as-s
re$ard"n$ a d!mb man' of #hat he sea-s' the ans#er "s
$"ven' >of noth"n$'> that "s' he does not sea- at all.
A&&ord"n$ to th"s "nterretat"on' to one #ho en2!"res
re$ard"n$ the s!reme Be"n$' or re$ard"n$ #hat never has
e,"sted and does not e,"st at all' as to #hen&e "t #as
&reated' the ans#er' >from noth"n$> may roerly be $"ven)
that "s' "t never #as &reated. B!t th"s ans#er "s !n"ntell"$"ble
"n the &ase of any of those th"n$s that a&t!ally #ere &reated.
There "s another "nterretat"on #h"&h "s' "ndeed' &aable of
s!os"t"on' b!t &annot be tr!e) namely' that "f anyth"n$ "s
sa"d to have been &reated from noth"n$' "t #as &reated from
noth"n$ "tself 9de nihilo ipso:' that "s' from #hat does not
e,"st at all' as "f th"s very noth"n$ #ere some e,"stent be"n$'
from #h"&h someth"n$ &o!ld be &reated. B!t' s"n&e th"s "s
al#ays false' as often as "t "s ass!med an "rre&on&"lable
&ontrad"&t"on follo#s.
There "s a th"rd "nterretat"on' a&&ord"n$ to #h"&h a th"n$ "s
sa"d to have been &reated from noth"n$' #hen #e
!nderstand that "t #as "ndeed &reated' b!t that there "s not
anyth"n$ #hen&e "t #as &reated. Aarently "t "s sa"d #"th a
l"-e mean"n$' #hen a man "s a@"&ted #"tho!t &a!se' that he
"s a@"&ted >over noth"n$.>
If' then' the &on&l!s"on rea&hed "n the re&ed"n$ &hater "s
!nderstood "n th"s sense' that #"th the e,&et"on of the
s!reme Be"n$ all th"n$s have been &reated by that Be"n$
from noth"n$' that "s' not from anyth"n$) (!st as th"s
&on&l!s"on &ons"stently follo#s the re&ed"n$ ar$!ments' so'
from "t' noth"n$ "n&ons"stent "s "nferred) altho!$h "t may be
sa"d' #"tho!t "n&ons"sten&y or any &ontrad"&t"on' that #hat
has been &reated by the &reat"ve *!bstan&e #as &reated
from noth"n$' "n the #ay that one fre2!ently says a r"&h man
has been made from a oor man' or that one has re&overed
health from s"&-ness) that "s' he #ho #as oor before' "s r"&h
no#' as he #as not before) and he #ho #as "ll before' "s #ell
no#' as he #as not before.
In th"s #ay' then' #e &an !nderstand' #"tho!t "n&ons"sten&y'
the statement that the &reat"ve Be"n$ &reated all th"n$s from
noth"n$' or that all #ere &reated thro!$h "t from noth"n$)
that "s' those th"n$s #h"&h before #ere noth"n$' are no#
someth"n$. For' "ndeed' from the very #ord that #e !se'
say"n$ that "t created them or that they #ere created' #e
!nderstand that #hen th"s Be"n$ &reated them' "t &reated
someth"n$' and that #hen they #ere &reated' they #ere
&reated only as someth"n$. For so' behold"n$ a man of very
lo#ly fort!nes e,alted #"th many r"&hes and honors by some
one' #e say' >?o' he has made that man o!t of noth"n$>) that
"s' the man #ho #as before re!ted as noth"n$ "s no#' by
v"rt!e of that other4s ma-"n$' tr!ly re&-oned as someth"n$.

CHAPTER IA.
Those th"n$s #h"&h #ere &reated from noth"n$ had an
e,"sten&e before the"r &reat"on "n the tho!$ht of the Creator.
B8T I seem to see a tr!th that &omels me to d"st"n$!"sh
&aref!lly "n #hat sense those th"n$s #h"&h #ere &reated may
be sa"d to have been noth"n$ before the"r &reat"on. For' "n no
#"se &an anyth"n$ &on&e"vably be &reated by any' !nless
there "s' "n the m"nd of the &reat"ve a$ent' some e,amle' as
"t #ere' or 9as "s more 0tt"n$ly s!osed: some model' or
l"-eness' or r!le. It "s ev"dent' then' that before the #orld
#as &reated' "t #as "n the tho!$ht of the s!reme Nat!re'
#hat' and of #hat sort' and ho#' "t sho!ld be. Hen&e'
altho!$h "t "s &lear that the be"n$ that #ere &reated #ere
noth"n$ before the"r &reat"on' to th"s e,tent' that they #ere
not #hat they no# are' nor #as there anyth"n$ #hen&e they
sho!ld be &reated' yet they #ere not noth"n$' so far as the
&reator4s tho!$ht "s &on&erned' thro!$h #h"&h' and
a&&ord"n$ to #h"&h' they #ere &reated.

CHAPTER A.
Th"s tho!$ht "s a -"nd of e,ress"on of the ob(e&ts &reated
9locutio rerum:' l"-e the e,ress"on #h"&h an art"san forms "n
h"s m"nd for #hat he "ntends to ma-e.
B8T th"s model of th"n$s' #h"&h re&eded the"r &reat"on "n
the tho!$ht of the &reator' #hat else "s "t than a -"nd of
e,ress"on of these th"n$s "n h"s tho!$ht "tself) (!st as #hen
an art"san "s abo!t to ma-e someth"n$ after the manner of
h"s &raft' he 0rst e,resses "t to h"mself thro!$h a &on&et6
B!t by the e'pression of the m"nd or reason I mean' here'
not the &on&et"on of #ords s"$n"fy"n$ the ob(e&ts' b!t the
$eneral v"e# "n the m"nd' by the v"s"on of &on&et"on' of the
ob(e&ts themselves' #hether dest"ned to be' or already
e,"st"n$.
For' from fre2!ent !sa$e' "t "s re&o$n"sed that #e &an
e,ress the same ob(e&t "n three #ays. For #e e,ress
ob(e&ts e"ther by the sens"ble !se of sens"ble s"$ns' that "s'
s"$ns #h"&h are er&et"ble to the bod"ly senses) or by
th"n-"n$ #"th"n o!rselves "nsens"bly of these s"$ns #h"&h'
#hen o!t#ardly !sed' are sens"ble) or not by emloy"n$
these s"$ns' e"ther sens"bly or "nsens"bly' b!t by e,ress"n$
the th"n$s themselves "n#ardly "n o!r m"nd' #hether by the
o#er of "ma$"n"n$ mater"al bod"es or of !nderstand"n$
tho!$ht' a&&ord"n$ to the d"vers"ty of these ob(e&ts
themselves.
For I e,ress a man "n one #ay' #hen I s"$n"fy h"m by
rono!n&"n$ these #ords' a man) "n another' #hen I th"n- of
the same #ords "n s"len&e) and "n another' #hen the m"nd
re$ards the man h"mself' e"ther thro!$h the "ma$e of h"s
body' or thro!$h the reason) thro!$h the "ma$e of h"s body'
#hen the m"nd "ma$"nes h"s v"s"ble form) thro!$h the
reason' ho#ever' #hen "t th"n-s of h"s !n"versal essen&e'
#h"&h "s a rat"onal' mortal an"mal.
No#' the 0rst t#o -"nds of e,ress"on are "n the lan$!a$e of
one4s ra&e. B!t the #ords of that -"nd of e,ress"on' #h"&h I
have !t th"rd and last' #hen they &on&ern ob(e&ts #ell
-no#n' are nat!ral' and are the same amon$ all nat"ons.
And' s"n&e all other #ords o#e the"r "nvent"on to these'
#here these are' no other #ord "s ne&essary for the
re&o$n"t"on of an ob(e&t' and #here they &annot be' no other
#ord "s of any !se for the des&r"t"on of an ob(e&t.
For' #"tho!t abs!rd"ty' they may also be sa"d to be the tr!er'
the more l"-e they are to the ob(e&ts to #h"&h they
&orresond' and the more e,ress"vely they s"$n"fy these
ob(e&ts. For' #"th the e,&et"on of those ob(e&ts' #h"&h #e
emloy as the"r o#n names' "n order to s"$n"fy them' l"-e
&erta"n so!nds ' the vo#el a for "nstan&e 77 #"th the
e,&et"on of these' I say' no other #ord aears so s"m"lar to
the ob(e&t to #h"&h "t "s al"ed' or e,resses "t as does that
l"-eness #h"&h "s e,ressed by the v"s"on of the m"nd
th"n-"n$ of the ob(e&t "tself.
Th"s last' then' sho!ld be &alled the ese&"ally roer and
r"mary word' &orresond"n$ to the th"n$. Hen&e' "f no
e,ress"on of any ob(e&t #hatever so nearly aroa&hes the
ob(e&t as that e,ress"on #h"&h &ons"sts of th"s sort of
words, nor &an there be "n the tho!$ht of any another #ord
so l"-e the ob(e&t' #hether dest"ned to be' or already
e,"st"n$' not #"tho!t reason "t may be tho!$ht that s!&h an
e,ress"on of ob(e&ts e,"sted #"th 9apud: the s!reme
*!bstan&e before the"r &reat"on' that they m"$ht be &reated)
and e,"sts' no# that they have been &reated' that they may
be -no#n thro!$h "t.

CHAPTER AI.
The analo$y' ho#ever' bet#een the e,ress"on of the
Creator and the e,ress"on of the art"san "s very "n&omlete.
B8T' tho!$h "t "s most &erta"n that the s!reme *!bstan&e
e,ressed' as "t #ere' #"th"n "tself the #hole &reated #orld'
#h"&h "t establ"shed a&&ord"n$ to' and thro!$h' th"s same
most rofo!nd e,ress"on' (!st as an art"san 0rst &on&e"ves
"n h"s m"nd #hat he after#ards a&t!ally e,e&!tes "n
a&&ordan&e #"th h"s mental &on&et' yet I see that th"s
analo$y "s very "n&omlete.
For the s!reme *!bstan&e too- absol!tely noth"n$ from any
other so!r&e' #hen&e "t m"$ht e"ther frame a model "n "tself'
or ma-e "ts &reat!res #hat they are) #h"le the art"san "s
#holly !nable to &on&e"ve "n h"s "ma$"nat"on any bod"ly
th"n$' e,&et #hat he has "n some #ay learned from e,ternal
ob(e&ts' #hether all at on&e' or art by art) nor &an he
erform the #or- mentally &on&e"ved' "f there "s a la&- of
mater"al' or of anyth"n$ #"tho!t #h"&h a #or- remed"tated
&annot be erformed. For' tho!$h a man &an' by med"tat"on
or reresentat"on' frame the "dea of some sort of an"mal'
s!&h as has no e,"sten&e) yet' by no means has he the
o#er to do th"s' e,&et by !n"t"n$ "n th"s "dea the arts that
he has $athered "n h"s memory from ob(e&ts -no#n
e,ternally.
Hen&e' "n th"s rese&t' these "nner e,ress"ons of the #or-s
they are to &reate d"%er "n the &reat"ve s!bstan&e and "n the
art"san5 that the former e,ress"on' #"tho!t be"n$ ta-en or
a"ded from any e,ternal so!r&e' b!t as 0rst and sole &a!se'
&o!ld s!.&e the Art"0&er for the erforman&e of h"s #or-'
#h"le the latter "s ne"ther 0rst' nor sole' nor s!.&"ent' &a!se
for the "n&et"on of the art"san4s #or-. Therefore' #hatever
has been &reated thro!$h the former e,ress"on "s only #hat
"t "s thro!$h that e,ress"on' #h"le #hatever has been
&reated thro!$h the latter #o!ld not e,"st at all' !nless "t
#ere someth"n$ that "t "s not thro!$h th"s e,ress"on "tself.

CHAPTER AII.
Th"s e,ress"on of the s!reme Be"n$ "s the s!reme Be"n$.
B8T s"n&e' as o!r reason"n$ sho#s' "t "s e2!ally &erta"n that
#hatever the s!reme *!bstan&e &reated' "t &reated thro!$h
noth"n$ other than "tself) and #hatever."t &reated' "t &reated
thro!$h "ts o#n most "nt"mate e,ress"on' #hether
searately' by the !tteran&e of searate #ords' or all at
on&e' by the !tteran&e of one #ord) #hat &on&l!s"on &an be
more ev"dently ne&essary' than that th"s e,ress"on of the
s!reme Be"n$ "s no other than the s!reme Be"n$6
Therefore' the &ons"derat"on of th"s e,ress"on sho!ld not' "n
my o"n"on' be &arelessly assed over. B!t before "t &an be
d"s&!ssed' I th"n- some of the roert"es of th"s s!reme
*!bstan&e sho!ld be d"l"$ently and earnestly "nvest"$ated.

CHAPTER AIII.
As all th"n$s #ere &reated thro!$h the s!reme Be"n$' so all
l"ve thro!$h "t.
IT "s &erta"n' then' that thro!$h the s!reme Nat!re
#hatever "s not "dent"&al #"th "t has been &reated. B!t no
rat"onal m"nd &an do!bt that all &reat!res l"ve and &ont"n!e
to e,"st' so lon$ as they do e,"st' by the s!stenan&e a%orded
by that very Be"n$ thro!$h #hose &reat"ve a&t they are
endo#ed #"th the e,"sten&e that they have. For' by a l"-e
&o!rse of reason"n$ to that by #h"&h "t has been $athered
that all e,"st"n$ be"n$s e,"st thro!$h some one be"n$' hen&e
that be"n$ alone e,"sts thro!$h "tself' and others thro!$h
another than themselves 77 by a l"-e &o!rse of reason"n$' I
say' "t &an be roved that #hatever th"n$s l"ve' l"ve thro!$h
some one be"n$) hen&e that be"n$ alone l"ves thro!$h "tself'
and others thro!$h another than themselves.
B!t' s"n&e "t &annot b!t be that those th"n$s #h"&h have
been &reated l"ve thro!$h another' and that by #h"&h they
have been &reated l"ves thro!$h "tself' ne&essar"ly' (!st as
noth"n$ has been &reated e,&et thro!$h the &reat"ve'
resent Be"n$' so noth"n$ l"ves e,&et thro!$h "ts reserv"n$
resen&e.

CHAPTER AI<.
Th"s Be"n$ "s "n all th"n$s' and thro!$ho!t all) and all der"ve
e,"sten&e from "t and e,"st thro!$h and "n "t.
B8T "f th"s "s tr!e 77 rather' s"n&e th"s m!st be tr!e' "t follo#s
that' #here th"s Be"n$ "s not' noth"n$ "s. It "s' then'
every#here' and thro!$ho!t all th"n$s' and "n all. B!t see"n$
that "t "s man"festly abs!rd that as any &reated be"n$ &an "n
no #"se e,&eed the "mmeas!rableness of #hat &reates and
&her"shes "t' so the &reat"ve and &her"sh"n$ Be"n$ &annot' "n
any#ay' e,&eed the s!m of the th"n$s "t has &reated) "t "s
&lear that th"s Be"n$ "tself' "s #hat s!orts and s!rasses'
"n&l!des and ermeates all other th"n$s. If #e !n"te th"s tr!th
#"th the tr!ths already d"s&overed' #e 0nd "t "s th"s same
Be"n$ #h"&h "s "n all and thro!$h all' and from #h"&h' and
thro!$h #h"&h' and "n #h"&h' all e,"st.

CHAPTER A<.
3hat &an or &annot be stated &on&ern"n$ the s!bstan&e of
th"s Be"n$.
NOT #"tho!t reason I am no# stron$ly "melled to "n2!"re as
earnestly as I am able' #h"&h of all the statements that may
be made re$ard"n$ anyth"n$ "s s!bstant"ally al"&able to
th"s so #onderf!l Nat!re. For' tho!$h I sho!ld be s!rr"sed "f'
amon$ the names or #ords by #h"&h #e des"$nate th"n$s
&reated from noth"n$' any sho!ld be fo!nd that &o!ld
#orth"ly be al"ed to the *!bstan&e #h"&h "s the &reator of
all) yet' #e m!st try and see to #hat end reason #"ll lead
th"s "nvest"$at"on.
As to relat"ve e,ress"ons' at any rate' no one &an do!bt that
no s!&h e,ress"on des&r"bes #hat "s essent"al to that "n
re$ard to #h"&h "t "s relat"vely emloyed. Hen&e' "f any
relat"ve red"&at"on "s made re$ard"n$ the s!reme Nat!re' "t
"s not s"$n"0&ant of "ts s!bstan&e.
Therefore' "t "s man"fest that th"s very e,ress"on' that th"s
Nat!re' "s the highest of all be"n$s' or greater than those
#h"&h have been &reated by "t) or any other relat"ve term
that &an' "n l"-e manner' be al"ed to "t' does not des&r"be
"ts nat!ral essen&e.
For' "f none of those th"n$s ever e,"sted' "n relat"on to #h"&h
"t "s &alled supreme or greater' "t #o!ld not be &on&e"ved as
e"ther supreme or greater' yet "t #o!ld not' therefore' be
less $ood' or s!%er detr"ment to "ts essent"al $reatness "n
any de$ree. And th"s tr!th "s &learly seen from the fa&t that
th"s Nat!re e,"sts thro!$h no other than "tself' #hatever
there be that "s $ood or $reat. If' then' the s!reme Nat!re
&an be so &on&e"ved of as not s!reme' that st"ll "t shall be "n
no #"se $reater or less than #hen "t "s &on&e"ved of as the
h"$hest of all be"n$s' "t "s man"fest that the term supreme'
ta-en by "tself' does not des&r"be that Be"n$ #h"&h "s
alto$ether $reater and better than #hatever "s not #hat "t "s.
B!t' #hat these &ons"derat"ons sho# re$ard"n$ the term
supreme or highest "s fo!nd to be tr!e' "n l"-e manner' of
other s"m"lar' relat"ve e,ress"ons.
Pass"n$ over these relat"ve red"&at"ons' then' s"n&e none of
them ta-en by "tself reresents the essen&e of anyth"n$' let
o!r attent"on be t!rned to the d"s&!ss"on of other -"nds of
red"&at"on.
No#' &erta"nly "f one d"l"$ently &ons"ders searately
#hatever there "s that "s not of a relat"ve nat!re' e"ther "t "s
s!&h that' to be it "s "n $eneral better than not to be it' or
s!&h that' "n some &ases' not to be it "s better than to be it.
B!t I here !nderstand the hrases' to be it and not to be it'
"n the same #ay "n #h"&h I !nderstand to be true and not to
be true' to be bodily and not to be bodily' and the l"-e.
Indeed' to be anyth"n$ "s' "n $eneral' better than not to be "t)
as to be wise "s better than not to be so) that "s' "t "s better
to be #"se than not to be #"se. For' tho!$h one #ho "s (!st'
b!t not #"se' "s aarently a better man than one #ho "s
#"se' b!t not (!st' yet' ta-en by "tself' "t "s not better not to
be wise than to be wise. For' everyth"n$ that "s not #"se'
s"mly "n so far as "t "s not #"se' "s less than #hat "s #"se'
s"n&e everyth"n$ that "s not #"se #o!ld be better "f "t #ere
#"se. In the same #ay' to be true "s alto$ether better than
not to be so' that "s' better than not to be true) and &ust "s
better than not &ust) and to li(e than not to li(e.
B!t' "n some &ases' not to be a &erta"n th"n$ "s better than to
be it' as not to be gold may be better than to be gold. For "t
"s better for man not to be $old' than to be $old) altho!$h "t
m"$ht be better for someth"n$ to be $old' than not to be $old
77 lead' for "nstan&e. For tho!$h both' namely' man and lead
are not $old' man "s someth"n$ as m!&h better than $old' as
he #o!ld be of "nfer"or nat!re' #ere he $old) #h"le lead "s
someth"n$ as m!&h more base than $old' as "t #o!ld be
more re&"o!s' #ere "t $old.
B!t' from the fa&t that the s!reme Nat!re may be so
&on&e"ved of as not s!reme' that supreme "s ne"ther "n
$eneral better than not supreme' nor not supreme better' "n
any &ase' than supreme 77from th"s fa&t "t "s ev"dent that
there are many relat"ve e,ress"ons #h"&h are by no means
"n&l!ded "n th"s &lass"0&at"on. 3hether' ho#ever' any are so
"n&l!ded' I refra"n from "n2!"r"n$) s"n&e "t "s s!.&"ent' for my
!rose' that !ndo!btedly none of these' ta-en by "tself'
des&r"bes the s!bstan&e of the s!reme Nat!re.
*"n&e' then' "t "s tr!e of #hatever else there "s' that' "f "t "s
ta-en "ndeendently' to be it "s better than not to be it) as "t
"s "m"o!s to s!ose that the s!bstan&e of the s!reme
Nat!re "s anyth"n$' than #h"&h #hat "s not "t "s "n any #ay
better' "t m!st be tr!e that th"s s!bstan&e "s #hatever "s' "n
$eneral' better than #hat "s not "t. For' "t alone "s that' than
#h"&h there "s noth"n$ better at all' and #h"&h "s better than
all th"n$s' #h"&h are not #hat "t "s.
It "s not a mater"al body' then' or any of those th"n$s #h"&h
the bod"ly senses d"s&ern. For' then all these there "s
someth"n$ better' #h"&h "s not #hat they themselves are.
For' the rat"onal m"nd' as to #h"&h no bod"ly sense &an
er&e"ve #hat' or of #hat &hara&ter' or ho# $reat' "t "s 77the
less th"s rat"onal m"nd #o!ld be "f "t #ere any of those th"n$s
that are "n the s&oe of the bod"ly senses' the $reater "t "s
than any of these. For by no means sho!ld th"s s!reme
Be"n$ be sa"d to be any of those th"n$s to #h"&h someth"n$'
#h"&h they themselves are not' "s s!er"or) and "t sho!ld by
all means' as o!r reason"n$ sho#s' be sa"d to be any of
those th"n$s to #h"&h everyth"n$' #h"&h "s not #hat they
themselves are' "s "nfer"or.
Hen&e' th"s Be"n$ m!st be l"v"n$' #"se' o#erf!l' and all7
o#erf!l' tr!e' (!st' blessed' eternal' and #hatever' "n l"-e
manner' "s absol!tely better than #hat "s not "t. 3hy' then'
sho!ld #e ma-e any f!rther "n2!"ry as to #hat that s!reme
Nat!re "s' "f "t "s man"fest #h"&h of all th"n$s "t "s' and #h"&h
"t "s not6

CHAPTER A<I.
For th"s Be"n$ "t "s the same to be (!st that "t "s to be (!st"&e)
and so #"th re$ard to attr"b!tes that &an be e,ressed "n the
same #ay5 and none of these sho#s of #hat &hara&ter' or
ho# $reat' b!t #hat th"s Be"n$ "s.
B8T erhas' #hen th"s Be"n$ "s &alled (!st' or $reat' or
anyth"n$ l"-e these' "t "s not sho#n #hat "t "s' b!t of #hat
&hara&ter' or ho# $reat "t "s. For every s!&h term seems to
be !sed #"th referen&e to 2!ant"ty or ma$n"t!de) be&a!se
everyth"n$ that "s (!st "s so thro!$h (!stness' and so #"th
other l"-e &ases' "n the same #ay. Hen&e' the s!reme
Nat!re "tself "s not (!st' e,&et thro!$h (!stness.
It seems' then' that by participation "n th"s 2!al"ty' that "s'
(!stness' the s!remely $ood *!bstan&e "s &alled (!st. B!t' "f
th"s "s so' "t "s (!st thro!$h another' and not thro!$h "tself.
B!t th"s "s &ontrary to the tr!th already establ"shed' that "t "s
$ood' or $reat or #hatever "t "s at all' thro!$h "tself and not
thro!$h another. *o' "f "t "s not (!st' e,&et thro!$h (!stness'
and &annot be (!st' e,&et thro!$h "tself' #hat &an be more
&lear than that th"s Nat!re "s "tself (!stness6 And' #hen "t "s
sa"d to be (!st thro!$h (!stness' "t "s the same as say"n$ that
"t "s (!st thro!$h "tself. And' #hen "t "s sa"d to be (!st thro!$h
"tself' noth"n$ else "s !nderstood than that "t "s (!st thro!$h
(!stness. Hen&e' "f "t "s "n2!"red #hat the s!reme Nat!re'
#h"&h "s "n 2!est"on' "s "n "tself' #hat tr!er ans#er &an be
$"ven' than *ustness6
3e m!st observe' then' ho# #e are to !nderstand the
statement' that the Nat!re #h"&h "s "tself (!stness "s (!st. For'
s"n&e a man &annot be (!stness' b!t &an ossess (!stness'
#e do not &on&e"ve of a (!st man as being (!stness' b!t as
ossess"n$ (!stness. *"n&e' on the other hand' "t &annot
roerly be sa"d of the s!reme Nat!re that "t ossesses
(!stness' b!t that "t "s (!stness' #hen "t "s &alled (!st "t "s
roerly &on&e"ved of as be"n$ (!stness' b!t not as
ossess"n$ (!stness. Hen&e' "f' #hen "t "s sa"d to be (!stness'
"t "s not sa"d of #hat &hara&ter "t "s' b!t what "t "s' "t follo#s
that' #hen "t "s &alled (!st' "t "s not sa"d of #hat &hara&ter "t
"s' b!t #hat "t "s.
Therefore' see"n$ that "t "s the same to say of the s!reme
Be"n$' that "t "s (!st and that "t "s (!stness) and' #hen "t "s
sa"d that "t "s (!stness' "t "s noth"n$ else than say"n$ that "t "s
(!st) "t ma-es no d"%eren&e #hether "t "s sa"d to be (!stness
or to be (!st. Hen&e' #hen one "s as-ed re$ard"n$ the
s!reme Nat!re' #hat "t "s' the ans#er' *ust' "s not less
0tt"n$ than the ans#er' *ustness. ;oreover' #hat #e see to
have been roved "n the &ase of (!stness' the "ntelle&t "s
&omelled to a&-no#led$e as tr!e of all attr"b!tes #h"&h are
s"m"larly red"&ated of th"s s!reme Nat!re. 3hatever s!&h
attr"b!te "s red"&ated of "t' then' "t "s sho#n' not of #hat
&hara&ter' or ho# $reat' b!t what "t "s.
B!t "t "s obv"o!s that #hatever $ood th"n$ the s!reme
Nat!re "s' "t "s "n the h"$hest de$ree. It "s' therefore' s!reme
Be"n$' s!reme =!stness' s!reme 3"sdom' s!reme Tr!th'
s!reme Goodness' s!reme Greatness' s!reme Bea!ty'
s!reme Immortal"ty' s!reme In&orr!t"b"l"ty' s!reme
Imm!tab"l"ty' s!reme Blessedness' s!reme Etern"ty'
s!reme Po#er' s!reme 8n"ty) #h"&h "s noth"n$ else than
s!remely be"n$' s!remely l"v"n$' et&.

CHAPTER A<II.
It "s s"mle "n s!&h a #ay that all th"n$s that &an be sa"d of
"ts essen&e are one and the same "n "t5 and noth"n$ &an be
sa"d of "ts s!bstan&e e,&et "n terms of #hat "t "s.
Is "t to be "nferred' then' that "f the s!reme Nat!re "s so
many $oods' "t #"ll therefore be &omo!nded of more $oods
than one6 Or "s "t tr!e' rather' that there are not more $oods
than one' b!t a s"n$le $ood des&r"bed by many names6 For'
everyth"n$ #h"&h "s &omos"te re2!"res for "ts s!bs"sten&e
the th"n$s of #h"&h "t "s &omo!nded' and' "ndeed' o#es to
them the fa&t of "ts e,"sten&e' be&a!se' #hatever "t "s' "t "s
thro!$h these th"n$s) and they are not #hat they are
thro!$h "t' and therefore "t "s not at all s!reme. If' then' that
Nat!re "s &omo!nded of more $oods than one' all these
fa&ts that are tr!e of every &omos"te m!st be al"&able to
"t. B!t th"s "m"o!s falsehood the #hole &o$en&y of the tr!th
that #as sho#n above ref!tes and overthro#s' thro!$h a
&lear ar$!ment.
*"n&e' then' that Nat!re "s by no means &omos"te and yet "s
by all means those so many $oods' ne&essar"ly all these are
not more than one' b!t are one. Any one of them "s'
therefore' the same as all' #hether ta-en all at on&e or
searately. Therefore' (!st as #hatever "s attr"b!ted to the
essen&e of the s!reme *!bstan&e "s one) so th"s s!bstan&e
"s #hatever "t "s essent"ally "n one #ay' and by v"rt!e of one
&ons"derat"on. For' #hen a man "s sa"d to be a mater"al body'
and rat"onal' and h!man' these three th"n$s are not sa"d "n
one #ay' or "n v"rt!e of one &ons"derat"on. For' "n a&&ordan&e
#"th one fa&t' be "s a mater"al body) and "n a&&ordan&e #"th
another' rat"onal) and no one of these' ta-en by "tself' "s the
#hole of #hat man "s.
That s!reme Be"n$' ho#ever' "s by no means anyth"n$ "n
s!&h a #ay that "t "s not th"s same th"n$' a&&ord"n$ to
another #ay' or another &ons"derat"on) be&a!se' #hatever "t
"s essent"ally "n any #ay' th"s "s all of #hat "t "s. Therefore'
noth"n$ that "s tr!ly sa"d of the s!reme Be"n$ "s a&&eted "n
terms of 2!al"ty or 2!ant"ty' b!t only "n terms of what "t "s.
For' #hatever "t "s "n terms of e"ther 2!al"ty or 2!ant"ty
#o!ld &onst"t!te st"ll another element' "n terms of #hat "t "s)
hen&e' "t #o!ld not be s"mle' b!t &omos"te.

CHAPTER A<III.
It "s #"tho!t be$"nn"n$ and #"tho!t end.
FRO; #hat t"me' then' as th"s so s"mle Nat!re #h"&h
&reates and an"mates all th"n$s e,"sted' or !nt"l #hat t"me "s
"t to e,"st6 Or rather' let !s as- ne"ther from #hat t"me' nor
to #hat t"me' "t e,"sts) b!t "s "t #"tho!t be$"nn"n$ and
#"tho!t end6 For' "f "t has a be$"nn"n$' "t has th"s e"ther from
or thro!$h "tself' or from or thro!$h another' or from or
thro!$h noth"n$.
B!t "t "s &erta"n' a&&ord"n$ to tr!ths already made la"n' that
"n no #"se does "t der"ve e,"sten&e from another' or from
noth"n$) or e,"st thro!$h another' or thro!$h noth"n$. In no
#"se' therefore' has "t had "n&et"on thro!$h or from another'
or thro!$h or from noth"n$.
;oreover' "t &annot have "n&et"on from or thro!$h "tself'
altho!$h "t e,"sts from and thro!$h "tself. For "t so e,"sts
from and thro!$h "tself' that by no means "s there one
essen&e #h"&h e,"sts from and thro!$h "tself' and another
thro!$h #h"&h' and from #h"&h' "t e,"sts. B!t' #hatever
be$"ns to e,"st from or thro!$h someth"n$' "s by no means
"dent"&al #"th that from or thro!$h #h"&h "t be$"ns to e,"st.
Therefore' the s!reme Nat!re does not be$"n thro!$h or
from' "tself.
*ee"n$' then' that "t has a be$"nn"n$ ne"ther thro!$h nor
from "tself' and ne"ther thro!$h nor from noth"n$' "t
ass!redly has no be$"nn"n$ at all. B!t ne"ther #"ll "t have an
end. For' "f "t "s to have end' "t "s not s!remely "mmortal and
s!remely "n&orr!t"ble. B!t #e have roved that "t "s
s!remely "mmortal and s!remely "n&orr!t"ble. Therefore'
"t #"ll not have an end.
F!rthermore' "f "t "s to have an end' "t #"ll er"sh e"ther
#"ll"n$ly or a$a"nst "ts #"ll. B!t &erta"nly that "s not a s"mle'
!nm",ed $ood' at #hose #"ll the s!reme $ood er"shes. B!t
th"s Be"n$ "s "tself the tr!e and s"mle' !nm",ed $ood.
Therefore' that very Be"n$' #h"&h "s &erta"nly the s!reme
$ood' #"ll not d"e of "ts o#n #"ll. If' ho#ever' "t "s to er"sh
a$a"nst "ts #"ll' "t "s not s!remely o#erf!l' or all7o#erf!l.
B!t &o$ent reason"n$ has asserted "t to be o#erf!l and all7
o#erf!l. Therefore' "t #"ll not d"e a$a"nst "ts #"ll. Hen&e' "f
ne"ther #"th nor a$a"nst "ts #"ll the s!reme Nat!re "s to
have an end' "n no #ay #"ll "t have an end.
A$a"n' "f the s!reme nat!re has an end or a be$"nn"n$' "t "s
not tr!e etern"ty' #h"&h "t has been "rref!tably roved to be
above.
Then' let h"m #ho &an &on&e"ve of a t"me #hen th"s be$an to
be tr!e' or #hen "t #as not tr!e' namely' that someth"n$ #as
dest"ned to be) or #hen th"s shall &ease to be tr!e' and shall
not be tr!e' namely' that someth"n$ has e,"sted. B!t' "f
ne"ther of these s!os"t"ons "s &on&e"vable' and both these
fa&ts &annot e,"st #"tho!t tr!th' "t "s "moss"ble even to
&on&e"ve that tr!th has e"ther be$"nn"n$ or end. And then' "f
tr!th had a be$"nn"n$' or shall have an end) before "t be$an
"t #as tr!e that tr!th d"d not e,"st' and after "t shall be ended
"t #"ll be tr!e that tr!th #"ll not e,"st. 1et' anyth"n$ that "s
true &annot e,"st #"tho!t tr!th. Therefore' tr!th e,"sted
before tr!th e,"sted' and tr!th #"ll e,"st after tr!th shall be
ended' #h"&h "s a most &ontrad"&tory &on&l!s"on. 3hether'
then' tr!th "s sa"d to have' or !nderstood not to have'
be$"nn"n$ or end' "t &annot be l"m"ted by any be$"nn"n$ or
end. Hen&e' the same follo#s as re$ards the s!reme
Nat!re' s"n&e "t "s "tself the s!reme Tr!th.

CHAPTER AIA.
In #hat sense noth"n$ e,"sted before or #"ll e,"st after th"s
Be"n$.
B8T here #e are a$a"n &onfronted by the term nothing' and
#hatever o!r reason"n$ th!s far' #"th the &on&ordant
attestat"on of tr!th and ne&ess"ty' has &on&l!ded noth"n$ to
be. For' "f the roos"t"ons d!ly set forth above have been
&on0rmed by the fort"0&at"on of lo$"&ally ne&essary tr!th' not
anyth"n$ e,"sted before the s!reme Be"n$' nor #"ll anyth"n$
e,"st after "t. Hen&e' noth"n$ e,"sted before' and noth"n$ #"ll
e,"st after' "t. For' e"ther someth"n$ or noth"n$ m!st have
re&eded "t) and e"ther someth"n$ or noth"n$ m!st be
dest"ned to follo# "t.
B!t' he #ho says that noth"n$ e,"sted before "t aears to
ma-e th"s statement' >that there #as before "t a t"me #hen
noth"n$ e,"sted' and that there #"ll be after "t a t"me #hen
noth"n$ #"ll e,"st.> Therefore' #hen noth"n$ e,"sted' that
Be"n$ d"d not e,"st' and #hen noth"n$ shall e,"st' that Be"n$
#"ll not e,"st. Ho# "s "t' then' that "t does not ta-e "n&et"on
from noth"n$ or ho# "s "t that "t #"ll not &ome to noth"n$6 77 "f
that Be"n$ d"d not yet e,"st' #hen noth"n$ already e,"sted)
and the same Be"n$ shall no lon$er e,"st' #hen noth"n$ shall
st"ll e,"st. Of #hat ava"l "s so #e"$hty a mass of ar$!ments' "f
th"s nothing so eas"ly demol"shes the"r str!&t!re6 For' "f "t "s
establ"shed that the s!reme Be"n$ s!&&eeds nothing
BNoth"n$ "s here treated as an ent"ty' s!osed a&t!ally to
re&ede the s!reme Be"n$ "n e,"sten&e. The falla&y
"nvolved "s sho#n belo#. 77!r.C' #h"&h re&edes "t' and y"elds
"ts la&e to nothing' #h"&h follo#s "t' #hatever has been
os"ted as tr!e above "s ne&essar"ly !nsettled by emty
noth"n$.
B!t' rather o!$ht th"s nothing to be res"sted' lest so many
str!&t!res of &o$ent reason"n$ be stormed by nothing) and
the s!reme $ood' #h"&h has been so!$ht and fo!nd by the
l"$ht of tr!th' be lost for nothing. ?et "t rather be de&lared'
then' that noth"n$ d"d not e,"st before the s!reme Be"n$'
and that noth"n$ #"ll not e,"st after "t' rather than that' #hen
a la&e "s $"ven before or after "t to noth"n$' that Be"n$
#h"&h thro!$h "tself bro!$ht "nto e,"sten&e #hat #as
noth"n$' sho!ld be red!&ed thro!$h noth"n$ to noth"n$.
For th"s one assert"on' namely' that noth"n$ e,"sted before
the s!reme Be"n$' &arr"es t#o mean"n$s. For' one sense of
th"s statement "s that' before the s!reme Be"n$' there #as
a t"me #hen noth"n$ #as. B!t another !nderstand"n$ of the
same statement "s that' before the s!reme Be"n$' not
anyth"n$ e,"sted. =!st as' s!os"n$ I sho!ld say' >Noth"n$
has ta!$ht me to +y'> I &o!ld e,la"n th"s assert"on e"ther "n
th"s #ay' that noth"n$' as an ent"ty "n "tself' #h"&h s"$n"0es
not anything' has ta!$ht me a&t!ally to +y 77 #h"&h #o!ld be
false) or "n th"s #ay' that not anyth"n$ has ta!$ht me to +y'
#h"&h #o!ld be tr!e.
The former "nterretat"on' therefore' #h"&h "s follo#ed by the
"n&ons"sten&y d"s&!ssed above' "s re(e&ted by all reason"n$
as false. B!t there rema"ns the other "nterretat"on' #h"&h
!n"tes "n erfe&t &ons"sten&y #"th the fore$o"n$ ar$!ments'
and #h"&h' from the for&e of the"r #hole &orrelat"on' m!st be
tr!e.
Hen&e' the statement that noth"n$ e,"sted before that Be"n$
m!st be re&e"ved "n the latter sense. Nor sho!ld "t be so
e,la"ned' that "t shall be !nderstood that there #as any
t"me #hen that Be"n$ d"d not e,"st' and noth"n$ d"d e,"st)
b!t' so that "t shall be !nderstood that' before that Be"n$'
there #as not anyth"n$. The same sort of do!ble s"$n"0&at"on
"s fo!nd "n the statement that noth"n$ #"ll e,"st after that
Be"n$.
If' then' th"s "nterretat"on of the term nothing' that has
been $"ven' "s &aref!lly analysed' most tr!ly ne"ther
someth"n$ nor noth"n$ re&eded or #"ll follo# the s!reme
Be"n$' and the &on&l!s"on "s rea&hed' that noth"n$ e,"sted
before or #"ll e,"st after "t. 1et' the sol"d"ty of the tr!ths
already establ"shed "s "n no #"se "ma"red by the emt"ness
of nothing.

CHAPTER AA.
It e,"sts "n every la&e and at every t"me.
B8T' altho!$h "t has been &on&l!ded above that th"s &reat"ve
Nat!re e,"sts every#here' and "n all th"n$s' and thro!$h all)
and from the fa&t that "t ne"ther be$an' nor #"ll &ease to be'
"t follo#s that "t al#ays has been' and "s' and #"ll be) yet' I
er&e"ve a &erta"n se&ret m!rm!r of &ontrad"&t"on #h"&h
&omels me to "n2!"re more &aref!lly #here and #hen that
Nat!re e,"sts.
The s!reme Be"n$' then' e,"sts e"ther every#here and
al#ays' or merely at some la&e and t"me' or no#here and
never5 or' as I e,ress "t' e"ther "n every la&e and at every
t"me' or 0n"tely' "n some la&e and at some t"me' or "n no
la&e and at no t"me.
B!t #hat &an be more obv"o!sly &ontrad"&tory' than that
#hat e,"sts most really and s!remely e,"sts no#here and
never6 It "s' therefore' false that "t e,"sts no#here and never.
A$a"n' s"n&e there "s no $ood' nor anyth"n$ at all #"tho!t "t) "f
th"s Be"n$ "tself e,"sts no#here or never' then no#here or
never "s there any $ood' and no#here and never "s there
anyth"n$ at all. B!t there "s no need to state that th"s "s
false. Hen&e' the former roos"t"on "s also false' that that
Be"n$ e,"sts no#here and never.
It therefore e,"sts 0n"tely' at some t"me and la&e' or
every#here and al#ays. B!t' "f "t e,"sts 0n"tely' at some
la&e or t"me' there and then only' #here and #hen "t e,"sts'
&an anyth"n$ e,"st. 3here and #hen "t does not e,"st'
moreover' there "s no e,"sten&e at all' be&a!se' #"tho!t "t'
noth"n$ e,"sts. 3hen&e "t #"ll follo#' that there "s some la&e
and t"me #here and #hen noth"n$ at all e,"sts. B!t see"n$
that th"s "s false 77 for la&e and t"me themselves are e,"st"n$
th"n$s 77 the s!reme Nat!re &annot e,"st 0n"tely' at some
la&e or t"me. B!t' "f "t "s sa"d that "t of "tself e,"sts 0n"tely' at
some la&e and t"me' b!t that' thro!$h "ts o#er' "t "s
#herever and #henever anyth"n$ "s' th"s "s not tr!e. For'
s"n&e "t "s man"fest that "ts o#er "s noth"n$ else than "tself'
by no means does "ts o#er e,"st #"tho!t "t.
*"n&e' then' "t does not e,"st 0n"tely' at some la&e or t"me'
"t m!st e,"st every#here and al#ays' that "s' "n every la&e
and at every t"me.

CHAPTER AAI.
It e,"sts "n no la&e or t"me.
B8T' "f th"s "s tr!e' e"ther "t e,"sts "n every la&e and at every
t"me' or else only a art of "t so e,"sts' the other art
trans&end"n$ every la&e and t"me.
B!t' "f "n art "t e,"sts' and "n art does not e,"st' "n every
la&e and at every t"me' "t has arts) #h"&h "s false. It does
not' therefore' e,"st every#here and al#ays "n art.
B!t ho# does "t e,"st as a #hole' every#here and al#ays6
For' e"ther "t "s to be !nderstood that "t e,"sts as a #hole at
on&e' "n all la&es or at all t"mes' and by arts "n "nd"v"d!al
la&es and t"mes) or' that "t e,"sts as a #hole' "n "nd"v"d!al
la&es and t"mes as #ell.
B!t' "f "t e,"sts by arts "n "nd"v"d!al la&es or t"mes' "t "s not
e,emt from &omos"t"on and d"v"s"on of arts) #h"&h has
been fo!nd to be "n a h"$h de$ree al"en to the s!reme
Nat!re. Hen&e' "t does not so e,"st' as a #hole' "n all la&es
and at all t"mes that "t e,"sts by arts "n "nd"v"d!al la&es
and t"mes.
3e are &onfronted' then' by the former alternat"ve' that "s'
ho# the s!reme Nat!re &an e,"st' as a #hole' "n every
"nd"v"d!al la&e and t"me. Th"s "s do!btless "moss"ble'
!nless "t e"ther e,"sts at on&e or at d"%erent t"mes "n
"nd"v"d!al la&es or t"mes. B!t' s"n&e the la# of la&e and
the la# of t"me' the "nvest"$at"on of #h"&h "t has h"therto
been oss"ble to rose&!te "n a s"n$le d"s&!ss"on' be&a!se
they advan&ed on e,a&tly the same l"nes' here searate one
from another and seem to avo"d debate' as "f by evas"on "n
d"verse d"re&t"ons' let ea&h be "nvest"$ated "ndeendently "n
d"s&!ss"on d"re&ted on "tself alone.
F"rst' then' let !s see #hether the s!reme Nat!re &an e,"st'
as a #hole' "n "nd"v"d!al la&es' e"ther at on&e "n all' or at
d"%erent t"mes' "n d"%erent la&es. Then' let !s ma-e the
same "n2!"ry re$ard"n$ the t"mes at #h"&h "t &an e,"st.
If' then' "t e,"sts as a #hole "n ea&h "nd"v"d!al la&e' then' for
ea&h "nd"v"d!al la&e there "s an "nd"v"d!al #hole. For' (!st as
la&e "s so d"st"n$!"shed from la&e that there are "nd"v"d!al
la&es' so that #h"&h e,"sts as a #hole' "n one la&e' "s so
d"st"n&t from that #h"&h e,"sts as a #hole at the same t"me'
"n another la&e' that there are "nd"v"!al #holes. For' of #hat
e,"sts as a #hole' "n any la&e' there "s no art that does not
e,"st "n that la&e. And that of #h"&h there "s no art that
does not e,"st "n a $"ven la&e' "s no art of #hat e,"sts at
the same t"me o!ts"de th"s la&e.
3hat e,"sts as a #hole' then' "n any la&e' "s no art of #hat
e,"sts at the same t"me o!ts"de that la&e. B!t' of that of
#h"&h no art e,"sts o!ts"de any $"ven la&e' no art e,"sts'
at the same t"me' "n another la&e. Ho#' then' &an #hat
e,"sts as a #hole' "n any la&e' e,"st s"m!ltaneo!sly' as a
#hole' "n another la&e' "f no art of "t &an at that t"me e,"st
"n another la&e6
*"n&e' then' one #hole &annot e,"st as a #hole "n d"%erent
la&es at the same t"me' "t follo#s that' for "nd"v"d!al la&es'
there are "nd"v"d!al #holes' "f anyth"n$ "s to e,"st as a #hole
"n d"%erent "nd"v"d!al la&es at on&e. Hen&e' "f the s!reme
Nat!re e,"sts as a #hole' at one t"me' "n every "nd"v"d!al
la&e' there are as many s!reme Nat!res as there &an be
"nd"v"d!al la&es) #h"&h "t #o!ld be "rrat"onal to bel"eve.
Therefore' "t does not e,"st' as a #hole' at one t"me "n
"nd"v"d!al la&es.
If' ho#ever' at d"%erent t"mes "t e,"sts' as a #hole' "n
"nd"v"d!al la&es' then' #hen "t "s "n one la&e' there "s "n the
meant"me no $ood and no e,"sten&e "n other la&es' s"n&e
#"tho!t "t absol!tely noth"n$ e,"sts. B!t the abs!rd"ty of th"s
s!os"t"on "s roved by the e,"sten&e of la&es themselves'
#h"&h are not noth"n$' b!t someth"n$. Therefore' the
s!reme Nat!re does not e,"st' as a #hole' "n "nd"v"d!al
la&es at d"%erent t"mes.
B!t' "f ne"ther at the same t"me nor at d"%erent t"mes does "t
e,"st' as a #hole' "n "nd"v"d!al la&es' "t "s ev"dent that "t
does not at all e,"st' as a #hole' "n ea&h "nd"v"d!al la&e. 3e
m!st no# e,am"ne' then' #hether th"s s!reme Nat!re
e,"sts' as a #hole' at "nd"v"d!al t"mes' e"ther s"m!ltaneo!sly
or at d"st"n&t t"mes for "nd"v"d!al t"mes.
B!t' ho# &an anyth"n$ e,"st' as a #hole' s"m!ltaneo!sly' at
"nd"v"d!al t"mes' "f these t"mes are not themselves
s"m!ltaneo!s6 B!t' "f th"s Be"n$ e,"sts' as a #hole'
searately and at d"st"n&t t"mes for "nd"v"d!al t"mes' (!st as a
man e,"sts as a #hole yesterday' to7day' and to7morrro#) "t
"s roerly sa"d that "t #as and "s and #"ll be. Its a$e' then'
#h"&h "s no other than "ts etern"ty' does not e,"st' as a
#hole' s"m!ltaneo!sly' b!t "t "s d"str"b!ted "n arts a&&ord"n$
to the arts of t"me.
B!t "ts etern"ty "s noth"n$ else than "tself. The s!reme
Be"n$' then' #"ll be d"v"ded "nto arts' a&&ord"n$ to the
d"v"s"ons of t"me. For' "f "ts a$e "s rolon$ed thro!$h er"ods
of t"me' "t has #"th th"s t"me resent' ast' and f!t!re. B!t
#hat else "s "ts a$e than "ts d!rat"on of e,"sten&e' than "ts
etern"ty6 *"n&e' then' "ts etern"ty "s noth"n$ else than "ts
essen&e' as &ons"derat"ons set forth above "rref!tably rove)
"f "ts etern"ty has ast' resent' and f!t!re' "ts essen&e also
has' "n &onse2!en&e' ast' resent' and f!t!re.
B!t #hat "s ast "s not resent or f!t!re) and #hat "s resent
"s not ast or f!t!re) and #hat "s f!t!re "s not ast or
resent. Ho#' then' shall that roos"t"on be val"d' #h"&h
#as roved #"th &lear and lo$"&al &o$en&y above' namely'
that that s!reme Nat!re "s "n no #"se &omos"te' b!t "s
s!remely s"mle' s!remely "mm!table6 77 ho# shall th"s be
so' "f that Nat!re "s one th"n$' at one t"me' and another' at
another' and has arts d"str"b!ted a&&ord"n$ to t"mes6 Or
rather' "f these earl"er roos"t"ons are tr!e' ho# &an these
latter be oss"ble6 By no means' then' "s ast or f!t!re
attr"b!table to the &reat"ve Be"n$' e"ther "ts a$e or "ts
etern"ty. For #hy has "t not a resent' "f "t tr!ly is6 B!t was
means ast' and will be f!t!re. Therefore that Be"n$ never
#as' nor #"ll be. Hen&e' "t does not e,"st at d"st"n&t t"mes'
(!st as "t does not e,"st' as a #hole' s"m!ltaneo!sly "n
d"%erent "nd"v"d!al t"mes.
If' then' as o!r d"s&!ss"on has roved' "t ne"ther so e,"sts' as
a #hole' "n all la&es or t"mes that "t e,"sts' as a #hole' at
one t"me "n all' or by arts "n "nd"v"d!al la&es and t"mes) nor
so that "t e,"sts' as a #hole' "n "nd"v"d!al t"mes and la&es' "t
"s man"fest that "t does not "n any #ay e,"st' as a #hole' "n
every t"me or la&e.
And' s"n&e' "n l"-e manner' "t has been demonstrated that "t
ne"ther so e,"sts "n every t"me or la&e' that a art e,"sts "n
every' and a art trans&ends every' la&e and t"me' "t "s
"moss"ble that "t e,"sts every#here and al#ays.
For' "n no #ay &an "t be &on&e"ved to e,"st every#here and
al#ays' e,&et e"ther as a #hole or "n art. B!t "f "t does not
at all e,"st every#here and al#ays' "t #"ll e,"st e"ther 0n"tely
"n some la&e or t"me' or "n none. B!t "t has already been
roved' that "t &annot e,"st 0n"tely' "n any la&e or t"me. In
no la&e or t"me' that "s' no#here and never does "t e,"st.
For "t &annot e,"st' e,&et "n every or "n some la&e or t"me.
B!t' on the other hand' s"n&e "t "s "rref!tably establ"shed' not
only that "t e,"sts thro!$h "tself' and #"tho!t be$"nn"n$ and
#"tho!t end' b!t that #"tho!t "t noth"n$ any#here or ever
e,"sts' "t m!st e,"st every#here and al#ays.

CHAPTER AAII.

Ho# "t e,"sts "n every la&e and t"me' and "n none.
Ho#' then' shall these reos"t"ons' that are so ne&essary
a&&ord"n$ to o!r e,os"t"on' and so ne&essary a&&ord"n$ to
o!r roof' be re&on&"led6 Perhas the s!reme Nat!re e,"sts
"n la&e and t"me "n some s!&h #ay' that "t "s not revented
from so e,"st"n$ s"m!ltaneo!sly' as a #hole' "n d"%erent
la&es or t"mes' that there are not more #holes than one)
and that "ts a$e' #h"&h does not e,"st' e,&et as tr!e
etern"ty' "s not d"str"b!ted amon$ ast' resent' and f!t!re.
For' to th"s la# of sa&e and t"me' noth"n$ seems to be
s!b(e&t' e,&et the be"n$s #h"&h so e,"st "n sa&e or t"me
that they do not trans&end e,tent of sa&e or d!rat"on of
t"me. Hen&e' tho!$h of be"n$s of th"s &lass "t "s #"th all tr!th
asserted that one and the same #hole &annot e,"st
s"m!ltaneo!sly' as a #hole' "n d"%erent la&es or t"mes) "n
the &ase of those be"n$s #h"&h are not of th"s &lass' no s!&h
&on&l!s"on "s ne&essar"ly rea&hed.
For "t seems to be r"$htly sa"d' that la&e "s red"&able only
of ob(e&ts #hose ma$n"t!de la&e &onta"ns by "n&l!d"n$ "t'
and "n&l!des by &onta"n"n$ "t) and that t"me "s red"&able
only of ob(e&ts #hose d!rat"on t"me ends by meas!r"n$ "t'
and meas!res by end"n$ "t. Hen&e' to any be"n$' to #hose
sat"al e,tent or d!rat"on no bo!nd &an be set' e"ther by
sa&e or t"me' no la&e or t"me "s roerly attr"b!ted. For'
see"n$ that la&e does not a&t !on "t as la&e' nor t"me as
t"me' "t "s not "rrat"onal to say' that no la&e "s "ts la&e' and
no t"me "ts t"me.
B!t' #hat ev"dently has no la&e or t"me "s do!btless by no
means &omelled to s!bm"t to the la# of la&e or t"me. No
la# of la&e or t"me' then' "n any #ay $overns any nat!re'
#h"&h no la&e or t"me l"m"ts by some -"nd of restra"nt. B!t
#hat rat"onal &ons"derat"on &an by any &o!rse of reason"n$
fa"l to rea&h the &on&l!s"on' that the *!bstan&e #h"&h
&reates and "s s!reme amon$ all be"n$s' #h"&h m!st be
al"en to' and free from' the nat!re and la# of all th"n$s #h"&h
"tself &reated from noth"n$' "s l"m"ted by no restra"nt of sa&e
or t"me) s"n&e' more tr!ly' "ts o#er' #h"&h "s noth"n$ else
than "ts essen&e' &onta"ns and "n&l!des !nder "tself all these
th"n$s #h"&h "t &reated6 Is "t not "m!dently fool"sh' too' to
say e"ther' that sa&e &"r&!ms&r"bes the ma$n"t!de of tr!th'
or' that t"me meas!res "ts d!rat"on 77tr!th' #h"&h re$ards no
$reatness or smallness of sat"al or temoral e,tent at all6
*ee"n$' then' that th"s "s the &ond"t"on of la&e or t"me) that
only #hatever "s l"m"ted by the"r bo!nds ne"ther es&aes the
la# of arts 77 s!&h as la&e follo#s' a&&ord"n$ to ma$n"t!de'
or s!&h as t"me s!bm"ts to' a&&ord"n$ to d!rat"on 77 nor &an
"n any #ay be &onta"ned' as a #hole' s"m!ltaneo!sly by
d"%erent la&es or t"mes) b!t #hatever "s "n no #"se &on0ned
by the restra"nt of la&e or t"me' "s not &omelled by any la#
of la&es or t"mes to m!lt"l"&"ty of arts' nor "s "t revented
from be"n$ resent' as a #hole and s"m!ltaneo!sly' "n more
la&es or t"mes than one 77see"n$' I say' that th"s "s the
&ond"t"on $overn"n$ la&e or t"me' no do!bt the s!reme
*!bstan&e' #h"&h "s en&omassed by no restra"nt of la&e or
t"me' "s bo!nd by none of the"r la#s.
Hen&e' s"n&e "nev"table ne&ess"ty re2!"res that the s!reme
Be"n$' as a #hole' be la&-"n$ to no la&e or t"me' and no la#
of la&e or t"me revents "t from be"n$ s"m!ltaneo!sly "n
every la&e or t"me) "t m!st s"m!ltaneo!sly resent "n every
"nd"v"d!al la&e or t"me. For' be&a!se "t "s resent "n one
la&e' "t "s not therefore revented from be"n$ resent at the
same t"me' and "n l"-e manner "n th"s' or that other' la&e or
t"me.
Nor' be&a!se "t #as' or "s' or shall be' has any art of "ts
etern"ty therefore van"shed from the resent' #"th the ast'
#h"&h no lon$er "s) nor does "t ass #"th the resent' #h"&h
"s' for an "nstant) nor "s "t to &ome #"th the f!t!re' #h"&h "s
not yet.
For' by no means "s that Be"n$ &omelled or forb"dden by a
la# of sa&e or t"me to e,"st' or not to e,"st' at any la&e or
t"me 77 the Be"n$ #h"&h' "n no #"se' "n&l!des "ts o#n
e,"sten&e "n sa&e or t"me. For' #hen the s!reme Be"n$ "s
sa"d to e,"st "n sa&e or t"me' altho!$h the form of
e,ress"on re$ard"n$ "t' and re$ard"n$ lo&al and temoral
nat!res' "s the same' be&a!se of the !sa$e of lan$!a$e' yet
the sense "s d"%erent' be&a!se of the !nl"-eness of the
ob(e&ts of d"s&!ss"on. For "n the latter &ase the same
e,ress"on has t#o mean"n$s' namely5 9D: that these ob(e&ts
are resent "n those la&es and t"mes "n #h"&h they are sa"d
to be' and 9E: that they are &onta"ned by these la&es and
t"mes themselves.
B!t "n the &ase of the s!reme Be"n$' the 0rst sense only "s
"ntended' namely' that "t "s resent) not that "t "s also
&onta"ned. If the !sa$e of lan$!a$e erm"tted' "t #o!ld'
therefore' seem to be more 0tt"n$ly sa"d' that "t e,"sts with
la&e or t"me' than that "t e,"sts in la&e or t"me. For the
statement that a th"n$ e,"sts in another "ml"es that "t "s
contained' more than does the statement that "t e,"sts #"th
another.
In no la&e or t"me' then' "s th"s Be"n$ roerly sa"d to e,"st'
s"n&e "t "s &onta"ned by no other at all. And yet "t may be
sa"d' after a manner of "ts o#n' to be "n every la&e or t"me'
s"n&e #hatever else e,"sts "s s!sta"ned by "ts resen&e' lest
"t lase "nto noth"n$ness. It e,"sts "n every la&e and t"me'
be&a!se "t "s absent from none) and "t e,"sts "n none'
be&a!se "t has no la&e or t"me' and has not ta-en to "tself
d"st"n&t"ons of la&e or t"me' ne"ther here nor there' nor
any#here' nor then' nor no#' nor at any t"me) nor does "t
e,"st "n terms of th"s +eet"n$ resent' "n #h"&h #e l"ve' nor
has "t e,"sted' nor #"ll "t e,"st' "n terms of ast or f!t!re'
s"n&e these are restr"&ted to th"n$s 0n"te and m!table' #h"&h
"t "s not.
And yet' these roert"es of t"me and la&e &an' "n some
sort' be as&r"bed to "t' s"n&e "t "s (!st as tr!ly resent "n all
0n"te and m!table be"n$s as "f "t #ere &"r&!ms&r"bed by the
same la&es' and s!%ered &han$e by the same t"mes.
3e have s!.&"ent ev"den&e' then' to d"sel the &ontrad"&t"on
that threatened !s) as to ho# the h"$hest Be"n$ of all e,"sts'
every#here and al#ays' and no#here and never' that "s' "n
every la&e and t"me' and "n no la&e or t"me' a&&ord"n$ to
the &ons"stent tr!th of d"%erent senses of the terms
emloyed.

CHAPTER AAIII.
Ho# "t "s better &on&e"ved to e,"st every#here than "n every
la&e
B8T' s"n&e "t "s la"n that th"s s!reme Nat!re "s not more
tr!ly "n all la&es than "n all e,"st"n$ th"n$s' not as "f "t #ere
&onta"ned by them' b!t as &onta"n"n$ all' by ermeat"n$ all'
#hy sho!ld "t not be sa"d to be every#here' "n th"s sense'
that "t may be !nderstood rather to be "n all e,"st"n$ th"n$s'
than merely "n all la&es' s"n&e th"s sense "s s!orted by
the tr!th of the fa&t' and "s not forb"dden by the roer
s"$n"0&at"on of the #ord of la&e6
For #e often 2!"te roerly aly terms of la&e to ob(e&ts
#h"&h are not la&es) as' #hen I say that the !nderstand"n$
"s there "n the so!l' where rat"onal"ty "s. For' tho!$h there
and where are adverbs of la&e' yet' by no lo&al l"m"tat"on'
does the m"nd &onta"n anyth"n$' nor "s e"ther rat"onal"ty or
!nderstand"n$ &onta"ned.
Hen&e' as re$ards the tr!th of the matter' the s!reme
Nat!re "s more aror"ately sa"d to be every#here' "n th"s
sense' that "t "s "n all e,"st"n$ th"n$s' than "n th"s sense'
namely that "t "s merely "n all la&es. And s"n&e' as the
reasons set forth above sho#' "t &annot e,"st other#"se' "t
m!st so be "n all e,"st"n$ th"n$s' that "t "s one and the same'
erfe&t #hole "n every "nd"v"d!al th"n$ s"m!ltaneo!sly.

CHAPTER AAI<.
Ho# "t "s better !nderstood to e,"st always than at e(ery
time.
IT "s also ev"dent that th"s s!reme *!bstan&e "s #"tho!t
be$"nn"n$ and #"tho!t end) that "t has ne"ther ast' nor
f!t!re' nor the temoral' that "s' trans"ent resent "n #h"&h
#e l"ve) s"n&e "ts a$e' or etern"ty' #h"&h "s noth"n$ else than
"tself' "s "mm!table and #"tho!t arts. Is not' therefore' the
term #h"&h seems to mean all time more roerly
!nderstood' #hen al"ed to th"s *!bstan&e' to s"$n"fy
etern"ty' #h"&h "s never !nl"-e "tself' rather than a &han$"n$
s!&&ess"on of t"mes' #h"&h "s ever "n some sort !nl"-e "tself6
Hen&e' "f th"s Be"n$ "s sa"d to e,"st al#ays) s"n&e' for "t' "t "s
the same to e,"st and to l"ve' no better sense &an be
atta&hed to th"s statement' than that "t e,"sts or l"ves
eternally' that "s' "t ossesses "nterm"nable l"fe' as a erfe&t
#hole at on&e. For "ts etern"ty aarently "s an "nterm"nable
l"fe' e,"st"n$ at on&e as a erfe&t #hole.
For' s"n&e "t has already been sho#n that th"s *!bstan&e "s
noth"n$ else than "ts o#n l"fe and "ts o#n etern"ty' "s "n no
#"se term"nable' and does not e,"st' e,&et as at on&e and
erfe&tly #hole' #hat else "s tr!e etern"ty' #h"&h "s
&ons"stent #"th the nat!re of that *!bstan&e alone' than an
"nterm"nable l"fe' e,"st"n$ as at on&e and erfe&tly #hole6
For th"s tr!th "s' at any rate' &learly er&e"ved from the
s"n$le fa&t that tr!e etern"ty belon$s only to that s!bstan&e
#h"&h alone' as #e have roved' #as not &reated' b!t "s the
&reator' s"n&e tr!e etern"ty "s &on&e"ved to be free from the
l"m"tat"ons of be$"nn"n$ and end) and th"s "s roved to be
&ons"stent #"th the nat!re of no &reated be"n$' from the very
fa&t that all s!&h have been &reated from noth"n$.

CHAPTER AA<.
It &annot s!%er &han$e by any a&&"dents BA&&"dents' as
Anselm !ses the term' are fa&ts e,ternal to the essen&e of a
be"n$' #h"&h may yet be &on&e"ved to rod!&e &han$es "n a
m!table be"n$.C
B8T does not th"s Be"n$' #h"&h has been sho#n to e,"st as "n
every #ay s!bstant"ally "dent"&al #"th "tself' somet"mes e,"st
as d"%erent from "tself' at any rate a&&"dentally6 B!t ho# "s "t
s!remely "mm!table' "f "t &an' I #"ll not say' be' b!t' be
&on&e"ved of' as var"able by v"rt!e of a&&"dents6 And' on the
o&her hand' does "t not arta-e of a&&"dent' s"n&e even th"s
very fa&t that "t "s $reater than all other nat!res and that "t "s
!nl"-e them seems to be an a&&"dent "n "ts &ase 9illi
accidere:6 B!t #hat "s the "n&ons"sten&y bet#een
s!s&et"b"l"ty to &erta"n fa&ts' &alled accidents' and nat!ral
"mm!tab"l"ty' "f from the !nder$o"n$ of these a&&"dents the
s!bstan&e !nder$oes no &han$e6
For' of all the fa&ts' &alled a&&"dents' some are !nderstood
not to be resent or absent #"tho!t some var"at"on "n the
s!b(e&t of the a&&"dent 77 all &olors' for "nstan&e 77 #h"le
others are -no#n not to e%e&t any &han$e "n a th"n$ e"ther
by o&&!rr"n$ or not o&&!rr"n$ 77 &erta"n relat"ons' for
"nstan&e. For "t "s &erta"n that I am ne"ther older nor yo!n$er
than a man #ho "s not yet born' nor e2!al to h"m' nor l"-e
h"m. B!t I shall be able to s!sta"n and to lose all these
relat"ons to#ard h"m' as soon as he shall have been born'
a&&ord"n$ as he shall $ro#' or !nder$o &han$e thro!$h
d"vers 2!al"t"es.
It "s made &lear' then' that of all those fa&ts' &alled
a&&"dents' a art br"n$ some de$ree of m!tab"l"ty "n the"r
tra"n' #h"le a art do not "ma"r at all the "mm!tab"l"ty of
that "n #hose &ase they o&&!r. Hen&e' altho!$h the s!reme
Nat!re "n "ts s"ml"&"ty has never !nder$one s!&h a&&"dents
as &a!se m!tat"on' yet "t does not d"sda"n o&&as"onal
e,ress"on "n terms of those a&&"dents #h"&h are "n no #"se
"n&ons"stent #"th s!reme "mm!tab"l"ty) and yet there "s no
a&&"dent rese&t"n$ "ts essen&e' #hen&e "t #o!ld be
&on&e"ved of' as "tself var"able.
3hen&e th"s &on&l!s"on' also' may be rea&hed' that "t "s
s!s&et"ble of no a&&"dent) s"n&e' (!st as those a&&"dents'
#h"&h e%e&t some &han$e by the"r o&&!rren&e or non7
o&&!rren&e' are by v"rt!e of th"s very e%e&t of the"rs
re$arded as be"n$ tr!e accidents' so those fa&ts' #h"&h la&-
a l"-e e%e&t' are fo!nd to be "mroerly &alled a&&"dents.
Therefore' th"s Essen&e "s al#ays' "n every #ay' s!bstant"ally
"dent"&al #"th "tself) and "t "s never "n any #ay d"%erent from
"tself' even a&&"dentally. B!t' ho#ever "t may be as to the
roer s"$n"0&at"on of the term accident' th"s "s !ndo!btedly
tr!e' that of the s!remely "mm!table Nat!re no statement
&an be made' #hen&e "t shall be &on&e"ved of as m!table.

CHAPTER AA<I.
Ho# th"s Be"n$ "s sa"d to be s!bstan&e5 "t trans&ends all
s!bstan&e and "s "nd"v"d!ally #hatever "t "s.
B8T' "f #hat #e have as&erta"ned &on&ern"n$ the s"ml"&"ty
of th"s Nat!re "s establ"shed' ho# "s "t s!bstan&e6 For' tho!$h
every s!bstan&e "s s!s&et"ble of adm",t!re of d"%eren&e' or'
at any rate' s!s&et"ble of m!tat"on by a&&"dents' the
"mm!table !r"ty of th"s Be"n$ "s "na&&ess"ble to adm",t!re
or m!tat"on' "n any form.
Ho#' then' shall "t be ma"nta"ned that "t "s a s!bstan&e of
any -"nd' e,&et as "t "s &alled substance for being' and so
trans&ends' as "t "s above' every s!bstan&e6 For' as $reat as
"s the d"%eren&e bet#een that Be"n$' #h"&h "s thro!$h "tself
#hatever "t "s' and #h"&h &reates every other be"n$ from
noth"n$' and a be"n$' #h"&h "s made #hatever "t "s thro!$h
another' from noth"n$) so m!&h does the s!reme *!bstan&e
d"%er from these be"n$s' #h"&h are not #hat "t "s. And' s"n&e
"t alone' of all nat!res' der"ves from "tself' #"tho!t the hel of
another nat!re' #hatever e,"sten&e "t has' "s "t not #hatever
"t "s "nd"v"d!ally and aart from asso&"at"on #"th "ts
&reat!res6
Hen&e' "f "t ever shares any name #"th other be"n$s'
do!btless a very d"%erent s"$n"0&at"on of that name "s to be
!nderstood "n "ts &ase.

CHAPTER AA<II.
It "s not "n&l!ded amon$ s!bstan&es as &ommonly treated'
yet "t "s a s!bstan&e and an "nd"v"s"ble s"r"t.
IT "s' therefore' ev"dent that "n any ord"nary treatment of
s!bstan&e' th"s *!bstan&e &annot be "n&l!ded' from shar"n$
"n #hose essen&e every nat!re "s e,&l!ded. Indeed' s"n&e
every s!bstan&e "s treated e"ther as !n"versal' ". e.' as
essent"ally &ommon to more than one s!bstan&e' as be"n$ a
man "s &ommon to "nd"v"d!al men) or as "nd"v"d!al' hav"n$ a
!n"versal essen&e "n &ommon #"th others' as "nd"v"d!al men
have "n &ommon #"th "nd"v"d!al men the fa&t that they are
men) does any one &on&e"ve that' "n the treatment of other
s!bstan&es' that s!reme Nat!re "s "n&l!ded' #h"&h ne"ther
d"v"des "tself "nto more s!bstan&es than one' nor !n"tes #"th
any other' by v"rt!e of a &ommon essen&e6
1et' see"n$ that "t not only most &erta"nly e,"sts' b!t e,"sts "n
the h"$hest de$ree of all th"n$s) and s"n&e the essen&e of
anyth"n$ "s !s!ally &alled "ts s!bstan&e' do!btless "f any
#orthy name &an be $"ven "t' there "s no ob(e&t"on to o!r
&all"n$ "t substance.
And s"n&e no #orth"er essen&e than s"r"t and body "s -no#n'
and of these' s"r"t "s more #orthy than body' "t m!st
&erta"nly be ma"nta"ned that th"s Be"n$ "s s"r"t and not body.
B!t' see"n$ that one s"r"t has not any arts' and there
&annot be more s"r"ts than one of th"s -"nd' "t m!st' by all
means' be an "nd"v"s"ble s"r"t. For s"n&e' as "s sho#n above'
"t "s ne"ther &omo!nded of arts' nor &an be &on&e"ved of as
m!table' thro!$h any d"%eren&es or a&&"dents' "t "s
"moss"ble that "t "s d"v"s"ble by any form of d"v"s"on.

CHAPTER AA<III.
Th"s *"r"t e,"sts s"mly' and &reated be"n$s are not
&omarable #"th h"m.
IT seems to follo#' then' from the re&ed"n$ &ons"derat"ons'
that the *"r"t #h"&h e,"sts "n so #onderf!lly s"n$!lar and so
s"n$!larly #onderf!l a #ay of "ts o#n "s "n some sort !n"2!e)
#h"le other be"n$s #h"&h seem to be &omarable #"th "t are
not so.
For' by d"l"$ent attent"on "t #"ll be seen that that *"r"t alone
e,"sts s"mly' and erfe&tly' and absol!tely) #h"le all other
be"n$s are almost non7e,"stent' and hardly e,"st at all. For'
see"n$ that of th"s *"r"t' be&a!se of "ts "mm!table etern"ty'
"t &an "n no #"se be sa"d' "n terms of any alterat"on' that "t
was or will be' b!t s"mly that "t is) "t "s not no#' by
m!tat"on' anyth"n$ #h"&h "t e"ther #as not at any t"me' or
#"ll not be "n the f!t!re. Nor does "t fa"l to be no# #hat "t
#as' or #"ll be' at any t"me) b!t' #hatever "t "s' "t "s' on&e for
all' and s"m!ltaneo!sly' and "nterm"nably. *ee"n$' I say' that
"ts e,"sten&e "s of th"s &hara&ter' "t "s r"$htly sa"d "tself to
e,"st s"mly' and absol!tely' and erfe&tly.
B!t s"n&e' on the other hand' all other be"n$s' "n a&&ordan&e
#"th some &a!se' have at some t"me been' or #"ll be' by
m!tat"on' #hat they are not no#) or' are #hat they #ere not'
or #"ll not be' at some t"me) and' s"n&e th"s former e,"sten&e
of the"rs "s no lon$er a fa&t) and that f!t!re e,"sten&e "s not
yet a fa&t) and the"r e,"sten&e "n a trans"ent' and most br"ef'
and s&ar&ely e,"st"n$' resent "s hardly a fa&t 77 s"n&e' then'
they e,"st "n s!&h m!tab"l"ty' "t "s not !nreasonably den"ed
that they e,"st s"mly' and erfe&tly' and absol!tely) and "t "s
asserted that they are almost none,"stent' that they s&ar&ely
e,"st at all.
A$a"n' s"n&e all be"n$s' #h"&h are other than th"s *"r"t
h"mself' have &ome from non7e,"sten&e to e,"sten&e' not
thro!$h themselves' b!t thro!$h another) and' s"n&e they
ret!rn from e,"sten&e to non7e,"sten&e' so far as the"r o#n
o#er "s &on&erned' !nless they are s!sta"ned thro!$h
another be"n$' "s "t &ons"stent #"th the"r nat!re to e,"st
s"mly' or erfe&tly' or absol!tely' and not rather to be
almost non7e,"stent.
And s"n&e the e,"sten&e of th"s "ne%able *"r"t alone &an "n
no #ay be &on&e"ved to have ta-en "n&et"on from non7
e,"sten&e' or to be &aable of s!sta"n"n$ any de0&"en&y
r"s"n$ from #hat "s "n none,"sten&e) and s"n&e' #hatever he
"s h"mself' he "s not thro!$h another than h"mself' that "s'
than #hat he "s h"mself' o!$ht not h"s e,"sten&e alone to be
&on&e"ved of as s"mle' and erfe&t' and absol!te6
B!t #hat "s th!s s"mly' and on every $ro!nd' solely erfe&t'
s"mle' and absol!te' th"s may very &erta"nly be (!stly sa"d
to be "n some sort !n"2!e. And' on the other hand' #hatever
"s -no#n to e,"st thro!$h a h"$her &a!se' and ne"ther s"mly'
nor erfe&tly' nor absol!tely' b!t s&ar&ely to e,"st' or to be
almost non7e,"stent 77 th"s ass!redly may be r"$htly sa"d to
be "n some sort non7e,"stent.
A&&ord"n$ to th"s &o!rse of reason"n$' then' the &reat"ve
*"r"t alone e,"sts' and all &reat!res are none,"stent) yet'
they are not #holly non7e,"stent' be&a!se' thro!$h that
*"r"t #h"&h alone e,"sts absol!tely' they have been made
someth"n$ from noth"n$.

CHAPTER AAIA.
H"s e,ress"on "s "dent"&al #"th h"mself' and &ons!bstant"al
#"th h"m' s"n&e there are not t#o s"r"ts' b!t one.
B8T no#' hav"n$ &ons"dered these 2!est"ons re$ard"n$ the
roert"es of the s!reme Nat!re' #h"&h have o&&!rred to
me "n follo#"n$ the $!"dan&e of reason to the resent o"nt' I
th"n- "t reasonable to e,am"ne th"s *"r"t4s e,ress"on
9locutio:' thro!$h #h"&h all th"n$s #ere &reated.
For' tho!$h all that has been as&erta"ned re$ard"n$ th"s
e,ress"on above has the "n+e,"ble stren$th of reason' I am
ese&"ally &omelled to a more &aref!l d"s&!ss"on of th"s
e,ress"on by the fa&t that "t "s roved to be "dent"&al #"th
the s!reme *"r"t h"mself. For' "f th"s *"r"t &reated noth"n$
e,&et thro!$h h"mself' and #hatever #as &reated by h"m
#as &reated thro!$h that e,ress"on' ho# shall that
e,ress"on be anyth"n$ else than #hat the *"r"t h"mself "s6
F!rthermore' the fa&ts already d"s&overed de&lare "rref!tably
that noth"n$ at all ever &o!ld' or &an' e,"st' e,&et the
&reat"ve *"r"t and "ts &reat!res. B!t "t "s "moss"ble that the
e,ress"on of th"s *"r"t "s "n&l!ded amon$ &reated be"n$s)
for every &reated be"n$ #as &reated thro!$h that e,ress"on)
b!t that e,ress"on &o!ld not be &reated thro!$h "tself. For
noth"n$ &an be &reated thro!$h "tself' s"n&e every &reat!re
e,"sts later than that thro!$h #h"&h "t "s &reated' and
noth"n$ e,"sts later than "tself.
The alternat"ve rema"n"n$ "s' then' that th"s e,ress"on of the
s!reme *"r"t' s"n&e "t &annot be a &reat!re' "s no other
than the s!reme *"r"t. Therefore' th"s e,ress"on "tself &an
be &on&e"ved of as noth"n$ else than the "ntell"$en&e
9intelligentia: of th"s *"r"t' by #h"&h he &on&e"ves of
9intelligit: all th"n$s. For' to h"m' #hat "s e,ress"n$ anyth"n$'
a&&ord"n$ to th"s -"nd of e,ress"on' b!t &on&e"v"n$ of "t6 For
he does not' l"-e man' ever fa"l to e,ress #hat he
&on&e"ves.
If' then' the s!remely s"mle Nat!re "s noth"n$ else than
#hat "ts "ntell"$en&e "s' (!st as "t "s "dent"&al #"th "ts #"sdom'
ne&essar"ly' "n the same #ay' "t "s noth"n$ else than #hat "ts
e,ress"on "s. B!t' s"n&e "t "s already man"fest that the
s!reme *"r"t "s one only' and alto$ether "nd"v"s"ble' th"s h"s
e,ress"on m!st be so &ons!bstant"al #"th h"m' that they are
not t#o s"r"ts' b!t one.

CHAPTER AAA.
Th"s e,ress"on does not &ons"st of more #ords than one' b!t
"s one 3ord.
3H1' then' sho!ld I have any f!rther do!bt re$ard"n$ that
2!est"on #h"&h I d"sm"ssed above as do!btf!l' namely'
#hether th"s e,ress"on &ons"sts of more #ords than one' or
of one6 For' "f "t "s so &ons!bstant"al #"th the s!reme Nat!re
that they are not t#o s"r"ts' b!t one) ass!redly' (!st as the
latter "s s!remely s"mle' so "s the former. It therefore does
not &ons"st of more #ords than one' b!t "s one 3ord' thro!$h
#h"&h all th"n$s #ere &reated.

CHAPTER AAAI.
Th"s 3ord "tself "s not the l"-eness of &reated be"n$s' b!t the
real"ty of the"r be"n$' #h"le &reated be"n$s are a -"nd of
l"-eness of real"ty. 773hat nat!res are $reater and more
e,&ellent than others.
B8T here' "t seems to me' there ar"ses a 2!est"on that "s not
easy to ans#er' and yet m!st not be left "n any amb"$!"ty.
For all #ords of that sort by #h"&h #e e,ress any ob(e&ts "n
o!r m"nd' that "s' &on&e"ve of them' are l"-enesses and
"ma$es of the ob(e&ts to #h"&h they &orresond) and every
l"-eness or "ma$e "s more or less tr!e' a&&ord"n$ as "t more
or less &losely "m"tates the ob(e&t of #h"&h "t "s the l"-eness.
3hat' then' "s to be o!r os"t"on re$ard"n$ the 3ord by
#h"&h all th"n$s are e,ressed' and thro!$h #h"&h all #ere
&reated6 3"ll "t be' or #"ll "t not be' the l"-eness of the th"n$s
that have been &reated thro!$h "tself6 For' "f "t "s "tself the
tr!e l"-eness of m!table th"n$s' "t "s not &ons!bstant"al #"th
s!reme "mm!tab"l"ty) #h"&h "s false. B!t' "f "t "s not
alto$ether tr!e' and "s merely a sort of l"-eness of m!table
th"n$s' then the 3ord of s!reme Tr!th "s not alto$ether
tr!e) #h"&h "s abs!rd. B!t "f "t has no l"-eness to m!table
th"n$s' ho# #ere they &reated after "ts e,amle6
B!t erhas noth"n$ of th"s amb"$!"ty #"ll rema"n "f 77 as the
real"ty of a man "s sa"d to be the l"v"n$ man' b!t the l"-eness
or "ma$e of a man "n h"s "&t!re 77 so the real"ty of be"n$ "s
&on&e"ved of as "n the 3ord' #hose essen&e e,"sts so
s!remely that "n a &erta"n sense "t alone e,"sts) #h"le "n
these th"n$s #h"&h' "n &omar"son #"th that Essen&e' are "n
some sort non7e,"stent' and' yet #ere made someth"n$
thro!$h' and a&&ord"n$ to' that 3ord' a -"nd of "m"tat"on of
that s!reme Essen&e "s fo!nd.
For' "n th"s #ay the 3ord of s!reme Tr!th' #h"&h "s also
"tself s!reme Tr!th' #"ll e,er"en&e ne"ther $a"n nor loss'
a&&ord"n$ as "t "s more or less l"-e "ts &reat!res. B!t the
ne&essary "nferen&e #"ll rather be' that every &reated be"n$
e,"sts "n so m!&h the $reater de$ree' or "s so m!&h the more
e,&ellent' the more l"-e "t "s to #hat e,"sts s!remely' and "s
s!remely $reat.
For on th"s a&&o!nt' erhas' 77 nay' not erhas' b!t
&erta"nly' 77 does every m"nd (!d$e nat!res "n any #ay al"ve
to e,&el those that are not al"ve' the sent"ent to e,&el the
non7sent"ent' the rat"onal the "rrat"onal. For' s"n&e the
s!reme Nat!re' after a &erta"n !n"2!e manner of "ts o#n'
not only e,"sts' b!t l"ves' and "s sent"ent and rat"onal' "t "s
&lear that' of all e,"st"n$ be"n$s' that #h"&h "s "n some #ay
al"ve "s more l"-e th"s s!reme Nat!re' than that #h"&h "s not
al"ve at all) and #hat' "n any #ay' even by a &ororeal sense'
&o$n"ses anyth"n$' "s more l"-e th"s Nat!re than #hat "s not
sent"ent at all) and #hat "s rat"onal' more than #hat "s
"n&aable of reason"n$.
B!t "t "s &lear' for a l"-e reason' that &erta"n nat!res e,"st "n a
$reater or less de$ree than others. For' (!st as that "s more
e,&ellent by nat!re #h"&h' thro!$h "ts nat!ral essen&e' "s
nearer to the most e,&ellent Be"n$' so &erta"nly that nat!re
e,"sts "n a $reater de$ree' #hose essen&e "s more l"-e the
s!reme Essen&e. And I th"n- that th"s &an eas"ly be
as&erta"ned as follo#s. If #e sho!ld &on&e"ve any s!bstan&e
that "s al"ve' and sent"ent' and rat"onal' to be der"ved of "ts
reason' then of "ts sent"en&e' then of "ts l"fe' and 0nally of
the bare e,"sten&e that rema"ns' #ho #o!ld fa"l to
!nderstand that the s!bstan&e that "s th!s destroyed' l"ttle
by l"ttle' "s $rad!ally bro!$ht to smaller and smaller de$rees
of e,"sten&e' and at last to non7e,"sten&e6 B!t the attr"b!tes
#h"&h' ta-en ea&h by "tself' red!&e an essen&e to less and
less de$rees of e,"sten&e' "f ass!med "n order' lead "t to
$reater and $reater de$rees.
It "s ev"dent' then' that a l"v"n$ s!bstan&e e,"sts "n a $reater
de$ree than one that "s not l"v"n$' a sent"ent than a non7
sent"ent' and a rat"onal than a nonrat"onal. *o' there "s no
do!bt that every s!bstan&e e,"sts "n a $reater de$ree' and "s
more e,&ellent' a&&ord"n$ as "t "s more l"-e that s!bstan&e
#h"&h e,"sts s!remely and "s s!remely e,&ellent.
It "s s!.&"ently &lear' then' that "n the 3ord' thro!$h #h"&h
all th"n$s #ere &reated' "s not the"r l"-eness' b!t the"r tr!e
and s"mle essen&e) #h"le' "n the th"n$s &reated' there "s not
a s"mle and absol!te essen&e' b!t an "merfe&t "m"tat"on of
that tr!e Essen&e. Hen&e' "t ne&essar"ly follo#s' that th"s
3ord "s not more nor less tr!e' a&&ord"n$ to "ts l"-eness to
the th"n$s &reated' b!t every &reated nat!re has a h"$her
essen&e and d"$n"ty' the more "t "s seen to aroa&h that
3ord.

CHAPTER AAAII.
The s!reme *"r"t e,resses h"mself by a &oeternal 3ord.
B8T s"n&e th"s "s tr!e' ho# &an #hat "s s"mle Tr!th be the
3ord &orresond"n$ to those ob(e&ts' of #h"&h "t "s not the
l"-eness6 *"n&e every #ord by #h"&h an ob(e&t "s th!s
mentally e,ressed "s the l"-eness of that ob(e&t' "f th"s "s not
the #ord &orresond"n$ to the ob(e&ts that have been
&reated thro!$h "t' ho# shall #e be s!re that "t "s the 3ord6
For every #ord "s a #ord &orresond"n$ to some ob(e&t.
Therefore' "f there #ere no &reat!re' there #o!ld be no #ord.
Are #e to &on&l!de' then' that "f there #ere no &reat!re' that
3ord #o!ld not e,"st at all' #h"&h "s the s!reme self7
s!.&"ent Essen&e6 Or' #o!ld the s!reme Be"n$ "tself'
erhas' #h"&h "s the 3ord st"ll be the eternal Be"n$' b!t not
the 3ord' "f noth"n$ #ere ever &reated thro!$h that Be"n$6
For' to #hat has not been' and "s not' and #"ll not be' then
&an be no #ord &orresond"n$.
B!t' a&&ord"n$ to th"s reason"n$' "f there #ere never any
be"n$ b!t the s!reme *"r"t' there #o!ld be no #ord at all
"n h"m. If there #ere no #ord "n h"m' he #o!ld e,ress
noth"n$ to h"mself) "f he e,ressed noth"n$ to h"mself' s"n&e'
for h"m' e,ress"n$ anyth"n$ "s the same #"th !nderstand"n$
or &on&e"v"n$ of "t 9intelligere:' he #o!ld not !nderstand or
&on&e"ve of anyth"n$) "f he !nderstood or &on&e"ved of
noth"n$' then the s!reme 3"sdom' #h"&h "s noth"n$ else
than th"s *"r"t' #o!ld !nderstand or &on&e"ve of noth"n$)
#h"&h "s most abs!rd.
3hat "s to be "nferred6 For' "f "t &on&e"ved of noth"n$' ho#
#o!ld "t be the s!reme 3"sdom6 Or' "f there #ere "n no
#"se anyth"n$ b!t "t' of #hat #o!ld "t &on&e"ve6 3o!ld "t not
&on&e"ve of "tself6 B!t ho# &an "t be even "ma$"ned that the
s!reme 3"sdom' at any t"me does not &on&e"ve of "tself)
s"n&e a rat"onal m"nd &an remember not only "tself' b!t that
s!reme 3"sdom' and &on&e"ve of that 3"sdom and of "tself6
For' "f the h!man m"nd &o!ld have no memory or &on&et of
that 3"sdom or of "tself' "t #o!ld not d"st"n$!"sh "tself at all
from "rrat"onal &reat!res' and that 3"sdom from the #hole
&reated #orld' "n s"lent med"tat"on by "tself' as my m"nd does
no#.
Hen&e' that *"r"t' s!reme as he "s eternal' "s th!s eternally
m"ndf!l of h"mself' and &on&e"ves of h"mself after the
l"-eness of a rat"onal m"nd) nay' not after the l"-eness of
anyth"n$) b!t "n the 0rst la&e that *"r"t' and the rat"onal
m"nd after "ts l"-eness. B!t' "f he &on&e"ves of h"mself
eternally' he e,resses h"mself eternally. If he e,resses
h"mself eternally' h"s 3ord "s eternally #"th h"m. 3hether'
therefore' "t be tho!$ht of "n &onne&t"on #"th no other
e,"st"n$ be"n$' or #"th other e,"st"n$ be"n$s' the 3ord of that
*"r"t m!st be &oeternal #"th h"m.

CHAPTER AAAIII.
He !tters h"mself and #hat he &reates by a s"n$le
&ons!bstant"al 3ord.
B8T here' "n my "n2!"ry &on&ern"n$ the 3ord' by #h"&h the
Creator e,resses all that he &reates' "s s!$$ested the #ord
by #h"&h he' #ho &reates all' e,resses h"mself. Does he
e,ress h"mself' then' by one #ord' and #hat be &reates by
another) or does he rather e,ress #hatever he &reates by
the same #ord #hereby he e,resses h"mself6
For th"s 3ord also' by #h"&h he e,resses h"mself' m!st be
"dent"&al #"th h"mself' as "s ev"dently tr!e of the 3ord by
#h"&h he e,resses h"s &reat!res. For s"n&e' even "f noth"n$
b!t that s!reme *"r"t ever e,"sted' !r$ent reason #o!ld
st"ll re2!"re the e,"sten&e of that #ord by #h"&h he e,resses
h"mself' #hat "s more tr!e than that h"s 3ord "s noth"n$ else
than #hat he h"mself "s6 Therefore' "f he e,resses h"mself
and #hat he &reates' by a 3ord &ons!bstant"al #"th h"mself'
"t "s man"fest that of the 3ord by #h"&h he e,resses
h"mself' and of the 3ord by #h"&h he e,resses the &reated
#orld' the s!bstan&e "s one.
Ho#' then' "f the s!bstan&e "s one' are there t#o #ords6 B!t'
erhas' "dent"ty of s!bstan&e does not &omel !s to adm"t a
s"n$le 3ord. For the Creator h"mself' #ho sea-s "n these
#ords' has the same s!bstan&e #"th them' and yet "s not the
3ord. B!t' !ndo!btedly the #ord by #h"&h the s!reme
3"sdom e,resses "tself may most 0tly be &alled "ts 3ord on
the former $ro!nd' namely' that "t &onta"ns the erfe&t
l"-eness of that 3"sdom.
For' on no $ro!nd &an "t be den"ed that #hen a rat"onal m"nd
&on&e"ves of "tself "n med"tat"on the "ma$e of "tself ar"ses "n
"ts tho!$ht' or rather the tho!$ht of the m"nd "s "tself "ts
"ma$e' after "ts l"-eness' as "f formed from "ts "mress"on.
For' #hatever ob(e&t the m"nd' e"ther thro!$h reresentat"on
of the body or thro!$h reason' des"res to &on&e"ve of tr!ly' "t
at least attemts to e,ress "ts l"-eness' so far as "t "s able'
"n the mental &on&et "tself. And the more tr!ly "t s!&&eeds
"n th"s' the more tr!ly does "t th"n- of the ob(e&t "tself) and'
"ndeed' th"s fa&t "s observed more &learly #hen "t th"n-s of
someth"n$ else #h"&h "t "s not' and ese&"ally #hen "t th"n-s
of a mater"al body. For' #hen I th"n- of a man I -no#' "n h"s
absen&e' the v"s"on of my tho!$ht forms s!&h an "ma$e as I
have a&2!"red "n memory thro!$h my o&!lar v"s"on and th"s
"ma$e "s the #ord &orresond"n$ to the man I e,ress by
th"n-"n$ of h"m.
The rat"onal m"nd' then' #hen "t &on&e"ves of "tself "n
tho!$ht' has #"th "tself "ts "ma$e born of "tself that "s' "ts
tho!$ht "n "ts l"-eness' as "f formed from "ts "mress"on'
altho!$h "t &annot' e,&et "n tho!$ht alone' searate "tself
from "ts "ma$e' #h"&h "ma$e "s "ts #ord.
3ho' then' &an deny that the s!reme 3"sdom' #hen "t
&on&e"ves of "tself by e,ress"n$ "tself' be$ets a l"-eness of
"tself &ons!bstant"al #"th "t' namely' "ts 3ord6 And th"s 3ord'
altho!$h of a s!b(e&t so !n"2!ely "mortant noth"n$ &an be
sa"d #"th s!.&"ent ror"ety' may st"ll not "naror"ately be
&alled the "ma$e of that 3"sdom' "ts reresentat"on' (!st as "t
"s &alled h"s l"-eness.
B!t the 3ord by #h"&h the Creator e,resses the &reated
#orld "s not at all' "n the same #ay' a #ord &orresond"n$ to
the &reated #orld' s"n&e "t "s not th"s #orld4s l"-eness' b!t "ts
elementary essen&e. It therefore follo#s' that he does not
e,ress the &reated #orld "tself by a #ord &orresond"n$ to
the &reated #orld. To #hat' then' does the #ord belon$'
#hereby he e,resses "t' "f he does not e,ress "t by a #ord'
belon$"n$ to "tself6 For #hat he e,resses' he e,resses by a
#ord' and a #ord m!st belon$ to someth"n$' that "s' "t "s the
l"-eness of someth"n$. B!t "f he e,resses noth"n$ b!t
h"mself or h"s &reated #orld he &an e,ress noth"n$' e,&et
by a #ord &orresond"n$ to h"mself or to someth"n$ else.
*o' "f he e,resses noth"n$ by a #ord belon$"n$ to the
&reated #orld' #hatever he e,resses' he e,resses by the
3ord &orresond"n$ to h"mself. By one and the same 3ord'
then' he e,resses h"mself and #hatever he has made.

CHAPTER AAAI<.
Ho# he &an e,ress the &reated #orld by h"s 3ord.
B8T ho# &an ob(e&ts so d"%erent as the &reat"ve and the
&reated be"n$ be e,ressed by one 3ord' ese&"ally s"n&e
that 3ord "tself "s &oeternal #"th h"m #ho e,resses them'
#h"le the &reated #orld "s not &oeternal #"th h"m6 Perhas'
be&a!se be h"mself "s s!reme 3"sdom and s!reme
Reason' "n #h"&h are all th"n$s that have been &reated) (!st
as a #or- #h"&h "s made after one of the arts' not only #hen
"t "s made' b!t before "t "s made' and after "t "s destroyed' "s
al#ays "n rese&t of the art "tself noth"n$ else than #hat that
art "s.
Hen&e' #hen the s!reme *"r"t e,resses h"mself' he
e,resses all &reated be"n$s. For' both before they #ere
&reated' and no# that they have been &reated' and after
they are de&ayed or &han$ed "n any #ay' they are ever "n
h"m not #hat they are "n themselves' b!t #hat th"s *"r"t
h"mself "s. For' "n themselves they are m!table be"n$s'
&reated a&&ord"n$ to "mm!table reason) #h"le "n h"m "s the
tr!e 0rst be"n$' and the 0rst real"ty of e,"sten&e' the more
l"-e !nto #h"&h those be"n$s are "n any #ay' the more really
and e,&ellently do they e,"st. Th!s' "t may reasonably be
de&lared that' #hen the s!reme *"r"t e,resses h"mself' he
also e,resses #hatever has been &reated by one and the
same 3ord.

CHAPTER AAA<.
3hatever has been &reated "s "n h"s 3ord and -no#led$e'
l"fe and tr!th.
B8T' s"n&e "t "s establ"shed that h"s #ord "s &ons!bstant"al
#"th h"m' and erfe&tly l"-e h"m' "t ne&essar"ly follo#s that all
th"n$s that e,"st "n h"m e,"st also' and "n the same #ay' "n
h"s 3ord. 3hatever has been &reated' then' #hether al"ve or
not al"ve' or ho#soever "t e,"sts "n "tself' "s very l"fe and tr!th
"n h"m.
B!t' s"n&e -no#"n$ "s the same to the s!reme *"r"t as
&on&e"v"n$ or e,ress"n$' he m!st -no# all th"n$s that he
-no#s "n the same #ay "n #h"&h he e,resses or &on&e"ves
of them. Therefore' (!st as all th"n$s are "n h"s 3ord l"fe and
tr!th' so are they "n h"s -no#led$e.

CHAPTER AAA<I.
In ho# "n&omrehens"ble a #ay he e,resses or -no#s the
ob(e&ts &reated by h"m.
HENCE' "t may be most &learly &omrehended that ho# th"s
*"r"t e,resses' or ho# he -no#s the &reated #orld' &annot
be &omrehended by h!man -no#led$e. For none &an do!bt
that &reated s!bstan&es e,"st far d"%erently "n themselves
than "n o!r -no#led$e. For' "n themselves they e,"st by
v"rt!e of the"r o#n be"n$) #h"le "n o!r -no#led$e "s not the"r
be"n$' b!t the"r l"-eness.
3e &on&l!de' then' that they e,"st more tr!ly "n themselves
than "n o!r -no#led$e' "n the same de$ree "n #h"&h they
e,"st more tr!ly any#here by v"rt!e of the"r o#n be"n$' than
by v"rt!e of the"r l"-eness. Therefore' s"n&e th"s "s also an
establ"shed tr!th' that every &reated s!bstan&e e,"sts more
tr!ly "n the 3ord' that "s' "n the "ntell"$en&e of the Creator'
than "t does "n "tself' "n the same de$ree "n #h"&h the
&reat"ve be"n$ e,"sts more tr!ly than the &reated) ho# &an
the h!man m"nd &omrehend of #hat -"nd "s that e,ress"on
and that -no#led$e' #h"&h "s so m!&h h"$her and tr!er than
&reated s!bstan&es) "f o!r -no#led$e "s as far s!rassed by
those s!bstan&es as the"r l"-eness "s removed from the"r
be"n$6

CHAPTER AAA<II.
3hatever h"s relat"on to h"s &reat!res' th"s relat"on h"s 3ord
also s!sta"ns5 yet both do not s"m!ltaneo!sly s!sta"n th"s
relat"on as more than one be"n$.
B8T s"n&e "t has already been &learly demonstrated that the
s!reme *"r"t &reated all th"n$s thro!$h h"s 3ord' d"d not
the 3ord "tself also &reate all th"n$s6 For' s"n&e "t "s
&ons!bstant"al #"th h"m' "t m!st be the s!reme essen&e of
that of #h"&h "t "s the 3ord. B!t there "s no s!reme
Essen&e' e,&et one' #h"&h "s the only &reator and the only
be$"nn"n$ of all th"n$s #h"&h have been &reated. For th"s
Essen&e' thro!$h no other than "tself' alone &reated all
th"n$s from noth"n$. Hen&e' #hatever the s!reme *"r"t
&reates' the same h"s 3ord also &reates' and "n the same
#ay.
3hatever relat"on' then' the s!reme *"r"t bears to #hat he
&reates' th"s relat"on h"s 3ord also bears' and "n the same
#ay. And yet' both do not bear "t s"m!ltaneo!sly' as more
than one' s"n&e there are not more s!reme &reat"ve
essen&es than one. Therefore' (!st as he "s the &reator and
the be$"nn"n$ of the #orld' so "s h"s 3ord also) and yet there
are not t#o' b!t one &reator and one be$"nn"n$.

CHAPTER AAA<III.
It &annot be e,la"ned #hy they are t#o' altho!$h they m!st
be so.
O8R &aref!l attent"on "s therefore demanded by a e&!l"ar"ty
#h"&h' tho!$h most !n!s!al "n other be"n$s' seems to
belon$ to the s!reme *"r"t and h"s 3ord. For' "t "s &erta"n
that "n ea&h of these searately and "n both s"m!ltaneo!sly'
#hatever they are so e,"sts that "t "s searately erfe&ted "n
both' and yet does not adm"t l!ral"ty "n the t#o. For
altho!$h' ta-en searately' he "s erfe&tly s!reme Tr!th
and Creator' and h"s 3ord "s s!reme Tr!th and Creator) yet
both at on&e are not t#o tr!ths or t#o &reators.
B!t altho!$h th"s "s tr!e' yet "t "s most remar-ably &lear that
ne"ther he' #hose "s the 3ord' &an be h"s o#n 3ord' nor &an
the 3ord be he' #hose 3ord "t "s' altho!$h "n so far as
re$ards e"ther #hat they are s!bstant"ally' or #hat relat"on
they bear to the &reated #orld' they ever reserve an
"nd"v"s"ble !n"ty. B!t "n rese&t of the fa&t that he does not
der"ve e,"sten&e from that 3ord' b!t that 3ord from h"m'
they adm"t an "ne%able l!ral"ty' "ne%able' &erta"nly' for
altho!$h ne&ess"ty re2!"res that they be t#o' "t &an "n no
#"se be e,la"ned #hy they are t#o.
For altho!$h they may erhas be &alled t#o e2!als' or
some other m!t!al relat"on may "n l"-e manner be attr"b!ted
to them' yet "f "t #ere to be as-ed #hat "t "s "n these very
relat"ve e,ress"ons #"th referen&e to #h"&h they are !sed' "t
&annot be e,ressed l!rally' as one sea-s of t#o e2!al
l"nes' or t#o l"-e men. For' ne"ther are there t#o e2!al s"r"ts
nor t#o e2!al &reators' nor "s there any d!al e,ress"on
#h"&h "nd"&ates e"ther the"r essen&e or the"r relat"on to the
&reated #orld) and there "s no d!al e,ress"on #h"&h
des"$nates the e&!l"ar relat"on of the one to the other' s"n&e
there are ne"ther t#o #ords nor t#o "ma$es.
For the 3ord' by v"rt!e of the fa&t that "t "s a #ord or "ma$e'
bears a relat"on to the other' be&a!se "t "s 3ord and "ma$e
only as "t "s the 3ord and "ma$e of someth"n$) and so
e&!l"ar are these attr"b!tes to the one that they are by no
means red"&able of the other. For he' #hose "s the 3ord and
"ma$e' "s ne"ther "ma$e nor 3ord. It "s' therefore' ev"dent
that "t &annot be e,la"ned #hy they are t#o' the s!reme
*"r"t and the 3ord' altho!$h by &erta"n roert"es of ea&h
they are re2!"red to be t#o. For "t "s the roerty of the one
to der"ve e,"sten&e from the other' and the roerty of that
other that the 0rst der"ves e,"sten&e from h"m.

CHAPTER AAAIA.
Th"s 3ord der"ves e,"sten&e from the s!reme *"r"t by b"rth.
AND th"s tr!th' "t seems' &an be e,ressed "n no more
fam"l"ar terms than #hen "t "s sa"d to be the roerty of the
one' to be born of the other) and of the other' that the 0rst "s
born of h"m. For "t "s no# &learly roved' that the 3ord of the
s!reme *"r"t does not der"ve e,"sten&e from h"m' as do
those be"n$s #h"&h have been &reated by h"m) b!t as
Creator from Creator' s!reme Be"n$ from s!reme Be"n$.
And' to d"sose of th"s &omar"son #"th all brev"ty' "t "s one
and the same be"n$ #h"&h der"ves e,"sten&e from one and
the same be"n$' and on s!&h terms' that "t "n no #"se der"ves
e,"sten&e' e,&et from that be"n$.
*"n&e "t "s ev"dent' then' that the 3ord of the s!reme *"r"t
so der"ves e,"sten&e from h"m alone' that "t "s &omletely
analo$o!s to the o%sr"n$ of a arent) and that "t does not
der"ve e,"sten&e from h"m' as "f "t #ere &reated by h"m'
do!btless no more 0tt"n$ s!os"t"on &an be enterta"ned
re$ard"n$ "ts or"$"n' than that "t der"ves e,"sten&e from the
s!reme *"r"t by b"rth 9nascendo:.
For' "nn!merable ob(e&ts are !nhes"tat"n$ly sa"d to be born
of those th"n$s from #h"&h they der"ve e,"sten&e' altho!$h
they ossess no s!&h l"-eness to those th"n$s of #h"&h they
are sa"d to be born' as o%sr"n$ to a arent. 77 3e say' for
"nstan&e' that the ha"r "s born of the head' or the fr!"t of the
tree' altho!$h the ha"r does not resemble the head' nor the
fr!"t the tree.
If' then' many ob(e&ts of th"s sort are #"tho!t abs!rd"ty sa"d
to be born' so m!&h the more 0tt"n$ly may the 3ord of the
s!reme *"r"t be sa"d to der"ve e,"sten&e from h"m by b"rth'
the more erfe&t the resemblan&e "t bears to h"m' l"-e a
&h"ld4s to "ts arent' thro!$h der"v"n$ e,"sten&e from h"m.

CHAPTER A?.
He "s most tr!ly a arent' and that 3ord h"s o%sr"n$.
B8T "f "t "s most roerly sa"d to be born' and "s so l"-e h"m
of #hom "t "s born' #hy sho!ld "t be esteemed like' as a &h"ld
"s l"-e h"s arent6 #hy sho!ld "t not rather be de&lared' that
the *"r"t "s more tr!ly a arent' and the 3ord h"s o%sr"n$'
the more he alone "s s!.&"ent to e%e&t th"s b"rth' and the
more #hat "s born e,resses h"s l"-eness6 For' amon$ other
be"n$s #h"&h #e -no# bear the relat"ons of arent and &h"ld'
none so be$ets as to be solely and #"tho!t a&&essory'
s!.&"ent to the $enerat"on of o%sr"n$) and none "s so
be$otten that #"tho!t any adm",t!re of !nl"-eness' "t sho#s
&omlete l"-eness to "ts arent.
If' then' the 3ord of the s!reme *"r"t so der"ves "ts
&omlete e,"sten&e from the be"n$ of that *"r"t h"mself
alone' and "s so !n"2!ely l"-e h"m' that no &h"ld ever so
&omletely der"ves e,"sten&e from "ts arent' and none "s so
l"-e "ts arent' &erta"nly the relat"on of arent and o%sr"n$
&an be as&r"bed to no be"n$s so &ons"stently as to the
s!reme *"r"t and h"s 3ord. Hen&e' "t "s h"s roerty to be
most tr!ly arent' and "ts to be most tr!ly h"s o%sr"n$.

CHAPTER A?I.
He most tr!ly be$ets' and "t "s most tr!ly be$otten.
B8T "t #"ll be "moss"ble to establ"sh th"s roos"t"on' !nless'
"n e2!al de$ree' he most tr!ly be$ets' and "t "s most tr!ly
be$otten. As the former s!os"t"on "s ev"dently tr!e' so the
latter "s ne&essar"ly most &erta"n. Hen&e' "t belon$s to the
s!reme *"r"t most tr!ly to be$et' and to h"s 3ord to be
most tr!ly be$otten.

CHAPTER A?II.
It "s the roerty of the one to be most tr!ly ro$en"tor and
Father' and of the other to be the be$otten and *on.
I sho!ld &erta"nly be $lad' and erhas able' no# to rea&h
the &on&l!s"on' that he "s most tr!ly the Father' #h"le th"s
3ord "s most tr!ly h"s *on. B!t I th"n- that even th"s 2!est"on
sho!ld not be ne$le&ted5 #hether "t "s more 0tt"n$ to &all
them Father and *on' than mother and da!$hter' s"n&e "n
them there "s no d"st"n&t"on of se,.
For' "f "t "s &ons"stent #"th the nat!re of the one to be the
Father' and of h"s o%sr"n$ to be the *on' be&a!se both are
*"r"t 9Spiritus' mas&!l"ne:) #hy "s "t not' #"th e2!al reason'
&ons"stent #"th the nat!re of the one to be the mother' and
the other the da!$hter' s"n&e both are tr!th and #"sdom
9(eritas et sapientia' fem"n"ne:6
Or' "s "t be&a!se "n these nat!res that have a d"%eren&e of
se,' "t belon$s to the s!er"or se, to be father or son' and to
the "nfer"or to be mother or da!$hter6 And th"s "s &erta"nly a
nat!ral fa&t "n most "nstan&es' b!t "n some the &ontrary "s
tr!e' as amon$ &erta"n -"nds of b"rds' amon$ #h"&h the
female "s al#ays lar$er and stron$er' #h"le the male "s
smaller and #ea-er.
At any rate' "t "s more &ons"stent to &all the s!reme *"r"t
father than mother' for th"s reason' that the 0rst and
r"n&"al &a!se of o%sr"n$ "s al#ays "n the father. For' "f the
maternal &a!se "s ever "n some #ay re&eded by the
aternal' "t "s e,&eed"n$ly "n&ons"stent that the name mother
sho!ld be atta&hed to that arent #"th #h"&h' for the
$enerat"on of o%sr"n$' no other &a!se "s asso&"ated' and
#h"&h no other re&edes. It "s' therefore' most tr!e that the
s!reme *"r"t "s Father of h"s o%sr"n$. B!t' "f the son "s
al#ays more l"-e the father than "s the da!$hter' #h"le
noth"n$ "s more l"-e the s!reme Father than h"s o%sr"n$)
then "t "s most tr!e that th"s o%sr"n$ "s not a da!$hter' b!t
a *on.
Hen&e' (!st as "t "s the roerty of the one most tr!ly to
be$et' and of the other to be be$otten' so "t "s the roerty
of the one to be most tr!ly ro$en"tor' and of the other to be
most tr!ly be$otten. And as the one "s most tr!ly the arent'
and the other h"s o%sr"n$' so the one "s most tr!ly Father'
and the other most tr!ly *on.

CHAPTER A?III.
Cons"derat"on of the &ommon attr"b!tes of both and the
"nd"v"d!al roert"es of ea&h.
No# that so many and so "mortant roert"es of ea&h have
been d"s&overed' #hereby a stran$e l!ral"ty' as "ne%able as
"t "s "nev"table' "s roved to e,"st "n the s!reme !n"ty' I th"n-
"t most "nterest"n$ to re+e&t' a$a"n and a$a"n' !on so
!nfathomable a mystery.
For observe5 altho!$h "t "s so "moss"ble that he #ho be$ets'
and he #ho "s be$otten' are the same' and that arent and
o%sr"n$ are the same 77so "moss"ble that ne&essar"ly one
m!st be the ro$en"tor and the other the be$otten' and one
the Father' the other the *on) yet' here "t "s so ne&essary
that he #ho be$ets and he #ho "s be$otten shall be the
same' and also that arent and o%sr"n$ shall be the same'
that the ro$en"tor &annot be any other than #hat the
be$otten "s' nor the Father any other than the *on.
And altho!$h the one "s one' and the other another' so that
"t "s alto$ether ev"dent that they are t#o) yet that #h"&h the
one and the other are "s "n s!&h a #ay one and the same'
that "t "s a most obs&!re mystery #hy they are t#o. For' "n
s!&h a #ay "s one the Father and the other the *on' that
#hen I sea- of both I er&e"ve that I have so-en of t#o)
and yet so "dent"&al "s that #h"&h both Father and *on are'
that I do not !nderstand #hy they are t#o of #hom I have
so-en.
For' altho!$h the Father searately "s the erfe&tly s!reme
*"r"t' and the *on searately "s the erfe&tly s!reme *"r"t'
yet' so are the *"r"t7Father and the *"r"t7*on one and the
same be"n$' that the Father and the *on are not t#o s"r"ts'
b!t one *"r"t. For' (!st as to searate roert"es of searate
be"n$s' l!ral"ty "s not attr"b!ted' s"n&e they are not
roert"es of t#o th"n$s' so' #hat "s &ommon to both
reserves an "nd"v"s"ble !n"ty' altho!$h "t belon$s' as a
#hole' to them ta-en searately.
For' as there are not t#o fathers or t#o sons' b!t one Father
and one *on' s"n&e searate roert"es belon$ to searate
be"n$s' so there are not t#o s"r"ts' b!t one *"r"t) altho!$h
"t belon$s both to the Father' ta-en searately' and to the
*on' ta-en searately' to be the erfe&t *"r"t. For so
oos"te are the"r relat"ons' that the one never ass!mes the
roerty of the other) so harmon"o!s are they "n nat!re' that
the one ever &onta"ns the essen&e of the other. For they are
so d"verse by v"rt!e of the fa&t that the one "s the Father and
the other the *on' that the Father "s never &alled the *on'
nor the *on the Father) and they are so "dent"&al' by v"rt!e of
the"r s!bstan&e' that the essen&e of the *on "s ever "n the
Father' and the essen&e of the Father "n the *on.

CHAPTER A?I<.
Ho# one "s the essen&e of the other.
HENCE' even "f one "s &alled the essen&e of the other' there
"s no deart!re from tr!th) b!t the s!reme s"ml"&"ty and
!n"ty of the"r &ommon nat!re "s th!s honored. For' not as
one &on&e"ves of a man4s #"sdom' thro!$h #h"&h man "s
#"se' tho!$h he &annot be #"se thro!$h h"mself' &an #e th!s
!nderstand the statement that the Father "s essen&e of the
*on' and the *on the essen&e of the Father. 3e &annot
!nderstand that the *on "s e,"stent thro!$h the Father' and
the Father thro!$h the *on' as "f the one &o!ld not be
e,"stent e,&et thro!$h the other' (!st as a man &annot be
#"se e,&et thro!$h #"sdom.
For' as the s!reme 3"sdom "s ever #"se thro!$h "tself' so
the s!reme Essen&e ever e,"sts thro!$h "tself. B!t' the
erfe&tly s!reme Essen&e "s the Father' and the erfe&tly
s!reme Essen&e "s the *on. Hen&e' the erfe&t Father and
the erfe&t *on e,"st' ea&h thro!$h h"mself' (!st as ea&h "s
#"se thro!$h h"mself.
For the *on "s not the less erfe&t essen&e or #"sdom
be&a!se he "s an essen&e born of the essen&e of the Father'
and a #"sdom born of the #"sdom of the Father) b!t he
#o!ld be a less erfe&t essen&e or #"sdom "f he d"d not e,"st
thro!$h h"mself' and #ere not #"se thro!$h h"mself.
For' there "s no "n&ons"sten&y bet#een the s!bs"sten&e of the
*on thro!$h h"mself' and h"s der"v"n$ e,"sten&e from h"s
Father. For' as the Father has essen&e' and #"sdom' and l"fe
"n h"mself) so that not thro!$h another4s' b!t thro!$h h"s
o#n' essen&e he e,"sts) thro!$h h"s o#n #"sdom he "s #"se)
thro!$h h"s o#n l"fe he l"ves) so' by $enerat"on' he $rants to
h"s *on the ossess"on of essen&e' and #"sdom' and l"fe "n
h"mself' so that not thro!$h an e,traneo!s essen&e' #"sdom'
and l"fe' b!t thro!$h h"s o#n' he s!bs"sts' "s #"se' and l"ves)
other#"se' the e,"sten&e of Father and *on #"ll not be the
same' nor #"ll the *on be e2!al to the Father. B!t "t has
already been &learly roved ho# false th"s s!os"t"on "s.
Hen&e' there "s no "n&ons"sten&y bet#een the s!bs"sten&e of
the *on thro!$h h"mself' and h"s der"v"n$ e,"sten&e from the
Father' s"n&e he m!st have from the Father th"s very o#er
of s!bs"st"n$ thro!$h h"mself. For' "f a #"se man sho!ld tea&h
me h"s #"sdom' #h"&h I formerly la&-ed' he m"$ht #"tho!t
"mror"ety be sa"d to tea&h me by th"s very #"sdom of h"s.
B!t' altho!$h my #"sdom #o!ld der"ve "ts e,"sten&e and the
fa&t of "ts be"n$ from h"s #"sdom' yet #hen my #"sdom on&e
e,"sted' "t #o!ld be no other essen&e than "ts o#n' nor #o!ld
"t be #"se e,&et thro!$h "tself.
;!&h more' then' the eternal Father4s eternal *on' #ho so
der"ves e,"sten&e from the Father that they are not t#o
essen&es' s!bs"sts' "s #"se' and l"ves thro!$h h"mself. Hen&e'
"t "s "n&on&e"vable that the Father sho!ld be the essen&e of
the *on' or the *on the essen&e of the Father' on the $ro!nd
that the one &o!ld not s!bs"st thro!$h "tself' b!t m!st
s!bs"st thro!$h the other. B!t "n order to "nd"&ate ho# they
share "n an essen&e s!remely s"mle and s!remely one' "t
may &ons"stently be sa"d' and &on&e"ved' that the one "s so
"dent"&al #"th the other that the one ossesses the essen&e
of the other.
On these $ro!nds' then' s"n&e there "s obv"o!sly no
d"%eren&e bet#een ossess"n$ an essen&e and be"n$ an
essen&e' (!st as the one ossesses the essen&e of the other'
so the one "s the essen&e of the other' that "s' the one has
the same e,"sten&e #"th the other.

CHAPTER A?<.
The *on may more aror"ately be &alled the essen&e of
the Father' than the Father the essen&e of the *on5 and "n
l"-e manner the *on "s the v"rt!e' #"sdom' et&.' of the Father.
AND altho!$h' for reasons #e have noted' th"s "s tr!e' "t "s
m!&h more roer to &all the *on the essen&e of the Father
than the Father the essen&e of the *on. For' s"n&e the Father
has h"s be"n$ from none other than h"mself' "t "s not #holly
aror"ate to say that he has the be"n$ of another than
h"mself) #h"le' s"n&e the *on has h"s be"n$ from the Father'
and has the same essen&e #"th h"s Father' he may most
aror"ately be sa"d to have the essen&e of h"s Father.
Hen&e' see"n$ that ne"ther has an essen&e' e,&et by being
an essen&e) as the *on "s more aror"ately &on&e"ved to
have the essen&e of the Father than the Father to have the
essen&e of the *on' so the *on may more 0tly be &alled the
essen&e of the Father than the Father the essen&e of the son.
For th"s s"n$le e,lanat"on roves' #"th s!.&"ently emhat"&
brev"ty' that the *on not only has the same essen&e #"th the
Father' b!t has th"s very essen&e from the Father) so that' to
assert that the *on "s the essen&e of the Father "s the same
as to assert that the *on "s not a d"%erent essen&e from the
essen&e of the Father nay' from the Father essen&e.
In l"-e manner' therefore' the *on "s the v"rt!e of the Father'
and h"s #"sdom' and (!st"&e' and #hatever "s &ons"stently
attr"b!ted to the essen&e of the s!reme *"r"t.

CHAPTER A?<I.
Ho# some of these tr!ths #h"&h are th!s e,o!nded may
also be &on&e"ved of "n another #ay.
1ET' some of these tr!ths' #h"&h may be th!s e,o!nded
and &on&e"ved of' are aarently &aable of another
"nterretat"on as #ell' not "n&ons"stent #"th th"s same
assert"on. For "t "s roved that the *on "s the tr!e 3ord' that
"s' the erfe&t "ntell"$en&e' &on&e"v"n$ of the #hole
s!bstan&e of the Father' or erfe&t &o$n"t"on of that
s!bstan&e' and -no#led$e of "t' and #"sdom re$ard"n$ "t)
that "s' "t !nderstands' and &on&e"ves of' the very essen&e of
the Father' and &o$n"ses "t' and -no#s "t' and "s #"se 9sapit:
re$ard"n$ "t.
If' then' "n th"s sense' the *on "s &alled the "ntell"$en&e of the
Father' and #"sdom &on&ern"n$ h"m' and -no#led$e and
&o$n"t"on of h"m' and a&2!a"ntan&e #"th h"m) s"n&e the *on
!nderstands and &on&e"ves of the Father' "s #"se &on&ern"n$
h"m' -no#s and "s a&2!a"nted #"th h"m' there "s no deart!re
from tr!th.
;ost roerly' too' may the *on be &alled the tr!th of the
Father' not only "n the sense that the tr!th of the *on "s the
same #"th that of the Father' as #e have already seen) b!t "n
th"s sense' also' that "n h"m no "merfe&t "m"tat"on shall be
&on&e"ved of' b!t the &omlete tr!th of the s!bstan&e of the
Father s"n&e he "s no other than #hat the Father "s.

CHAPTER A?<II.
The *on "s the "ntell"$en&e of "ntell"$en&e and the Tr!th of
tr!th
B8T "f the very s!bstan&e of the Father "s "ntell"$en&e' and
-no#led$e' and #"sdom' and tr!th' "t "s &onse2!ently
"nferred that as the *on "s the "ntell"$en&e' and -no#led$e'
and #"sdom' and tr!th' of the aternal s!bstan&e' so he "s
the "ntell"$en&e of "ntell"$en&e' the -no#led$e of -no#led$e'
the #"sdom of #"sdom' and the tr!th of tr!th.

CHAPTER A?<III.
Ho# the *on "s the "ntell"$en&e or #"sdom of memory or the
memory of the Father and of memory.
B8T #hat "s to be o!r not"on of memory6 Is the *on to be
re$arded as the "ntell"$en&e &on&e"v"n$ of memory' or as the
memory of the Father' or as the memory of memory6
Indeed' s"n&e "t &annot be den"ed that the s!reme 3"sdom
remembers "tself' noth"n$ &an be more &ons"stent than to
re$ard the Father as memory' (!st as the *on "s the 3ord)
be&a!se the 3ord "s aarently born of memory' a fa&t that
"s more &learly seen "n the &ase of the h!man m"nd.
For' s"n&e the h!man m"nd "s not al#ays th"n-"n$ of "tself'
tho!$h "t ever remembers "tself' "t "s &lear that' #hen "t
th"n-s of "tself' the #ord &orresond"n$ to "t "s born of
memory. Hen&e' "t aears that' "f "t al#ays tho!$ht of "tself'
"ts #ord #o!ld be al#ays born of memory. For' to th"n- of an
ob(e&t of #h"&h #e have remembran&e' th"s "s to e,ress "t
mentally) #h"le the #ord &orresond"n$ to the ob(e&t "s the
tho!$ht "tself' formed after the l"-eness of that ob(e&t from
memory.
Hen&e' "t may be &learly arehended "n the s!reme
3"sdom' #h"&h al#ays th"n-s of "tself' (!st as "t remembers
"tself' that' of the eternal remembran&e of "t' "ts &oeternal
3ord "s born. Therefore' as the 3ord "s roerly &on&e"ved of
as the &h"ld' the memory most aror"ately ta-es the name
of arent. If' then' the &h"ld #h"&h "s born of the s!reme
*"r"t alone "s the &h"ld of h"s memory' there &an be no more
lo$"&al &on&l!s"on than that h"s memory "s h"mself. For not "n
rese&t of the fa&t that he remembers h"mself does he e,"st
"n h"s o#n memory' l"-e "deas that e,"st "n the h!man
memory' #"tho!t be"n$ the memory "tself) b!t he so
remembers h"mself that he "s h"s o#n memory.
It therefore follo#s that' (!st as the *on "s the "ntell"$en&e or
#"sdom of the Father' so he "s that of the memory of the
Father. B!t' re$ard"n$ #hatever the *on has #"sdom or
!nderstand"n$' th"s he l"-e#"se remembers. The *on "s'
therefore' the memory of the Father' and the memory of
memory' that "s' the memory that remembers the Father'
#ho "s memory' (!st as he "s the #"sdom of the Father' and
the #"sdom of #"sdom' that "s' the #"sdom #"se re$ard"n$
the #"sdom of the Father) and the *on "s "ndeed memory'
born of memory' as he "s #"sdom' born of #"sdom' #h"le the
Father "s memory and #"sdom born of none.

CHAPTER A?IA.
The s!reme *"r"t loves h"mself.
B8T' #h"le I am here &ons"der"n$ #"th "nterest the "nd"v"d!al
roert"es and the &ommon attr"b!tes of Father and *on' I
0nd none "n them more leas!rable to &ontemlate than the
feel"n$ of m!t!al love. For ho# abs!rd "t #o!ld be to deny
that the s!reme *"r"t loves h"mself' (!st as he remembers
h"mself' and &on&e"ves of h"mselfF s"n&e even the rat"onal
h!man m"nd "s &onv"n&ed that "t &an love both "tself and h"m'
be&a!se "t &an remember "tself and h"m' and &an &on&e"ve of
"tself and of h"m) for "dle and almost !seless "s the memory
and &on&et"on of any ob(e&t' !nless' so far as reason
re2!"res' the ob(e&t "tself "s loved or &ondemned. The
s!reme *"r"t' then' loves h"mself' (!st as he remembers
h"mself and &on&e"ves of h"mself.

CHAPTER ?.
The same love ro&eeds e2!ally from Father and *on.
IT "s' at any rate' &lear to the rat"onal man that he does not
remember h"mself or &on&e"ve of h"mself be&a!se he loves
h"mself' b!t he loves h"mself be&a!se he remembers h"mself
and &on&e"ves of h"mself) and that he &o!ld not love h"mself
"f he d"d not remember and &on&e"ve of h"mself. For no
ob(e&t "s loved #"tho!t remembran&e or &on&et"on of "t)
#h"le many th"n$s are reta"ned "n memory and &on&e"ved of
that are not loved.
It "s ev"dent' then' that the love of the s!reme *"r"t
ro&eeds from the fa&t that he remember h"mself and
&on&e"ves of h"mself 9se intelligit:. B!t "f' by the memory of
the s!reme *"r"t' #e !nderstand the Father' and by h"s
"ntell"$en&e by #h"&h he &on&e"ves of anyth"n$' the *on' "t "s
man"fest that the love of the s!reme *"r"t ro&eeds
e2!ally from Father and *on.

CHAPTER ?I.

Ea&h loves h"mself and the other #"th e2!al love.
B8T "f the s!reme *"r"t loves h"mself' no do!bt the Father
loves h"mself' the *on loves h"mself' and the one the other)
s"n&e the Father searately "s the s!reme *"r"t' and the
*on searately "s the s!reme *"r"t' and both at on&e one
*"r"t. And' s"n&e ea&h e2!ally remembers h"mself and the
other' and &on&e"ves e2!ally of h"mself and the other) and
s"n&e #hat "s loved' or loves "n the Father' or "n the *on' "s
alto$ether the same' ne&essar"ly ea&h loves h"mself and the
other #"th an e2!al love.

CHAPTER ?II.

Th"s love "s as $reat as the s!reme *"r"t h"mself.
Ho# $reat' then' "s th"s love of the s!reme *"r"t' &ommon
as "t "s to Father and *onF B!t' "f he loves h"mself as m!&h as
he remembers and &on&e"ves of h"mself) and' moreover'
remembers and &on&e"ves of h"mself "n as $reat a de$ree as
that "n #h"&h h"s essen&e e,"sts' s"n&e other#"se "t &annot
e,"st) !ndo!btedly h"s love "s as $reat as he h"mself "s.

CHAPTER ?III.

Th"s love "s "dent"&al #"th the s!reme *"r"t' and yet "t "s
"tself #"th the Father and the *on one s"r"t.
B8T' #hat &an be e2!al to the s!reme *"r"t' e,&et the
s!reme *"r"t6 That love "s' then' the s!reme *"r"t.
Hen&e' "f no &reat!re' that "s' "f noth"n$ other than the
s!reme *"r"t' the Father and the *on' ever e,"sted)
nevertheless' Father and *on #o!ld love themselves and one
another.
It therefore follo#s that th"s love "s noth"n$ else than #hat
the Father and the *on are' #h"&h "s the s!reme Be"n$. B!t'
s"n&e there &annot be more than one s!reme Be"n$' #hat
"nferen&e &an be more ne&essary than that Father and *on
and the love of both are one s!reme Be"n$6 Therefore' th"s
love "s s!reme 3"sdom' s!reme Tr!th' the s!reme Good'
and #hatsoever &an be attr"b!ted to the s!bstan&e the
s!reme *"r"t.

CHAPTER ?I<.

It ro&eeds as a #hole from the Father' and as a #hole from
the *on' and yet does not e,"st e,&et as one lo(e.
IT sho!ld be &aref!lly &ons"dered #hether there are t#o
loves' one ro&eed"n$ from the Father' the other from the
*on) or one' not ro&eed"n$ as a #hole from one' b!t "n art
from the Father' "n art from the *on) or ne"ther more than
one' nor one ro&eed"n$ "n art from ea&h searately' b!t
one ro&eed"n$ as a #hole from ea&h searately' and
l"-e#"se as a #hole from the t#o at on&e.
B!t the sol!t"on of s!&h a 2!est"on &an' #"tho!t do!bt' be
arehended from the fa&t that th"s love ro&eeds not from
that "n #h"&h Father and *on are more than one' b!t from
that "n #h"&h they are one. For' not from the"r relat"ons'
#h"&h are more than one' b!t from the"r essen&e "tself' #h"&h
does not adm"t of l!ral"ty' do Father and *on e2!ally
rod!&e so $reat a $ood.
Therefore' as the Father searately "s the s!reme *"r"t'
and the *on searately "s the s!reme *"r"t' and Father and
*on at on&e are not t#o' b!t one *"r"t) so from the Father
searately the love of the s!reme *"r"t emanates as a
#hole' and from the *on as a #hole' and at on&e from Father
and *on' not as t#o' b!t as one and the same #hole.

CHAPTER ?<.

Th"s love "s not the"r *on.
*INCE th"s love' then' has "ts be"n$ e2!ally from Father and
*on' and "s so l"-e both that "t "s "n no #"se !nl"-e them' b!t
"s alto$ether "dent"&al #"th them) "s "t to be re$arded as the"r
*on or o%sr"n$6 B!t' as the 3ord' so soon as "t "s e,am"ned'
de&lares "tself to be the o%sr"n$ of h"m from #hom "t
der"ves e,"sten&e' by d"slay"n$ a man"fold l"-eness to "ts
arent) so love la"nly den"es that "t s!sta"ns s!&h a relat"on'
s"n&e' so lon$ as "t "s &on&e"ved to ro&eed from Father and
*on' "t does not at on&e sho# to one #ho &ontemlates "t so
ev"dent a l"-eness to h"m from #hom "t der"ves e,"sten&e'
altho!$h del"berate reason"n$ tea&hes !s that "t "s alto$ether
"dent"&al #"th Father and *on.
Therefore' "f "t "s the"r o%sr"n$' e"ther one of them "s "ts
father and the other "ts mother' or ea&h "s "ts father' or
mother' 77 s!os"t"ons #h"&h aarently &ontrad"&t all tr!th.
For' s"n&e "t ro&eeds "n re&"sely the same #ay from the
Father as from the *on' re$ard for tr!th does not allo# the
relat"ons of Father and *on to "t to be des&r"bed by d"%erent
#ords) therefore' the one "s not "ts father' the other "ts
mother. B!t that there are t#o be"n$s #h"&h' ta-en
searately' bear ea&h the erfe&t relat"on of father or
mother' d"%er"n$ "n no rese&t' to some one be"n$ 77of th"s
no e,"st"n$ nat!re allo#s roof by any e,amle.
Hen&e' both' that "s' Father and *on' are not father and
mother of the love emanat"n$ from them. It therefore "s
aarently most "n&ons"stent #"th tr!th that the"r "dent"&al
love sho!ld be the"r son or o%sr"n$.

CHAPTER ?<I.

Only the Father be$ets and "s !nbe$otten) only the son "s
be$otten) only love ne"ther be$otten nor !nbe$otten.
*TI??' "t "s aarent that th"s love &an ne"ther be sa"d' "n
a&&ordan&e #"th the !sa$e of &ommon see&h' to be
!nbe$otten' nor &an "t so roerly be sa"d to be be$otten' as
the 3ord "s sa"d to be be$otten. For #e often say of a th"n$
that "t "s be$otten of that from #h"&h "t der"ves e,"sten&e' as
#hen #e say that l"$ht or heat "s be$otten of 0re' or any
e%e&t of "ts &a!se.
On th"s $ro!nd' then' love' ro&eed"n$ from s!reme *"r"t'
&annot be de&lared to be #holly !nbe$otten' b!t "t &annot so
roerly be sa"d to be be$otten as &an the 3ord) s"n&e the
3ord "s the most tr!e o%sr"n$ and most tr!e *on' #h"le "t "s
man"fest that love "s by no means o%sr"n$ or son.
He alone' therefore' may' or rather sho!ld' be &alled
be$etter and !nbe$otten' #hose "s the 3ord) s"n&e he alone
"s Father and arent' and "n no #"se der"ves e,"sten&e from
another) and the 3ord alone sho!ld be &alled be$otten'
#h"&h alone "s *on and o%sr"n$. B!t only the love of both "s
ne"ther be$otten nor !nbe$otten' be&a!se "t "s ne"ther son
nor o% sr"n$' and yet does "n some sort der"ve e,"sten&e
from another.

CHAPTER ?<II.
Th"s love "s !n&reated and &reator' as are Father and *on)
and yet "t "s #"th them not three' b!t one !n&reated and
&reat"ve be"n$. And "t may be &alled the *"r"t of Father and
*on.
B8T' s"n&e th"s love searately "s the s!reme Be"n$' as are
Father and *on' and yet at on&e Father and *on' and the love
of both are not more than one' b!t one s!reme Be"n$'
#h"&h alone #as &reated by none' and &reated all th"n$s
thro!$h no other than "tself) s"n&e th"s "s tr!e' ne&essar"ly' as
the Father searately' and the *on searately' are ea&h
!n&reated and &reator' so' too' love searately "s !n&reated
and &reator' and yet all three at on&e are not more than one'
b!t one !n&reated and &reat"ve be"n$.
None' therefore' ma-es or be$ets or &reates the Father' b!t
the Father alone be$ets' b!t does not &reate' the *on) #h"le
Father and *on al"-e do not &reate or be$et' b!t someho#' "f
s!&h an e,ress"on may be !sed' breathe the"r love5 for'
altho!$h the s!remely "mm!table Be"n$ does not breathe
after o!r fash"on' yet the tr!th that th"s Be"n$ sends forth
th"s' "ts love' #h"&h ro&eeds from "t' not by deart"n$ from
"t' b!t by der"v"n$ e,"sten&e from "t' &an erhas be no
better e,ressed than by say"n$ that th"s Be"n$ breathes "ts
love.
B!t' "f th"s e,ress"on "s adm"ss"ble' as the 3ord of the
s!reme Be"n$ "s "ts *on' so "ts love may 0tt"n$ly eno!$h be
&alled "ts breath 9Spiritus:. *o that' tho!$h "t "s "tself
essent"ally s"r"t' as are Father and *on' they are not
re$arded as the s"r"ts of anyth"n$' s"n&e ne"ther "s the
Father born of any other nor the *on of the Father' as "t
#ere' by breathing) #h"le that love "s re$arded as the Breath
or *"r"t of both s"n&e from both breath"n$ "n the"r
trans&endent #ay "t myster"o!sly ro&eeds.
And th"s love' too' "t seems' from the fa&t there "s &omm!n"ty
of be"n$ bet#een Father and *on' may' not !nreasonably'
ta-e' as "t #ere "ts o#n' some name #h"&h "s &ommon to
Father and *on) "f there "s any e,"$en&y demand"n$ that "t
sho!ld have a name roer to "tself. And' "ndeed' "f th"s love
"s a&t!ally des"$nated by the name *"r"t' as by "ts o#n
name' s"n&e th"s name e2!ally des&r"bes the Father and the
*on5 "t #"ll be !sef!l to th"s e%e&t also' that thro!$h th"s
name "t shall be s"$n"0ed that th"s love "s "dent"&al #"th
Father and *on' altho!$h "t has "ts be"n$ from them.

CHAPTER ?<III.
As the *on "s the essen&e or #"sdom of the Father "n the
sense that he has the same essen&e or #"sdom that the
Father has5 so l"-e#"se the *"r"t "s the essen&e and #"sdom
et&. of Father and *on.
A?*O' (!st as the *on "s the s!bstan&e and #"sdom and
v"rt!e of the Father' "n the sense that he has the same
essen&e and #"sdom and v"rt!e #"th the Father) so "t may be
&on&e"ved that the *"r"t of both "s the essen&e or #"sdom or
v"rt!e of Father and *on' s"n&e "t has alto$ether the same
essen&e' #"sdom' and v"rt!e #"th these.

CHAPTER ?IA.

The Father and the *on and the"r *"r"t e,"st e2!ally the one
"n the other.
IT "s a most "nterest"n$ &ons"derat"on that the Father' and
the *on' and the *"r"t of both' e,"st "n one another #"th
s!&h e2!al"ty that no one of them s!rasses another. For'
not only "s ea&h "n s!&h a #ay the erfe&tly s!reme Be"n$
that' nevertheless' all three at on&e e,"st only as one
s!reme Be"n$' b!t he same tr!th "s no less &aable of roof
#hen ea&h "s ta-en searately.
For the Father e,"sts as a #hole "n the *on' and "n the *"r"t
&ommon to them) and the *on "n the Father' and "n the
*"r"t) and the *"r"t "n the Father' and "n the *on) for the
memory of the s!reme Be"n$ e,"sts' as a #hole' "n "ts
"ntell"$en&e and "n "ts love' and the "ntell"$en&e "n "ts
memory and love' and the love "n "ts memory and
"ntell"$en&e. For the s!reme *"r"t &on&e"ves of 9intelligit:
"ts memory as a #hole' and loves "t' and remembers "ts
"ntell"$en&e as a #hole' and loves "t as a #hole' and
remembers "ts love as a #hole' and &on&e"ves of "t as a
#hole.
B!t #e mean by the memory' the Father) by the "ntell"$en&e'
the *on) by the love' the *"r"t of both. In s!&h e2!al"ty'
therefore' do Father and *on and *"r"t embra&e one
another' and e,"st "n one another' that none of them &an be
roved to s!rass another or to e,"st #"tho!t "t.

CHAPTER ?A.
To none of these "s another ne&essary that he may
remember' &on&e"ve' or love5 s"n&e ea&h ta-en by h"mself "s
memory and "ntell"$en&e and love and all that "s ne&essar"ly
"nherent "n the s!reme Be"n$.
B8T' #h"le th"s d"s&!ss"on en$a$es o!r attent"on' I th"n- that
th"s tr!th' #h"&h o&&!rs to me as I re+e&t' o!$ht to be most
&aref!lly &ommended to memory. The Father m!st be so
&on&e"ved of as memory' the *on as "ntell"$en&e' and the
*"r"t as love' that "t shall also be !nderstood that the Father
does not need the *on' or the *"r"t &ommon to them' nor
the *on the Father' or the same *"r"t' nor the *"r"t the
Father' or the *on5 as "f the Father #ere able' thro!$h h"s
o#n o#er' only to remember' b!t to &on&e"ve only thro!$h
the *on' and to love only thro!$h the *"r"t of h"mself and
h"s son) and the *on &o!ld only &on&e"ve or !nderstand
9intelligere: thro!$h h"mself' b!t remembered thro!$h the
Father' and loved thro!$h h"s *"r"t) and th"s *"r"t #ere able
thro!$h h"mself alone only to love' #h"le the Father
remembers for h"m' and the *on &on&e"ves or !nderstands
9intelligit: for h"m.
For' s"n&e amon$ these three ea&h one ta-en searately "s
so erfe&tly the s!reme Be"n$ and the s!reme 3"sdom
that thro!$h h"mself he remembers and &on&e"ves and loves'
"t m!st be that none of these three needs another' "n order
e"ther to remember or to &on&e"ve or to love. For' ea&h ta-en
searately "s essent"ally memory and "ntell"$en&e and love'
and all that "s ne&essar"ly "nherent "n the s!reme Be"n$.

CHAPTER ?AI.
1et there are not three' b!t one Father and one *on and one
*"r"t.
AND here I see a 2!est"on ar"ses. For' "f the Father "s
"ntell"$en&e and love as #ell as memory' and the *on "s
memory and love as #ell as "ntell"$en&e' and the *"r"t "s no
less memory and "ntell"$en&e than love) ho# "s "t that the
Father "s not a *on and a *"r"t of some be"n$6 and #hy "s
not the *on the Father and the *"r"t of some be"n$6 and
#hy "s not th"s *"r"t the Father of some be"n$' and the *on
of some be"n$6 For "t #as !nderstood' that the Father #as
memory' the *on "ntell"$en&e' and the *"r"t love.
B!t th"s 2!est"on "s eas"ly ans#ered' "f #e &ons"der the
tr!ths already d"s&losed "n o!r d"s&!ss"on. For the Father'
even tho!$h he "s "ntell"$en&e and love' "s not for that
reason the *on or the *"r"t of any be"n$) s"n&e he "s not
"ntell"$en&e' be$otten of any' or love' ro&eed"n$ from any'
b!t #hatever he "s' he "s only the begetter' and "s he from
#hom the other ro&eeds.
The *on also' even tho!$h by h"s o#n o#er he remembers
and loves' "s not' for that reason' the Father or the *"r"t of
any) s"n&e he "s not memory as be$etter' or love as
ro&eed"n$ from another after the l"-eness of h"s *"r"t' b!t
#hatever be"n$ he has he "s only begotten and "s he from
#hom the *"r"t ro&eeds.
The *"r"t' too' "s not ne&essar"ly Father or *on' be&a!se h"s
o#n memory and "ntell"$en&e are s!.&"ent to h"m) s"n&e he
"s not memory as be$etter' or "ntell"$en&e as be$otten' b!t
he alone' #hatever he "s' proceeds or emanates.
3hat' then' forb"ds the &on&l!s"on that "n the s!reme Be"n$
there "s only one Father' one *on' one *"r"t' and not three
Fathers or *ons or *"r"ts6

CHAPTER ?AII.

Ho# "t seems that of these three more sons than one are
born.
B8T erhas the follo#"n$ observat"on #"ll rove
"n&ons"stent #"th th"s assert"on. It sho!ld not be do!bted
that the Father and the *on and the"r *"r"t ea&h e,resses
h"mself and the other t#o' (!st as ea&h &on&e"ves of' and
!nderstands' h"mself and the other t#o. B!t' "f th"s "s tr!e'
are there not "n the s!reme Be"n$ as many #ords as there
are e,ress"ve be"n$s' and as many #ords as there are
be"n$s #ho are e,ressed6
For' "f more men than one $"ve e,ress"on to some one
ob(e&t "n tho!$ht' aarently there are as many #ords
&orresond"n$ to that ob(e&t as there are th"n-ers) s"n&e the
#ord &orresond"n$ to "t e,"sts "n the tho!$hts of ea&h
searately. A$a"n' "f one man th"n-s of more ob(e&ts than
one' there are as many #ords "n the m"nd of the th"n-er as
there are ob(e&ts tho!$ht of.
B!t "n the tho!$ht of a man' #hen he th"n-s of anyth"n$
o!ts"de h"s o#n m"nd' the #ord &orresond"n$ to the ob(e&t
tho!$ht of "s not born of the ob(e&t "tself' s"n&e that "s absent
from the v"e# of tho!$ht' b!t of some l"-eness or "ma$e of
the ob(e&t #h"&h e,"sts "n the memory of the th"n-er' or
#h"&h "s erhas &alled to m"nd thro!$h a &ororeal sense
from the resent ob(e&t "tself.
B!t "n the s!reme Be"n$' Father and *on and the"r *"r"t are
al#ays so resent to one another 77for ea&h one' as #e have
already seen' e,"sts "n the others no less than "n h"mself 77
that' #hen they e,ress one another' the one that "s
e,ressed seems to be$et h"s o#n #ord' (!st as #hen he "s
e,ressed by h"mself. Ho# "s "t' then' that the *on and the
*"r"t of the *on and of the Father be$et noth"n$' "f ea&h
be$ets h"s o#n #ord' #hen he "s e,ressed by h"mself or by
another6 Aarently as many #ords as &an be roved to be
born of the s!reme *!bstan&e' so many *ons' a&&ord"n$ to
o!r former reason"n$' m!st there be be$otten of th"s
s!bstan&e' and so many s"r"ts ro&eed"n$ from "t.

CHAPTER ?AIII.
Ho# amon$ them there "s only one *on of one Father' that "s'
one 3ord' and that from the Father alone.
ON these $ro!nds' therefore' there aarently are "n that
Be"n$' not only many fathers and sons and be"n$s
ro&eed"n$ from "t' b!t other ne&essary attr"b!tes as #ell) or
else Father and *on and the"r *"r"t' of #hom "t "s already
&erta"n that they tr!ly e,"st' are not three e,ress"ve be"n$s'
altho!$h ea&h ta-en searately "s e,ress"ve' nor are there
more be"n$s than one e,ressed' #hen ea&h one e,resses
h"mself and the other t#o.
For' (!st as "t "s an "nherent roerty of the s!reme 3"sdom
to -no# and &on&e"ve' so "t "s ass!redly nat!ral to eternal
and "mm!table -no#led$e and "ntell"$en&e ever to re$ard as
resent #hat "t -no#s and &on&e"ves of. For' to s!&h a
s!reme *"r"t e,ress"n$ and behold"n$ thro!$h
&on&et"on' as "t #ere' are the same' (!st as the e,ress"on
of o!r h!man m"nd "s noth"n$ b!t the "nt!"t"on of the th"n-er.
B!t reasons already &ons"dered have sho#n most
&onv"n&"n$ly that #hatever "s essent"ally "nherent "n the
s!reme Nat!re "s erfe&tly &ons"stent #"th the nat!re of the
Father and the *on and the"r *"r"t ta-en searately) and
that' nevertheless' th"s' "f attr"b!ted to the three at on&e'
does not adm"t of l!ral"ty. No#' "t "s establ"shed that as
-no#led$e and "ntell"$en&e are attr"b!tes of h"s be"n$' so h"s
-no#"n$ and &on&e"v"n$ "s noth"n$ else than h"s e,ress"on'
that "s' h"s ever behold"n$ as resent #hat he -no#s and
&on&e"ves of. Ne&essar"ly' therefore' (!st as the Father
searately' and the *on searately' and the"r *"r"t
searately' "s a -no#"n$ and &on&e"v"n$ be"n$' and yet the
three at on&e are not more -no#"n$ and &on&e"v"n$ be"n$s
than one' b!t one -no#"n$ and one &on&e"v"n$ be"n$5 so'
ea&h ta-en searately "s e,ress"ve' and yet there are not
three e,ress"ve be"n$s at on&e' b!t one e,ress"ve be"n$.
Hen&e' th"s fa&t may also be &learly re&o$n"sed' that #hen
these three are e,ressed' e"ther by themselves or by
another' there are not more be"n$s than one e,ressed. For
#hat "s there"n e,ressed e,&et the"r be"n$6 If' then' that
Be"n$ "s one and only one' then #hat "s e,ressed "s one and
only one) therefore' "f "t "s "n them one and only one #h"&h
e,resses' and one #h"&h "s e,ressed 77for "t "s one #"sdom
#h"&h e,resses and one s!bstan&e #h"&h "s e,ressed 77"t
follo#s that there are not more #ords than one' b!t one
alone. Hen&e' altho!$h ea&h one e,resses h"mself and all
e,ress one another' nevertheless there &annot be "n the
s!reme Be"n$ another 3ord than that already sho#n to be
born of h"m #hose "s the 3ord' so that "t may be &alled h"s
tr!e "ma$e and h"s *on.
And "n th"s tr!th I 0nd a stran$e and "ne,l"&able fa&tor. For
observe5 altho!$h "t "s man"fest that ea&h one' that "s' Father
and *on' and the *"r"t of Father and *on e2!ally e,resses
h"mself and both the others' and that there "s one 3ord
alone amon$ them) yet "t aears that th"s 3ord "tself &an "n
no #"se be &alled the 3ord of all three' b!t only of one.
For "t has been roved that "t "s the "ma$e and *on of h"m
#hose 3ord "t "s. And "t "s la"n that "t &annot roerly be
&alled e"ther the "ma$e or son of "tself' or of the *"r"t
ro&eed"n$ from "t. For' ne"ther of "tself nor of a be"n$
ro&eed"n$ from "t' "s "t born' nor does "t "n "ts e,"sten&e
"m"tate "tself or a be"n$ ro&eed"n$ from "tself. For "t does not
"m"tate "tself' or ta-e on a l"-e e,"sten&e to "tself' be&a!se
"m"tat"on and l"-eness are "moss"ble #here only one be"n$ "s
&on&erned' b!t re2!"re l!ral"ty of be"n$s) #h"le "t does not
"m"tate the s"r"t' nor does "t e,"st "n h"s l"-eness' be&a!se "t
has not "ts e,"sten&e from that *"r"t' b!t the *"r"t from "t. It
"s to be &on&l!ded that th"s sole 3ord &orresonds to h"m
alone' from #hom "t has e,"sten&e by $enerat"on' and after
#hose &omlete l"-eness "t e,"sts.
One Father' then' and not more than one Father) one *on'
and not more than one *on) one *"r"t ro&eed"n$ from
them' and not more than one s!&h *"r"t' e,"st "n the
s!reme Be"n$. And' altho!$h there are three' so that the
Father "s never the *on or the *"r"t ro&eed"n$ from them'
nor the *on at any t"me the Father or the *"r"t' nor the *"r"t
of Father and *on ever the Father or the *on) and ea&h
searately "s so erfe&t that he "s self7s!.&"ent' need"n$
ne"ther of the others) yet #hat they are "s "n s!&h a #ay one
that (!st as "t &annot be attr"b!ted to them ta-en searately
as l!ral' so' ne"ther &an "t be attr"b!ted to them as l!ral'
#hen the three are ta-en at on&e. And tho!$h ea&h one
e,resses h"mself and all e,ress one another' yet there are
not amon$ them more #ords than one' b!t one) and th"s
3ord &orresonds not to ea&h searately' nor to all to$ether'
b!t to one alone.

CHAPTER ?AI<.
Tho!$h th"s tr!th "s "ne,l"&able' "t demands bel"ef.
IT seems to me that the mystery of so s!bl"me a s!b(e&t
trans&ends all the v"s"on of the h!man "ntelle&t. And for that
reason I th"n- "t best to refra"n from the attemt to e,la"n
ho# th"s th"n$ "s. For "t "s my o"n"on that one #ho "s
"nvest"$at"n$ an "n&omrehens"ble ob(e&t o!$ht to be
sat"s0ed "f th"s reason"n$ shall have bro!$ht h"m far eno!$h
to re&o$n"se that th"s ob(e&t most &erta"nly e,"sts) nor o!$ht
ass!red bel"ef to be the less read"ly $"ven to these tr!ths
#h"&h are de&lared to be s!&h by &o$ent roofs' and #"tho!t
the &ontrad"&t"on of any other reason' "f' be&a!se of the
"n&omrehens"b"l"ty of the"r o#n nat!ral s!bl"m"ty' they do
not adm"t of e,lanat"on.
B!t #hat "s so "n&omrehens"ble' so "ne%able' as that #h"&h
"s above all th"n$s6 Hen&e' "f these tr!ths' #h"&h have th!s
far been debated "n &onne&t"on #"th the s!reme Be"n$'
have been de&lared on &o$ent $ro!nds' even tho!$h they
&annot be so e,am"ned by the h!man "ntelle&t as to be
&aable of e,lanat"on "n #ords' the"r ass!red &erta"nty "s
not therefore sha-en. For' "f a &ons"derat"on' s!&h as that
above' rat"onally &omrehends that "t "s "n&omrehens"ble "n
#hat #ay s!reme 3"sdom -no#s "ts &reat!res' of #h"&h #e
ne&essar"ly -no# so many) #ho shall e,la"n ho# "t -no#s
and e,resses "tself' of #h"&h noth"n$ or s&ar&ely anyth"n$
&an be -no#n by man6 Hen&e' "f "t "s not by v"rt!e of the self7
e,ress"on of th"s 3"sdom that the Father be$ets and the
*on "s be$otten' who shall tell his generation)

CHAPTER ?A<.
Ho# real tr!th may be rea&hed "n the d"s&!ss"on of an
"ne%able s!b(e&t.
B8T a$a"n' "f s!&h "s the &hara&ter of "ts "ne%ab"l"ty' 77 nay'
s"n&e "t "s s!&h' 77 ho# shall #hatever &on&l!s"on o!r
d"s&!ss"on has rea&hed re$ard"n$ "t "n terms of Father' *on'
and emanat"n$ *"r"t be val"d6 For' "f "t has been e,la"ned
on tr!e $ro!nds' ho# "s "t "ne%able6 Or' "f "t "s "ne%able' ho#
&an "t be s!&h as o!r d"s&!ss"on has sho#n6 Or' &o!ld "t be
e,la"ned to a &erta"n e,tent' and therefore noth"n$ #o!ld
d"srove the tr!th of o!r ar$!ment) b!t s"n&e "t &o!ld not be
&omrehended at all' for that reason "t #o!ld be "ne%able6
B!t ho# shall #e meet the tr!th that has already been
establ"shed "n th"s very d"s&!ss"on' namely' that the s!reme
Be"n$ "s so above and beyond every other nat!re that'
#henever any statement "s made &on&ern"n$ "t "n #ords
#h"&h are also al"&able to other nat!res' the sense of
these #ords "n th"s &ase "s by no means that "n #h"&h they
are al"ed to other nat!res.
For #hat sense have I &on&e"ved of' "n all these #ords that I
have tho!$ht of' e,&et the &ommon and fam"l"ar sense6 If'
then' the fam"l"ar sense of #ords "s al"en to that Be"n$'
#hatever I have "nferred to be attr"b!table to "t "s not "ts
roerty. Ho#' then' has any tr!th &on&ern"n$ the s!reme
Be"n$ been d"s&overed' "f #hat has been d"s&overed "s so
al"en to that Be"n$6 3hat "s to be "nferred6
Or' has there "n some sort been some tr!th d"s&overed
re$ard"n$ th"s "n&omrehens"ble ob(e&t' and "n some sort has
noth"n$ been roved re$ard"n$ "t6 For often #e sea- of
th"n$s #h"&h #e do not e,ress #"th re&"s"on as they are)
b!t by another e,ress"on #e "nd"&ate #hat #e are !n#"ll"n$
or !nable to e,ress #"th re&"s"on' as #hen #e sea- "n
r"ddles. And often #e see a th"n$' not re&"sely as "t "s "n
"tself' b!t thro!$h a l"-eness or "ma$e' as #hen #e loo- !on
a fa&e "n a m"rror. And "n th"s #ay' #e often e,ress and yet
do not e,ress' see and yet do not see' one and the same
ob(e&t) #e e,ress and see "t thro!$h another) #e do not
e,ress "t' and do not see "t by v"rt!e of "ts o#n roer
nat!re.
On these $ro!nds' then' "t aears that there "s noth"n$ to
d"srove the tr!th of o!r d"s&!ss"on th!s far &on&ern"n$ the
s!reme Nat!re' and yet th"s Nat!re "tself rema"ns not the
less "ne%able' "f #e bel"eve that "t has never been e,ressed
a&&ord"n$ to the e&!l"ar nat!re of "ts o#n be"n$' b!t
someho# des&r"bed thro!$h another.
For #hatever terms seem al"&able to that Nat!re do not
reveal "t to me "n "ts roer &hara&ter' b!t rather "nt"mate "t
thro!$h some l"-eness. For' #hen I th"n- of the mean"n$s of
these terms' I more nat!rally &on&e"ve "n my m"nd of #hat I
see "n &reated ob(e&ts' than of #hat I &on&e"ve to trans&end
all h!man !nderstand"n$. For "t "s someth"n$ m!&h less' nay'
someth"n$ far d"%erent' that the"r mean"n$ s!$$ests to my
m"nd' than that the &on&et"on of #h"&h my m"nd "tself
attemts to a&h"eve thro!$h th"s shado#y s"$n"0&at"on.
For' ne"ther "s the term wisdom s!.&"ent to reveal to me
that Be"n$' thro!$h #h"&h all th"n$s #ere &reated from
noth"n$ and are reserved from noth"n$ness) nor "s the term
essence &aable of e,ress"n$ to me that Be"n$ #h"&h'
thro!$h "ts !n"2!e elevat"on' "s far above all th"n$s' and
thro!$h "ts e&!l"ar nat!ral &hara&ter $reatly trans&ends all
th"n$s.
In th"s #ay' then' "s that Nat!re "ne%able' be&a!se "t "s
"n&aable of des&r"t"on "n #ords or by any other means)
and' at the same t"me' an "nferen&e re$ard"n$ "t' #h"&h &an
be rea&hed by the "nstr!&t"on of reason or "n some other
#ay' as "t #ere "n a r"ddle' "s not therefore ne&essar"ly false.

CHAPTER ?A<I.
Thro!$h the rat"onal m"nd "s the nearest aroa&h to the
s!reme Be"n$.
*INCE "t "s &lear' then' that noth"n$ &an be as&erta"ned
&on&ern"n$ th"s Nat!re "n terms of "ts o#n e&!l"ar &hara&ter'
b!t only "n terms of someth"n$ else' "t "s &erta"n that a
nearer aroa&h to#ard -no#led$e of "t "s made thro!$h
that #h"&h aroa&hes "t more nearly thro!$h l"-eness. For
the more l"-e to "t anyth"n$ amon$ &reated be"n$s "s roved
to be' the more e,&ellent m!st that &reated be"n$ be by
nat!re. Hen&e' th"s be"n$' thro!$h "ts $reater l"-eness'
ass"sts the "nvest"$at"n$ m"nd "n the aroa&h to s!reme
Tr!th) and thro!$h "ts more e,&ellent &reated essen&e'
tea&hes the more &orre&tly #hat o"n"on the m"nd "tself
o!$ht to form re$ard"n$ the Creator. *o' !ndo!btedly' a
$reater -no#led$e of the &reat"ve Be"n$ "s atta"ned' the
more nearly the &reat!re thro!$h #h"&h the "nvest"$at"on "s
made aroa&hes that Be"n$. For that every be"n$' "n so far
as "t e,"sts' "s l"-e the s!reme Be"n$' reasons already
&ons"dered do not erm"t !s to do!bt.
It "s ev"dent' then' that as the rat"onal m"nd alone' amon$ all
&reated be"n$s' "s &aable of r"s"n$ to the "nvest"$at"on of
th"s Be"n$' so "t "s not the less th"s same rat"onal m"nd alone'
thro!$h #h"&h the m"nd "tself &an most s!&&essf!lly a&h"eve
the d"s&overy of th"s same Be"n$. For "t has already been
a&-no#led$ed that th"s aroa&hes "t most nearly' thro!$h
l"-eness of nat!ral essen&e. 3hat "s more obv"o!s' then'
than that the more earnestly the rat"onal m"nd devotes "tself
to learn"n$ "ts o#n nat!re' the more e%e&t"vely does "t r"se to
the -no#led$e of that Be"n$) and the more &arelessly "t
&ontemlates "tself' the farther does "t des&end from the
&ontemlat"on of that Be"n$6

CHAPTER ?A<II.
The m"nd "tself "s the m"rror and "ma$e of that Be"n$.
THEREFORE' the m"nd may most 0tly be sa"d to be "ts o#n
m"rror #here"n "t &ontemlates' so to sea-' the "ma$e of
#hat "t &annot see fa&e to fa&e. For' "f the m"nd "tself alone
amon$ all &reated be"n$s "s &aable of remember"n$ and
&on&e"v"n$ of and lov"n$ "tself' I do not see #hy "t sho!ld be
den"ed that "t "s the tr!e "ma$e of that be"n$ #h"&h' thro!$h
"ts memory and "ntell"$en&e and love' "s !n"ted "n an
"ne%able Tr"n"ty. Or' at any rate' "t roves "tself to be the
more tr!ly the "ma$e of that Be"n$ by "ts o#er of
remember"n$' &on&e"v"n$ of' and lov"n$' that Be"n$. For' the
$reater and the more l"-e that Be"n$ "t "s' the more tr!ly "t "s
re&o$n"sed to be "ts "ma$e.
B!t' "t "s !tterly "n&on&e"vable that any rat"onal &reat!re &an
have been nat!rally endo#ed #"th any o#er so e,&ellent
and so l"-e the s!reme 3"sdom as th"s o#er of
remember"n$' and &on&e"v"n$ of' and lov"n$' the best and
$reatest of all be"n$s. Hen&e' no fa&!lty has been besto#ed
on any &reat!re that "s so tr!ly the "ma$e of the Creator.

CHAPTER ?A<III.
The rat"onal &reat!re #as &reated "n order that "t m"$ht love
th"s Be"n$.
IT seems to follo#' then' that the rat"onal &reat!re o!$ht to
devote "tself to noth"n$ so earnestly as to the e,ress"on'
thro!$h vol!ntary erforman&e' of th"s "ma$e #h"&h "s
"mressed on "t thro!$h a nat!ral oten&y. For' not only does
"t o#e "ts very e,"sten&e to "ts &reator) b!t the fa&t that "t "s
-no#n to have no o#er so "mortant as that of
remember"n$' and &on&e"v"n$ of' and lov"n$' the s!reme
$ood' roves that "t o!$ht to #"sh noth"n$ else so ese&"ally.
For #ho &an deny that #hatever #"th"n the s&oe one4s
o#er "s better' o!$ht to reva"l #"th the #"ll6 For' to the
rat"onal nat!re rat"onal"ty "s the same #"th the ab"l"ty to
d"st"n$!"sh the (!st from the not7(!st' the tr!e from the not7
tr!e' the $ood from the not7$ood' the $reater $ood from the
lesser) b!t th"s o#er "s alto$ether !seless to "t' and
s!er+!o!s' !nless #hat "t d"st"n$!"shes "t loves or
&ondemns' "n a&&ordan&e #"th the (!d$ment of tr!e
d"s&ernment.
From th"s' then' "t seems &lear eno!$h that every rat"onal
be"n$ e,"sts for th"s !rose' that a&&ord"n$ as' on the
$ro!nds of d"s&ernment' "t (!d$es a th"n$ to be more or less
$ood' or not $ood' so "t may love that th"n$ "n $reater or less
de$ree' or re(e&t "t.
It "s' therefore' most obv"o!s that the rat"onal &reat!re #as
&reated for th"s !rose' that "t m"$ht love the s!reme
Be"n$ above all other $oods' as th"s Be"n$ "s "tself the
s!reme $ood) nay' that "t m"$ht love noth"n$ e,&et "t'
!nless be&a!se of "t) s"n&e that Be"n$ "s $ood thro!$h "tself'
and noth"n$ else "s $ood e,&et thro!$h "t.
B!t the rat"onal be"n$ &annot love th"s Be"n$' !nless "t has
devoted "tself to remember"n$ and &on&e"v"n$ of "t. It "s
&lear' then' that the rat"onal &reat!re o!$ht to devote "ts
#hole ab"l"ty and #"ll to remember"n$' and &on&e"v"n$ of'
and lov"n$' the s!reme $ood' for #h"&h end "t re&o$n"ses
that "t has "ts very e,"sten&e.

CHAPTER ?AIA.
The so!l that ever loves th"s Essen&e l"ves at some t"me "n
tr!e blessedness.
B8T there "s no do!bt that the h!man so!l "s a rat"onal
&reat!re. Hen&e' "t m!st have been &reated for th"s end' that
"t m"$ht love the s!reme Be"n$. It m!st' therefore' have
been &reated e"ther for th"s end' that "t m"$ht love that Be"n$
eternally) or for th"s' that at some t"me "t m"$ht e"ther
vol!ntar"ly' or by v"olen&e' lose th"s love.
B!t "t "s "m"o!s to s!ose that the s!reme 3"sdom
&reated "t for th"s end' that at some t"me' e"ther "t sho!ld
des"se so $reat a $ood' or' tho!$h #"sh"n$ to -ee "t'
sho!ld lose "t by some v"olen&e. 3e "nfer' then' that "t #as
&reated for th"s end' that "t m"$ht love the s!reme Be"n$
eternally. B!t th"s "t &annot do !nless "t l"ves forever. It #as
so &reated' then' that "t l"ves forever' "f "t forever #"lls to do
that for #h"&h "t #as &reated.
Hen&e' "t "s most "n&omat"ble #"th the nat!re of the
s!remely $ood' s!remely #"se' and omn"otent Creator'
that #hat he has made to e,"st that "t m"$ht love h"m' he
sho!ld ma-e not to e,"st' so lon$ as "t tr!ly loves h"m) and
that #hat he vol!ntar"ly $ave to a non7lov"n$ be"n$ that "t
m"$ht ever love' he sho!ld ta-e a#ay' or erm"t to be ta-en
a#ay' from the lov"n$ be"n$' so that ne&essar"ly "t sho!ld not
love) ese&"ally s"n&e "t sho!ld by no means be do!bted that
he h"mself loves every nat!re that loves h"m. Hen&e' "t "s
man"fest that the h!man so!l "s never der"ved of "ts l"fe' "f "t
forever devotes "tself to lov"n$ the s!reme l"fe.
Ho#' then' shall "t l"ve6 For "s lon$ l"fe so "mortant a matter'
"f "t "s not se&!re from the "nvas"on of tro!bles6 For #hoever'
#h"le he l"ves' "s e"ther thro!$h fear or thro!$h a&t!al
s!%er"n$ s!b(e&t to tro!bles' or "s de&e"ved by a false
se&!r"ty' does he not l"ve "n m"sery6 B!t' "f any one l"ves "n
freedom from these tro!bles' he l"ves "n blessedness. B!t "t
"s most abs!rd to s!ose that any nat!re that forever loves
h"m' #ho "s s!remely $ood and omn"otent' forever l"ves "n
m"sery. *o' "t "s la"n' that the h!man so!l "s of s!&h a
&hara&ter that' "f "t d"l"$ently observes that end for #h"&h "t
e,"sts' "t at some t"me l"ves "n blessedness' tr!ly se&!re from
death "tself and from every other tro!ble.
CHAPTER ?AA.
Th"s Be"n$ $"ves "tself "n ret!rn to the &reat!re that loves "t'
that that &reat!re may be eternally blessed.
THEREFORE "t &annot be made to aear tr!e that he #ho "s
most (!st and most o#erf!l ma-es no ret!rn to the be"n$
that loves h"m ersever"n$ly' to #h"&h altho!$h "t ne"ther
e,"sted nor loved h"m' he $ave e,"sten&e that "t m"$ht be
able to be a lov"n$ be"n$. For' "f he ma-es no ret!rn to the
lov"n$ so!l' the most (!st does not d"st"n$!"sh bet#een the
so!l that loves' and the so!l that des"ses #hat o!$ht to be
s!remely loved' nor does he love the so!l that loves h"m) or
else "t does not ava"l to be loved by h"m) all of #h"&h
s!os"t"ons are "n&ons"stent #"th h"s nat!re) hen&e he does
ma-e a ret!rn to every so!l that erseveres "n lov"n$ h"m.
B!t #hat "s th"s ret!rn6 For' "f he $ave to #hat #as noth"n$'
a rat"onal be"n$' that "t m"$ht be a lov"n$ so!l' #hat shall he
$"ve to the lov"n$ so!l' "f "t does not &ease to love6 If #hat
#a"ts !on love "s so $reat' ho# $reat "s the re&omense
$"ven to love6 And "f the s!sta"ner of love "s s!&h as #e
de&lare' of #hat &hara&ter "s the ro0t6 For' "f the rat"onal
&reat!re' #h"&h "s !seless to "tself #"tho!t th"s love' "s #"th "t
reem"nent amon$ all &reat!res' ass!redly noth"n$ &an be
the re#ard of love e,&et #hat "s reem"nent amon$ all
nat!res.
For th"s same $ood' #h"&h demands s!&h love to#ard "tself'
also re2!"res that "t be des"red by the lov"n$ so!l. For' #ho
&an love (!st"&e' tr!th' blessedness' "n&orr!t"b"l"ty' "n s!&h a
#ay as not to #"sh to en(oy them6 3hat ret!rn' then' shall
the s!reme Goodness ma-e to the be"n$ that loves and
des"res "t' e,&et "tself6 For' #hatever else "t $rants' "t does
not $"ve "n ret!rn' s"n&e all s!&h besto#als ne"ther
&omensate the love' nor &onsole the lov"n$ be"n$' nor
sat"sfy the so!l that des"res th"s s!reme Be"n$.
Or' "f "t #"shes to be loved and des"red' so as to ma-e some
other ret!rn than "ts love' "t #"shes to be loved and des"red'
not for "ts o#n sa-e' b!t for the sa-e of another) and does
not #"sh to be loved "tself' b!t #"shes another to be loved)
#h"&h "t "s "m"o!s to s!ose.
*o' "t "s most tr!e that every rat"onal so!l' "f' as "t sho!ld' "t
earnestly devotes "tself thro!$h love to lon$"n$ for s!reme
blessedness' shall at some t"me re&e"ve that blessedness to
en(oy' that #hat "t no# sees as through a glass and in a
riddle' "t may then see face to face. B!t "t "s most fool"sh to
do!bt #hether "t en(oys that blessedness eternally) s"n&e' "n
the en(oyment of that blessedness' "t #"ll be "moss"ble to
t!rn the so!l as"de by any fear' or to de&e"ve "t by false
se&!r"ty) nor' hav"n$ on&e e,er"en&ed the need of that
blessedness' #"ll "t be able not to love "t) nor #"ll that
blessedness desert the so!l that loves "t) nor shall there be
anyth"n$ o#erf!l eno!$h to searate them a$a"nst the"r
#"ll. Hen&e' the so!l that has on&e be$!n to en(oy s!reme
Blessedness #"ll be eternally blessed.

CHAPTER ?AAI.
The so!l that des"ses th"s be"n$ #"ll be eternally m"serable.
FRO; th"s "t may be "nferred' as a &erta"n &onse2!en&e' that
the so!l #h"&h des"ses the love of the s!reme $ood #"ll
"n&!r eternal m"sery. It m"$ht be sa"d that "t #o!ld be (!stly
!n"shed for s!&h &ontemt "f "t lost e,"sten&e or l"fe' s"n&e "t
does not emloy "tself to the end for #h"&h "t #as &reated.
B!t reason "n no #"se adm"ts s!&h a bel"ef' namely' that
after s!&h $reat $!"lt "t "s &ondemned to be #hat "t #as
before all "ts $!"lt.
For' before "t e,"sted' "t &o!ld ne"ther be $!"lty nor feel a
enalty. If' then' the so!l des"s"n$ that end for #h"&h "t #as
&reated' d"es so as to feel noth"n$' or so as to be noth"n$ at
all' "ts &ond"t"on #"ll be the same #hen "n the $reatest $!"lt
and #hen #"tho!t all $!"lt) and the s!remely #"se =!st"&e
#"ll not d"st"n$!"sh bet#een #hat "s &aable of no $ood and
#"lls no ev"l' and #hat "s &aable of the $reatest $ood and
#"lls the $reatest ev"l.
B!t "t "s la"n eno!$h that th"s "s a &ontrad"&t"on. Therefore'
noth"n$ &an be more lo$"&al' and noth"n$ o!$ht to be
bel"eved more &on0dently than that the so!l of man "s so
&onst"t!ted that' "f "t s&orns lov"n$ the s!reme Be"n$' "t
s!%ers eternal m"sery) that (!st as the lov"n$ so!l shall
re(o"&e "n an eternal re#ard' so the so!l des"s"n$ that Be"n$
shall s!%er eternal !n"shment) and as the former shall feel
an "mm!table s!.&"en&y' so the latter shall feel an
"n&onsolable need.

CHAPTER ?AAII.
Every h!man so!l "s "mmortal. And "t "s e"ther forever
m"serable' or at some t"me tr!ly blessed.
B8T "f the so!l "s mortal' of &o!rse the lov"n$ so!l "s not
eternally blessed' nor the so!l that s&orns th"s Be"n$
eternally m"serable. 3hether' therefore' "t loves or s&orns
that for the love of #h"&h "t #as &reated' "t m!st be
"mmortal. B!t "f there are some rat"onal so!ls #h"&h are to
be (!d$ed as ne"ther lov"n$ nor s&orn"n$' s!&h as the so!ls of
"nfants seem to be' #hat o"n"on shall be held re$ard"n$
these6 Are they mortal or "mmortal6 B!t !ndo!btedly all
h!man so!ls are of the same nat!re. Hen&e' s"n&e "t "s
establ"shed that some are "mmortal' every h!man so!l m!st
be "mmortal. B!t s"n&e every l"v"n$ be"n$ "s e"ther never' or
at some t"me' tr!ly se&!re from all tro!ble) ne&essar"ly' also'
every h!man so!l "s e"ther ever m"serable' or at some t"me
tr!ly blessed.

CHAPTER ?AAIII.
No so!l "s !n(!stly der"ved of the s!reme $ood' and every
e%ort m!st be d"re&ted to#ard that $ood.
B8T' #h"&h so!ls are !nhes"tat"n$ly to be (!d$ed as so lov"n$
that for the love of #h"&h they #ere &reated' that they
deserve to en(oy "t at some t"me' and #h"&h as so s&orn"n$
"t' that they deserve ever to stand "n need of "t) or ho# and
on #hat $ro!nd those #h"&h "t seems "moss"ble to &all
e"ther lov"n$ or s&orn"n$ are ass"$ned to e"ther eternal
blessedness or m"sery' 77 of all th"s I th"n- "t &erta"nly most
d".&!lt or even "moss"ble for any mortal to rea&h an
!nderstand"n$ thro!$h d"s&!ss"on. B!t that no be"n$ "s
!n(!stly der"ved by the s!remely $reat and s!remely
$ood Creator of that $ood for #h"&h "t #as &reated' #e o!$ht
most ass!redly to bel"eve. And to#ard th"s $ood every man
o!$ht to str"ve' by lov"n$ and des"r"n$ "t #"th all h"s heart'
and all h"s so!l' and all h"s m"nd.

CHAPTER ?AAI<.
The s!reme Be"n$ "s to be hoed for.
B8T the h!man so!l #"ll by no means be able to tra"n "tself
"n th"s !rose' "f "t desa"rs of be"n$ able to rea&h #hat "t
a"ms at. Hen&e' devot"on to e%ort "s not more ro0table to "t
than hoe of atta"nment "s ne&essary.

CHAPTER ?AA<.
3e m!st bel"eve "n th"s Be"n$' that "s' by bel"ev"n$ #e m!st
rea&h o!t for "t.
B8T #hat does not bel"eve &annot love or hoe. It "s'
therefore' ro0table to th"s h!man so!l to bel"eve the
s!reme Be"n$ and those th"n$s #"tho!t #h"&h that Be"n$
&annot be loved' that' by bel"ev"n$' the so!l may rea&h o!t
for "t. And th"s tr!th &an be more br"e+y and 0tly "nd"&ated' I
th"n-' "f "nstead of say"n$' >str"ve for> the s!reme Be"n$' #e
say' >bel"eve in> the s!reme Be"n$.
For' "f one says that he bel"eves in "t' he aarently sho#s
&learly eno!$h both that' thro!$h the fa"th #h"&h he
rofesses' he str"ves for the s!reme Be"n$' and that he
bel"eves those th"n$s #h"&h are roer to th"s a"m. For "t
seems that e"ther he #ho does not bel"eve #hat "s roer to
str"v"n$ for that Be"n$' or he #ho does not str"ve for that
Be"n$' thro!$h #hat he bel"eves' does not bel"eve in "t. And'
erhas' "t "s "nd"%erent #hether #e say' >bel"eve in "t'> or
>d"re&t bel"ef to "t'> (!st as by bel"ev"n$ to str"ve for "t and
toward "t are the same' e,&et that #hoever shall have
&ome to "t by str"v"n$ for 9tendendo in: "t' #"ll not rema"n
#"tho!t' b!t #"th"n "t. And th"s "s "nd"&ated more d"st"n&tly
and fam"l"arly "f #e say' >str"v"n$ for> 9in: "t' than "f #e say'
>toward> 9ad: "t.
On th"s $ro!nd' therefore' I th"n- "t may more 0tly be sa"d
that #e sho!ld bel"eve in "t' than that #e sho!ld d"re&t bel"ef
to "t.

CHAPTER ?AA<I.
3e sho!ld bel"eve "n Father and *on and "n the"r *"r"t
e2!ally' and "n ea&h searately' and "n the three at on&e.
3E sho!ld bel"eve' then' e2!ally "n the Father and "n the *on
and "n the"r *"r"t' and "n ea&h searately' and "n the three at
on&e' s"n&e the Father searately' and the *on searately'
and the"r *"r"t searately "s the s!reme Be"n$' and at on&e
Father and *on #"th the"r *"r"t are one and the same
s!reme Be"n$' "n #h"&h alone every man o!$ht to bel"eve)
be&a!se "t "s the sole end #h"&h "n every tho!$ht and a&t he
o!$ht to str"ve for. Hen&e' "t "s man"fest that as none "s able
to str"ve for that Be"n$' e,&et he bel"eve "n "t) so to bel"eve
"t ava"ls none' e,&et he str"ve for "t.

CHAPTER ?AA<II.
3hat "s l"v"n$' and #hat dead fa"th.
HENCE' #"th ho#ever $reat &on0den&e so "mortant a tr!th
"s bel"eved' the fa"th #"ll be !seless and' as "t #ere' dead'
!nless "t "s stron$ and l"v"n$ thro!$h love. For' that the fa"th
#h"&h "s a&&oman"ed by s!.&"ent love "s by no means "dle'
"f an oort!n"ty of oerat"on o%ers' b!t rather e,er&"ses
"tself "n an ab!ndan&e of #or-s' as "t &o!ld not do #"tho!t
love' may be roved from th"s fa&t alone' that' s"n&e "t loves
the s!reme =!st"&e' "t &an s&orn noth"n$ that "s (!st' "t &an
arove noth"n$ that "s !n(!st. Therefore' see"n$ that the
fa&t of "ts oerat"on sho#s that l"fe' #"tho!t #h"&h "t &o!ld
not oerate' "s "nherent "n "t) "t "s not abs!rd to say that
oerat"ve fa"th "s al"ve' be&a!se "t has the l"fe of love #"tho!t
#h"&h "t &o!ld not oerate) and that "dle fa"th "s not l"v"n$'
be&a!se "t la&-s that l"fe of love' #"th #h"&h "t #o!ld not be
"dle.
Hen&e' "f not only he #ho has lost h"s s"$ht "s &alled bl"nd'
b!t also he #ho o!$ht to have s"$ht and has "t not' #hy
&annot' "n l"-e manner' faith without lo(e be &alled dead) not
be&a!se "t has lost "ts l"fe' that "s' love) b!t be&a!se "t has
not the l"fe #h"&h "t o!$ht al#ays to have6 As that fa"th'
then' #h"&h oerates thro!$h love "s re&o$n"sed as l"v"n$' so
that #h"&h "s "dle' thro!$h &ontemt' "s roved to be dead. It
may' therefore' be sa"d #"th s!.&"ent 0tness that l"v"n$ fa"th
bel"eves in that in #h"&h #e o!$ht to bel"eve) #h"le dead
fa"th merely bel"eves that #h"&h o!$ht to be bel"eved.

CHAPTER ?AA<III.
The s!reme Be"n$ may "n some sort be &alled Three.
AND so "t "s ev"dently e,ed"ent for every man to bel"eve "n a
&erta"n "ne%able tr"nal !n"ty' and "n one Tr"n"ty) one and a
!n"ty be&a!se of "ts one essen&e' b!t tr"nal and a tr"n"ty
be&a!se of "ts three 77#hat6 For' altho!$h I &an sea- of a
Tr"n"ty be&a!se of Father and *on and the *"r"t of both' #ho
are three) yet I &annot' "n one #ord' sho# #hy they are
three) as "f I sho!ld &all th"s Be"n$ a Tr"n"ty be&a!se of "ts
three ersons' (!st as I #o!ld &all "t a !n"ty be&a!se of "ts
one s!bstan&e.
For three ersons are not to be s!osed' be&a!se all
ersons #h"&h are more than one so s!bs"st searately from
one another' that there m!st be as many s!bstan&es as
there are ersons' a fa&t that "s re&o$n"sed "n the &ase of
more men than one' #hen there are as many ersons as
there are "nd"v"d!al s!bstan&es. Hen&e' "n the s!reme
Be"n$' (!st as there are not more s!bstan&es than one' so
there are not more ersons than one.
*o' "f one #"shes to e,ress to any #hy they are three' he
#"ll say that they are Father and *on and the *"r"t of both'
!nless er&han&e' &omelled by the la&- of a re&"sely
aror"ate term' he shall &hoose some one of those terms
#h"&h &annot be al"ed "n a l!ral sense to the s!reme
Be"n$' "n order to "nd"&ate #hat &annot be e,ressed "n any
0tt"n$ lan$!a$e) as "f he sho!ld say' for "nstan&e' that th"s
#onderf!l Tr"n"ty "s one essen&e or nat!re' and three ersons
or s!bstan&es.
For these t#o terms are more aror"ately &hosen to
des&r"be l!ral"ty "n the s!reme Be"n$' be&a!se the #ord
person "s al"ed only to an "nd"v"d!al' rat"onal nat!re) and
the #ord s!bstan&e "s ord"nar"ly al"ed to "nd"v"d!al be"n$s'
#h"&h ese&"ally s!bs"st "n l!ral"ty. For "nd"v"d!al be"n$s are
ese&"ally e,osed to' that "s' are sub&ect to' a&&"dents' and
for th"s reason they more roerly re&e"ve the name sub
stance. No#' "t "s already man"fest that the s!reme Be"n$'
#h"&h "s s!b(e&t to no a&&"dents' &annot roerly be &alled a
s!bstan&e' e,&et as the #ord substance "s !sed "n the same
sense #"th the #ord +ssence. Hen&e' on th"s $ro!nd'
namely' of ne&ess"ty' that s!reme and one Tr"n"ty or tr"nal
!n"ty may (!stly be &alled one Essen&e and three Persons or
three *!bstan&es.

CHAPTER ?AAIA.
Th"s Essen&e "tself "s God' #ho alone "s lord and r!ler of all.
IT aears' then 77 nay' "t "s !nhes"tat"n$ly de&lared that
#hat "s &alled God "s not noth"n$) and that to th"s s!reme
Essen&e the name God "s roerly $"ven. For every one #ho
says that a God e,"sts' #hether one or more than one'
&on&e"ves of h"m only as of some s!bstan&e #h"&h be
bel"eves to be above every nat!re that "s not God' and that
he "s to be #orsh"ed of men be&a!se of h"s reem"nent
ma(esty' and to be aeased for man4s o#n sa-e be&a!se of
some "mm"nent ne&ess"ty.
B!t #hat sho!ld be so #orsh"ed "n a&&ordan&e #"th "ts
ma(esty' and #hat sho!ld be so aeased "n behalf of any
ob(e&t' as the s!remely $ood and s!remely o#erf!l
*"r"t' #ho "s ?ord of all and #ho r!les all6 For' as "t "s
establ"shed that thro!$h the s!reme Good and "ts
s!remely #"se omn"oten&e all th"n$s #ere &reated and
l"ve' "t "s most "n&ons"stent to s!ose that the *"r"t h"mself
does not r!le the be"n$s &reated by h"m' or that be"n$s are
$overned by another less o#erf!l or less $ood' or by no
reason at all' b!t by the &onf!sed +o# of events alone. For "t
"s he alone thro!$h #hom "t "s #ell #"th every &reat!re' and
#"tho!t #hom "t "s #ell #"th none' and from whom' and
through whom' and in whom' are all th"n$s.
Therefore' s"n&e he h"mself alone "s not only the bene0&ent
Creator' b!t the most o#erf!l lord' and most #"se r!ler of
all) "t "s &lear that "t "s he alone #hom every other nat!re'
a&&ord"n$ to "ts #hole ab"l"ty' o!$ht to #orsh" "n love' and
to love "n #orsh") from #hom all ha"ness "s to be hoed
for) #"th #hom ref!$e from advers"ty "s to be so!$ht) to
#hom s!l"&at"on for all th"n$s "s to be o%ered. Tr!ly'
therefore' he "s not only God' b!t the only God' "ne%ably
Three and One.
Source
*t. Anselm5 ,roslogium- .onologium/ An Appendi' In Behalf
0f !he Fool By Gaunilo- And "ur 1eus Homo' Translated
From The ?at"n By *"dney Norton Deane' B. A. 3"th An
Introd!&t"on' B"bl"o$rahy' And Rer"nts Of The O"n"ons Of
?ead"n$ Ph"losohers And 3r"ters On The Ontolo$"&al
Ar$!ment' 9Ch"&a$o' The Oen Co!rt P!bl"sh"n$ Comany''
DGHI' rer"nted DGEJ:
Ete,t 9#"th erm"ss"on: from the Chr"st"an Class"&s Ethereal
?"brary' here modern"/ed "n some sell"n$s.
Th"s te,t "s art of the Internet ;ed"eval *o!r&e Boo-. The
*o!r&eboo- "s a &olle&t"on of !bl"& doma"n and &oy7
erm"tted te,ts related to med"eval and By/ant"ne h"story.
8nless other#"se "nd"&ated the se&"0& ele&tron"& form of the
do&!ment "s &oyr"$ht. Perm"ss"on "s $ranted for ele&tron"&
&oy"n$' d"str"b!t"on "n r"nt form for ed!&at"onal !roses
and ersonal !se. If yo! do red!l"&ate the do&!ment'
"nd"&ate the so!r&e. No erm"ss"on "s $ranted for &ommer&"al
!se.
K Pa!l Halsall' A!$!st DGGL
halsallMm!rray.fordham.ed!