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Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

6.

Quid in ipsa carne vitalia viscera, totius formae convenientia, membra operandi, vasa sentiendi locis atque officiis suis cuncta distincta et concordi unitate contexta p. 575,5 moderatione mensurarum, parilitate numerorum, ordine ponderum nonne indicant artificem suum deum verum, cui vere dictum est: Omnia in mensura et numero et pondere disposuisti? Si ergo cor non perversum atque corruptum vanis fabulis haberetis, invisibilia enim eius etiam per ista, quae in hac infima et carnali creatura facta sunt, intellecta conspiceretis. Unde enim istis haec, quae commemoravi, nisi ab illo, cuius unitate omnis modus sistitur, cuius sapientia omnis pulchritudo formatur, cuius lege omnis ordo disponitur? Quodsi ad ista intuenda oculum non habetis, apostolica vos ducat auctoritas.

Translation Hide
Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

6.

Looking at the flesh itself, do we not see in the construction of its vital parts, in the symmetry of form, in the position and arrangement of the limbs of action and the organs of sensation, all acting in harmony; do we not see in the adjustment of measures, in the proportion of numbers, in the order of weights, the handiwork of the true God, of whom it is truly said, "Thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight"? ¹ If your heart was not hardened and corrupted by falsehood, you would understand the invisible things of God from the things which He has made, even in these feeble creatures of flesh. For who is the author of the things I have mentioned, but He whose unity is the standard of all measure, whose wisdom is the model of all beauty, and whose law is the rule of all order? If you are blind to these things, hear at least the words of the apostle.