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Adversus Hermogenem

XLIII.

[1] De motu et illud notauerim. Nam secundum ollae similitudinem 'Sic erat', inquis, 'materiae motus antequam disponeretur, concretus inquietus inadprehensibilis prae nimietate certaminis,' dehinc subicis: 'Stetit autem in dei compositionem et [in]adprehensibilem habuit inconditum motum prae tarditate inconditi motus'. Supra certamen motui adscribis, hic tarditatem. [2] Nam de natura materiae quotiens cadas, accipe. Supra dicis: 'Si autem esset materia natura mala, non accepisset translationem in melius nec deus aliquid compositionis adcommodasset illi; in uacuum enim laborasset.' Finisti igitur duas sententias, nec materiam natura malam nec naturam eius a deo potuisse conuerti, horum immemor postea inferens: 'At ubi accepit compositionem a deo et ornata est, cessauit a natura'. Si in bonum reformata est, utique de malo reformata est, et si per compositionem dei cessauit a natura mali, natura cessauit. Ergo et mala fuit natura ante compositionem et desinere potuit a natura post reformationem.

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Against Hermogenes

Chapter XLIII.--Other Discrepancies Exposed and Refuted Respecting the Evil in Matter Being Changed to Good.

On the subject of motion I would make this further remark. Following the simile of the boiling caldron, you say that motion in Matter, before it was regulated, was confused, ¹ restless, incomprehensible by reason of excess in the commotion. ² Then again you go on to say, "But it waited for the regulation ³ of God, and kept its irregular motion incomprehensible, owing to the tardiness of its irregular motion." Just before you ascribe commotion, here tardiness, to motion. Now observe how many slips you make respecting the nature of Matter. In a former passage ⁴ you say, "If Matter were naturally evil, it would not have admitted of a change for the better; nor would God have ever applied to it any attempt at arrangement, for His labour would have been in vain." You therefore concluded your two opinions, that Matter was not by nature evil, and that its nature was incapable of being changed by God; and then, forgetting them, you afterwards drew this inference: "But when it received adjustment from God, and was reduced to order, ⁵ it relinquished its nature." Now, inasmuch as it was transformed to good, it was of course transformed from evil; and if by God's setting it in order it relinquished ⁶ the nature of evil, it follows that its nature came to an end; ⁷ now its nature was evil before the adjustment, but after the transformation it might have relinquished that nature.