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49. We have also examined what Thou willedst to be shadowed forth,
whether by the creation, or the description of things in such an
order. And we have seen that things severally are good, and all
things very good, in Thy Word, in Thine Only-Begotten, both
heaven and earth, the Head and the body of the Church, in Thy
predestination before all times, without morning and evening. But
when Thou didst begin to execute in time the things predestinated,
that Thou mightest make manifest things hidden, and adjust our
disorders (for our sins were over us, and we had sunk into profound
darkness away from thee, and Thy good Spirit was borne over us to
help us in due season), Thou didst both justify the. ungodly. and
didst divide them from the wicked; and madest firm the authority of
Thy Book between those above, who would be docile unto Thee, and
those under, who would be subject unto them; and Thou didst collect
the society of unbelievers into one conspiracy, in order that the zeal
of the faithful might appear, and that they might bring forth works of
mercy unto Thee, even distributing unto the poor earthly riches, to
obtain heavenly. And after this didst Thou kindle certain lights in
the firmament, Thy holy ones, having the word of life, and shining
with an eminent authority preferred by spiritual gifts; and then
again, for the instruction of the unbelieving Gentiles, didst Thou
out of corporeal matter produce the sacraments and visible miracles,
and sounds of words according to the firmament be Thy Book, by which
the faithful should of blessed. Next didst Thou form the living soul
of the faithful, through affections ordered by the vigour of
continency; and afterwards, the mind subjected to Thee alone, and
needing to imitate no human authority Thou didst renew after Thine
image and likeness; and didst subject its rational action to the
excellency of the understanding, as the woman to the man; and to all
Thy ministries, necessary for the perfecting of the faithful in this
life, Thou didst will that, for their temporal uses, good things,
fruitful in the future time, should be given by the same faithful. We
behold all these things, and they are very good, because Thou dost
see them in us, Thou who hast given unto us Thy Spirit,
whereby we might see them, and in them love Thee.
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