Hexameron, Paradise, and Cain and Abel

Book Two: The Second Day

BOOK TWO: THE SECOND DAY THE THIRD HOMILY Chapter 1 i\lE HAVE FINISHED as best we could our discussion of the first day-or, rather, of one day, in order to keep to the phrase preferred by the inspired book. On this day, by the work of the omnipotent God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Spirit, we know that the heavens were founded, the earth was created, the waters and the air were sent forth around us, and a separation was made between light and darkness. Who, therefore, does not marvel at the fact that a world formed of dissimilar elements should rise to the level of unity in one body, that this body should combine by indissoluble laws of concord and love to link together and form a union of such discordant elements? Furthermore, who does not marvel that these elements so naturally separate should be tied together in the bonds of unity and peace as if by an indivisible compact? Or who in a moment of weak45 46 SAINT AMBROSE ness would, on beholding this, question the possibilities of order or plans? All these elements a divine power incomprehensible to human minds and incapable of being expressed in our language has by the might of His will woven closely together. (2) God, therefore, created the heavens and the earth and those things which He as Author has ordained to exist, not just as a designer of their form but as a Creator of their nature. How, in fact, can the creative power of God which is impassive and the nature of matter which is passive form an agreement together, as if one borrowed from the other what was lacking in each? If matter is uncreated, then God is without the power to create matter and must borrow from matter what is a conditional basis for His work. If, however, matter is unformed, it surely is remarkable that such material, co-eternal with God, which has not received from the Creator its substance, but has itself possessed it in timeless existence, has been unable to bestow beauty on itself. The Creator of all things, therefore, would have found ready for His work more things than He contributed to it. He would have found material on which to work and would have merely bestowed the form which would confer beauty on what has already been found. Hence, such a day should be distinguished from the others as 'one day,' and should not be compared with other days as 'the first day,' for on it the foundations of all things were laid and there began to come into existence the causes of all things on which the substance of this world and of the entire visible creation is based. Wherefore, our discourse can now proceed to the wonderful works of the second day. The importance of these works should not be rated by what we have achieved in our discussion, but should, in accordance with Scripture, be referred to the praise of the Creator. (3) I bid you, therefore, be considerate enough to regard SIX DAYS OF CREATION: TWO 47 in a natural sense our plausible discourse and to weigh our statements in simplicity of mind and with attentive intellect, not following the traditions of philosophy nor those who gather the semblance of truth in the 'vain deceit'! of the arts of persuasion, but in accordance with the rule of truth, which is set forth in the inspired words of God and is poured into the hearts of the faithful by the contemplation of such sublimity. For it is written: 'Strengthen thou me in thy words.' 'The wicked have told me fables but not as thy law, 0 Lord. All thy statutes are truth.'2 Therefore, not the nature of the elements, but Christ Himself, who created the world in the abundance and plenitude of His divinity, should be our standard in the examination of what was created and in the question as to what natural power is able to achieve. The people who beheld with their own eyes the miracles related in the Gospel of the healing of the leper and that of giving sight to the blind did not regard these as a medical process, but rather, marveling at the power of the Lord, 'gave praise to God,' as it is written.3 Moses did not follow the calculations of the Egyptians...