The Trinity

Book XIII

BOOK THIRTEEN Chapter 1 DN THE PRECEDING BOOK of this work-the twelfth-we were busily occupied in distinguishing the function of the rational mind in temporal things, where not only our knowledge, but also our action are called into play, from the more excellent function of this same mind which is employed in the contemplation of eternal things, and has its final goal in knowledge alone. But I think it more proper that I insert some passages from the Sacred Scriptures, whereby both can be kept apart more easily. (2) John the Evangelist thus begins his Gospel: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was made nothing that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness grasped it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came as a witness to bear witness concerning the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to bear witness to the light. It was the true light that enlightens every man who comes into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But to as many as received him, he gave the power of becoming sons of God; to those who believe in his name. Who were born not of blood, nor of the 869 370 SAINT AUGUSTINE will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we saw his glory-glory as of the only-begotten of the Father-full of grace and truth:1 The whole text which I have cited from the Gospel has to do in its first part with that which is unchangeable and eternal, the contemplation of which makes us blessed, but in that which follows, eternal things are mentioned in connection with temporal things. And consequently some things there pertain to science, others to wisdom, as our distinction in the preceding twelfth book made clear. 'For in the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God; and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was made nothing that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness grasped it not' require a contemplative life, and are to be perceived by the intellectual mind. And the more progress anyone shall make in this matter, so much the wiser will he doubtless become. But because of what was said: 'The light shines in the darkness , and the darkness grasped it not,' faith was surely necessary in order that we might believe what we did not see. For by the 'darkness' he meant the hearts of mortals that have been turned away from light of this kind and are less capable of beholding it. And, therefore, he proceeds to say: 'There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came as a witness, to bear witness concerning the light, that all might believe through him: This has already been accomplished in time, and pertains to the science which consists of historical knowledge. But we think of John according to the phantasy which has been impressed on our memory by the knowledge of human nature. And they think this in the same manner, whether they do not believe these words, or whether they do believe them. For both know what man is, 1 Cf. John 1.1·14. BOOK THIRTEEN 371 whose outer p~rt, that is, the body, they have learned through the eyes of the body; but they possess the knowledge of his inner part, that is, the soul, in themselves, because they themselves are also men and live with men, so that they are able to think what is said: 'There was a man whose name was John,' because they also know names by speaking and hearing them. But they, who hold fast to what is...