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always� stand,� as� they� are� his� superiors� in� intellect.� Finally,� the� Almighty� and� All-creating� God,� as� the
potter�is�superior�to�the�clay�he�moulds,�and�the�artificer�to�the�material�on�which�he�works,�incomparably
transcends� all� creatures� with� a� pre-excellence� surpassing� all� powers� of� language� or� thought.� For� He
formed� all� things� according� to� his� will;� He� spake,� and� they� were� made;� He� commanded,� and� they� were
created.�From�Him�is�all�wisdom,�and�out�of�His�fullness�we�all�receive.�From�Him�it�is�that�we�exist,�and
are� intelligent� beings,� as� from� the� source� from� which� all� intellect� flows,� as� the� stream� from� its� fountain.
Since�then�human�nature�is�so�much�inferior�and�less�worthy�than�the�angelical,�tell�us,�O�man,�with�what
face,�with�what�temerity�thou�presumest�to�scrutinize�and�trace�out�those�mysteries,�to�the�investigation�of
which� the� very� angels� esteem� themselves� wholly� incompetent?� By� what� arrogance� dost� thou� aspire� to
embrace�with�the�powers�of�thy�intellect�things�which�no�intelligence�can�grasp�or�comprehend?�As�He�is
incomprehensible� before� whose� majesty� dominations� adore� and� powers� tremble,40� so� His� judgments� are
incomprehensible,�and�His�ways�past�finding�out.�My�thoughts�are�not�as�your�thoughts,�nor�my�ways�as
your� ways,� saith� the� Lord.� For� as� the� heavens� are� exalted� above� the� earth,� so� are� my� ways� above� your
ways,�and�my�thoughts�above�your�thoughts.�Why�is�your�heart�so�lifted�up,�and�your�eyes�raised�on�high,
that�you�are�conversant�with�wonders�and�with�miracles�which�are�above�you?�Does�your�pride�so�separate
you�from�the�love�of�God,�that�while�you�are�wise�in�that�which�is�above�knowledge,�and�aspire�to�still
39
Ad centrum tendunt.�The�tendency�of�heavy�bodies�to�a�centre�was�an�article�of�the�higher�science�doctrines�of
the�age�of�Giraldus,�and�is�stated�still�more�fully�by�his�contemporary,�Alexander�Neckam.�in�his�treatise�De Naturis
Rerum.�It�was�a�foreshadowing�of�the�Newtonian�doctrine.
40
Dominationes, potestates.�Terms�in�the�medi�val�theology�indicating�different�orders�of�the�angels�in�heaven.
Both�the�dominations�and�the�potestates�and�powers�formed�the�second�rank�of�the�angelic�hierarchy.
Topography of Ireland 19
higher�attainments,�you�turn�aside�from�the�path�of�the�humble?�Notwithstanding,�it�becomes�us�best�not�to
know�more�than�we�ought�to�know,�but�to�be�wise�with�soberness.
Beware� then,� lest� in� thus� employing� your� intelligence� you� become� as� though� you� had� no
understanding.�Beware,�lest�abusing�the�privileges�of�reason�and�intellect,�through�which,�by�the�merciful
goodness�of�the�Creator,�you�excel�all�beings�under�the�sun,�you�justly�forfeit�them.�Fix�not�your�seat�in
the� North,� and� seek� in� vain� to� be� equal� with� the� Most� Highest.� Beware,� lest,� lifting� up� your� born,� you
speak� evil� against� the� Lord.� Beware,� lest� exalting� yourself,� you� fall� from� on� high.� Beware,� I� say,� lest,
being� so� immeasurably� exalted,� your� fall� be� equally� great.� Be� wise,� therefore,� ye� foolish� among� the
people,�and,�ye�unwise,�have�some�understanding.�He�that�planted�the�ear,�shall�He�not�bear?�and�He�that
made� the� eye,� shall� He� not� see?� He� that� proveth� man,� shall� He� not� chastise?� and� He� that� teacheth� man
wisdom?�The�Lord�knoweth�the�thoughts�of�man,�that�they�are�but�vain.�Hear,�rather,�how�humbly�the�man
whom�God�himself�testifies�to�have�found�after�his�own�heart:�I�mean�David�the�king�and�prophet,�sings�in
the�Psalms:��Lord,�I�am�not�high-minded,�nor�are�my�eyes�lifted�up;�nor�have�I�exercised�myself�in�great
matters,�nor�in�wonders�that�are�above�me.��Listen�to�what�Solomon,�the�wisest�of�the�kings�of�the�earth,
said�to�his�son:�My�son,�search�not�into�things�that�are�above�thee,�nor�inquire�into�those�that�are�mightier
than�thee;�but�meditate�always�on�what�the�Lord�hath�commanded�thee,�and�in�many�of�his�works�be�not
too�curious.�Also,�to�one�who�eateth�too�much�honey,�it�is�bitter�and�evil;�and�elsewhere,�if�thou�findest
honey,�eat�that�which�shall�satisfy�thee,�lest�if�thou�eat�too�much�thou�vomit�it�up.�Again,�to�quote,�in�part,
the�words�of�Job:�How�can�man�be�more�just�than�God,�or�purer�than�his�Maker?�Behold,�his�servants�are
not�to�be�trusted,�and�his�angels�he�charged�with�folly.�How�much�more�those�who�dwell�in�houses�of�clay,
whose�foundation�is�in�the�dust,�while�they�lift�their�face�to�heaven,�they�shall�perish�and�be�consumed�as
it�were�by�the�moth.�And�again,�in�the�same:�Man�shall�not�be�justified�when�compared�with�God.
Tell�me�then,�thou�frail�potsherd,�with�what�face,�against�reason�and�against�faith,�thou�presumest�to
give� an� account� of� all� things� above� and� below,� and� especially� of� those� which� are� above� all� reason?� For
what�can�be�more�contrary�to�reason,�than�by�the�use�of�reason�to�strive�to�master�that�which�transcends
reason?�And�what�is�more�contrary�to�faith�than�to�refuse�to�believe�whatever�reason�cannot�grasp?��He
who� is� swift� to� believe� is� light-minded;�� as� much� as� to� say,� that� faith� is� to� be� controlled� by� reason.� But
understand,� that� Solomon� did� not� speak� of� faith� in� God,� but� of� mutual� confidence� amongst� ourselves.
Gregory�distinctly�denies�the�merit�of�faith�in�God�which�is�founded�on�the�experience�of�human�reason.
The� Apostles� are� commended� for� having� followed� their� Master� in� obedience� to� his� simple� summons.� It
was�said�in�praise�of�one:��At�the�hearing�of�the�ear�he�obeyed�me.��On�the�other�hand,�those�disciples�are [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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