Слово 5, о Промысле

Thus the wide-founded world is erected by the great infinite Mind, Which bears everything in Itself and is Himself above all. But what kind of thought is it to embrace the immensity? God, as soon as he created the world, from the very first moment, according to great and immutable laws, moves and leads it, like a head of water (a top, a spinning top - Ed.), walking in circles under attack. For the nature of this vast and beautiful world is not spontaneous, to which nothing similar can be imagined, and for so long it has been left to non-accidental laws. Has anyone seen a house, or a ship, or a fast chariot, or a shield and a helmet that was not made by hand? The world would not have lasted so long if there had been no beginning in it. And the face of the singers will be upset if no one rules them. It is not typical for the Universe to have any other Ruler than the One who created it. You, who represent the stars as the leaders of our birth, our life and the whole world, tell me: what other sky will you spread above the very stars and above it will you place another new and new one, so that there will be someone to guide those who lead? Under one star will be born one king and many other people, some of whom are good, and others are bad, one is a vitiator, another is a merchant, another is a vagabond, and another is made arrogant by the high throne. For many, born under different stars, the fate is equal both at sea and in war. Those who were connected by the stars were not connected by the same end. And others, although separated by the stars, were united by the same death. If everyone has their own first need; then this is pure fable. And if the common strongest still dominates over it, and there are stars opposite to the stars; then who mixed them? For whoever combined, if he wants, will dissolve the union. And if God did this; then how did that which replaced my God with you become the first, if you do not subordinate God Himself to your stars? If there is no ruler, then how will the world stand? “I don’t see this possibility,” even if someone wanted to expel God with such reasoning. For it is necessary to control someone - either God or the stars. What I do know is this: God rules the universe. God's Word, both here and there, distributes everything that is destined in His council to be in heaven and on earth; and some creatures are given forever an immutably constant harmony and flow, while others are given a life that changes and takes on many forms. About them - God showed us other things, and others He guards in the mysteries of His wisdom, which He wants to expose the empty vanity of a mortal; one He has placed here, and the other will appear in the last days. And the farmer reaps everything that is ripe; so is Christ, the best judge of my life. This is my word; it is independent of the stars and goes its own way. Tell me about your horoscopes, about the small parts of the zodiac circle and about the measures of the path; Destroy my laws of life - the fear of the wicked and the hope of the good, fighting to the end! If everything gives a star circle; then I am also attracted by its rotation. And desire itself is produced in me by the same circle; I don’t have any willpower or mind that would lead me to good; but heaven also draws me to this. Do not mention to me the great glory of Christ - the star of good news, who from the east guided the Magi to the city where Christ, the flightless Son of the mortal race, shone! It is not one of those interpreted by astrologers, but it is unusual and has not appeared before, but was noticed in Jewish books. From them, having foreknew about the star, the Chaldeans, who dedicated their lives to astronomy, when they were surprised to distinguish it from the many stars they observed and noticed that with a new radiance it was rushing from the east through the air to the Jewish land, they concluded about the birth of the King. And at the very moment when the astrologers bowed to the King together with the celestials, their concern for their art fell away. But let them go their own way, which the King Christ showed them, these fiery, ever-moving stars, inexorable from their paths, both stationary and wandering, describing, as they say, the same circles; and we will leave without inquiry whether the nature of fire can be maintained without nourishment, or whether there is some so-called fifth body. As for us, let's go our own way. For although we are earthly prisoners, we nevertheless hasten to a rational and heavenly nature. You might be interested in: