Such are the demons;
these are they who laid down the doctrine of Fate. Their fundamental principle
was the placing of animals in the heavens. For the creeping things on the
earth, and those that swim in the waters, and the quadrupeds on the mountains,
with which they lived when expelled from heaven — these they dignified with
celestial honor, in order that they might themselves be thought to remain in
heaven, and, by placing the constellations there, might make to appear rational
the irrational course of life on earth. …
But we are superior to Fate, and instead of wandering demons, we have
learned to know one Lord who wanders not; and, as we do not follow the guidance
of Fate, we reject its lawgivers. … Let them have their Fate! I am not willing
to adore wandering stars. … Why have you robbed God? …
Die to the world, repudiating the madness that is in it. Live to God,
and by apprehending Him lay aside your old nature. We were not created to die,
but we die by our own fault. Our free-will has destroyed us; we who were free
have become slaves; we have been sold through sin. Nothing evil has been
created by God; we ourselves have manifested wickedness; but we, who have
manifested it, are able again to reject it.
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