2. Nor is it now necessary
that we enquire, and put forth a definite opinion on that question,
whence could exist the progeny of the first men, whom God had
blessed, saying, “Increase, and be ye multiplied, and fill the
earth;”19351935 if they
had not sinned, whereas their bodies by sinning deserved the
condition of death, and there can be no sexual intercourse save of
mortal bodies. For there have existed several and different
opinions on this matter; and if we must examine, which of them be
rather agreeable to the truth of Divine Scriptures, there is matter
for a lengthened discussion.19361936 Whether, therefore, without
intercourse, in some other way, had they not sinned, they would
have had sons, from the gift of the Almighty Creator, Who was able
to create themselves also without parents, Who was able to form the
Flesh of Christ in a virgin womb, and (to speak even to unbelievers
themselves) Who was able to bestow on bees a progeny without sexual
intercourse; or whether many things there were spoken by way of
mystery and figure, and we are to understand in another sense what
is written, “Fill the earth, and rule over it;” that is, that
it should come to pass by fullness and perfection of life and
power, so that the very increase and multiplication, whereby it is
said, “Increase, and be ye multiplied,” be understood to be by
advance of mind, and abundance of virtue, as it is set in the
Psalm, “Thou shall multiply me in my soul by virtue;”19371937 and that
succession of progeny was not given unto man, save after that, by
reason of sin, there was to be hereafter departure in death: or
whether the body was not made spiritual in the case of these men,
but at the first animal, in order that by merit of obedience it
might after become spiritual, to lay hold of immortality, not after
death, which by the malice of the devil entered into the world, and
was made the punishment of sin; but after that change, which the
Apostle signifies, when he says, “Then we living, who remain,
together with them, shall be caught up in the clouds, to meet
Christ, into the air,”19381938 that we may understand both that
those bodies of the first pair were mortal, in the first forming,
and yet that they would not have died, had they not sinned, as God
had threatened: even as if He should threaten a wound, in that the
body was capable of wounds; which yet would not have happened,
unless what He had forbidden were done. Thus, therefore, even
through sexual intercourse there might take place generations of
such bodies, as up to a certain point should have increase,
and 400yet should not pass into old age; or even into old age,
and yet not into death; until the earth were filled with that
multiplication of the blessing. For if to the garments of the
Israelites19391939 God
granted their proper state without any wearing away during forty
years, how much more would He grant unto the bodies of such as
obeyed His command a certain most happy temperament of sure state,
until they should be changed for the better, not by death of the
man, whereby the body is abandoned by the soul, but by a blessed
change from mortality to immortality, from an animal to a spiritual
quality. Of these opinions which be true, or whether some other or
others yet may be formed out of these words, were a long matter to
enquire and discuss.
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