And consequently they are saying, since the earth is the primary of the weather, beginning from the base of the collection, the second the water above the earth, the third the air above the water, the fourth the heaven above the air, it follows that a physique of earth cannot dwell within the heaven; for each ingredient is poised by its own weight in order to preserve its own place and rank. If, then, a lesser god, angel, or demon may so sustain the load of this liquid component that the water may seem to have changed its nature, shall not Almighty God, who Himself created all the weather, be capable of eliminate from the earthly body its heaviness, so that the quickened body shall dwell in no matter factor the quickening spirit pleases? For it’s to God, not to them, he sacrifices, although he sacrifices at their monument; for he’s God’s priest, not theirs. The sacrifice itself, too, is the physique of Christ, which is not offered to them, because they themselves are this physique.

Chapter 11.-Against the Platonists, Who Argue from the Physical Weight of the elements that an Earthly Body Cannot Inhabit Heaven. They who wished to show even their crimes into sacred rites, or these who’re unwilling that even their very own praises be consecrated, and search that all the things for which they’re justly praised be ascribed to the glory of Him in whom they’re praised? But grant that the earthly fire is so in contrast to the other as to swimsuit its earthly place, why then do they object to our believing that the character of earthly our bodies shall some day be made incorruptible and match for the sky, at the same time as now fire is corruptible and suited to the earth? Finally, if the order of the elements is so disposed that, as Plato thinks, the two extremes, fireplace and earth, are united by the two means, air and water, and that the fireplace occupies the very best part of the sky, and the earth the bottom half, or as it were the inspiration of the world, and that therefore earth cannot be within the heavens, how is fire within the earth?

For, based on this reasoning, these two components, earth and fire, should be so restricted to their own locations, the very best and the lowest, that neither the bottom can rise to the place of the best, nor the very best sink to that of the bottom. They therefore adduce from their weights and order of the weather nothing from which they’ll prove that it is inconceivable for Almighty God to make our bodies such that they will dwell within the skies. But against this nice gift of God, these reasoners, “whose thoughts the Lord knows that they are vain”24 deliver arguments from the weights of the weather; for they have been taught by their master Plato that the two best parts of the world, and the furthest faraway from one another, are coupled and united by the two intermediate, air and water. Behold with what arguments human infirmity, possessed with vanity, contradicts the omnipotence of God!

But the fact is that it exists to such an extent, not solely on but even under the earth, that the tops of mountains vomit it forth; besides that we see it to exist on earth for human makes use of, and even to be produced from the earth, since it is kindled from wood and stones, which are doubtless earthly our bodies. I can’t repeat what I said within the thirteenth guide,25 that many earthly bodies, although heavy like lead, receive from the workman’s hand a form which permits them to swim in water; and yet it’s denied that the omnipotent Worker can confer on the human physique a property which shall allow it to move into heaven and dwell there. If it had been a fifth physique, then definitely it could be above the remainder; and if it’s not a physique in any respect, a lot the more does it rise above all. And he might envy his wife her opportunity to remain residence with the baby as a lot as she envies that he is ready to get out each day.