and put forth a definite opinion on that ques- and was made the punishment of sin; but
ON THE GOOD OF MARRIAGE,
[DE BONO CONJUGALI.]
able to create themselves also without parents, Who was able to form the Flesh of Christ in
1, FORASMUCH as each man is a part of the human race, and human nature is something social, and hath for a great and natural good, the power also of friendship; on this account God willed to create all men out of one, in order that they might be held in their society not only by likeness of kind, but also by bond of kindred. 'Therefore the first natural bond of human society is man and wife. Nor did God create these each by himself, and join them together as alien by birth: but He created the one out of the other, setting a sign also of the power of the union in the side, whence she was drawn, was formed." For they are joined one to another side by side, who walk together, and look together whither they walk. Then follows the connexion of fellowship in children, which is the one alone worthy fruit, not of the union of male and female, but of the sexual intercourse. For it were possible that there should exist in either sex, even without such intercourse, a certain friendly and true union of the one ruling, and the other obeying.
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;''* 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 enteréd into the world, and was made the punishment of sin; but
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, 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,'5 that we may understand both that those bodies of the
Increase, and be ye multiplied, and fill the earth; * 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. 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 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 acertain point should have increase, and
2 Gen.i. 28. t Gen. ii. 21, 22, 3 See De Civ. Dez, b. xiv.
Ps, cxxxviii. 3, LXX. 51 Thess, iv. 17,