6. Consequently, no matter which one of the three interpre- (continued)
BOOK TEN IOI
tations? will impress us as the most probable, we should remove all fear of seeming to hold an opinion inconsistent with the words of the Book of Genesis concerning the original creation of the six days. Let us, then, undertake a more thorough investigation of this question with God's help, and let us see if it is possible to find some solution—if not a luminously clear explanation beyond all doubt, at least an acceptable theory concerning the matter, which it will not be absurd to hold until further light will bring us to something certain. But if it is impossible to attain this goal because the weight of evidence is balanced on all sides, at least I shall not appear in my doubt to have avoided the labor of enquiry but only the excess of overconfident affirmation. In this way, I hope, he who has good reason to be certain of his position will be kind enough to instruct me. On the other hand, if anyone is tenacious of his opinion, not because of the authority of God's word or the force of manifest reason, but because of his presumption, I hope he will not refuse to share my uncertainty.
CHAPTER 4
What 1s known about the soul. The need to follow the testimony of Scripture in considering the origin of the soul.
7. First of all, let us hold it for certain that the substance of a soul cannot be turned into a bodily substance, so that what was soul becomes body; nor into an irrational soul, so that what was a human soul becomes the soul of a beast; nor into the Divine Substance, so that what was a soul becomes identified with God. So also, on the other hand, let us hold that neither body nor irrational soul nor the Divine Substance can be changed into a human soul. It must also be no less certain that the soul is a creature of God. Hence, if God made the human soul not from a body nor from an irrational soul nor from Himself, it follows that He makes it either from nothing or from some spiritual and, of course, rational creature.
But it is quite unreasonable to hope to demonstrate that some-