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into parts, and passing into bulk and divulsion, through an ultimate progression into generation, viz. into matter; for matter is always truly the last sediment. Hence, also, the Egyptians call the dregs of the first life, which they symbolically denominate water, matter, being as it were a certain mire. And matter is, as it were, the receptacle of generated and sensible natures, not subsisting as any definite form, but as the state or condition of subsistence; just as the impartible, the immaterial, true being, and things of this kind, are the constitution of an intelligible nature; all forms, indeed, subsisting both in sensibles and intelligibles, but in the former materially, and in the latter immaterially; viz. in the one impartibly and truly, but in the other partibly and shadowy. Hence every form is in sensibles distributed according to material interval."
P. 120. Through the innovation and illegality of the Greeks. Iamblichus says, that through this innovation and illegality, both names and prayers have at present lost their efficacy. For during his time, and forborne centuries prior to it, the genuine religion of the Greeks was rapidly declining, through their novelty and volatility, of which he here complains. Hence the Emperor Julian, in the fragments of his treatise against the Christians, preserved by Ciryl, says, speaking of the Christians, "If any one wishes to consider the truth respecting you, he will find that your impiety consists of the Judaic audacity, and the indolence and confusion of the heathens. For deriving from both, not that which is most beautiful, but the worst, you have fabricated a web of evils.Hence, from the innovation of the Hebrews, you have seized blasphemy towards the venerable Gods; but from our religion you have cast aside reverence to every nature more excellent than man, and the love of paternal institutes." (
Greek characters) [Greek: To gar alêthes ei tis yper ymôn etheloi skopein, eurêsei tên ymeteran asebeian, ek te tês Ioudaïkês tolmês kai tês para tois ethnesin adiaphorias kai chydaiotêtos synkeimenên. ex amphoin gar outi to kalliston alla to cheiron elkysantes, paryphên kakôn eirgasasthe.Apo men oun'tês Ebraiôn kainotomias to blasphêmein timômenous theous êrpasate; apo de tês par êmin thrêskeias to men eulabes te omou pros apasan'tên kreittona physin, kai tôn patriôn agapêtikon, apoleloipate.]
P. 122. Prior to truly existing beings, and total principles, &c. Of the two most ancient principles of all things
