The Confessions of Saint Augustine (Outler)/Book I/Chapter III

by Augustine of Hippo

God wholly filleth all things: but Him, nor Heaven, nor Earth containeth.

Do heaven and earth contain Thee, since Thou fillest them? or dost Thou fill them and yet more of Thee remaineth, since they do not contain Thee? or whether pourest Thou forth what remainest of Thyself when the heaven and the earth are full? or hast Thou no need that Thou by aught shouldest be contained, since Thou containest all things, for what Thou dost fill by containing Thou dost fill? for the vessels which are full of Thee uphold Thee not, since, though they were broken, Thou wert not poured out. And when Thou art "poured out upon us" (Joel, ii, 28) Thou art not Thyself cast down, but Thou upliftest us; neither art Thou scattered, but Thou gatherest us. But Thou who fillest all things, fillest Thou them with Thy whole self? or, since all things cannot contain Thee wholly, do they contain a part of Thee? and all at once the same part? Or does each contain its own part, the greater more, the smaller less? And is, then, one part of Thee greater, another less? or, art Thou wholly everywhere, though naught contains Thee wholly?