“ Time therefore, was generated together with the universe, in order that being generated together with it, it may also be dissolved together with it, it ever a certain dissolution of it should take place, it was also generated according to the paradigm of an eternal nature, in order that it might, as much as possible, be similar to it. Tor the paradigm of it indeed, is through all eternity [real] bemg. Hut the universe forever through the w hole of time, was generated, is, and will be.”
Plato says that time was generated together with the universe, now animated, and endued with intellect; because the world lirst participates of time, accord¬ ing to soul, and the eorporeal-formed nature, But the w ords, “ that being gene¬ rated tnzethci with it, it vnn/ also be dissolved together r nth it, if ever a certain disso¬ lution of it should tahe place, clearly show that the universe is unliogotteli and in¬ corruptible. For if it was generated, it was generated in time. Hut if it was generated tog. tin r with lime, it was not generated in lime. Tor neither wa> time generated in time, lest there should he linn prior to time. If therefore, the uni¬ verse was generated together w ith time, it was not generated, [according to the usual acceptation of the word.J Tor it is necessary that every thing which was generated, should he posterior to tune The universe however is by no means posterior to time. Again, if every thing which is dissolved, is dissolved at a certain time, hut time cannot In: dissolved in a part of itself, time cannot ever he dissolved ; so that neither can tin* universe. Tor it is indissoluble, as long as time is indissoluble, besides, time is indissoluble through a simplicity of nature ; unless some one is willing to denominate the progression of it, and its return to the I)< miurgu-s which are motions contrary to each other, the genera¬ tion and .dissolution of it. Thus also the universe, has dissolution and g« in ration according to cause. Just tin refore, as if some one being willing that the revolu¬ tions ot the circle ot the different, should he odd in number, should say that the heptad is co-existent with them, in order that if ever the heptad should liecome an even numlH r, they also may Imtoiiic even, signil'v ing by this, that the circula¬ tions will not fall into the even uurulH-r; thus likewise, we must now conceive resjMM ting the all-various indissolubility of the world and time, m consequence of time having an indissoluble nature.
One cans** therefore, of time having lx*en generated together with the universe, is that the universe may be indissoluble and j»eq»etual. But a second cause is.
PROCUS ox Tun
[book iv.
‘2 Hi
that it may l>e most similar to its parad..,.a. For Plato says that the universe itself, is most similar to its paradigm. I low therefore, does the universe become more similar to animal itself through time ! Because, says he, as intelli^ihles re- eeive all the power of eternity, which now uniti s, ami connectedly contains tin m at once, collectively, and imieally,—thus also tlie world, sustains all tin* measured motion of time partil>1 \, and in a divided manner, through which also it was, and is, and will 1m*, not havim; the three in the whole of time, hut each in a portion ol time. It receives however, ear'll of the three in the whole of time, on account of the past and the future period, and because Im iiii; of the nature of things ge¬ nerated, it has the perfect in generation according to every part of time. And it exists indeed, or w, because in tin* whole of the present circulation of time, it par¬ ticipates of heiii£. But it -will be, because tin* measured motions of tin* whole of time, will never cease, and the fir* illations conjoin, and assimilate time to intel¬ ligible causes. If however, the universe i xists for ever through the whole* of time, and is, and was, and will he, it is, and will he in tin* time to come, in couseijiiciicc of being incorruptible. Hein e it vv as generated in all the past time, as being un- liegotteii. Tor il is similarly pn -cut witliall turn according to each of these.* < >r if this is not admitted it no longer w ill be lien afti r mlimtil v, or vv as gem rated from iiilinit\ Xml thos» are ridiculous 1 who say that the world was once gene¬ rated, and that it will at a c« rt.un time i rase to he, sim e Plato ascriU s to it tin* whole of time, on account of holh *th« past and the future.] And you s**c, that he now attribute* the three paits ot time to it, a id does not refuse to ascribe 1 m in" to if. Hence it is evident, that vv Inn before he attributes the is to an eter¬ nal nature, and not to generation, the is there, is exempt from all temporal i \t« n- sinn, and bring established according to tin-eternal itself, pertains to inti-lligibles; since he grants that the whole o \ the ~ua$ and the mil he, are for e\» r present with sensihles, according to the participation of truly-existing being.
How therefore, if the nature of time, as the divine laiiihlichtis savs, and as I ain persuaded, is a medium between eternity and the universe, of the latter of which it i- the leader, and is assimilated to the former,—Iiovv, if this be tin* i ase, was time constituted for the s;ike of the iinivi rse ? lor how was that which is com¬ prehensive and peilidivv, and which in a greater degree assimilates the linage to its paradigm,—how vv as this generated for the sake of that vvhiehis compre¬ hended and assimilated ? Fur thus things which subsist for the sake of sotne-
1 i i Xu or lm_’ In the i nil, the if, .mil the mil be.
I'luitio lie ii .i 11 m li > in siitli 1 1 tin' am nut ( lirivliaio, as I'mlravoiirril t» prove, Iroiu tin* aiillioritv of 1'latn, tli.il die world was pioducid at a ecrl.iiu lime, ami will at a ceilam time lie destroyed.
::ooK Iv.J
ri.M .1.1 s ol 1‘l.MO.
tbiim else, will hr iikhv venerable (li.m mils, and more excellent nalurrs will make a pnmiV'Moii to beings, lor tin* sake nl limits subordinate. Nothing of tills kind however, i< to In* found in 11 1«' arrangements of l’lalo. For neither was time geueialid, for the sake ol tin* universe alone, 1101 was die universe roii-lilnl- ed for dn- sake of lime alone, hut eaeli was emistitiited for the sake of itself, and of die oilier, and for the sake ol hnlli. lor in order that all die I ahriea- 1 ion of things mmht have perlertiun, siirh was tin* universe, and sneh was time (oiisinuniati 1 v prodneed. Moreover, it happens that each greatlv contributes t i the assimilation ol < ieh toils properparadmm. l or lime would not imitate eternity without tin-existence of the universe; tor after w hat manlier would it pro- ( ei-d, or what is there among heiims, that it would ever measure, or connect, or perfect ’ nor would the universe, w ithout the existence of time, imitate as niueh as possible, tiie all-perfect and eternal nature of animal itself. Karh then-fore w as generated, not for the sake ol itself alone, nor lor die sake ol die oilier alone, htil for the sake of all the fahrieation of things, m ordi r that each might hecouie most perfect, and most similar to its paradigm, or rather, each was generated for the sake of goodness, and the fatlu-r of w holes, on aecount ol w hich also the pro- < 1 11< lion of thnms possesses perleetion. Hut each being generated that which it is w illi reference to the other, each contributes greatlv to the permanency, order and good condition of all mundane natures. And thus mncli INatn philosophiz¬ es concerning time, which is the one and whole measure of all things, and which is moved and proeeetls Ironi the Dcmimgus alone, and its proper monad. Ihit in what follows. In* dismisses die time winch is unfolded in the |iea\eiis, and is as it were eo-iiivided with the various lations of the stars, which would not have subsisted without the revolution ot the eiri le o ( /he siiihc, and tin circle oilhcdif¬ ferent, about the invisible and one time, which cuts oil from itself, unfolds into light, and always preserves a measure adapted to eaeli of these circles. In whit fol- lovvs also, in order that this sei omlarv tone might pun red into the visible world, and he universally known through the partial measures el io* If, which it imparts, and that it might lie more flistnluiled, lie constitutes (lie planets, annum w hich the sun and moon are enumerated. From all which vve may inter, what "rent dignity is allotted by (In* philosopher, or rather by the Dominions himself ot wholes, to the lime which is first and one.
“ From this reason therefore, and from sneh a disc nrsive energy of divinity about the generation of time, in order that time might he vene¬ rated, he prodneed the sun and moon, and the oilier five stars, which have the appellation of planets, for the purpose of distinguishing and guarding the numbers ol time."
Ttfn. Flat.
Vol. II,
The fabrication of tiling, as we have frequently olrserved, l>eing twofold ; the one invisible, one and wimple, suj>er-mundaue and total; but the other visible, multitudinous and multiform, distributed into parts' in the world; and bavin" twofold energies, the one primordial, immoveable, and intellectual; but the other secondary, proceeding with motion, and revolting about intellect; and the one being exempt from effects, but the other being cu arranged with them; this being the ciis*, a twofold time also proceeds to beings. .And the one indeed is super¬ mundane, but th** other mundane. The one also both abidt s, and at the same time proceeds; but the other is borne along in motion. That also which is participated is twofold, the one subsisting according to simple partic ipation, but the othe r in the [H-riods of the celestial stars, which produce mouth* and days, and nights and years. Such therefore being the difference of times, Plato having deliver* d tin* conceptions, about the one and simple essence ot time, is now about to dismiss the variety of the time, which is participated partible, and to which the theory of the planets contributes. Fur through tin* motion of these dancing round the sun, the time vvhii h is known to us is completely cflected ; introducing this as a ninth gift to the world. In order however, that from the introduction jt^-lf, you m iv leave an indication of the inferiority of this time to that which is sup< r-mundaiie, he savs that it was < oiislituted Ay the discursive energy of divinity ; and further still, that it distinguishes and guards the numbers of time , through the motion of the stars. To both likewise, we must direct our attention, viz. to the distinction of the malty temporal measures after the one [super-mundane] time; , m l to the defence and preservation of the same measures perpetually, for the sake of which he says, the stars were generated. And tin Deiiiiiirgu* indeed, produced the form* r time, looking to eternity, and « m-rgi/.iiig according to one simple intelligence ; but In produced the second time, as Plato says, from reason, and a discursive energy ; fx«» Aiotvc<a>] indicating by this, the divisible nature of dianoia, 1 and its distribution into multitude from one intelligence. J or a divine intellect is one tiling, and divine reason another ; the former being unit* d, hut the latter multiplied ; and the former comprehending wholes, hut the latter dividing union into multitude; the former also, abiding in itself, but tin* latter unfolding itself into light. Hence, the secondary lime, if it is iuiivcr*allv apparent, is very projM-rly said to proceed from the demiurgic reason, which receives as it were its progression from intellect ; reason indeed, manifesting the* cause, but dunwm, the
* 1 or ntfnCo^€njt lure, rt ad /nine
* Utanoia, as lias Ixm In-lure observed, when ascribed to the Dennurgus, indicates a distributive cause of tilings, or a cause, as Procluj expresses it, winch divides union into multitude.
BOOk 1\.]
TIM.LLS OT PLATO.
knowledge in I hi' Dcmiurgus, which is of a Informed nature. Truly-existing time also, [or I hi' lir>t time] which is the inimher of all the jvcriods ia the universe, is mir tiling; hut the time which llmvs from this, and proceeds accord¬ ing to aiimhi r, i> another.