The Confessions Of Saint Augustine by St. Augustine
Chapter XII See, I answer him that asketh, |What did God before He made heaven and earth?|à
See, I answer him that asketh, |What did God before He made heaven and earth?| I answer not as one is said to have done merrily (eluding the pressure of the question), |He was preparing hell (saith he) for pryers into mysteries.| It is one thing to answer enquiries, another to make sport of enquirers. So I answer not; for rather had I answer, |I know not,| what I know not, than so as to raise a laugh at him who asketh deep things and gain praise for one who answereth false things. But I say that Thou, our God, art the Creator of every creature: and if by the name |heaven and earth,| every creature be understood; I boldly say, |that before God made heaven and earth, He did not make any thing.| For if He made, what did He make but a creature? And would I knew whatsoever I desire to know to my profit, as I know, that no creature was made, before there was made any creature.
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