Confessions - Book Vii - Chapter Xiii
St. Augustine reflects on the harmony of creation and the nature of good and evil, emphasizing that all things ultimately praise God and fit within His divine order.
In this devotional sermon, St. Augustine meditates on the nature of good and evil within God's creation. He explains that what we perceive as evil is merely a disharmony within creation's parts, which nonetheless harmonize within the whole. Augustine emphasizes that all creation, from the earth to the heavens, praises God, leading him to a profound acceptance and praise of the world as it is.
Text
19. To thee there is no such thing as evil, and even in thy whole creation taken as a whole, there is not; because there is nothing from beyond it that can burst in and destroy the order which thou hast appointed for it. But in the parts of creation, some things, because they do not harmonize with others, are considered evil. Yet those same things harmonize with others and are good, and in themselves are good. And all these things which do not harmonize with each other still harmonize with the inferior part of creation which we call the earth, having its own cloudy and windy sky of like nature with itself. Far be it from me, then, to say, \"These things should not be.\" For if I could see nothing but these, I should indeed desire something better--but still I ought to praise thee, if only for these created things. For that thou art to be praised is shown from the fact that \"earth, dragons, and all deeps; fire, and hail, snow and vapors, stormy winds fulfilling thy word; mountains, and all hills, fruitful trees, and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl; things of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth; both young men and maidens, old men and children,\"[208] praise thy name! But seeing also that in heaven all thy angels praise thee, O God, praise thee in the heights, \"and all thy hosts, sun and moon, all stars and light, the heavens of heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens,\"[209] praise thy name--seeing this, I say, I no longer desire a better world, because my thought ranged over all, and with a sounder judgment I reflected that the things above were better than those below, yet that all creation together was better than the higher things alone.
Sermon Outline
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I
- God's creation is inherently good and ordered
- Evil is a perceived disharmony within parts of creation
- No external force can disrupt God's ordained order
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II
- Apparent evils harmonize with the earth and its nature
- All created things, despite differences, have goodness
- The earth and its creatures praise God
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III
- Heavenly beings and celestial bodies also praise God
- The whole of creation together is better than any part alone
- Recognition of God's praise leads to contentment with the world
Key Quotes
“To thee there is no such thing as evil, and even in thy whole creation taken as a whole, there is not;” — St. Augustine
“Far be it from me, then, to say, 'These things should not be.' For if I could see nothing but these, I should indeed desire something better--but still I ought to praise thee, if only for these created things.” — St. Augustine
“Seeing this, I say, I no longer desire a better world, because my thought ranged over all, and with a sounder judgment I reflected that the things above were better than those below, yet that all creation together was better than the higher things alone.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Recognize that perceived evils are part of a larger divine harmony and trust God's order.
- Join all creation in praising God, acknowledging His sovereign goodness.
- Cultivate contentment by reflecting on the goodness of the entire created order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Augustine define evil in creation?
He sees evil not as an independent force but as a disharmony or lack of harmony within parts of creation.
Why does Augustine praise God despite the presence of evil?
Because all things, even those perceived as evil, ultimately fit within God's good and ordered creation and praise Him.
What role does praise play in this sermon?
Praise is the response of all creation, both earthly and heavenly, acknowledging God's sovereign goodness.
Does Augustine desire a better world than the one created?
No, after reflection, he concludes that the entire creation is good and worthy of praise, removing his desire for a better world.