BOOK7

Deceasedwasnowthatmyevilandabominableyouth, andIwaspassingintoearlymanhood; themoredefiledbyvainthingsasIgrewinyears, whocouldnotimagineanysubstance, , OGod, underthefigureofahumanbody; sinceIbegantohearaughtofwisdom, Ialwaysavoidedthis; andrejoicedtohavefoundthesameinthefaithofourspiritualmother, , aman, andsuchaman, soughttoconceiveofTheethesovereign, only, trueGod; andIdidinmyinmostsoulbelievethatThouwertincorruptible, anduninjurable, andunchangeable; becausethoughnotknowingwhenceorhow, yetIsawplainly, andwassure, thatthatwhichmaybecorruptedmustbeinferiortothatwhichcannot; whatcouldnotbeinjuredIpreferredunhesitatinglytowhatcouldreceiveinjury; , , beingscarceputoff, inthetwinklingofaneyetheygatheredagainthickaboutme, flewagainstmyface, andbecloudedit; sothatthoughnotundertheformofthehumanbody, yetwasIconstrainedtoconceiveofThee (thatincorruptible, uninjurable, andunchangeable, whichIpreferredbeforethecorruptible, andinjurable, andchangeable) asbeinginspace, whetherinfusedintotheworld, , deprivedofthisspace, seemedtomenothing, yeaaltogethernothing, notevenavoid, asifabodyweretakenoutofitsplace, andtheplaceshouldremainemptyofanybodyatall, ofearthandwater, airandheaven, yetwoulditremainavoidplace, asitwereaspaciousnothing.