[262] John x. 9. [263] _Georgic_, ii. 470. [264] _Summa_, which also includes the meaning "last." [265] Virgil, _Eclog._ iii. 60, who borrows the expression from the _Phænomena_ of Aratus. [266] Soranus lived about B.C. 100. See Smith's _Dict._ [267] Tigillus. [268] Ruma. [269] "Pecunia," that is, property; the original meaning of "pecunia" being property in cattle, then property or wealth of any kind. Comp. Augustine, _De discipl. Christ._ 6. [270] Sallust, _Catil._ c. 11. [271] Quasi medius currens. [272] Nuncius. [273] Enunciantur. [274] Cœlo. [275] Cœlum. [276] Sc. Χρόνος. [277] See c. 16. [278] Varro, _De Ling. Lat._ v. 68. [279] Nourisher. [280] Returner. [281] In the book _De Ratione Naturali Deorum_. [282] Mundum. [283] Immundum. [284] Mundus. [285] Mundum. [286] Virgil, _Æneid_, viii. 319-20. [287] In the _Timæus_. [288] Plutarch's _Numa_; Livy, xl. 29. [289] Comp. Lactantius, _Instit._ i. 6. [290] Egesserit. BOOK EIGHTH. ARGUMENT. AUGUSTINE COMES NOW TO THE THIRD KIND OF THEOLOGY, THAT IS, THE NATURAL, AND TAKES UP THE QUESTION, WHETHER THE WORSHIP OF THE GODS OF THE NATURAL THEOLOGY IS OF ANY AVAIL TOWARDS SECURING BLESSEDNESS IN THE LIFE TO COME. THIS QUESTION HE PREFERS TO DISCUSS WITH THE PLATONISTS, BECAUSE THE PLATONIC SYSTEM IS "FACILE PRINCEPS" AMONG PHILOSOPHIES, AND MAKES THE NEAREST APPROXIMATION TO CHRISTIAN TRUTH. IN PURSUING THIS ARGUMENT, HE FIRST REFUTES APULEIUS, AND ALL WHO MAINTAIN THAT THE DEMONS SHOULD BE WORSHIPPED AS MESSENGERS AND MEDIATORS BETWEEN GODS AND MEN; DEMONSTRATING THAT BY NO POSSIBILITY CAN MEN BE RECONCILED TO GOOD GODS BY DEMONS, WHO ARE THE SLAVES OF VICE, AND WHO DELIGHT IN AND PATRONIZE WHAT GOOD AND WISE MEN ABHOR AND CONDEMN,--THE BLASPHEMOUS FICTIONS OF POETS, THEATRICAL EXHIBITIONS, AND MAGICAL ARTS. 1. _That the question of natural theology is to be discussed with those philosophers who sought a more excellent wisdom_.