The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 2 of 2) : $b translated from the Greek, to which a seventh book is added, in order to supply the deficiency of another book on this subject, which was written by Proclus, but since lost, also, a translation from the Greek of Proclus' Elements of theology, to which are added a translation of the treatise of Proclus, On providence and fate, a translation of extracts from his treatise, entitled, Ten doubts concerning p — Plato — John Shaqi
The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 2 of 2) : $b translated from the Greek, to which a seventh book is added, in order to supply the deficiency of another book on this subject, which was written by Proclus, but since lost, also, a translation from the Greek of Proclus' Elements of theology, to which are added a translation of the treatise of Proclus, On providence and fate, a translation of extracts from his treatise, entitled, Ten doubts concerning p
Plato · en
Every God, from that order from which he began to unfold himself
into light, proceeds through all secondary natures, always indeed
multiplying and dividing the communications of himself, but preserving
the peculiarity of his own hypostasis.
* * * * *
For progressions being effected through diminution, first natures are
every where after a manner multiplied into the decrements of secondary
natures. But these proceeding according to a similitude to their
producing causes receive their orderly distribution, so that the whole
of that which proceeds is after a manner the same with, and different
from, that which abides; through its diminution indeed, appearing to
be different, but through continuity with its cause, not departing
from sameness with it. But such as that which abides is among first,
such is that which proceeds, among secondary natures; and thus an
indissoluble communion of the series is preserved. Each of the Gods,
therefore, is unfolded into light appropriately, in the orders in which
he makes his evolution. But he proceeds from thence, as far as to the
last of things, through the generative power of first natures. He is
always, however, multiplied according to a progression from unity into
multitude. But he preserves sameness in the progression, through the
similitude of the things that proceed to the leader and primary cause
of each series.
PROPOSITION CXXVI.
Every God who is nearer to _the one_ is more total, but the God who is
more remote from it is more partial.
* * * * *
For the God, who is the cause of a greater number of effects, is nearer
to that which produces all things; but he who is the cause of a less
number is more remote from it. And he indeed, who is the cause of a
greater number of effects, is more total; but he who is the cause of
a less number, is more partial. And each indeed, is a unity; but the
one is greater, and the other less in power. The more partial Gods
also are generated from the more total; the latter not being divided,
for they are unities; nor changed in quality, for they are immoveable;
nor multiplied by habitude, for they are unmingled. But they generate
secondary progressions from themselves, which are the decrements of the
natures prior to them, through abundance of power.
PROPOSITION CXXVII.
Every thing divine, is especially primarily simple, and on this account
most sufficient to itself.
* * * * *