Are there many worlds or one only?—that is the fourth
question...One only. For if in the original there had been more
than one they would have been the parts of a third, which would
have been the true pattern of the world; and therefore there is,
and will ever be, but one created world. Now that which is
created is of necessity corporeal and visible and
tangible,—visible and therefore made of fire,—tangible and
therefore solid and made of earth. But two terms must be united
by a third, which is a mean between them; and had the earth been
a surface only, one mean would have sufficed, but two means are
required to unite solid bodies. And as the world was composed of
solids, between the elements of fire and earth God placed two
other elements of air and water, and arranged them in a
continuous proportion—
fire:air::air:water, and air:water::water:earth,
and so put together a visible and palpable heaven, having harmony
and friendship in the union of the four elements; and being at
unity with itself it was indissoluble except by the hand of the
framer. Each of the elements was taken into the universe whole
and entire; for he considered that the animal should be perfect
and one, leaving no remnants out of which another animal could be
created, and should also be free from old age and disease, which
are produced by the action of external forces. And as he was to
contain all things, he was made in the all-containing form of a
sphere, round as from a lathe and every way equidistant from the
centre, as was natural and suitable to him. He was finished and
smooth, having neither eyes nor ears, for there was nothing
without him which he could see or hear; and he had no need to
carry food to his mouth, nor was there air for him to breathe;
and he did not require hands, for there was nothing of which he
could take hold, nor feet, with which to walk. All that he did
was done rationally in and by himself, and he moved in a circle
turning within himself, which is the most intellectual of
motions; but the other six motions were wanting to him; wherefore
the universe had no feet or legs.