Chapter XIII.—Before the Times
Created by God, Times Were Not.
15. But if the roving thought of any one should
wander through the images of bygone time, and wonder that Thou, the
God Almighty, and All-creating, and All-sustaining, the Architect
of heaven and earth, didst for innumerable ages refrain from so
great a work before Thou wouldst make it, let him awake and
consider that he wonders at false things. For whence could
innumerable ages pass by which Thou didst not make, since Thou art
the Author and Creator of all ages? Or what times should those be
which were not made by Thee? Or how should they pass by if they had
not been? Since, therefore, Thou art the Creator of all times, if
any time was before Thou madest heaven and earth, why is it said
that Thou didst refrain from working? For that very time Thou
madest, nor could times pass by before Thou madest times. But if before heaven and earth there was no time, why is it asked, What didst Thou then? For there was no “then” when time was not.
16. Nor dost Thou by time precede time; else
wouldest not Thou precede all times. But in the excellency of an
ever-present eternity, Thou precedest all times past, and survivest
all future times, because they are future, and when they have come
they will be past; but “Thou art the same, and Thy years shall
have no end.” Thy years
neither go nor come; but ours both go and come, that all may come. All Thy years stand at once since they do stand; nor were they when departing excluded by coming years, because they pass not away; but all these of ours shall be when all shall cease to be. Thy years are one day, and Thy day is not daily, but today; because Thy today yields not with tomorrow, for neither doth it follow yesterday. Thy today is eternity; therefore didst Thou beget the Co-eternal, to whom Thou saidst, “This day have I begotten Thee.” Thou hast made all time; and before all times Thou art, nor in any time was there not time.