Note 119 — Concerning that which is Eternal, for the Purpose of demonstrating the Eternity of the World.

To a reader not skilled in the Platonic philosophy, it will doubtless appear strange, that being should be prior to eternity, and yet each participate of one another. This apparent paradox may be easily solved, by considering that the mode of participation is different in each. For being participates of eternity, as establishing, illuminating, replenishing, and deifying eternity: but eternity participates of being, as depending upon, established and deifyed by being. So that when a superior, participates of an inferior nature, the participation consists in the energy of the former on the latter: but when an inferior participates of a superior nature, the participation consists in its receiving the communications of the superior nature.