And who saith he, knows not, what that place was where the Lord planted the Tree of life? But then to the contrary he discourseth thus, If a man shall say those days of the Tree of life to be the days of the Church of Christ which are now current, and that Christ himself is prophetically called the Tree of life— and that these first men lived not any years in paradise, from whence they were so soon ejected, that they begat no son there, and that therefore that time cannot be understood by this phrase of Malachi (as in the days of old and former years) — I pass by this question: to wit, of the meaning of the Prophet Malachi. Now had Austin simply said that our first Parents continued not many years in Paradise, there had been some colour, as if he thought, Adam had continued some few years, or one year at least, in Paradise. But neither doth Austin deliver this as his own opinion, but as the discourse of others; and that to prove that the words mentioned in Malachi, cannot denote the time of Adams being in Paradise; for as much as they speak of many years; but Adam continued not years in Paradise, which is proved by this, that he was driven from thence before he had begotten any son; which ⟨p. 53⟩if it be referred to the conception of a child, as in reason it seems to be, who seeth not that one day, or a night might have sufficed for that? So that all things considered, this place rather makes against Pererius then for him. In like sort, that which he allegeth out of Gregory is only this, that Man in paradise was accustomed to the words of God, and conversed with the spirit of the blessed Angels; suppose it were so, and with God himself, so long as he continued in the state of integrity (yet I hope they will give way to the temptation of Satan) yet how little or how long that time continued is not specified. Consider we now the reasons to the contrary, delivered partly by Pererius himself, partly by Doctor Willet upon Genesis. Who on the third Chapter of that book proposeth them in this order. First, the Angels that fell, presently after their Creation sinned, as our Saviour saith, that the Devil did not stand or continue in the truth Joh. 8.44. Hereunto Austin consenteth, Factus continuò see à luce veritatis avertit, as soon as he was made, presently he turned aside from the light of the truth:
And who saith hee, knowes not, what that place was where the Lord planted the Tree of life? But then to the contrary he discourseth thus, If a man shall say those dayes of the Tree of life to be the dayes of the Church of Christ which are now current, and that Christ himselfe is prophetically called the Tree of life— and that these first men lived not any yeares in paradise, from whence they were so soone ejected, that they begate no sonne there, and that therefore that time cannot be understood by this phrase of Malachy (as in the dayes of old and former yeares) — I passe by this question: to wit, of the meaning of the Prophet Malachy. Now had Austin simply sayd that our first Parents continued not many yeares in Paradise, there had beene some colour, as if he thought, Adam had continued some few yeares, or one yeare at least, in Paradise. But neither doth Austin deliver this as his owne opinion, but as the discourse of others; and that to proove that the words mentioned in Malachy, cannot denote the time of Adams being in Paradise; for as much as they speake of many yeares; but Adam continued not yeares in Paradise, which is proved by this, that he was driven from thence before he had begotten any sonne; which ⟨p. 53⟩if it be referred to the conception of a child, as in reason it seemes to be, who seeth not that one day, or a night might have sufficed for that? So that all things considered, this place rather makes against Pererius then for him. In like sort, that which he alleageth out of Gregory is onely this, that Man in paradise was accustomed to the words of God, and conversed with the spirit of the blessed Angells; suppose it were so, and with God himselfe, so long as he continued in the state of integrity (yet I hope they will give way to the temptation of Satan) yet how little or how long that time continued is not specified. Consider we now the reasons to the contrary, delivered partly by Pererius himselfe, partly by Doctor Willet upon Genesis. Who on the third Chapter of that booke proposeth them in this order. First, the Angells that fell, presently after their Creation sinned, as our Saviour saith, that the Divell did not stand or continue in the truth Ioh. 8.44. Hereunto Austin consenteth, Factus continuò se à luce veritatis avertit, as soone as he was made, presently he turned aside from the light of the truth:
