st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

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174 ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS.
tinctured with astrology. At the same time, while
thus noting the influence of the seasons, real or
imaginary, on the bodily temperament, Damascenus
enters a strong protest against attributing to the stars
any influence on the human will or actions. His
words on this subject deserve quoting. The
Gentiles say that all our affairs are ordered by the
rising and setting and conjunction of these stars, and
of the sun and moon. For such is the subject that
astrology treats of. But we assert, that while signs
are given by them of rain and fair weather, of cold
and heat, of moisture and drought, of winds, and the
like, yet of our own actions no signs at all are given.
For, since we were formed by our Creator with
freedom of will, we are thus masters of our own
actions. Now, if it is by the leading of the stars that
we do all that we do, then are our actions not
voluntary. But what is not voluntary
is neither virtue
nor vice. And if we are possessed of neither virtue
nor vice, we are deserving of neither praise nor
punishment, so that God also will be found unjust, in
giving blessings
to one and afflictions to another.
Nay, it will follow that God provides neither guidance
nor forethought for his creatures, if all are led and
carried along involuntarily Wherefore we
affirm that the stars are not the essential causes of
anything that comes to pass, either of the birth of
what comes into being, or the decay of that which
decays but are rather
; signs of showers of rain, and
changes of the atmosphere Our habits are
among the things in our own control, for they are
governed by reason, and follow the turn we give