From the Waters

'Et dixitque Deus: Producant aquae repentia animarum vivarum, et volatilia volantia super terram secundum firmamentum coeli. Et factum est sic.  Secundum litteram jussu Dei producantur ab aquis repentia et volatilia, et haec vidimus a quo sint facta cognoscimus. Sed videamus quomodo etiam secundum nostrum firmamentum coeli, id est, mentis nostrae vel cordis soliditatem, haec eadem fiant. Arbitror, quia si mens nostra illuminata fuerit a nostro sole Christo, jubetur postmodum ex his quae in ea sunt aquis producere repentia et volatilia volantia, id est, cogitaniones bonas vel malas proferre in medium, ut discretio fiat bonorum a malis, quae utique utraque ex corde procedunt. De corde namque nostro velut de aquis proferuntur et bonae cogitaniones et malae. Sed nos verbo ac praecepto Dei utraque proferamus ad conspectum et judicium Dei, ut cum ipsius illuminatione discernere possimus a bono quod malum est; id est, ut ea quae super terram repunt, et terrenas sollicitudines gerunt, separemus a nobis; illa vero quae meliora sunt, id est volatilia, sinamus volare non solum super terram, sed etiam secundum firmamentum coeli; id est, ut sensum et rationem tam terrenorum quam coelestium pertractemus in nobis, ut intelligere quoque possimus, quae sint in nobis noxia ex repentis. Si videmus mulierem ad concupiscendum eam, illud est in nobis reptile venenatum. Si vero sit in nobis sobrietatis sensus, etiamsi domina Aegyptia nos adamaverit, efficimur aves, et relinquentes Aegyptia vestimenta in manibus ejus, ex obscenis insidiis evolabimus. Si sit in nobis sensus ad furandum nos provocans, istud est reptile pessimum. Si vero sit in nobis senus, ut etiamsi duo minuta habeamus, haec ipsa pro misericordia offeramus in dona Dei, iste sensus avis est, nihil de terrenis cogitans, sed ad firmamentum coeli volatibus tendens. Si veniat nobis sensus persuadens nobis cruciatus martyrii nos non debere tolerare, istud erit reptile venenatum. Si vero ascendat nobis sensus et cogitatio talis, ut usque ad mortem pro veritate certemus, avis erit haec, a terrenis ad superna conscendens. Similiter etiam de caeteris vel peccatorum vel virtutum speciebus sentiendum est, et discernendum quae sint repentia, et quae sint volatilia, quae producere ad discretionem in conspectu Dei aquae nostrae jubentur. Origenes, ex Homilia I In Genesim, Interprete Rufino Aquileiense

'And God said: 'Let the waters bring forth creeping creatures having life and birds flying over the earth in the firmament of heaven.' And it was so done.' 1  According to the letter at God's command creeping creatures and birds are brought forth by the waters, and we recognize by whom these things which we see have been made. But let us see how also in our firmament of heaven, that is, in the firmness of our mind or heart, these same things come to be. I think that if our mind has been enlightened by our sun, Christ, it is ordered afterwards to bring forth from these waters which are in it creeping creatures and birds which fly, that is, to bring forth good or evil thoughts into the open that there might be a distinction of good from evil, certainly both coming forth from the heart. For from the heart as from the waters both good and evil thoughts are brought forth. But by the word and precept of God let us offer both to sight and judgment of God that with his enlightenment we may be able to distinguish what is evil from the good, that is, that we may separate from ourselves those things which creep upon the earth and bear earthly cares. But those things which are better, that is, the birds, let us permit to fly, not only above the earth but also in the  firmament of heaven, that is, let us explore in ourselves the meaning and reason of heavenly things as well as earthly, that we are able also to understand which of the creeping creatures in us may be harmful. If we should see a woman to lust after her,2 that is a poisonous reptile in us. But if we have the disposition of continence, even if an Egyptian lady love us passionately, we become birds, and, leaving the Egyptian garments in her hands, we will fly away from indecent snares. 3 If we should have an inclination inciting us to steal, that is a most evil reptile. But if we have an inclination that even if we should have two pennies 4 we would offer these out of mercy as a gift of God, that inclination is a bird thinking nothing about earthly things, but striving for the firmament of heaven in its flights. If an inclination should come to us persuading us that we ought not to suffer the torments of martyrdom, that will be a poisonous reptile. But if should rise up in us an inclination and thought such as this: that we struggle for the truth even to death, this will be a bird ascending from earthly things to the things above. 5 In similar manner  concerning other forms of either sins or virtues we should perceive and distinguish which are creeping creatures and which are birds, which our waters are commanded to bring forth for separation before God. Origen, from the First Homily on Genesis, Translated by Rufinus of Aquileia 1 Gen 1.20 2 Mt 5.28 3 Gen 39 7-12 4 Lk 21.2  5 Phil 3.1