The Harmonising Logos
- From: mort <mort_tyler@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:57:45 -0800 (PST)
http://www.earlychurch.co.uk/pdfs/Clement/The%20Harmonising%20Logos.pdf
Clement of Alexandria
The Cosmic Composer Logos
[The Word/Song] also composed the universe into melodious order, and
tuned the
discord of the elements to harmonious arrangement, so that the whole
world might
become harmony. It let loose the fluid ocean, and yet has prevented it
from
encroaching on the land. The earth, again, which had been in a state
of commotion,
it has established, and fixed the sea as its boundary. The violence of
fire it has
softened by the atmosphere, as the Dorian is blended with the Lydian
strain; and
the harsh cold of the air it has moderated by the embrace of fire,
harmoniously
arranging these the extreme tones of the universe. And this deathless
strain, the
support of the whole and the harmony of all, reaching from the centre
to the
circumference, and from the extremities to the central part, has
harmonized this
universal frame of things, not according to the Thracian music, which
is like that
invented by Jubal, but according to the paternal counsel of God, which
fired the
zeal of David.1
Man as an instrument played by the Logos
He who is of David, and yet before him, the Word of God, despising the
lyre and
harp, which are but lifeless instruments, and having tuned by the Holy
Spirit the
universe, and especially man, who, composed of body and soul, is a
universe in
miniature, makes melody to God on this instrument of many tones; and
to this
instrument - I mean man - he sings accordant: "For thou art my harp,
and pipe, and
temple." … A beautiful breathing instrument of music the Lord made
man, after
His own image.2
Salvation as a return to unity resulting in harmony
Let us haste to salvation, to regeneration; let us who are many haste
that we may
be brought together into one love, according to the union of the
essential unity;
and let us, by being made good, conformably follow after union,
seeking after the
good Monad.
The union of many in one, issuing in the production of divine harmony
out of a
medley of sounds and division, becomes one symphony following one
choir-leader
and teacher, the Word, reaching and resting in the same truth, and
crying Abba,
Father.3
1 Prot. 1 (ANF Vol.2, p.172b)
2 Prot. 1 (ANF Vol.2, p.172b)
3 Prot. 9 (ANF Vol.2, p.197a)
Publications
ANF The Ante-Nicene Fathers (A. Roberts & J. Donaldson, eds., 1884
ff.)
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