Chapter I. (Sermo VII.)
Having adorned the previous two elements, the sea is granted its own prerogative. The obedience of the waters is described, as well as their astonishing fertility, which humans abuse by consuming what is forbidden. Finally, it is shown that reptiles are not only called serpents, but also fish.
1. The earth, adorned with various seeds, was green with all things; the sky also, with the sun and the moon, shone with their twin lights, and was adorned with the beauty of the stars. The third element remained, namely the sea; so that it too might receive the grace of life-giving divine gift. For by the ethereal spirit, all the offspring of the earth are nourished. The earth, also releasing seeds, gives life to everything: and especially then, for the first time, by the command of God's word, it began to grow green, sprouting forth by the gift of its own life-giving power. He needed water, and by the grace of divine operation, he seemed to receive a blessed benefit. The Creator still has something to offer him, by which he may be able to equal the duties of the earth: he reserved for him, so that he, too, might claim something of his own and special from the bestowed privilege of the duty conferred upon him. The earth was brought to life first, but those things which did not have a breathing soul were brought forth. Water is commanded to produce those things which would excel in the vigor and dignity of a living soul, and to receive the sense of preserving salvation and avoiding death.
So God said, 'Let the waters bring forth reptiles with living souls according to their kind, and flying creatures flying above the ground according to their kind following the expanse of the sky.' (Gen. I, 20). The command came, and suddenly water was poured out, giving birth to rivers, animating lakes, the sea itself began to give birth to various kinds of reptiles, and according to their kind, it poured out whatever it had formed. Not even the deep abysses or muddy swamps were left empty, as everything took on the power that had been given to them to create. The fish were exiled from the river, the dolphins were playing in the waves, the shells were clinging to the rocks, the oysters were sticking to the depths, and the sea urchins were growing. Woe is me! Before man, temptation began, the abundance of resources, the mother of our excesses. Before man, pleasures. Therefore, temptation came before nature for humans: but nature committed no fault; it provided sustenance, not vices. It gave these things in common, so that you could not claim anything as your own. The earth produces its fruits for you; the rivers yield their harvest to you; and all creatures generate their offspring for you; and yet, not satisfied with these, you tasted forbidden food. All things are accumulated for your envy, so that the weight of your greedy transgression may burden you.
3. But we cannot describe how many species and names there are, which are all animated by a divine inspiration in an instant. At the same time, the form of the body united with the soul, and the vital energy of the remaining power also operated. The earth was filled with plants, the sea with living creatures. There, imperceptible things were sprouting, here perceptible things were turning. Even on the land, water claims its own portions. Fish of the waters lick the earth, and seek their prey from it. Mosquitoes and frogs also make noise around the reproductive swamps, and they themselves heard the command of the Lord saying: Let the waters bring forth living creatures.
4. We know that reptiles are called the kind of serpents, because they crawl on the ground; but much more so, anything that swims, has the ability or the nature to crawl. For even though they seem to split the water when they plunge into the deep; nevertheless, when they float on the surface, they crawl with their whole body, which they drag on certain backs of the waters. Therefore, David also says: This is the great and wide sea, there are reptiles of which there is no number (Ps. 103, 25). Even though many of them have feet and are capable of walking, because they are amphibious creatures that live both in water and on land, like seals, crocodiles, and river horses, which are called hippos because they are born in the Nile River; nevertheless, when they are in the deep waters, they do not walk but swim, and they do not use their footprints to move forward, but rather they use their fins to crawl. Just as a ship glides when propelled by oars, and the hull cuts through the water.