As for an eternity un-preceded by anything, it cannot belong to other than the rational, perceiving, Necessary Being, and these elements are bare of these attributes; while generation is among the attributes of the created, contingent being, and this is firmly inherent to them.

And another proof that breaks their argument and silences their stammering is that the cause of existence cannot be multiple. For its multiplicity must escape neither from some of it preceding others (and who can prove which is the preceding from the preceded?) or that its existence occurred at one and the same time—and what person is capable of providing proof for that?

And this cause that they maintain is composed of four elements, each of which differs from and opposes the other—such as heat, for example, differing from cold. Just as no living thing among the living things of nature can subsist upon the absence of one element from them; meaning that if three elements are present in a certain being and the fourth is missing, as was previously mentioned, that being does not subsist and is not considered within the ranks of natural living things.