Arnobius — Against the Nations 2.37

37.1. But if souls were, as rumor has it, of the Lord’s offspring and a principal generation of power, nothing would have been lacking to them for perfection when they were begotten by most perfect virtue; all would have had one understanding and one consent; they would always inhabit the royal hall and, not neglecting the seats of blessedness in which they had known and retained most august teachings, they would not foolishly seek these earthly places, to live wrapped in dark bodies among phlegms and blood, among these bags of dung and most filthy sacks. 2. “But even these parts had to be inhabited, and therefore the almighty God sent souls here as if into some colonies.” - And how do humans benefit the world, or for the sake of what necessary thing are they needed, so that they should not be thought to have had to act in this part in vain and be tenants of an earthly body?

Do they contribute some part toward completing this mass’s integrity, and unless they have been added is this sum of the universe imperfect and lame? 3. What then? If humans should not be, will the world cease from its offices, will the stars not carry out their turns, will there be no summers and winters, will the blasts of winds fall silent, and will rains not fall from gathered hanging clouds to bring temperings to droughts? 4. And yet all things must go through their courses and not depart from the continuation of born order, even if no name of a human is heard in the world and this orb of lands falls silent in the silence of empty solitude. How then is it boasted that a dweller had to be added to these regions, when it is clear that nothing returns from the human to the world’s perfection and that all his pursuits always look to private convenience and do not leave the bounds of his own usefulness?