XXXIII. (175) Something like this, then, is the falsely named joy of the foolish. But the true joy has already been described, which is adapted only to the virtuous, “Therefore, falling down he Laughed.”{60}{#ge 17:17.} Not falling from God, but from himself; for he stood near the unchangeable God, but he fell from his own vain opinion. (176) On which account that pride which was wise in its own conceit, having been thrown down, and the feeling which is devoted to God having been raised in its place, and been established around the only unalterable being, he, immediately laughing, said in his mind, “Shall a child be born to one who is a hundred years old, and shall Sarrah, who is ninety years old, have a child?” (177) Do not fancy, my good friend, that the word, “he said” not with his mouth but “in his Mind,”{61}{#ge 17:20.} has been added for no especial use; on the contrary, it is inserted with great accuracy and propriety. Why so? Because it seems by his saying, “Shall a child be born to him who is a hundred years old?” that he had a doubt about the birth of Isaac, in which he was previously stated to believe; as what was predicted a little before showed, speaking thus, “This child shall not be thy heir, but he who shall come out of thee;” and immediately afterward he says, “Abraham believed in the Lord, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” (178) Since then it was not consistent for one who had already believed to doubt, he has represented the doubt as of no long continuance, extending only as far as the mouth of the tongue, and stopping there at the mind which is endowed with such celerity of motion; for, says the scripture, “he said in his mind,” which nothing, and no person ever so celebrated for swiftness of foot, could ever be able to outstrip, since it outruns even all the winged natures; (179) on which account the most illustrious of all of the Greek poets appears to me to have said:–