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| Chapter XXII.—The true Lord and the one God is declared by the law, and manifested by Christ His Son in the Gospel; whom alone we should adore, and from Him we must look for all good things, not from Satan.
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Chapter XXII.—The true Lord and the
one God is declared by the law, and manifested by Christ His Son in the Gospel;
whom alone we should adore, and from Him we must look for all good things, not
from Satan.
1. Thus then does the Lord plainly
show that it was the true Lord and the one God who had been set forth by
the law; for Him whom the law proclaimed as God, the same did Christ
point out as the Father, whom also it behoves the disciples of Christ
alone to serve. By means of the statements of the law, He put our
adversary to utter confusion; and the law directs us to praise God the
Creator (Demiurgum), and to serve Him alone. Since this is the
case, we must not seek for another Father besides Him, or above Him,
since there is one God who justifies the circumcision by faith, and the
uncircumcision through faith.4640
For if
there were any other perfect Father above Him, He (Christ) would by no
means have overthrown Satan by means of His words and commandments. For
one ignorance cannot be done away with by means of another ignorance, any
more than one defect by another defect. If, therefore, the law is due to
ignorance and defect, how could the statements contained therein bring to
nought the ignorance of the devil, and conquer the strong man? For a
strong man can be conquered neither by an inferior nor by an equal, but
by one possessed of greater power. But the Word of God is the superior
above all, He who is loudly proclaimed in the law: “Hear, O Israel,
the Lord thy God is one
God;” and, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart;” and, “Him shall thou adore, and Him alone shall thou
serve.”4641
Then in the Gospel,
casting down the apostasy by means of these expressions, He did both
overcome the strong man by His Father’s voice, and He acknowledges
the commandment of the law to express His own sentiments, when He says,
“Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.”4642
For He did not confound the adversary by the
saying of any other, but by that belonging to His own Father, and thus
overcame the strong man.
2. He taught by His commandment that we who have been
set free should, when hungry, take that food which is given by God; and
that, when placed in the exalted position of every grace [that can be
received], we should not, either by trusting to works of righteousness,
or when adorned with super-eminent [gifts of] ministration, by any means
be lifted up with pride, nor should we tempt God, but should feel
humility in all things, and have ready to hand [this saying], “Thou
shall not tempt the Lord
thy God.”4643
As also the apostle
taught, saying, “Minding not high things, but consenting to things
of low estate;”4644
that we should neither be
ensnared with riches, nor mundane glory, nor present fancy, but should
know that we must “worship the Lord thy God, and serve Him
alone,” and
give no heed to him who falsely promised
things not his own, when he said, “All these will I give thee, if,
falling down, thou wilt worship me.” For he himself confesses that
to adore him, and to do his will, is to fall from the glory of God. And
in what thing either pleasant or good can that man who has fallen
participate? Or what else can such a person hope for or expect, except
death? For death is next neighbour to him who has fallen. Hence also it
follows that he will not give what he has promised. For how can he make
grants to him who has fallen? Moreover, since God rules over men and him
too, and without the will of our Father in heaven not even a sparrow
falls to the ground,4645
it follows that his
declaration, “All these things are delivered unto me, and to
whomsoever I will I give them,” proceeds from him when puffed up
with pride. For the creation is not subjected to his power, since indeed
he is himself but one among created things. Nor shall he give away the
rule over men to men; but both all other things, and all human affairs,
are arranged according to God the Father’s disposal. Besides, the
Lord declares that “the devil is a liar from the beginning, and the
truth is not in him.”4646
If then
he be a liar and the truth be not in him, he certainly did not speak
truth, but a lie, when he said, “For all these things are delivered
to me, and to whomsoever I will I give them.”4647
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