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| Chapter VII.—Superiority of the Christian Doctrine Respecting God.
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Chapter VII.—Superiority of the Christian Doctrine Respecting God.
Since, therefore, the unity of the Deity is confessed by
almost all, even against their will, when they come to treat of the first
principles of the universe, and we in our turn likewise assert that He who
arranged this universe is God,—why is it that they can say and write
with impunity what they please concerning the Deity, but that against us
a law lies in force, though we are able to demonstrate what we apprehend
and justly believe, namely that there is one God, with proofs and reason
accordant with truth? For poets and philosophers, as to other subjects
so also to this, have applied themselves in the way of conjecture,
moved, by reason of their affinity with the afflatus from God,718
| 718 [See cap. xxx., infra. Important,
as showing the degree of value attributed by the Fathers to the Sibylline
and Orphic sayings. Comp. Kaye, p. 177.] | each one by his own
soul, to try whether he could find out and apprehend the truth; but they
have not been found competent fully to apprehend it, because they thought
fit to learn, not from God concerning God, but each one from himself;
hence they came each to his own conclusion respecting God, and matter, and
forms, and the world. But we have for witnesses of the things we apprehend
and believe, prophets, men who have pronounced concerning God and the
things of God, guided by the Spirit of God. And you too will admit,
excelling all others as you do in intelligence and in piety towards the
true God (τὸ
ὄντως θεῖον),
that it would be irrational for us to cease to believe in the Spirit
from God, who moved the mouths of the prophets like musical instruments,
and to give heed to mere human opinions.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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