46. Was it not therefore, lapsing far from soundness of mind, that he, who spoke so orderly and well of these things, should call them Gods ? that he should confess also, that they were made out of the perishable and corporeal matter of fire, water, air, and earth ? and affirm that they were subject to dissolution, and in their nature corruptible ? and, again, should name these selfsame beings Gods to be honoured⁸⁵? For, What participation can that Name and Honour have, which is the Cause of

all things, with bodies that are subject to sense, and to dissolution ? Or, What sort of companionship of the WORD, inseparable from Him who is in all time, but cannot be⁸⁶, (i. e. as we are, subject to corruption), with that which always was, but never had an existence (of its own), so that he should call these Deities God ? For, if He is truly God, He who exists in all time, but has not that he might be (as we are) ; so far as He existed not thus, He was no God. But if he be God, who was at all times, but never existed (of himself): whatever he might otherwise be, he is no God. And, What sentiment can be more impious than this ? For, the two things are opposed in their natures ;—this, which is apprehended by reason and knowledge; and that, which is to be considered by irrational sense:—this too, which is capable of action : and that, which is passive. How (I ask) can such opposites deserve one (and the same) name ? For, this would be, as though a man should wonder at the science of the architect, but should attach the honour (due to him) to the work that was by him ; and (so) invert the order (of things)! And, should any one name the ship, the shipmaster; or the coachman, the chariot with its horses; so likewise, would he act most foolishly, who should dare to name the Creation of God, Gods; when behold! it had not escaped him,—but he had openly confessed,— that they were bound up in the bands of God the Creator of all, and (affirmed, that they) were constituted out of the inanimate elements, fire, water, air, and earth ! Nevertheless even this man thus (taught)!