CHAPTER XXIX. Answer to the objection based on the saying: " Thou shall not revile gods " (Exod. xxii. 28).

[So we must be afraid to hold such an opinion, but we must confess that God took our flesh, and not think of Him as dwelling in statues.³⁰⁷ Nor must we call the four elements gods, nor deify the stars, even though the name of their motion may suggest it.³⁰⁸ It is the charioteer and not the horses that receives the crown of victory, and the honour must be all for God who guides the stars. Even though statues were actually to talk, we must not give them honour. The words of Moses, "Thou shall not revile gods," are spoke of men, not gods. What he means is that those may be called "gods" to whom the word of God has come, just as those are called warm whom the fire has warmed.³⁰⁹ It is only men's folly that has imagined God to be in images. Moses does not mean supernatural gods in this sense, for no one would uselessly revile such a god, which had no consciousness whereby to perceive his abuse. The Deity is no more interfered |153 with by men bearing His name, than a man would be by a dog being called after him. To call mean things " gods" does God Himself no harm, it is only mocking the name. God is not angry at it, but it only brings harm on those who do it.]