Chapter 19. Earthly Things Are Types of Heavenly, But the Heavenly Are Not Types of the Earthly, MuchLess Is God the Typ
Chapter 19
1. The people received the gifts and offerings and all the sacrifices as types, as was shown to Moses on the Mount by the one and same God whose name is at present glorified in the Church among all the nations. Now it is fitting that the earthly things that have been arranged on our behalf should be types of the heavenly realities, which were, nevertheless, made by the same God. Really, in no other way could he make a likeness of spiritual things. On the other hand, to assert that the supercelestial and spiritual realities that, as far as we are concerned, are invisible and ineffable, are types of still other heavenly things and of another Fullness, and that God is the image of another Father, is to join up with those who stray from the Truth and who are absolutely foolish and stupid. In fact, those [heretics] are forced, as we have very often shown, always to think up types of types and images of images, and never to bring their mind to a standstill in the one and true God. Really, their thoughts have risen above God, having in their hearts surpassed the Master himself. Though in imagination they have elevated themselves above him and surpassed him, still in reality they have strayed from the true God.
2. Rightly may one say to such, even as the Word suggests: “To what extent do you extol your thoughts above God, you imprudently proud people? You have heard that the heavens were marked off with a span. Tell me the dimensions, and relate to me the innumerable cubits, explain to me the fullness, the breadth, the length and the height, the beginning and the end of the circumference, which man’s heart does not understand or comprehend. The heavenly treasures are truly great. God cannot be measured in his heart, and he who grasps the earth in the hollow of his hand cannot be comprehended in his mind. Who will see the dimension of his right hand? Who will know his finger? Or who will understand his hand which measures the immense spaces, which by its own dimension stretches over the dimensions of the heavens, and which grasps in its palm the earth with the abysses, which contains within itself the breadth and length and depth below, and the height above, of the entire creation, [namely] whatever is seen, and heard and understood, and what is invisible? And for this reason, he is the God who is far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, of all things that were made and created. He it is who fills the heavens and looks into the depths. He is also with each one of us; for it says, I am a God at hand, and not a God afar off. Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? For his hand grasps all things. It is his hand that enlightens the heavens; it enlightens also the things under heaven; and it searches the minds and the hearts and is present in hidden and secret parts of ourselves, yet it nourishes and conserves us visibly.”
3. Now, if man does not comprehend the fullness and the greatness of his hand, how can anyone understand or know so great a God in his heart? Yet, as if they had already measured him and seen through and through him and had completely explored him, they imagine there is above him another Fullness of Aeons and another Father, though they do not look upward toward heavenly things but descend into the deep Profundity of foolishness! Really, they assert that their Father extends to the border of the things outside the Fullness but that Demiurge does not reach up to the Fullness. Thus they hold that neither of them is perfect and comprehends all things. For to the former will be lacking the entire created world that is outside the Fullness; the latter [will lack] the created world that is within the Fullness. And so neither will be the God of all things. Now it is manifest to all that no one can declare the greatness of God from the things made by him. And everyone whose wisdom is worthy of God will acknowledge that his greatness lacks nothing, but comprehends all things and reaches even to us, and is with us.