Section 516
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34 COUNCIL OF NICE. " Behold I am, and change not." And although it might be said that this declaration refers to the Father himself, it may in this instance be more properly understood of the Son, because when he became man he was not changed ; but, as the Apostle says, "yesterday, and to-day, is the same, and forever." And what could have persuaded them to say that he was made on our account, when Paul says, " for whom, and by whom, are all things ?" But as for their blasphemy, that the Father is not per fectly known by the Son, it is not to be wondered at. For when once they had resolved to proclaim war against Christ, they de spise even the words of our Lord himself, who says, " As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father." If, therefore, the Father knows the Son in part only, it is evident that the Son also knows in part the Father. But if it be nefarious to say this, and if the Father perfectly knows the Son, it is clear, that in like manner as the Father knows his Word, the Son knows his Fa ther, whose Word he is. By these remarks, and by explaining" the sacred scriptures, we often gained the advantage over them. But, chameleon-like, they again changed their ground, taking pains to bring upon themselves the application of what is writ ten, — " When the ungodly man cometh into the depths of wick edness, he despiseth." Many heresies, indeed, have existed be fore their time, which have proceeded with licentious daring to great extravagance. But they, having endeavored in all their discourses to subvert the divinity of the Word, have justified, in a manner, these heresies, so far as it was in their power, by their own nearer approach to Antichrist. For this reason they have been publicly expelled from the Church, and condemned by an anathema. We are grieved, indeed, at the ruin of these men ; the more so, that having once been instructed in the doctrine of the Church, they have now departed from it. We are not, how ever, greatly surprised. The same thing happened to Hymenseus and Philetus, and before them to Judas, who, having been a follower of the Saviour, afterwards betrayed and deserted him. And even with respect to these persons themselves, we were not without warning, for our Lord himself had said, "Beware lest any one deceive you ; for many will come in my name, saying,