made by the Father ; for, according to the word of an evange-
348 ox FAITIT AXD THE CTlEF/). [CHAP. TV.
knowledge of iis^ may be effected in another individual ; that thus, so fur as the faculty is granted us, another mind may be, as it were, put forth by the mind, whereby it may disclose itself ? This we do, making the attempt ^ both by words, and by the simple sound of the voice, and by the countenance, and by the gestures of the body,—by so many contrivances, in sooth, desiring to make patent tliat which is williin ; inasmuch as we are not able to put forth aught of this nature [in itself completely] : and thus it is that the mind of the speaker cannot become perfectly known ; thus also it results that a place is open for falsehoods. God the Father, on the other hand, wlio possessed both the will and the power to declare Himself with the utmost truth to minds designed to obtain knowledge of Him, with the purpose of thus declaring Himself begat this [Word] which He Himself is who did beget which [Person] is likewise called His Power and Wisdom,^ inasmuch as it is by Him that He has wrought all things, and in order disposed them; of whom these words are for this reason spoken : " She (Wisdom) reacheth from one end to another mightily, and sweetly doth she order all tilings.'"*
Chap. iv.—Of the Son of God as neither made by the Father nor less than the
Father, and of His incarnation.
5. Wherefore the only-begotten Son of God was neither made by the Father ; for, according to the word of an evangelist, "all things were made by Him :"^ nor begotten instantaneously ;^ since God, who is eternally' wise, has with
Himself His eternal AVisdom : nor unequal with the Father, that is to say, in anything less than He ; for an apostle also speaks in this wise, " Who, although He was constituted in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
By this catholic faith, therefore, those are excluded,
2fo8tra notitia = our knowledge.
' Rending conanteji et verbis, etc. Three good Mss. give conante fctu verbi = as the oflspring of the word makes the attempt. The lienedictine editors suggest conantes fttu vcrbi = making the atteiujit by tlie ollspring of the word.
1 Cor. i. 24. "* Wisd. viii. 1. ^Joliii i. 3.
According to the literal meaning of tlie plirasc ex tempore. It may, however, here be used as = under conditions of time, or in time.
Reading sempilerne ; ior which seiujutern us = the eternal wise God, is .'.ho given.
» IMiil. ii. 6.