Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily II/Chapter 18

Chapter XVIII.&#8212;Mistake About Simon Magus.

&#8220;Since, then, as I said, some men do not know the rule of combination, thence they do not know who is my precursor Simon.&#160; For if he were known, he would not be believed; but now, not being known, he is improperly believed; and though his deeds are those of a hater, he is loved; and though an enemy, he is received as a friend; and though he be death, he is desired as a saviour; and though fire, he is esteemed as light; and though a deceiver, he is believed as a speaker of truth.&#8221;

Then I Clement, when I heard this, said, &#8220;Who then, I pray you, is this who is such a deceiver?&#160; I should like to be informed.&#8221;&#160; Then said Peter:&#160; &#8220;If you wish to learn, it is in your power to know it from those from whom I also got accurate information on all points respecting him.