Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily XVI/Chapter 21

Chapter XXI.&#8212;Simon Promises to Appeal to the Teaching of Christ.&#160; Peter Dismisses the Multitudes.

When Peter said this, Simon answered:&#160; &#8220;Since I see you skilfully hinting that what is written in the books against the framer of the world does not happen to be true, to-morrow I shall show, from the discourses of your teacher, that he asserted that the framer of the world was not the highest God.&#8221;&#160; And when Simon said this, he went out.&#160; But Peter said to the assembled multitudes:&#160; &#8220;If Simon can do no other injury to us in regard to God, he at least prevents you from listening to the words that can purify the soul.&#8221;&#160; On Peter saying this, much whispering arose amongst the crowds, saying, &#8220;What necessity is there for permitting him to come in here, and utter his blasphemies against God?&#8221;&#160; And Peter heard, and said, &#8220;Would that the doctrines against God which are intended to try men went no further than Simon!&#160; For there will be, as the Lord said, false apostles, false prophets, heresies, desires for supremacy, who, as I conjecture, finding their beginning in Simon, who blasphemes God, will work together in the assertion of the same opinions against God as those of Simon.&#8221;&#160; And saying this with tears, he summoned the multitudes to him by his hand; and when they came, he laid his hands upon them and prayed, and then dismissed them, telling them to come at an earlier hour next day.&#160; Saying this, and groaning, he entered and went to sleep, without taking food.