Page:History of the First Council of Nice.djvu/52

42 to investigate this subject in disobedience to the injunction, 'Seek not what is too difficult for thee, neither inquire into what is too high for thee.' (Ecclus. iii. 21.) The knowledge of many things, incomparably inferior is beyond the capacity of the human mind, and cannot therefore be attained.

"It has been said by Paul, 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' (1 Cor. ii. 9.) God also said to Abraham, that 'the stars could not be numbered by him'; and it is likewise said, 'Who shall number the grains of sand by the sea-shore, or the drops of rain?' (Ecclus. i. 2.) How then can any one, unless indeed his intellect be deranged, presume to inquire into the nature of the Word of God? It is said by the spirit of prophecy, 'Who shall declare his generation?' (Isa. liii. 8.) And, therefore, our Saviour said: 'No man knoweth the Son but the Father, and no man knoweth the Father save the Son.' (Matt. xi. 27.) It was, I think, concerning this same subject that the Father said, 'My secret is for me and for mine.' Paul has thus written concerning Christ, 'Whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.' (Heb. i. 2.) 'For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things were created by him and for him, and he is before all things.' (Col. i. 16, 17.) The Father is the Father because he has a Son, hence it is that he is called a Father. He did not beget his Son in time. Is it not impiety to say that the wisdom of God was at one period not in existence? for it is written, 'I was with Him, being joined to Him, I was his delight.' (Prov.