nature and substance for Him whom thou callest incorporeal and immaterial, out of a multitude of letters, generated the one by the other. And that power whom thou affirmest to be indivisible, thou dost nevertheless divide into consonants, and vowels, and semi- vowels; and, falsely ascribing those letters which are mute to the Father of all things, and to His Ennœa (thought), thou hast driven on all that place confidence in thee to the highest point of blasphemy, and to the grossest impiety.214 6. With good reason, therefore, and very fittingly, in reference to thy rash attempt, has that divine elder215 and preacher of the truth burst forth in verse against thee as follows:— “Marcus, thou former of idols, inspector of portents, Skill’d in consulting the stars, and deep in the black arts of magic, Ever by tricks such as these confirming the doctrines of error, Furnishing signs unto those involved by thee in deception, Wonders of power that is utterly severed from God and apostate, Which Satan, thy true father, enables thee still to accomplish, By means of Azazel, that fallen and yet mighty angel,— Thus making thee the precursor of his own impious actions.” Such are the words of the saintly elder. And I shall endeavour to state the remainder of their mystical system, which runs out to great length, in brief compass, and to bring to the 341 light what has for a long time been concealed. For in this way such things will become easily susceptible of exposure by all. 214 [Mosheim thinks this Marcus was a lunatic.] 215 [Some think Pothinus.] 897 Chapter XV.—Sige relates to Marcus the generation of the twenty-four elements…