CONCERNING THE TRINITY. 349
lessershouldbe deniedto the greater. Thus, if an angelbe
inferiorto Christ,and yet an angel is calledGod, ratherby-
consequenceisChristsaidto be God, who isdiscoveredto be
both greaterand better,not than one,but than allangels.
And if " God standeth in the assemblyof the gods,and in
the midst God distinguishethbetween the gods,"1 and Christ
stood at varioustimes in the synagogue,then Christ stood
in the synagogue as God,— judging, to wit, between the
gods, to whom He says," How long do ye acceptthe persons
of men ?" consequently,that isto say,charging the men of
the synagogue with not practisingjustjudgments. Further,
if they who are reproved and blamed seem even for any
reason to attain this name without blasphemy, that they
should be calledgods, assuredlymuch more shallHe be
esteemed God, who not only is saidto have stoodas God in
the synagogue of the gods,but moreover is revealedby the
same authorityof the readingas distinguishingand judging
between gods. But iftheywho " falllikeone of theprinces"
are stillcalledgods,much rathershallHe be saidto be God,
who not only does not falllikeone of the princes,but even
overcomes both the author and princeof wickednesshimself.
And what in the world isthe reason,that although they say
that thisname was given even to Moses, sinceit is said," I
have made thee as a god to Pharaoh,"2itshouldbe deniedto
Christ,who isdeclaredto be ordainednot to Pharaoh [only],
but to every creature,as both Lord and God ? And in the
former case indeed thisname isgiven with reserve,in the
latterlavishly; in the former by measure,in the latterabove
all kind of measure : " For," it is said," the Father giveth
not to the Son by measure,forthe Father loveththe Son."1
In the former for the time,in the latterwithoutreferenceto
time ; for He receivedthe power of the divine name, both
above allthings and for alltime. But if he who has re
ceived the power of one man, in respectof thislimitedpower
given him, stillwithouthesitationattainsthatname of god,
how much more shallHe who has power over Moses himself
aswellbe believedtohave attainedtheauthorityof thatname?
1Pa.lxxxii.1,2,etc. * Ex.vii.1. sJohniii.34,35.