78. But lest any one should perchance seem
to elude the instance we have adduced, let us consider in what manner
that which the prophet says, “Worship His Footstool,”
appears to refer to the mystery of the divine Incarnation, for we must
not estimate the footstool from the custom of men. For neither
has God a body, neither is He other than beyond measure, that we should
think a footstool was laid down as a support for His feet. And we
read that nothing besides God is to be worshipped, for it is written:
“Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt
thou serve.” How, then, should the prophet, brought up
under the Law, and instructed in the Law, give a precept against the
Law? The question, then, is not unimportant, and so let us more
diligently consider what the footstool is. For we read
elsewhere: “The heaven is My throne, and the earth the
footstool of My feet.” Isa. lxvi. 1. But the
earth is not to be worshipped by us, for it is a creature of
God.