not concerning those which, as they maintain, are primary. For we do not question them
concerning that harmony which belongs to creation, nor concerning human feelings; but
because they must acknowledge, as to their octiform, deciform, and duodeciform Pleroma
(the image of which they declare creation to be), that their Father formed it of that figure
vainly and thoughtlessly, and must ascribe to Him deformity, if He made anything without
a reason. Or, again, if they declare that the Pleroma was so produced in accordance with
the foresight of the Father, for the sake of creation, as if He had thus symmetrically arranged
its very essence, then it follows that the Pleroma can no longer be regarded as having been
formed on its own account, but for the sake of that [creation] which was to be its image as
possessing its likeness (just as the clay model is not moulded for its own sake, but for the
sake of the statue in brass, or gold, or silver about to be formed), then creation will have
greater honour than the Pleroma, if, for its sake, those things [above] were produced.
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Chapter XV.—No account can be given of these productions.