IX.  Well, but the Father begat a Son who either was or was not in existence. This is the Arian dilemma, “Did the Son exist before he was begotten?”  What utter nonsense!  This is a question which applies to you or me, who on the one hand were in existence, as for instance Levi in the loins of Abraham; Heb. vii. 10. and on the other hand came into existence; and so in some sense we are partly of what existed, and partly of what was nonexistent; whereas the contrary is the case with the original matter, which was certainly created out of what was non-existent, notwithstanding that some pretend that it is unbegotten.  But in this case “to be begotten,” even from the beginning, is concurrent with “to be.”  On what then will you base this captious question?  For what is older than that which is from the beginning, if we may place there the previous existence or non-existence of the Son?  In either case we destroy its claim to be the Beginning.  Or perhaps you will say, if we were to ask you whether the Father was of existent or non-existent substance, that he is twofold, partly pre-existing, partly existing; or that His case is the same with that of the Son; that is, that He was created out of non-existing matter, because of your ridiculous questions and your houses of sand, which cannot stand against the merest ripple.