3. And the following counter question may
also be put to them. “No man hath seen God at any time, the
Only-begotten which is in the bosom hath declared
him.”
John i. 18. What of
the Father did the Only-begotten Son declare? His essence or
His power? If His power, we know so much as He declared to
us. If His essence, tell me where He said that His essence was
the being unbegotten? ἀγεννησία.
cf. Prolegomena on the Books against Eunomius, and p.
39 n. When did
Abraham worship? Was it not when he believed? And when
did he believe? Was it not when he was called? Where in
this place is there any testimony in Scripture to Abraham’s
comprehending? When did the disciples worship Him? Was
it not when they saw creation subject to Him? It was from the
obedience of sea and winds to Him that they recognised His
Godhead. Therefore the knowledge came from the operations, and
the worship from the knowledge. “Believest thou that I
am able to do this?” “I believe,
Lord;” cf.
Matt. ix. 28. and he
worshipped Him. So worship follows faith, and faith is
confirmed by power. But if you say that the believer also
knows, he knows from what he believes; and vice versa he believes
from what he knows. We know God from His power. We,
therefore, believe in Him who is known, and we worship Him who is
believed in.