63. Thou canst not, then, heretic, build up
a false doctrine from the custom of human procreation, nor yet gather
the wherewithal for such work from our discourse, for we cannot compass
the greatness of infinite Godhead, “of Whose greatness there is
no end,” Ps. cxlv. 3. in our
straitened speech. If thou shouldst seek to give an account of a
man’s birth, thou must needs point to a time. But the
Divine Generation is above all things; it reaches far and wide, it
rises high above all thought and feeling. For it is
written: “No man cometh to the Father, save by
Me.” S. John xiv. 6. Whatsoever,
therefore, thou dost conceive concerning the Father—yea, be it
even His eternity—thou canst not conceive aught concerning Him
save by the Son’s aid, nor can any understanding ascend to the
Father save through the Son. “This is My dearly-beloved
Son,” S. Matt. xvii. 5; S. Mark ix. 7; S. Luke ix.
35. the Father
saith. “Is”
mark you—He Who is, what He is,
forever. Hence also David is moved to say: “O Lord,
Thy Word abideth for ever in heaven,” Ps. cxix. 89.—for what abideth fails neither in
existence nor in eternity.