10. This examination of the passages before
us is, so far as my ability goes, sufficient. Now let us turn the
discussion on those who attack the Holy Spirit, and cast down every
high thing of their intellect that exalts itself against the knowledge
of God.
2 Cor. xi. 5. You say that
the Holy Ghost is a creature. And every creature is a servant of
the Creator, for “all are thy servants.”
Ps. xix. 91. If then He is a servant, His holiness
is acquired; and everything of which the holiness is acquired is
receptive of evil; but the Holy Ghost being holy in essence is called
“fount of holiness.”
Rom. i. 4.
Therefore the Holy Ghost is not a creature. If He is not a
creature, He is of one essence and substance with the Father.
How, tell me, can you give the name of servant to Him Who through your
baptism frees you from your servitude? “The law,” it
is said, “of the Spirit of life hath made me free from the law of
sin.”
Rom. viii. 2. But you will
never venture to call His nature even variable, so long as you have
regard to the nature of the opposing power of the enemy,
which, like lightning, is
fallen from heaven and fell out of the true life because its holiness
was acquired, and its evil counsels were followed by its change.
So when it had fallen away from the Unity and had cast from it its
angelic dignity, it was named after its character
“Devil,” In
Letter cciv. The name of Διάβολος
is more immediately connected with Διαβάλλειν, to caluminate. It is curious that the occasional spelling
(e.g. in Burton) Divell, which is nearer to the original, and
keeps up the association with Diable, Diavolo, etc., should have given
place to the less correct and misleading
“Devil.” its former and
blessed condition being extinct and this hostile power being
kindled.