312 NOVATIAN THE ROMAN PRESBYTER religiousadditionsto theirknowledge of God. For we find itto be writtenthat God is calledLove, and yet from this the substanceof God isnot declaredto be Love; and that He iscalledLight,whilein thisisnot the substanceof God. But the whole thatisthus saidof God isas much as canhe said,so thatreasonablyalso,when He iscalleda Spirit,itis not allthatHe iswhich isso called; but so that,whilemen's mind by understandingmakes progresseven to the Spirit itself,being already changed in spirit,it may conjecture God to be something even greaterthrough the Spirit.For thatwhich is,accordingto what itis,can neitherbe declared by human discourse,nor receivedby human ears,nor gathered by human perceptions.For if " the thingswhich God hath preparedforthem thatloveHim, neithereye hath seen,nor ear hath heard,nor the heartof man, nor even hismind has perceived;" 1 what and how great is He Himself who pro mises these things,in understandingwhich both the mind and nature of man have failed! Finally,if you receive the Spiritas the substanceof God, you willmake God a creature. For every spiritis a creature. And therefore, then,God willbe made. In which manner also,if,according to Moses,you shouldreceiveGod tobe fire,in sayingthatHe is a creature,you willhave declaredwhat is ordained,you willnot have taught who is itsordainer. But thesethings are rather used as figuresthan as being so in fact. For as,in the Old Testament,God isfor thisreasoncalledFire, thatfear may be struck intothe heartsof a sinfulpeople, by suggestingto them a Judge ; so in the New Testament He isannounced as Spirit,that,as the Renewer and Creator of thosewho are dead in theirsins,He may be attestedhy thisgoodnessof mercy grantedto thosethatbelieve. CHAPTER VIII. Argument. — It is this God, therefore,that the churchhas known and adores; and toHim thetestimonyof thingsas 1 1 Cor.ii.9.