XVIII. Consider those men who are devoted to
horse racing. They are named after the colours and the sides on
which they have placed themselves. You know the names without my
mentioning them. If it is thus that you have got the name of
Christian, the mere title is a very small thing even though you pride
yourself upon it. But if it is because you believe Him to be God,
shew your faith by your works. If the Son is a creature, even now
also you are worshipping the creature instead of the Creator. If
the Holy Ghost is a creature, you are baptized in vain, and are only
sound on two sides, or rather not even on them; but on one you are
altogether in danger. Imagine the Trinity to be a single pearl,
alike on all sides and equally glistening. If any part of the
pearl be injured; the whole beauty of the stone is gone. So when
you dishonour the Son in order to honour the Father, He does not accept
your honour. The Father doth not glory in the dishonour of the
Son. If a wise Son maketh a glad Father, Prov. x. 1.
how much more doth the honour of the Son become that of the
Father! And if you also accept this saying, My Son, glory not in
the dishonour of thy Father, Ecclus. iii. 10. similarly the
Father doth not glory in the Son’s dishonour. If you
dishonour the Holy Ghost, the Son receiveth not your honour. For
though He be not of the Father in the same way as the Son, yet He is of
the same Father. Either honour the whole or dishonour the whole,
so as to have a consistent mind. I cannot accept your half
piety. I would have you altogether pious, but in the way that I
desire. Pardon my affection: I am grieved even for those
who hate me. You were one of my members, even though you are now
cut off: perhaps you will again become a member; and therefore I
speak kindly. Thus much for the sake of the Eunuchs, that they
may be chaste in respect of the Godhead.