32. We read, they objected, of His uttering
a prayer. S. John xi. 41. But take
note of the difference. He prays as Son of Man, He
commands as Son of God. Will you not ascribe unto the Son
of God what even the devil has ascribed? Will you accuse
yourselves of greater wickedness than Satan’s? The devil
saith: “If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that
it become bread.” S. Luke iv. 3. Satan saith
“command,” you say “entreat.” The devil
believes that, at the word of God’s Son, the nature of an
elementary substance may be exchanged for that of a composite one; you
think that, unless the Son of God prefers a request, even His Will
cannot be done. Again, the devil thinks that the Son of God is to
be esteemed from His power, Rom. i. 4. you that He is
to be esteemed from His infirmity. The devil’s temptations
are more tolerable than the Arians’ disputings.