103. By one question the Lord has shut out
both Sabellians and Photinians and Arians. For when He said that
the Lord spoke to the Lord, Sabellius is set aside, who will have it
that the same Person is both Father and Son. Photinus is set
aside, who thinks of Him merely as man; for none could be Lord of David
the King, but He Who is God, for it is written: “Thou shalt
worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou
serve.” Deut. vi. 13. Would
the prophet who ruled under the Law act contrary to the Law?
Arius is set aside, who hears that the Son sits on the right hand of
the Father; so that if he argues from human ways, he refutes himself,
and makes the poison of his blasphemous arguments to flow back upon
himself. For in interpreting the inequality of the Father and the
Son by the analogy of human habits (wandering from the truth in either
case), he puts Him first Whom he makes little of, confessing Him to be
the First, Whom he hears to be at the right hand. The
Manichæan also is set aside, for he does not deny that He is the
Son of David according to the flesh, Who, at the cry of the blind men,
“Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us,” S. Matt. xx. 30. was pleased at their faith and stood
and healed them. But He does deny that this refers to His
eternity, if He is called Son of David alone by those who are
false.