XVI. If then this argument is sufficient,
let us stop here, and not enquire further. But if not, our second
argument is as follows:—Just as we do in all other instances, so
let us refer His knowledge of the greatest events, in honour of the
Father, to The Cause. And I think that anyone, even if he did not
read it in the way that one of our own Students Elias thinks that the
great S. Basil is here referred to. Petavius thinks the first
argument of c. xvi. forced and unsatisfactory.
did, would soon perceive that not even the Son knows the day or hour
otherwise than as the Father does. For what do we conclude from
this? That since the Father knows, therefore also does the Son,
as it is evident that this cannot be known or comprehended by any but
the First Nature. There remains for us to interpret the passage
about His receiving commandment, John xii. 49. and having
kept His Commandments, and done always those things that please Him;
and further concerning His being made perfect, Heb. v. 7., etc.
and His exaltation, Phil. ii. 9. and His learning
obedience by the things which He suffered; and also His High
Priesthood, and His Oblation, and His Betrayal, and His prayer to Him
That was able to save Him from death, and His Agony and Bloody Sweat
and Prayer, Luke xii. 44. and such like
things; if it were not evident to every one that such words are
concerned, not with That Nature Which is unchangeable and above all
capacity of suffering, but with the passible Humanity. This,
then, is the argument concerning these objections, so far as to be a
sort of foundation and memorandum for the use of those who are better
able to conduct the enquiry to a more complete working out. It
may, however, be worth while, and will be consistent with what has been
already said, instead of passing over without remark the actual Titles
of the Son (there are many of them, and they are concerned with many of
His Attributes), to set before you the meaning of each of them, and to
point out the mystical meaning of the names.