VII. As your third point you count the Word
Greater; John xiv. 28. and as your fourth,
To My God and your God. Ib. xx.
17. And indeed,
if He had been called greater, and the word equal had not occurred,
this might perhaps have been a point in their favour. But if we
find both words clearly used what will these gentlemen have to
say? How will it strengthen their argument? How will they
reconcile the irreconcilable? For that the same thing should be
at once greater than and equal to the same thing is an impossibility;
and the evident solution is that the Greater refers to origination,
while the Equal belongs to the Nature; and this we acknowledge with
much good will. But perhaps some one else will back up our attack
on your argument, and assert, that That which is from such a Cause is
not inferior to that which has no Cause; for it would share the glory
of the Unoriginate, because it is from the Unoriginate. And there
is, besides, the Generation, which is to all men a matter so marvellous
and of such Majesty. For to say that he is greater than the Son
considered as man, is true indeed, but is no great thing. For
what marvel is it if God is greater than man? Surely that is
enough to say in answer to their talk about Greater.