4. But the Divine Scripture and the
doctrines of the truth know but One God, who rules all things by His
power, but endures many things of His will. For He rules even
over the idolaters, but endures them of His forbearance: He rules
also over the heretics who set Him at nought, but bears with them
because of His long-suffering: He rules even over the devil, but
bears with him of His long-suffering, not from want of power; as if
defeated. For he is the beginning of the Lord’s
creation, made to be mocked Job xl. 14, τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν
ἀρχὴ
πλάσματος
Κυρίου,
πεποιῃμένον
ἐγκαταπαίζεσθαι
ὑπὸ τῶν
ἀγγέλων
αὐτοῦ. In this
description of Behemoth the Septuagint differs much from the Hebrew,
which is thus rendered in our English Versions, xl. 19: He is
the chief of the ways of God: he (only, R.V.) that made
him can make his sword to approach unto him. Compare
Job xli. 5: Wilt thou play with him
as with a bird? and Ps. civ. 26: There is that Leviathan
whom thou hast formed to play therein (Sept. to take thy pastime
with him). See Baruch iii. 17, with the note in the Speaker’s
Commentary., not by
Himself, for that were
unworthy of Him, but by the Angels whom He hath made. But
He suffered him to live, for two purposes, that he might disgrace
himself the more in his defeat, and that mankind might be crowned with
victory. O all wise providence of God! which takes the wicked
purpose for a groundwork of salvation for the faithful. For as He
took the unbrotherly purpose of Joseph’s brethren for a
groundwork of His own dispensation, and, by permitting them to sell
their brother from hatred, took occasion to make him king whom He
would; so he permitted the devil to wrestle, that the victors might be
crowned; and that when victory was gained, he might be the more
disgraced as being conquered by the weaker, and men be greatly honoured
as having conquered him who was once an Archangel.