Postponement of Discussion with Simon Magus.
157.
Early next morning Zacchæus came in to us, and after salutation, said to Peter:
Simon puts off the discussion till the eleventh day of the present month,
which is seven days hence, for he says that then he will have more leisure for the contest.
158.
But to me it seems that his putting off is also advantageous to us,
so that more may come together, who may be either hearers or judges of our disputation.
159.
However, if it seem proper to you, let us occupy the interval in discussing among ourselves the things which, we suppose, may come into the controversy;
160.
so that each of us, knowing what things are to be proposed, and what answers are to be given, may consider with himself if they are all right, or if an adversary shall be able to find anything to object, or to set aside the things which we bring against him.
161.
But if the things which are to be spoken by us are manifestly impregnable on every side, we shall have confidence in entering upon the examination.
162.
And indeed, this is my opinion, that first of all it ought to be inquired what is the origin of all things, or what is the immediate thing which may be called the cause of all things which are:
163.
then, with respect to all things that exist,
whether they have been made, and by whom, through whom, and for whom;
164.
whether they have received their subsistence from one, or from two, or from many;
and whether they have been taken and fashioned from none previously subsisting, or from some:
165.
then, whether there is any virtue in the highest things, or in the lower;
whether there is anything which is better than all, or anything that is inferior to all;
166.
whether there are any motions, or none;
167.
whether those things which are seen were always, and shall be always;
whether they have come into existence without a creator, and shall pass away without a destroyer.
168.
If, I say, the discussion begin with these things, I think that the things which shall be inquired into, being discussed with diligent examination, will be easily ascertained.
169.
And when these are ascertained, the knowledge of those that follow will be easily found.
170.
I have stated my opinion; be pleased to intimate what you think of the matter.
Advantage of the Delay.
171.
To this Peter answered:
Tell Simon in the meantime to do as he pleases,
and to rest assured that, Divine Providence granting, he shall always find us ready.
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172.
Then Zacchæus went out to intimate to Simon what he had been told.
173.
Yet Peter, looking at us, and perceiving that I was saddened by the putting off of the contest, said:
He who believes that the world is administered by the providence of the Most High God,
ought not, O Clement, my friend, to take it amiss, in whatever way particular things happen,
174.
being assured that the righteousness of God guides to a favourable and fitting issue even those things which seem superfluous or contrary in any business,
and especially towards those who worship Him more intimately;
175.
and therefore he who is assured of these things, as I have said,
if anything occur contrary to his expectation,
he knows how to drive away grief from his mind on that account,
holding it unquestionable in his better judgment,
that, by the government of the good God, even what seems contrary may be turned to good.
176.
Wherefore, O Clement, even now let not this delay of the magician Simon sadden you:
for I believe that it has been done by the providence of God, for your advantage;
177.
that I may be able, in this interval of seven days, to expound to you the method of our faith without any distraction, and the order continuously, according to the tradition of the true Prophet, who alone knows the past as it was, the present as it is, and the future as it shall be:
178.
which things were indeed plainly spoken by Him, but are not plainly written;
so much so, that when they are read, they cannot be understood without an expounder, on account of the sin which has grown up with men, as I said before.
179.
Therefore I shall explain all things to you,
that in those things which are written you may clearly perceive what is the mind of the Lawgiver.
Repetition of Instructions.
180.
When he had said this, he began to expound to me point by point of those chapters of the law which seemed to be in question,
181.
from the beginning of the creation even to that point of time at which I came to him at Cæsarea,
telling me that the delay of Simon had contributed to my learning all things in order.
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182.
At other times, said he,
we shall discourse more fully on individual points of which we have now spoken shortly,
according as the occasion of our conversation shall bring them before us;
so that, according to my promise, you may gain a full and perfect knowledge of all.
183.
Since, then, by this delay we have today on our hands,
I wish to repeat to you again what has been spoken,
that it may be the better recalled to your memory.
184.
Then he began in this way to refresh my recollection of what he had said:
Do you remember, O friend Clement,
the account I gave you of the eternal age, that knows no end?
185.
Then said I,
Never, O Peter, shall I retain anything, if I can lose or forget that.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER SEVEN
Divisions 186-215
RECOGNITIONS 1
186.
Then Peter, having heard my answer with pleasure, said:
I congratulate you because you have answered thus, not because you speak of these things easily,
but because you profess that you remember them;
for the most sublime truths are best honoured by means of silence.
187.
Yet, for the credit of those things which you remember concerning things not to be spoken,
tell me what you retain of those things which we spoke of in the second place,
which can easily be spoken out, that, perceiving your tenacity of memory,
I may the more readily point out to you, and freely open, the things of which I wish to speak.
188.
Then I, when I perceived that he rejoiced in the good memory of his hearers, said:
Not only am I mindful of your definition,
yet also of that preface which was prefixed to the definition;
189.
and of almost all things that you have expounded, I retain the sense complete,
though not all the words;
because the things that you have spoken have been made, as it were, native to my soul, and inborn.
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190.
For you have held out a most sweet cup to me in my excessive thirst.
191.
And that you may not suppose that I am occupying you with words, being unmindful of things,
I shall now call to mind the things which were spoken,
in which the order of your discussion greatly helps me;
192.
for the way in which the things that you said followed by consequence upon one another,
and were arranged in a balanced manner,
makes them easily recalled to memory by the lines of their order.
193.
For the order of sayings is useful for remembering them: for when you begin to follow them point by point in succession, when anything is wanting, immediately the sense seeks for it;
194.
and when it has found it, retains it,
or at all events, if it cannot discover it, there will be no reluctance to ask it of the master.
195.
But not to delay in granting what you demand of me,
I shall shortly rehearse what you delivered to me concerning the definition of truth.
196.
There always was, there is now, and there ever shall be,
that by which the first Will begotten from eternity consists;
and from the first Will proceeds a second Will.
197.
After these came the world; and from the world came time:
from this, the multitude of men;
from the multitude the election of the beloved,
from whose oneness of mind the peaceful kingdom of God is constructed.
198.
But the rest, which ought to follow these, you promised to tell me at another time.
199.
After this, when you had explained about the creation of the world,
you intimated the decree of God, which He, of His own good pleasure,
announced in the presence of all the first angels, and which He ordained as an eternal law to all;
200.
and how He established two kingdoms,
— I mean that of the present time and that of the future,—
and appointed times to each, and decreed that a day of judgment should be expected,
which He determined, in which a severance is to be made of things and of souls:
201.
so that the wicked indeed shall be consigned to eternal fire for their sins;
but those who have lived according to the will of God the Creator,
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having received a blessing for their good works, effulgent with brightest light,
introduced into an eternal abode, and abiding in incorruption,
shall receive eternal gifts of ineffable blessings.
202.
While I was going on thus, Peter, enraptured with joy,
and anxious for me as if I had been his son, lest perhaps I should fail in recollection of the rest,
and be put to shame on account of those who were present, said:
203.
It is enough, O Clement;
for you have stated these things more clearly than I myself explained them.
204.
Then said I,
Liberal learning has conferred upon me the power of orderly narration,
and of stating those things clearly for which there is occasion.
205.
And if we use learning in asserting the errors of antiquity,
we ruin ourselves by gracefulness and smoothness of speech;
204.
yet if we apply learning and grace of speech to the assertion of the truth,
I think that not a little advantage is thereby gained.
206.
Be that as it may, my lord Peter, you can just imagine
with what thankfulness I am transported for all the rest of your instruction indeed,
but especially for the statement of that doctrine which you gave:
207.
There is one God, whose work the world is,
and who, because He is in all respects righteous, shall render to every one according to his deeds.
208.
And after that you added:
For the assertion of this dogma countless thousands of words will be brought forward;
but in those to whom is granted knowledge of the true Prophet, all this forest of words is cut down.
209.
And on this account, since you have delivered to me a discourse concerning the true Prophet,
you have strengthened me with all confidence of your assertions.
210.
And then, having perceived that the sum of all religion and piety consists in this,
I immediately replied:
You have proceeded most excellently, O Peter:
211.
wherefore, in the future, expound unhesitatingly,
as to one who already knows what are the foundations of faith and piety,
the traditions of the true Prophet, who alone, as has been clearly proved, is to be believed.
212.
But that exposition which requires assertions and arguments, reserve for the unbelievers,
to whom you have not yet judged it proper to commit the indubitable faith of prophetic grace.
213.
When I had said this, I added:
You promised that you would give at the proper time two things:
214.
first this exposition, at once simple and entirely free from error;
and then an exposition of each individual point as it may be evolved in the course of the various questions which shall be raised.
215.
And after this you expounded the sequence of things in order from the beginning of the world, even to the present time; and if you please, I can repeat the whole from memory.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER EIGHT
Divisions 216-250
RECOGNITIONS 1
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