Simon Magus, Professes to Be God.
639.
At those sayings of his Simon grew pale; but after a little, recollecting himself, he thus answered:
'Do not think that I am a man of your race.
640.
I am neither magician, nor lover of Luna, nor son of Antonius.
641.
For before my mother Rachel and he came together, she, still a virgin, conceived me, while it was in my power to be either small or great, and to appear as a man among men.
642.
Therefore I have chosen you first as my friends, for the purpose of trying you, that I may place you first in my heavenly and unspeakable places when I shall have proved you.
643.
Therefore I have pretended to be a man, that I might more clearly ascertain if you cherish entire affection towards me.'
644.
But when I heard that, judging him indeed to be a wretch, yet wondering at his impudence;
and blushing for him, and at the same time fearing lest he should attempt some evil against us,
I beckoned to Niceta to feign for a little along with me, and said to him:
645.
'Be not angry with us, corruptible men, O you incorruptible God,
but rather accept our affection, and our mind willing to know who God is;
for we did not till now know who you are,
nor did we perceive that you are he whom we were seeking.'
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Divisions 646-675
RECOGNITIONS 2
Simon Magus, Professed to Have Made a Boy of Air.
646.
As we spoke these and such like words with looks suited to the occasion, this most vain fellow believed that we were deceived; and being thereby the more elated, he added also this:
647.
'I shall now be propitious to you, for the affection which you bear towards me as God;
for you loved me while you did not know me, and were seeking me in ignorance.
648.
But I would not have you doubt that this is truly to be God, when one is able to become small or great as he pleases; for I am able to appear to man in whatever manner I please.
649.
Now, then, I shall begin to unfold to you what is true.
650.
Once on a time, I, by my power, turning air into water, and water again into blood, and solidifying it into flesh, formed a new human creature— a boy—
and produced a much nobler work than God the Creator.
651.
For He created a man from the earth, but I from air—
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a far more difficult matter;
652.
and again I unmade him and restored him to air, but not until I had placed his picture and image in my bed-chamber, as a proof and memorial of my work.'
653.
Then we understood that he spoke concerning that boy, whose soul, after he had been slain by violence, he made use of for those services which he required.
Simon Magus: Hopelessness of His Case.
654.
Yet Peter, hearing these things, said with tears:
Greatly do I wonder at the infinite patience of God, and, on the other hand, at the audacity of human rashness in some.
655.
For what further reason can be found to persuade Simon that God judges the unrighteous, since he persuades himself that he employs the obedience of souls for the service of his crimes?
656.
But, in truth, he is deluded by demons.
657.
Yet, although he is sure by these very things that souls are immortal,
and are judged for the deeds which they have done,
and although he thinks that he really sees those things which we believe by faith;
though, as I said,
he is deluded by demons, yet he thinks that he sees the very substance of the soul.
658.
How shall such a man, I say, be brought to confess either that he acts wickedly while he occupies such an evil position, or that he is to be judged for those things which he has done, who, knowing the judgment of God, despises it, and shows himself an enemy to God, and dares commit such horrid things?
659.
Wherefore it is certain, my brethren, that some oppose the truth and religion of God,
not because it appears to them that reason can by no means stand with faith,
but because they are either involved in excess of wickedness, or prevented by their own evils,
or elated by the swelling of their heart,
so that they do not even believe those things which they think that they see with their own eyes.
Men Enemies to God.
660.
But, inasmuch as inborn affection towards God the Creator seemed to suffice for salvation to those who loved Him, the enemy studies to pervert this affection in men, and to render them hostile and ungrateful to their Creator.
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661.
For I call heaven and earth to witness, that if God permitted the enemy to rage as much as he desires, all men should have perished long ere now;
but for His mercy's sake God does not suffer him.
662.
But if men would turn their affection towards God, all would doubtless be saved,
even if for some faults they might seem to be corrected for righteousness.
663.
But now the most of men have been made enemies of God, whose hearts the wicked one has entered, and has turned aside towards himself the affection which God the Creator had implanted in them, that they might have it towards Him.
664.
But of the rest, who seemed for a time to be watchful, the enemy,
appearing in a fantasy of glory and splendour, and promising them certain great and mighty things,
has caused their mind and heart to wander away from God;
yet it is for some just reason that he is permitted to accomplish these things.
Responsibility of Men.
665.
To this Aquila answered:
How, then, are men in fault, if the wicked one, transforming himself into the brightness of light,
promises to men greater things than the Creator Himself does? 2nd Corinthians 11:14
666.
Then Peter answered: I think, says he
that nothing is more unjust than this; and now listen while I tell you how unjust it is.
667.
If your son, whom you have trained and nourished with all care, and brought to man's estate,
should be ungrateful to you, and should leave you and go to another, whom perhaps he may have seen to be richer, and should show to him the honour which he owed to you,
and, through hope of greater profit, should deny his birth, and refuse you your paternal rights,
would this seem to you right or wicked?
668.
Then Aquila answered:
It is manifest to all that it would be wicked.
669.
Then Peter said:
If you say that this would be wicked among men, how much more so is it in the case of God,
who, being above all men, is worthy of honour from men;
whose benefits we not only enjoy,
but by whose means and power it is that we began to be when we were not,
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and whom, if we please, we shall obtain from Him to be for ever in blessedness!
670.
In order, therefore, that the unfaithful may be distinguished from the faithful,
and the pious from the impious, it has been permitted to the wicked one to use those arts by which the affections of every one towards the true Father may be proved.
671.
But if there were in truth some strange God, were it right to leave our own God, who created us, and who is our Father and our Maker, and to pass over to another?
672.
God forbid. said Aquila.
673.
Then said Peter:
How, then, shall we say that the wicked one is the cause of our sin,
when this is done by permission of God,
that those may be proved and condemned in the day of judgment,
who, allured by greater promises, have abandoned their duty towards their true Father and Creator;
while those who have kept the faith and the love of their own Father,
even with poverty, if so it has befallen, and with tribulation,
may enjoy heavenly gifts and immortal dignities in His kingdom.
674.
But we shall expound these things more carefully at another time.
675.
Meanwhile I desire to know what Simon did after this.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Divisions 676-710
RECOGNITIONS 2
Disputation Begun.
676.
And Niceta answered:
When he perceived that we had found him out,
having spoken to one another concerning his crimes, we left him,
and came to Zacchæus, telling him those same things which we have now told to you.
677.
But he, receiving us most kindly, and instructing us concerning the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, enrolled us in the number of the faithful.
678.
When Niceta had done speaking, Zacchæus, who had gone out a little before, entered, saying,
It is time, O Peter, that you proceed to the disputation; for a great crowd, collected in the court of the house, is awaiting you, in the midst of whom stands Simon, supported by many attendants.
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679.
Then Peter, when he heard this, ordering me to withdraw for the sake of prayer
(for I had not yet been washed from the sins which I had committed in ignorance),
said to the rest,
680.
Brethren, let us pray that God, for His unspeakable mercy through His Christ, would help me going out on behalf of the salvation of men who have been created by Him.
681.
Having said this, and having prayed,
he went forth to the court of the house, in which a great multitude of people were assembled;
and when he saw them all looking intently on him in profound silence, and Simon the Magician standing in the midst of them like a standard-bearer, he began in manner following.
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