Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

the subdivisions are of the same essence as that from which they have been divided. The
very obviousness of the absurdity makes it difficult for us to find arguments to confute their
unreasonableness; so that really their folly looks like an advantage to them; just as soft and
yielding bodies offer no resistance, and therefore cannot be struck a stout blow. It is impossible
to bring a vigorous confutation to bear on a palpable absurdity. The only course
open to us is to pass by their abominable impiety in silence. Yet our love for the brethren
and the importunity of our opponents makes silence impossible.
42. What is it that they maintain? Look at the terms of their imposture. “We assert
that connumeration is appropriate to subjects of equal dignity, and sub-numeration to those
which vary in the direction of inferiority.” “Why,” I rejoined, “do you say this? I fail to
understand your extraordinary wisdom. Do you mean that gold is numbered with gold,
and that lead is unworthy of the connumeration, but, because of the cheapness of the material,
is subnumerated to gold? And do you attribute so much importance to number as that
it can either exalt the value of what is cheap, or destroy the dignity of what is valuable?
Therefore, again, you will number gold under precious stones, and such precious stones as
are smaller and without lustre under those which are larger and brighter in colour. But
what will not be said by men who spend their time in nothing else but either ‘to tell or to
hear some new thing’? 1080 Let these supporters of impiety be classed for the future with
Stoics and Epicureans. What sub-numeration is even possible of things less valuable in relation
to things very valuable? How is a brass obol to be numbered under a golden stater?
“Because,” they reply, “we do not speak of possessing two coins, but one and one.” But
which of these is subnumerated to the other? Each is similarly mentioned. If then you
number each by itself, you cause an equality of value by numbering them in the same way
but, if you join them, you make their value one by numbering them one with the other. But
if the sub-numeration belongs to the one which is numbered second, then it is in the power
of the counter to begin by counting the brass coin. Let us, however, pass over the confutation
of their ignorance, and turn our argument to the main topic.
43. Do you maintain that the Son is numbered under the Father, and the Spirit under
the Son, or do you confine your sub-numeration to the Spirit alone? If, on the other hand,
you apply this sub-numeration also to the Son, you revive what is the same impious doctrine,
the unlikeness of the substance, the lowliness of rank, the coming into being in later time,
and once for all, by this one term, you will plainly again set circling all the blasphemies
against the Only-begotten. To controvert these blasphemies would be a longer task than
my present purpose admits of; and I am the less bound to undertake it because the impiety
has been refuted elsewhere to the best of my ability. 1081 If on the other hand they suppose
1080 Acts xvii. 21.
Against those who say that the Holy Ghost is not to be numbered with, but…
1081 i.e. in the second book of his work against Eunomius.
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