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We have, then, adequately demonstrated that there is a God, and
that His essence is incomprehensible. But that God is one and not
many is no matter of doubt to those who believe in the Holy
Scriptures. For the Lord says in the beginning of the Law: I am
the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
Thou shall have no other Gods before Me. And again He says,
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. And in Isaiah
the prophet we read For I am the first God and I am the last and
beside Me there is no God. Before Me there was not any God, nor
after Me will there be any God, and beside Me there is no God.
And the Lord, too, in the holy gospels speaketh these words to His
Father, And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee the only
true God. But with those that do not believe in the Holy Scriptures
we will reason thus.
The Deity is perfect, and without blemish in goodness, and wisdom,
and power, without beginning, without end, everlasting,
uncircumscribed, and in short, perfect in all things. Should we
say, then, that there are many Gods, we must recognise difference
among the many. For if there is no difference among them, they are
one rather than many. But if there is difference among them, what
becomes of the perfectness? For that which comes short of perfection,
whether it be in goodness, or power, or wisdom, or time, or place,
could not be God. But it is this very identity in all respects that
shews that the Deity is one and not many.
Again, if there are many Gods, how can one maintain that God is
uncircumscribed? For where the one would be, the other could not be.
Further, how could the world be governed by many and saved from
dissolution and destruction, while strife is seen to rage between the
rulers? For difference introduces strife. And if any one should say
that each rules over a part, what of that which established this order
and gave to each his particular realm? For this would the rather be
God. Therefore, God is one, perfect, uncircumscribed, maker of
the universe, and its preserver and governor, exceeding and preceding
all perfection.
Moreover, it is a natural necessity that duality should originate in
unity.
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