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On the Vanity of Idols

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 9

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

9. He cannot be seen—He is too bright for

‹ Section 8 Section 10 ›

vision

;

nor

comprehended

—

He

is

too

pure

for

our

discernment

;

nor

estimated

—

He

is

too

great

for

our

perception

;

and

therefore

we

are

only

worthily

estimating

Him

when

we

say

that

He

is

inconceivable

.

But

what

temple

can

God

have

,

whose

temple

is

the

whole

world

?

And

while

man

dwells

far

and

wide

,

shall

I

shut

up

the

power

of

such

great

majesty

within

one

small

building

?

He

must

be

dedicated

in

our

mind

;

in

our

breast

He

must

be

consecrated

.

Neither

must

you

ask

the

name

of

God

.

God

is

His

name

.

Among

those

there

is

need

of

names

where

a

multitude

is

to

be

distinguished

by

the

appropriate

characteristics

of

appellations

.

To

God

who

alone

is

,

belongs

the

whole

name

of

God

;

therefore

He

is

one

,

and

He

in

His

entirety

is

everywhere

diffused

.

For

even

the

common

people

in

many

things

naturally

confess

God

,

when

their

mind

and

soul

are

admonished

of

their

author

and

origin

.

We

frequently

hear

it

said

,

“

O

God

,

”

and

“

God

sees

,

”

and

“

I

commend

to

God

,

”

and

“

God

give

you

,

”

and

“

as

God

will

,

”

and

“

if

God

should

grant

;

”

and

this

is

the

very

height

of

sinfulness

,

to

refuse

to

acknowledge

Him

whom

you

cannot

but

know

.

Notes

12
[See vol. iii. p 179 elucidation.]