§ 1.
Accordingly, the Lord thus clearly shewing that He is the true Lord and the only God, who had been declared by the Law—(for whom the Law had proclaimed as God, Him Christ manifested as Father, whom also alone the Disciples of Christ are bound to serve:) and our adversary being discomfited by Him, through those sentences which occur in the Law:—(now the Law bids us to praise the Creator as God,1 and to serve Him only:—) we ought not now to seek any other Father, besides or above This one:2 seeing there is one God who justifieth the Circumcision by Fatih, and the Uncircumcision through Faith. For had there been any other perfect Father above This one, in no wise would He [Christ] have overthrown Satan by His discourses and precepts. For Ignorance cannot be done away by another ignorance:3 even as neither can decay be abolished by decay. If then the Law is of ignorance and decay, how could the sentences which are therein set any free from diabolical ignorance, and overcome the Strong Man? For it is not the less, nor the equal that can overcome the Strong Man, but he who hath more power. And He who hath more power over all things is the Word of God, Who both in the Law crieth aloud, Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one God;4 and, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soul;5 and, Him shalt thou worship,6 and Him only shalt thou serve:—and in the Gospel by the very same sentences putting down apostasy, did at once by His Father’s Voice subdue the strong man, and avow the precept of the Law to be His own sentences;7 saying, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. For by sentence not of another but properly belonging to His own Father He put down the adversary and overcame the Strong Man.
§ 2.
And us,8 who are released by the commandment itself, He hath taught, First, In our hunger to await the food which is given by God: Secondly, when we are set on the high places of God’s universal free gift; or trusting in works of righteousness, or honoured with great eminency of office; then in no wise to be lifted up, nor to tempt God, but in every thing to be lowly-minded, and to have ready for use the saying, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God: As the Apostle also taught, in the words,9 Not minding high things, but sympathizing with the lowly:—neither to be taken with riches, nor worldly glory, nor present pomp: but to be aware, that thou must worship the Lord thy God, and serve Him only; and not believe that being who falsely promises what is not his own,10 in that he saith, All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me. For he himself confesseth,11 that to worship him and to do his will is to fall from the glory of God. And what that is either sweet or good can he partake of who hath fallen? Or what other thing can such an one hope or expect, besides death? For to him who hath fallen, death is close at hand. Moreover, neither will he in course fulfil that which he hath promised. For how shall he fulfil it to him that hath fallen? Further, [he confesseth] that God is Lord over men, and over himself;12 and without the will of our Father which is in heaven, not a sparrow shall fall to the earth.13 Therefore, in that he saith, All these things are delivered unto me; and unto whomsoever I will I give them—he saith it, as one lifted up unto Pride. Since indeed the Creation is not under his power, he being himself one of the creatures—nor will he of himself give unto men royalty over other men: but according to the ordinance of God the Father both all other things are set in order, and those which relate to men. But the Lord saith, That the Devil is a Liar from the beginning,14 and abode not in the truth: If then he is a liar, and not abiding in the truth, of course he was not truly saying, “All these things are delivered unto me, and to whom I will I give them:” but he was telling a Lie.