come to announce to us a more perfect God, who, they allege, is not the creator of the world,—there being different and discordant opinions among them even on this very point, because, when they once depart from a belief in God the Creator, who is Lord of all, they have given themselves over to various inventions and fables, devising certain [fictions], and asserting that some things were visible, and made by one [God], and that certain other things were invisible, and were created by another, according to the vain and fanciful suggestions of their own minds. But not a few also of the more simple of those, who appear to be restrained within the faith of the church, are of opinion that there is no greater God than the Creator, holding in this a correct and sound opinion; and yet they entertain regarding Him such views as would not be entertained regarding the most unjust and cruel of men. FROM THE GREEK. 8. Having spoken thus briefly[853] on the subject of the divine inspiration of the holy Scriptures, it is necessary to proceed to the [consideration of the] manner in which they are to be read and understood, seeing numerous errors have been committed in consequence of the method in which the holy documents[854] ought to be examined,[855] not having been discovered by the multitude. For both the hardened in heart, and the ignorant persons[856] belonging to the circumcision, have not believed on our Saviour, thinking that they are following the language of the prophecies respecting Him, and not perceiving in a manner palpable to their senses[857] that He had proclaimed liberty to the captives, nor that He had built up what they truly consider the city of God, nor cut off “the chariots of Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem,”[858] nor eaten butter and honey, and, before knowing or preferring the evil, had selected the good.[859] And thinking, moreover, that it was prophesied that the wolf—the four-footed animal—was to feed with the lamb, and the leopard to lie down with the kid, and the calf and bull and lion to feed together, being led by a little child, and that the ox and bear were to pasture together, their young ones growing up together, and that the lion was to eat straw like the ox:[860] seeing none of these things visibly accomplished during the advent of Him who is believed by us to be Christ, they did not accept our Lord Jesus; but, as having called Himself Christ improperly,[861] they crucified Him. And those belonging to heretical sects reading this [statement], “A fire has been kindled in mine anger;”[862] and this, “I am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation;”[863] and this, “I repent of having anointed Saul to be king;”[864] and this, “I am a God that maketh peace, and createth evil;”[865] and, among others, this, “There is not wickedness in the city which the Lord hath not done;”[866] and again this, “Evils came