ment, or by being brought to the cleansing of all defilements.
Wherefore Water cannot be a god, but only the work of God.

"They that think that Fire is a god are in error. It too was made for
the use of men. It is subject to their lordship, being carried about
from place to place, for the seething and roasting of all manner of
meats, yea, and for the burning of dead corpses. Moreover, it perisheth
in divers ways, when it is quenched by mankind. Wherefore Fire cannot
be a god, but only the work of God.

"They that think that the breath of the Winds is a goddess are in
error. This, as is evident, is subject to another, and hath been
prepared by God, for the sake of mankind, for the carriage of ships,
and the conveyance of victuals, and for other uses of men, it riseth
and falleth according to the ordinance of God. Wherefore it is not to
be supposed that the breath of the Winds is a goddess, but only the
work of God.

"They that think that the Sun is a god are in error. We see him moving
and turning by law, and passing from Sign to Sign, setting and rising,
to warm herbs and trees for the use of men, sharing power with the
other stars, being much less than the heaven, and falling into eclipse
and possessed of no sovranty of his own. Wherefore we may not consider
that the Sun is a god, but only the work of God.

"They that think that the Moon is a goddess are in error. We behold
her moving and turning by law, and passing from Sign to Sign, setting
and rising for the use of men, lesser than the sun, waxing and waning,
suffering eclipse. Wherefore we do not consider that the Moon is a
goddess, but only the work of God.

"They that think that Man is a god are in error. We see man moving by
law, growing up, and waxing old, even against his will. Now he
rejoiceth, now he grieveth, requiring meat and drink and raiment.
Besides he is passionate, envious, lustful, fickle, and full of
failings: and he perisheth in many a way, by the elements, by wild
beasts, and by the death that ever awaiteth him. So Man cannot be a
god, but only the work of God. Great then is the error that the
Chaldeans have erred in following their own lusts; for they worship
corruptible elements and dead images, neither do they perceive that
they are making gods of these.

"Now come we to the Greeks that we may see whether they have any
understanding concerning God. The Greeks, then, professing themselves
to be wise, fell into greater folly t