As the Gospel calls the stamp upon the coin "the image of Caesar ," whereby we learn that in that which was fashioned to resemble Caesar there was resemblance as to outward look, but difference as to material, so also in the present saying, when we consider the attributes contemplated both in the Divine and human nature, in which the likeness consists, to be in the place of the features, we find in what underlies them the difference which we behold in the uncreated and in the created nature.

Now as the former always remains the same, while that which came into being by creation had the beginning of its existence from change, and has a kindred connection with the like mutation, for this reason He Who, as the prophetical writing says, "knoweth all things before they be ," following out, or rather perceiving beforehand by His power of foreknowledge what, in a state of independence and freedom, is the tendency of the motion of man's will,-as He saw, I say, what would be, He devised for His image the distinction of male and female, which has no reference to the Divine Archetype, but, as we have said, is an approximation to the less rational nature.

The cause, indeed, of this device, only those can know who were eye-witnesses of the truth and ministers of the Word; but we, imagining the truth, as far as we can, by means of conjectures and similitudes, do not set forth that which occurs to our mind authoritatively, but will place it in the form of a theoretical speculation before our kindly hearers.

Καὶ ὥσπερ τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ χαλκοῦ χαρακτῆρα Καίσαρος εἰκόνα λέγει τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον͵ δι' οὗ μανθάνομεν κατὰ μὲν τὸ πρόσχημα τὴν ὁμοίωσιν εἶναι τοῦ μεμορφωμένου πρὸς Καίσαρα͵ ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ τὴν διαφορὰν ἔχειν, οὕτω καὶ κατὰ τὸν παρόντα λόγον ἀντὶ χαρακτήρων τὰ ἐπιθεωρούμενα τῇ τε θείᾳ φύσει καὶ τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ κατανοήσαντες͵ ἐν οἷς ἡ ὁμοιότης ἐστίν͵ ἐν τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ τὴν διαφορὰν ἐξευρίσκομεν͵ ἥτις ἐν τῷ ἀκτίστῳ καὶ τῷ κτιστῷ καθορᾶται.  

Ἐπειδὴ τοίνυν τὸ μὲν ὡσαύτως ἔχει καὶ ἀεί͵ τὸ δὲ διὰ κτίσεως γεγενημένον ἀπ' ἀλλοιώσεως τοῦ εἶναι ἤρξατο καὶ συγγενῶς πρὸς τὴν τοιαύτην ἔχει τροπήν· διὰ [185] τοῦτο ὁ εἰδὼς τὰ πάντα πρὶν γενέσεως αὐτῶν͵ καθώς φησιν ἡ προφητεία͵ ἐπακολουθήσας͵ μᾶλλον δὲ προκατανοήσας τῇ προγνωστικῇ δυνάμει͵ πρὸς ὅ,τι ῥέπει κατὰ τὸ αὐτοκρατές τε καὶ αὐτεξούσιον τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης προαιρέσεως ἡ κίνησις͵ ἐπειδὴ τὸ ἐσόμενον εἶδεν͵ ἐπιτεχνᾶται τῇ εἰκόνι τὴν περὶ τὸ ἄῤῥεν καὶ θῆλυν διαφοράν͵ ἥτις οὐκέτι πρὸς τὸ θεῖον ἀρχέτυπον βλέπει͵ ἀλλὰ καθὼς εἴρηται͵ τῇ ἀλογωτέρᾳ προσωκείωται φύσει.  

Τὴν δὲ αἰτίαν τῆς τοιαύτης ἐπιτεχνήσεως μόνοι μὲν ἂν εἰδεῖεν οἱ τῆς ἀληθείας αὐτόπται καὶ ὑπηρέται τοῦ λόγου. Ἡμεῖς δὲ καθώς ἐστι δυνατὸν διὰ στοχασμῶν τινων καὶ εἰκόνων φαντασθέντες τὴν ἀλήθειαν͵ τὸ ἐπὶ νοῦν ἐλθὸν οὐκ ἀποφαντικῶς ἐκτιθέμεθα͵ ἀλλ' ὡς ἐν γυμνασίας εἴδει τοῖς εὐγνώμοσι τῶν ἀκροωμένων προσθήσομεν.