106 HERMES TRISMEGISTUS. 



IV. 



From Stobceus, PJiysica, 55 ; Meineke, i. 14 : " Hermes 

 being asked what God is, said, ' The Creator of the Whole 

 of things, most wise Mind, and Eternal.' " 



From Stolceus, Physica, 134 ; Meineke, i. 33. (It is not 

 stated from what work of Hermes). 



FOR some very great Demon, Child ! hath been or- 

 dained (a), revolved (&) in the midst of the Universe, 

 beholding all things that are generate on earth by the 

 Men. For just as over the Divine order The Providence (c) 

 and Necessity are ordained, in the same manner also over 

 the Men is ordained Justice, energizing these things for 

 them (d). For this indeed rules the order of the Entities 

 as Divine, and not willing to sin nor being able; for it is 

 impossible for the Divine to have been led astray (e) t from 

 which also succeeds (/), the being impeccable. But the 

 Justice is ordained avenger of those sinning upon Earth. 

 For the race of men, since mortal and consisting of evil 

 matter, . . . and especially to them occurs the lapsing (g), 

 with whom Godseeing power (h) is not present ; over these 

 then, and especially, does the Justice prevail, and they are 

 subjected to the Fate through the energies of the genera- 

 tion ; but to Justice through the sins in the life. 1 



(a) TT;CT/. (b) tfaovftivv]. (c) q 



(d) exe(tKM$t aliter. IKI'IUXIS. (e) ve'hTri6qvt. (/) 



(g) TO ohiadoiviiit. (Ji) 



Universe it is both a business to find, and having found, to all it is 

 impossible to declare." This passage of Hermes is quoted by Justin 

 Martyr (post, Part III.). 



" One God Who can neither be defined by any words, nor con- 

 ceived by the Mind" (Shepherd of Hernias, Lib. ii., Mandatum, i.). 



1 See the similar sentiments of Plato in his " Laws," 716 and 905; 

 and Hermann, v. 118, 342. 



