Eran. -Therefore the Lord Jesus is God only.
Orth. -You hear that the divine Word was made man, and do you call him God only?
Eran. -Since He became mall without being changed, but remained just what He was before, we must call Him just what He was.
Orth. -The divine Word was and is and will be immutable. But when He had taken man's nature He became man. It behoves us therefore to confess both natures, both that which took, and that which was taken.
Eran. -We must name Him by the nobler.
Orth -Man,-I mean man the animal,-is he a simple or a composite being?
Eran. -Composite.
Orth. -Composed of what component parts?
Eran. -Of a body and a soul.
Orth. -And of these natures whether is nobler?
Eran. -Clearly the soul, for it is reasonable and immortal, and has been entrusted with the sovereignty of the animal. But the body is mortal and perishable, and without the soul is unreasonable, and a corpse.
Orth. -Then the divine Scripture ought to have called the animal after its more excellent part.
Eran. -It does so call it, for it calls them that came out of Egypt souls. For with seventy-five souls, it says, Israel came down into Egypt.
Orth. -But does the divine Scripture never call any one after the body?
Eran. -It calls them that are the slaves of flesh, flesh. For "God," it is written, "said my spirit shall not always remain in these men, for they are flesh."
Orth. -But without blameno one is called flesh?
Eran. -I do not remember.
Orth. -Then I will remind you, and point out to you that even the very saints are called "flesh." Answer now. What would you call the apostles? Spiritual, or fleshly?
Eran. -Spiritual;-and leaders and teachers of the spiritual.
Orth. -Hear now the holy Paul when he says "But when it pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his son in me that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood neither went I up to them that were apostles before me." Does he so style the apostles because he blames them?
Eran. -Certainly not.
Orth. -Is it not that he names them after their visible nature, and comparing the calling which is of men with that which is of heaven?
Eran. -True.
Orth. -Then hear too the psalmist David-"Unto thee shall all flesh come." Hear too, the prophet Isaiah foretelling "All flesh shall see the salvation of our God."
Eran. -It is made perfectly plain that Holy Scripture names human nature fromthe flesh without the least blame.