Gerdon—"Did He not desire to kill Moses and deceive the prophets? and did He not lead the people astray, spreading lying and idolatry?"
Marcion—"Certainly, the Creator is not the true God!"
Saint Clement of Alexandria—"Matter is eternal!"
Bardesanes, as one of the Babylonian Magi—"It was formed by the seven planetary spirits."
The Hernians—"The angels have made the souls!"
The Priscillianists—"The world was made by the Devil."
Antony, falls backward—"Horror!"
Hilarion, holding him up—"You drive yourself to despair too quickly! You don't rightly comprehend their doctrine. Here is one who has received his from Theodas, the friend of Saint Paul. Hearken to him!"
And, at a signal from Hilarion, Valentinus, in a tunic of silver cloth, with a hissing voice and a pointed skull, cries:
"The world is the work of a delirious God!"