[NOTE:] — 56 —

But behold here, that the contrivers of that slanderous writing, having cast aside their obligations to the divine [and] loving laws, contrary to the Holy Scriptures and the true doctrine of the holy Apostles and the divinely-inspired Holy Fathers, begin to set themselves up as arrangers of the grace-adorned orders of the holy Apostles, as is seen below:

DISCOURSE VIII.

"If it should happen that a certain ecumenical council be convened to resolve some religious disputes, we recognize as the president of this council the successor of the head, the blessed Petrows, after the example of our holy ancestors; in which sense the Holy Church sings concerning the holy Apostle Petrows: 'Head of holy Faith, foundation of the church' (in Article 5). This reflection and peremptory assertion of theirs is born solely of uncharitable passions, and [is] not a spiritual interpretation of the mystical words of the hymns or of the Holy Divine Scriptures. They ought first to have become disciples of the holy Apostle Pōghos, and only then to have undertaken the examination of such matters—[he] who teaches by the authority of the Holy Scriptures, saying: 'For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, save the Spirit of God... And the things which we speak [are] not in words taught by human eloquence, but in the teaching of the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual' (1 Cor. 2:11–13). The holy Apostle of Christ wishes to demonstrate by this word that, concerning whatever things we speak and confirm by tradition, let men not suppose that it is by human learning or by the eloquence of earthly wisdom, but by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and by the infallible doctrine and truth of words inspired by the grace of the Holy Spirit, which according to the need of the hour..."