Clement of Alexandria: STROMATA (MISCELLANIES), Part IV, Complete

Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson.

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Page 4

Chapter XII.--God Cannot Be Embraced in Words or by the Mind.

"For both is it a difficult task to discover the Father and Maker of this universe; and having found Him, it is impossible to declare Him to all. For this is by no means capable of expression, like the other subjects of instruction," says the truth-loving Plato. For he that had heard right well that the all-wise Moses, ascending the mount for holy contemplation, to the summit of intellectual objects, necessarily commands that the whole people do not accompany him. And when the Scripture says, "Moses entered into the thick darkness where God was," this shows to those capable of understanding, that God is invisible and beyond expression by words. And "the darkness"--which is, in truth, the unbelief and ignorance of the multitude--obstructs the gleam of truth. And again Orpheus, the theologian, aided from this quarter, says:--

"One is perfect in himself, and all things are made the progeny of one,"

or, "are born;" for so also is it written. He adds:--

"Him

No one of mortals has seen, but He sees all."

And he adds more clearly:--

"Him see I not, for round about, a cloud

Has settled; for in mortal eyes are small,

And mortal pupils--only flesh and bones grow there."

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