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108 Utique: with a touch of irony, in the argumentum ad hominem.
128 That is, of course, by its own natural law.
130 i.e. in their nature, Matter being evil, and they good, on the hypothesis.
141 We subjoin the original of thes sentence: "Plane sic interest unde fecerit ac si de nihilo fecisset, nec interest uned fecerit, ut inde fecerit unde eum magis decuit."
143 Secundum Hermogenis dispositionem.
144 Contra denegatam aeterni conversationem. Literally, "Contrary to that convertibility of an eternal nature which has been denied (by Hermogenes) to be possible." It will be obvious why we have, in commection with the preceding clause preferred the equvalent rendering of our text. For the denial of Hermogenes, which Tertullian refers to, see above, chap. xii. p. 484.
146 This clumsy expedient to save the character of both God and Matter was one of the weaknesses of Hermogenes' system.
147 Cur non et ex nihilo potuerit induci?
149 Destructionibus. "Ruin of character" is the true idea of thes strong term.
150 Praestructione. The notion is of the foundation of an edifice: here = "preliminary remarks" (see our Anti-Marcion, v. 5, p. 438).
155 The usual reading is "Hermogenes." Rigaltius, however, reads "Hermogenis," of which Oehler approves; so as to make Tertullian say, "I cannot tell how I can avoid the opinion of Hermogenes, who," etc. etc.
156 Per substantiae suggestum.
157 Excusas jam causam. Hermogenes held that Matter was eternal, to exclude God from the authorship of evil. This causa of Matter he was now illogically evading. Excusare = ex, causa, "to cancel the cause."
160 Rom. xi. 34, 35; comp. Isa. xl. 14.
167 Or the "inquit" may indicate the very words of "Wisdom."
168 Fontes. Although Oehler prefers Junius' reading "montes," he yet retains "fontes," because Tertullian (in ch. xxxii. below) has the unmistakable reading "fontes" in a like connection.
170 Ad quem: the expression is masculine.
173 "Non fini subditam" is Oehler's better reading than the old "sibi subditam."