I answered unhesitatingly: "I can give you an explanation of this if you wish it." "Nay," he replied, "I care nothing for human explanation or reasoning in such matters, but only for the words of authority." "Very well." I said; "turn the pages of my book and you will find the authority likewise." The book was at hand, for he had brought it with him.

I turned to the passage I had in mind, which he had either not discovered or else passed over as containing nothing injurious to me.

And it was God's will that I quickly found what I sought.

This was the following sentence, under the heading "Augustine, On the Trinity, Book I": "Whosoever believes that it is within the power of God to beget Himself is sorely in error; this power is not in God, neither is it in any created thing, spiritual or corporeal.

For there is nothing that can give birth to itself." When those of his followers who were present heard this, they were amazed and much embarrassed.