Part II.

II.¹²⁵⁸

Theognostus, moreover, himself adds words to this effect: He who has offended against the first term¹²⁵⁹ and the second, may be judged to deserve smaller punishment; but he who has also despised the third, can no longer find pardon.  For by the first term and the second, he says, is meant the teaching concerning the Father and the Son; but by the third is meant the doctrine committed to us with respect to the perfection¹²⁶⁰ and the partaking of the Spirit. And with the view of confirming this, he adduces the word spoken by the Saviour to the disciples: “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. But when the Holy Spirit is come, He will teach you.”¹²⁶¹