Syriac Patrology, Volume 1: The Demonstrations of Aphrahat

11 APHRAATIS 12

the tares, before they have grown up, should order them to be uprooted, the wheat also might suffer damage while the tares were being purged from it. Indeed, the rain, which brings growth to the good seed, also causes the tares, the seed of the evil one, to germinate. And that good [God] instituted this in His wisdom, so that the artifice of the children of the evil one, who posit two roots i.e., two principles, one good and one evil, might fall into nothingness. For if the rain that nourishes the wheat were to weaken the tares, the seed of the evil one, there would be no doubt that two natures had labored in creation. But both [seeds] obtain growth from the rain, the wind, and the sun, and the creatures bear witness to one Creator, by whose command created things are governed. For there are more good people in the world than bad, and on account of them, the outpouring of wrath is restrained from the latter; but when the hedge against the wicked is broken, and among the righteous there is not found anyone who stands in it, the overflowing measure of sins excites the fury of the Most High, and on account of the wrath [moved] against the impious, the elect are also involved in the zeal; and when the sword receives the command to strike, it destroys sinners and righteous together, because the righteous did not quickly stand in the ruin of the hedge, just as...

their sacrifice of their kinds, and they shall be uprooted, the wheat also will be lacking while the tares are cleansed from among them. But the rain that makes the good seed superior is the same that makes the tares germinate, the seed of the evil one. And this which the good [God] in His wisdom established, that the craftsmanship of the children of the evil one might be nullified, who have placed two roots to creation and to the evil one. If, indeed, the rain that makes the wheat superior were to weaken the tares, the seed of the evil one, it would be known that two natures were embodied in creation. But the rain and the wind and the sun grow and complete both of their fruits, and creation as one bears witness that by His command created things are directed. For there are many righteous people in the world more than the wicked, and on account of them, the wrath is held back from the face of the wicked; but when the hedge against the wicked is broken, and there is not found in it one who stands, the abundance of sinners awakens the fury of the Most High, and on account of the wrath that is against the impious, the chosen are mixed in them. When the sword is sent to kill sinners and righteous together, they perish in it; the righteous have become entangled in the collapse of the hedge.