Tertullian

“ The disciples of Marcion, moreover, may possibly be able, while recognising the goodness of our God, to learn how worthy it is likewise of the Divine Being, on those very grounds whereby we have proved it to be unworthy in the case of their god. ”

“ Previous, then, to this temporal course, (the goodness) which created time had not time; nor before that beginning which the same goodness originated, had it a beginning. Being therefore without all order of a beginning, and all mode of time, it will be reckoned to possess an age, measureless in extent [10] and endless in duration ”

“ This particle refers back to the argument previous to its interruption by the allusion to Marcion and his followers.↑ Fructus, the enjoyment of God’s works.↑ Apparebat. [Was not manifest.] ↑ Commisit in.↑ Obventiciæ bonitatis.↑ Provocaticiæ animationis.↑ Gen. i. 14.↑ Immensa.↑ Interminabili.↑ Deo ingenita “Natural to,” or “inherent in.”↑ Perpetua. [Truly, a sublime Theodicy.] ↑ Suffundens jam hinc. ”