Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

Catechetical Lectures
1. Already there is an odour of blessedness upon you, O you who are soon to be
enlightened : already you are gathering the spiritual fowers, to weave heavenly
crowns: already the fragrance of the Holy Spirit has breathed upon you: already
you have gathered round the vestibule of the Kings palace ! "ay you be led in
also by the King# $or blosso"s now have appeared upon the trees ! "ay the fruit
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also be found perfect# %hus far there has been an inscription of your na"es , and
a call to service, and torches of the bridal train, and a longing for heavenly
citi&enship, and a good purpose, and hope attendant thereon. $or he lies not who
said, that to them that love God all things work together for good. 'od is lavish in
bene(cence, yet He waits for each "ans genuine will: therefore the Apostle
added and said, to them that are called according to a purpose. %he honesty of
purpose "a)es you called: for if your body be here but not your "ind, it pro(ts
you nothing.
*. +ven Si"on ,agus once ca"e to the -aver : he was bapti&ed, but was not
enlightened! and though he dipped his body in water, he enlightened not his
heart with the Spirit: his body went down and ca"e up, but his soul was not
buried with .hrist, nor raised with Hi". /ow 0 "ention the state"ents of 1"ens2
falls, that you "ay not fall: for these things happened to the" by way of
e3a"ple, and they are written for the admonition of those who to this day draw
near. -et none of you be found te"pting His grace, lest any root of bitterness
spring up and trouble you. -et none of you enter saying, -et us see what the
faithful are doing: let "e go in and see, that 0 "ay learn what is being done. 4o
you e3pect to see, and not e3pect to be seen5 And thin)est thou, that whilst you
are searching out what is going on, 'od is not searching your heart5
6. A certain "an in the 'ospels once pried into the "arriage feast , and too) an
unbeco"ing gar"ent, and ca"e in, sat down, and ate: for the bridegroo"
per"itted it. 7ut when he saw the" all clad in white , he ought to have assu"ed
a gar"ent of the sa"e )ind hi"self: whereas he partoo) of the li)e food, but was
unli)e the" in fashion and in purpose. %he bridegroo", however, though
bountiful, was not undiscerning: and in going round to each of the guests and
observing the" 1for his care was not for their eating, but for their see"ly
behaviour2, he saw a stranger not having on a wedding garment, and said to hi",
Friend, how did you get in here? 0n what a colour# 8ith what a conscience# 8hat
though the door9)eeper forbade you not, because of the bountifulness of the
entertainer5 8hat though you were ignorant in what fashion you should co"e in
to the ban:uet5 ; you ca"e in, and saw the glittering fashions of the guests:
should you not have been taught even by what was before your eyes5 Should you
not have retired in good season, that you "ight enter in good season again5 7ut
now you have co"e in unseasonably, to be unseasonably cast out. So he
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co""ands the servants, Bind his feet, which daringly intruded: bind his hands,
which )new not how to put a bright gar"ent around hi": and cast him into the
outer darkness; for he is unworthy of the wedding torches. <ou see what
happened to that "an: "a)e your own condition safe.
=. $or we, the "inisters of .hrist, have ad"itted every one, and occupying, as it
were, the place of door9)eepers we left the door open: and possibly thou entered
with your soul be"ired with sins, and with a will de(led. <ou entered, and were
allowed: your na"e was inscribed. %ell "e, do you behold this venerable
constitution of the .hurch5 4o you view her order and discipline , the reading of
Scriptures , the presence of the ordained , the course of instruction 5 7e abashed
at the place, and be taught by what you see. 'o out opportunely now, and enter
"ost opportunely to"orrow.
0f the fashion of your soul is avarice, put on another fashion and co"e in. >ut o?
your for"er fashion, clo)e it not up. >ut o?, 0 pray you, fornication and
uncleanness, and put on the brightest robe of chastity. %his charge 0 give you,
before @esus the 7ridegroo" of souls co"e in and see their fashions. A long notice
is allowed you! you have forty days for repentance: you have full opportunity both
to put o?, and wash, and to put on and enter. 7ut if you persist in an evil purpose,
the spea)er is bla"eless, but you "ust not loo) for the grace: for the water will
receive, but the Spirit will not accept you. 0f any one is conscious of his wound, let
hi" ta)e the salve! if any has fallen, let hi" arise. -et there be no Si"on a"ong
you, no hypocrisy, no idle curiosity about the "atter.
A. >ossibly too you have co"e on another prete3t. 0t is possible that a "an is
wishing to pay court to a wo"an, and ca"e hither on that account. %he re"ar)
applies in li)e "anner to wo"en also in their turn. A slave also perhaps wishes to
please his "aster, and a friend his friend. 0 accept this bait for the hoo), and
welco"e you, though you ca"e with an evil purpose, yet as one to be saved by a
good hope. >erhaps you )new not whither you were co"ing, nor in what )ind of
net you are ta)en. <ou have co"e within the .hurchs nets : be ta)en alive, fee
not: for @esus is angling for you, not in order to )ill, but by )illing to "a)e alive: for
you "ust die and rise again. $or you have heard the Apostle say, Dead indeed
unto sin, but living unto righteousness . 4ie to your sins, and live to
righteousness, live fro" this very day.
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B. See, 0 pray you, how great a dignity @esus bestows on you. <ou were called a
.atechu"en, while the word echoed round you fro" without! hearing of hope,
and )nowing it not! hearing "ysteries, and not understanding the"! hearing
Scriptures, and not )nowing their depth. %he echo is no longer around you, but
within you! for the indwelling Spirit henceforth "a)es your "ind a house of 'od.
8hen you shall have heard what is written concerning the "ysteries, then will
you understand things which thou )new not. And thin) not that you receive a
s"all thing: though a "iserable "an, you receive one of 'ods titles. Hear St.
>aul saying, God is faithful . Hear another Scripture saying, God is faithful and
ust . $oreseeing this, the >sal"ist, because "en are to receive a title of 'od,
spo)e thus in the person of 'od: 0 said, !ou are Gods, and are all sons of the "ost
#igh. 7ut beware lest thou have the title of faithful, but the will of the faithless.
<ou have entered into a contest, toil on through the race: another such
opportunity you cannot have. 8ere it your wedding day before you, would you
not have disregarded all else, and set about the preparation for the feast5 And on
the eve of consecrating your soul to the heavenly 7ridegroo", will you not cease
fro" carnal things, that you "ay win spiritual5
C. 8e "ay not receive 7aptis" twice or thrice! else it "ight be said, %hough 0
have failed once, 0 shall set it right a second ti"e: whereas if you fail once, the
thing cannot be set right! for there is one $ord, and one faith, and one baptism :
for only the heretics are re9bapti&ed , because the for"er was no baptis".
D. $or 'od see)s nothing else fro" us, save a good purpose. Say not, How are "y
sins blotted out5 0 tell you, 7y willing, by believing. 8hat can be shorter than this5
7ut if, while your lips declare you willing, your heart be silent, He )nows the
heart, who Eudges you. .ease fro" this day fro" every evil deed. -et not your
tongue spea) unsee"ly words, let your eye abstain fro" sin, and fro" roving
after things unpro(table.
F. -et your feet hasten to the catechisings! receive with earnestness the
e3orcis"s : whether thou be breathed upon or e3orcised, the act is to you
salvation. Suppose you have gold unwrought and alloyed, "i3ed with various
substances, copper, and tin, and iron, and lead: we see) to have the gold alone!
can gold be puri(ed fro" the foreign substances without (re5 +ven so without
e3orcis"s the soul cannot be puri(ed! and these e3orcis"s are divine, having
been collected out of the divine Scriptures. <our face has been veiled , that your
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"ind "ay henceforward be free, lest the eye by roving "a)e the heart rove also.
7ut when your eyes are veiled, your ears are not hindered fro" receiving the
"eans of salvation. $or in li)e "anner as those who are s)illed in the golds"iths
craft throw in their breath upon the (re through certain delicate instru"ents, and
blowing up the gold which is hidden in the crucible stir the fa"e which surrounds
it, and so (nd what they are see)ing! even so when the e3orcists inspire terror by
the Spirit of 'od, and set the soul, as it were, on (re in the crucible of the body,
the hostile de"on fees away, and there abide salvation and the hope of eternal
life, and the soul henceforth is cleansed fro" its sins and has salvation. -et us
then, brethren, abide in hope, and surrender ourselves, and hope, in order that
the 'od of all "ay see our purpose, and cleanse us fro" our sins, and i"part to
us good hopes of our estate, and grant us repentance that brings salvation. 'od
has called, and His call is to you.
1G. Attend closely to the catechisings, and though we should prolong our
discourse, let not your "ind be wearied out. $or you are receiving ar"our against
the adverse power, ar"our against heresies, against @ews, and Sa"aritans , and
'entiles. <ou have "any ene"ies! ta)e to you "any darts, for you have "any to
hurl the" at: and you have need to learn how to stri)e down the 'ree), how to
contend against heretic, against @ew and Sa"aritan. And the ar"our is ready, and
"ost ready the sword of the Spirit : but thou also "ust stretch forth your right
hand with good resolution, that you "ay war the -ords warfare, and overco"e
adverse powers, and beco"e invincible against every heretical atte"pt.
11. -et "e give you this charge also. Study our teachings and )eep the" for ever.
%hin) not that they are the ordinary ho"ilies ! for though they also are good and
trustworthy, yet if we should neglect the" today we "ay study the" to"orrow.
7ut if the teaching concerning the laver of regeneration delivered in a
consecutive course be neglected today, when shall it be "ade right5 Suppose it is
the season for planting trees: if we do not dig, and dig deep, when else can that
be planted rightly which has once been planted ill5 Suppose, pray, that the
.atechising is a )ind of building: if we do not bind the house together by regular
bonds in the building, lest so"e gap be found, and the building beco"e unsound,
even our for"er labour is of no use. 7ut stone "ust follow stone by course, and
corner "atch with corner, and by our s"oothing o? ine:ualities the building "ust
thus rise evenly. 0n li)e "anner we are bringing to you stones, as it were, of
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)nowledge. <ou "ust hear concerning the living 'od, you "ust hear of @udg"ent,
"ust hear of .hrist, and of the Hesurrection. And "any things there are to be
discussed in succession, which though now dropped one by one are afterwards to
be presented in har"onious connection. 7ut unless thou (t the" together in the
one whole, and re"e"ber what is (rst, and what is second, the builder "ay build,
but you will (nd the building unsound.
1*. 8hen, therefore, the -ecture is delivered, if a .atechu"en as) you what the
teachers have said, tell nothing to hi" that is without. $or we deliver to you a
"ystery, and a hope of the life to co"e. 'uard the "ystery for Hi" who gives the
reward. -et none ever say to you, 8hat har" to you, if 0 also )now it5 So too the
sic) as) for wine! but if it be given at a wrong ti"e it causes deliriu", and two
evils arise! the sic) "an dies, and the physician is bla"ed. %hus is it also with the
.atechu"en, if he hear anything fro" the believer: both the .atechu"en
beco"es delirious 1for he understands not what he has heard, and (nds fault with
the thing, and sco?s at what is said2, and the believer is conde"ned as a traitor.
7ut you are now standing on the border: ta)e heed, pray, to tell nothing out! not
that the things spo)en are not worthy to be told, but because his ear is unworthy
to receive. <ou were once yourself a .atechu"en, and 0 described not what lay
before you. 8hen by e3perience you have learned how high are the "atters of
our teaching, then you will )now that the .atechu"ens are not worthy to hear
the".
16. <ou who have been enrolled have beco"e sons and daughters of one ,other.
8hen you have co"e in before the hour of the e3orcis"s, let each one of you
spea) things tending to godliness: and if any of your nu"ber be not present, see)
for hi". 0f you were called to a ban:uet, would you not wait for your fellow guest5
0f you had a brother, would you not see) your brothers good5
Afterwards busy not yourself about unpro(table "atters: neither, what the city
has done, nor the village, nor the King , nor the 7ishop, nor the >resbyter. -oo)
upward! that is what your present hour needs. Be still , and know that % am God. 0f
you see the believers "inistering, and showing no care, they enEoy security, they
)now what they have received, they are in possession of grace. 7ut you stand
Eust now in the turn of the scale, to be received or not: copy not those who have
freedo" fro" an3iety, but cherish fear.
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1=. And when the +3orcis" has been done, until the others who are being
e3orcised have co"e , let "en be with "en, and wo"en with wo"en. $or now 0
need the e3a"ple of /oahs ar): in which were /oah and his sons, and his wife
and his sons wives. $or though the ar) was one, and the door was shut, yet had
things been suitably arranged. 0f the .hurch is shut, and you are all inside, yet let
there be a separation, "en with "en, and wo"en with wo"en : lest the prete3t
of salvation beco"e an occasion of destruction. +ven if there be a fair prete3t for
sitting near each other, let passions be put away. $urther, let the "en when
sitting have a useful boo)! and let one read, and another listen: and if there be no
boo), let one pray, and another spea) so"ething useful. And again let the party
of young wo"en sit together in li)e "anner, either singing or reading :uietly, so
that their lips spea), but others ears catch not the sound: for % su&er not a
woman to speak in the 'hurch. And let the "arried wo"an also follow the sa"e
e3a"ple, and pray! and let her lips "ove, but her voice be unheard, that a
Sa"uel "ay co"e, and your barren soul give birth to the salvation of 'od who
has heard your prayer! for this is the interpretation of the na"e Sa"uel.
1A. 0 shall observe each "ans earnestness, each wo"ans reverence. -et your
"ind be re(ned as by (re unto reverence! let your soul be forged as "etal: let the
stubbornness of unbelief be ha""ered out: let the superfuous scales of the iron
drop o?, and what is pure re"ain! let the rust of the iron be rubbed o?, and the
true "etal re"ain. ,ay 'od so"eti"e show you that night, the dar)ness which
shines li)e the day, concerning which it is said, (he darkness shall not be hidden
from you, and the night shall shine as the day. %hen "ay the gate of >aradise be
opened to every "an and every wo"an a"ong you. %hen "ay you enEoy the
.hrist9bearing waters in their fragrance. %hen "ay you receive the na"e of .hrist
, and the power of things divine. +ven now, 0 beseech you, lift up the eye of the
"ind: even now i"agine the choirs of Angels, and 'od the -ord of all there
sitting, and His Only9begotten Son sitting with Hi" on His right hand, and the
Spirit present with the"! and %hrones and 4o"inions doing service, and every
"an of you and every wo"an receiving salvation. +ven now let your ears ring, as
it were, with that glorious sound, when over your salvation the angels shall chant,
Blessed are they whose ini)uities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered :
when li)e stars of the .hurch you shall enter in, bright in the body and radiant in
the soul.
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1B. 'reat is the 7aptis" that lies before you : a ranso" to captives! a re"ission
of o?enses! a death of sin! a new9birth of the soul! a gar"ent of light! a holy
indissoluble seal! a chariot to heaven! the delight of >aradise! a welco"e into the
)ingdo"! the gift of adoption# 7ut there is a serpent by the wayside watching
those who pass by: beware lest he bite you with unbelief. He sees so "any
receiving salvation, and is seeking whom he may devour. <ou are co"ing in unto
the $ather of Spirits, but you are going past that serpent. How then "ay you pass
hi"5 Have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ! that even
if he bite, he "ay not hurt you. Have faith in9dwelling, stedfast hope, a strong
sandal, that you "ay pass the ene"y, and enter the presence of your -ord.
>repare your own heart for reception of doctrine, for fellowship in holy "ysteries.
>ray "ore fre:uently, that 'od "ay "a)e you worthy of the heavenly and
i""ortal "ysteries. .ease not day nor night: but when sleep is banished fro"
your eyes, then let your "ind be free for prayer. And if you (nd any sha"eful
thought rise up in your "ind, turn to "editation upon @udg"ent to re"ind you of
Salvation. 'ive your "ind wholly to study, that it "ay forget base things. 0f you
(nd any one saying to you, Are you then going in, to descend into the water5 Has
the city Eust now no baths5 %a)e notice that it is the dragon of the sea who is
laying these plots against you. Attend not to the lips of the tal)er, but to 'od who
wor)s in you. 'uard your own soul, that thou be not ensnared, to the end that
abiding in hope you "ay beco"e an heir of everlasting salvation.
1C. 8e for our part as "en charge and teach you thus: but "a)e not our building
hay and stubble and cha?, lest we su&er loss, fro" our work being burnt up* but
"a)e our wor) gold, and silver, and precious stones# $or it lies in "e to spea),
but in you to set your "ind upon it, and in 'od to "a)e perfect. -et us nerve our
"inds, and brace up our souls, and prepare our hearts. %he race is for our soul:
our hope is of things eternal: and 'od, who )nows your hearts, and observes who
is sincere, and who is a hypocrite, is able both to guard the sincere, and to give
faith to the hypocrite: for even to the unbeliever, if only he give his heart, 'od is
able to give faith. So "ay He blot out the handwriting that is against you , and
grant you forgiveness of your for"er trespasses! "ay He plant you into His
.hurch, and enlist you in His own service, and put on you the armour of
righteousness : "ay He (ll you with the heavenly things of the /ew .ovenant,
and give you the seal of the Holy Spirit indelible throughout all ages, in .hrist
@esus Our -ord: to who" be the glory for ever and ever# A"en.
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1(o the +eader. 2
%hese .atechetical -ectures for those who are to be enlightened you "ay lend to
candidates for 7aptis", and to believers who are already bapti&ed, to read, but
give not at all , neither to .atechu"ens, nor to any others who are not .hristians,
as you shall answer to the -ord. And if you "a)e a copy, write this in the
beginning, as in the sight of the -ord.
To those who are to be Enlightened, delivered extempore at Jerusalem,
as an Introductory Lecture to those who had come forward for aptism !
8ith a reading fro" 0saiah
,ash you, make you clean; put away your ini)uities from your souls, from before
my eyes, and the rest 0saiah 1:1B .
1. 4isciples of the /ew %esta"ent and parta)ers of the "ysteries of .hrist, as yet
by calling only, but ere long by grace also, make you a new heart and a new spirit
+&e)iel 1D:61, that there "ay be gladness a"ong the inhabitants of heaven: for if
over one sinner that repents there is oy, according to the 'ospel -u)e 1A:C, how
"uch "ore shall the salvation of so "any souls "ove the inhabitants of heaven
to gladness. As you have entered upon a good and "ost glorious path, run with
reverence the race of godliness. $or the Only9begotten Son of 'od is present here
"ost ready to redee" you, saying, 'ome unto "e all that labour and are heavy
laden, and % will give you rest. ,atthew 11:*D <ou that are clothed with the rough
gar"ent of your o?enses, who are holden with the cords of your own sins, hear
the voice of the >rophet saying, ,ash you, make you clean, put away your
ini)uities from before "y eyes 0saiah 1:1B: that the choir of Angels "ay chant
over you, Blessed are they whose ini)uities are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered. <ou who have Eust lighted the torches of faith , guard the" carefully in
your hands un:uenched! that He, who erewhile on this all9holy 'olgotha opened
>aradise to the robber on account of his faith, "ay grant to you to sing the bridal
song.
*. 0f any here is a slave of sin, let hi" pro"ptly prepare hi"self through faith for
the new birth into freedo" and adoption! and having put o? the "iserable
bondage of his sins, and ta)en on hi" the "ost blessed bondage of the -ord, so
"ay he be counted worthy to inherit the )ingdo" of heaven. -ut o&, by
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confession , the old man, which wa.es corrupt after the lusts of deceit, that you
"ay put on the new man, which is renewed according to knowledge of #im that
created him. 'et you the earnest of the #oly Spirit * .orinthians 1:** through
faith, that you "ay be able to be received into the everlasting habitations.
-u)e 1B:F .o"e for the "ystical Seal, that you "ay be easily recognised by the
,aster! be nu"bered a"ong the holy and spiritual foc) of .hrist, to be set apart
on His right hand, and inherit the life prepared for you. $or they to who" the
rough gar"ent of their sins still clings are found on the left hand, because they
ca"e not to the grace of 'od which is given through .hrist at the new birth of
7aptis": new birth 0 "ean not of bodies, but the spiritual new birth of the soul.
$or our bodies are begotten by parents who are seen, but our souls are begotten
anew through faith: for the Spirit blows where it lists @ohn 6:D: and then, if you be
found worthy, you "ay hear, ,ell done, good and faithful servant ,atthew *A:*1,
when you are found to have no de(le"ent of hypocrisy in your conscience.
6. $or if any of those who are present should thin) to te"pt 'ods grace, he
deceives hi"self, and )nows not its power. Keep your soul free fro" hypocrisy, O
"an, because of Hi" who searches hearts and reins. $or as those who are going
to "a)e a levy for war e3a"ine the ages and the bodies of those who are ta)ing
service, so also the -ord in enlisting souls e3a"ines their purpose: and if any has
a secret hypocrisy, He reEects the "an as un(t for His true service! but if He (nds
one worthy, to hi" He readily gives His grace. He gives not holy things to the
dogs ,atthew C:B! but where He discerns the good conscience, there He gives
the Seal of salvation, that wondrous Seal, which devils tre"ble at, and Angels
recognise! that the one "ay be driven to fight, and the others "ay watch around
it as )indred to the"selves. %hose therefore who receive this spiritual and saving
Seal, have need also of the disposition a)in to it. $or as a writing9reed or a dart
has need of one to use it, so grace also has need of believing "inds.
=. <ou are receiving not a perishable but a spiritual shield. Henceforth you are
planted in the invisible >aradise. %hou receive a new na"e, which you had not
before. Heretofore you were a .atechu"en, but now you will be called a 7eliever.
<ou are transplanted henceforth a"ong the spiritual olive9trees, being grafted
fro" the wild into the good olive9tree Ho"ans 11:*=, fro" sins into righteousness,
fro" pollutions into purity. <ou are "ade parta)er of the Holy Iine. 8ell then, if
you abide in the Iine, you grow as a fruitful branch! but if you abide not, you will
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be consu"ed by the (re. -et us therefore bear fruit worthily. 'od forbid that in us
should be done what befell that barren (g9tree ,atthew *1:1F, that @esus co"e
not even now and curse us for our barrenness. 7ut "ay all be able to use that
other saying, But % am like a fruitful olive/tree in the house of God* % have trusted
in the mercy of God for ever ;an olive9tree not to be perceived by sense, but by
the "ind , and full of light. As then it is His part to plant and to water , so it is
yours to bear fruit: it is 'ods to grant grace, but yours to receive and guard it.
4espise not the grace because it is freely given, but receive and treasure it
devoutly.
A. %he present is the season of confession: confess what you have done in word
or in deed, by night or by day! confess in an acceptable time, and in the day of
salvation * .orinthians B:* receive the heavenly treasure. 4evote your ti"e to
the +3orcis"s: be assiduous at the .atechisings, and re"e"ber the things that
shall be spo)en, for they are spo)en not for your ears only, but that by faith you
"ay seal the" up in the "e"ory. 7lot out fro" your "ind all earthly care: for you
are running for your soul. <ou are utterly forsa)ing the things of the world: little
are the things which you are forsa)ing, great what the -ord is giving. $orsa)e
things present, and put your trust in things to co"e. Have you run so "any
circles of the years busied in vain about the world, and have you not forty days to
be free 1for prayer 2, for your own souls sa)e5 Be still , and know that % am God,
says the Scripture. +3cuse yourself fro" tal)ing "any idle words: neither
bac)bite, nor lend a willing ear to bac)biters! but rather be pro"pt to prayer.
Show in ascetic e3ercise that your heart is nerved. .leanse your vessel, that you
"ay receive grace "ore abundantly. $or though re"ission of sins is given e:ually
to all, the co""union of the Holy 'host is bestowed in proportion to each "ans
faith. 0f you have laboured little, you receive little! but if you have wrought "uch,
the reward is great. <ou are running for yourself, see to your own interest.
B. 0f you have anything against any "an, forgive it: you co"e here to receive
forgiveness of sins, and thou also "ust forgive hi" that has sinned against you.
+lse with what face will you say to the -ord, $orgive "e "y "any sins, if you
have not yourself forgiven your fellow9servant even his little sins. Attend
diligently the .hurch asse"blies ! not only now when diligent attendance is
re:uired of you by the .lergy, but also after you have received the grace. $or if,
before you have received it, the practice is good, is it not also good after the
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bestowal5 0f before thou be grafted in, it is a safe course to be watered and
tended, is it not far better after the planting5 8restle for your own soul, especially
in such days as these. /ourish your soul with sacred readings! for the -ord has
prepared for you a spiritual table! therefore say thou also after the >sal"ist, (he
$ord is my shepherd, and % shall lack nothing* in a place of grass, there has #e
made me rest; #e has fed me beside the waters of comfort, #e has converted my
soul :; that Angels also "ay share your Eoy, and .hrist Hi"self the great High
>riest, having accepted your resolve, "ay present you all to the $ather, saying,
Behold, % and the children whom God has given "e. ,ay He )eep you all well9
pleasing in His sight# %o who" be the glory, and the power unto the endless ages
of eternity. A"en.
"n #epentance and #emission of Sins, and Concerning the $dversary%
+&e)iel 1D:*G9*6
%he righteousness of the righteous shall be upon hi", and the wic)edness of the
wic)ed shall be upon hi". 7ut if the wic)ed will turn fro" all his sins, etc.
1. A fearful thing is sin, and the sorest disease of the soul is transgression,
secretly cutting its sinews, and beco"ing also the cause of eternal (re! an evil of
a "ans own choosing, an o?spring of the will. $or that we sin of our own free will
the >rophet says plainly in a certain place: !et % planted you a fruitful vine, wholly
true* how are you turned to bitterness, 0and become1 the strange vine
@ere"iah *:*15 %he planting was good, the fruit co"ing fro" the will is evil! and
therefore the planter is bla"eless, but the vine shall be burnt with (re since it
was planted for good, and bore fruit unto evil of its own will. For God, according to
the >reacher, made man upright, and they have themselves sought out many
inventions. +cclesiastes C:*F For we are #is workmanship, says the Apostle,
created unto good works, which God afore prepared, that we should walk in them.
+phesians *:1G So then the .reator, being good, created for good wor)s! but the
creature turned of its own free will to wic)edness. Sin then is, as we have said, a
fearful evil, but not incurable! fearful for hi" who clings to it, but easy of cure for
hi" who by repentance puts it fro" hi". $or suppose that a "an is holding (re in
his hand! as long as he holds fast the live coal he is sure to be burned, but should
he put away the coal, he would have cast away the fa"e also with it. 0f however
any one thin)s that he is not being burned when sinning, to hi" the Scripture
12
says, Shall a man wrap up 2re in his bosom, and not burn his clothes
>roverbs B:*C5 $or sin burns the sinews of the soul, Jand brea)s the spiritual
bones of the "ind, and dar)ens the light of the heart K.
*. 7ut so"e one will say, 8hat can sin be5 0s it a living thing5 0s it an angel5 0s it a
de"on5 8hat is this which wor)s within us5 0t is not an ene"y, O "an, that
assails you fro" without, but an evil shoot growing up out of yourself. $ook right
on with your eyes >roverbs =:*A, and there is no lust. JKeep your own, and K sei&e
not the things of others, and robbery has ceased. He"e"ber the @udg"ent, and
neither fornication, nor adultery, nor "urder, nor any transgression of the law
shall prevail with you. 7ut whenever you forget 'od, i""ediately you begin to
devise wic)edness and to co""it ini:uity.
6. <et you are not the sole author of the evil, but there is also another "ost
wic)ed pro"pter, the devil. He indeed suggests, but does not get the "astery by
force over those who do not consent. %herefore says the >reacher, %f the spirit of
him that has power rise up against you, )uit not your place. Shut your door, and
put hi" far fro" you, and he shall not hurt you. 7ut if you indi?erently ad"it the
thought of lust, it stri)es root in you by its suggestions, and enthrals your "ind,
and drags you down into a pit of evils.
7ut perhaps you say, 0 a" a believer, and lust does not gain the ascendant over
"e, even if 0 thin) upon it fre:uently. 4o you not )now that a root brea)s even a
roc) by long persistence5 Ad"it not the seed, since it will rend your faith asunder:
tear out the evil by the root before it blosso", lest fro" being careless at the
beginning thou have afterwards to see) for a3es and (re. 8hen your eyes begin
to be diseased, get the" cured in good ti"e, lest you beco"e blind, and then
have to see) the physician.
=. %he devil then is the (rst author of sin, and the father of the wic)ed: and this is
the -ords saying, not "ine, that the devil sins from the beginning : none sinned
before hi". 7ut he sinned, not as having received necessarily fro" nature the
propensity to sin, since then the cause of sin is traced bac) again to Hi" that
"ade hi" so! but having been created good, he has of his own free will beco"e a
devil, and received that na"e fro" his action. $or being an Archangel he was
afterwards called a devil fro" his slandering: fro" being a good servant of 'od
he has beco"e rightly na"ed Satan! for Satan is interpreted the adversary. And
13
this is not "y teaching, but that of the inspired prophet +&e)iel: for he ta)es up a
la"entation over hi" and says, !ou were a seal of likeness, and a crown of
beauty; in the -aradise of God were you born : and soon after, !ou were born
blameless in your days, from the day in which you were created, until your
ini)uities were found in you3 Iery rightly has he said, were found in you! for they
were not brought in fro" without, but you yourself begot the evil. %he cause also
he "entions i""ediately: !our heart was lifted up because of your beauty* for
the multitude of your sins were you wounded, and % did cast you to the ground. 0n
agree"ent with this the -ord says again in the 'ospels: % beheld Satan as
lightning fall from heaven. -u)e 1G:1D <ou see the har"ony of the Old %esta"ent
with the /ew. He when cast out drew "any away with hi". 0t is he that puts lusts
into the" that listen to hi": fro" hi" co"e adultery, fornication, and every )ind
of evil. %hrough hi" our forefather Ada" was cast out for disobedience, and
e3changed a >aradise bringing forth wondrous fruits of its own accord for the
ground which brings forth thorns.
A. 8hat then5 So"e one will say. 8e have been beguiled and are lost. 0s there
then no salvation left5 8e have fallen: 0s it not possible to rise again5 8e have
been blinded: ,ay we not recover our sight5 8e have beco"e crippled: .an we
never wal) upright5 0n a word, we are dead: ,ay we not rise again5 He that wo)e
-a&arus who was four days dead and already stan), shall He not, O "an, "uch
"ore easily raise you who art alive5 He who shed His precious blood for us, shall
Hi"self deliver us fro" sin. -et us not despair of ourselves, brethren! let us not
abandon ourselves to a hopeless condition. $or it is a fearful thing not to believe
in a hope of repentance. $or he that loo)s not for salvation spares not to add evil
to evil: but to hi" that hopes for cure, it is henceforth easy to be careful over
hi"self. %he robber who loo)s not for pardon grows desperate! but, if he hopes for
forgiveness, often co"es to repentance. 8hat then, does the serpent cast its
slough , and shall not we cast o? our sin5 %horny ground also, if cultivated well, is
turned into fruitful! and is salvation to us irrecoverable5 /ay rather, our nature
ad"its of salvation, but the will also is re:uired.
B. 'od is loving to "an, and loving in no s"all "easure. $or say not, 0 have
co""itted fornication and adultery: 0 have done dreadful things, and not once
only, but often: will He forgive5 8ill He grant pardon5 Hear what the >sal"ist
says: #ow great is the multitude of !our goodness, 4 $ord# <our accu"ulated
14
o?enses surpass not the "ultitude of 'ods "ercies: your wounds surpass not the
great >hysicians s)ill. Only give yourself up in faith: tell the >hysician your
ail"ent: say thou also, li)e 4avid: % said, % will confess me my sin unto the $ord*
and the sa"e shall be done in your case, which he says i""ediately: 5nd you
forgave the wickedness of my heart.
C. 8ould you see the loving9)indness of 'od, O thou that art lately co"e to the
catechising5 8ould you see the loving9)indness of 'od, and the abundance of His
long9su?ering5 Hear about Ada". Ada", 'ods (rst9for"ed "an, transgressed:
could He not at once have brought death upon hi"5 7ut see what the -ord does,
in His great love towards "an. He casts hi" out fro" >aradise, for because of sin
he was unworthy to live there! but He puts him to dwell over against -aradise :
that seeing whence he had fallen, and fro" what and into what a state he was
brought down, he "ight afterwards be saved by repentance. .ain the (rst9born
"an beca"e his brothers "urderer, the inventor of evils, the (rst author of
"urders, and the (rst envious "an. <et after slaying his brother to what is he
conde"ned5 Groaning and trembling shall you be upon the earth. How great the
o?ense, the sentence how light#
D. +ven this then was truly loving9)indness in 'od, but little as yet in co"parison
with what follows. $or consider what happened in the days of /oe. %he giants
sinned, and "uch wic)edness was then spread over the earth, and because of
this the food was to co"e upon the": and in the (ve hundredth year 'od utters
His threatening! but in the si3 hundredth He brought the food upon the earth. 4o
you see the breadth of 'ods loving9)indness e3tending to a hundred years5
.ould He not have done i""ediately what He did then after the hundred years5
7ut He e3tended 1the ti"e2 on purpose, granting a respite for repentance. 4o you
see 'ods goodness5 And if the "en of that ti"e had repented, they would not
have "issed the loving9)indness of 'od.
F. .o"e with "e now to the other class, those who were saved by repentance.
7ut perhaps even a"ong wo"en so"e one will say, 0 have co""itted fornication,
and adultery, 0 have de(led "y body by e3cesses of all )inds: is there salvation
for "e5 %urn your eyes, O wo"an, upon Hahab, and loo) thou also for salvation!
for if she who had been openly and publicly a harlot was saved by repentance, is
not she who on so"e one occasion before receiving grace co""itted fornication
to be saved by repentance and fasting5 $or in:uire how she was saved: this only
15
she said: For your God is God in heaven and upon earth. @oshua *:11 !our God;
for her own she did not dare to say, because of her wanton life. And if you wish to
receive Scriptural testi"ony of her having been saved, you have it written in the
>sal"s: % will make mention of +ahab and Babylon among them that know me . O
the greatness of 'ods loving9)indness, "a)ing "ention even of harlots in the
Scriptures: nay, not si"ply % will make mention of +ahab and Babylon, but with
the addition, among them that know me. %here is then in the case both of "en
and of wo"en ali)e the salvation which is ushered in by repentance.
1G. /ay "ore, if a whole people sin, this surpasses not the loving9)indness of
'od. %he people "ade a calf, yet 'od ceased not fro" His loving9)indness. ,en
denied 'od, but 'od denied not Hi"self. * %i"othy *:16 (hese be your gods, 4
%srael +3odus 6*:=, they said: yet again, as He was wont, the 'od of 0srael
beca"e their Saviour. And not only the people sinned, but also Aaron the High
>riest. $or it is ,oses that says: 5nd the anger of the $ord came upon 5aron* and
% prayed for him, says he, and God forgave him. 4euterono"y F:*G 8hat then,
did ,oses praying for a High >riest that sinned prevail with 'od, and shall not
@esus, His Only9begotten, prevail with 'od when He prays for us5 And if He did not
hinder Aaron, because of his o?ense, fro" entering upon the High >riesthood, will
He hinder you, who has co"e out fro" the 'entiles, fro" entering into salvation5
Only, O "an, repent thou also in li)e "anner, and grace is not forbidden you.
Hender your way of life henceforth unbla"eable! for 'od is truly loving unto "an,
nor can all ti"e worthily tell out His loving )indness! nay, not if all the tongues of
"en unite together will they be able even so to declare any considerable part of
His loving9)indness. $or we tell so"e part of what is written concerning His
loving9)indness to "en, but how "uch He forgave the Angels we )now not: for
the" also He forgives, since One alone is without sin, even @esus who purges our
sins. And of the" we have said enough.
11. 7ut if concerning us "en you will have other e3a"ples also set before you ,
co"e on to the blessed 4avid, and ta)e hi" for an e3a"ple of repentance. 'reat
as he was, he fell: after his sleep, wal)ing in the eventide on the housetop, he
cast a careless loo), and felt a hu"an passion. His sin was co"pleted, but there
died not with it his candour concerning the confession of his fault. /athan the
>rophet ca"e, a swift accuser, and a healer of the wound. (he $ord is angry, he
says, and you have sinned. * Sa"uel 1* So spo)e the subEect to the reigning
16
)ing. 7ut 4avid the )ing was not indignant, for he regarded not the spea)er, but
'od who had sent hi". He was not pu?ed up by the array of soldiers standing
round: for he had seen in thought the angel9host of the -ord, and he tre"bled as
seeing #im who is invisible Hebrews 11:*C! and to the "essenger, or rather by
hi" in answer to 'od who sent hi", he said, % have sinned against the $ord.
* Sa"uel 1*:16 4o you see the hu"ility of the )ing5 4o you see his confession5
$or had he been convicted by any one5 8ere "any privy to the "atter5 %he deed
was :uic)ly done, and straightway the >rophet appeared as accuser, and the
o?ender confesses the fault. And because he candidly confessed, he received a
"ost speedy cure. $or /athan the >rophet who had uttered the threat, said
i""ediately, (he $ord also has put away your sin. <ou see the swift relenting of a
"erciful 'od. He says, however, !ou have greatly provoked the enemies of the
$ord. %hough you had "any ene"ies because of your righteousness, your self9
control protected you! but now that you have surrendered your strongest ar"our,
your ene"ies are risen up, and stand ready against you.
1*. %hus then did the >rophet co"fort hi", but the blessed 4avid, for all he heard
it said, (he $ord has put away your sin, did not cease fro" repentance, )ing
though he was, but put on sac)cloth instead of purple, and instead of a golden
throne, he sat, a )ing, in ashes on the ground! nay, not only sat in ashes, but also
had ashes for his food, even as he says hi"self, % have eaten ashes as it were
bread. His lustful eye he wasted away with tears saying, 6very night will % wash
my couch, and water my bed with my tears. 8hen his oLcers besought hi" to
eat bread he would not listen. He prolonged his fast unto seven whole days. 0f a
)ing thus "ade confession ought not thou, a private person, to confess5 Again,
after Absalo"s insurrection, though there were "any roads for hi" to escape, he
chose to fee by the ,ount of Olives, in thought, as it were, invo)ing the
Hedee"er who was to go up thence into the heavens. * Sa"uel 1B:1G911 And
when Shi"ei cursed hi" bitterly, he said, $et him alone, for he )new that to hi"
that forgives it shall be forgiven.
16. <ou see that it is good to "a)e confession. <ou see that there is salvation for
the" that repent. Solo"on also fell but what says he5 5fterwards % repented.
Ahab, too, the King of Sa"aria, beca"e a "ost wic)ed idolater, an outrageous
"an, the "urderer of the >rophets 1 Kings 1D:=, a stranger to godliness, a
coveter of other "ens (elds and vineyards. <et when by @e&ebels "eans he had
17
slain /aboth, and the >rophet +lias ca"e and "erely threatened hi", he rent his
gar"ents, and put on sac)cloth. And what says the "erciful 'od to +lias5 #ast
than seen how 5hab is pricked in the heart before "e 5 As if al"ost He would
persuade the (ery &eal of the >rophet to condescend to the penitent. $or He says,
% will not bring the evil in his days. And though after this forgiveness he was sure
not to depart fro" his wic)edness, nevertheless the forgiving 'od forgave hi",
not as being ignorant of the future, but as granting a forgiveness corresponding
to his present season of repentance. $or it is the part of a righteous Eudge to give
sentence according to each case that has occurred.
1=. Again, @eroboa" was standing at the altar sacri(cing to the idols: his hand
beca"e withered, because he co""anded the >rophet who reproved hi" to be
sei&ed: but having by e3perience learned the power of the "an before hi", he
says, 6ntreat the face of the $ord your God 1 Kings 16:B! and because of this
saying his hand was restored again. 0f the >rophet healed @eroboa", is .hrist not
able to heal and deliver you fro" your sins5 ,anasses also was utterly wic)ed,
who sawed 0saiah asunder , and was de(led with all )inds of idolatries, and 2lled
7erusalem with innocent blood * .hronicles 66:1*916! but having been led captive
to 7abylon he used his e3perience of "isfortune for a healing course of
repentance: for the Scripture says that ,anasses humbled himself before the
$ord, and prayed, and the $ord heard him, and brought him back to his kingdom.
0f He who sawed the >rophet asunder was saved by repentance, shall not thou
then, having done no such great wic)edness, be saved5
1A. %a)e heed lest without reason you "istrust the power of repentance. 8ould
you )now what power repentance has5 8ould you )now the strong weapon of
salvation, and learn what the force of confession is5 He&e)iah by "eans of
confession routed a hundred and fourscore and (ve thousand of his ene"ies. A
great thing verily was this, but still s"all in co"parison with what re"ains to be
told: the sa"e )ing by repentance obtained the recall of a divine sentence which
had already gone forth. $or when he had fallen sic), +saias said to hi", Set your
house in order; for you shall die, and not live. * Kings *G:1 8hat e3pectation
re"ained, what hope of recovery, when the >rophet said, for you shall die5 <et
He&e)iah did not desist fro" repentance! but re"e"bering what is written, ,hen
you shall turn and lament, then shall you be saved 0saiah 6G:1A, he turned to the
wall, and fro" his bed lifting his "ind to heaven 1for thic)ness of walls is no
18
hindrance to prayers sent up with devotion2, he said, He"e"ber "e, O -ord, for it
is suLcient for "y healing that <ou re"e"ber "e. <ou are not subEect to ti"es,
but art <ourself the giver of the law of life. $or our life depends not on a nativity,
nor on a conEunction of stars, as so"e idly tal)! but both of life and its duration.
%hen art <ourself the -awgiver according to <our 8ill. And he, who could not hope
to live because of the prophetic sentence, had (fteen years added to his life, and
for the sign the sun ran bac)ward in his course. 8ell then, for +&e)ias sa)e the
sun turned bac) but for .hrist the sun was eclipsed, not retracing his steps, but
su?ering eclipse 0saiah 6D:D, and therefore showing the di?erence between the",
0 "ean between +&e)ias and @esus. %he for"er prevailed to the cancelling of
'ods decree, and cannot @esus grant re"ission of sins5 %urn and bewail yourself,
shut your door, and pray to be forgiven, pray that He "ay re"ove fro" you the
burning fa"es. $or confession has power to :uench even (re, power to ta"e
even lions.
1B. 7ut if you disbelieve, consider what befell Ananias and his co"panions. 8hat
strea"s did they pour out 5 How "any vessels of water could :uench the fa"e
that rose up forty9nine cubits high 5 /ay, but where the fa"e "ounted up a little
too high, faith was there poured out as a river, and there spo)e they the spell
against all ills : +ighteous are !ou, 4 $ord, in all the things that !ou have done to
us* for we have sinned, and transgressed !our law. And their repentance :uelled
the fa"es. 0f you believe not that repentance is able to :uench the (re of hell,
learn it fro" what happened in regard to Ananias. 7ut so"e )een hearer will say,
%hose "en 'od rescued Eustly in that case: because they refused to co""it
idolatry, 'od gave the" that power. And since this thought has occurred, 0 co"e
ne3t to a di?erent e3a"ple of penitence.
1C. 8hat do you thin) of /abuchodonosor5 Have you not heard out of the
Scriptures that he was bloodthirsty, (erce , lion9li)e in disposition5 Have you not
heard that he brought out the bones of the )ings fro" their graves into the light 5
Have you not heard that he carried the people away captive5 Have you not heard
that he put out the eyes of the )ing, after he had already seen his children slain
* Kings *A:C5 Have you not heard that he bro)e in pieces the .herubi"5 0 do not
"ean the invisible beings;away with such a thought, O "an ;but the sculptured
i"ages, and the "ercy9seat, in the "idst of which 'od spo)e with His voice. %he
veil of the Sanctuary he tra"pled under foot: the altar of incense he too) and
19
carried away to an idol9te"ple * .hronicles 6B:C: all the o?erings he too) away:
the %e"ple he burned fro" the foundations. How great punish"ents did he
deserve, for slaying )ings, for setting (re to the Sanctuary, for ta)ing the people
captive, for setting the sacred vessels in the house of idols5 4id he not deserve
ten thousand deaths5
1D. <ou have seen the greatness of his evil deeds: co"e now to 'ods loving9
)indness. He was turned into a wild beast , he abode in the wilderness, he was
scourged, that he "ight be saved. He had claws as a lion ! for he was a ravager of
the Sanctuary. He had a lions "ane: for he was a ravening and a roaring lion. He
ate grass li)e an o3: for a brute beast he was, not )nowing Hi" who had given
hi" the )ingdo". His body was wet fro" the dew! because after seeing the (re
:uenched by the dew he believed not. And what happened 5 5fter this, says he, %,
8abuchodonosor, lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and % blessed the "ost #igh,
and to #im that lives for ever % gave praise and glory. 4aniel =:6= 8hen,
therefore, he recognised the ,ost High , and sent up these words of than)fulness
to 'od, and repented hi"self for what he had done, and recognised his own
wea)ness, then 'od gave bac) to hi" the honour of the )ingdo".
1F. 8hat then 5 8hen /abuchodonosor, after having done such deeds, had "ade
confession, did 'od give hi" pardon and the )ingdo", and when you repent shall
He not give you the re"ission of sins, and the )ingdo" of heaven, if you live a
worthy life5 %he -ord is loving unto "an, and swift to pardon, but slow to punish.
-et no "an therefore despair of his own salvation. >eter, the chiefest and
fore"ost of the Apostles, denied the -ord thrice before a little "aid: but he
repented hi"self, and wept bitterly. /ow weeping shows the repentance of the
heart: and therefore he not only received forgiveness for his denial, but also held
his Apostolic dignity unforfeited.
*G. Having therefore, brethren, "any e3a"ples of those who have sinned and
repented and been saved, do ye also heartily "a)e confession unto the -ord, that
you "ay both receive the forgiveness of your for"er sins, and be counted worthy
of the heavenly gift, and inherit the heavenly )ingdo" with all the saints in .hrist
@esus! to 8ho" is the glory for ever and ever. A"en.
20
"n aptism%
Ho"ans B:69=
Or do you not )now that all we who were bapti&ed into .hrist @esus were bapti&ed
into His death5 8ere buried therefore with Hi" by our baptis" into death, etc.
1. +eoice, you heavens, and let the earth be glad , for those who are to be
sprin)led with hyssop, and cleansed with the spiritual hyssop, the power of Hi"
to who" at His >assion drin) was o?ered on hyssop and a reed. And while the
Heavenly >owers reEoice, let the souls that are to be united to the spiritual
7ridegroo" "a)e the"selves ready. $or the voice is heard of one crying in the
wilderness, -repare the way of the $ord. 0saiah =G:6 $or this is no light "atter, no
ordinary and indiscri"inate union according to the fesh , but the All9searching
Spirits election according to faith. $or the inter9"arriages and contracts of the
world are not "ade altogether with Eudg"ent: but wherever there is wealth or
beauty, there the bridegroo" speedily approves: but here it is not beauty of
person, but the souls clear conscience! not the conde"ned ,a""on, but the
wealth of the soul in godliness.
*. -isten then, O you children of righteousness, to @ohns e3hortation when he
says, "ake straight the way of the $ord. %a)e away all obstacles and stu"bling9
bloc)s, that you "ay wal) straight onward to eternal life. ,a)e ready the vessels
of the soul, cleansed by unfeigned faith, for reception of the Holy 'host. 7egin at
once to wash your robes in repentance, that when called to the bride9cha"ber
you "ay be found clean. $or the 7ridegroo" invites all without distinction,
because His grace is bounteous! and the cry of loud9voiced heralds asse"bles
the" all: but the sa"e 7ridegroo" afterwards separates those who have co"e in
to the (gurative "arriage. O "ay none of those whose na"es have now been
enrolled hear the words, Friend, how did you come in hither, not having a
wedding garment ,atthew **:1*5 7ut "ay you all hear, ,ell done, good and
faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, % will set you over many
things* enter thou into the oy of your lord ,atthew *A:1* .
$or now "eanwhile you stand outside the door: but 'od grant that you all "ay
say, (he 9ing has brought me into #is chamber. Song of Songs 1:= $et my soul
reoice in the $ord* for #e has clothed me with a garment of salvation, and a robe
21
of gladness* #e has crowned me with a garland as a bridegroom , and decked me
with ornaments as a bride: that the soul of every one of you "ay be found not
having spot or wrinkle or any such thing +phesians A:C! 0 do not "ean before you
have received the grace, for how could that be5 Since it is for re"ission of sins
that you have been called! but that, when the grace is to be given, your
conscience being found unconde"ned "ay concur with the grace.
6. %his is in truth a serious "atter, brethren, and you "ust approach it with good
heed. +ach one of you is about to be presented to 'od before tens of thousands
of the Angelic Hosts: the Holy 'host is about to seal your souls: you are to be
enrolled in the ar"y of the 'reat King. %herefore "a)e you ready, and e:uip
yourselves, by putting on 0 "ean, not bright apparel , but piety of soul with a
good conscience. Hegard not the -aver as si"ple water, but rather regard the
spiritual grace that is given with the water. $or Eust as the o?erings brought to the
heathen altars , though si"ple in their nature, beco"e de(led by the invocation
of the idols , so contrariwise the si"ple water having received the invocation of
the Holy 'host, and of .hrist, and of the $ather, ac:uires a new power of holiness.
=. $or since "an is of twofold nature, soul and body, the puri(cation also is
twofold, the one incorporeal for the incorporeal part, and the other bodily for the
body: the water cleanses the body, and the Spirit seals the soul! that we "ay
draw near unto 'od, having our heart sprinkled by the Spirit, and our body
washed with pure water. Hebrews 1G:** 8hen going down, therefore, into the
water, thin) not of the bare ele"ent, but loo) for salvation by the power of the
Holy 'host: for without both you can not possibly be "ade perfect. 0t is not 0 that
say this, but the -ord @esus .hrist, who has the power in this "atter: for He says,
:nless a man be born anew 1and He adds the words2 of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. @ohn 6:6 /either does he that is
bapti&ed with water, but not found worthy of the Spirit, receive the grace in
perfection! nor if a "an be virtuous in his deeds, but receive not the seal by
water, shall he enter into the )ingdo" of heaven. A bold saying, but not "ine, for
it is @esus who has declared it: and here is the proof of the state"ent fro" Holy
Scripture. .ornelius was a Eust "an, who was honoured with a vision of Angels,
and had set up his prayers and al"sdeeds as a good "e"orial before 'od in
heaven. >eter ca"e, and the Spirit was poured out upon the" that believed, and
they spo)e with other tongues, and prophesied: and after the grace of the Spirit
22
the Scripture says that >eter commanded them to be bapti;ed in the name of
7esus 'hrist Acts 1G:=D! in order that, the soul having been born again by faith ,
the body also "ight by the water parta)e of the grace.
A. 7ut if any one wishes to )now why the grace is given by water and not by a
di?erent ele"ent, let hi" ta)e up the 4ivine Scriptures and he shall learn. $or
water is a grand thing, and the noblest of the four visible ele"ents of the world.
Heaven is the dwelling9place of Angels, but the heavens are fro" the waters : the
earth is the place of "en, but the earth is fro" the waters: and before the whole
si3 days for"ation of the things that were "ade, the Spirit of God moved upon
the face of the water. 'enesis 1:* %he water was the beginning of the world, and
@ordan the beginning of the 'ospel tidings: for 0srael deliverance fro" >haraoh
was through the sea, and for the world deliverance fro" sins by the washing of
water with the word +phesians A:*B of 'od. 8here a covenant is "ade with any,
there is water also. After the food, a covenant was "ade with /oah: a covenant
for 0srael fro" ,ount Sinai, but with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop.
Hebrews F:1F +lias is ta)en up, but not apart fro" water: for (rst he crosses the
@ordan, then in a chariot "ounts the heaven. %he high9priest is (rst washed, then
o?ers incense! for Aaron (rst washed, then was "ade high9priest: for how could
one who had not yet been puri(ed by water pray for the rest5 Also as a sy"bol of
7aptis" there was a laver set apart within the %abernacle.
B. 7aptis" is the end of the Old %esta"ent, and beginning of the /ew. $or its
author was @ohn, than who" was none greater among them that are born of
women. %he end he was of the >rophets: for all the -rophets and the law were
until 7ohn ,atthew 11:16: but of the 'ospel history he was the (rst9fruit. $or it
says, (he beginning of the Gospel of 7esus 'hrist, etc3: 7ohn came baptising in the
wilderness. <ou "ay "ention +lias the %ishbite who was ta)en up into heaven, yet
he is not greater than @ohn: +noch was translated, but he is not greater than @ohn:
,oses was a very great lawgiver, and all the >rophets were ad"irable, but not
greater than @ohn. 0t is not 0 that dare to co"pare >rophets with >rophets: but
their ,aster and ours, the -ord @esus, declared it: 5mong them that are born of
women there has not risen a greater than 7ohn ,atthew 11:11: He says not
a"ong the" that are born of virgins, but of women. %he co"parison is between
the great servant and his fellow9servants: but the pre9e"inence and the grace of
the Son is beyond co"parison with servants. 4o you see how great a "an 'od
23
chose as the (rst "inister of this grace5; a "an possessing nothing, and a lover
of the desert, yet no hater of "an)ind: who ate locusts, and winged his soul for
heaven : feeding upon honey, and spea)ing things both sweeter and "ore
salutary than honey: clothed with a gar"ent of ca"els hair, and showing in
hi"self the pattern of the ascetic life! who also was sancti(ed by the Holy 'host
while yet he was carried in his "others wo"b. @ere"iah was sancti(ed, but did
not prophesy, in the wo"b @ere"iah 1:A: @ohn alone while carried in the wo"b
leaped for Eoy -u)e 1:==, and though he saw not with the eyes of fesh, )new his
,aster by the Spirit: for since the grace of 7aptis" was great, it re:uired
greatness in its founder also.
C. %his "an was bapti&ing in @ordan, and there went out unto him all 7erusalem
,atthew 6:A, to enEoy the (rst9fruits of baptis"s: for in @erusale" is the
prerogative of all things good. 7ut learn, O you inhabitants of @erusale", how they
that ca"e out were bapti&ed by hi": confessing their sins, it is said. ,atthew 6:B
$irst they showed their wounds, then he applied the re"edies, and to the" that
believed gave rede"ption fro" eternal (re. And if you will be convinced of this
very point, that the baptis" of @ohn is a rede"ption fro" the threat of the (re,
hear how he says, 4 generation of vipers, who has warned you to <ee from the
wrath to come ? Be not then henceforth a viper, but as you have been formerly a
viper=s brood, put o&, says he, the slough of your former sinful life3 For every
serpent creeps into a hole and casts its old slough, and having rubbed o& the old
skin, grows young again in body3 %n like manner enter thou also through the strait
and narrow gate ,atthew C:1691=: rub o? your for"er self by fasting, and drive
out that which is destroying you. -ut o& the old man with his doings
.olossians 6:F, and :uote that saying in the .anticles, % have put o& my coat,
how shall % put it on 5
7ut there is perhaps a"ong you so"e hypocrite, a "an9pleaser, and one who
"a)es a pretence of piety, but believes not fro" the heart! having the hypocrisy
of Si"on ,agus! one who has co"e hither not in order to receive of the grace,
but to spy out what is given: let hi" also learn fro" @ohn: 5nd now also the a.e is
laid unto the root of the trees, 6very tree therefore that brings not forth good
fruit is hewn down, and cast into the 2re. ,atthew 6:1G %he @udge is ine3orable!
put away your hypocrisy.
24
D. 8hat then "ust you do5 And what are the fruits of repentance5 $et him that
has two coats give to him that has none -u)e 6:11: the teacher was worthy of
credit, since he was also the (rst to practise what he taught: he was not asha"ed
to spea), for conscience hindered not his tongue: and he that has meat, let him
do likewise. 8ould you enEoy the grace of the Holy Spirit, yet Eudgest the poor not
worthy of bodily food5 See)est thou the great gifts, and i"partest not of the
s"all5 %hough you be a publican, or a fornicator, have hope of salvation: the
publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. ,atthew *1:61
>aul also is witness, saying, 8either fornicators, nor adulterers, nor the rest, shall
inherit the kingdom of God3 5nd such were some of you* but you were washed,
but you were sancti2ed. 1 .orinthians B:F91G He said not, such are some of you,
but such were some of you. Sin co""itted in the state of ignorance is pardoned,
but persistent wic)edness is conde"ned.
F. <ou have as the glory of 7aptis" the Son Hi"self, the Only9begotten of 'od.
$or why should 0 spea) any "ore of "an5 @ohn was great, but what is he to the
-ord5 His was a loud9sounding voice, but what in co"parison with the 8ord5 Iery
noble was the herald, but what in co"parison with the King5 /oble was he that
bapti&ed with water, but what to Hi" that bapti&es with the #oly Ghost and with
2re ,atthew 6:115 %he Saviour bapti&ed the Apostles with the Holy 'host and
with (re, when suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of the rushing of a
mighty wind, and it 2lled all the house where they were sitting3 5nd there
appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of 2re* and it sat upon each one of
them, and they were all 2lled with the #oly Ghost Acts *:* .
1G. 0f any "an receive not 7aptis", he has not salvation! e3cept only ,artyrs,
who even without the water receive the )ingdo". $or when the Saviour, in
redee"ing the world by His .ross, was pierced in the side, He shed forth blood
and water! that "en, living in ti"es of peace, "ight be bapti&ed in water, and, in
ti"es of persecution, in their own blood. $or "artyrdo" also the Saviour is wont
to call a baptis", saying, 'an you drink the cup which % drink, and be bapti;ed
with the baptism that % am bapti;ed with ,ar) 1G:6D5 And the ,artyrs confess, by
being made a spectacle unto the world, and to 5ngels, and to men
1 .orinthians =:F! and you will soon confess:; but it is not yet the ti"e for you to
hear of this.
25
11. @esus sancti(ed 7aptis" by being Hi"self bapti&ed. 0f the Son of 'od was
bapti&ed, what godly "an is he that despises 7aptis"5 7ut He was bapti&ed not
that He "ight receive re"ission of sins, for He was sinless! but being sinless, He
was bapti&ed, that He "ight give to the" that are bapti&ed a divine and e3cellent
grace. $or since the children are partakers of <esh and blood, #e also #imself
likewise partook of the same Hebrews *:1=, that having been "ade parta)ers of
His presence in the fesh we "ight be "ade parta)ers also of His 4ivine grace:
thus @esus was bapti&ed, that thereby we again by our participation "ight receive
both salvation and honour. According to @ob, there was in the waters the dragon
that draws up 7ordan into his mouth. @ob =G:*6 Since, therefore, it was necessary
to brea) the heads of the dragon in pieces , He went down and bound the strong
one in the waters, that we "ight receive power to tread upon serpents and
scorpions. -u)e 1G:1F %he beast was great and terrible. 8o 2shing/vessel was
able to carry one scale of his tail : destruction ran before hi" , ravaging all that
"et hi". %he -ife encountered hi", that the "outh of 4eath "ight henceforth be
stopped, and all we that are saved "ight say, 4 death, where is your sting? 4
grave, where is your victory 1 .orinthians 1A:AA5 %he sting of death is drawn by
7aptis".
1*. $or you go down into the water, bearing your sins, but the invocation of grace
, having sealed your soul, su?ers you not afterwards to be swallowed up by the
terrible dragon. Having gone down dead in sins, you co"e up :uic)ened in
righteousness. $or if you have been united with the likeness of the Saviour=s
death Ho"ans B:A, you shall also be dee"ed worthy of His Hesurrection. $or as
@esus too) upon Hi" the sins of the world, and died, that by putting sin to death
He "ight rise again in righteousness! so thou by going down into the water, and
being in a "anner buried in the waters, as He was in the roc), art raised again
walking in newness of life.
16. ,oreover, when you have been dee"ed worthy of the grace, He then gives
you strength to wrestle against the adverse powers. $or as after His 7aptis" He
was te"pted forty days 1not that He was unable to gain the victory before, but
because He wished to do all things in due order and succession2, so thou li)ewise,
though not daring before your baptis" to wrestle with the adversaries, yet after
you have received the grace and art henceforth con(dent in the armour of
26
righteousness * .orinthians B:C, "ust then do battle, and preach the 'ospel, if
you will.
1=. @esus .hrist was the Son of 'od, yet He preached not the 'ospel before His
7aptis". 0f the ,aster Hi"self followed the right ti"e in due order, ought we, His
servants, to venture out of order5 From that time 7esus began to preach
"atthew >*?@ , when the #oly Spirit had descended upon #im in a bodily shape,
like a dove -u)e 6:**! not that @esus "ight see Hi" (rst, for He )new Hi" even
before He ca"e in a bodily shape, but that @ohn, who was bapti&ing Hi", "ight
behold Hi". $or %, says he, knew #im not* but #e that sent me to bapti;e with
water, #e said unto me, :pon whomsoever you shall see the Spirit descending
and abiding on #im, that is #e. @ohn 1:66 0f you too hast unfeigned piety, the Holy
'host co"es down on you also, and a $athers voice sounds over you fro" on
high; not, (his is "y Son, but, %his has now been "ade ,y son! for the is
belongs to Hi" alone, because %n the beginning was the ,ord, and the ,ord was
with God, and the ,ord was God. %o Hi" belongs the is, since He is always the
Son of 'od: but to you has now been "ade: since you have not the sonship by
nature, but receive it by adoption. He eternally is! but you receive the grace by
advance"ent.
1A. ,a)e ready then the vessel of your soul, that you "ay beco"e a son of 'od,
and an heir of God, and oint/heir with 'hrist Ho"ans D:1C! if, indeed, you are
preparing yourself that you "ay receive! if you are drawing near in faith that you
"ay be "ade faithful! if of set purpose you are putting o? the old "an. $or all
things whatsoever you have done shall be forgiven you, whether it be fornication,
or adultery, or any other such for" of licentiousness. 8hat can be a greater sin
than to crucify .hrist5 <et even of this 7aptis" can purify. $or so spo)e >eter to
the three thousand who ca"e to hi", to those who had cruci(ed the -ord, when
they as)ed hi", saying, "en and brethren, what shall we do Acts *:6C5 $or the
wound is great. <ou have "ade us thin) of our fall, O >eter, by saying, !ou killed
the -rince of $ife. 8hat salve is there for so great a wound5 8hat cleansing for
such foulness5 8hat is the salvation for such perdition5 +epent, says he, and be
bapti;ed every one of you in the name of 7esus 'hrist our $ord, for the remission
of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the #oly Ghost. O unspea)able loving9
)indness of 'od# %hey have no hope of being saved, and yet they are thought
worthy of the Holy 'host. <ou see the power of 7aptis"# 0f any of you has
27
cruci(ed the .hrist by blasphe"ous words! if any of you in ignorance has denied
Hi" before "en! if any by wic)ed wor)s has caused the doctrine to be
blasphe"ed! let hi" repent and be of good hope, for the sa"e grace is present
even now.
1B. Be of good courage, 4 7erusalem; the $ord will take away all your ini)uities.
(he $ord will wash away the 2lth of #is sons and of #is daughters by the Spirit of
udgment, and by the Spirit of burning 0saiah =:= . #e will sprinkle clean water
upon you, and you shall be cleansed from all your sin. +&e)iel 6B:*A Angels shall
dance around you, and say, 8ho is this that co"es up in white array, leaning
upon her beloved 5 $or the soul that was for"erly a slave has now adopted her
,aster Hi"self as her )ins"an: and He accepting the unfeigned purpose will
answer: Behold, you are fair, my love; behold, you are fair* your teeth are like
<ocks of sheep new shorn, 1because of the confession of a good conscience: and
further2 which have all of them twins ! because of the twofold grace, 0 "ean that
which is perfected of water and of the Spirit , or that which is announced by the
Old and by the /ew %esta"ent. And 'od grant that all of you when you have
(nished the course of the fast, "ay re"e"ber what 0 say, and bringing forth fruit
in good wor)s, "ay stand bla"eless beside the Spiritual 7ridegroo", and obtain
the re"ission of your sins fro" 'od! to who" with the Son and Holy Spirit be the
glory for ever. A"en.
"n the Ten &oints of 'octrine%
.olossians *:D.
7eware lest any "an spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of "en, after the rudi"ents of the world, etc.
1. Iice "i"ics virtue, and the tares strive to be thought wheat, growing li)e the
wheat in appearance, but being detected by good Eudges fro" the taste. (he
devil also trans2gures himself into an angel of light * .orinthians 11:1=! not that
he "ay reascend to where he was, for having "ade his heart hard as an anvil , he
has henceforth a will that cannot repent! but in order that he "ay envelope those
who are living an Angelic life in a "ist of blindness, and a pestilent condition of
unbelief. ,any wolves are going about in sheeps= clothing , their clothing being
that of sheep, not so their claws and teeth: but clad in their soft s)in, and
28
deceiving the innocent by their appearance, they shed upon the" fro" their
fangs the destructive poison of ungodliness. 8e have need therefore of divine
grace, and of a sober "ind, and of eyes that see, lest fro" eating tares as wheat
we su?er har" fro" ignorance, and lest fro" ta)ing the wolf to be a sheep we
beco"e his prey, and fro" supposing the destroying 4evil to be a bene(cent
Angel we be devoured: for, as the Scripture says, he goes about as a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour. 1 >eter A:D %his is the cause of the .hurchs
ad"onitions, the cause of the present instructions, and of the lessons which are
read.
*. $or the "ethod of godliness consists of these two things, pious doctrines, and
virtuous practice: and neither are the doctrines acceptable to 'od apart fro"
good wor)s, nor does 'od accept the wor)s which are not perfected with pious
doctrines. $or what pro(t is it, to )now well the doctrines concerning 'od, and yet
to be a vile fornicator5 And again, what pro(t is it, to be nobly te"perate, and an
i"pious blasphe"er5 A "ost precious possession therefore is the )nowledge of
doctrines: also there is need of a wa)eful soul, since there are "any that make
spoil through philosophy and vain deceit. .olossians *:D %he 'ree)s on the one
hand draw "en away by their s"ooth tongue, for honey drops from a harlot=s lips
>roverbs A:6: whereas they of the .ircu"cision deceive those who co"e to the"
by "eans of the 4ivine Scriptures, which they "iserably "isinterpret though
studying them from childhood to old age , and growing old in ignorance. 7ut the
children of heretics, by their good words and smooth tongue, deceive the hearts
of the innocent , disguising with the na"e of .hrist as it were with honey the
poisoned arrows of their i"pious doctrines: concerning all of who" together the
-ord says, %a)e heed lest any "an "islead you. ,atthew *=:= %his is the reason
for the teaching of the .reed and for e3positions upon it.
6. 7ut before delivering you over to the .reed , 0 thin) it is well to "a)e use at
present of a short su""ary of necessary doctrines! that the "ultitude of things
to be spo)en, and the long interval of the days of all this holy -ent, "ay not cause
forgetfulness in the "ind of the "ore si"ple a"ong you! but that, having strewn
so"e seeds now in a su""ary way, we "ay not forget the sa"e when
afterwards "ore widely tilled. 7ut let those here present whose habit of "ind is
"ature, and who have their senses already e.ercised to discern good and evil
Hebrews A:1=, endure patiently to listen to things (tted rather for children, and to
29
an introductory course, as it were, of "il): that at the sa"e ti"e both those who
have need of the instruction "ay be bene(ted, and those who have the
)nowledge "ay re)indle the re"e"brance of things which they already )now.
I% "f (od%
=. $irst then let there be laid as a foundation in your soul the doctrine concerning
'od! that 'od is One, alone unbegotten, without beginning, change, or variation !
neither begotten of another, nor having another to succeed Hi" in His life! who
neither began to live in ti"e, nor ends ever: and that He is both good and Eust!
that if ever thou hear a heretic say, that there is one 'od who is Eust, and another
who is good , you "ay i""ediately re"e"ber, and discern the poisoned arrow of
heresy. $or so"e have i"piously dared to divide the One 'od in their teaching:
and so"e have said that one is the .reator and -ord of the soul, and another of
the body ! a doctrine at once absurd and i"pious. $or how can a "an beco"e the
one servant of two "asters, when our -ord says in the 'ospels, 8o man can
serve two masters 5 %here is then One Only 'od, the ,a)er both of souls and
bodies: One the .reator of heaven and earth, the ,a)er of Angels and
Archangels: of "any the .reator, but of One only the $ather before all ages;of
One only, His Only9begotten Son, our -ord @esus .hrist, by 8ho" He "ade all
things visible and invisible.
A. %his $ather of our -ord @esus .hrist is not circu"scribed in any place , nor is He
less than the heaven! but the heavens are the works of #is 2ngers , and the
whole earth is held in #is grasp 0saiah =G:1*: He is in all things and around all.
%hin) not that the sun is brighter than He , or e:ual to Hi": for He who at (rst
for"ed the sun "ust needs be inco"parably greater and brighter. He fore)nows
the things that shall be, and is "ightier than all, )nowing all things and doing as
He will! not being subEect to any necessary se:uence of events, nor to nativity,
nor chance, nor fate! in all things perfect, and e:ually possessing every absolute
for" of virtue, neither di"inishing nor increasing, but in "ode and conditions
ever the sa"e! who has prepared punish"ent for sinners, and a crown for the
righteous.
B. Seeing then that "any have gone astray in various ways fro" the One 'od,
so"e having dei(ed the sun, that when the sun sets they "ay abide in the night
season without 'od! others the "oon, to have no 'od by day ! others the other
30
parts of the world ! others the arts ! others their various )inds of food ! others
their pleasures ! while so"e, "ad after wo"en, have set up on high an i"age of
a na)ed wo"an, and called it Aphrodite , and worshipped their own lust in a
visible for"! and others da&&led by the brightness of gold have dei(ed it and the
other )inds of "atter!; whereas if one lay as a (rst foundation in his heart the
doctrine of the unity of 'od, and trust to Hi", he roots out at once the whole crop
of the evils of idolatry, and of the error of the heretics: lay thou, therefore, this
(rst doctrine of religion as a foundation in your soul by faith.
"f Christ%
C. 7elieve also in the Son of 'od, One and Only, our -ord @esus .hrist, 8ho was
begotten 'od of 'od, begotten -ife of -ife, begotten -ight of -ight , 8ho is in all
things li)e to Hi" that begot, 8ho received not His being in ti"e, but was before
all ages eternally and inco"prehensibly begotten of the $ather: %he 8isdo" and
the >ower of 'od, and His Highteousness personally subsisting : 8ho sits on the
right hand of the $ather before all ages.
$or the throne at 'ods right hand He received not, as so"e have thought,
because of His patient endurance, being crowned as it were by 'od after His
>assion! but throughout His being;a being by eternal generation ;He holds His
royal dignity, and shares the $athers seat, being 'od and 8isdo" and >ower, as
has been said! reigning together with the $ather, and creating all things for the
$ather, yet lac)ing nothing in the dignity of 'odhead, and )nowing Hi" that has
begotten Hi", even as He is )nown of Hi" that has begotten! and to spea)
briefy, re"e"ber thou what is written in the 'ospels, that none knows the Son
but the Father, neither knows any the Father save the Son.
D. $urther, do thou neither separate the Son fro" the $ather, nor by "a)ing a
confusion believe in a Son9$atherhood ! but believe that of One 'od there is One
Only9begotten Son, who is before all ages 'od the 8ord! not the uttered word
di?used into the air, nor to be li)ened to i"personal words ! but the 8ord the
Son, ,a)er of all who parta)e of reason, the 8ord who hears the $ather, and
Hi"self spea)s. And on these points, should 'od per"it, we will spea) "ore at
large in due season! for we do not forget our present purpose to give a su""ary
introduction to the $aith.
31
Concerning )is irth of the *irgin%
F. 7elieve then that this Only9begotten Son of 'od for our sins ca"e down fro"
heaven upon earth, and too) upon Hi" this hu"an nature of li)e passions with
us, and was begotten of the Holy Iirgin and of the Holy 'host, and was "ade
,an, not in see"ing and "ere show , but in truth! nor yet by passing through the
Iirgin as through a channel ! but was of her "ade truly fesh, Jand truly nourished
with "il) K, and did truly eat as we do, and truly drin) as we do. $or if the
0ncarnation was a phanto", salvation is a phanto" also. %he .hrist was of two
natures, ,an in what was seen, but 'od in what was not seen! as ,an truly
eating li)e us, for He had the li)e feeling of the fesh with us! but as 'od feeding
the (ve thousand fro" (ve loaves! as ,an truly dying, but as 'od raising hi"
that had been dead four days! truly sleeping in the ship as ,an, and wal)ing upon
the waters as 'od.
"f the Cross%
1G. He was truly cruci(ed for our sins. $or if you would deny it, the place refutes
you visibly, this blessed 'olgotha , in which we are now asse"bled for the sa)e of
Hi" who was here cruci(ed! and the whole world has since been (lled with pieces
of the wood of the .ross. 7ut He was cruci(ed not for sins of His own, but that we
"ight be delivered fro" our sins. And though as ,an He was at that ti"e
despised of men, and was bu?eted, yet He was ac)nowledged by the .reation as
'od: for when the sun saw his -ord dishonoured, he grew di" and tre"bled, not
enduring the sight.
"f )is urial%
11. He was truly laid as ,an in a to"b of roc)! but roc)s were rent asunder by
terror because of Hi". He went down into the regions beneath the earth, that
thence also He "ight redee" the righteous. $or, tell "e, could thou wish the
living only to enEoy His grace, and that, though "ost of the" are unholy! and not
wish those who fro" Ada" had for a long while been i"prisoned to have now
gained their liberty5 +saias the >rophet proclai"ed with loud voice so "any
things concerning Hi"! would you not wish that the King should go down and
redee" His herald5 4avid was there, and Sa"uel, and all the >rophets , @ohn
hi"self also, who by his "essengers said, 5re you #e that should come, or look
32
we for another ,atthew 11:65 8ould you not wish that He should descend and
redee" such as these5
"f the #esurrection%
1*. 7ut He who descended into the regions beneath the earth ca"e up again!
and @esus, who was buried, truly rose again the third day. And if the @ews ever
worry you, "eet the" at once by as)ing thus: 4id @onah co"e forth fro" the
whale on the third day, and has not .hrist then risen fro" the earth on the third
day5 0s a dead "an raised to life on touching the bones of +lisha, and is it not
"uch easier for the ,a)er of "an)ind to be raised by the power of the $ather5
8ell then, He truly rose, and after He had risen was seen again of the disciples:
and twelve disciples were witnesses of His Hesurrection, who bore witness not in
pleasing words, but contended even unto torture and death for the truth of the
Hesurrection. 8hat then, shall every word be established at the mouth of two of
three witnesses 4euterono"y 1F:1A, according to the Scripture, and, though
twelve bear witness to the Hesurrection of .hrist, are you still incredulous in
regard to His Hesurrection5
Concerning the $scension%
16. 7ut when @esus had (nished His course of patient endurance, and had
redee"ed "an)ind fro" their sins, He ascended again into the heavens, a cloud
receiving Hi" up: and as He went up Angels were beside Hi", and Apostles were
beholding. 7ut if any "an disbelieves the words which 0 spea), let hi" believe the
actual power of the things now seen. All )ings when they die have their power
e3tinguished with their life: but .hrist cruci(ed is worshipped by the whole world.
8e proclai" %he .ruci(ed, and the devils tre"ble now. ,any have been cruci(ed
at various ti"es! but of what other who was cruci(ed did the invocation ever
drive the devils away5
1=. -et us, therefore, not be asha"ed of the .ross of .hrist! but though another
hide it, do thou openly seal it upon your forehead, that the devils "ay behold the
royal sign and fee tre"bling far away. ,a)e then this sign at eating and drin)ing,
at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at spea)ing, at wal)ing: in a word, at every
act. $or He who was here cruci(ed is in heaven above. 0f after being cruci(ed and
buried He had re"ained in the to"b, we should have had cause to be asha"ed!
33
but, in fact, He who was cruci(ed on 'olgotha here, has ascended into heaven
fro" the ,ount of Olives on the +ast. $or after having gone down hence into
Hades, and co"e up again to us, He ascended again fro" us into heaven, His
$ather addressing Hi", and saying, Sit on "y right hand, until % make !our
enemies !our footstool.
"f Judgment to Come%
1A. %his @esus .hrist who is gone up shall co"e again, not fro" earth but fro"
heaven: and 0 say, not fro" earth, because there are "any Antichrists to co"e at
this ti"e fro" earth. $or already, as you have seen, "any have begun to say, %
am the 'hrist ,atthew *=:A: and the abomination of desolation is yet to co"e,
assu"ing to hi"self the false title of .hrist. 7ut loo) thou for the true .hrist, the
Only9begotten Son of 'od, co"ing henceforth no "ore fro" earth, but fro"
heaven, appearing to all "ore bright than any lightning and brilliancy of light,
with angel guards attended, that He "ay Eudge both :uic) and dead, and reign in
a heavenly, eternal )ingdo", which shall have no end. $or on this point also, 0
pray you, "a)e yourself sure, since there are "any who say that .hrists
Kingdo" has an end.
"f the )oly (host%
1B. 7elieve thou also in the Holy 'host, and hold the sa"e opinion concerning
Hi", which you have received to hold concerning the $ather and the Son, and
follow not those who teach blasphe"ous things of Hi". 7ut learn thou that this
Holy Spirit is One, indivisible, of "anifold power! having "any operations, yet not
Hi"self divided! 8ho )nows the "ysteries, 8ho searches all things, even the
deep things of God 1 .orinthians *:1G: 8ho descended upon the -ord @esus .hrist
in for" of a dove! 8ho wrought in the -aw and in the >rophets! 8ho now also at
the season of 7aptis" seals your soul! of 8hose holiness also every intellectual
nature has need: against 8ho" if any dare to blaspheme, he has no forgiveness,
neither in this world, nor in that which is to come ,atthew 1*:6*: 8ho with the
$ather and the Son together is honoured with the glory of the 'odhead: of 8ho"
also thrones, and dominions, principalities, and powers have need.
.olossians 1:1B $or there is One 'od, the $ather of .hrist! and One -ord @esus
.hrist, the Only9begotten Son of the Only 'od! and One Holy 'host, the sancti(er
34
and dei(er of all , 8ho spo)e in the -aw and in the >rophets, in the Old and in the
/ew %esta"ent.
1C. Have thou ever in your "ind this seal , which for the present has been lightly
touched in "y discourse, by way of su""ary, but shall be stated, should the -ord
per"it, to the best of "y power with the proof fro" the Scriptures. $or concerning
the divine and holy "ysteries of the $aith, not even a casual state"ent "ust be
delivered without the Holy Scriptures! nor "ust we be drawn aside by "ere
plausibility and arti(ces of speech. +ven to "e, who tell you these things, give
not absolute credence, unless thou receive the proof of the things which 0
announce fro" the 4ivine Scriptures. $or this salvation which we believe depends
not on ingenious reasoning , but on de"onstration of the Holy Scriptures.
"f the Soul%
1D. /e3t to the )nowledge of this venerable and glorious and all9holy $aith, learn
further what you yourself art: that as "an you are of a two9fold nature, consisting
of soul and body! and that, as was said a short ti"e ago, the sa"e 'od is the
.reator both of soul and body. Know also that you have a soul self9governed, the
noblest wor) of 'od, "ade after the i"age of its .reator : i""ortal because of
'od that gives it i""ortality! a living being, rational, i"perishable, because of
Hi" that bestowed these gifts: having free power to do what it wills. $or it is not
according to your nativity that you sin, nor is it by the power of chance that you
co""it fornication, nor, as so"e idly tal), do the conEunctions of the stars co"pel
you to give yourself to wantonness. 8hy do you shrin) fro" confessing your own
evil deeds, and ascribe the bla"e to the innocent stars5 'ive no "ore heed, pray,
to astrologers! for of these the divine Scripture says, $et the starga;ers of the
heaven stand up and save you, and what follows: Behold, they all shall be
consumed as stubble on the 2re, and shall not deliver their soul from the <ame
0saiah =C:16 .
1F. And learn this also, that the soul, before it ca"e into this world, had
co""itted no sin , but having co"e in sinless, we now sin of our free9will. -isten
not, 0 pray you, to any one perversely interpreting the words, But if % do that
which % would not Ho"ans C:1B: but re"e"ber Hi" who says, %f you be willing,
and hearken unto "e, you shall eat the good things of the land* but if you be not
willing, neither hearken unto "e, the sword shall devour you, etc3 0saiah 1:1F9*G:
35
and again, 5s you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to
ini)uity unto ini)uity, even so now present your members as servants to
righteousness unto sancti2cation. Ho"ans B:1F He"e"ber also the Scripture,
which says, 6ven as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge
Ho"ans 1:*D: and, (hat which may be known of God is mani festin them
Ho"ans 1:1F! and again, their eyes they have closed. ,atthew 16:1A Also
re"e"ber how 'od again accuses the", and says, !et % planted you a fruitful
vine, wholly true* how are you turned to bitterness, thou the strange vine
@ere"iah *:*15
*G. %he soul is i""ortal, and all souls are ali)e both of "en and wo"en! for only
the "e"bers of the body are distinguished. %here is not a class of souls sinning
by nature, and a class of souls practising righteousness by nature : but both act
fro" choice, the substance of their souls being of one )ind only, and ali)e in all. 0
)now, however, that 0 a" tal)ing "uch, and that the ti"e is already long: but
what is "ore precious than salvation5 Are you not willing to ta)e trouble in
getting provisions for the way against the heretics5 And will you not learn the
bye9paths of the road, lest fro" ignorance thou fall down a precipice5 0f your
teachers thin) it no s"all gain for you to learn these things, should not thou the
learner gladly receive the "ultitude of things told you5
*1. %he soul is self9governed: and though the devil can suggest, he has not the
power to co"pel against the will. He pictures to you the thought of fornication: if
you will, you accept it! if you will not, you reEect. $or if you were a fornicator by
necessity, then for what cause did 'od prepare hell5 0f you were a doer of
righteousness by nature and not by will, wherefore did 'od prepare crowns of
ine?able glory5 %he sheep is gentle, but never was it crowned for its gentleness:
since its gentle :uality belongs to it not fro" choice but by nature.
"f the ody%
**. <ou have learned, beloved, the nature of the soul, as far as there is ti"e at
present: now do your best to receive the doctrine of the body also. Su?er none of
those who say that this body is no wor) of 'od : for they who believe that the
body is independent of 'od, and that the soul dwells in it as in a strange vessel,
readily abuse it to fornication. And yet what fault have they found in this
wonderful body5 $or what is lac)ing in co"eliness5 And what in its structure is
36
not full of s)ill5 Ought they not to have observed the lu"inous construction of the
eyes5 And how the ears being set obli:uely receive the sound unhindered5 And
how the s"ell is able to distinguish scents, and to perceive e3halations5 And how
the tongue "inisters to two purposes, the sense of taste, and the power of
speech5 How the lungs placed out of sight are unceasing in their respiration of
the air5 8ho i"parted the incessant pulsation of the heart5 8ho "ade the
distribution into so "any veins and arteries5 8ho s)ilfully )nitted together the
bones with the sinews5 8ho assigned a part of the food to our substance, and
separated a part for decent secretion, and hid away the unsee"ly "e"bers in
"ore see"ly places5 8ho when the hu"an race "ust have died out, rendered it
by a si"ple intercourse perpetual5
*6. %ell "e not that the body is a cause of sin. $or if the body is a cause of sin,
why does not a dead body sin5 >ut a sword in the right hand of one Eust dead, and
no "urder ta)es place. -et beauties of every )ind pass before a youth Eust dead,
and no i"pure desire arises. 8hy5 7ecause the body sins not of itself, but the
soul through the body. %he body is an instru"ent, and, as it were, a gar"ent and
robe of the soul: and if by this latter it be given over to fornication, it beco"es
de(led: but if it dwell with a holy soul, it beco"es a te"ple of the Holy 'host. 0t is
not 0 that say this, but the Apostle >aul has said, Do you not know, that your
bodies are the temple of the #oly Ghost which is in you 1 .orinthians B:1F5 7e
tender, therefore, of your body as being a te"ple of the Holy 'host. >ollute not
your fesh in fornication: de(le not this your fairest robe: and if ever you have
de(led it, now cleanse it by repentance: get yourself washed, while ti"e per"its.
*=. And to the doctrine of chastity let the (rst to give heed be the order of
Solitaries and of Iirgins, who "aintain the angelic life in the world! and let the
rest of the .hurchs people follow the". $or you, brethren, a great crown is laid
up: barter not away a great dignity for a petty pleasure: listen to the Apostle
spea)ing: $est there be any fornicator or profane person, as 6sau, who for one
mess of meat sold his own birthright. Hebrews 1*:1B +nrolled henceforth in the
Angelic boo)s for your profession of chastity, see that thou be not blotted out
again for your practice of fornication.
*A. /or again, on the other hand, in "aintaining your chastity be thou pu?ed up
against those who wal) in the hu"bler path of "atri"ony. $or as the Apostle
says, $et marriage be had in honour among all, and let the bed be unde2led.
37
Hebrews 16:= %hou too who retainest your chastity, were you not begotten of
those who had "arried5 7ecause you have a possession of gold, do not on that
account reprobate the silver. 7ut let those also be of good cheer, who being
"arried use "arriage lawfully! who "a)e a "arriage according to 'ods
ordinance, and not of wantonness for the sa)e of unbounded license! who
recognise seasons of abstinence, that they may give themselves unto prayer
1 .orinthians C:A! who in our asse"blies bring clean bodies as well as clean
gar"ents into the .hurch! who have entered upon "atri"ony for the procreation
of children, but not for indulgence.
*B. -et those also who "arry but once not reprobate those who have consented
to a second "arriage : for though continence is a noble and ad"irable thing, yet
it is also per"issible to enter upon a second "arriage, that the wea) "ay not fall
into fornication. $or it is good for them, says the Apostle, if they abide even as %3
But if they have not continency, let them marry* for it is better to marry than to
burn. 1 .orinthians C:D9F 7ut let all the other practices be banished afar,
fornication, adultery, and every )ind of licentiousness: and let the body be )ept
pure for the -ord, that the -ord also "ay have respect unto the body. And let the
body be nourished with food, that it "ay live, and serve without hindrance! not,
however, that it "ay be given up to lu3uries.
Concerning +eats%
*C. And concerning food let these be your ordinances, since in regard to "eats
also "any stu"ble. $or so"e deal indi?erently with things o?ered to idols , while
others discipline the"selves, but conde"n those that eat: and in di?erent ways
"ens souls are de(led in the "atter of "eats, fro" ignorance of the useful
reasons for eating and not eating. $or we fast by abstaining fro" wine and fesh,
not because we abhor the" as abo"inations, but because we loo) for our
reward! that having scorned things sensible, we "ay enEoy a spiritual and
intellectual feast! and that having now sown in tears we may reap in oy in the
world to co"e. 4espise not therefore the" that eat, and because of the
wea)ness of their bodies parta)e of food: nor yet bla"e these who use a little
wine for their stomach=s sake and their often in2rmities 1 %i"othy A:*6: and
neither conde"n the "en as sinners, nor abhor the fesh as strange food! for the
Apostle )nows so"e of this sort, when he says: forbidding to marry, and
commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with
38
thanksgiving by them that believe. 1 %i"othy =:6 0n abstaining then fro" these
things, abstain not as fro" things abo"inable , else you have no reward: but as
being good things disregard the" for the sa)e of the better spiritual things set
before you.
*D. 'uard your soul safely, lest at any ti"e thou eat of things o?ered to idols: for
concerning "eats of this )ind, not only 0 at this ti"e, but ere now Apostles also,
and @a"es the bishop of this .hurch, have had earnest care: and the Apostles and
+lders write a .atholic epistle to all the 'entiles, that they should abstain (rst
from things o&ered to idols, and then from blood also and from things strangled.
$or "any "en being of savage nature, and living li)e dogs, both lap up blood , in
i"itation of the "anner of the (ercest beasts, and greedily devour things
strangled. 7ut do thou, the servant of .hrist, in eating observe to eat with
reverence. And so enough concerning "eats.
"f $pparel%
*F. 7ut let your apparel be plain, not for adorn"ent, but for necessary covering:
not to "inister to your vanity, but to )eep you war" in winter, and to hide the
unsee"liness of the body: lest under pretence of hiding the unsee"liness, thou
fall into another )ind of unsee"liness by your e3travagant dress.
"f the #esurrection%
6G. 7e tender, 0 beseech you, of this body, and understand that you will be raised
fro" the dead, to be Eudged with this body. 7ut if there steal into your "ind any
thought of unbelief, as though the thing were i"possible, Eudge of the things
unseen by what happens to yourself. $or tell "e! a hundred years ago or "ore,
thin) where wast you yourself: and fro" what a "ost "inute and "ean
substance you have co"e to so great a stature, and so "uch dignity of beauty.
8hat then5 .annot He who brought the non9e3istent into being, raise up again
that which already e3ists and has decayed 5 He who raises the grain, which is
sown for our sa)es, as year by year it dies;will He have diLculty in raising us up,
for whose sa)es that grain also has been raised 5 4o you see how the trees stand
now for "any "onths without either fruit or leaves: but when the winter is past
they spring up whole into life again as if fro" the dead : shall not we "uch rather
and "ore easily return to life5 %he rod of ,oses was transfor"ed by the will of
39
'od into the unfa"iliar nature of a serpent: and cannot a "an, who has fallen
into death, be restored to hi"self again5
61. Heed not those who say that this body is not raised! for it is raised: and +saias
is witness, when he says: (he dead shall arise, and they that are in the tombs
shall awake 0saiah *B:1F: and according to 4aniel, "any of them that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall arise, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting
shame. 4aniel 1*:* 7ut though to rise again is co""on to all "en, yet the
resurrection is not ali)e to all: for the bodies received by us all are eternal, but not
li)e bodies by all: for the Eust receive the", that through eternity they "ay Eoin
the .hoirs of Angels! but the sinners, that they "ay endure for ever the tor"ent
of their sins.
"f the Laver%
6*. $or this cause the -ord, preventing us according to His loving9)indness, has
granted repentance at 7aptis" , in order that we "ay cast o? the chief; nay
rather the whole burden of our sins, and having received the seal by the Holy
'host, "ay be "ade heirs of eternal life. 7ut as we have spo)en suLciently
concerning the -aver the day before yesterday, let us now return to the
re"aining subEects of our introductory teaching.
"f the 'ivine Scriptures%
66. /ow these the divinely9inspired Scriptures of both the Old and the /ew
%esta"ent teach us. $or the 'od of the two %esta"ents is One, 8ho in the Old
%esta"ent foretold the .hrist 8ho appeared in the /ew! 8ho by the -aw and the
>rophets led us to .hrists school. For before faith came, we were kept in ward
under the law, and, the law has been our tutor to bring us unto 'hrist. And if ever
thou hear any of the heretics spea)ing evil of the -aw or the >rophets, answer in
the sound of the Saviours voice, saying, @esus came not to destroy the $aw, but
to ful2l it. ,atthew A:1C -earn also diligently, and fro" the .hurch, what are the
boo)s of the Old %esta"ent, and what those of the /ew. And, pray, read none of
the apocryphal writings : for why do you, who )now not those which are
ac)nowledged a"ong all, trouble yourself in vain about those which are disputed5
Head the 4ivine Scriptures, the twenty9two boo)s of the Old %esta"ent, these
that have been translated by the Seventy9two 0nterpreters.
40
6=. $or after the death of Ale3ander, the )ing of the ,acedonians, and the
division of his )ingdo" into four principalities, into 7abylonia, and ,acedonia,
and Asia, and +gypt, one of those who reigned over +gypt, >tole"y >hiladelphus,
being a )ing very fond of learning, while collecting the boo)s that were in every
place, heard fro" 4e"etrius >halereus, the curator of his library, of the 4ivine
Scriptures of the -aw and the >rophets, and Eudged it "uch nobler, not to get the
boo)s fro" the possessors by force against their will, but rather to propitiate
the" by gifts and friendship! and )nowing that what is e3torted is often
adulterated, being given unwillingly, while that which is willingly supplied is freely
given with all sincerity, he sent to +lea&ar, who was then High >riest, a great
"any gifts for the %e"ple here at @erusale", and caused hi" to send hi" si3
interpreters fro" each of the twelve tribes of 0srael for the translation. %hen,
further, to "a)e e3peri"ent whether the boo)s were 4ivine or not, he too)
precaution that those who had been sent should not co"bine a"ong the"selves,
by assigning to each of the interpreters who had co"e his separate cha"ber in
the island called >haros, which lies over against Ale3andria, and co""itted to
each the whole Scriptures to translate. And when they had ful(lled the tas) in
seventy9two days, he brought together all their translations, which they had
"ade in di?erent cha"bers without sending the" one to another, and found that
they agreed not only in the sense but even in words. $or the process was no
word9craft, nor contrivance of hu"an devices: but the translation of the 4ivine
Scriptures, spo)en by the Holy 'host, was of the Holy 'host acco"plished.
6A. Of these read the two and twenty boo)s, but have nothing to do with the
apocryphal writings. Study earnestly these only which we read openly in the
.hurch. $ar wiser and "ore pious than yourself were the Apostles, and the
bishops of old ti"e, the presidents of the .hurch who handed down these boo)s.
7eing therefore a child of the .hurch, trench thou not upon its statutes. And of
the Old %esta"ent, as we have said, study the two and twenty boo)s, which, if
you are desirous of learning, strive to re"e"ber by na"e, as 0 recite the". $or of
the -aw the boo)s of ,oses are the (rst (ve, 'enesis, +3odus, -eviticus,
/u"bers, 4euterono"y. And ne3t, @oshua the son of /ave , and the boo) of
@udges, including Huth, counted as seventh. And of the other historical boo)s, the
(rst and second boo)s of the Kings are a"ong the Hebrews one boo)! also the
third and fourth one boo). And in li)e "anner, the (rst and second of .hronicles
are with the" one boo)! and the (rst and second of +sdras are counted one.
41
+sther is the twelfth boo)! and these are the Historical writings. 7ut those which
are written in verses are (ve, @ob, and the boo) of >sal"s, and >roverbs, and
+cclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, which is the seventeenth boo). And after
these co"e the (ve >rophetic boo)s: of the %welve >rophets one boo), of 0saiah
one, of @ere"iah one, including 7aruch and -a"entations and the +pistle ! then
+&e)iel, and the 7oo) of 4aniel, the twenty9second of the Old %esta"ent.
6B. %hen of the /ew %esta"ent there are the four 'ospels only, for the rest have
false titles and are "ischievous. %he ,anichMans also wrote a 'ospel according
to %ho"as, which being tinctured with the fragrance of the evangelic title
corrupts the souls of the si"ple sort. Heceive also the Acts of the %welve Apostles!
and in addition to these the seven .atholic +pistles of @a"es, >eter, @ohn, and
@ude! and as a seal upon the" all, and the last wor) of the disciples, the fourteen
+pistles of >aul. 7ut let all the rest be put aside in a secondary ran). And
whatever boo)s are not read in .hurches, these read not even by yourself, as you
have heard "e say. %hus "uch of these subEects.
6C. 7ut shun thou every diabolical operation, and believe not the apostate
Serpent, whose transfor"ation fro" a good nature was of his own free choice:
who can over9persuade the willing, but can co"pel no one. Also give heed neither
to observations of the stars nor auguries, nor o"ens, nor to the fabulous
divinations of the 'ree)s. 8itchcraft, and enchant"ent, and the wic)ed practices
of necro"ancy, ad"it not even to a hearing. $ro" every )ind of inte"perance
stand aloof, giving yourself neither to gluttony nor licentiousness, rising superior
to all covetousness and usury. /either venture yourself at heathen asse"blies for
public spectacles, nor ever use a"ulets in sic)nesses! shun also all the vulgarity
of tavern9haunting. $all not away either into the sect of the Sa"aritans, or into
@udais": for @esus .hrist henceforth has ranso"ed you. Stand aloof fro" all
observance of Sabbaths , and fro" calling any indi?erent "eats common or
unclean. 7ut especially abhor all the asse"blies of wic)ed heretics! and in every
way "a)e your own soul safe, by fastings, prayers, al"sgivings, and reading the
oracles of 'od! that having lived the rest of your life in the fesh in soberness and
godly doctrine, you "ay enEoy the one salvation which fows fro" 7aptis"! and
thus enrolled in the ar"ies of heaven by 'od and the $ather, "ay also be
dee"ed worthy of the heavenly crowns, in .hrist @esus our -ord, to 8ho" be the
glory for ever and ever. A"en.
42
"f ,aith%
Hebrews 11:1, *
/ow faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
$or by it the elders obtained a good report.
1. How great a dignity the -ord bestows on you in transferring you fro" the order
of .atechu"ens to that of the $aithful, the Apostle >aul shows, when he aLr"s,
God is faithful, by ,hom you were called into the fellowship of #is Son 7esus
'hrist. 1 .orinthians 1:F $or since 'od is called $aithful, thou also in receiving this
title receive a great dignity. $or as 'od is called 'ood, and @ust, and Al"ighty, and
,a)er of the Nniverse, so is He also called $aithful. .onsider therefore to what a
dignity you are rising, seeing you are to beco"e parta)er of a title of 'od.
*. Here then it is further re:uired, that each of you be found faithful in his
conscience: for a faithful man it is hard to 2nd >roverbs *G:B: not that you should
show your conscience to "e, for you are not to be udged of man=s udgment ! but
that thou show the sincerity of your faith to 'od, who tries the reins and hearts ,
and knows the thoughts of men. A great thing is a faithful "an, being richest of
all rich "en. $or to the faithful man belongs the whole world of wealth , in that he
disdains and tra"ples on it. $or they who in appearance are rich, and have "any
possessions, are poor in soul: since the "ore they gather, the "ore they pine
with longing for what is still lac)ing. 7ut the faithful "an, "ost strange parado3,
in poverty is rich: for )nowing that we need only to have food and raiment, and
being therewith content 1 %i"othy B:D, he has trodden riches under foot.
6. /or is it only a"ong us, who bear the na"e of .hrist, that the dignity of faith is
great : but li)ewise all things that are acco"plished in the world, even by those
who are aliens fro" the .hurch, are acco"plished by faith.
7y faith the laws of "arriage yo)e together those who have lived as strangers:
and because of the faith in "arriage contracts a stranger is "ade partner of a
strangers person and possessions. 7y faith husbandry also is sustained, for he
who believes not that he shall receive a harvest endures not the toils. 7y faith
sea9faring "en, trusting to the thinnest plan), e3change that "ost solid ele"ent,
the land, for the restless "otion of the waves, co""itting the"selves to
uncertain hopes, and carrying with the" a faith "ore sure than any anchor. 7y
43
faith therefore "ost of "ens a?airs are held together: and not a"ong us only
has there been this belief, but also, as 0 have said, a"ong those who are without.
$or if they receive not the Scriptures, but bring forward certain doctrines of their
own, even these they accept by faith.
=. %he lesson also which was read today invites you to the true faith, by setting
before you the way in which you also "ust please 'od: for it aLr"s that without
faith it is impossible to please #im. Hebrews 11:B $or when will a "an resolve to
serve 'od, unless he believes that #e is a giver of reward? 8hen will a young
wo"an choose a virgin life, or a young "an live soberly, if they believe not that
for chastity there is a crown that fades not away 1 >eter A:=5 $aith is an eye that
enlightens every conscience, and i"parts understanding! for the >rophet says,
5nd if you believe not, you shall not understand.
$aith stops the mouths of lions Hebrews 11:6=, as in 4aniels case: for the
Scripture says concerning hi", that Daniel was brought up out of the den, and no
manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 4aniel B:*6
0s there anything "ore fearful than the devil5 <et even against hi" we have no
other shield than faith , an i"palpable buc)ler against an unseen foe. $or he
sends forth various arrows, and shoots down in the dark night those that watch
not! but, since the ene"y is unseen, we have faith as our strong ar"our,
according to the saying of the Apostle, %n all things taking the shield of faith,
wherewith you shall be able to )uench all the 2ery darts of the wicked one.
+phesians B:1B A (ery dart of desire of base indulgence is often cast forth fro"
the devil: but faith, suggesting a picture of the Eudg"ent, cools down the "ind,
and :uenches the dart.
A. %here is "uch to tell of faith, and the whole day would not be ti"e suLcient
for us to describe it fully. At present let us be content with Abraha" only, as one
of the e3a"ples fro" the Old %esta"ent, seeing that we have been "ade his
sons through faith. He was Eusti(ed not only by wor)s, but also by faith : for
though he did "any things well, yet he was never called the friend of 'od ,
e3cept when he believed. ,oreover, his every wor) was perfor"ed in faith.
%hrough faith he left his parents! left country, and place, and ho"e through faith.
Hebrews 11:D91G 0n li)e "anner, therefore, as he was Eusti(ed be thou Eusti(ed
also. 0n his body he was already dead in regard to o?spring, and Sarah his wife
was now old, and there was no hope left of having children. 'od pro"ises the old
44
"an a child, and Abraha" without being weakened in faith, though he
considered his own body now as good as dead Ho"ans =:1F, heeded not the
wea)ness of his body, but the power of Hi" who pro"ised, because he counted
#im faithful who had promised Hebrews 11:1191*, and so beyond all e3pectation
gained the child fro" bodies as it were already dead. And when, after he had
gained his son, he was co""anded to o?er hi" up, although he had heard the
word, %n %saac shall your seed be called , he proceeded to o?er up his son, his
only son, to 'od, believing that God is able to raise up even from the dead.
Hebrews 11:1F And having bound his son, and laid hi" on the wood, he did in
purpose o?er hi", but by the goodness of 'od in delivering to hi" a la"b instead
of his child, he received his son alive. 7eing faithful in these things, he was sealed
for righteousness, and received circumcision as a seal of the faith which he had
while he was in uncircumcision Ho"ans =:11, having received a pro"ise that he
should be the father of many nations 'enesis 1C:A .
B. -et us see, then, how Abraha" is the father of "any nations. Ho"ans =:1C91D
Of @ews he is confessedly the father, through succession according to the fesh.
7ut if we hold to the succession according to the fesh, we shall be co"pelled to
say that the oracle was false. $or according to the fesh he is no longer father of
us all: but the e3a"ple of his faith "a)es us all sons of Abraha". How5 And in
what "anner5 8ith "en it is incredible that one should rise fro" the dead! as in
li)e "anner it is incredible also that there should be o?spring fro" aged persons
as good as dead. 7ut when .hrist is preached as having been cruci(ed on the
tree, and as having died and risen again, we believe it. 7y the li)eness therefore
of our faith we are adopted into the sonship of Abraha". And then, following upon
our faith, we receive li)e hi" the spiritual seal, being circu"cised by the Holy
Spirit through 7aptis", not in the fores)in of the body, but in the heart, according
to @ere"iah, saying, 5nd you shall be circumcised unto God in the foreskin of your
heart : and according to the Apostle, in the circumcision of 'hrist, having been
buried with #im in baptism, and the rest .olossians *:1191* .
C. %his faith if we )eep we shall be free fro" conde"nation, and shall be adorned
with all )inds of virtues. $or so great is the strength of faith, as even to buoy "en
up in wal)ing on the sea. >eter was a "an li)e ourselves, "ade up of fesh and
blood, and living upon li)e food. 7ut when @esus said, 'ome ,atthew 1=:*F, he
believed, and wal)ed upon the waters, and found his faith safer upon the waters
45
than any ground! and his heavy body was upheld by the buoyancy of his faith.
7ut though he had safe footing over the water as long as he believed, yet when
he doubted, at once he began to sin): for as his faith gradually rela3ed, his body
also was drawn down with it. And when He saw his distress, @esus who re"edies
the distresses of our souls, said, 4 thou of little faith, wherefore did you doubt
,ar) 1=:615 And being nerved again by Hi" who grasped his right hand, he had
no sooner recovered his faith, than, led by the hand of the ,aster, he resu"ed
the sa"e wal)ing upon the waters: for this the 'ospel indirectly "entioned,
saying, when they had gone up into the ship. $or it says not that >eter swa"
across and went up, but gives us to understand that, after returning the sa"e
distance that he went to "eet @esus, he went up again into the ship.
D. <ea, so "uch power has faith, that not the believer only is saved, but so"e
have been saved by others believing. %he paralytic in .apernau" was not a
believer, but they believed who brought hi", and let hi" down through the tiles
,ar) *:=: for the sic) "ans soul shared the sic)ness of his body. And thin) not
that 0 accuse hi" without cause: the 'ospel itself says, when 7esus saw, not his
faith, but their faith, He says to the sic) of the palsy, Arise# %he bearers believed,
and the sic) of the palsy enEoyed the blessing of the cure.
F. 8ould you see yet "ore surely that so"e are saved by others faith5 -a&arus
died @ohn 11:1=9==: one day had passed, and a second, and a third: his sinews
were decayed, and corruption was preying already upon his body. How could one
four days dead believe, and entreat the Hedee"er on his own behalf5 7ut what
the dead "an lac)ed was supplied by his true sisters. $or when the -ord had
co"e, the sister fell down before Hi", and when He said, ,here have you laid
him? and she had "ade answer, $ord, by this time he stinks; for he has been four
days dead, the -ord said, %f you believe, you shall see the glory of God! as "uch
as saying, Supply thou the dead "ans lac) of faith: and the sisters faith had so
"uch power, that it recalled the dead fro" the gates of hell. Have then "en by
believing, the one on behalf of the other, been able to raise the dead, and shall
not thou, if you believe sincerely on your own behalf, be "uch rather pro(ted5
/ay, even if you be faithless, or of little faith, the -ord is loving unto "an! He
condescends to you on your repentance: only on your part say with honest "ind,
$ord, % believe, help thou mine unbelief. ,ar) F:*= 7ut if you thin) that thou really
art faithful, but hast not yet the fullness of faith, thou too hast need to say li)e
46
the Apostles, $ord, increase our faith -u)e 1C:A: for so"e part you have of
yourself, but the greater part you receive fro" Hi".
1G. $or the na"e of $aith is in the for" of speech one, but has two distinct
senses. $or there is one )ind of faith, the dog"atic, involving an assent of the
soul on so"e particular point: and it is pro(table to the soul, as the -ord says: #e
that hears "y words, and believes #im that sent "e, has everlasting life, and
comes not into udgment @ohn A:*=: and again, #e that believes in the Son is not
udged, but has passed from death unto life. Oh the great loving9)indness of 'od#
$or the righteous were "any years in pleasing Hi": but what they succeeded in
gaining by "any years of well9pleasing , this @esus now bestows on you in a single
hour. $or if you shall believe that @esus .hrist is -ord, and that 'od raised Hi"
fro" the dead, you shall be saved, and shall be transported into >aradise by Hi"
who brought in there the robber. And doubt not whether it is possible! for He who
on this sacred 'olgotha saved the robber after one single hour of belief, the sa"e
shall save you also on your believing.
11. 7ut there is a second )ind of faith, which is bestowed by .hrist as a gift of
grace. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another
the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit* to another faith, by the
same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing. 1 .orinthians 1*:D9F %his faith then
which is given of grace fro" the Spirit is not "erely doctrinal, but also wor)s
things above "ans power. $or whosoever has this faith, shall say to this
mountain, +emove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove. ,ar) 11:*6 $or
whenever any one shall say this in faith, believing that it comes to pass, and shall
not doubt in his heart, then receives he the grace.
And of this faith it is said, %f you have faith as a grain of mustard seed.
,atthew 1C:*G $or Eust as the grain of "ustard seed is s"all in si&e, but (ery in
its operation, and though sown in a s"all space has a circle of great branches,
and when grown up is able even to shelter the fowls ,atthew 16:6*! so, li)ewise,
faith in the swiftest "o"ent wor)s the greatest e?ects in the soul. $or, when
enlightened by faith, the soul has visions of 'od, and as far as is possible beholds
'od, and ranges round the bounds of the universe, and before the end of this
world already beholds the @udg"ent, and the pay"ent of the pro"ised rewards.
Have thou therefore that faith in Hi" which co"es fro" your own self, that you
"ay also receive fro" Hi" that faith which wor)s things above "an.
47
1*. 7ut in learning the $aith and in professing it, ac:uire and )eep that only,
which is now delivered to you by the .hurch, and which has been built up
strongly out of all the Scriptures. $or since all cannot read the Scriptures, so"e
being hindered as to the )nowledge of the" by want of learning, and others by a
want of leisure, in order that the soul "ay not perish fro" ignorance, we
co"prise the whole doctrine of the $aith in a few lines. %his su""ary 0 wish you
both to co""it to "e"ory when 0 recite it , and to rehearse it with all diligence
a"ong yourselves, not writing it out on paper , but engraving it by the "e"ory
upon your heart , ta)ing care while you rehearse it that no .atechu"en chance to
overhear the things which have been delivered to you. 0 wish you also to )eep this
as a provision through the whole course of your life, and beside this to receive no
other, neither if we ourselves should change and contradict our present teaching,
nor if an adverse angel, transformed into an angel of light * .orinthians 11:1=
should wish to lead you astray. For though we or an angel from heaven preach to
you any other gospel than that you have received, let him be to you anathema.
'alatians 1:D9F So for the present listen while 0 si"ply say the .reed , and
co""it it to "e"ory! but at the proper season e3pect the con(r"ation out of
Holy Scripture of each part of the contents. $or the articles of the $aith were not
co"posed as see"ed good to "en! but the "ost i"portant points collected out
of all the Scripture "a)e up one co"plete teaching of the $aith. And Eust as the
"ustard seed in one s"all grain contains "any branches, so also this $aith has
e"braced in few words all the )nowledge of godliness in the Old and /ew
%esta"ents. %a)e heed then, brethren, and hold fast the traditions which you now
receive, and write them on the table of your heart.
16. 'uard the" with reverence, lest per chance the ene"y despoil any who have
grown slac)! or lest so"e heretic pervert any of the truths delivered to you. $or
faith is li)e putting "oney into the ban) , even as we have now done! but fro"
you 'od re:uires the accounts of the deposit. % charge you, as the Apostle says,
before God, who )uickens all things, and 'hrist 7esus, who before -ontius -ilate
witnessed the good confession, that you keep this faith which is co""itted to
you, without spot, until the appearing of our $ord 7esus 'hrist. A treasure of life
has now been co""itted to you, and the ,aster de"ands the deposit at His
appearing, which in #is own times #e shall show, ,ho is the blessed and only
-otentate, the 9ing of kings, and $ord of lords; ,ho only has immortality,
48
dwelling in light which no man can approach unto; ,hom no man has seen nor
can see3
Concerning the -nity of (od% "n the $rticle, I elieve in "ne (od% $lso
Concerning )eresies%
0saiah =A:1B, 1C. 1Sept.2
Sanctify yourselves unto ,e, O islands. 0srael is saved by the -ord with an
everlasting salvation! they shall not be asha"ed, neither shall they be
confounded for ever, etc.
1. Blessed be the God and Father of our $ord 7esus 'hrist. * .orinthians 1:6
7lessed also be His Only9begotten Son. $or with the thought of God let the
thought of Father at once be Eoined, that the ascription of glory to the $ather and
the Son "ay be "ade indivisible. $or the $ather has not one glory, and the Son
another, but one and the sa"e, since He is the $athers Only9begotten Son! and
when the $ather is glori(ed, the Son also shares the glory with Hi", because the
glory of the Son fows fro" His $athers honour: and again, when the Son is
glori(ed, the $ather of so great a blessing is highly honoured.
*. /ow though the "ind is "ost rapid in its thoughts, yet the tongue needs
words, and a long recital of inter"ediary speech. $or the eye e"braces at once a
"ultitude of the starry :uire! but when any one wishes to describe the" one by
one, which is the ,orning9star, and which, the +vening9star, and which each one
of the", he has need of "any words. 0n li)e "anner again the "ind in the
briefest "o"ent co"passes earth and sea and all the bounds of the universe! but
what it conceives in an instant, it uses "any words to describe. <et forcible as is
the e3a"ple 0 have "entioned, still it is after all wea) and inade:uate. $or of 'od
we spea) not all we ought 1for that is )nown to Hi" only2, but so "uch as the
capacity of hu"an nature has received, and so "uch as our wea)ness can bear.
$or we e3plain not what 'od is but candidly confess that we have not e3act
)nowledge concerning Hi". $or in what concerns 'od to confess our ignorance is
the best )nowledge. %herefore "agnify the -ord with "e, and let us e3alt His
/a"e together ;all of us in co""on, for one alone is powerless! nay rather,
even if we be all united together, we shall yet not do it as we ought. 0 "ean not
you only who are here present, but even if all the nurslings of the whole .hurch
49
throughout the world, both that which now is and that which shall be, should
"eet together, they would not be able worthily to sing the praises of their
Shepherd.
6. A great and honourable "an was Abraha", but only great in co"parison with
"en! and when he ca"e before 'od, then spea)ing the truth candidly he says, %
am earth and ashes. 'enesis 1D:*C He did not say earth, and then cease, lest he
should call hi"self by the na"e of that great ele"ent! but he added =and ashes,=
that he "ight represent his perishable and frail nature. 0s there anything, he says,
s"aller or lighter than ashes5 $or ta)e, says he, the co"parison of ashes to a
house, of a house to a city, a city to a province, a province to the Ho"an +"pire,
and the Ho"an +"pire to the whole earth and all its bounds, and the whole earth
to the heaven in which it is e"boso"ed!; the earth, which bears the sa"e
proportion to the heaven as the centre to the whole circu"ference of a wheel, for
the earth is no "ore than this in co"parison with the heaven : consider then that
this (rst heaven which is seen is less than the second, and the second than the
third, for so far Scripture has na"ed the", not that they are only so "any, but
because it was e3pedient for us to )now so "any only. And when in thought you
have surveyed all the heavens, not yet will even the heavens be able to praise
'od as He is, nay, not if they should resound with a voice louder than thunder.
7ut if these great vaults of the heavens cannot worthily sing 'ods praise, when
shall =earth and ashes,= the s"allest and least of things e3isting, be able to send
up a worthy hy"n of praise to 'od, or worthily to spea) of 'od, that sits upon the
circle of the earth, and holds the inhabitants thereof as grasshoppers 0saiah =G:**
.
=. 0f any "an atte"pt to spea) of 'od, let hi" (rst describe the bounds of the
earth. <ou dwell on the earth, and the li"it of this earth which is your dwelling
you )now not: how then shall you be able to for" a worthy thought of its .reator5
<ou behold the stars, but their ,a)er you behold not: count these which are
visible, and then describe Hi" who is invisible, ,ho tells the number of the stars,
and calls them all by their names. Iiolent rains lately ca"e pouring down upon
us, and nearly destroyed us: nu"ber the drops in this city alone: nay, 0 say not in
the city, but nu"ber the drops on your own house for one single hour, if you can,
but you can not. -earn then your own wea)ness! learn fro" this instance the
"ightiness of 'od: for #e has numbered the drops of rain , which have been
50
poured down on all the earth, not only now but in all ti"e. %he sun is a wor) of
'od, which, great though it be, is but a spot in co"parison with the whole
heaven! (rst ga&e steadfastly upon the sun, and then curiously scan the -ord of
the sun. Seek not the things that are too deep for you, neither search out the
things that are above your strength* what is commanded you, think thereupon
Sirach 6:*19** .
A. 7ut so"e one will say, 0f the 4ivine substance is inco"prehensible, why then
do you discourse of these things5 So then, because 0 cannot drin) up all the river,
a" 0 not even to ta)e in "oderation what is e3pedient for "e5 7ecause with eyes
so constituted as "ine 0 cannot ta)e in all the sun, a" 0 not even to loo) upon hi"
enough to satisfy "y wants5 Or again, because 0 have entered into a great
garden, and cannot eat all the supply of fruits, would you have "e go away
altogether hungry5 0 praise and glorify Hi" that "ade us! for it is a divine
co""and which says, $et every breath praise the $ord. 0 a" atte"pting now to
glorify the -ord, but not to describe Hi", )nowing nevertheless that 0 shall fall
short of glorifying Hi" worthily, yet dee"ing it a wor) of piety even to atte"pt it
at all. $or the -ord @esus encourages "y wea)ness, by saying, 8o man has seen
God at any time.
B. 8hat then, so"e "an will say, is it not written, (he little ones= 5ngels do
always behold the face of "y Father which is in heaven ,atthew 1D:1G5 <es, but
the Angels see 'od not as He is, but as far as they the"selves are capable. $or it
is @esus Hi"self who says, 8ot that any man has seen the Father, save #e which
is of God, #e has seen the Father. @ohn B:=B %he Angels therefore behold as "uch
as they can bear, and Archangels as "uch as they are able! and %hrones and
4o"inions "ore than the for"er, but yet less than His worthiness: for with the
Son the Holy 'host alone can rightly behold Hi": for #e searches all things, and
knows even the deep things of God 1 .orinthians *:1G: as indeed the Only9
begotten Son also, with the Holy 'host, )nows the $ather fully: $or neither, says
He, knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal
#im. ,atthew 11:*C $or He fully beholds, and, according as each can bear,
reveals 'od through the Spirit: since the Only9begotten Son together with the
Holy 'host is a parta)er of the $athers 'odhead. He, who was begotten )nows
Hi" who begot! and He 8ho begot )nows Hi" who is begotten. Since Angels
then are ignorant 1for to each according to his own capacity does the Only9
51
begotten reveal Hi" through the Holy 'host, as we have said2, let no "an be
asha"ed to confess his ignorance. 0 a" spea)ing now, as all do on occasion: but
how we spea), we cannot tell: how then can 0 declare Hi" who has given us
speech5 0 who have a soul, and cannot tell its distinctive properties, how shall 0 be
able to describe its 'iver5
C. $or devotion it suLces us si"ply to )now that we have a 'od! a 'od who is
One, a living , an ever9living 'od! always li)e Hi"self ! who has no $ather, none
"ightier than Hi"self, no successor to thrust Hi" out fro" His )ingdo": 8ho in
na"e is "anifold, in power in(nite, in substance unifor". $or though He is called
'ood, and @ust, and Al"ighty and Sabaoth , He is not on that account diverse and
various! but being one and the sa"e, He sends forth countless operations of His
'odhead, not e3ceeding here and de(cient there, but being in all things li)e
Hi"self. /ot great in loving9)indness only, and little in wisdo", but with wisdo"
and loving9)indness in e:ual power: not seeing in part, and in part devoid of
sight! but being all eye, and all ear, and all "ind : not li)e us perceiving in part
and in part not )nowing! for such a state"ent were blasphe"ous, and unworthy
of the 4ivine substance. He fore)nows the things that be! He is Holy, and
Al"ighty, and e3cels all in goodness, and "aEesty, and wisdo": of 8ho" we can
declare neither beginning, nor for", nor shape. $or you have neither heard #is
voice at any time, nor seen #is shape @ohn A:6C, says Holy Scripture. 8herefore
,oses says also to the 0sraelites: 5nd take good heed to your own souls, for you
saw no similitude. 4euterono"y =:1A $or if it is wholly i"possible to i"agine His
li)eness, how shall thought co"e near His substance5
D. %here have been "any i"aginations by "any persons, and all have failed.
So"e have thought that 'od is (re! others that He is, as it were, a "an with
wings, because of a true te3t ill understood, !ou shall hide me under the shadow
of !our wings. %hey forgot that our -ord @esus .hrist, the Only9begotten, spea)s in
li)e "anner concerning Hi"self to @erusale", #ow often would % have gathered
your children together even as a hen does gather her chickens under her wings,
and you would not. ,atthew *6:6C $or whereas 'ods protecting power was
conceived as wings, they failing to understand this san) down to the level of
things hu"an, and supposed that the Nnsearchable e3ists in the li)eness of "an.
So"e again dared to say that He has seven eyes, because it is written, seven
eyes of the $ord looking upon the whole earth. Oechariah =:1G $or if He has but
52
seven eyes surrounding Hi" in part, His seeing is therefore partial and not
perfect: but to say this of 'od is blasphe"ous! for we "ust believe that 'od is in
all things perfect, according to our Saviours word, which says, !our Father in
heaven is perfect ,atthew A:=D: perfect in sight, perfect in power, perfect in
greatness, perfect in fore)nowledge, perfect in goodness, perfect in Eustice,
perfect in loving9)indness: not circu"scribed in any space, but the .reator of all
space, e3isting in all, and circu"scribed by none. #eaven is #is throne, but higher
is He that sits thereon: and earth is #is footstool 0saiah BB:1, but His power
reaches unto things under the earth.
F. One He is, everywhere present, beholding all things, perceiving all things,
creating all things through .hrist: For all things were made by #im, and without
#im was not anything made. @ohn 1:6 A fountain of every good, abundant and
unfailing, a river of blessings, an eternal light of never9failing splendour, an
insuperable power condescending to our in(r"ities: whose very /a"e we dare
not hear. ,ill you 2nd a footstep of the $ord? says @ob, or have you attained unto
the least things which the 5lmighty has made 5 0f the least of His wor)s are
inco"prehensible, shall He be co"prehended who "ade the" all5 6ye has not
seen, and ear has not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which God has prepared for them that love #im. 1 .orinthians *:F 0f the
things which 'od has prepared are inco"prehensible to our thoughts, how can
we co"prehend with our "ind Hi"self who has prepared the"5 4 the depth of
the riches, and wisdom, and knowledge of GodA #ow unsearchable are #is
udgments, and #is ways past 2nding out Ho"ans 11:66# says the Apostle. 0f His
Eudg"ents and His ways are inco"prehensible, can He Hi"self be
co"prehended5
1G. 'od then being thus great, and yet greater, 1for even were 0 to change "y
whole substance into tongue, 0 could not spea) His e3cellence: nay "ore, not
even if all Angels should asse"ble, could they ever spea) His worth2, 'od being
therefore so great in goodness and "aEesty, "an has yet dared to say to a stone
that he has graven, !ou are my God 0saiah ==:1C# O "onstrous blindness, that
fro" "aEesty so great ca"e down so low# %he tree which was planted by 'od,
and nourished by the rain, and afterwards burnt and turned into ashes by the (re
;this is addressed as 'od, and the true 'od is despised. 7ut the wic)edness of
idolatry grew yet "ore prodigal, and cat, and dog, and wolf were worshipped
53
instead of 'od: the "an9eating lion also was worshipped instead of 'od, the "ost
loving friend of "an. %he sna)e and the serpent , counterfeit of hi" who thrust us
out of >aradise, were worshipped, and He who planted >aradise was despised.
And 0 a" asha"ed to say, and yet do say it, even onions were worshipped a"ong
so"e. 8ine was given to make glad the heart of man : and 4ionysus 17acchus2
was worshipped instead of 'od. 'od "ade grain by saying, $et the earth bring
forth grass, yielding seed after his kind and after his likeness 'enesis 1:11, that
bread may strengthen man=s heart : why then was 4e"eter 1.eres2 worshipped5
$ire co"es forth fro" stri)ing stones together even to this day: how then was
HephMstus 1Iulcan2 the creator of (re5
11. 8hence ca"e the polytheistic error of the 'ree)s 5 'od has no body: whence
then the adulteries alleged a"ong those who are by the" called gods5 0 say
nothing of the transfor"ations of Oeus into a swan: 0 a" asha"ed to spea) of his
transfor"ations into a bull: for bellowings are unworthy of a god. %he god of the
'ree)s has been found an adulterer, yet are they not asha"ed: for if he is an
adulterer let hi" not be called a god. %hey tell also of deaths , and falls , and
thunder9stro)es of their gods. 4o you see fro" how great a height and how low
they have fallen5 8as it without reason then that the Son of 'od ca"e down fro"
heaven5 Or was it that He "ight heal so great a wound5 8as it without reason
that the Son ca"e5 Or was it in order that the $ather "ight be ac)nowledged5
<ou have learned what "oved the Only9begotten to co"e down fro" the throne
at 'ods right hand. %he $ather was despised, the Son "ust needs correct the
error: for He %hrough 8ho" All %hings 8ere ,ade "ust bring the" all as
o?erings to the -ord of all. %he wound "ust be healed: for what could be worse
than this disease, that a stone should be worshipped instead of 'od5
"f )eresies%
1*. And not a"ong the heathen only did the devil "a)e these assaults! for "any
of those who are falsely called .hristians, and wrongfully addressed by the sweet
na"e of .hrist, have ere now i"piously dared to banish 'od fro" His own
creation. 0 "ean the brood of heretics, those "ost ungodly "en of evil na"e,
pretending to be friends of .hrist but utterly hating Hi". $or he who blasphe"es
the $ather of the .hrist is an ene"y of the Son. %hese "en have dared to spea)
of two 'odheads, one good and one evil# O "onstrous blindness# 0f a 'odhead,
then assuredly good. 7ut if not good, why called a 'odhead5 $or if goodness is an
54
attribute of 'od! if loving9)indness, bene(cence, al"ighty power, are proper to
'od, then of two things one, either in calling Hi" 'od let the na"e and operation
be united! or if they would rob Hi" of His operations, let the" not give Hi" the
bare na"e.
16. Heretics have dared to say that there are two 'ods, and of good and evil two
sources, and these unbegotten. 0f both are unbegotten it is certain that they are
also e:ual, and both "ighty. How then does the light destroy the dar)ness5 And
do they ever e3ist together, or are they separated5 %ogether they cannot be! for
what fellowship has light with darkness? says the Apostle. 7ut if they are far fro"
each other, it is certain that they hold also each his own place! and if they hold
their own separate places, we are certainly in the real" of one 'od, and certainly
worship one 'od. $or thus we "ust conclude, even if we assent to their folly, that
we "ust worship one 'od. -et us e3a"ine also what they say of the good 'od.
Hath He power or no power5 0f He has power, how did evil arise against His will5
And how does the evil substance intrude, if He be not willing5 $or if He )nows but
cannot hinder it, they charge Hi" with want of power! but if He has the power,
yet hinders not, they accuse Hi" of treachery. ,ar) too their want of sense. At
one ti"e they say that the +vil One has no co""union with the good 'od in the
creation of the world! but at another ti"e they say that he has the fourth part
only. Also they say that the good 'od is the $ather of .hrist! but .hrist they call
this sun. 0f, therefore according to the", the world was "ade by the +vil One, and
the sun is in the world, how is the Son of the 'ood an unwilling slave in the
)ingdo" of the +vil5 8e be"ire ourselves in spea)ing of these things, but we do
it lest any of those present should fro" ignorance fall into the "ire of the
heretics. 0 )now that 0 have de(led "y own "outh and the ears of "y listeners:
yet it is e3pedient. $or it is "uch better to hear absurdities charged against
others, than to fall into the" fro" ignorance: far better that thou )now the "ire
and hate it, than unawares fall into it. $or the godless syste" of the heresies is a
road with "any branches, and whenever a "an has strayed fro" the one straight
way, then he falls down precipices again and again.
1=. %he inventor of all heresy was Si"on ,agus : that Si"on, who in the Acts of
the Apostles thought to purchase with "oney the unsaleable grace of the Spirit,
and heard the words, !ou have neither part nor lot in this matter Acts D:1D9*1,
and the rest: concerning who" also it is written, (hey went out from us, but they
55
were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us.
1 @ohn *:1F %his "an, after he had been cast out by the Apostles, ca"e to Ho"e,
and gaining over one Helena a harlot , was the (rst that dared with blasphe"ous
"outh to say that it was hi"self who appeared on ,ount Sinai as the $ather, and
afterwards appeared a"ong the @ews, not in real fesh but in see"ing , as .hrist
@esus, and afterwards as the Holy Spirit who" .hrist pro"ised to send as the
>araclete. And he so deceived the .ity of Ho"e that .laudius set up his statue,
and wrote beneath it, in the language of the Ho"ans, Si"oni 4eo Sancto, which
being interpreted signi(es, %o Si"on the Holy 'od.
1A. As the delusion was e3tending, >eter and >aul, a noble pair, chief rulers of the
.hurch, arrived and set the error right ! and when the supposed god Si"on
wished to show hi"self o?, they straightway showed hi" as a corpse. $or Si"on
pro"ised to rise aloft to heaven, and ca"e riding in a dM"on. chariot on the air!
but the servants of 'od fell on their )nees, and having shown that agree"ent of
which @esus spo)e, that %f two of you shall agree concerning anything that they
shall ask, it shall be done unto them ,atthew 1D:1F, they launched the weapon of
their concord in prayer against ,agus, and struc) hi" down to the earth. And
"arvellous though it was, yet no "arvel. $or >eter was there, who carries the
)eys of heaven : and nothing wonderful, for >aul was there , who was caught up
to the third heaven, and into -aradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is
not lawful far a man to utter. %hese brought the supposed 'od down fro" the s)y
to earth, thence to be ta)en down to the regions below the earth. 0n this "an (rst
the serpent of wic)edness appeared! but when one head had been cut o?, the
root of wic)edness was found again with "any heads.
1B. $or .erinthus made havoc of the 'hurch, and ,enander , and .arpocrates ,
+bionites also, and ,arcion , that "outhpiece of ungodliness. $or he who
proclai"ed di?erent gods, one the 'ood, the other the @ust, contradicts the Son
when He says, 4 righteous Father. @ohn 1C:*A And he who says again that the
$ather is one, and the "a)er of the world another, opposes the Son when He
says, %f then God so clothes the grass of the 2eld which today is, and tomorrow is
cast into the furnace of 2re -u)e 1*:*D! and, ,ho makes #is sun to rise on the
evil and on the good, and sends rain on the ust and on the unust. ,atthew A:=A
Here again is a second inventor of "ore "ischief, this ,arcion. $or being
confuted by the testi"onies fro" the Old %esta"ent which are :uoted in the /ew,
56
he was the (rst who dared to cut those testi"onies out , and leave the preaching
of the word of faith without witness, thus e?acing the true 'od: and sought to
under"ine the .hurchs faith, as if there were no heralds of it.
1C. He again was succeeded by another, 7asilides, of evil na"e, and dangerous
character, a preacher of i"purities. %he contest of wic)edness was aided also by
Ialentinus , a preacher of thirty gods. %he 'ree)s tell of but few: and the "an
who was called; but "ore truly was not; a .hristian e3tended the delusion to
full thirty. He says, too, that 7ythus the Abyss 1for it beca"e hi" as being an
abyss of wic)edness to begin his teaching fro" the Abyss2 begot Silence, and of
Silence begot the 8ord. %his 7ythus was worse than the Oeus of the 'ree)s, who
was united to his sister: for Silence was said to be the child of 7ythus. 4o you see
the absurdity invested with a show of .hristianity5 8ait a little, and you will be
shoc)ed at his i"piety! for he asserts that of this 7ythus were begotten eight
Pons! and of the", ten! and of the", other twelve, "ale and fe"ale. 7ut whence
is the proof of these things5 See their silliness fro" their fabrications. 8hence
have you the proof of the thirty Pons5 7ecause, says he, it is written, that 7esus
was bapti;ed, being thirty years old. -u)e 6:*6 7ut even if He was bapti&ed when
thirty years old, what sort of de"onstration is this fro" the thirty years5 Are there
then (ve gods, because He bro)e (ve loaves a"ong (ve thousand5 Or because
he had twelve 4isciples, "ust there also be twelve gods5
1D. And even this is still little co"pared with the i"pieties which follow. $or the
last of the deities being, as he dares to spea), both "ale and fe"ale, this, he
says, is 8isdo". 8hat i"piety# $or the ,isdom of God 1 .orinthians 1:*= is
.hrist His Only9begotten Son: and he by his doctrine degraded the 8isdo" of 'od
into a fe"ale ele"ent, and one of thirty, and the last fabrication. He also says
that 8isdo" atte"pted to behold the (rst 'od, and not bearing His brightness
fell fro" heaven, and was cast out of her thirtieth place. %hen she groaned, and
of her groans begot the 4evil , and as she wept over her fall "ade of her tears
the sea. ,ar) the i"piety. $or of 8isdo" how is the 4evil begotten, and of
prudence wic)edness, or of light dar)ness5 He says too that the 4evil begot
others, so"e of who" created the world: and that the .hrist ca"e down in order
to "a)e "an)ind revolt fro" the ,a)er of the world.
1F. 7ut hear who" they say .hrist @esus to be, that you "ay detest the" yet
"ore. $or they say that after 8isdo" had been cast down, in order that the
57
nu"ber of the thirty "ight not be inco"plete, the nine and twenty Pons
contributed each a little part, and for"ed the .hrist : and they say that He also is
both "ale and fe"ale. .an anything be "ore i"pious than this5 Anything "ore
wretched5 0 a" describing their delusion to you, in order that you "ay hate the"
the "ore. Shun, therefore, their i"piety, and do not even give greeting to a "an
of this )ind, lest you have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness
+phesians A:11: neither "a)e curious in:uiries, nor be willing to enter into
conversation with the".
*G. Hate all heretics, but especially hi" who is rightly na"ed after "ania , who
arose not long ago in the reign of >robus. $or the delusion began full seventy
years ago , and there are "en still living who saw hi" with their very eyes. 7ut
hate hi" not for this, that he lived a short ti"e ago! but because of his i"pious
doctrines hate thou the wor)er of wic)edness, the receptacle of all (lth, who
gathered up the "ire of every heresy. $or aspiring to beco"e pre9e"inent a"ong
wic)ed "en, he too) the doctrines of all, and having co"bined the" into one
heresy (lled with blasphe"ies and all ini:uity, he "a)es havoc of the .hurch, or
rather of those outside the .hurch, roa"ing about li)e a lion and devouring. Heed
not their fair speech, nor their supposed hu"ility: for they are serpents, a
generation of vipers. ,atthew 6:C @udas too said #ailA "aster , even while he was
betraying Hi". Heed not their )isses, but beware of their veno".
*1. /ow, lest 0 see" to accuse hi" without reason, let "e "a)e a digression to
tell who this ,anes is, and in part what he teaches: for all ti"e would fail to
describe ade:uately the whole of his foul teaching. 7ut for help in time of need
Hebrews =:1B, store up in your "e"ory what 0 have said to for"er hearers, and
will repeat to those now present, that they who )now not "ay learn, and they
who )now "ay be re"inded. ,anes is not of .hristian origin, 'od forbid# nor was
he li)e Si"on cast out of the .hurch, neither hi"self nor the teachers who were
before hi". $or he steals other "ens wic)edness, and "a)es their wic)edness
his own: but how and in what "anner you "ust hear.
**. %here was in +gypt one Scythianus , a Saracen by birth, having nothing in
co""on either with @udais" or with .hristianity. %his "an, who dwelt at
Ale3andria and i"itated the life of Aristotle , co"posed four boo)s , one called a
'ospel which had not the acts of .hrist, but the "ere na"e only, and one other
called the boo) of .hapters, and a third of ,ysteries, and a fourth, which they
58
circulate now, the %reasure. %his "an had a disciple, %erebinthus by na"e. 7ut
when Scythianus purposed to co"e into @udMa, and "a)e havoc of the land, the
-ord s"ote hi" with a deadly disease, and stayed the pestilence.
*6. 7ut %erebinthus, his disciple in this wic)ed error, inherited his "oney and
boo)s and heresy , and ca"e to >alestine, and beco"ing )nown and conde"ned
in @udMa he resolved to pass into >ersia: but lest he should be recognised there
also by his na"e he changed it and called hi"self 7uddas. However, he found
adversaries there also in the priests of ,ithras : and being confuted in the
discussion of "any argu"ents and controversies, and at last hard pressed, he
too) refuge with a certain widow. %hen having gone up on the housetop, and
su""oned the dM"ons of the air, who" the ,anichees to this day invo)e over
their abo"inable cere"ony of the (g , he was s"itten of 'od, and cast down
fro" the housetop, and e3pired: and so the second beast was cut o?.
*=. %he boo)s, however, which were the records of his i"piety, re"ained! and
both these and his "oney the widow inherited. And having neither )ins"an nor
any other friend, she deter"ined to buy with the "oney a boy na"ed .ubricus :
hi" she adopted and educated as a son in the learning of the >ersians, and thus
sharpened an evil weapon against "an)ind. So .ubricus, the vile slave, grew up
in the "idst of philosophers, and on the death of the widow inherited both the
boo)s and the "oney. %hen, lest the na"e of slavery "ight be a reproach,
instead of .ubricus he called hi"self ,anes, which in the language of the
>ersians signi(es discourse. $or as he thought hi"self so"ething of a disputant,
he surna"ed hi"self ,anes, as it were an e3cellent "aster of discourse. 7ut
though he contrived for hi"self an honourable title according to the language of
the >ersians, yet the providence of 'od caused hi" to beco"e a self9accuser
even against his will, that through thin)ing to honour hi"self in >ersia, he "ight
proclai" hi"self a"ong the 'ree)s by na"e a "aniac.
*A. He dared too to say that he was the >araclete, though it is written, But
whosoever shall blaspheme against the #oly Ghost, has no forgiveness.
,ar) 6:*F He co""itted blasphe"y therefore by saying that he was the Holy
'host: let hi" that co""unicates with those heretics see with who" he is
enrolling hi"self. %he slave shoo) the world, since by three things the earth is
shaken, and the fourth it cannot bearBif a slave became a king. >roverbs 6G:*19
** Having co"e into public he now began to pro"ise things above "ans power.
59
%he son of the King of the >ersians was sic), and a "ultitude of physicians were
in attendance: but ,anes pro"ised, as if he were a godly "an, to cure hi" by
prayer. 8ith the departure of the physicians, the life of the child departed: and
the "ans i"piety was detected. So the would9be philosopher was a prisoner,
being cast into prison not for reproving the )ing in the cause of truth, not for
destroying the idols, but for pro"ising to save and lying, or rather, if the truth
"ust be told, for co""itting "urder. $or the child who "ight have been saved by
"edical treat"ent, was "urdered by this "ans driving away the physicians, and
)illing hi" by want of treat"ent.
*B. /ow as there are very "any wic)ed things which 0 tell you of hi", re"e"ber
(rst his blasphe"y, secondly his slavery 1not that slavery is a disgrace, but that
his pretending to be free9born, when he was a slave, was wic)ed2, thirdly, the
falsehood of his pro"ise, fourthly, the "urder of the child, and (fthly, the
disgrace of the i"prison"ent. And there was not only the disgrace of the prison,
but also the fight fro" prison. $or he who called hi"self the >araclete and
cha"pion of the truth, ran away: he was no successor of @esus, who readily went
to the .ross, but this "an was the reverse, a runaway. ,oreover, the King of the
>ersians ordered the )eepers of the prison to be e3ecuted: so ,anes was the
cause of the childs death through his vain boasting, and of the Eailers death
through his fight. Ought then he, who shared the guilt of "urder, to be
worshipped5 Ought he not to have followed the e3a"ple of @esus, and said, %f you
seek "e, let these go their way @ohn 1D:D5 Ought he not to have said, li)e @onas,
(ake me, and cast me into the sea* for this storm is because of me @onah 1:1*5
*C. He escapes fro" the prison, and co"es into ,esopota"ia: but there 7ishop
Archelaus, a shield of righteousness, encounters hi" : and having accused hi"
before philosophers as Eudges, and having asse"bled an audience of 'entiles,
lest if .hristians gave Eudg"ent, the Eudges "ight be thought to show favour;%ell
us what you preach, said Archelaus to ,anes. And he, whose mouth was as an
open sepulchre , began (rst with blasphe"y against the ,a)er of all things,
saying, %he 'od of the Old %esta"ent is the author of evils, as He says of Hi"self,
% am a consuming 2re. 4euterono"y =:*= 7ut the wise Archelaus under"ined his
blasphe"ous argu"ent by saying, 0f the 'od of the Old %esta"ent, as you say,
calls Hi"self a (re, whose Son is He who says, % came to send 2re on the earth
-u)e 1*:=F5 0f you (nd fault with Hi" who says, %he -ord )ills, and "a)es alive
60
1 Sa"uel *:B, why do you honour >eter, who raised up %abitha, but struc)
Sapphira dead5 0f again you (nd fault, because He prepared (re, wherefore do
you not (nd fault with Hi" who says, Depart from "e into everlasting 2re
,atthew *A:=15 0f you (nd fault with Hi" who says, % am God that make peace,
and create evil 0saiah =A:C, e3plain how @esus says, 0 ca"e not to send peace but
a sword. ,atthew 1G:6= Since both spea) ali)e, of two things one, either both are
good, because of their agree"ent, or if @esus is bla"eless in so spea)ing. why do
you bla"e Hi" that says the li)e in the Old %esta"ent5
*D. %hen ,anes answers hi": And what sort of 'od causes blindness5 $or it is
>aul who says, %n whom the God of this world has blinded the minds of them that
believe not, lest the light of the Gospel should shine unto them. 7ut Archelaus
"ade a good retort, saying, Head a little before: But if our Gospel is veiled, it is
veiled in them that are perishing. * .orinthians =:6 4o you see that in the" that
are perishing it is veiled5 $or it is not right to give the things which are holy unto
the dogs. ,atthew C:B Again, 0s it only the 'od of the Old %esta"ent that has
blinded the "inds of the" that believe not5 Hath not @esus Hi"self said, For this
cause speak % unto them in parables, that seeing they may not see 5 8as it fro"
hating the" that He wished the" not to see5 Or because of their unworthiness,
since their eyes they had closed. ,atthew 16:1A $or where there is wilful
wic)edness, there is also a withholding of grace: for to him that has shall be
given; but from him that has not shall be taken even that which he seems to
have.
*F. 7ut if so"e are right in their interpretation, we "ust say as follows 1for it is no
unworthy e3pression2; 0f indeed He blinded the thoughts of the" that believe
not he blinded the" for a good purpose, that they "ight loo) with new sight on
what is good. $or he said not, He blinded their soul, but, the thoughts of them
that believe not. And the "eaning is so"ething of this )ind: 7lind the lewd
thoughts of the lewd, and the "an is saved: blind the grasping and rapacious
thought of the robber, and the "an is saved. 7ut will you not understand it thus5
%hen there is yet another interpretation. %he sun also blinds those whose sight is
di": and they whose eyes are diseased are hurt by the light and blinded. /ot that
the suns nature is to blind, but that the substance of the eyes is incapable of
seeing. 0n li)e "anner unbelievers being diseased in their heart cannot loo) upon
the radiance of the 'odhead. /or has he said, =#e has blinded their thoughts, that
61
they should not hear the 'ospel: but, that the light of the glory of the Gospel of
our $ord 7esus 'hrist should not shine unto them. $or to hear the 'ospel is
per"itted to all: but the glory of the 'ospel is reserved for .hrists true children
only. %herefore the -ord spo)e in parables to those who could not hear
,atthew 16:16: but to the 4isciples he e3plained the parables in private
,ar) =:6=: for the brightness of the glory is for those who have been enlightened,
the blinding for the" that believe not. %hese "ysteries, which the .hurch now
e3plains to you who art passing out of the class of .atechu"ens, it is not the
custo" to e3plain to heathen. $or to a heathen we do not e3plain the "ysteries
concerning $ather, Son, and Holy 'host, nor before .atechu"ens do we spea)
plainly of the "ysteries: but "any things we often spea) in a veiled way, that the
believers who )now "ay understand, and they who )now not "ay get no hurt.
6G. 7y such and "any other argu"ents the serpent was overthrown: thus did
Archelaus wrestle with ,anes and threw hi". Again, he who had fed fro" prison
fees fro" this place also: and having run away fro" his antagonist, he co"es to
a very poor village, li)e the serpent in >aradise when he left Ada" and ca"e to
+ve. 7ut the good shepherd Archelaus ta)ing forethought for his sheep, when he
heard of his fight, straightway hastened with all speed in search of the wolf. And
when ,anes suddenly saw his adversary, he rushed out and fed: it was however
his last fight. $or the oLcers of the King of >ersia searched everywhere, and
caught the fugitive: and the sentence, which he ought to have received in the
presence of Archelaus, is passed upon hi" by the )ings oLcers. %his ,anes,
who" his own disciples worship, is arrested and brought before the )ing. %he )ing
reproached hi" with his falsehood and his fight: poured scorn upon his slavish
condition, avenged the "urder of his child, and conde"ned hi" also for the
"urder of the Eailers: he co""ands hi" to be fayed after the >ersian fashion.
And while the rest of his body was given over for food of wild beasts, his s)in, the
receptacle of his vile "ind, was hung up before the gates li)e a sac). He that
called hi"self the >araclete and professed to )now the future, )new not his own
fight and capture.
61. %his "an has had three disciples, %ho"as, and 7addas, and Her"as. -et none
read the 'ospel according to %ho"as : for it is the wor) not of one of the twelve
Apostles, but of one of the three wic)ed disciples of ,anes. -et none associate
with the soul9destroying ,anicheans, who by decoctions of cha? counterfeit the
62
sad loo) of fasting, who spea) evil of the .reator of "eats, and greedily devour
the daintiest, who teach that the "an who pluc)s up this or that herb is changed
into it. $or if he who crops herbs or any vegetable is changed into the sa"e, into
how "any will husband"en and the tribe of gardeners be changed 5 %he
gardener, as we see, has used his sic)le against so "any: into which then is he
changed5 Ierily their doctrines are ridiculous, and fraught with their own
conde"nation and sha"e# %he sa"e "an, being the shepherd of a foc), both
sacri(ces a sheep and )ills a wolf. 0nto what then is he changed5 ,any "en both
net (shes and li"e birds: into which then are they transfor"ed5
6*. -et those children of sloth, the ,anicheans, "a)e answer! who without
labouring the"selves eat up the labourers fruits: who welco"e with s"iling faces
those who bring the" their food, and return curses instead of blessings. $or when
a si"ple person brings the" anything, Stand outside a while, says he, and 0 will
bless you. %hen having ta)en the bread into his hands 1as those who have
repented and left the" have confessed2, 0 did not "a)e you, says the ,anichee
to the bread: and sends up curses against the ,ost High! and curses hi" that
"ade it, and so eats what was "ade. 0f you hate the food, why did you loo) with
s"iling countenance on hi" that brought it to you5 0f you are than)ful to the
bringer, why do you utter your blasphe"y to 'od, who created and "ade it5 So
again he says, 0 sowed you not: "ay he be sown who sowed you# 0 reaped you not
with a sic)le: "ay he be reaped who reaped you# 0 ba)ed you not with (re: "ay
he be ba)ed who ba)ed you# A (ne return for the )indness#
66. %hese are great faults, but still s"all in co"parison with the rest. %heir
7aptis" 0 dare not describe before "en and wo"en. 0 dare not say what they
distribute to their wretched co""unicants. ...%ruly we pollute our "outh in
spea)ing of these things. Are the heathen "ore detestable than these5 Are the
Sa"aritans "ore wretched5 Are @ews "ore i"pious5 Are fornicators "ore
i"pure 5 7ut the ,anichee sets these o?erings in the "idst of the altar as he
considers it. And do you, O "an, receive instruction fro" such a "outh5 On
"eeting this "an do you greet hi" at all with a )iss5 %o say nothing of his other
i"piety, do you not fee fro" the de(le"ent, and fro" "en worse than
profigates, "ore detestable than any prostitute5
6=. Of these things the .hurch ad"onishes and teaches you, and touches "ire,
that you "ay not be be"ired: she tells of the wounds, that you "ay not be
63
wounded. 7ut for you it is enough "erely to )now the": abstain fro" learning by
e3perience. 'od thunders, and we all tre"ble! and they blasphe"e. 'od lightens,
and we all bow down to the earth! and they have their blasphe"ous sayings
about the heavens. %hese things are written in the boo)s of the ,anichees. %hese
things we ourselves have read, because we could not believe those who told of
the": yes, for the sa)e of your salvation we have closely in:uired into their
perdition.
6A. 7ut "ay the -ord deliver us fro" such delusion: and "ay there be given to
you a hatred against the serpent, that as they lie in wait for the heel, so you "ay
tra"ple on their head. He"e"ber what 0 say. 8hat agree"ent can there be
between our state and theirs5 ,hat communion has light with darkness
* .orinthians B:1=5 8hat has the "aEesty of the .hurch to do with the
abo"ination of the ,anichees5 Here is order, here is discipline , here is "aEesty,
here is purity: here even to look upon a woman to lust after her ,atthew A:*D is
conde"nation. Here is "arriage with sanctity , here steadfast continence, here
virginity in honour li)e the Angels: here parta)ing of food with than)sgiving, here
gratitude to the .reator of the world. Here the $ather of .hrist is worshipped:
here are taught fear and tre"bling before Hi" who sends the rain: here we
ascribe glory to Hi" who "a)es the thunder and the lightning.
6B. ,a)e thou your fold with the sheep: fee fro" the wolves: depart not fro" the
.hurch. Hate those also who have ever been suspected in such "atters: and
unless in ti"e thou perceive their repentance, do not rashly trust yourself a"ong
the". %he truth of the Nnity of 'od has been delivered to you: learn to distinguish
the pastures of doctrine. 7e an approved ban)er , holding fast that which is good,
abstaining from every form of evil. 1 %hessalonians A:*19** Or if you have ever
been such as they, recognise and hate your delusion. $or there is a way of
salvation, if you reEect the vo"it, if you fro" your heart detest it, if you depart
fro" the", not with your lips only, but with your soul also: if you worship the
$ather of .hrist, the 'od of the -aw and the >rophets, if you ac)nowledge the
'ood and the @ust to be one and the sa"e 'od. And "ay He preserve you all,
guarding you fro" falling or stu"bling, established in the $aith, in .hrist @esus our
-ord, to 8ho" be glory for ever and ever. A"en.
hom be glory, honour, and power 1 %i"othy B:1A91B for ever and ever. A"en.
64
The ,ather%
+phesians 6:1=, 1A
$or this cause 0 bow "y )nees unto the $ather,...of who" all fatherhood in heaven
and earth is na"ed, etc.
1. Of 'od as the sole >rinciple we have said enough to you yesterday : by enough
0 "ean, not what is worthy of the subEect, 1for to reach that is utterly i"possible
to "ortal nature2, but as "uch as was granted to our in(r"ity. 0 traversed also
the bye9paths of the "anifold error of the godless heretics: but now let us sha)e
o? their foul and soul9poisoning doctrine, and re"e"bering what relates to the",
not to our own hurt, but to our greater detestation of the", let us co"e bac) to
ourselves, and receive the saving doctrines of the true $aith, connecting the
dignity of $atherhood with that of the Nnity, and believing 0n One 'od the $ather:
for we "ust not only believe in one 'od! but this also let us devoutly receive, that
He is the $ather of the Only9begotten, our -ord @esus .hrist.
*. $or thus shall we raise our thoughts higher than the @ews , who ad"it indeed
by their doctrines that there is One 'od, 1for what if they often denied even this
by their idolatries52! but that He is also the $ather of our -ord @esus .hrist, they
ad"it not! being of a contrary "ind to their own >rophets, who in the 4ivine
Scriptures aLr", (he $ord said unto me, !ou are "y Son, this day have %
begotten you. And to this day they rage and gather themselves together against
the $ord, and against #is 5nointed , thin)ing that it is possible to be "ade friends
of the $ather apart fro" devotion towards the Son, being ignorant that no man
comes unto the Father but by @ohn 1=:B the Son, who says, % am the Door, and %
am the ,ay. He therefore that refuses the 8ay which leads to the $ather, and he
that denies the 4oor, how shall he be dee"ed worthy of entrance unto 'od5 %hey
contradict also what is written in the eighty9eighth >sal", #e shall call "e, !ou
are my Father, my God, and the helper of my salvation3 5nd % will make him my
2rst/born, high among the kings of the earth. $or if they should insist that these
things are said of 4avid or Solo"on or any of their successors, let the" show how
the throne of hi", who is in their Eudg"ent described in the prophecy, is as the
days of heaven, and as the sun before God, and as the moon established for ever.
And how is it also that they are not abashed at that which is written, From the
womb before the morning/star have % begotten you : also this, #e shall endure
65
with the sun, and before the moon, from generation to generation. %o refer these
passages to a "an is a proof of utter and e3tre"e insensibility.
6. -et the @ews, however, since they so will, su?er their usual disorder of unbelief,
both in these and the li)e state"ents. 7ut let us adopt the godly doctrine of our
$aith, worshipping one 'od the $ather of the .hrist, 1for to deprive Hi", who
grants to all the gift of generation, of the li)e dignity would be i"pious2: and let
us 7elieve in One 'od the $ather, in order that, before we touch upon our
teaching concerning .hrist, the faith concerning the Only9begotten "ay be
i"planted in the soul of the hearers, without being at all interrupted by the
intervening doctrines concerning the $ather.
=. $or the na"e of the $ather, with the very utterance of the title, suggests the
thought of the Son: as in li)e "anner one who na"es the Son thin)s straightway
of the $ather also. $or if a $ather, He is certainly the $ather of a Son! and if a Son,
certainly the Son of a $ather. -est therefore fro" our spea)ing thus, 0n One 'od,
the $ather Al"ighty, ,a)er of Heaven and +arth, and of All %hings Iisible and
0nvisible, and fro" our then adding this also, And in One -ord @esus .hrist, any
one should irreverently suppose that the Only9begotten is second in ran) to
heaven and earth;for this reason before na"ing the" we na"ed 'od the $ather,
that in thin)ing of the $ather we "ight at the sa"e ti"e thin) also of the Son: for
between the Son and the $ather no being whatever co"es.
A. 'od then is in an i"proper sense the $ather of "any, but by nature and in
truth of One only, the Only9begotten Son, our -ord @esus .hrist! not having
attained in course of ti"e to being a $ather, but being ever the $ather of the Only9
begotten. /ot that being without a Son before, He has since by change of purpose
beco"e a $ather: but before every substance and every intelligence, before ti"es
and all ages, 'od has the dignity of $ather, "agnifying Hi"self in this "ore than
in His other dignities! and having beco"e a $ather, not by passion , or union, not
in ignorance, not by eQuence , not by di"inution, not by alteration, for every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of
lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow of turning. @a"es 1:1C
>erfect $ather, He begot a perfect Son, and delivered all things to Hi" who is
begotten: 1for all things, He says, are delivered unto "e of "y Father
,atthew 11:*C:2 and is honoured by the Only9begotten: for, % honour "y Father
@ohn D:=F, says the Son! and again, 6ven as % have kept "y Father=s
66
commandments, and abide in #is love. @ohn 1A:1G %herefore we also say li)e the
Apostle, Blessed be the God and Father of our $ord 7esus 'hrist, the Father of
mercies, and God of all consolation * .orinthians 1:6: and, ,e bow our knees
unto the Father from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named
+phesians 6:1=91A: glorifying Hi" with the Only9begotten: for he that denies the
Father, denies the Son also : and again, #e that confesses the Son, has the
Father also ! )nowing that @esus .hrist is -ord to the glory of 'od the $ather
>hilippians *:11 .
B. 8e worship, therefore, as the $ather of .hrist, the ,a)er of heaven and earth,
the God of 5braham, %saac, and 7acob +3odus 6:B! to whose honour the for"er
te"ple also, over against us here, was built. $or we shall not tolerate the heretics
who sever the Old %esta"ent fro" the /ew , but shall believe .hrist, who says
concerning the te"ple, Did you not know that % must be in "y Father=s house
-u)e *:=F5 And again, (ake these things hence, and make not my Father=s house
a house of merchandise @ohn *:1B, whereby He "ost clearly confessed that the
for"er te"ple in @erusale" was His own $athers house. 7ut if any one fro"
unbelief wishes to receive yet "ore proofs as to the $ather of .hrist being the
sa"e as the ,a)er of the world, let hi" hear Hi" say again, 5re not two
sparrows sold for a farthing, and not one of them shall fall on the ground without
"y Father which is in heaven ! this also, Behold the fowls of the heaven that they
sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father
feeds them ,atthew B:*B! and this, "y Father works hitherto, and % work
@ohn A:1C .
C. 7ut lest any one fro" si"plicity or perverse ingenuity should suppose that
.hrist is but e:ual in honour to righteous "en, fro" His saying, % ascend to "y
Father, and your Father, it is well to "a)e this distinction beforehand, that the
na"e of the $ather is one, but the power of His operation "anifold. And .hrist
Hi"self )nowing this has spo)en unerringly, % go to "y Father, and your Father*
not saying to our $ather, but distinguishing, and saying (rst what was proper to
Hi"self, to "y Father, which was by nature! then adding, and your Father, which
was by adoption. $or however high the privilege we have received of saying in
our prayers, 4ur Father, which art in heaven, yet the gift is of loving9)indness. $or
we call Hi" $ather, not as having been by nature begotten of Our $ather which is
in heaven! but having been transferred fro" servitude to sonship by the grace of
67
the $ather, through the Son and Holy Spirit, we are per"itted so to spea) by
ine?able loving9)indness.
D. 7ut if any one wishes to learn how we call 'od $ather, let hi" hear ,oses, the
e3cellent school"aster, saying, Did not this your Father #imself buy you, and
make you, and create you 4euterono"y 6*:B5 Also +saias the >rophet, 5nd now,
4 $ord3 !ou are our Father* and we all are clay, the works of !our hands.
0saiah B=:D $or "ost clearly has the prophetic gift declared that not according to
nature, but according to 'ods grace, and by adoption, we call Hi" $ather.
F. And that you "ay learn "ore e3actly that in the 4ivine Scriptures it is not by
any "eans the natural father only that is called father, hear what >aul says:; For
though you should have ten thousand tutors in 'hrist, yet have ye not many
fathers* for in 'hrist 7esus % begot you through the Gospel. 1 .orinthians =:1A $or
>aul was father of the .orinthians, not by having begotten the" after the fesh,
but by having taught and begotten the" again after the Spirit. Hear @ob also
saying, % was a father of the needy @ob *F:1B: for he called hi"self a father, not as
having begotten the" all, but as caring for the". And 'ods Only9begotten Son
Hi"self, when nailed in His fesh to the tree at the ti"e of cruci(3ion, on seeing
,ary, His own ,other according to the fesh, and @ohn, the "ost beloved of His
disciples, said to hi", BeholdA !our mother, and to her, BeholdA !our Son
@ohn 1F:*B9*C: teaching her the parental a?ection due to hi" , and indirectly
e3plaining that which is said in -u)e, and #is father and #is mother marvelled at
#im -u)e *:66: words which the tribe of heretics snatch up, saying that He was
begotten of a "an and a wo"an. $or li)e as ,ary was called the "other of @ohn,
because of her parental a?ection, not fro" having given hi" birth, so @oseph also
was called the father of .hrist, not fro" having begotten Hi" 1for he knew her
not, as the 'ospel says, until she had brought forth her 2rst/born Son
,atthew 1:*A2, but because of the care bestowed on His nurture.
1G. %hus "uch then at present, in the way of a digression, to put you in
re"e"brance. -et "e, however, add yet another testi"ony in proof that 'od is
called the $ather of "en in an i"proper sense. $or when in +saias 'od is
addressed thus, For !ou are our Father, though 5braham be ignorant of us
0saiah B6:1B, and Sarah travailed not with us , need we in:uire further on this
point5 And if the >sal"ist says, $et them be troubled from #is countenance, the
Father of the fatherless, and 7udge of the widows , is it not "anifest to all, that
68
when 'od is called the $ather of orphans who have lately lost their own fathers,
He is so na"ed not as begetting the" of Hi"self, but as caring for the" and
shielding the". 7ut whereas 'od, as we have said, is in an i"proper sense the
$ather of "en, of .hrist alone He is the $ather by nature, not by adoption: and the
$ather of "en in ti"e, but of .hrist before all ti"e, as He says, 5nd now, 4
Father, glorify (hou "e with !our own self, with the glory which % had with !ou
before the world was @ohn 1C:A .
11. 8e believe then 0n One 'od the $ather the Nnsearchable and 0ne?able, ,hom
no man has seen 1 %i"othy *:1B, but the 4nly/begotten alone has declared #im.
@ohn 1:1D For #e which is of God, #e has seen God : whose face the Angels do
always behold in heaven ,atthew 1D:1G, behold, however, each according to the
"easure of his own ran). 7ut the undi""ed vision of the $ather is reserved in its
purity for the Son with the Holy 'host.
1*. Having reached this point of "y discourse, and being re"inded of the
passages Eust before "entioned, in which 'od was addressed as the $ather of
"en, 0 a" greatly a"a&ed at "ens insensibility. $or 'od with unspea)able loving9
)indness deigned to be called the $ather of "en;He in heaven, they on earth;
and He the ,a)er of +ternity, they "ade in ti"e,; He who holds the earth in the
hollow of #is hand, they upon the earth as grasshoppers. <et "an forsoo) his
heavenly $ather, and said to the stoc), !ou are my father, and to the stone, !ou
have begotten me. @ere"iah *:*C And for this reason, "ethin)s, the >sal"ist says
to "an)ind, Forget also your own people, and your father=s house , who" you
have chosen for a father, who" you have drawn upon yourself to your
destruction.
16. And not only stoc)s and stones, but even Satan hi"self, the destroyer of
souls, have so"e ere now chosen for a father! to who" the -ord said as a rebu)e,
!ou do the deeds of your father @ohn D:=1, that is of the devil, he being the father
of "en not by nature, but by fraud. $or li)e as >aul by his godly teaching ca"e to
be called the father of the .orinthians, so the devil is called the father of those
who of their own will consent unto him.
$or we shall not tolerate those who give a wrong "eaning to that saying, #ereby
know we the children of God, and the children of the devil 1 @ohn 6:1G, as if there
were by nature so"e "en to be saved, and so"e to be lost. 8hereas we co"e
69
into such holy sonship not of necessity but by choice: nor was the traitor @udas by
nature a son of the devil and of perdition! for certainly he would never have cast
out devils at all in the na"e of .hrist: for Satan casts not out Satan. ,ar) 6:*6
/or on the other hand would >aul have turned fro" persecuting to preaching. 7ut
the adoption is in our own power, as @ohn says, But as many as received #im, to
them gave #e power to become the children of God, even to them that believe in
#is name. @ohn 1:1* $or not before their believing, but fro" their believing they
were counted worthy to beco"e of their own choice the children of 'od.
1=. Knowing this, therefore, let us wal) spiritually, that we "ay be counted
worthy of 'ods adoption. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are
the sons of God. Ho"ans D:1= $or it pro(ts us nothing to have gained the title of
.hristians, unless the wor)s also follow! lest to us also it be said, %f you were
5braham=s children, you would do the works of 5braham. @ohn D:6F For if we call
on #im as Father, who without respect of persons udges according to every
man=s work, let us pass the time of our soourning here in fear 1 >eter 1:1C,
loving not the world, neither the things that are in the world* for if any man love
the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 @ohn *:1A 8herefore, "y beloved
children, let us by our wor)s o?er glory to our Father which is in heaven, that
they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.
,atthew A:1B $et us cast all our care upon #im, for our Father knows what things
we have need of.
1A. 7ut while honouring our heavenly $ather let us honour also the fathers of our
<esh Hebrews 1*:F: since the -ord Hi"self has evidently so appointed in the -aw
and the >rophets, saying, #onour your father and your mother, that it may be
well with you, and your days shall be long in the land. 4euterono"y A:1B And let
this co""and"ent be especially observed by those here present who have
fathers and "others. 'hildren, obey your parents in all things* for this is well
pleasing to the $ord. .olossians 6:*G $or the -ord said not, #e that loves father or
mother is not worthy of "e, lest you fro" ignorance should perversely "ista)e
what was rightly written, but He added, more than "e. ,atthew 1G:6C $or when
our fathers on earth are of a contrary "ind to our $ather in heaven, then we "ust
obey .hrists word. 7ut when they put no obstacle to godliness in our way, if we
are ever carried away by ingratitude, and, forgetting their bene(ts to us, hold
70
the" in conte"pt, then the oracle will have place which says, #e that curses
father or mother, let him die the death.
1B. %he (rst virtue of godliness in .hristians is to honour their parents, to re:uite
the troubles of those who begot the" , and with all their "ight to confer on the"
what tends to their co"fort 1for if we should repay the" ever so "uch, yet we
shall never be able to return their gift of life 2, that they also "ay enEoy the
co"fort provided by us, and "ay con(r" us in those blessings which @acob the
supplanter shrewdly sei&ed! and that our $ather in heaven "ay accept our good
purpose, and Eudge us worthy to shine amid righteous as the sun in the kingdom
of our Father "atthew ?C*>C : %o who" be the glory, with the Only9begotten our
Saviour @esus .hrist, and with the Holy and -ife9giving Spirit, now and ever, to all
eternity. A"en.
$lmighty%
@ere"iah 6F:1D, 1F 1Septuagint2.
(he Great, the strong God, $ord of great 'ounsel, and mighty in #is works, the
Great God, the $ord 5lmighty and of great name.
1. 7y believing 0n One 'od we cut o? all "isbelief in "any gods, using this as a
shield against 'ree)s! and every opposing power of heretics! and by adding, 0n
One 'od the $ather, we contend against those of the circu"cision, who deny the
Only9begotten Son of 'od. $or, as was said yesterday, even before e3plaining the
truths concerning our -ord @esus .hrist, we "ade it "anifest at once, by saying
%he $ather, that He is the $ather of a Son: that as we understand that 'od is, so
we "ay understand that He has a Son. 7ut to those titles we add that He is also
Al"ighty! and this we aLr" because of 'ree)s and @ews together, and all
heretics.
*. $or of the 'ree)s so"e have said that 'od is the soul of the world : and others
that His power reaches only to heaven, and not to earth as well. So"e also
sharing their error and "isusing the te3t which says, 5nd !our truth unto the
clouds , have dared to circu"scribe 'ods providence by the clouds and the
heaven, and to alienate fro" 'od the things on earth! having forgotten the >sal"
which says, %f % go up into heaven, !ou are there, if % go down into hell, !ou are
71
present. $or if there is nothing higher than heaven, and if hell is deeper than the
earth, He who rules the lower regions reaches the earth also.
6. 7ut heretics again, as 0 have said before, )now not One Al"ighty 'od. $or He is
Al"ighty who rules all things, who has power over all things. 7ut they who say
that one 'od is -ord of the soul, and so"e other of the body, "a)e neither of
the" perfect, because either is wanting to the other. $or how is he al"ighty, who
has power over the soul, but not over the body5 And how is he al"ighty who has
do"inion over bodies, but no power over spirits5 7ut these "en the -ord
confutes, saying on the contrary, +ather fear #im which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell. ,atthew 1G:*D $or unless the $ather of our -ord @esus .hrist
has the power over both, how does He subEect both to punish"ent5 $or how shall
He be able to ta)e the body which is anothers and cast it into hell, e.cept #e
2rst bind the strong man, and spoil his goods 5
=. 7ut the 4ivine Scripture and the doctrines of the truth )now but One 'od, who
rules all things by His power, but endures "any things of His will. $or He rules
even over the idolaters, but endures the" of His forbearance: He rules also over
the heretics who set Hi" at nought, but bears with the" because of His long9
su?ering: He rules even over the devil, but bears with hi" of His long9su?ering,
not fro" want of power! as if defeated. $or he is the beginning of the $ord=s
creation, made to be mocked , not by Hi"self, for that were unworthy of Hi", but
by the 5ngels who" He has "ade. 7ut He su?ered hi" to live, for two purposes,
that he "ight disgrace hi"self the "ore in his defeat, and that "an)ind "ight be
crowned with victory. O all wise providence of 'od# 8hich ta)es the wic)ed
purpose for a groundwor) of salvation for the faithful. $or as He too) the
unbrotherly purpose of @osephs brethren for a groundwor) of His own
dispensation, and, by per"itting the" to sell their brother fro" hatred, too)
occasion to "a)e hi" )ing who" He would! so he per"itted the devil to wrestle,
that the victors "ight be crowned! and that when victory was gained, he "ight
be the "ore disgraced as being con:uered by the wea)er, and "en be greatly
honoured as having con:uered hi" who was once an Archangel.
A. /othing then is withdrawn fro" the power of 'od! for the Scripture says of
Hi", for all things are !our servants. All things ali)e are His servants, but fro" all
these One, His only Son, and One, His Holy Spirit, are e3cepted! and all the things
which are His servants serve the -ord through the One Son and in the Holy Spirit.
72
'od then rules all, and of His long9su?ering endures even "urderers and robbers
and fornicators, having appointed a set ti"e for reco"pensing every one, that if
they who have had long warning are still i"penitent in heart, they "ay receive
the greater conde"nation. %hey are )ings of "en, who reign upon earth, but not
without the power fro" above: and this /ebuchadne&&ar once learned by
e3perience, when he said! For #is kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and #is
power from generation to generation 4aniel =:6= .
B. Hiches, and gold, and silver are not, as so"e thin), the devils : for the whole
world of riches is for the faithful man, but for the faithless not even a penny. /ow
nothing is "ore faithless than the devil! and 'od says plainly by the >rophet, (he
gold is "ine, and the silver is "ine, and to whomsoever % will % give it. 4o thou but
use it well, and there is no fault to be found with "oney: but whenever you have
"ade a bad use of that which is good, then being unwilling to bla"e your own
"anage"ent, thou i"piously throwest bac) the bla"e upon the .reator. A "an
"ay even be Eusti(ed by "oney: % was hungry, and you gave "e meat
,atthew *A:6A96B: that certainly was fro" "oney. % was naked, and you clothed
"e: that certainly was by "oney. And would you learn that "oney "ay beco"e a
door of the )ingdo" of heaven5 Sell, says He, that you have, and give to the
poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven.
C. /ow 0 have "ade these re"ar)s because of those heretics who count
possessions, and "oney, and "ens bodies accursed. $or 0 neither wish you to be
a slave of "oney, nor to treat as ene"ies the things which 'od has given you for
use. /ever say then that riches are the devils: for though he say, 5ll these will %
give you, for they are delivered unto me , one "ay indeed even reEect his
assertion! for we need not believe the liar: and yet perhaps he spo)e the truth,
being co"pelled by the power of His presence: for he said not, 5ll these will % give
you, for they are "ine, but, for they are delivered unto me. He grasped not the
do"inion of the", but confessed that he had been entrusted with the", and was
for a ti"e dispensing the". 7ut at a proper ti"e interpreters should in:uire
whether his state"ent is false or true.
D. 'od then is One, the $ather, the Al"ighty, who" the brood of heretics have
dared to blasphe"e. <ea, they have dared to blasphe"e the -ord of Sabaoth ,
who sits above the 'herubim : they have dared to blasphe"e the -ord Adonai :
they have dared to blasphe"e Hi" who is in the >rophets the Al"ighty 'od. 7ut
73
worship thou One 'od the Al"ighty, the $ather of our -ord @esus .hrist. $lee fro"
the error of "any gods, fee also fro" every heresy, and say li)e @ob, But % will call
upon the 5lmighty $ord, which does great things and unsearchable, glorious
things and marvellous without number , and, For all these things there is honour
from the 5lmighty : to 8ho" be the glory for ever and ever. A"en.
"n the .ords, +a/er of )eaven and Earth, and of $ll Things *isible and
Invisible%
@ob 6D:*96
,ho is this that hides counsel from "e, and keeps words in his heart, and thinks
to hide them from "e ?
1. %o loo) upon 'od with eyes of fesh is i"possible: for the incorporeal cannot be
subEect to bodily sight: and the Only begotten Son of 'od Hi"self has testi(ed,
saying, 8o man has seen God at any time. @ohn 1:1D $or if according to that which
is written in +&e)iel any one should understand that +&e)iel saw Hi", yet what
says the Scripture5 #e saw the likeness of the glory of the $ord +&e)iel 1:*D! not
the -ord Hi"self, but the likeness of #is glory, not the glory itself, as it really is.
And when he saw "erely the likeness of the glory, and not the glory itself, he fell
to the earth fro" fear. /ow if the sight of the li)eness of the glory brought fear
and distress upon the prophets, any one who should atte"pt to behold 'od
Hi"self would to a certainty lose his life, according to the saying, 8o man shall
see "y face and live. +3odus 66:*G $or this cause 'od of His great loving9
)indness spread out the heaven as a veil of His proper 'odhead, that we should
not perish. %he word is not "ine, but the >rophets. %f !ou shall rend the heavens,
trembling will take hold of the mountains at sight of !ou, and they will <ow down.
And why do you wonder that +&e)iel fell down on seeing the likeness of the
glory? when 4aniel at the sight of 'abriel, though but a servant of 'od,
straightway shuddered and fell on his face, and, prophet as he was, dared not
answer hi", until the Angel transfor"ed hi"self into the li)eness of a son of "an.
/ow if the appearing of 'abriel wrought tre"bling in the >rophets, had 'od
Hi"self been seen as He is, would not all have perished5
*. %he 4ivine /ature then it is i"possible to see with eyes of fesh: but fro" the
wor)s, which are 4ivine, it is possible to attain to so"e conception of His power,
74
according to Solo"on, who says, For by the greatness and beauty of the
creatures proportionably the "aker of them is seen. He said not that fro" the
creatures the ,a)er is seen, but added proportionably. $or 'od appears the
greater to every "an in proportion as he has grasped a larger survey of the
creatures: and when his heart is uplifted by that larger survey, he gains withal a
greater conception of 'od.
6. 8ould you learn that to co"prehend the nature of 'od is i"possible5 %he
%hree .hildren in the furnace of (re, as they hy"n the praises of 'od, say
Blessed are you that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the 'herubim. %ell
"e what is the nature of the .herubi", and then loo) upon Hi" who sits upon
the". And yet +&e)iel the >rophet even "ade a description of the", as far as was
possible, saying that every one has four faces, one of a "an, another of a lion,
another of an eagle, and another of a calf! and that each one had si3 wings , and
they had eyes on all sides! and that under each one was a wheel of four sides.
/evertheless though the >rophet "a)es the e3planation, we cannot yet
understand it even as we read. 7ut if we cannot understand the throne, which he
has described, how shall we be able to co"prehend Hi" who sits thereon, the
0nvisible and 0ne?able 'od5 %o scrutinise then the nature of 'od is i"possible: but
it is in our power to send up praises of His glory for His wor)s that are seen.
=. %hese things 0 say to you because of the following conte3t of the .reed, and
because we say, 8e 7elieve in One 'od, the $ather Al"ighty, ,a)er of Heaven
and +arth, and of All %hings Iisible and 0nvisible! in order that we "ay re"e"ber
that the $ather of our -ord @esus .hrist is the sa"e as He that "ade the heaven
and the earth , and that we "ay "a)e ourselves safe against the wrong paths of
the godless heretics, who have dared to spea) evil of the All wise Arti(cer of all
this world , "en who see with eyes of fesh, but have the eyes of their
understanding blinded.
A. $or what fault have they to (nd with the vast creation of 'od5; they, who
ought to have been struc) with a"a&e"ent on beholding the vaultings of the
heavens: they, who ought to have worshipped Hi" who reared the s)y as a do"e,
who out of the fuid nature of the waters for"ed the stable substance of the
heaven. $or 'od said, $et there be a 2rmament in the midst of the water.
'enesis 1:B 'od spo)e once for all, and it stands fast, and falls not. %he heaven is
water, and the orbs therein, sun, "oon, and stars are of (re: and how do the orbs
75
of (re run their course in the water5 7ut if any one disputes this because of the
opposite natures of (re and water, let hi" re"e"ber the (re which in the ti"e of
,oses in +gypt fa"ed a"id the hail, and observe the all9wise wor)"anship of
'od. $or since there was need of water, because the earth was to be tilled, He
"ade the heaven above of water that when the region of the earth should need
watering by showers, the heaven "ight fro" its nature be ready for this purpose.
B. 7ut what5 0s there not cause to wonder when one loo)s at the constitution of
the sun5 $or being to the sight as it were a s"all body he contains a "ighty
power! appearing fro" the +ast, and sending forth his light unto the 8est: whose
rising at dawn the >sal"ist described, saying: 5nd he comes forth out of his
chamber as a bridegroom. He was describing the brightness and "oderation of
his state on (rst beco"ing visible unto "en: for when he rides at high noon, we
often fee fro" his bla&e: but at his rising he is welco"e to all as a bridegroo" to
loo) on.
Observe also his arrange"ent 1or rather not his, but the arrange"ent of Hi" who
by an ordinance deter"ined his course2, how in su""er he rises higher and
"a)es the days longer, giving "en good ti"e for their wor)s: but in winter
contracts his course, that the period of cold "ay be increased, and that the
nights beco"ing longer "ay contribute to "ens rest, and contribute also to the
fruitfulness of the products of the earth. See also how the days alternately
respond each to other in due order, in su""er increasing, and in winter
di"inishing! but in spring and autu"n granting e:ual intervals one to another.
And the nights again co"plete the li)e courses! so that the >sal"ist also says of
the", Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night proclaims knowledge. $or
to the heretics who have no ears, they all but cry aloud, and by their good order
say, that there is none other 'od save the .reator who has set the" their
bounds, and laid out the order of the Nniverse.
C. 7ut let no one tolerate any who say that one is the .reator of the light, and
another of dar)ness : for let hi" re"e"ber how 0saiah says, % am the God who
made the light, and created darkness. 8hy, O "an, are you ve3ed thereat5 8hy
are you o?ended at the ti"e that is given you for rest 5 A servant would have had
no rest fro" his "asters, had not the dar)ness necessarily brought a respite. And
often after wearying ourselves in the day, how are we refreshed in the night, and
he who was yesterday worn with toils, rises vigorous in the "orning because of
76
the nights rest 5 And what "ore helpful to wisdo" than the night 5 $or herein
oftenti"es we set before our "inds the things of 'od! and herein we read and
conte"plate the 4ivine Oracles. And when is our "ind "ost attuned to >sal"ody
and >rayer5 0s it not at night5 And when have we often called our own sins to
re"e"brance5 0s not at night 5 -et us not then ad"it the evil thought, that
another is the "a)er of dar)ness: for e3perience shows that this also is good and
useful.
D. %hey ought to have felt astonish"ent and ad"iration not only at the
arrange"ent of sun and "oon, but also at the well9ordered choirs of the stars,
their uni"peded courses, and their risings in the seasons due to each: and how
so"e are signs of su""er, and others of winter! and how so"e "ar) the season
for sowing, and others show the co""ence"ent of navigation. And a "an sitting
in his ship, and sailing a"id the boundless waves, steers his ship by loo)ing at
the stars. $or of these "atters the Scripture says well, 5nd let them be for signs,
and for seasons, and for years 'enesis 1:1=, not for fables of astrology and
nativities. 7ut observe how He has also graciously given us the light of day by
gradual increase: for we do not see the sun at once arise! but Eust a little light
runs on before, in order that the pupil of the eye "ay be enabled by previous trial
to loo) upon his stronger bea": see also how He has relieved the dar)ness of the
night by rays of "oonlight.
F. ,ho is the father of the rain? 5nd who has begotten the drops of dew
7ob CD*ED 5 8ho condensed the air into clouds, and bade the" carry the waters
of the rain , now bringing golden/tinted clouds from the north , now changing
these into one unifor" appearance, and again transfor"ing the" into "anifold
circles and other shapes5 ,ho can number the clouds in wisdom @ob 6D:6C5
8hereof in @ob it says, And He )nows the separations of the clouds , and has bent
down the heaven to the earth : and, #e who numbers the clouds in wisdom: and,
the cloud is not rent under #im. $or so "any "easures of waters lie upon the
clouds, yet they are not rent: but co"e down with all good order upon the earth.
8ho brings the winds out of their treasuries 5 5nd who, as we said before, is he
that has begotten the drops of dew? 5nd out of whose womb comes the ice
@ob 6D:*D5 $or its substance is li)e water, and its strength li)e stone. And at one
ti"e the water beco"es snow like wool, at another it "inisters to Hi" who
scatters the mist like ashes , and at another it is changed into a stony substance!
77
since #e governs the waters as #e will. 0ts nature is unifor", and its action
"anifold in force. 8ater beco"es in vines wine that makes glad the heart of
man* and in olives oil that makes man=s face to shine* and is transfor"ed also
into bread that strengthens man=s heart , and into fruits of all )inds which He has
created.
1G. 8hat should have been the e?ect of these wonders5 Should the .reator have
been blasphe"ed5 Or worshipped rather5 And so far 0 have said noticing of the
unseen wor)s of His wisdo". Observe, 0 pray you, the spring, and the fowers of
every )ind in all their li)eness still diverse one fro" another! the deepest cri"son
of the rose, and the purest whiteness of the lily: for these spring fro" the sa"e
rain and the sa"e earth, and who "a)es the" to di?er5 8ho fashions the"5
Observe, pray, the e3act care: fro" the one substance of the tree there is part for
shelter, and part for various fruits: and the Arti(cer is One. Of the sa"e vine part
is for burning , and part for shoots, and part for leaves, and part for tendrils, and
part for clusters.
Ad"ire also the great thic)ness of the )nots which run round the reed, as the
Arti(cer has "ade the". $ro" one and the sa"e earth co"e forth creeping
things, and wild beasts, and cattle, and trees, and food! and gold, and silver, and
brass, and iron, and stone. %he nature of the waters is but one, yet fro" it co"es
the substance of (shes and of birds! whereby as the for"er swi" in the waters,
so the birds fy in the air.
11. (his great and wide sea, therein are things creeping innumerable. 8ho can
describe the beauty of the (shes that are therein5 8ho can describe the
greatness of the whales, and the nature of its a"phibious ani"als, how they live
both on dry land and in the waters5 8ho can tell the depth and the breadth of the
sea, or the force of its enor"ous waves5 <et it stays at its bounds, because of Hi"
who said, #itherto shall you come, and no further, but within yourself shall your
waves be broken. @ob 6D:11 8hich sea also clearly shows the word of the
co""and i"posed upon it, since after it has run up, it leaves upon the beach a
visible line "ade by the waves, showing, as it were, to those who see it, that it
has not passed its appointed bounds.
1*. 8ho can discern the nature of the birds of the air5 How so"e carry with the"
a voice of "elody, and others are variegated with all "anner of painting on their
78
wings, and others fy up into "id air and foat "otionless, as the haw): for by the
4ivine co""and the hawk spreads out his wings and <oats motionless, looking
towards the south. 8hat "an can behold the eagles lofty fight5 0f then you can
not discern the soaring of the "ost senseless of the birds, how would you
understand the ,a)er of all5
16. 8ho a"ong "en )nows even the na"es of all wild beasts5 Or who can
accurately discern the physiology of each5 7ut if of the wild beasts we )now not
even the "ere na"es, how shall we co"prehend the ,a)er of the"5 'ods
co""and was but one, which said, $et the earth bring forth wild beasts, and
cattle, and creeping things, after their kinds 'enesis 1:*= and fro" one earth , by
one co""and, have sprung diverse natures, the gentle sheep and the
carnivorous lion, and various instincts of irrational ani"als, bearing rese"blance
to the various characters of "en! the fo3 to "anifest the craft that is in "en, and
the sna)e the veno"ous treachery of friends, and the neighing horse the
wantonness of young "en @ere"iah A:D, and the laborious ant, to arouse the
sluggish and the dull: for when a "an passes his youth in idleness, then he is
instructed by the irrational ani"als, being reproved by the divine Scripture
saying, Go to the ant, thou sluggard, see and emulate her ways, and become
wiser than she. $or when you see her treasuring up her food in good season,
i"itate her, and treasure up for yourself fruits of good wor)s for the world to
co"e. And again, Go to the bee, and learn how industrious she is : how, hovering
round all )inds of fowers, she collects her honey for your bene(t: that thou also,
by ranging over the Holy Scriptures, "ay lay hold of salvation for yourself, and
being (lled with the" "ay say, #ow sweet are your words unto my throat, yea
sweeter than honey and the honeycomb unto my mouth.
1=. 0s not then the Arti(cer worthy the rather to be glori(ed5 $or what5 0f you
)now not the nature of all things, do the things that have been "ade i""ediately
beco"e useless5 .an you )now the eLcacy of all herbs5 Or can you learn all the
bene(t which proceeds fro" every ani"al5 +re now even fro" veno"ous adders
have co"e antidotes for the preservation of "en. 7ut you will say to "e, %he
sna)e is terrible. $ear thou the -ord, and it shall not be able to hurt you. A
scorpion stings. $ear the -ord, and it shall not sting you. A lion is bloodthirsty.
$ear thou the -ord, and he shall lie down beside you, as by 4aniel. 7ut truly
wonderful also is the action of the ani"als: how so"e, as the scorpion, have the
79
sharpness in a sting! and others have their power in their teeth! and others do
battle with their claws! while the basilis)s power is his ga&e. So then fro" this
varied wor)"anship understand the .reators power.
1A. 7ut these things perhaps you )now not: you would have nothing in co""on
with the creatures which are without you. +nter now into yourself, and fro" your
own nature consider its Arti(cer. 8hat is there to (nd fault with in the fra"ing of
your body5 7e "aster of yourself, and nothing evil shall proceed fro" any of your
"e"bers. Ada" was at (rst without clothing in >aradise with +ve, but it was not
because of his "e"bers that he deserved to be cast out. %he "e"bers then are
not the cause of sin, but they who use their "e"bers a"iss! and the ,a)er
thereof is wise. 8ho prepared the recesses of the wo"b for child9bearing5 8ho
gave life to the lifeless thing within it5 ,ho knitted us with sinews and bones, and
clothed us with skin and <esh @ob 1G:11, and, as soon as the child was born,
brought strea"s of "il) out of the breasts5 How grows the babe into a boy, and
the boy into a youth, and then into a "an! and, still the sa"e, passes again into
an old "an, while no one notices the e3act change fro" day to day5 Of the food,
how is one part changed into blood, and another separated for e3cretion, and
another part changed into fesh5 8ho gives to the heart its unceasing "otion5
8ho wisely guarded the tenderness of the eyes with the fence of the eyelids 5 $or
as to the co"plicated and wonderful contrivance of the eyes, the volu"inous
boo)s of the physicians hardly give us e3planation. 8ho distributes the one
breath to the whole body5 <ou see, O "an, the Arti(cer, you see the wise .reator.
1B. %hese points "y discourse has now treated at large, having left out "any,
yea, ten thousand other things, and especially things incorporeal and invisible,
that you "ay abhor those who blasphe"e the wise and good Arti(cer, and fro"
what is spo)en and read, and whatever you can yourself discover or conceive,
from the greatness and beauty of the creatures may proportionably see the
maker of them 8isdo" 16:A, and bending the )nee with godly reverence to the
,a)er of the worlds, the worlds, 0 "ean, of sense and thought, both visible and
invisible, you "ay with a grateful and holy tongue, with unwearied lips and heart,
praise 'od and say, #ow wonderful are !our works, 4 $ord; in wisdom have !ou
made them all. $or to <ou belongs honour, and glory, and "aEesty, both now and
throughout all ages. A"en.
80
"n the Clause, and in "ne Lord Jesus Christ, with a #eading from the
,irst Epistle to the Corinthians
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth ; yet to
us there is 4ne God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in #im; and 4ne
$ord 7esus 'hrist, through whom are all things, and we through #im3
1. %hey who have been taught to believe 0n One 'od the $ather Al"ighty, ought
also to believe in His Only9begotten Son. $or he that denies the Son, the same
has not the Father. 1 @ohn *:*6 % am the Door , says @esus! no one comes unto the
Father but through "e. $or if you deny the 4oor, the )nowledge concerning the
$ather is shut o? fro" you. 8o man knows the father, save the Son, and he to
whomsoever the Son shall reveal #im. ,atthew 11:*C $or if you deny Hi" who
reveals, you re"ain in ignorance. %here is a sentence in the 'ospels, saying, #e
that believes not on the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on
him3 @ohn 6:6B $or the $ather has indignation when the Only9begotten Son is set
at nought. $or it is grievous to a )ing that "erely his soldier should be
dishonoured! and when one of his nobler oLcers or friends is dishonoured, then
his anger is greatly increased: but if any should do despite to the )ings only9
begotten son hi"self, who shall appease the fathers indignation on behalf of his
only9begotten son5
*. 0f, therefore, any one wishes to show piety towards 'od, let hi" worship the
Son, since otherwise the $ather accepts not his service. %he $ather spo)e with a
loud voice fro" heaven, saying, (his is "y beloved Son, in whom % am well
pleased. ,atthew 6:1C %he $ather was well pleased! unless thou also be well
pleased in Hi", you have not life. 7e not thou carried away with the @ews when
they craftily say, %here is one 'od alone! but with the )nowledge that 'od is One,
)now that there is also an Only9begotten Son of 'od. 0 a" not the (rst to say this,
but the >sal"ist in the person of the Son says, (he $ord said unto "e, !ou are "y
Son. Heed not therefore what the @ews say, but what the >rophets say. 4o you
wonder that they who stoned and slew the >rophets, set at nought the >rophet.
words5
6. 7elieve thou 0n One -ord @esus .hrist, the Only97egotten Son of 'od. $or we
say One -ord @esus .hrist, that His Sonship "ay be Only9begotten: we say One,
that you "ay not suppose another: we say One, that you "ay not profanely
81
di?use the "any na"es of His action a"ong "any sons. $or He is called a 4oor !
but ta)e not the na"e literally for a thing of wood, but a spiritual, a living 4oor,
discri"inating those who enter in. He is called a 8ay @ohn 1=:B, not one trodden
by feet, but leading to the $ather in heaven! He is called a Sheep , not an
irrational one, but the one which through its precious blood cleanses the world
fro" its sins, which is led before the shearers, and )nows when to be silent. %his
Sheep again is called a Shepherd, who says, % am the Good Shepherd @ohn 1G:11:
a Sheep because of His "anhood, a Shepherd because of the loving9)indness of
His 'odhead. And would you )now that there are rational sheep5 %he Saviour
says to the Apostles, Behold, % send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Again,
He is called a -ion , not as a devourer of "en, but indicating as it were by the title
His )ingly, and steadfast, and con(dent nature: a -ion He is also called in
opposition to the lion our adversary, who roars and devours those who have been
deceived. 1 >eter A:D $or the Saviour ca"e, not as having changed the
gentleness of His own nature, but as the strong $ion of the tribe of 7udah , saving
the" that believe, but treading down the adversary. He is called a Stone, not a
lifeless stone, cut out by "ens hands, but a chief corner/stone , on who"
whosoever believes shall not be put to shame.
=. He is called .hrist, not as having been anointed by "ens hands, but eternally
anointed by the $ather to His High9>riesthood on behalf of "en. He is called
4ead, not as having abode a"ong the dead, as all in Hades, but as being alone
free among the dead. He is called Son of ,an, not as having had His generation
fro" earth, as each of us, but as co"ing upon the clouds %o @udge 7oth Ruic) and
4ead. He is called -ord, not i"properly as those who are so called a"ong "en,
but as having a natural and eternal -ordship. He is called @esus by a (tting na"e,
as having the appellation fro" His salutary healing. He is called Son, not as
advanced by adoption, but as naturally begotten. And "any are the titles of our
Saviour! lest, therefore, His "anifold appellations should "a)e you thin) of "any
sons, and because of the errors of the heretics, who say that .hrist is one, and
@esus another, and the 4oor another, and so on , the $aith secures you
beforehand, saying well, 0n One -ord @esus .hrist: for though the titles are "any,
yet their subEect is one.
A. 7ut the Saviour co"es in various for"s to each "an for his pro(t. $or to those
who have need of gladness He beco"es a Iine! and to those who want to enter in
82
He stands as a 4oor! and to those who need to o?er up their prayers He stands a
"ediating High >riest. Again, to those who have sins He beco"es a Sheep, that
He "ay be sacri(ced for the". #e is made all things to all men
1 .orinthians F:**, re"aining in His own nature what He is. $or so re"aining, and
holding the dignity of His Sonship in reality unchangeable, He adapts Hi"self to
our in(r"ities, Eust as so"e e3cellent physician or co"passionate teacher!
though He is Iery -ord, and received not the -ordship by advance"ent , but has
the dignity of His -ordship fro" nature, and is not called -ord i"properly , as we
are, but is so in verity, since by the $athers bidding He is -ord of His own wor)s.
$or our lordship is over "en of e:ual rights and li)e passions, nay often over our
elders, and often a young "aster rules over aged servants. 7ut in the case of our
-ord @esus .hrist the -ordship is not so: but He is (rst ,a)er, then -ord : (rst He
"ade all things by the $athers will, then, He is -ord of the things which were
"ade by Hi".
B. 'hrist the $ord is He who was born in the city of David. -u)e *:11 And would
you )now that .hrist is -ord with the $ather even before His 0ncarnation , that you
"ay not only accept the state"ent by faith, but "ay also receive proof fro" the
Old %esta"ent5 'o to the (rst boo), 'enesis: 'od says, $et us make man, not in
,y i"age, but, in 4ur image. 'enesis 1:*B And after Ada" was "ade, the sacred
writer says, 5nd God created man; in the image of God created #e him. $or he
did not li"it the dignity of the 'odhead to the $ather alone, but included the Son
also: that it "ight be shown that "an is not only the wor) of 'od, but also of our
-ord @esus .hrist, who is Hi"self also Iery 'od. %his -ord, who wor)s together
with the $ather, wrought with Hi" also in the case of Sodo", according to the
Scripture: 5nd the $ord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha 2re and brimstone
from the $ord out of heaven. %his -ord is He who afterwards was seen of ,oses,
as "uch as he was able to see. $or the -ord is loving unto "an, ever
condescending to our in(r"ities.
C. ,oreover, that you "ay be sure that this is He who was seen of ,oses, hear
>auls testi"ony, when he says, For they all drank of a spiritual rock that followed
them; and the rock was 'hrist. 1 .orinthians 1G:= And again: By faith "oses
forsook 6gypt Hebrews 11:*C, and shortly after he says, accounting the reproach
of 'hrist greater riches than the treasures in 6gypt. %his ,oses says to Hi",
Show me !ourself. <ou see that the >rophets also in those ti"es saw the .hrist,
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that is, as far as each was able. Show me !ourself, that % may see !ou with
understanding. 7ut He says, (here shall no man see "y face, and live.
+3odus 66:*G $or this reason then, because no "an could see the face of the
'odhead and live, He too) on Hi" the face of hu"an nature, that we "ight see
this and live. And yet when He wished to show even that with a little "aEesty,
when #is face did shine as the sun ,atthew 1C:*, the disciples fell down
a?righted. 0f then His bodily countenance, shining not in the full power of Hi"
that wrought, but according to the capacity of the 4isciples, a?righted the", so
that even thus they could not bear it, how could any "an ga&e upon the "aEesty
of the 'odhead5 A great thing, says the -ord, you desire, O ,oses: and 0 approve
your insatiable desire, and % will do this thing for you, but according as you are
able. Behold, % will put you in the cleft of the rock +3odus 66:**: for as being little,
you shall lodge in a little space.
D. /ow here 0 wish you to "a)e safe what 0 a" going to say, because of the @ews.
$or our obEect is to prove that the -ord @esus .hrist was with the $ather. %he -ord
then says to ,oses, % will pass by before you with "y glory, and will proclaim the
name of the $ord before you. 7eing Hi"self the -ord, what -ord does He
proclai"5 <ou see how He was covertly teaching the godly doctrine of the $ather
and the Son. And again, in what follows it is written word for word: 5nd the $ord
descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of
the $ord3 5nd the $ord passed by before him, and proclaimed, (he $ord, the $ord
God, merciful and gracious, long/su&ering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
both keeping righteousness and showing mercy unto thousands, taking away
ini)uities, and transgressions, and sins. %hen in what follows, "oses bowed his
head and worshipped +3odus 6=:D before the -ord who proclai"ed the $ather,
and said: 'o then, O -ord, in the "idst of us.
F. %his is the (rst proof: receive now a second plain one. (he $ord said unto my
$ord, sit (hou on "y right hand. %he -ord says this to the -ord, not to a servant,
but to the -ord of all, and His own Son, to who" He put all things in subEection.
But when #e says that all things are put under #im, it is manifest that #e is
e.cepted, which did put all things under #im, and what follows! that God may be
all in all. 1 .orinthians 1A:*C9*D %he Only9begotten Son is -ord of all, but the
obedient Son of the $ather, for He grasped not the -ordship , but received it by
nature of the $athers own will. $or neither did the Son grasp it, nor the $ather
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grudge to i"part it. He it is who says, 5ll things are delivered unto "e of "y
Father ! delivered unto ,e, not as though 0 had the" not before! and 0 )eep the"
well, not robbing Hi" who has given the".
1G. %he Son of 'od then is -ord: He is -ord, who was born in 7ethlehe" of @udMa,
according to the Angel who said to the shepherds, % bring you good tidings of
great oy, that unto you is born this day in the city of David 'hrist the $ord
-u)e *:1G911: of who" an Apostle says elsewhere, (he word which God sent unto
the children of %srael, preaching the gospel of peace by 7esus 'hrist* #e is $ord of
all. Acts 1G:6B 7ut when he says, of all, do thou e3cept nothing fro" His -ordship:
for whether Angels, or Archangels, or principalities, or powers, or any created
thing na"ed by the Apostles, all are under the -ordship of the Son. Of Angels He
is -ord, as you have it in the 'ospels, (hen the Devil departed from #im, and the
5ngels came and ministered unto #im ,atthew =:11! for the Scripture says not,
they succoured Hi", but they ministered unto #im, that is, li)e servants. 8hen
He was about to be born of a Iirgin, 'abriel was then His servant, having
received His service as a peculiar dignity. 8hen He was about to go into +gypt,
that He "ight overthrow the gods of +gypt "ade with hands , again an 5ngel
appears to 7oseph in a dream. ,atthew *:16 After He had been cruci(ed, and had
risen again, an Angel brought the good tidings, and as a trustworthy servant said
to the wo"en, Go, tell #is disciples that #e is risen, and goes before you into
Galilee; lo, % have told you : al"ost as if he had said, 0 have not neglected "y
co""and, 0 protest that 0 have told you! that if you disregard it, the bla"e "ay
not be on "e, but on those who disregard it. %his then is the One -ord @esus
.hrist, of who" the lesson Eust now read spea)s: For though there be many that
are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, and so on, yet to us there is 4ne
God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in #im; and 4ne $ord, 7esus
'hrist, through whom are all things, and we through #im 1 .orinthians D:A9B .
11. And He is called by two na"es, @esus .hrist! @esus, because He saves,;
.hrist, because He is a >riest. And )nowing this the inspired >rophet ,oses
conferred these two titles on two "en distinguished above all : his own successor
in the govern"ent, Auses , he rena"ed @esus! and his own brother Aaron he
surna"ed .hrist , that by two well9approved "en he "ight represent at once
both the High >riesthood, and the Kingship of the One @esus .hrist who was to
co"e. $or .hrist is a High >riest li)e Aaron! since He glori2ed not #imself to be
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made a #igh -riest, but #e that spoke unto #im, !ou are a -riest for ever after
the order of "elchi;edek. And @esus the son of /ave was in "any things a type of
Hi". $or when he began to rule over the people, he began fro" @ordan
@oshua 6:1, whence .hrist also, after He was bapti&ed, began to preach the
gospel. And the son of /ave appoints twelve to divide the inheritance ! and
twelve Apostles @esus sends forth, as heralds of the truth, into all the world. %he
typical @esus saved Hahab the harlot when she believed: and the true @esus says,
Behold, the publicans and the harlots go before you into the kingdom of God.
,atthew *1:61 8ith only a shout the walls of @ericho fell down in the ti"e of the
type: and because @esus said, (here shall not be left here one stone upon another
,atthew *=:*, the %e"ple of the @ews opposite to us is fallen, the cause of its fall
not being the denunciation but the sin of the transgressors.
1*. %here is One -ord @esus .hrist, a wondrous na"e, indirectly announced
beforehand by the >rophets. $or +saias the >rophet says, Behold, your Saviour
comes, having #is own reward. /ow @esus in Hebrew is by interpretation Saviour.
$or the >rophetic gift, foreseeing the "urderous spirit of the @ews against their
-ord , veiled His na"e, lest fro" )nowing it plainly beforehand they "ight plot
against Hi" readily. 7ut He was openly called @esus not by "en, but by an Angel,
who ca"e not by his own authority, but was sent by the power of 'od, and said
to @oseph, Fear not to take unto you "ary your wife; for that which is con ceivedin
her is of the #oly Ghost3 5nd she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call #is
name 7esus. ,atthew 1:*G And i""ediately he renders the reason of this na"e,
saying, for #e shall save #is people from their sins. .onsider how He who was not
yet born could have a people, unless He was in being before He was born. %his
also the >rophet says in His person, From the bowels of my mother has #e made
mention of "y name 0saiah =F:1! because the Angel foretold that He should be
called @esus. And again concerning Herods plot again he says, 5nd under the
shadow of #is hand has #e hid "e.
16. @esus then "eans according to the Hebrew Saviour, but in the 'ree) tongue
%he Healer! since He is physician of souls and bodies, curer of spirits, curing the
blind in body , and leading "inds into light, healing the visibly la"e, and guiding
sinners steps to repentance, saying to the palsied, Sin no more, and, (ake up
your bed and walk. $or since the body was palsied for the sin of the soul, He
"inistered (rst to the soul that He "ight e3tend the healing to the body. 0f,
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therefore, any one is su?ering in soul fro" sins, there is the >hysician for hi":
and if any one here is of little faith, let hi" say to Hi", #elp my unbelief.
,ar) F:*= 0f any is enco"passed also with bodily ail"ents, let hi" not be
faithless, but let hi" draw near! for to such diseases also @esus "inisters , and let
hi" learn that @esus is the .hrist.
1=. $or that He is @esus the @ews allow, but not further that He is .hrist. %herefore
says the Apostle, ,ho is the liar, but he that denies that 7esus is the 'hrist
1 @ohn *:**5 7ut .hrist is a High >riest, whose priesthood passes not to another
Hebrews C:*=, neither having begun His >riesthood in ti"e , nor having any
successor in His High9>riesthood: as you heard on the -ords day, when we were
discoursing in the congregation on the phrase, 5fter the 4rder of "elchi;edek. He
received not the High9>riesthood fro" bodily succession, nor was He anointed
with oil prepared by "an , but before all ages by the $ather! and He so far e3cels
the others as with an oath He is "ade >riest: For they are priests without an oath,
but #e with an oath by #im that said, (he $ord swore, and will not repent.
Hebrews C:*1 %he "ere purpose of the $ather was suLcient for surety: but the
"ode of assurance is twofold, na"ely that with the purpose there follows the
oath also, that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie,
we might have strong encouragement for our faith, who receive .hrist @esus as
the Son of 'od.
1A. %his .hrist, when He had co"e, the @ews denied, but the devils confessed. 7ut
His forefather 4avid was not ignorant of Hi", when he said, % have ordained a
lamp for mine 5nointed : which la"p so"e have interpreted to be the brightness
of >rophecy , others the fesh which He too) upon Hi" fro" the Iirgin, according
to the Apostles word, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. %he >rophet
was not ignorant of Hi", when He said, and announces unto men #is 'hrist.
,oses also )new Hi", 0saiah )new Hi", and @ere"iah! not one of the >rophets
was ignorant of Hi". +ven devils recognised Hi", for He rebu)ed the", and the
Scripture says, because they knew that #e was 'hrist. -u)e =:=1 %he .hief9priests
)new Hi" not, and the devils confessed Hi": the .hief >riests )new Hi" not, and
a wo"an of Sa"aria proclai"ed Hi", saying, 'ome, see a man which told me all
things that ever % did3 %s not this the 'hrist @ohn =:*F5
1B. %his is @esus .hrist who ca"e a #igh/-riest of the good things to come
Hebrews F:11! who for the bountifulness of His 'odhead i"parted His own title to
87
us all. $or )ings a"ong "en have their royal style which others "ay not share:
but @esus .hrist being the Son of 'od gave us the dignity of being called
.hristians. 7ut so"e one will say, %he na"e of .hristians is new, and was not in
use aforeti"e : and new9fashioned phrases are often obEected to on the score of
strangeness. %he prophet "ade this point safe beforehand, saying, But upon "y
servants shall a new name be called, which shall be blessed upon the earth. -et
us :uestion the @ews: Are you servants of the -ord, or not5 Show then your new
na"e. $or you were called @ews and 0sraelites in the ti"e of ,oses, and the other
prophets, and after the return fro" 7abylon, and up to the present ti"e: where
then is your new na"e5 7ut we, since we are servants of the -ord, have that new
na"e: new indeed, but the new name, which shall be blessed upon the earth.
%his na"e caught the world in its grasp: for @ews are only in a certain region, but
.hristians reach to the ends of the world: for it is the na"e of the Only9begotten
Son of 'od that is proclai"ed.
1C. 7ut would you )now that the Apostles )new and preached the na"e of .hrist,
or rather had .hrist Hi"self within the"5 >aul says to his hearers, 4r seek a
proof of 'hrist that speaks in me * .orinthians 16:65 >aul proclai"s .hrist,
saying, For we preach not ourselves, but 'hrist 7esus as $ord, and ourselves your
servants for 7esus= sake. 8ho then is this5 %he for"er persecutor. O "ighty
wonder# %he for"er persecutor hi"self preaches .hrist. 7ut wherefore5 8as he
bribed5 /ay there was none to use this "ode of persuasion. 7ut was it that he
saw Hi" present on earth, and was abashed5 He had already been ta)en up into
heaven. He went forth to persecute, and after three days the persecutor is a
preacher in 4a"ascus. 7y what power5 Others call friends as witnesses for
friends but 0 have presented to you as a witness the for"er ene"y: and do you
still doubt5 %he testi"ony of >eter and @ohn, though weighty, was yet of a )ind
open to suspicion: for they were His friends. 7ut of one who was for"erly his
ene"y, and afterwards dies for His sa)e, who can any longer doubt the truth5
1D. At this point of "y discourse 0 a" truly (lled with wonder at the wise
dispensation of the Holy Spirit! how He con(ned the +pistles of the rest to a s"all
nu"ber, but to >aul the for"er persecutor gave the privilege of writing fourteen.
$or it was not because >eter or @ohn was less that He restrained the gift! 'od
forbid# 7ut in order that the doctrine "ight be beyond :uestion, He granted to
the for"er ene"y and persecutor the privilege of writing "ore, in order that we
88
all "ight thus be "ade believers. $or all were ama;ed at >aul, and said, %s not
this he that was for"erly a persecutor Acts F:*15 4id he not co"e hither, that he
"ight lead us away bound to @erusale"5 7e not a"a&ed, said >aul, 0 )now that it
is hard for me to kick against the pricks* 0 )now that % am not worthy to be called
an 5postle, because % persecuted the 'hurch of God 1 .orinthians 1A:F! but 0 did
it in ignorance 1 %i"othy 1:16: for 0 thought that the preaching of .hrist was
destruction of the -aw, and )new not that He ca"e Hi"self to ful(l the -aw and
not to destroy it. ,atthew A:1C But the grace of God was e.ceeding abundant in
me 1 %i"othy 1:1= .
1F. ,any, "y beloved, are the true testi"onies concerning .hrist. %he $ather
bears witness fro" heaven of His Son: the Holy 'host bears witness, descending
bodily in li)eness of a dove: the Archangel 'abriel bears witness, bringing good
tidings to ,ary: the Iirgin ,other of 'od bears witness: the blessed place of the
"anger bears witness. +gypt bears witness, which received the -ord while yet
young in the body : Sy"eon bears witness, who received Hi" in his ar"s, and
said, 8ow, $ord, let !our servant depart in peace, according to !our word; for my
eyes have seen !our salvation, which !ou have prepared before the face of all
people. -u)e *:*F96G Anna also, the prophetess, a "ost devout widow, of austere
life, bears witness of Hi". @ohn the 7aptist bears witness, the greatest a"ong the
>rophets, and leader of the /ew .ovenant, who in a "anner united both
.ovenants in Hi"self, the Old and the /ew. @ordan is His witness a"ong rivers!
the sea of %iberias a"ong seas: blind and la"e bear witness, and dead "en
raised to life, and devils saying, ,hat have we to do with !ou, 7esus? ,e know
!ou, who !ou are, the #oly 4ne of God. ,ar) 1:*= 8inds bear witness, silenced at
His bidding: (ve loaves "ultiplied into (ve thousand bear Hi" witness. %he holy
wood of the .ross bears witness, seen a"ong us to this day, and fro" this place
now al"ost (lling the whole world, by "eans of those who in faith ta)e portions
fro" it. %he pal"9tree on the ravine bears witness, having supplied the pal"9
branches to the children who then hailed Hi". 'ethse"ane bears witness, still to
the thoughtful al"ost showing @udas. 'olgotha , the holy hill standing above us
here, bears witness to our sight: the Holy Sepulchre bears witness, and the stone
which lies there to this day. %he sun now shining is His witness, which then at the
ti"e of His saving >assion was eclipsed : the dar)ness is His witness, which was
then fro" the si3th hour to the ninth: the light bears witness, which shone forth
fro" the ninth hour until evening. %he ,ount of Olives bears witness, that holy
89
"ount fro" which He ascended to the $ather: the rain9bearing clouds are His
witnesses, having received their -ord: yea, and the gates of heaven bear witness
Jhaving received their -ord K, concerning which the >sal"ist said, $ift up your
doors, 4 you -rinces, and be lifted up you everlasting doors; and the 9ing of
Glory shall come in. His for"er ene"ies bear witness, of who" the blessed >aul is
one, having been a little while His ene"y, but for a long ti"e His servant: the
%welve Apostles are His witnesses, having preached the truth not only in words,
but also by their own tor"ents and deaths: the shadow of -eter Acts A:1A bears
witness, having healed the sic) in the na"e of .hrist. %he hand)erchiefs and
aprons bear witness, as in li)e "anner by .hrists power they wrought cures of
old through >aul. >ersians and 'oths , and all the 'entile converts bear witness,
by dying for His sa)e, who" they never saw with eyes of fesh: the devils, who to
this day are driven out by the faithful, bear witness to Hi".
*G. So "any and diverse, yea and "ore than these, are His witnesses: is then the
.hrist thus witnessed any longer disbelieved5 /ay rather if there is any one who
for"erly believed not, let hi" now believe: and if any was before a believer, let
hi" receive a greater increase of faith, by believing in our -ord @esus .hrist, and
let hi" understand whose na"e he bears. <ou are called a .hristian: be tender of
the na"e! let not our -ord @esus .hrist, the Son of 'od, be blasphe"ed through
you: but rather let your good works shine before men ,atthew A:1B that they
who see the" "ay in .hrist @esus our -ord glorify the $ather which is in heaven:
%o who" be the glory, both now and for ever and ever. A"en.
"n the .ords, the "nly0egotten Son of (od, egotten of the ,ather
*ery (od efore $ll $ges, by .hom $ll Things .ere +ade%
Hebrews 1:1
'od, who at sundry ti"es and in various "anners spo)e in ti"es past unto the
$athers by the >rophets, has in these last days spo)en unto us by His Son.
1. %hat we have hope in @esus .hrist has been suLciently shown, according to our
ability, in what we delivered to you yesterday. 7ut we "ust not si"ply believe in
.hrist @esus nor receive Hi" as one of the "any who are i"properly called
.hrists. $or they were (gurative .hrists, but He is the true .hrist! not having risen
by advance"ent fro" a"ong "en to the >riesthood, but ever having the dignity
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of the >riesthood fro" the $ather. And for this cause the $aith guarding us
beforehand lest we should suppose Hi" to be one of the ordinary .hrists, adds to
the profession of the $aith, that we believe 0n One -ord @esus .hrist, the Only9
7egotten Son of 'od.
*. And again on hearing of a Son, thin) not of an adopted son but a Son by nature
, an Only9begotten Son, having no brother. $or this is the reason why He is called
Only9begotten, because in the dignity of the 'odhead, and His generation fro"
the $ather, He has no brother. 7ut we call Hi" the Son of 'od, not of ourselves,
but because the $ather Hi"self na"ed .hrist His Son : and a true na"e is that
which is set by fathers upon their children.
6. Our -ord @esus .hrist erewhile beca"e ,an, but by the "any He was un)nown.
8ishing, therefore, to teach that which was not )nown, He called together His
disciples, and as)ed the", ,hom do men say that %, the Son of "an, am
,atthew 16:1B5 ; not fro" vain9glory, but wishing to show the" the truth, lest
dwelling with 'od, the Only9begotten of 'od , they should thin) lightly of Hi" as
if He were so"e "ere "an. And when they answered that so"e said +lias, and
so"e @ere"ias, He said to the", %hey "ay be e3cused for not )nowing, but you,
,y Apostles, who in ,y na"e cleanse lepers, and cast out devils, and raise the
dead, ought not to be ignorant of Hi", through who" you do these wondrous
wor)s. And when they all beca"e silent 1for the "atter was too high for "an to
learn2, >eter, the fore"ost of the Apostles and chief herald of the .hurch, neither
aided by cunning invention, nor persuaded by hu"an reasoning, but enlightened
in his "ind fro" the $ather, says to Hi", !ou are the 'hrist, not only so, but the
Son of the living God. And there follows a blessing upon his speech 1for in truth it
was above "an2, and as a seal upon what he had said, that it was the $ather who
had revealed it to hi". $or the Saviour says, Blessed are you, Simon Barona, for
<esh and blood has not revealed it to you, but "y Father which is in heaven.
,atthew 1B:1C He therefore who ac)nowledges our -ord @esus .hrist the Son of
'od, parta)es of this blessedness! but he who denies the Son of 'od is a poor
and "iserable "an.
=. Again, 0 say, on hearing of a Son, understand it not "erely in an i"proper
sense, but as a Son in truth, a Son by nature, without beginning ! not as having
co"e out of bondage into a higher state of adoption , but a Son eternally
begotten by an inscrutable and inco"prehensible generation. And in li)e "anner
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on hearing of the $irst9born , thin) not that this is after the "anner of "en! for
the (rst9born a"ong "en have other brothers also. And it is so"ewhere written,
%srael is "y son, "y 2rst/born. +3odus =:** 7ut 0srael is, as Heuben was, a (rst9
born son reEected: for Heuben went up to his fathers couch! and 0srael cast his
$athers Son out of the vineyard, and cruci(ed Hi".
%o others also the Scripture says, !ou are the sons of the $ord your God
4euterono"y 1=:1: and in another place, % have said, !ou are gods, and you are
all sons of the "ost #igh. % have said, not, 0 have begotten. %hey, when 'od so
said, received the sonship, which before they had not: but He was not begotten to
be other than He was before! but was begotten fro" the beginning Son of the
$ather, being above all beginning and all ages, Son of the $ather, in all things li)e
to Hi" who begot Hi", eternal of a $ather eternal, -ife of -ife begotten, and -ight
of -ight, and %ruth of %ruth, and 8isdo" of the 8ise, and King of King, and 'od of
'od, and >ower of >ower.
A. 0f then thou hear the 'ospel saying, (he book of the generation of 7esus 'hrist,
the Son of David, the Son of 5braham ,atthew 1:1, understand according to the
fesh. $or He is the Son of 4avid at the end of the ages Hebrews F:*B, but the Son
of 'od 7efore All Ages, without beginning. %he one, which before He had not, He
received! but the other, which He has, He has eternally as begotten of the $ather.
%wo fathers He has: one, 4avid, according to the fesh, and one, 'od, His $ather in
a 4ivine "anner. As the Son of 4avid, He is subEect to ti"e, and to handling, and
to genealogical descent: but as Son according to the 'odhead , He is subEect
neither to ti"e nor to place, nor to genealogical descent: for #is generation who
shall declare 5 God is a Spirit @ohn =:*=! He who is a Spirit has spiritually
begotten, as being incorporeal, an inscrutable and inco"prehensible generation.
%he Son Hi"self says of the $ather, (he $ord said unto "e, !ou are "y Son, today
have % begotten !ou. /ow this today is not recent, but eternal: a ti"eless today,
before all ages. From the womb, before the morning star, have % begotten !ou.
B. 7elieve thou therefore on @esus .hrist, Son of the living 'od, and a Son Only9
7egotten, according to the 'ospel which says, For God so loved the world, that
#e gave #is 4nly/begotten Son, that whosoever believes in #im should not
perish, but have everlasting life. @ohn 6:1B And again, #e that believes in the Son
is not udged, but has passed out of death into life. But he that believes not the
Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. And @ohn testi(ed
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concerning Hi", saying, 5nd we beheld #is glory, glory as of the only/begotten
from the fatherBfull of grace and truth : at who" the devils tre"bled and said,
5hA ,hat have we to do with !ou, 7esus, (hou Son of the living God -u)e =:6= .
C. He is then the Son of 'od by nature and not by adoption , begotten of the
$ather. 5nd he that loves #im that begot, loves #im also that is begotten of #im
1 @ohn A:1! but he that despises Hi" that is begotten casts bac) the insult upon
Hi" who begot. And whenever thou hear of 'od begetting, sin) not down in
thought to bodily things, nor thin) of a corruptible generation, lest you be guilty
of i"piety. God is a Spirit , His generation is spiritual: for bodies beget bodies, and
for the generation of bodies ti"e needs "ust intervene! but ti"e intervenes not
in the generation of the Son fro" the $ather. And in our case what is begotten is
begotten i"perfect: but the Son of 'od was begotten perfect! for what He is now,
that is He also fro" the beginning , begotten without beginning. 8e are begotten
so as to pass fro" infantile ignorance to a state of reason: your generation, O
"an, is i"perfect, for your growth is progressive. 7ut thin) not that it is thus in
His case, nor i"pute in(r"ity to Hi" who has begotten. $or if that which He
begot was i"perfect, and ac:uired its perfection in ti"e, you are i"puting
in(r"ity to Hi" who has begotten! if so be, the $ather did not bestow fro" the
beginning that which, as you say, ti"e bestowed afterwards.
D. %hin) not therefore that this generation is hu"an, nor as Abraha" begot 0saac.
$or in begetting 0saac, Abraha" begot not what he would, but what another
granted. 7ut in 'od the $athers begetting there is neither ignorance nor
inter"ediate deliberation. $or to say that He )new not what He was begetting is
the greatest i"piety! and it is no less i"pious to say, that after deliberation in
ti"e He then beca"e a $ather. $or 'od was not previously without a Son, and
afterwards in ti"e beca"e a $ather! but has the Son eternally, having begotten
Hi" not as "en beget "en, but as Hi"self only )nows, who begot Hi" before all
ages Iery 'od.
F. $or the $ather being Iery 'od begot the Son li)e Hi"self, Iery 'od ! not as
teachers beget disciples, not as >aul says to so"e, For in 'hrist 7esus % begot you
through the Gospel. 1 .orinthians =:1A $or in this case he who was not a son by
nature beca"e a son by discipleship, but in the for"er case He was a Son by
nature, a true Son. /ot as you, who are to be illu"inated, are now beco"ing sons
of 'od: for you also beco"e sons, but by adoption of grace, as it is written, But
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as many as received #im, to them gave #e the right to become children of God,
even to them that believe in #is name* which were begotten not of blood, nor of
the will of the <esh, nor of the will of man, but of God. @ohn 1:1*916 And we
indeed are begotten of water and of the Spirit, but not thus was .hrist begotten
of the $ather. $or at the ti"e of His 7aptis" addressing Hi", and saying, (his is
"y Son ,atthew 6:1C, He did not say, %his has now beco"e ,y Son, but, (his is
"y Son; that He "ight "a)e "anifest, that even before the operation of 7aptis"
He was a Son.
1G. %he $ather begot the Son, not as a"ong "en "ind begets word. $or the "ind
is substantially e3istent in us! but the word when spo)en is dispersed into the air
and co"es to an end. 7ut we )now .hrist to have been begotten not as a word
pronounced , but as a 8ord substantially e3isting and living! not spo)en by the
lips, and dispersed, but begotten of the $ather eternally and ine?ably, in
substance. $or, %n the beginning was the ,ord, and the ,ord was with God, and
the ,ord was God @ohn 1:1, sitting at 'ods right hand;the 8ord understanding
the $athers will, and creating all things at His bidding: the 8ord, which ca"e
down and went up! for the word of utterance when spo)en co"es not down, nor
goes up! the 8ord spea)ing and saying, (he things which % have seen with "y
Father, these % speak @ohn D:6D: the 8ord possessed of power, and reigning over
all things: for the Father has committed all things unto the Son.
11. %he $ather then begot Hi" not in such wise as any "an could understand, but
as Hi"self only )nows. $or we profess not to tell in what "anner He begot Hi",
but we insist that it was not in this "anner. And not we only are ignorant of the
generation of the Son fro" the $ather, but so is every created nature. Speak to
the earth, if perchance it may teach you @ob 1*:D: and though thou in:uire of all
things which are upon the earth, they shall not be able to tell you. $or the earth
cannot tell the substance of Hi" who is its own potter and fashioner. /or is the
earth alone ignorant, but the sun also : for the sun was created on the fourth day,
without )nowing what had been "ade in the three days before hi"! and he who
)nows not the things "ade in the three days before hi", cannot tell forth the
,a)er Hi"self. Heaven will not declare this: for at the $athers bidding the heaven
also was like smoke established by .hrist. /or shall the heaven of heavens
declare this, nor the waters which are above the heavens. 8hy then art you cast
down, O "an, at being ignorant of that which even the heavens )now not5 /ay,
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not only are the heavens ignorant of this generation, but also every angelic
nature. $or if any one should ascend, were it possible, into the (rst heaven, and
perceiving the ran)s of the Angels there should approach and as) the" how 'od
begot His own Son, they would say perhaps, 8e have above us beings greater
and higher! as) the". 'o up to the second heaven and the third! attain, if you
can, to %hrones, and 4o"inions, and >rincipalities, and >owers: and even if any
one should reach the", which is i"possible, they also would decline the
e3planation, for they )now it not.
1*. $or "y part, 0 have ever wondered at the curiosity of the bold "en, who by
their i"agined reverence fall into i"piety. $or though they )now nothing of
%hrones, and 4o"inions, and >rincipalities, and >owers, the wor)"anship of
.hrist, they atte"pt to scrutinise their .reator Hi"self. %ell "e (rst, O "ost
daring "an, wherein does %hrone di?er fro" 4o"inion, and then scrutinise what
pertains to .hrist. %ell "e what is a >rincipality, and what a >ower, and what a
Iirtue, and what an Angel: and then search out their .reator, for all things were
made by #im. @ohn 1:6 7ut you will not, or you can not as) %hrones or 4o"inions.
8hat else is there that knows the deep things of God ? 'orinthians E*?F/?? , save
only the Holy 'host, who spo)e the 4ivine Scriptures5 7ut not even the Holy
'host Hi"self has spo)en in the Scriptures concerning the generation of the Son
fro" the $ather. 8hy then do you busy yourself about things which not even the
Holy 'host has written in the Scriptures5 %hou that )now not the things which are
written, busiest you yourself about the things which are not written5 %here are
"any :uestions in the 4ivine Scriptures! what is written we co"prehend not, why
do we busy ourselves about what is not written5 0t is suLcient for us to )now that
'od has begotten One Only Son.
16. 7e not asha"ed to confess your ignorance, since you share ignorance with
Angels. Only He who begot )nows Hi" who was begotten, and He who is
begotten of Hi" )nows Hi" who begot. He who begot )nows what He begot: and
the Scriptures also testify that He who was begotten is 'od. $or as the Father has
life in #imself, so also has #e given to the Son to have life in #imself @ohn A:*B!
and, that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father ! and,
as the Father )uickens who" He will, even so the Son :uic)ens who" He will.
/either He who begot su?ered any loss, nor is anything lac)ing to Hi" who was
begotten 10 )now that 0 have said these things "any ti"es, but it is for your
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safety that they are said so often2: neither has He who begot, a $ather, nor He
who was begotten, a brother. /either was He who begot changed into the Son ,
nor did He who was begotten beco"e the $ather. Of One Only $ather there is One
Only9begotten Son: neither two Nnbegotten , nor two Only9begotten! but One
$ather, Nnbegotten 1for He is Nnbegotten who has no father2! and One Son,
eternally begotten of the $ather! begotten not in ti"e, but before all ages! not
increased by advance"ent, but begotten that which He now is.
1=. 8e believe then 0n the Only97egotten Son of 'od, 8ho 8as 7egotten of the
$ather Iery 'od. $or the %rue 'od begets not a false god, as we have said, nor did
He deliberate and afterwards beget ! but He begot eternally, and "uch "ore
swiftly than our words or thoughts: for we spea)ing in ti"e, consu"e ti"e! but in
the case of the 4ivine >ower, the generation is ti"eless. And as 0 have often said,
He did not bring forth the Son fro" non9e3istence into being, nor ta)e the non9
e3istent into sonship : but the $ather, being +ternal, eternally and ine?ably begot
One Only Son, who has no brother. /or are there two (rst principles! but the
$ather is the head of the Son 1 .orinthians 11:6! the beginning is One. $or the
$ather begot the Son Iery 'od, called +""anuel! and +""anuel being
interpreted is, God with us ,atthew 1:*6 .
1A. And would you )now that He who was begotten of the $ather, and afterwards
beca"e "an, is 'od5 Hear the >rophet saying, (his is our God, none other shall
be accounted of in comparison with #im3 #e has found out every way of
knowledge, and given it to 7acob #is servant, and to %srael #is beloved3
5fterwards #e was seen on earth, and conversed among men. 4o you see herein
'od beco"e "an, after the giving of the law by ,oses5 Hear also a second
testi"ony to .hrists 4eity, that which has Eust now been read, !our throne, 4
God, is for ever and ever. Hebrews 1:D $or lest, because of His presence here in
the fesh, He should be thought to have been advanced after this to the 'odhead,
the Scripture says plainly, (herefore God, even !our God, has anointed !ou with
the oil of gladness above !our fellows. 4o you see .hrist as 'od anointed by 'od
the $ather5
1B. 8ould you receive yet a third testi"ony to .hrists 'odhead5 Hear +saias
saying, 6gypt has laboured, and the merchandise of 6thiopia* and soon after, %n
!ou shall they make supplication, because God is in !ou, and there is no God save
!ou3 For !ou are God, and we knew it not, the God of %srael, the Saviour. <ou see
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that the Son is 'od, having in Hi"self 'od the $ather: saying al"ost the very
sa"e which He has said in the 'ospels: (he Father is in "e, and % am in the
Father. @ohn 1=:11 He says not, 0 a" the $ather, but the Father is in "e, and % am
in the Father. And again He said not, 0 and the $ather a" one, but, % and the
Father am one, that we should neither separate the", nor "a)e a confusion of
Son9$ather. One they are because of the dignity pertaining to the 'odhead, since
'od begot 'od. One in respect of their )ingdo"! for the $ather reigns not over
these, and the Son over those, lifting Hi"self up against His $ather li)e Absalo":
but the )ingdo" of the $ather is li)ewise the )ingdo" of the Son. One they are,
because there is no discord nor division between the": for what things the $ather
wills, the Son wills the sa"e. One, because the creative wor)s of .hrist are no
other than the $athers! for the creation of all things is one, the $ather having
"ade the" through the Son: For #e spoke, and they were made; #e
commanded, and they were created, says the >sal"ist. $or He who spea)s,
spea)s to one who hears: and He who co""ands, gives His co""and"ent to
one who is present with Hi".
1C. %he Son then is Iery 'od, having the $ather in Hi"self, not changed into the
$ather! for the $ather was not "ade "an, but the Son. $or let the truth be freely
spo)en. %he $ather su?ered not for us, but the $ather sent Hi" who su?ered.
/either let us say, %here was a ti"e when the Son was not! nor let us ad"it a Son
who is the $ather : but let us wal) in the )ings highway! let us turn aside neither
on the left hand nor on the right. /either fro" thin)ing to honour the Son, let us
call Hi" the $ather! nor fro" thin)ing to honour the $ather, i"agine the Son to be
so"e one of the creatures. 7ut let One $ather be worshipped through One Son,
and let not their worship be separated. -et One Son be proclai"ed, sitting at the
right hand of the $ather before all ages: sharing His throne not by advance"ent
in ti"e after His >assion, but by eternal possession.
1D. #e who has seen the Son, has seen the Father @ohn 1=:F: for in all things the
Son is li)e to Hi" who begot Hi" ! begotten -ife of -ife and -ight of -ight, >ower
of >ower, 'od of 'od! and the characteristics of the 'odhead are unchangeable
in the Son! and he who is counted worthy to behold 'odhead in the Son, attains
to the fruition of the $ather. %his is not "y word, but that of the Only9begotten:
#ave % been so long time with you, and have you not known "e, -hilip? #e that
has seen "e, has seen the Father. @ohn 1=:F And to be brief, let us neither
97
separate the", nor "a)e a confusion : neither say thou ever that the Son is
foreign to the $ather, nor ad"it those who say that the $ather is at one ti"e
$ather, and at another Son: for these are strange and i"pious state"ents, and
not the doctrines of the .hurch. 7ut the $ather having begotten the Son,
re"ained the $ather and is not changed. He begot 8isdo", yet lost not wisdo"
Hi"self! and begot >ower, yet beca"e not wea): He begot 'od, but lost not His
own 'odhead: and neither did He lose anything Hi"self by di"inution or change!
nor has He who was begotten any thing wanting. >erfect is He who begot, >erfect
that which was begotten: 'od was He who begot, 'od He who was begotten! 'od
of all Hi"self, yet entitling the $ather His own 'od. $or He is not asha"ed to say,
0 ascend unto "y Father and your Father, and to "y God and your God @ohn *G:1C
.
1F. 7ut lest you should thin) that He is in a li)e sense $ather of the Son and of the
creatures, .hrist drew a distinction in what follows. $or He said not, 0 ascend to
our $ather, lest the creatures should be "ade fellows of the Only9begotten! but
He said, "y Father and your Father! in one way ,ine, by nature! in another yours,
by adoption. And again, to my God and your God, in one way ,ine, as His true
and Only9begotten Son, and in another way yours, as His wor)"anship. %he Son
of 'od then is Iery 'od, ine?ably begotten before all ages 1for 0 say the sa"e
things often to you, that it "ay be graven upon your "ind2. %his also believe, that
'od has a Son: but about the "anner be not curious, for by searching you will not
(nd. +3alt not yourself, lest you fall: think upon those things only which have
been commanded you. Sirach 6:** %ell "e (rst what He is who begot, and then
learn that which He begot! but if you can not conceive the nature of Hi" who has
begotten, search not curiously into the "anner of that which is begotten.
*G. $or godliness it suLces you to )now, as we have said, that 'od has One Only
Son, One naturally begotten! who began not His being when He was born in
7ethlehe", but 7efore All Ages. $or hear the >rophet ,icah saying, 5nd thou,
Bethlehem, house of 6phrata, art little to be among the thousands of 7udah3 4ut
of you shall come forth unto "e a +uler, who shall feed "y people %srael* and #is
goings forth are from the beginning, from days of eternity. %hin) not then of Hi"
who is now co"e forth out of 7ethlehe" , but worship Hi" who was eternally
begotten of the $ather. Su?er none to spea) of a beginning of the Son in ti"e, but
as a ti"eless 7eginning ac)nowledge the $ather. $or the $ather is the 7eginning
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of the Son, ti"eless, inco"prehensible, without beginning. %he fountain of the
river of righteousness, even of the Only9begotten, is the $ather, who begot Hi" as
Hi"self only )nows. And would you )now that our -ord @esus .hrist is King
+ternal5 Hear Hi" again saying, !our father 5braham reoiced to see "y day, and
he saw it, and was glad. @ohn D:AB And then, when the @ews received this hardly,
He says what to the" was still harder, Before 5braham was, % am. And again He
says to the $ather, 5nd now, Father, glorify (hou "e with !our own self, with the
glory which % had with !ou before the world was. He says plainly, before the world
was, 0 had the glory which is with <ou. And again when He says, For !ou loved "e
before the foundation of the world @ohn 1C:*=, He plainly declares, %he glory
which 0 have with you is fro" eternity.
*1. 8e believe then 0n One -ord @esus .hrist, the Only97egotten Son of 'od,
7egotten of His $ather Iery 'od 7efore All 8orlds, by 8ho" All %hings 8ere
,ade. $or whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all
things were made through #im .olossians 1:1B, and of things created none is
e3e"pted fro" His authority. Silenced be every heresy which brings in di?erent
creators and "a)ers of the world! silenced the tongue which blasphe"es the
.hrist the Son of 'od! let the" be silenced who say that the sun is the .hrist, for
He is the suns .reator, not the sun which we see. Silenced be they who say that
the world is the wor)"anship of Angels , who wish to steal away the dignity of
the Only9begotten. $or whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or do"inions,
or anything that is na"ed, all things were "ade by .hrist. He reigns over the
things which have been "ade by Hi", not having sei&ed anothers spoils, but
reigning over His own wor)"anship, even as the +vangelist @ohn has said, 5ll
things were made by #im, and without #im was not anything made. @ohn 1:6 All
things were "ade by Hi", the $ather wor)ing by the Son.
**. 0 wish to give also a certain illustration of what 0 a" saying, but 0 )now that it
is feeble! for of things visible what can be an e3act illustration of the 4ivine
>ower5 7ut nevertheless as feeble be it spo)en by the feeble to the feeble. $or
Eust as any )ing, whose son was a )ing, if he wished to for" a city, "ight suggest
to his son, his partner in the )ingdo", the for" of the city, and he having
received the pattern, brings the design to co"pletion! so, when the $ather wished
to for" all things, the Son created all things at the $athers bidding, that the act
of bidding "ight secure to the $ather His absolute authority , and yet the Son in
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turn "ight have authority over His own wor)"anship, and neither the $ather be
separated fro" the lordship over His own wor)s, nor the Son rule over things
created by others, but by Hi"self. $or, as 0 have said, Angels did not create the
world, but the Only9begotten Son, begotten, as 0 have said, before all ages, 7y
8ho" All %hings 8ere ,ade, nothing having been e3cepted fro" His creation.
And let this suLce to have been spo)en by us so far, by the grace of .hrist.
*6. 7ut let us now recur to our profession of the $aith, and so for the present
(nish our discourse. .hrist "ade all things, whether thou spea) of Angels, or
Archangels, of 4o"inions, or %hrones. /ot that the $ather wanted strength to
create the wor)s Hi"self, but because He willed that the Son should reign over
His own wor)"anship, 'od Hi"self giving Hi" the design of the things to be
"ade. $or honouring His own $ather the Only9begotten says, (he Son can do
nothing of #imself, but what #e sees the Father do; for what things soever #e
does, these also does the Son likewise. @ohn A:1F And again, "y Father works
hitherto, and % work , there being no opposition in those who wor). For all "ine
are !ours, and !ours are "ine, says the -ord in the 'ospels. And this we "ay
certainly )now fro" the Old and /ew %esta"ents. $or He who said, $et us make
man in our image and after our likeness 'enesis 1:*B, was certainly spea)ing to
so"e one present. 7ut clearest of all are the >sal"ists words, #e spoke and they
were made; #e commanded, and they were created , as if the $ather co""anded
and spo)e, and the Son "ade all things at the $athers bidding. And this @ob said
"ystically, ,hich alone spread out the heaven, and walks upon the sea as on
2rm ground @ob F:D! signifying to those who understand that He who when
present here wal)ed upon the sea is also He who aforeti"e "ade the heavens.
And again the -ord says, 4r did (hou take earth, and fashion clay into a living
being 5 %hen afterwards, 5re the gates of death opened to !ou through fear, and
did the door/keepers of hell shudder at sight of !ou 5 %hus signifying that He who
through loving9)indness descended into hell, also in the beginning "ade "an out
of clay.
*=. .hrist then is the Only9begotten Son of 'od, and ,a)er of the world. $or #e
was in the world, and the world was made by #im; and #e came unto #is own, as
the 'ospel teaches us. @ohn 1:1G911 And not only of the things which are seen,
but also of the things which are not seen, is .hrist the ,a)er at the $athers
bidding. $or in #im, according to the Apostle, were all things created that are in
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the heavens, and that are upon the earth, things visible and invisible, whether
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things have been created
by #im and for #im; and #e is before all, and in #im all things consist.
.olossians 1:1B91C +ven if you spea) of the worlds, of these also @esus .hrist is
the ,a)er by the $athers bidding. $or in these last days God spoke unto us by #is
Son, whom #e appointed heir of all things, by whom also #e made the worlds
#ebrews ?*E . %o who" be the glory, honour, "ight, now and ever, and world
without end. A"en.
"n the words Incarnate, and +ade +an%
0saiah C:1G91=
5nd the $ord spoke again unto 5ha;, saying, 5sk you a sign, etc3* and BeholdA 5
virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call #is name 6mmanuel, etc.
1. /urslings of purity and disciples of chastity, raise we our hy"n to the Iirgin9
born 'od with lips full of purity. 4ee"ed worthy to parta)e of the fesh of the
Spiritual -a"b , let us ta)e the head together with the feet , the 4eity being
understood as the head, and the ,anhood ta)en as the feet. Hearers of the Holy
'ospels, let us listen to @ohn the 4ivine. $or he who said, %n the beginning was the
,ord, and the ,ord was with God, and the ,ord was God @ohn 1:1, went on to
say, and the ,ord was made <esh. $or neither is it holy to worship the "ere "an,
nor religious to say that He is 'od only without the ,anhood. $or if .hrist is 'od,
as indeed He is, but too) not hu"an nature upon Hi", we are strangers to
salvation. -et us then worship Hi" as 'od, but believe that He also was "ade
,an. $or neither is there any pro(t in calling Hi" "an without 'odhead nor any
salvation in refusing to confess the ,anhood together with the 'odhead. -et us
confess the presence of Hi" who is both King and >hysician. $or @esus the King
when about to beco"e our >hysician, girded #imself with the linen of hu"anity ,
and healed that which was sic). %he perfect %eacher of babes Ho"ans *:*G
beca"e a babe a"ong babes, that He "ight give wisdo" to the foolish. %he
7read of heaven ca"e down on earth that He "ight feed the hungry.
*. 7ut the sons of the @ews by setting at nought Hi" that ca"e, and loo)ing for
hi" who co"es in wic)edness, reEected the true ,essiah, and wait for the
deceiver, the"selves deceived! herein also the Saviour being found true, who
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said, % have come in "y Father=s name, and you receive "e not* but if another
shall come in his own name, him you will receive. 0t is well also to put a :uestion
to the @ews. 0s the >rophet +saias, who says that +""anuel shall be born of a
virgin, true or false 0saiah C:1=5 $or if they charge hi" with falsehood, no wonder:
for their custo" is not only to charge with falsehood, but also to stone the
>rophets. 7ut if the >rophet is true, point to the +""anuel, and say, 8hether is
He who is to co"e, for who" you are loo)ing, to be born of a virgin or not5 $or if
He is not to be born of a virgin, you accuse the >rophet of falsehood: but if in Hi"
that is to co"e you e3pect this, why do you reEect that which has co"e to pass
already5
6. -et the @ews, then, be led astray, since they so will: but let the .hurch of 'od
be glori(ed. $or we receive 'od the 8ord "ade ,an in truth, not, as heretics
say , of the will of "an and wo"an, but of %he Iirgin and the Holy 'host
according to the 'ospel, ,ade ,an , not in see"ing but in truth. And that He was
truly ,an "ade of the Iirgin, wait for the proper ti"e of instruction in this
-ecture, and you shall receive the proofs : for the error of the heretics is "anifold.
And so"e have said that He has not been born at all of a virgin : others that He
has been born, not of a virgin, but of a wife dwelling with a husband. Others say
that the .hrist is not 'od "ade ,an, but a "an "ade 'od. $or they dared to say
that not He; the pre9e3istent 8ord; was "ade ,an! but a certain "an was by
advance"ent crowned.
=. 7ut re"e"ber thou what was said yesterday concerning His 'odhead. 7elieve
that He the Only9begotten Son of 'od; He Hi"self was again begotten of a
Iirgin. 7elieve the +vangelist @ohn when he says, 5nd the ,ord was made <esh,
and dwelt among us. @ohn 1:1= $or the 8ord is eternal, 7egotten of the $ather
7efore All 8orlds: but the fesh He too) on Hi" recently for our sa)e. ,any
contradict this, and say: 8hat cause was there so great, for 'od to co"e down
into hu"anity5 And, is it at all 'ods nature to hold intercourse with "en5 And, is
it possible for a virgin to bear, without "an5 Since then there is "uch
controversy, and the battle has "any for"s, co"e, let us by the grace of .hrist,
and the prayers of those who are present, resolve each :uestion.
A. And (rst let us in:uire for what cause @esus ca"e down. /ow "ind not "y
argu"entations, for perhaps you "ay be "isled but unless thou receive
testi"ony of the >rophets on each "atter, believe not what 0 say: unless thou
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learn fro" the Holy Scriptures concerning the Iirgin, and the place, the ti"e, and
the "anner, receive not testimony from man. @ohn A:6= $or one who at present
thus teaches "ay possibly be suspected: but what "an of sense will suspect one
that prophesied a thousand and "ore years beforehand5 0f then you see) the
cause of .hrists co"ing, go bac) to the (rst boo) of the Scriptures. 0n si3 days
'od "ade the world: but the world was for "an. %he sun however resplendent
with bright bea"s, yet was "ade to give light to "an, yea, and all living
creatures were for"ed to serve us: herbs and trees were created for our
enEoy"ent. All the wor)s of creation were good, but none of these was an i"age
of 'od, save "an only. %he sun was for"ed by a "ere co""and, but "an by
'ods hands: $et us make man after our image, and after our likeness.
'enesis 1:*B A wooden i"age of an earthly )ing is held in honour! how "uch
"ore a rational i"age of 'od5
7ut when this the greatest of the wor)s of creation was disporting hi"self in
>aradise, the envy of the 4evil cast hi" out. %he ene"y was reEoicing over the
fall of hi" who" he had envied: would you have had the ene"y continue to
reEoice5 /ot daring to accost the "an because of his strength, he accosted as
being wea)er the wo"an, still a virgin: for it was after the e3pulsion fro" >aradise
that 5dam knew his wife.
B. .ain and Abel succeeded in the second generation of "an)ind: and .ain was
the (rst "urderer. Afterwards a deluge was poured abroad because of the great
wic)edness of "en: (re ca"e down fro" heaven upon the people of Sodo"
because of their transgression. After a ti"e 'od chose out 0srael: but 0srael also
turned aside, and the chosen race was wounded. $or while ,oses stood before
'od in the "ount, the people were worshipping a calf instead of 'od. 0n the
lifeti"e of ,oses, the law9giver who had said, !ou shall not commit adultery, a
"an dared to enter a place of harlotry and transgress. /u"bers *A:B After ,oses,
>rophets were sent to cure 0srael: but in their healing oLce they la"ented that
they were not able to overco"e the disease, so that one of the" says, ,oe is
meA For the godly man is perished out of the earth, and there is none that does
right among men ,icah C:*: and again, (hey are all gone out of the way, they are
together became unpro2table; there is none that does good, no, not one : and
again, 'ursing and stealing, and adultery, and murder are poured out upon the
land. Hosea =:* (heir sons and their daughters they sacri2ced unto devils. (hey
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used auguries, and enchantments, and divinations. * .hronicles 66:B 5nd again,
they fastened their garments with cords, and made hangings attached to the
altar.
C. Iery great was the wound of "ans nature! from the feet to the head there was
no soundness in it; none could apply mollifying ointment, neither oil, nor
bandages. 0saiah 1:B %hen bewailing and wearying the"selves, the >rophets said,
,ho shall give salvation out of Sion 5 And again, $et !our hand be upon the man
of !our right hand, and upon the son of man whom !ou made strong for !ourself*
so will not we go back from !ou. And another of the >rophets entreated, saying,
Bow the heavens, 4 $ord and come down. %he wounds of "ans nature pass our
healing. (hey slew !our -rophets, and cast down !our altars. 1 Kings 1F:1G %he
evil is irretrievable by us, and needs you to retrieve it.
D. %he -ord heard the prayer of the >rophets. %he $ather disregarded not the
perishing of our race! He sent forth His Son, the -ord fro" heaven, as healer: and
one of the >rophets says, (he $ord whom you seek, comes, and shall suddenly
come. ,alachi 6:1 8hither5 (he $ord shall co"e to #is own temple, where you
stoned Hi". %hen another of the >rophets, on hearing this, says to hi": 0n
spea)ing of the salvation of 'od, do you spea) :uietly5 0n preaching the good
tidings of 'ods co"ing for salvation, do you spea) in secret5 4 thou that
bringest good tidings to Gion, get you up into the high mountain3 Speak to the
cities of 7udah. 8hat a" 0 to spea)5 Behold our GodA BeholdA (he $ord comes
with strength 0saiah =G:F91G# Again the -ord Hi"self says, BeholdA % come, and %
will dwell in the midst of you, says the $ord3 5nd many nations shall <ee unto the
$ord. Oechariah *:1G911 %he 0sraelites reEected salvation through ,e: % come to
gather all nations and tongues. 0saiah BB:1D $or #e came to #is own and #is own
received #im not. @ohn 1:11 <ou co"e and what dost %hou bestow on the nations5
% come to gather all nations, and % will leave on them a sign. $or fro" ,y confict
upon the .ross 0 give to each of ,y soldiers a royal seal to bear upon his
forehead. Another also of the >rophets said, #e bowed the heavens also, and
came down; and darkness was under #is feet. $or His co"ing down fro" heaven
was not )nown by "en.
F. Afterwards Solo"on hearing his father 4avid spea) these things, built a
wondrous house, and foreseeing Hi" who was to co"e into it, said in
astonish"ent, ,ill God in very deed dwell with men on the earth 5 <ea, says
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4avid by anticipation in the >sal" inscribed For Solomon, wherein is this, #e shall
come down like rain into a <eece : rain, because of His heavenly nature, and into
a feece, because of His hu"anity. $or rain, co"ing down into a feece, co"es
down noiselessly: so that the ,agi, not )nowing the "ystery of the /ativity, say,
,here is #e that is born 9ing of the 7ews ,atthew *:*5 And Herod being troubled
in:uired concerning Hi" who was born, and said, ,here is the 'hrist to be born 5
1G. 7ut who is this that co"es down5 He says in what follows, 5nd with the sun
#e endures, and before the moon generations of generations. And again another
of the >rophets says, +eoice greatly, 4 daughter of Sion, shout, 4 daughter of
7erusalem3 BeholdA !our 9ing comes unto you, ust and having salvation.
Oechariah F:F Kings are "any! of which do you spea), O >rophet5 'ive us a sign
which other Kings have not. 0f you say, A )ing clad in purple, the dignity of the
apparel has been anticipated. 0f you say, 'uarded by spear9"en, and sitting in a
golden chariot, this also has been anticipated by others. 'ive us a sign peculiar to
the King whose co"ing you announce. And the >rophet "a)es answer and says,
BeholdA !our 9ing comes unto you, ust, and having salvation* #e is meek, and
riding upon an ass and a young foal, not on a chariot. <ou have a uni:ue sign of
the King who ca"e. @esus alone of )ings sat upon an unyo)ed foal, entering into
@erusale" with accla"ations as a )ing. And when this King has co"e, what does
He5 (hou also by the blood of the covenant hast sent forth your prisoners out of
the pit wherein is no water Oechariah F:11 .
11. 7ut He "ight perchance even sit upon a foal: give us rather a sign, where the
King that enters shall stand. And give the sign not far fro" the city, that it "ay
not be un)nown to us: and give us the sign plain before our eyes, that even when
in the city we "ay behold the place. And the >rophet again "a)es answer,
saying: 5nd #is feet shall stand in that day upon the "ount of 4lives which is
before 7erusalem on the east. 4oes any one standing within the city fail to behold
the place5
1*. 8e have two signs, and we desire to learn a third. %ell us what the -ord does
when He has co"e. Another >rophet says, BeholdA 4ur God, and afterwards, #e
will come and save us3 (hen the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears
of the deaf shall hear* then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of
the stammerers shall be distinct. 0saiah 6A:=9B 7ut let yet another testi"ony be
told us. <ou say, O >rophet, that the -ord co"es, and does signs such as never
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were: what other clear sign tellest thou5 (he $ord #imself enters into udgment
with the elders of #is people, and with the princes thereof. A notable sign# %he
,aster Eudged by His servants, the elders, and sub"itting to it.
16. %hese things the @ews read, but hear not: for they have stopped the ears of
their heart, that they "ay not hear. 7ut let us believe in @esus .hrist, as having
co"e in the fesh and been made "an, because we could not receive Hi"
otherwise. $or since we could not loo) upon or enEoy Hi" as He was, He beca"e
what we are, that so we "ight be per"itted to enEoy Hi". $or if we cannot loo)
full on the sun, which was "ade on the fourth day, could we behold 'od its
.reator 5 %he -ord ca"e down in (re on ,ount Sinai, and the people could not
bear it, but said to ,oses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; and let not God
speak to us, lest we die +3odus *G:1F: and again, For who is there of all <esh that
has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the 2re, and
shall live 4euterono"y A:*B5 0f to hear the voice of 'od spea)ing is a cause of
death, how shall not the sight of 'od Hi"self bring death5 And what wonder5
+ven ,oses hi"self says, % e.ceedingly fear and )uake Hebrews 1*:*1 .
1=. 8hat would you then5 %hat He who ca"e for our salvation should beco"e a
"inister of destruction because "en could not bear Hi"5 Or that He should suit
His grace to our "easure5 4aniel could not bear the vision of an Angel, and were
thou capable of the sight of the -ord of Angels5 'abriel appeared, and 4aniel fell
down: and of what nature or in what guise was he that appeared5 His
countenance was li)e lightning 4aniel 1G:B! not li)e the sun: and his eyes as
lamps of 2re, not as a furnace of (re: and the voice of his words as the voice of a
multitude, not as the voice of twelve legions of angels! nevertheless the >rophet
fell down. And the Angel co"es unto hi", saying, Fear not, Daniel, stand upright*
be of good courage, your words are heard. 4aniel 1G:1* And 4aniel says, 0 stood
up tre"bling : and not even so did he "a)e answer, until the li)eness of a "ans
hand touched hi". And when he that appeared was changed into the appearance
of a "an, then 4aniel spo)e: and what says he5 4 my $ord, at the vision of !ou
my inward parts were turned within me, and no strength remains in me, neither
is there breath left in me. 0f an Angel appearing too) away the >rophets voice
and strength, would the appearance of 'od have allowed hi" to breathe5 And
until there touched me as it were a vision of a man , says the Scripture, 4aniel
too) not courage. So then after trial shown of our wea)ness, the -ord assu"ed
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that which "an re:uired: for since "an re:uired to hear fro" one of li)e
countenance, the Saviour too) on Hi" the nature of li)e a?ections, that "en
"ight be the "ore easily instructed.
1A. -earn also another cause. .hrist ca"e that He "ight be bapti&ed, and "ight
sanctify 7aptis": He ca"e that He "ight wor) wonders, wal)ing upon the waters
of the sea. Since then before His appearance in fesh, the sea saw #im and <ed,
and 7ordan was turned back , the -ord too) to Hi"self His body, that the sea
"ight endure the sight, and @ordan receive Hi" without fear. %his then is one
cause! but there is also a second. %hrough +ve yet virgin ca"e death! through a
virgin, or rather fro" a virgin, "ust the -ife appear: that as the serpent beguiled
the one, so to the other 'abriel "ight bring good tidings. ,en forsoo) 'od, and
"ade carved i"ages of "en. Since therefore an i"age of "an was falsely
worshipped as 'od, 'od beca"e truly ,an, that the falsehood "ight be done
away. %he 4evil had used the fesh as an instru"ent against us! and >aul )nowing
this, says, But % see another law in my members warring against the law of my
mind, and bringing me into captivity Ho"ans C:*6, and the rest. 7y the very sa"e
weapons, therefore, wherewith the 4evil used to van:uish us, have we been
saved. %he -ord too) on Hi" fro" us our li)eness, that He "ight save "ans
nature: He too) our li)eness, that He "ight give greater grace to that which
lac)ed! that sinful hu"anity "ight beco"e parta)er of 'od. For where sin
abounded, grace did much more abound. 0t behooved the -ord to su?er for us!
but if the 4evil had )nown Hi", he would not have dared to approach Hi". For
had they known it, they would not have cruci2ed the $ord of Glory.
1 .orinthians *:D His body therefore was "ade a bait to death that the dragon ,
hoping to devour it, "ight disgorge those also who had been already devoured.
$or Death prevailed and devoured! and again, God wiped away every tear from
o& every face.
1B. 8as it without reason that .hrist was "ade ,an5 Are our teachings ingenious
phrases and hu"an subtleties5 Are not the Holy Scriptures our salvation5 Are not
the predictions of the >rophets5 Keep then, 0 pray you, this deposit undisturbed,
and let none re"ove you: believe that 'od beca"e ,an. 7ut though it has been
proved possible for Hi" to be "ade ,an, yet if the @ews still disbelieve, let us
hold this forth to the": 8hat strange thing do we announce in saying that 'od
was "ade ,an, when yourselves say that Abraha" received the -ord as a guest 5
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8hat strange thing do we announce, when @acob says, For % have seen God face
to face, and my life is preserved 5 %he -ord, who ate with Abraha", ate also with
us. 8hat strange thing then do we announce5 /ay "ore, we produce two
witnesses, those who stood before -ord on ,ount Sinai: ,oses was in a cleft of
the rock +3odus 66:**, and +lias was once in a cleft of the roc) 1 Kings 1F:D: they
being present with Hi" at His %rans(guration on ,ount %abor, spoke to the
4isciples of #is decease which 2re should accomplish at 7erusalem. 7ut, as 0 said
before, it has been proved possible for Hi" to be "ade "an: and the rest of the
proofs "ay be left for the studious to collect.
1C. ,y state"ent, however, pro"ised to declare also the ti"e of the Saviours
and the place: and 0 "ust not go away convicted of falsehood, but rather send
away the .hurchs novices well assured. -et us therefore in:uire the ti"e when
our -ord ca"e: because His co"ing is recent, and is disputed: and because 'hrist
7esus is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. ,oses then, the prophet,
says, 5 -rophet shall the $ord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like
me : but let that like me be reserved awhile to be e3a"ined in its proper place.
7ut when co"es this >rophet that is e3pected5 Hecur, he says, to what has been
written by "e: e3a"ine carefully @acobs prophecy addressed to @udah: 7udah,
may your brethren praise you, and afterwards, not to :uote the whole, 5 prince
shall not fail out of 7udah, nor a ruler from his loins, until #e come, for whom it is
reserved; and #e is the e.pectation, not of the 7ews but of the Gentiles.
'enesis =F:D, 1G He gave, therefore, as a sign of .hrists advent the cessation of
the @ewish rule. 0f they are not now under the Ho"ans, the .hrist is not yet co"e:
if they still have a prince of the race of @udah and of 4avid , he is not yet co"e
that was e3pected. $or 0 a" asha"ed to tell of their recent doings concerning
those who are now called >atriarchs a"ong the", and what their descent is, and
who their "other: but 0 leave it to those who )now. 7ut He that co"es as the
e.pectation of the Gentiles, what further sign then has He5 He says ne3t, Binding
his foal unto the vine. 'enesis =F:11 <ou see that foal which was clearly
announced by Oachariah.
1D. 7ut again you as) yet another testi"ony of the ti"e. (he $ord said unto "e,
!ou are "y Son; this day have % begotten !ou: and a few words further on, !ou
shall rule them with a rod of iron. 0 have said before that the )ingdo" of the
Ho"ans is clearly called a rod of iron! but what is wanting concerning this let us
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further call to "ind out of 4aniel. $or in relating and interpreting to
/ebuchadne&&ar the i"age of the statue, he tells also his whole vision concerning
it: and that a stone cut out of a "ountain without hands, that is, not set up by
hu"an contrivance, should overpower the whole world: and he spea)s "ost
clearly thus! 5nd in the days of those kingdoms the God of heaven shall set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, and #is kingdom shall not be left to
another people 4aniel *:== .
1F. 7ut we see) still "ore clearly the proof of the ti"e of His co"ing. $or "an
being hard to persuade, unless he gets the very years for a clear calculation, does
not believe what is stated. 8hat then is the season, and what the "anner of the
ti"e5 0t is when, on the failure of the )ings descended fro" @udah, Herod a
foreigner succeeds to the )ingdo"5 %he Angel, therefore, who converses with
4aniel says, and do thou now "ar) the words, 5nd you shall know and
understand* From the going forth of the word for making answer , and for the
building of 7erusalem, until "essiah the -rince are seven weeks and three score
and two weeks. 4aniel F:*A /ow three score and nine wee)s of years contain four
hundred and eighty9three years. He said, therefore, that after the building of
@erusale", four hundred and eighty9three years having passed, and the rulers
having failed, then co"es a certain )ing of another race, in whose ti"e the .hrist
is to be born. /ow 4arius the ,ede built the city in the si3th year of his own
reign, and (rst year of the BBth Oly"piad according to the 'ree)s. Oly"piad is
the na"e a"ong the 'ree)s of the ga"es celebrated after four years, because of
the day which in every four years of the suns courses is "ade up of the three
1supernu"erary2 hours in each year. And Herod is )ing in the 1DBth Oly"piad, in
the =th year thereof. /ow fro" the BBth to the 1DBth Oly"piad there are 1*G
Oly"piads intervening, and a little over. So then the 1*G Oly"piads "a)e up =DG
years: for the other three years re"aining are perhaps ta)en up in the interval
between the (rst and fourth years. And there you have the proof according to the
Scripture which says, From the going forth of the word that 7erusalem be restored
and built until "essiah the -rince are seven weeks and si.ty/two weeks. Of the
ti"es, therefore, you have for the present this proof, although there are also
other di?erent interpretations concerning the aforesaid wee)s of years in 4aniel.
*G. 7ut now hear the place of the pro"ise, as ,icah says, 5nd thou, Bethlehem,
house of 6phrathah, are you little to be among the thousands of 7udah? For out of
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you shall come forth unto "e a ruler, to be governor in %srael* and #is goings
forth are front the beginning, from the days of eternity. 7ut assuredly as to the
places, thou being an inhabitant of @erusale", )now also beforehand what is
written in the hundred and thirty9(rst psal". $oA ,e heard of it at 6phrathah, we
found it in the plains of the wood . $or a few years ago the place was woody.
Again you have heard Haba))u) say to the -ord, ,hen the years draw near, you
shall be made known, when the time has come, you shall be shown. And what is
the sign, O >rophet, of the -ords co"ing5 And presently he says, %n the midst of
two lives shall you be known , plainly saying this to the -ord, Having co"e in the
fesh you live and diest, and after rising fro" the dead you live again. $urther,
fro" what part of the region round @erusale" co"es He5 $ro" east, or west, or
north, or south5 %ell us e3actly. And he "a)es answer "ost plainly and says, God
shall come from (eman 1now %e"an is by interpretation south2 and the #oly 4ne
from "ount -aran , shady, woody: what the >sal"ist spo)e in li)e words, ,e
found it in the plains of the wood.
*1. 8e as) further, of who" co"es He and how5 And this +saias tells us: BeholdA
(he virgin shall conceive in her womb, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall
call #is name 6mmanuel. %his the @ews contradict, for of old it is their wont
wic)edly to oppose the truth: and they say that it is not written the virgin, but the
da"sel. 7ut though 0 assent to what they say, even so 0 (nd the truth. $or we
"ust as) the", 0f a virgin be forced, when does she cry out and call for helpers,
after or before the outrage5 0f, therefore, the Scripture elsewhere says, (he
betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her 4euterono"y **:*C,
does it not spea) of a virgin5
7ut that you "ay learn "ore plainly that even a virgin is called in Holy Scripture a
da"sel, hear the 7oo) of the Kings, spea)ing of Abishag the Shuna"ite, 5nd the
damsel was very fair : for that as a virgin she was chosen and brought to 4avid is
ad"itted.
**. 7ut the @ews say again, %his was said to Aha& in reference to He&e)iah. 8ell,
then, let us read the Scripture: 5sk you a sign of the $ord your God, in the depth
or in the height. 0saiah C:11 And the sign certainly "ust be so"ething
astonishing. $or the water fro" the roc) was a sign, the sea divided, the sun
turning bac), and the li)e. 7ut in what 0 a" going to "ention there is still "ore
"anifest refutation of the @ews. 10 )now that 0 a" spea)ing at "uch length, and
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that "y hearers are wearied: but bear with the fullness of "y state"ents,
because it is for .hrists sa)e these :uestions are "oved, and they concern no
ordinary "atters.2 /ow as 0saiah spo)e this in the reign of Aha&, and Aha& reigned
only si3teen years, and the prophecy was spo)en to hi" within these years, the
obEection of the @ews is refuted by the fact that the succeeding )ing, He&e)iah,
son of Aha&, was twenty9(ve years old when he began to reign: for as the
prophecy is con(ned within si3teen years, he "ust have been begotten of Aha&
full nine years before the prophecy. 8hat need then was there to utter the
prophecy concerning one who had been already begotten even before the reign
of father Aha& 5 $or he said not, has conceived, but the virgin shall conceive,
spea)ing as with fore)nowledge.
*6. 8e )now then for certain that the -ord was to be born of a Iirgin, but we have
to show of what fa"ily the Iirgin was. (he $ord swore in truth unto David, and
will not set it aside3 4f the fruit of body will % set upon your throne : and again,
seed will % establish for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 5nd
afterwards, 4nce have % sworn by "y holiness that % will not lie unto David3 #is
seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before "e, and as the moon
established for ever. <ou see that the discourse is of .hrist, not of Solo"on. $or
Solo"ons throne endured not as the sun. 7ut if any deny this, because .hrist sat
not on 4avids throne of wood, we will bring forward that saying, (he Scribes and
the -harisees sit in "oses= seat ,atthew *6:*: for it signi(es not his wooden seat,
but the authority of his teaching. 0n li)e "anner then 0 would have you see) for
4avids throne not the throne of wood, but the )ingdo" itself. %a)e, too, as "y
witnesses the children who cried aloud, #osanna to the Son of David , blessed is
the 9ing of %srael. @ohn 1*:16 And the blind "en also say, Son of David, have
mercy on us. ,atthew *G:6G 'abriel too testi(es plainly to ,ary, saying, 5nd the
$ord God shall give unto #im the throne of #is father David. -u)e 1:6* >aul also
says, +emember 7esus 'hrist raised from the dead, of the seed of David,
according to my Gospel * %i"othy *:D: and in the beginning of the +pistle to the
Ho"ans he says, ,hich was made of the seed of David according to the <esh.
Ho"ans 1:6 Heceive thou therefore Hi" that was born of 4avid, believing the
prophecy which says, 5nd in that day there shall be a root of 7esse, and #e that
shall rise to rule over the Gentiles* in #im shall the Gentiles trust.
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*=. 7ut the @ews are "uch troubled at these things. %his also 0saiah fore)new,
saying, 5nd they shall wish that they had been burnt with 2re* for unto us a child
is born 1not unto the"2, unto us a Son is given. 0saiah F:A ,ar) thou that at (rst
He was the Son of 'od, then was given to us. And a little after he says, 5nd of #is
peace there is no bound. %he Ho"ans have bounds: of the )ingdo" of the Son of
'od there is no bound. %he >ersians and the ,edes have bounds, but the Son has
no bound. %hen ne3t, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it.
%he Holy Iirgin, therefore, is fro" 4avid.
*A. $or it beca"e Hi" who is "ost pure, and a teacher of purity, to have co"e
forth fro" a pure bride9cha"ber. $or if he who well ful(ls the oLce of a priest of
@esus abstains fro" a wife, how should @esus Hi"self be born of "an and wo"an5
For thou, says He in the >sal"s, art #e that took "e out of the womb. ,ar) that
carefully, He that too) ,e out of the wo"b, signifying that He was begotten
without "an, being ta)en fro" a virgins wo"b and fesh. $or the "anner is
di?erent with those who are begotten according to the course of "arriage.
*B. And fro" such "e"bers He is not asha"ed to assu"e fesh, who is the
fra"er of those very "e"bers. 7ut then who tells us this5 %he -ord says unto
@ere"iah: Before % formed you in the belly, % knew you* and before you came forth
out of the womb, % sancti2ed you. @ere"iah 1:A 0f, then, in fashioning "an He was
not asha"ed of the contact, was He asha"ed in fashioning for His own sa)e the
holy $lesh, the veil of His 'odhead5 0t is 'od who even now creates the children
in the wo"b, as it is written in @ob, #ave you not poured me out as milk, and
curdled me like cheese? !ou have clothed me with skin and <esh, and hast knit
me together with bones and sinews. @ob 1G:1G911 %here is nothing polluted in the
hu"an fra"e e3cept a "an de(le this with fornication and adultery. He who
for"ed Ada" for"ed +ve also, and "ale and fe"ale were for"ed by 'ods
hands. /one of the "e"bers of the body as for"ed fro" the beginning is
polluted. -et the "ouths of all heretics be stopped who slander their bodies, or
rather Hi" who for"ed the". 7ut let us re"e"ber >auls saying, Do you not
know that your bodies are the temples of the #oly Ghost which is in you
1 .orinthians B:1F5 And again the >rophet has spo)en before in the person of
@esus, "y <esh is from them : and in another place it is written, (herefore will #e
give them up, until the time that she brings forth. ,icah A:6 And what is the sign5
He tells us in what follows, She shall bring forth, and the remnant of their
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brethren shall return. And what are the nuptial pledges of the Iirgin, the holy
bride5 5nd % will betroth you unto "e in faithfulness. Hosea *:*G And +li&abeth,
tal)ing with ,ary, spea)s in li)e "anner: 5nd blessed is she that believed; for
there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the $ord
-u)e 1:=A .
*C. 7ut both 'ree)s and @ews harass us and say that it was i"possible for the
.hrist to be born of a virgin. As for the 'ree)s we will stop their "ouths fro" their
own fables. $or you who say that stones being thrown were changed into "en ,
how do you say that it is i"possible for a virgin to bring forth5 <ou who fable that
a daughter was born fro" the brain , how do you say that it is i"possible for a
son to have been born fro" a virgins wo"b5 <ou who falsely say that 4ionysus
was born fro" the thigh of your Oeus , how set ye at nought our truth5 0 )now
that 0 a" spea)ing of things unworthy of the present audience: but in order that
you in due season "ay rebu)e the 'ree)s, we have brought these things forward
answering the" fro" their own fables.
*D. 7ut those of the circu"cision "eet thou with this :uestion: 8hether is harder,
for an aged wo"an, barren and past age, to bear, or for a virgin in the pri"e of
youth to conceive5 Sarah was barren, and though it had ceased to be with her
after the "anner of wo"en, yet, contrary to nature, she bore a child. 0f, then, it is
against nature for a barren wo"an to conceive, and also for a virgin, either,
therefore, reEect both, or accept both. $or it is the sa"e 'od who both wrought
the one and appointed the other. $or you will not dare to say that it was possible
for 'od in that for"er case, and i"possible in this latter. And again: how is it
natural for a "ans hand to be changed in a single hour into a di?erent
appearance and restored again5 How then was the hand of ,oses "ade white as
snow, and at once restored again5 7ut you say that 'ods will "ade the change.
0n that case 'ods will has the power, and has it then no power in this case5 %hat
"oreover was a sign concerning the +gyptians only, but this was a sign given to
the whole world. 7ut whether is the "ore diLcult, O you @ews5 $or a virgin to
bear, or for a rod to be :uic)ened into a living creature5 <ou confess that in the
case of ,oses a perfectly straight rod beca"e li)e a serpent, and was terrible to
hi" who cast it down, and he who before held the rod fast, fed fro" it as fro" a
serpent! for a serpent in truth it was: but he fed not because he feared that
which he held, but because he dreaded Hi" that had changed it. A rod had teeth
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and eyes li)e a serpent: do then seeing eyes grow out of a rod, and cannot a child
be born of a virgins wo"b, if 'od wills5 $or 0 say nothing of the fact that Aarons
rod also produced in a single night what other trees produce in several years. $or
who )nows not that a rod, after losing its bar), will never sprout, not even if it be
planted in the "idst of rivers5 7ut since 'od is not dependent on the nature of
trees, but is the .reator of their natures, the unfruitful, and dry, and bar)less rod
budded, and blosso"ed, and bare al"onds. He, then, who for the sa)e of the
typical high9priest gave fruit supernaturally to the rod, would He not for the sa)e
of the true High9>riest grant to the Iirgin to bear a child5
*F. %hese are e3cellent suggestions of the narratives: but the @ews still contradict,
and do not yield to the state"ents concerning the rod, unless they "ay be
persuaded by si"ilar strange and supernatural births. Ruestion the", therefore,
in this way: of who" in the beginning was +ve begotten5 8hat "other conceived
her the "otherless5 7ut the Scripture says that she was born out of Ada"s side.
0s +ve then born out of a "ans side without a "other, and is a child not to be
born without a father, of a virgins wo"b5 %his debt of gratitude was due to "en
fro" wo"an)ind: for +ve was begotten of Ada", and not conceived of a "other,
but as it were brought forth of "an alone. ,ary, therefore, paid the debt, of
gratitude, when not by "an but of herself alone in an i""aculate way she
conceived of the Holy 'host by the power of 'od.
6G. 7ut let us ta)e what is yet a greater wonder than this. $or that of bodies
bodies should be conceived, even if wonderful, is nevertheless possible: but that
the dust of the earth should beco"e a "an, this is "ore wonderful. %hat clay
"oulded together should assu"e the coats and splendours of the eyes, this is
"ore wonderful. %hat out of dust of unifor" appearance should be produced both
the (r"ness of bones, and the softness of lungs, and other di?erent )inds of
"e"bers, this is wonderful. %hat clay should be ani"ated and travel round the
world self "oved, and should build houses, this is wonderful. %hat clay should
teach, and tal), and act as carpenter, and as )ing, this is wonderful. 8hence,
then, O you "ost ignorant @ews, was Ada" "ade5 4id not 'od ta)e dust fro" the
earth, and fashion this wonderful fra"e5 0s then clay changed into an eye, and
cannot a virgin bear a son. 4oes that which for "en is "ore i"possible ta)e
place, and is that which is possible never to occur5
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61. -et us re"e"ber these things, brethren: let us use these weapons in our
defence. -et us not endure those heretics who teach .hrists co"ing as a
phanto". -et us abhor those also who say that the Saviours birth was of husband
and wife! who have dared to say that He was the child of @oseph and ,ary,
because it is written, 5nd he took unto him his wife. ,atthew 1:*= $or let us
re"e"ber @acob who before he received Hachel, said to -aban, Give me my wife.
'enesis *F:*1 $or as she before the wedded state, "erely because there was a
pro"ise, was called the wife of @acob, so also ,ary, because she had been
betrothed, was called the wife of @oseph. ,ar) also the accuracy of the 'ospel,
saying, 5nd in the si.th month the 5ngel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of
Galilee, named 8a;areth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was 7oseph
-u)e 1:*B9*C, and so forth. And again when the census too) place, and @oseph
went up to enrol hi"self, what says the Scripture5 5nd 7oseph also went up from
Galilee, to enrol himself with "ary who was espoused to him, being great with
child. $or though she was with child, yet it said not with his wife, but with her who
was espoused to him. $or God sent forth #is Son, says >aul, not "ade of a "an
and a wo"an, but made of a woman 'alatians =:= only, that is of a virgin. $or
that the virgin also is called a wo"an, we showed before. $or He who "a)es souls
virgin, was born of a Iirgin.
6*. 7ut you wonder at the event: even she herself who bare hi" wondered at
this. $or she says to 'abriel, #ow shall this be to me, since % know not a man? 7ut
he says, (he #oly Ghost shall came upon you, and the power of the #ighest shall
overshadow you* wherefore also the holy thing which is to be born shall be called
the Son of God. -u)e 1:6=96A 0""aculate and unde(led was His generation: for
where the Holy Spirit breathes, there all pollution is ta)en away: unde(led fro"
the Iirgin was the incarnate generation of the Only9begotten. And if the heretics
gainsay the truth, the Holy 'host shall convict the": that overshadowing power
of the Highest shall wa3 angry: 'abriel shall stand face to face against the" in
the day of Eudg"ent: the place of the "anger, which received the -ord, shall put
the" to sha"e. %he shepherds, who then received the good tidings, shall bear
witness! and the host of the Angels who sang praises and hy"ns, and said, Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of #is good pleasure
-u)e *:1=: the %e"ple into which He was then carried up on the fortieth day: the
pairs of turtle9doves, which were o?ered on His behalf : and Sy"eon who then
too) Hi" up in his ar"s, and Anna the prophetess who was present.
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66. Since 'od then bears witness, and the Holy 'host Eoins in the witness, and
.hrist says, ,hy do you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth 5 -et
the heretics be silenced who spea) against His hu"anity, for they spea) against
Hi", who says, #andle me, and see; for a spirit has not <esh and bones, as you
see me have. -u)e *=:6F Adored be the -ord the Iirgin9born, and let Iirgins
ac)nowledge the crown of their own state: let the order also of Solitaries
ac)nowledge the glory of chastity for we "en are not deprived of the dignity of
chastity. 0n the Iirgins wo"b the Saviours period of nine "onths was passed:
but the -ord was for thirty and three years a "an: so that if a virgin glories
because of the nine "onths, "uch "ore we because of the "any years.
6=. 7ut let us all by 'ods grace run the race of chastity, young men and
maidens, old men and children ! not going after wantonness, but praising the
na"e of .hrist. -et us not be ignorant of the glory of chastity: for its crown is
angelic, and its e3cellence above "an. -et us be chary of our bodies which are to
shine as the sun: let us not for short pleasure de(le so great, so noble a body: for
short and "o"entary is the sin, but the sha"e for "any years and for ever.
Angels wal)ing upon earth are they who practise chastity: the Iirgins have their
portion with ,ary the Iirgin. -et all vain orna"ent be banished, and every hurtful
glance, and all wanton gait, and every fowing robe, and perfu"e enticing to
pleasure. 7ut in all for perfu"e let there be the prayer of sweet odour, and the
practice of good wor)s, and the sancti(cation of our bodies: that the Iirgin9born
-ord "ay say even of us, both "en who live in chastity and wo"en who wear the
crown, % will dwell in them; and walk in them, and % will be their God, and they
shall be "y people. * .orinthians B:1B %o who" be the glory for ever and ever.
A"en.
"n the words, Cruci1ed and uried%
0saiah A6:1, C
8ho has believed our report5 And to who" is the ar" of the -ord revealed5...He
is brought as a la"b to the slaughter, etc.
1. +very deed of .hrist is a cause of glorying to the .atholic .hurch, but her
greatest of all glorying is in the .ross! and )nowing this, >aul says, But God forbid
that % should glory, save in the 'ross of 'hrist. 'alatians B:1= $or wondrous
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indeed it was, that one who was blind fro" his birth should receive sight in Siloa"
! but what is this co"pared with the blind of the whole world5 A great thing it
was, and passing nature, for -a&arus to rise again on the fourth day! but the
grace e3tended to hi" alone, and what was it co"pared with the dead in sins
throughout the world5 ,arvellous it was, that (ve loaves should pour forth food
for the (ve thousand! but what is that to those who are fa"ishing in ignorance
through all the world5 0t was "arvellous that she should have been loosed who
had been bound by Satan eighteen years: yet what is this to all of us, who were
fast bound in the chains of our sins5 7ut the glory of the .ross led those who
were blind through ignorance into light, loosed all who were held fast by sin, and
ranso"ed the whole world of "an)ind.
*. And wonder not that the whole world was ranso"ed! for it was no "ere "an,
but the only9begotten Son of 'od, who died on its behalf. ,oreover one "ans sin,
even Ada"s, had power to bring death to the world! but if by the trespass of the
one death reigned over the world, how shall not life "uch rather reign by the
righteousness of the 4ne Ho"ans A:1C91D5 And if because of the tree of food they
were then cast out of paradise, shall not believers now "ore easily enter into
paradise because of the %ree of @esus5 0f the (rst "an for"ed out of the earth
brought in universal death, shall not He who for"ed hi" out of the earth bring in
eternal life, being Hi"self the -ife5 0f >hinees, when he wa3ed &ealous and slew
the evil9doer, staved the wrath of 'od, shall not @esus, who slew not another, but
gave up #imself for a ransom 1 %i"othy *:B, put away the wrath which is against
"an)ind5
6. -et us then not be asha"ed of the .ross of our Saviour, but rather glory in it.
For the word of the 'ross is unto 7ews a stumbling/block, and unto Gentiles
foolishness, but to us salvation: and to them that are perishing it is foolishness,
but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God. $or it was not a "ere
"an who died for us, as 0 said before, but the Son of 'od, 'od "ade "an.
$urther! if the la"b under ,oses drove the destroyer +3odus 1*:*6 far away, did
not "uch rather the $amb of God, which takes away the sin of the world
@ohn 1:*F, deliver us fro" our sins5 %he blood of a silly sheep gave salvation! and
shall not the 7lood of the Only9begotten "uch rather save5 0f any disbelieve the
power of the .ruci(ed, let hi" as) the devils! if any believe not words, let hi"
believe what he sees. ,any have been cruci(ed throughout the world, but by
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none of these are the devils scared! but when they see even the Sign of the .ross
of .hrist, who was cruci(ed for us, they shudder. $or those "en died for their own
sins, but .hrist for the sins of others! for He did no sin, neither was guile found in
#is mouth. 0t is not >eter who says this, for then we "ight suspect that he was
partial to his %eacher! but it is +saias who says it, who was not indeed present
with Hi" in the fesh, but in the Spirit foresaw His co"ing in the fesh. <et why
now bring the >rophet only as a witness5 %a)e for a witness >ilate hi"self, who
gave sentence upon Hi", saying, % 2nd no fault in this "an -u)e *6:1=: and when
he gave Hi" up, and had washed his hands, he said, % am innocent of the blood
of this ust person. ,atthew *C:*= %here is yet another witness of the sinlessness
of @esus;the robber, the (rst "an ad"itted into >aradise! who rebu)ed his fellow,
and said, ,e receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing
amiss ! for we were present, both you and 0, at His Eudg"ent.
=. @esus then really su?ered for all "en! for the .ross was no illusion , otherwise
our rede"ption is an illusion also. His death was not a "ere show , for then is our
salvation also fabulous. 0f His death was but a show, they were true who said, ,e
remember that that deceiver said, while #e was yet alive, 5fter three days % rise
again. ,atthew *C:B6 His >assion then was real: for He was really cruci(ed, and
we are not asha"ed thereat! He was cruci(ed, and we deny it not, nay, 0 rather
glory to spea) of it. $or though 0 should now deny it, here is 'olgotha to confute
"e, near which we are now asse"bled! the wood of the .ross confutes "e, which
was afterwards distributed piece"eal fro" hence to all the world. 0 confess the
.ross, because 0 )now of the Hesurrection! for if, after being cruci(ed, He had
re"ained as He was, 0 had not perchance confessed it, for 0 "ight have concealed
both it and "y ,aster! but now that the Hesurrection has followed the .ross, 0 a"
not asha"ed to declare it.
A. 7eing then in the fesh li)e others, He was cruci(ed, but not for the li)e sins.
$or He was not led to death for covetousness, since He was a %eacher of poverty!
nor was He conde"ned for concupiscence, for He Hi"self says plainly,
,hosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery
with her already ,atthew A:*D! not for s"iting or stri)ing hastily, for He turned
the other chee) also to the s"iter! not for despising the -aw, for He was the
ful(ller of the -aw! not for reviling a prophet, for it was Hi"self who was
proclai"ed by the >rophets! not for defrauding any of their hire, for He "inistered
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without reward and freely! not for sinning in words, or deeds, or thoughts, He who
did no sin, neither was guile found in #is mouth; who when #e was reviled,
reviled not again; when #e su&ered, threatened not 1 >eter *:**9*6! who came
to #is passion, not unwillingly, but willing; yea, if any dissuading #im say even
now, Be it far from !ou, $ord, He will say again, Get behind "e, Satan
,atthew 1B:**9*6 .
B. And would you be persuaded that He ca"e to His passion willingly5 Others,
who fore)now it not, die unwillingly! but He spo)e before of His passion: Behold,
the Son of man is betrayed to be cruci2ed. 7ut do you )now wherefore this $riend
of "an shunned not death5 0t was lest the whole world should perish in its sins.
Behold, we go up to 7erusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed, and shall
be cruci2ed ; and again, #e steadfastly set #is face to go to 7erusalem. -u)e F:A
And would you )now certainly, that the .ross is a glory to @esus5 Hear His own
words, not "ine. @udas had beco"e ungrateful to the ,aster of the house, and
was about to betray Hi". Having but Eust now gone forth fro" the table, and
drun) His cup of blessing, in return for that drought of salvation he sought to shed
righteous blood. #e who did eat of #is bread, was lifting up his heel against #im !
his hands were but lately receiving the blessed gifts , and presently for the wages
of betrayal he was plotting His death. And being reproved, and having heard that
word, !ou have said ,atthew *B:*A, he again went out: then said @esus, (he hour
has come, that the Son of man should be glori2ed. @ohn 1*:*6 4o you see how He
)new the .ross to be His proper glory5 8hat then, is +saias not asha"ed of being
sawn asunder , and shall .hrist be asha"ed of dying for the world5 8ow is the
Son of man glori2ed. @ohn 16:61 /ot that He was without glory before: for He was
glori2ed with the glory which was before the foundation of the world. He was ever
glori(ed as 'od! but now He was to be glori(ed in wearing the .rown of His
patience. He gave not up His life by co"pulsion, nor was He put to death by
"urderous violence, but of His own accord. Hear what He says: % have power to
lay down "y life, and % have power to take it again : 0 yield it of ,y own choice to
,y ene"ies! for unless 0 chose, this could not be. He ca"e therefore of His own
set purpose to His passion, reEoicing in His noble deed, s"iling at the crown,
cheered by the salvation of "an)ind! not asha"ed of the .ross, for it was to save
the world. $or it was no co""on "an who su?ered, but 'od in "ans nature,
striving for the pri&e of His patience.
119
C. 7ut the @ews contradict this , ever ready, as they are, to cavil, and bac)ward to
believe! so that for this cause the >rophet Eust now read says, $ord, who has
believed our report 0saiah A*:1A5 >ersians believe , and Hebrews believe not!
they shall see, to whom #e was not spoken of, and they that have not heard shall
understand , while they who study these things shall set at nought what they
study. %hey spea) against us, and say, 4oes the -ord then su?er5 8hat5 Had
"ens hands power over His sovereignty5 Head the -a"entations! for in those
-a"entations, @ere"ias, la"enting you, wrote what is worthy of la"entations. He
saw your destruction, he beheld your downfall, he bewailed @erusale" which then
was! for that which now is 'alatians =:*A shall not be bewailed! for that @erusale"
cruci(ed the .hrist, but that which now is worships Hi". -a"enting then he says,
(he breath of our countenance, 'hrist the $ord was taken in our corruptions. A" 0
then stating views of "y own5 7ehold he testi(es of the -ord .hrist sei&ed by
"en. And what is to follow fro" this5 %ell "e, O >rophet. He says, 4f whom we
said, :nder #is shadow we shall live among the nations. 0bid $or he signi(es that
the grace of life is no longer to dwell in 0srael, but a"ong the 'entiles.
D. 7ut since there has been "uch gainsaying by the", co"e, let "e, with the
help of your prayers, 1as the shortness of the ti"e "ay allow,2 set forth by the
grace of the -ord so"e few testi"onies concerning the >assion. $or the things
concerning .hrist are all put into writing, and nothing is doubtful, for nothing is
without a te3t. All are inscribed on the "onu"ents of the >rophets! clearly
written, not on tablets of stone, but by the Holy 'host. Since then you have heard
the 'ospel spea)ing concerning @udas, ought you not to receive the testi"ony to
it5 <ou have heard that He was pierced in the side by a spear! ought you not to
see whether this also is written5 <ou have heard that He was cruci(ed in a
garden! ought you not to see whether this also is written5 <ou have heard that He
was sold for thirty pieces of silver! ought you not to learn what prophet spo)e
this5 <ou have heard that He was given vinegar to drin)! learn where this also is
written. <ou have heard that His body was laid in a roc), and that a stone was set
over it! ought you not to receive this testi"ony also fro" the prophet5 <ou have
heard that He was cruci(ed with robbers! ought you not to see whether this also
is written5 <ou have heard that He was buried! ought you not to see whether the
circu"stances of His burial are anywhere accurately written5 <ou have heard that
He rose again! ought you not to see whether we "oc) you in teaching these
things5 $or our speech and our preaching is not in persuasive words of man=s
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wisdom. 8e stir now no sophistical contrivances! for these beco"e e3posed! we
do not con:uer words with words , for these co"e to an end! but we preach
'hrist 'ruci2ed 1 .orinthians 1:*6, who has already been preached aforeti"e by
the >rophets. 7ut do thou, 0 pray, receive the testi"onies, and seal the" in your
heart. And, since they are "any, and the rest of our ti"e is narrowed into a short
space, listen now to a few of the "ore i"portant as ti"e per"its! and having
received these beginnings, be diligent and see) out the re"ainder. -et not your
hand be only stretched out to receive, but let it be also ready to wor). 'od gives
all things freely. For if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives
@a"es 1:A, and he shall receive. ,ay He through your prayer grant utterance to
us who spea), and faith to you who hear.
F. -et us then see) the testi"onies to the >assion of .hrist: for we are "et
together, not now to "a)e a speculative e3position of the Scriptures, but rather
to be certi(ed of the things which we already believe. /ow you have received
fro" "e (rst the testi"onies concerning the co"ing of @esus! and concerning His
wal)ing on the sea, for it is written, !our way is in the sea. Also concerning
various cures you have on another occasion received testi"ony. /ow therefore 0
begin fro" whence the >assion began. @udas was the traitor, and he ca"e against
Hi", and stood, spea)ing words of peace, but plotting war. .oncerning hi",
therefore, the >sal"ist says, "y friends and "y neighbours drew near against "e,
and stood. And again, (heir words were softer than oil, yet be they spears. #ail,
"aster ,atthew *B:=F! yet he was betraying his ,aster to death! he was not
abashed at His warning, when He said, 7udas, betrayest than the Son of "an with
a kiss -u)e **:=D5 $or what He said to hi" was Eust this, Hecollect your own
na"e! @udas "eans confession ! you have covenanted, you have received the
"oney, "a)e confession :uic)ly. 4 God, pass not over "y praise in silence; for
the mouth of the wicked, and the mouth of the deceitful, are opened against "e;
they have spoken against "e with a treacherous tongue, they have compassed
"e about also with words of hatred. 7ut that so"e of the chief9priests also were
present, and that He was put in bonds before the gates of the city, you have
heard before, if you re"e"ber the e3position of the >sal", which has told the
ti"e and the place! how they returned at evening, and hungered like dogs, and
encompassed the city.
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1G. -isten also for the thirty pieces of silver. 5nd % will say to them, %f it be good in
your sight, give me my price, or refuse Oechariah 11:1*, and the rest. One price
is owing to ,e fro" you for ,y healing the blind and la"e, and 0 receive another!
for than)sgiving, dishonour, and for worship, insult. 4o you see how the Scripture
foresaw these things5 5nd they weighed for "y price thirty pieces of silver. 0b
How e3act the prophecy# How great and unerring the wisdo" of the Holy 'host#
$or he said, not ten, nor twenty, but thirty, e3actly as "any as there were. %ell
also what beco"es of this price, O >rophet# 4oes he who received it )eep it5 Or
does he give it bac)5 And after he has given it bac), what beco"es of it5 %he
>rophet says then, 5nd % took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the
house of the $ord, into the foundry. .o"pare the 'ospel with the >rophecy: 7udas,
it says, repented himself, and cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and
departed.
11. 7ut now 0 have to see) the e3act solution of this see"ing discrepancy. $or
they who "a)e light of the prophets, allege that the >rophet says on the one
hand, 5nd % cast them into the house of the $ord, into the foundry, but the 'ospel
on the other hand, 5nd they gave them for the potter=s 2eld. Hear then how they
are both true. $or those conscientious @ews forsooth, the high9priests of that ti"e,
when they saw that @udas repented and said, % have sinned, in that % have
betrayed innocent blood, reply, ,hat is that to us, see thou to that. 0s it then
nothing to you, the cruci(ers5 7ut shall he who received and restored the price of
"urder see to it, and shall you the "urderers not see to it5 %hen they say a"ong
the"selves, %t is not lawful to cast them into the treasury, because it is the price
of blood. Out of your own "ouths is your conde"nation! if the price is polluted,
the deed is polluted also: but if you are ful(lling righteousness in crucifying .hrist,
why do you not receive the price of it5 7ut the point of ini:uity is this: how is
there no disagree"ent, if the 'ospel says, the potter=s 2eld, and the >rophet, the
foundry5 /ay, but not only people who are golds"iths, or brass9founders, have a
foundry, but potters also have foundries for their clay. $or they sift o? the (ne and
rich and useful earth fro" the gravel, and separate fro" it the "ass of the refuse
"atter, and te"per the clay (rst with water, that they "ay wor) it with ease into
the for"s intended. 8hy then do you wonder that the 'ospel says plainly the
potter=s 2eld, whereas the >rophet spo)e his prophecy li)e an enig"a, since
prophecy is in "any places enig"atical5
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1*. %hey bound @esus, and brought Hi" into the hall of the High9priest. And would
you learn and )now that this also is written5 +saias says, ,oe unto their soul, for
they have taken evil counsel against themselves, saying, $et us bind the 7ust, for
#e is troublesome to us. And truly, ,oe unto their soulA -et us see how +saias
was sawn asunder, yet after this the people was restored. @ere"ias was cast into
the "ire of the cistern, yet was the wound of the @ews healed! for the sin was
less, since it was against "an. 7ut when the @ews sinned, not against "an, but
against 'od in "ans nature, ,oe unto their soul#; $et us bind the 7ust! could He
not then set Hi"self free, so"e one will say! He, who freed -a&arus fro" the
bonds of death on the fourth day, and loosed >eter fro" the iron bands of a
prison5 Angels stood ready at hand, saying, $et us burst their bands in sunder !
but they hold bac), because their -ord willed to undergo it. Again, He was led to
the Eudg"ent9seat before the +lders! you have already the testi"ony to this, (he
$ord #imself will come into udgment with the ancients of #is people, and with
the princes thereof 0saiah 6:1= .
16. 7ut the High9priest having :uestioned Hi", and heard the truth, is angry! and
the wic)ed oLcer of wic)ed "en s"ites Hi"! and the countenance, which had
shone as the sun, endured to be s"itten by lawless hands. Others also co"e and
spit on the face of Hi", who by spittle had healed the "an who was blind fro" his
birth. Do ye thus re)uite the $ord? (his people is foolish and unwise.
4euterono"y 6*:B And the >rophet greatly wondering, says, $ord, who has
believed our report 0saiah A6:15 $or the thing is incredible, that 'od, the Son of
'od, and the 5rm of the $ord 0bid, should su?er such things. 7ut that they who
are being saved "ay not disbelieve, the Holy 'host writes before, in the person
of .hrist, who says, 1for He who then spo)e these things, was afterward Hi"self
an actor in the",2 % gave "y back to the scourges! 1for >ilate, when he had
scourged #im, delivered #im to be cruci2ed !2 and "y cheeks to smitings; and "y
face % turned not away from the shame of spittings; saying, as it were, %hough
)nowing before that they will s"ite ,e, 0 did not even turn ,y chee) aside! for
how should 0 have nerved ,y disciples against death for truths sa)e, had 0 ,yself
dreaded this5 0 said. #e that loves his life shall lose it @ohn 1*:*A: if 0 had loved ,y
life, how was 0 to teach without practising what 0 taught5 $irst then, being Hi"self
'od, He endured to su?er these things at the hands of "en! that after this, we
"en, when we su?er such things at the hands of "en for His sa)e, "ight not be
asha"ed. <ou see that of these things also the prophets have clearly written
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beforehand. ,any, however, of the Scripture testi"onies 0 pass by for want of
ti"e, as 0 said before! for if one should e3actly search out all, not one of the
things concerning .hrist would be left without witness.
1=. Having been bound, He ca"e fro" .aiaphas to >ilate;is this too written5
yes! 5nd having bound #im, they led #im away as a present to the king of 7arim.
7ut here so"e sharp hearer will obEect, >ilate was not a )ing, 1to leave for a while
the "ain parts of the :uestion,2 how then having bound Hi", led they Hi" as a
present to the )ing5 7ut read the 'ospel! ,hen -ilate heard that #e was of
Galilee, he sent #im to #erod -u)e *6:B9C! for Herod was then )ing, and was
present at @erusale". And now observe the e3actness of the >rophet! for he says,
that He was sent as a present! for the same day -ilate and #erod were made
friends together, for before they were at enmity. $or it beca"e Hi" who was on
the eve of "a)ing peace between earth and heaven, to "a)e the very "en who
conde"ned Hi" the (rst to be at peace! for the -ord Hi"self was there present,
who reconciles the hearts of the princes of the earth. ,ar) the e3actness of the
>rophets, and their true testi"ony.
1A. -oo) with awe then at the -ord who was Eudged. He su?ered Hi"self to be led
and carried by soldiers. >ilate sat in Eudg"ent, and He who sits on the right hand
of the $ather, stood and was Eudged. %he people who" He had redee"ed fro"
the land of +gypt, and ofti"es fro" other places, shouted against Hi", 5way with
#im, away with #im, crucify #im. @oshua 1F:1A 8herefore, O you @ews5 7ecause
He healed your blind5 Or because He "ade your la"e to wal), and bestowed His
other bene(ts5 So that the >rophet in a"a&e"ent spea)s of this too, 5gainst
whom have you opened your mouth, and against whom have you let loose your
tongue 0saiah AC:=5 And the -ord Hi"self says in the >rophets, "ine heritage
became unto "e as a lion in the forest; it gave its voice against "e; therefore
have % hated it. @ere"iah 1*:D 0 have not refused the", but they have refused ,e!
in conse:uence thereof 0 say, % have forsaken "y house.
1B. 8hen He was Eudged, He held His peace! so that >ilate was "oved for Hi",
and said, #earest (hou not what these witness against !ou ,atthew *C:165 /ot
that He )new Hi" who was Eudged, but he feared his own wifes drea" which had
been reported to hi". And @esus held His peace. %he >sal"ist says, 5nd % became
as a man that hears not; and in whose mouth are no reproofs ! and again, But %
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was as a deaf man and heard not; and as a dumb man that opens not his mouth.
%hou hast before heard concerning this , if you re"e"ber.
1C. 7ut the soldiers who crowd around "oc) Hi", and their -ord beco"es a sport
to the", and upon their ,aster they "a)e Eests. ,hen they looked on "e, they
shaked their heads. <et the (gure of )ingly state appears! for though in "oc)ery,
yet they bend the )nee. And the soldiers before they crucify Hi", put on Hi" a
purple robe, and set a crown on His head! for what though it be of thorns5 +very
)ing is proclai"ed by soldiers! and @esus also "ust in a (gure be crowned by
soldiers! so that for this cause the Scripture says in the .anticles, Go forth, 4 you
daughters of 7erusalem, and look upon 9ing Solomon in the crown wherewith #is
mother crowned #im. Song of Songs 6:11 And the crown itself was a "ystery! for
it was a re"ission of sins, a release fro" the curse.
1D. Ada" received the sentence, 'ursed is the ground in your labours; thorns and
thistles shall it bring forth to you. $or this cause @esus assu"es the thorns, that
He "ay cancel the sentence! for this cause also was He buried in the earth, that
the earth which had been cursed "ight receive the blessing instead of a curse. At
the ti"e of the sin, they clothed the"selves with (g9leaves! for this cause @esus
also "ade the (g9tree the last of His signs. $or when about to go to His passion,
He curses the (g9tree, not every (g9tree, but that one alone, for the sa)e of the
(gure! saying, 8o more let any man eat fruit of you ,ar) 11:1! let the doo" be
cancelled. And because they aforeti"e clothed the"selves with (g9leaves, He
ca"e at a season when food was not wont to be found on the (g9tree. 8ho )nows
not that in winter9ti"e the (g9tree bears no fruit, but is clothed with leaves only5
8as @esus ignorant of this, which all )new5 /o, but though He )new, yet He ca"e
as if see)ing! not ignorant that He should not (nd, but showing that the
e"ble"atical curse e3tended to the leaves only.
1F. And since we have touched on things connected with >aradise, 0 a" truly
astonished at the truth of the types. 0n >aradise was the $all, and in a 'arden was
our Salvation. $ro" the %ree ca"e sin, and until the %ree sin lasted. %n the
evening, when the $ord walked in the Garden, they hid themselves 'enesis 6:D!
and in the evening the robber is brought by the -ord into >aradise. 7ut so"e one
will say to "e, <ou are inventing subtleties! show "e fro" so"e prophet the
8ood of the .ross! unless you give "e a testi"ony fro" a prophet, 0 will not be
persuaded. Hear then fro" @ere"ias, and assure yourself! % was like a harmless
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lamb led to be slaughtered; did % not know it 5 1for in this "anner read it as a
:uestion, as 0 have read it! for He who said, !ou know that after two days comes
the passover, and the Son of "an is betrayed to be cruci2ed ,atthew *B:*, did He
not )now52 % was like a harmless lamb led to be slaughtered; did % not know it?
1but what sort of la"b5 -et @ohn the 7aptist interpret it, when he says, 7ehold the
-a"b of 'od, that ta)es away the sin of the world @ohn 1:*F.2 (hey devised
against "e a wicked device, saying @ere"iah 11:1F ; 1He who )nows the devices,
)new He not the result of the"5 And what said they52; 'ome, and let us place a
beam upon #is bread ; 1and if the -ord rec)on you worthy, you shall hereafter
learn, that His body according to the 'ospel bore the (gure of bread!2; 'ome
then, and let us place a beam upon #is bread, and cut #im o& out of the land of
the living;; 1life is not cut o?, why do you labour for nought52; 5nd #is name
shall be remembered no more3 Iain is your counsel! for before the sun #is 8ame
abides in the .hurch. And that it was -ife, which hung on the .ross, ,oses says,
weeping, 5nd your life shall be hanging before your eyes; and you shall be afraid
day and night, and you shall not trust your life. 4euterono"y *D:BB And so too,
what was Eust now read as the te3t, $ord, who has believed our report?
*G. %his was the (gure which ,oses co"pleted by (3ing the serpent to a cross,
that whoso had been bitten by the living serpent, and loo)ed to the brasen
serpent, "ight be saved by believing. 4oes then the bra&en serpent save when
cruci(ed, and shall not the Son of 'od incarnate save when cruci(ed also5 On
each occasion life co"es by "eans of wood. $or in the ti"e of /oe the
preservation of life was by an ar) of wood. 0n the ti"e of ,oses the sea, on
beholding the e"ble"atical rod, was abashed at hi" who s"ote it! is then ,oses
rod "ighty, and is the .ross of the Saviour powerless5 7ut 0 pass by the greater
part of the types, to )eep within "easure. %he wood in ,oses case sweetened
the water! and fro" the side of @esus the water fowed upon the wood.
*1. %he beginning of signs under ,oses was blood and water! and the last of all
@esus signs was the sa"e. $irst, ,oses changed the river into blood! and @esus at
the last gave forth fro" His side water with blood. %his was perhaps on account of
the two speeches, his who Eudged Hi", and theirs who cried out against Hi"! or
because of the believers and the unbelievers. $or >ilate said, % am innocent and
washed his hands in water! they who cried out against Hi" said, #is blood be
upon us ,atthew *C:*=9*A: there ca"e therefore these two out of His side! the
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water, perhaps, for hi" who Eudged Hi"! but for the" that shouted against Hi"
the blood. And again it is to be understood in another way! the blood for the @ews,
and the water for the .hristians: for upon the" as plotters ca"e the
conde"nation fro" the blood! but to you who now believest, the salvation which
is by water. $or nothing has been done without a "eaning. Our fathers who have
written co""ents have given another reason of this "atter. $or since in the
'ospels the power of salutary 7aptis" is twofold, one which is granted by "eans
of water to the illu"inated, and a second to holy "artyrs, in persecutions,
through their own blood, there ca"e out of that saving Side blood and water , to
con(r" the grace of the confession "ade for .hrist, whether in baptis", or on
occasions of "artyrdo". %here is another reason also for "entioning the Side.
%he wo"an, who was for"ed fro" the side, led the way to sin! but @esus who
ca"e to bestow the grace of pardon on "en and wo"en ali)e, was pierced in the
side for wo"en, that He "ight undo the sin.
**. And whoever will in:uire, will (nd other reasons also! but what has been said
is enough, because of the shortness of the ti"e, and that the attention of "y
hearers "ay not beco"e sated. And yet we never can be tired of hearing
concerning the crowning of our -ord, and least of all in this "ost holy 'olgotha.
$or others only hear, but we both see and handle. -et none be weary! ta)e your
ar"our against the adversaries in the cause of the .ross itself! set up the faith of
the .ross as a trophy against the gainsayers. $or when you are going to dispute
with unbelievers concerning the .ross of .hrist, (rst "a)e with your hand the
sign of .hrists .ross, and the gainsayer will be silenced. 7e not asha"ed to
confess the .ross! for Angels glory in it, saying, ,e know whom you seek, 7esus
the 'ruci2ed. ,atthew *D:A ,ight you not say, O Angel, 0 )now who" you see),
"y ,aster5 7ut, 0, he says with boldness, 0 )now the .ruci(ed. $or the .ross is a
.rown, not a dishonour.
*6. /ow let us recur to the proof out of the >rophets which 0 spo)e of. %he -ord
was cruci(ed! you have received the testi"onies. <ou see this spot of 'olgotha#
<ou answer with a shout of praise, as if assenting. See that you recant not in ti"e
of persecution. HeEoice not in the .ross in ti"e of peace only, but hold fast the
sa"e faith in ti"e of persecution also! be not in ti"e of peace a friend of @esus,
and His foe in ti"e of wars. <ou receive now re"ission of your sins, and the gifts
of the Kings spiritual bounty! when war shall co"e, strive thou nobly for your
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King. @esus, the Sinless, was cruci(ed for you! and will you not be cruci(ed for
Hi" who was cruci(ed for you5 <ou are not bestowing a favour, for you have (rst
received! but you are returning a favour, repaying your debt to Hi" who was
cruci(ed for you in 'olgotha. /ow 'olgotha is interpreted, the place of a s)ull.
8ho were they then, who prophetically na"ed this spot 'olgotha, in which .hrist
the true Head endured the .ross5 As the Apostle says, ,ho is the %mage of the
%nvisible God; and a little after, and #e is the #ead of the body, the 'hurch. And
again, (he #ead of every man is 'hrist 1 .orinthians 11:6! and again, ,ho is the
#ead of all principality and power. .olossians *:1G %he Head su?ered in the place
of the s)ull. O wondrous prophetic appellation# %he very na"e also re"inds you,
saying, %hin) not of the .ruci(ed as of a "ere "an! He is the #ead of all
principality and power. %hat Head which was cruci(ed is the Head of all power,
and has for His Head the $ather! for the #ead of the man is 'hrist, and the #ead
of 'hrist is God 1 .orinthians 11:6 .
*=. .hrist then was cruci(ed for us, who was Eudged in the night, when it was
cold, and therefore a 2re of coals @ohn 1D:1D was laid. He was cruci(ed at the
third hour! and from the si.th hour there was darkness until the ninth hour
,atthew *C:=A! but fro" the ninth hour there was light again. Are these things
also written5 -et us in:uire. /ow the >rophet Oacharias says, 5nd it shall come to
pass in that day, that there shall not be light, and there shall be cold and frost
one day; 1the cold on account of which >eter war"ed hi"self!2 5nd that day shall
be known unto the $ord Oechariah 1=:B9C! 1what, )new He not the other days5
4ays are "any, but this is the day of the -ords patience, which the $ord made !2
; 5nd that day shall be known unto the $ord, not day, and not night* what is this
dar) saying which the >rophet spea)s5 %hat day is neither day nor night5 8hat
then shall we na"e it5 %he 'ospel interprets it, by relating the event. 0t was not
day! for the sun shone not unifor"ly fro" his rising to his setting, but fro" the
si3th hour till the ninth hour, there was dar)ness at "id9day. %he dar)ness
therefore was interposed! but God called the darkness night. 'enesis 1:A
8herefore it was neither day nor night: for neither was it all light, that it should
be called day! nor was it all dar)ness, that it should be called night! but after the
ninth hour the sun shone forth. %his also the >rophet foretels! for after saying,
8ot day, nor night, he added, 5nd at evening time it shall be light. 4o you see the
e3actness of the prophets5 4o you see the truth of the things which were written
aforeti"e5
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*A. 7ut do you as) e3actly at what hour the sun failed 5 8as it the (fth hour, or
the eighth, or the tenth5 %ell, O >rophet, the e3act ti"e thereof to the @ews, who
are unwilling to hear! when shall the sun go down5 %he >rophet A"os answers,
5nd it shall come to pass in that day, says the $ord God, that the sun shall go
down at noon 1for there was dar)ness fro" the si3th hour!2 and the light shall
grow dark over the earth in the day. 8hat sort of season is this, O >rophet, and
what sort of day5 5nd % will turn your feasts into mourning! for this was done in
the days of unleavened bread, and at the feast of the >assover: then afterwards
he says, 5nd % will make #im as the mourning of an 4nly Son, and those with #im
as a day of anguish A"os D:1G! for in the day of unleavened bread, and at the
feast, their wo"en were wailing and weeping, and the Apostles had hidden
the"selves and were in anguish. 8onderful then is this prophecy.
*B. 7ut, so"e one will say, 'ive "e yet another sign! what other e3act sign is
there of that which has co"e to pass5 @esus was cruci(ed! and He wore but one
coat, and one cloa): now His cloa) the soldiers shared a"ong the"selves, having
rent it into four! but His coat was not rent, for when rent it would have been no
longer of any use! so about this lots are cast by the soldiers! thus the one they
divide, but for the other they cast lots. 0s then this also written5 %hey )now, the
diligent chanters of the .hurch, who i"itate the Angel hosts, and continually sing
praises to 'od: who are thought worthy to chant >sal"s in this 'olgotha, and to
say, (hey parted "y garments among them, and upon "y vesture they did cast
lots. %he lots were what the soldiers cast.
*C. Again, when He had been Eudged before >ilate, He was clothed in red! for
there they put on Hi" a purple robe. 0s this also written5 +saias says, ,ho is this
that comes from 6dom? (he redness of #is garments is from Bosor 0saiah B6:19*!
1who is this who in dishonor wears purple5 $or 7osor has so"e such "eaning in
Hebrew. 2 ,hy are !our garments red, and !our raiment as from a trodden wine/
press? 7ut He answers and says, 5ll day long have % stretched forth "ine hands
unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
*D. He stretched out His hands on the .ross, that He "ight e"brace the ends of
the world! for this 'olgotha is the very centre of the earth. 0t is not "y word, but
it is a prophet who has said, !ou have wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.
He stretched forth hu"an hands, who by His spiritual hands had established the
heaven! and they were fastened with nails, that His "anhood, which here the sins
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of "en, having been nailed to the tree, and having died, sin "ight die with it, and
we "ight rise again in righteousness. For since by one man came death, by One
"an came also life ! by One ,an, the Saviour, dying of His own accord: for
re"e"ber what He said, % have power to lay down "y life, and % have power to
take it again @ohn 1G:1D .
*F. 7ut though He endured these things, having co"e for the salvation of all, yet
the people returned Hi" an evil reco"pense. @esus says, % thirst ;He who had
brought forth the waters for the" out of the craggy roc)! and He as)ed fruit of
the Iine which He had planted. 7ut what does the Iine5 %his Iine, which was by
nature of the holy fathers, but of Sodo" by purpose of heart;1for their Hine is of
Sodom, and their tendrils of Gomorrha 4euterono"y 6*:6*!2; this Iine, when
the -ord was thirsty, having (lled a sponge and put it on a reed, o?ers Hi"
vinegar. (hey gave "e also gall for "y meat, and in "y thirst, they gave "e
vinegar to drink. <ou see the clearness of the >rophet. description. 7ut what sort
of gall put they into ,y "outh5 (hey gave #im, it says, wine mingled with myrrh.
,ar) 1A:*6 /ow "yrrh is in taste li)e gall, and very bitter. Are these things what
you reco"pense unto the -ord5 Are these your o?erings, O Iine, unto your
,aster5 Hightly did the >rophet +saias aforeti"e bewail you, saying, "y well/
beloved had a vineyard in a hill in a fruitful place; and 1not to recite the whole2 %
waited, he says, that it should bring forth grapes! 0 thirsted that it should give
wine! but it brought forth thorns 0saiah A:19*! for you see the crown, wherewith 0
a" adorned. 8hat then shall 0 now decree5 0 will co""and the clouds that they
rain no rain upon it. $or the clouds which are the >rophets were re"oved fro"
the", and are for the future in the .hurch! as >aul says, $et the -rophets speak
two or three, and let the others udge 1 .orinthians 1=:*F! and again, God gave
in the 'hurch, some, 5postles, and some, -rophets. +phesians =:11 Agabus, who
bound his own feet and hands, was a prophet.
6G. .oncerning the robbers who were cruci(ed with Hi", it is written, 5nd #e was
numbered with the transgressors. 0saiah A6:1* 7oth of the" were before this
transgressors, but one was so no longer. $or the one was a transgressor to the
end, stubborn against salvation! who, though his hands were fastened, s"ote
with blasphe"y by his tongue. 8hen the @ews passing by wagged their heads,
"oc)ing the .ruci(ed, and ful(lling what was written, ,hen they looked on "e,
they shaked their heads , he also reviled with the". 7ut the other rebused the
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reviler! and it was to hi" the end of life and the beginning of restoration! the
surrender of his soul a (rst share in salvation. And after rebu)ing the other, he
says, $ord, remember me ! for with <ou is "y account. Heed not this "an, for the
eyes of his understanding are blinded! but re"e"ber "e. 0 say not, re"e"ber
"y wor)s, for of these 0 a" afraid. +very "an has a feeling for his fellow9traveller!
0 a" travelling with <ou towards death! re"e"ber "e, <our fellow9wayfarer. 0 say
not, He"e"ber "e now, but, when !ou come in !our kingdom.
61. 8hat power, O robber, led you to the light5 8ho taught you to worship that
despised ,an, your co"panion on the .ross5 O -ight +ternal, which gives light to
the" that are in dar)ness# %herefore also he Eustly heard the words, Be of good
cheer ! not that your deeds are worthy of good cheer! but that the King is here,
dispensing favours. %he re:uest reached unto a distant ti"e! but the grace was
very speedy. Herily % say unto you, (his day shall you be with "e in -aradise;
because today you have heard "y voice, and hast not hardened your heart. Iery
speedily 0 passed sentence upon Ada", very speedily 0 pardon you. %o hi" it was
said, %n the day wherein you eat, you shall surely die 'enesis *:1C! but thou
today hast obeyed the faith, today is your salvation. Ada" by the %ree fell away!
thou by the %ree art brought into >aradise. $ear not the serpent! he shall not cast
you out! for he is fallen from heaven. -u)e 1G:1D And 0 say not unto you, %his day
shall you depart, but, (his day shall you be with "e. 7e of good courage: you
shall not be cast out. $ear not the fa"ing sword! it shrin)s fro" its -ord. O
"ighty and ine?able grace# %he faithful Abraha" had not yet entered, but the
robber enters# ,oses and the >rophets had not yet entered, and the robber
enters though a brea)er of the law. >aul also wondered at this before you, saying,
,here sin abounded, there grace did much more abound. Ho"ans A:*G %hey who
had borne the heat of the day had not yet entered! and he of the eleventh hour
entered. -et none "ur"ur against the good"an of the house, for he says, Friend,
% do you no wrong; is it not lawful for "e to do what % will with "y own 5 %he
robber has a will to wor) righteousness, but death prevents hi"! 0 wait not
e3clusively for the wor), but faith also 0 accept. 0 have co"e who feed "y sheep
among the lilies Song of Songs B:6, 0 have co"e to feed the" in the gardens. 0
have found a sheep that was lost -u)e 1A:A9B, but 0 lay it on ,y shoulders! for he
believes, since he hi"self has said, % have gone astray like a lost sheep ! $ord,
remember me when !ou come in !our kingdom3
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6*. Of this garden 0 sang of old to ,y spouse in the .anticles, and spo)e to her
thus. % have come into "y garden, "y sister, "y spouse Song of Songs A:1! 1now
in the place where #e was cruci2ed was a garden @ohn 1F:=1!2 and what ta)est
%hou thence5 % have gathered "y myrrh; having drun) wine "ingled with "yrrh,
and vinegar, after receiving which, He said, 0t is (nished. $or the "ystery has
been ful(lled! the things that are written have been acco"plished! sins are
forgiven. $or 'hrist having come an #igh/-riest of the good things to come, by
the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not
of this creation, nor yet by the blood of goats and calves, but by #is own blood,
entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption;
for if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the
de2led, sancti2es to the purifying of the <esh, how much more the blood of 'hrist
Hebrews F:115 And again, #aving therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
holiest by the blood of 7esus, by a new and living way, which #e has consecrated
for us, through the veil, that is to say, #is <esh. And because His fesh, this veil,
was dishonoured, therefore the typical veil of the te"ple was rent asunder, as it
is written, 5nd, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the
bottom ,atthew *C:A1! for not a particle of it was left! for since the ,aster said,
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate , the house bro)e all in pieces.
66. %hese things the Saviour endured, and made peace through the Blood of #is
'ross, for things in heaven, and things in earth. .olossians 1:*G $or we were
ene"ies of 'od through sin, and 'od had appointed the sinner to die. %here "ust
needs therefore have happened one of two things! either that 'od, in His truth,
should destroy all "en, or that in His loving9)indness He should cancel the
sentence. 7ut behold the wisdo" of 'od! He preserved both the truth of His
sentence, and the e3ercise of His loving9)indness. .hrist too) our sins in #is body
on the tree, that we by #is death might die to sin, and live unto righteousness.
1 >eter *:*= Of no s"all account was He who died for us! He was not a literal
sheep! He was not a "ere "an! He was "ore than an Angel! He was 'od "ade
"an. %he transgression of sinners was not so great as the righteousness of Hi"
who died for the"! the sin which we co""itted was not so great as the
righteousness which He wrought who laid down His life for us;who laid it down
when He pleased, and too) it again when He pleased. And would you )now that
He laid not down His life by violence, nor yielded up the ghost against His will5 He
cried to the $ather, saying, Father, into !our hands % commend "y spirit
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-u)e *6:=B! 0 co""end it, that 0 "ay ta)e it again. And having said these things,
#e gave up the ghost ,atthew *C:AG! but not for any long ti"e, for He :uic)ly
rose again fro" the dead.
6=. %he Sun was dar)ened, because of the Sun of +ighteousness ,alachi =:*.
Hoc)s were rent, because of the spiritual Hoc). %o"bs were opened, and the dead
arose, because of Hi" who was free among the dead ! #e sent forth #is prisoners
out of the pit wherein is no water Oechariah F:11. 7e not then asha"ed of the
.ruci(ed, but be also bold to say, #e bears our sins, and endures grief for us, and
with #is stripes we are healed. 0saiah A6:=9A -et us not be unthan)ful to our
7enefactor. And again! for the transgression of my people was #e led to death;
and % will give the wicked for #is burial, and the rich for #is death. %herefore >aul
says plainly, that 'hrist died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that #e
was buried, and that #e has risen again the third day according to the Scriptures
1 .orinthians 1A:69= .
6A. 7ut we see) to )now clearly where He has been buried. 0s His to"b "ade with
hands5 0s it, li)e the to"bs of )ings, raised above the ground5 0s the Sepulchre
"ade of stones Eoined together5 And what is laid upon it5 %ell us, O >rophets, the
e3act truth concerning His to"b also, where He is laid, and where we shall see)
Hi"5 And they say, $ook into the solid rock which you have hewn. 0saiah A1:1
$ook in and behold. <ou have in the 'ospels %n a sepulchre hewn in stone, which
was hewn out of a rock. And what happens ne3t5 8hat )ind of door has the
sepulchre5 Again another >rophet says, (hey cut o& "y life in a dungeon , and
cast a stone upon "e3 0, who a" the 'hief corner/stone, the elect, the precious
1 >eter *:B, lie for a little ti"e within a stone; 0 who a" a stone of stu"bling to
the @ews, and of salvation to the" who believe. (he (ree of life , therefore was
planted in the earth, that the earth which had been cursed "ight enEoy the
blessing, and that the dead "ight be released.
6B. -et us not then be asha"ed to confess the .ruci(ed. 7e the .ross our seal
"ade with boldness by our (ngers on our brow, and on everything! over the
bread we eat, and the cups we drin)! in our co"ings in, and goings out! before
our sleep, when we lie down and when we rise up! when we are in the way, and
when we are still. 'reat is that preservative! it is without price, for the sa)e of the
poor! without toil, for the sic)! since also its grace is fro" 'od. 0t is the Sign of the
faithful, and the dread of devils: for He triumphed over them in it, having made a
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show of them openly .olossians *:1A! for when they see the .ross they are
re"inded of the .ruci(ed! they are afraid of Hi", who bruised the heads of the
dragon. 4espise not the Seal, because of the freeness of the gift! out for this the
rather honour your 7enefactor.
6C. And if you ever fall into disputation and have not the grounds of proof, yet let
$aith re"ain (r" in you! or rather, beco"e thou well learned, and then silence
the @ews out of the prophets, and the 'ree)s out of their own fables. %hey
the"selves worship "en who have been thunderstric)en : but the thunder when
it co"es fro" heaven, co"es not at rando". 0f they are not asha"ed to worship
"en thunderstric)en and abhorred of 'od, are you asha"ed to worship the
beloved Son of 'od, who was cruci(ed for you5 0 a" asha"ed to tell the tales
about their so9called 'ods, and 0 leave the" because of ti"e! let those who
)now, spea). And let all heretics also be silenced. 0f any say that the .ross is an
illusion, turn away fro" hi". Abhor those who say that .hrist was cruci(ed to our
fancy only! for if so, and if salvation is fro" the .ross, then is salvation a fancy
also. 0f the .ross is fancy, the Hesurrection is fancy also! but if 'hrist be not risen,
we are yet in our sins. 1 .orinthians 1A:1C 0f the .ross is fancy, the Ascension
also is fancy! and if the Ascension is fancy, then is the second co"ing also fancy,
and everything is henceforth unsubstantial.
6D. %a)e therefore (rst, as an indestructible foundation, the .ross, and build upon
it the other articles of the faith. 4eny not the .ruci(ed! for, if you deny Hi", you
have "any to arraign you. @udas the traitor will arraign you (rst! for he who
betrayed Hi" )nows that He was conde"ned to death by the chief9priests and
elders. %he thirty pieces of silver bear witness! 'ethse"ane bears witness, where
the betrayal occurred! 0 spea) not yet of the ,ount of Olives, on which they were
with Hi" at night, praying. %he "oon in the night bears witness! the day bears
witness, and the sun which was dar)ened! for it endured not to loo) on the cri"e
of the conspirators. %he (re will arraign you, by which >eter stood and war"ed
hi"self! if you deny the .ross, the eternal (re awaits you. 0 spea) hard words,
that you "ay not e3perience hard pains. He"e"ber the swords that ca"e
against Hi" in 'ethse"ane, that you feel not the eternal sword. %he house of
.aiaphas will arraign you, showing by its present desolation the power of Hi"
who was erewhile Eudged there. <es, .aiaphas hi"self will rise up against you in
the day of Eudg"ent, the very servant will rise up against you, who s"ote @esus
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with the pal" of his hand! they also who bound Hi", and they who led Hi" away.
+ven Herod shall rise up against you! and >ilate! as if saying, 8hy do you deny
Hi" who was slandered before us by the @ews, and who" we )new to have done
no wrong5 $or 0 >ilate then washed "y hands. %he false witnesses shall rise up
against you, and the soldiers who arrayed Hi" in the purple robe, and set on Hi"
the crown of thorns, and cruci(ed Hi" in 'olgotha, and cast lots for His coat.
Si"on the .yrenian will cry out upon you, who bore the .ross after @esus.
6F. $ro" a"ong the stars there will cry out upon you, the dar)ened Sun! a"ong
the things upon earth, the 8ine "ingled with "yrrh! a"ong reeds, the Heed!
a"ong herbs, the Hyssop! a"ong the things of the sea, the Sponge! a"ong trees,
the 8ood of the .ross!; the soldiers, too, as 0 have said, who nailed Hi", and
cast lots for His vesture! the soldier who pierced His side with the spear! the
wo"en who then were present! the veil of the te"ple then rent asunder! the hall
of >ilate, now laid waste by the power of Hi" who was then cruci(ed! this holy
'olgotha, which stands high above us, and shows itself to this day, and displays
even yet how because of .hrist the roc)s were then riven ! the sepulchre near at
hand where He was laid! and the stone which was laid on the door, which lies to
this day by the to"b! the Angels who were then present! the wo"en who
worshipped Hi" after His resurrection! >eter and @ohn, who ran to the sepulchre!
and %ho"as, who thrust his hand into His side, and his (ngers into the prints of
the nails. $or it was for our sa)es that he so carefully handled Hi"! and what
thou, who were not there present, would have sought, he being present, by 'ods
>rovidence, did see).
=G. <ou have %welve Apostles, witnesses of the .ross! and the whole earth, and
the world of "en who believe in Hi" who hung thereon. -et your very presence
here now persuade you of the power of the .ruci(ed. $or who now brought you to
this asse"bly5 8hat soldiers5 8ith what bonds were you constrained5 8hat
sentence held you fast here now5 /ay, it was the %rophy of salvation, the .ross of
@esus that brought you all together. 0t was this that enslaved the >ersians, and
ta"ed the Scythians! this that gave to the +gyptians, for cats and dogs and their
"anifold errors, the )nowledge of 'od! this, that to this day heals diseases! that
to this day drives away devils, and overthrows the Euggleries of drugs and
char"s.
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=1. %his shall appear again with @esus fro" heaven ! for the trophy shall precede
the )ing: that seeing #im whom they pierced Oechariah 1*:1G, and )nowing by
the .ross Hi" who was dishonoured, the @ews "ay repent and "ourn! 1but they
shall mourn tribe by tribe , for they shall repent, when there shall be no "ore
ti"e for repentance!2 and that we "ay glory, e3ulting in the .ross, worshipping
the -ord who was sent, and cruci(ed for us, and worshipping also 'od His $ather
who sent Hi", with the Holy 'host: %o who" be glory for ever and ever. A"en.
"n the .ords, $nd #ose $gain from the 'ead on the Third 'ay, and
$scended into the )eavens, and Sat on the #ight )and of the ,ather%
1 .orinthians 1A:19=
8ow % make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which % preached unto you....
that #e has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, etc3
+eoice, 4 7erusalem, and keep high festival, all you that love 7esus; for He is
risen. HeEoice, all you that "ourned before 0saiah BB:1G, when you heard of the
daring and wic)ed deeds of the @ews: for He who was spitefully entreated of the"
in this place is risen again. And as the discourse concerning the .ross was a
sorrowful one, so let the good tidings of the Hesurrection bring Eoy to the hearers.
-et "ourning be turned into gladness, and la"entation to Eoy: and let our "outh
be (lled with Eoy and gladness, because of Hi", who after His resurrection, said
HeEoice. $or 0 )now the sorrow of .hrists friends in these past days! because, as
our discourse stopped short at the 4eath and the 7urial, and did not tell the good
tidings of the Hesurrection, your "ind was in suspense, to hear what you were
longing for.
/ow, therefore, the 4ead is risen, He who was free among the dead , and the
deliverer of the dead. He who in dishonour wore patiently the crown of thorns,
even He arose, and crowned Hi"self with the diade" of His victory over death.
*. As then we set forth the testi"onies concerning His .ross, so co"e let us now
verify the proofs of His Hesurrection also: since the Apostle before us aLr"s, #e
was buried, and has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures3 As
an Apostle, therefore, has sent us bac) to the testi"onies of the Scriptures, it is
good that we should get full )nowledge of the hope of our salvation! and that we
should learn (rst whether the divine Scriptures tell us the season of His
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resurrection, whether it co"es in su""er or in autu"n, or after winter! and fro"
what )ind of place the Saviour has risen, and what has been announced in the
ad"irable >rophets as the na"e of the place of the Hesurrection, and whether the
wo"en, who sought and found Hi" not, afterwards reEoice at (nding Hi"! in
order that when the 'ospels are read, the narratives of these holy Scriptures "ay
not be thought fables nor rhapsodies.
6. %hat the Saviour then was buried, you have heard distinctly in the preceding
discourse, as 0saiah says, His burial shall be in peace : for in His burial He "ade
peace between heaven and earth, bringing sinners unto 'od: and, that the
righteous is taken out of the way of unrighteousness : and, #is burial shall be in
peace: and, % will give the wicked for #is burial. %here is also the prophecy of
@acob saying in the Scriptures, #e lay down and couched as a lion, and as a lion=s
cub: who shall rouse Hi" up 'enesis =F:F5 And the si"ilar passage in /u"bers,
He couched, He lay down as a lion, and as a lions whelp. /u"bers *=:F %he
>sal" also you have often heard, which says, 5nd !ou have brought me down
into the dust of death. ,oreover we too) note of the spot, when we :uoted the
words, $ook unto the rock, which you have hewn. 7ut now let the testi"onies
concerning His resurrection itself go with us on our way.
=. $irst, then, in the 11th >sal" He says, For the misery of the poor, and the
sighing of the needy, now will % arise, says the $ord. 7ut this passage still re"ains
doubtful with so"e: for He often rises up also in anger , to ta)e vengeance upon
His ene"ies.
.o"e then to the 1Ath >sal", which says distinctly: -reserve "e, 4 $ord, for in
!ou have % put my trust : and after this, their assemblies of blood will % not oin,
nor make mention of their names between my lips ! since they have refused "e,
and chosen .Msar as their )ing : and also the ne3t words, % foresaw the -ord
alway before "e, because #e is at "y right hand, that % may not be moved : and
soon after !ea and even until night my reins chastened me. And after this He says
"ost plainly, For !ou will not leave "y soul in hell ; neither will !ou allow !our
#oly 4ne to see corruption. He said not, neither will <ou allow <our Holy One to
see death, since then He would not have died! but corruption, says He, 0 see not,
and shall not abide in death. !ou have made known to "e the ways of life. 7ehold
here is plainly preached a life after death. .o"e also to the *Fth >sal", % will
e.tol !ou, 4 -ord, for !ou have lifted "e up, and hast not made "y foes to reoice
137
over "e. 8hat is it that too) place5 8ere you rescued fro" ene"ies, or were you
released when about to be s"itten5 He says hi"self "ost plainly, 4 $ord, !ou
have brought up "y soul from hell. %here he says, <ou will not leave,
prophetically: and here he spea)s of that which is to ta)e place as having ta)en
place, !ou have brought up3 !ou have saved "e from them that go down into the
pit. At what ti"e shall the event occur5 ,eeping shall continue for the evening,
and oy comes in the morning : for in the evening was the sorrow of the
disciplines, and in the "orning the Eoy of the resurrection.
A. 7ut would you )now the place also5 Again He says in .anticles, % went down
into the garden of nuts Song of Songs =:11! for it was a garden where He was
cruci(ed. $or though it has now been "ost highly adorned with royal gifts, yet
for"erly it was a garden, and the signs and the re"nants of this re"ain. 5
garden enclosed, a fountain sealed Song of Songs =:1*, by the @ews who said, ,e
remember that that deceiver said while #e was yet alive, 5fter three days, % will
rise* command, therefore, that the sepulchre be made sure; and further on, So
they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone with the guard.
,atthew *C:B6, BA And ai"ing well at these, one says, and in rest !ou shall udge
them. 7ut who is the fountain that is sealed, or who is interpreted as being a well/
spring of living water Song of Songs =:1A5 0t is the Saviour Hi"self, concerning
who" it is written, For with !ou is the fountain of life.
B. 7ut what says Oephaniah in the person of .hrist to the disciples5 -repare
yourself, be rising at the dawn* all their gleaning is destroyed : the gleaning, that
is, of the @ews, with who" there is not a cluster, nay not even a gleaning of
salvation left! for their vine is cut down. See how He says to the disciples, -repare
yourself, rise up at dawn: at dawn e3pect the Hesurrection.
And farther on in the sa"e conte3t of Scripture He says, (herefore wait thou for
"e, says the $ord, until the day of "y +esurrection at the (estimony. <ou see that
the >rophet foresaw the place also of the Hesurrection, which was to be surna"ed
the %esti"ony. $or what is the reason that this spot of 'olgotha and of the
Hesurrection is not called, li)e the rest of the .hurches, a .hurch, but a
%esti"ony5 8hy, perhaps, it was because of the >rophet, who had said, until the
day of "y +esurrection at the (estimony.
138
C. And who then is this, and what is the sign of Hi" that rises5 0n the words of the
>rophet that follow in the sa"e conte3t, He says plainly, For then will % turn to the
peoples a language : since, after the Hesurrection, when the Holy 'host was sent
forth the gift of tongues was granted, that they might serve the $ord under one
yoke. And what other to)en is set forth in the sa"e >rophet, that they should
serve the -ord under one yoke? From beyond the rivers of 6thiopia they shall
bring me o&erings. <ou )now what is written in the Acts, when the +thiopian
eunuch ca"e fro" beyond the rivers of +thiopia. Acts D:*C 8hen therefore the
Scriptures tell both the ti"e and the peculiarity of the place, when they tell also
the signs which followed the Hesurrection, have thou henceforward a (r" faith in
the Hesurrection, and let no one stir you fro" confessing 'hrist risen from the
dead * %i"othy *:D .
D. /ow ta)e also another testi"ony in the DCth >sal", where .hrist spea)s in the
>rophets, 1for He who then spo)e ca"e afterwards a"ong us2: 4 $ord, God of "y
salvation, % have cried day and night before !ou, and a little, farther on, % became
as it were a man without help, free among the dead. He said not, 0 beca"e a "an
without help! but, as it were a man without help3 $or indeed He was cruci(ed not
fro" wea)ness, but willingly and His 4eath was not fro" involuntary wea)ness. %
was counted with them that go down into the pit. And what is the to)en5 !ou
have put away "ine ac)uaintance far from "e 1for the disciples have fed2. ,ill
!ou show wonders to the dead 5 %hen a little while afterwards: 5nd unto !ou have
% cried, 4 -ord ; and in the morning shall my prayer come before !ou. 4o you see
how they show the e3act point of the Hour, and of the >assion and of the
Hesurrection5
F. And whence has the Saviour risen5 He says in the Song of Songs: +ise up,
come, "y neighbour : and in what follows, in a cave of the rock# A cave of the
roc) He called the cave which was erewhile before the door of the Saviours
sepulchre, and had been hewn out of the roc) itself, as is wont to be done here in
front of the sepulchres. $or now it is not to be seen, since the outer cave was cut
away at that ti"e for the sa)e of the present adorn"ent. $or before the
decoration of the sepulchre by the royal "uni(cence, there was a cave in the
front of the roc). 7ut where is the roc) that had in it the cave5 4oes it lie near the
"iddle of the city, or near the walls and the outs)irts5 And whether is it within the
139
ancient walls, or within the outer walls which were built afterwards5 He says then
in the .anticles: in a cave of the rock, close to the outer wall.
1G. At what season does the Saviour rise5 0s it the season of su""er, or so"e
other5 0n the sa"e .anticles i""ediately before the words :uoted He says, %he
winter is past, the rain is past and gone ! the fowers appear on the earth! the
ti"e of the pruning has co"e. 0s not then the earth full of fowers now, and are
they not pruning the vines5 <ou see how he said also that the winter is now past.
$or when this "onth Santhicus has co"e, it is already spring. And this is the
season, the (rst "onth with the Hebrews, in which occurs the festival of the
>assover, the typical for"erly, but now the true. %his is the season of the creation
of the world: for then 'od said, -et the earth bring forth herbage of grass,
yielding seed after his )ind and after his li)eness. And now, as you see, already
every herb is yielding seed. And as at that ti"e 'od "ade the sun and "oon and
gave the" courses of e:ual day 1and night2, so also a few days since was the
season of the e:uino3.
At that ti"e 'od said, let us "a)e "an after our i"age and after our li)eness.
And the i"age he received, but the li)eness through his disobedience he
obscured. At the sa"e season then in which he lost this the restoration also too)
place. At the sa"e season as the created "an through disobedience was cast out
of >aradise, he who believed was through obedience brought in. Our Salvation
then too) place at the sa"e season as the $all: when the fowers appeared, and
the pruning had co"e.
11. A garden was the place of His 7urial, and a vine that which was planted there:
and He has said, % am the vine# He was planted therefore in the earth in order
that the curse which ca"e because of Ada" "ight be rooted out. %he earth was
conde"ned to thorns and thistles: the true Iine sprang up out of the earth, that
the saying "ight be ful(lled, (ruth sprang up out of the earth, and righteousness
looked down from heaven. And what will He that is buried in the garden say5 %
have gathered "y myrrh with "y spices: and again, "yrrh and aloes, with all
chief spices. /ow these are the sy"bols of the burying! and in the 'ospels it is
said, (he women came unto the sepulchre bringing the spices which they had
prepared -u)e *=:1 * 8icodemus also bringing a mi.ture of myrrh and aloes.
@ohn 1F:6F And farther on it is written, % did eat "y bread with "y honey : the
bitter before the >assion, and the sweet after the Hesurrection. %hen after He had
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risen He entered through closed doors: but they believed not that it was He: for
they supposed that they beheld a spirit. -u)e *=:6C 7ut He said, #andle "e and
see. >ut your (ngers into the print of the nails, as %ho"as re:uired. 5nd while
they yet believed not for oy, and wondered, #e said to them, #ave you anything
to eat here? 5nd they gave #im a piece of a broiled 2sh and honeycomb.
-u)e *=:=1 4o you see how that is ful(lled, % ate "y bread with "y honey.
1*. 7ut before He entered through the closed doors, the 7ridegroo" and Suitor of
souls was sought by those noble and brave wo"en. %hey ca"e, those blessed
ones, to the sepulchre, and sought Hi" 8ho had been raised, and the tears were
still dropping fro" their eyes, when they ought rather to have been dancing with
Eoy for Hi" that had risen. ,ary ca"e see)ing Hi", according to the 'ospel, and
found Hi" not: and presently she heard fro" the Angels, and afterwards saw the
.hrist. Are then these things also written5 He says in the Song of Songs, 4n my
bed % sought #im whom my soul loved. At what season5 By night on my bed %
sought #im ,hom my soul loved* "ary, it says, came while it was yet dark3 4n
my bed % sought #im by night, % sought #im, and % found #im not. And in the
'ospels ,ary says, (hey have taken away my $ord, and % know not where they
have laid #im. @ohn *G:16 7ut the Angels being then present cure their want of
)nowledge! for they said, ,hy do you seek the living among the dead -u)e *=:A5
He not only rose, but had also the dead with Hi" when He rose. ,atthew *C:A*
7ut she )new not, and in her person the Song of Songs said to the Angels, Saw ye
#im ,hom my soul loved5 0t was but a little that 0 passed fro" the" 1that is, fro"
the two Angels2, until % found #im ,hom my soul loved3 % held #im, and would not
let #im go Song of Songs 6:69= .
16. $or after the vision of the Angels, @esus ca"e as His own Herald! and the
'ospel says, 5nd behold 7esus met them, saying, 5ll hailA 5nd they came and
took hold of #is feet. ,atthew *D:F %hey too) hold of Hi", that it "ight be
ful(lled, % will hold #im, and will not let #im go. %hough the wo"an was wea) in
body, her spirit was "anful. "any waters )uench not love, neither do rivers
drown it Song of Songs D:C! He was dead who" they sought, yet was not the
hope of the Hesurrection :uenched. And the Angel says to the" again, Fear not
ye! 0 say not to the soldiers, fear not, but to you ! as for the", let the" be afraid,
that, taught by e3perience, they "ay bear witness and say, (ruly this was the
Son of God ,atthew *C:A=! but you ought not to be afraid, for perfect love casts
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out fear. 1 @ohn =:1D Go, tell #is disciples that #e is risen ,atthew *D:C! and the
rest. And they depart with Eoy, yet full of fear! is this also written5 yes, the second
>sal", which relates the >assion of .hrist, says, Serve the $ord with fear, and
reoice unto #im with trembling ; reoice, because of the risen -ord! but with
trembling, because of the earth:ua)e, and the Angel who appeared as lightning.
1=. %hough, therefore, .hief >riests and >harisees through >ilates "eans sealed
the to"b! yet the wo"en beheld Hi" who was risen. And +saias )nowing the
feebleness of the .hief >riests, and the wo"ens strength of faith, says, !ou
women, who come from beholding, come hither ; for the people has no
understanding!; the .hief >riests want understanding, while wo"en are eye9
witnesses. And when the soldiers ca"e into the city to the", and told the" all
that had co"e to pass, they said to the", Say ye, #is disciples came by night,
and stole #im away while we slept ,atthew *D:165 8ell therefore did +saias
foretell this also, as in their persons, But tell us, and relate to us another deceit.
0saiah 6G:1G He who rose again, is up, and for a gift of "oney they persuade the
soldiers! but they persuade not the )ings of our ti"e. %he soldiers then
surrendered the truth for silver! but the )ings of this day have, in their piety, built
this holy .hurch of the Hesurrection of 'od our Saviour, inlaid with silver and
wrought with gold, in which we are asse"bled ! and e"bellished it with the
treasures of silver and gold and precious stones. 5nd if this come to the
governor=s ears, they say, we will persuade him >eters guards were conde"ned
when he escaped out of the prison, were not they also who watched @esus .hrist
conde"ned5 Npon the for"er, sentence was pronounced by Herod, for they were
ignorant and had nothing to say for the"selves! while the latter, who had seen
the truth, and concealed it for "oney, were protected by the .hief >riests.
/evertheless, though but a few of the @ews were persuaded at the ti"e, the world
beca"e obedient. %hey who hid the truth were the"selves hidden! but they who
received it were "ade "anifest by the power of the Saviour, who not only rose
fro" the dead, but also raised the dead with Hi"self. And in the person of these
the >rophet Osee says plainly, 5fter two days will #e revive us, and in the third
day we shall rise again, and shall live in #is sight Hosea B:* .
1A. 7ut since the disobedient @ews will not be persuaded by the 4ivine Scriptures,
but forgetting all that is written gainsay the Hesurrection of @esus, it were good to
answer the" thus: On what ground, while you say that +liseus and +lias raised
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the dead, do you gainsay the Hesurrection of our Saviour5 0s it that we have no
living witnesses now out of that generation to what we say5 8ell, do you also
bring forward witnesses of the history of that ti"e. 7ut that is written;so is this
also written: why then do you receive the one, and reEect the other5 %hey were
Hebrews who wrote that history! so were all the Apostles Hebrews: why then do
you disbelieve the @ews 5 ,atthew who wrote the 'ospel wrote it in the Hebrew
tongue ! and >aul the preacher was a Hebrew of the Hebrews! and the twelve
Apostles were all of Hebrew race: then (fteen 7ishops of @erusale" were
appointed in succession fro" a"ong the Hebrews. 8hat then is your reason for
allowing your own accounts, and reEecting ours, though these also are written by
Hebrews fro" a"ong yourselves.
1B. 7ut it is i"possible, so"e one will say, that the dead should rise! and yet
+liseus twice raised the dead;when he was alive, and also when dead. 4o we
then believe, that when +liseus was dead, a dead "an who was cast upon hi"
and touched hi", arose and is .hrist not risen5 7ut in that case, the dead "an
who touched +liseus, arose, yet he who raised hi" continued nevertheless dead:
but in this case both the 4ead of who" we spea) Hi"self arose, and "any dead
were raised without having even touched Hi". $or many bodies of the Saints
which slept arose, and they came out of the graves after #is +esurrection, and
went into the #oly 'ity ,atthew *C:A*9A6, 1evidently this city, in which we now
are ,2 and appeared unto many. +liseus then raised a dead "an, but he
con:uered not the world! +lias raised a dead "an, but devils are not driven away
in the na"e of +lias. 8e are not spea)ing evil of the >rophets, but we are
celebrating their ,aster "ore highly! for we do not e3alt our own wonders by
disparaging theirs! for theirs also are ours! but by what happened a"ong the",
we win credence for our own.
1C. 7ut again they say, A corpse then lately dead was raised by the living! but
show us that one three days dead can possibly arise, and that a "an should be
buried, and rise after three days. 0f we see) for Scripture testi"ony in proof of
such facts, the -ord @esus .hrist Hi"self supplies it in the 'ospels, saying, For as
7onas was three days and three nights in the whale=s belly; so shall the Son of
man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ,atthew 1*:=G And
when we e3a"ine the story of @onas, great is the force of the rese"blance. @esus
was sent to preach repentance! @onas also was sent: but whereas the one fed,
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not )nowing what should co"e to pass! the other ca"e willingly, to give
repentance unto salvation. @onas was asleep in the ship, and snoring a"idst the
stor"y sea! while @esus also slept, the sea, according to 'ods providence , began
to rise, to show in the se:uel the "ight of Hi" who slept. %o the one they said,
,hy are you snoring? 5rise, call upon your God, that God may save us @onah 1:B!
but in the other case they say unto the ,aster, $ord, save us. ,atthew D:*A9*B
%hen they said, 'all upon your God! here they say, save (hou. 7ut the one says,
(ake me, and cast me into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you @onah 1:1*!
the other, Hi"self rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
,atthew D:*A9*B %he one was cast into a whales belly: but the other of His own
accord went down there, where the invisible whale of death is. And He went down
of His own accord, that death "ight cast up those who" he had devoured,
according to that which is written, % will ransom them from the power of the
grave; and from the hand of death % will redeem them Hosea 16:1= .
1D. At this point of our discourse, let us consider whether is harder, for a "an
after having been buried to rise again fro" the earth, or for a "an in the belly of
a whale, having co"e into the great heat of a living creature, to escape
corruption. $or what "an )nows not, that the heat of the belly is so great, that
even bones which have been swallowed "oulder away5 How then did @onas, who
was three days and three nights in the whales belly, escape corruption5 And,
seeing that the nature of all "en is such that we cannot live without breathing, as
we do, in air, how did he live without a breath of this air for three days5 7ut the
@ews "a)e answer and say, %he power of 'od descended with @onas when he was
tossed about in hell. 4oes then the -ord grant life to His own servant, by sending
His power with hi", and can He not grant it to Hi"self as well5 0f that is credible,
this is credible also! if this is incredible, that also is incredible. $or to "e both are
ali)e worthy of credence. 0 believe that @onas was preserved, for all things are
possible with God ,atthew 1F:*B! 0 believe that .hrist also was raised fro" the
dead! for 0 have "any testi"onies of this, both fro" the 4ivine Scriptures, and
fro" the operative power even at this day of Hi" who arose;who descended into
hell alone, but ascended thence with a great co"pany! for He went down to
death, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose ,atthew *C:A* through
Hi".
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1F. 4eath was struc) with dis"ay on beholding a new visitant descend into
Hades, not bound by the chains of that place. 8hy, O porters of Hades, were you
scared at sight of Hi"5 8hat was the unwonted fear that possessed you5 4eath
fed, and his fight betrayed his cowardice. %he holy prophets ran unto Hi", and
,oses the -awgiver, and Abraha", and 0saac, and @acob! 4avid also, and Sa"uel,
and +saias, and @ohn the 7aptist, who bore witness when he as)ed, 5re !ou #e
that should come, or look we for another ,atthew 11:65 All the @ust were
ranso"ed, who" death had swallowed! for it behooved the King who" they had
proclai"ed, to beco"e the redee"er of His noble heralds. %hen each of the @ust
said, 4 death, where is your victory? 4 grave, where is your sting 5 $or the
.on:ueror has redee"ed us.
*G. Of this our Saviour the >rophet @onas for"ed the type, when he prayed out of
the belly of the whale, and said, % cried in my aIiction, and so on! out of the belly
of hell @onah *:*, and yet he was in the whale! but though in the whale, he says
that he is in Hades! for he was a type of .hrist, who was to descend into Hades.
And after a few words, he says, in the person of .hrist, prophesying "ost clearly,
"y head went down to the chasms of the mountains ! and yet he was in the belly
of the whale. 8hat "ountains then enco"pass you5 0 )now, he says, that 0 a" a
type of Hi", who is to be laid in the Sepulchre hewn out of the roc). And though
he was in the sea, @onas says, % went down to the earth, since he was a type of
.hrist, who went down into the heart of the earth. And foreseeing the deeds of
the @ews who persuaded the soldiers to lie, and told the", Say that they stole
#im away, he says, By regarding lying vanities they forsook their own mercy.
@onah *:D $or He who had "ercy on the" ca"e, and was cruci(ed, and rose
again, giving His own precious blood both for @ews and 'entiles! yet say they, Say
that they stole #im away, having regard to lying vanities. 7ut concerning His
Hesurrection, +saias also says, #e who brought up from the earth the great
Shepherd of the sheep ! he added the word, great, lest He should be thought on a
level with the shepherds who had gone before Hi".
*1. Since then we have the prophecies, let faith abide with us. -et the" fall who
fall through unbelief, since they so will! but you have ta)en your stand on the
roc) of the faith in the Hesurrection. -et no heretic ever persuade you to spea)
evil of the Hesurrection. $or to this day the ,anichees say, that, the resurrection
of the Saviour was phanto"9wise, and not real, not heeding >aul who says, ,ho
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was made of the seed of David according to the <esh! and again, By the
resurrection of 7esus 'hrist our $ord from the dead. And again he ai"s at the",
and spea)s thus, Say not in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven; or who
shall descend into the deep? (hat is, to bring up 'hrist from the dead
Ho"ans 1G:B9C! and in li)e "anner warning as he has elsewhere written again,
+emember 7esus 'hrist raised from the dead * %i"othy *:D! and again, 5nd if
'hrist be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith also vain3 !ea, and
we are found false witnesses of God; because we testi2ed of God that #e raised
up 'hrist, whom #e raised not up. 1 .orinthians 1A:1=91A 7ut in what follows he
says, But now is 'hrist risen from the dead, the 2rst fruits of them that are asleep
1 .orinthians 1A:*G! B 5nd #e was seen of 'ephas, then of the twelve! 1for if you
believe not the one witness, you have twelve witnesses!2 then #e was seen of
above 2ve hundred brethren at once 1 .orinthians 1A:A9B! 1if they disbelieve the
twelve, let the" ad"it the (ve hundred!2 after that #e was seen of 7ames , His
own brother, and (rst 7ishop of this diocese. Seeing then that such a 7ishop
originally saw .hrist @esus when risen, do not thou, his disciple, disbelieve hi".
7ut you say that His brother @a"es was a partial witness! afterwards #e was seen
also of me 1 .orinthians 1A:D >aul, His ene"y! and what testi"ony is doubted,
when an ene"y proclai"s it5 0, who was before a persecutor 1 %i"othy 1:16, now
preach the glad tidings of the Hesurrection.
**. ,any witnesses there are of the Saviours resurrection.; %he night, and the
light of the full "oon! 1for that night was the si3teenth !2 the roc) of the sepulchre
which received Hi"! the stone also shall rise up against the face of the @ews, for it
saw the -ord! even the stone which was then rolled away , itself bears witness to
the Hesurrection, lying there to this day. Angels of 'od who were present testi(ed
of the Hesurrection of the Only9begotten: >eter and @ohn, and %ho"as, and all the
rest of the Apostles! so"e of who" ran to the sepulchre, and saw the burial9
clothes, in which He was wrapped before, lying there after the Hesurrection! and
others handled His hands and His feet, and beheld the prints of the nails! and all
enEoyed together that 7reath of the Saviour, and were counted worthy to forgive
sins in the power of the Holy 'host. 8o"en too were witnesses, who too) hold of
His feet, and who beheld the "ighty earth:ua)e, and the radiance of the Angel
who stood by: the linen clothes also which were wrapped about Hi", and which
He left when He rose;the soldiers, and the "oney given to the"! the spot itself
also, yet to be seen;and this house of the holy .hurch, which out of the loving
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a?ection to .hrist of the +"peror .onstantine of blessed "e"ory, was both built
and beauti(ed as you see.
*6. A witness to the resurrection of @esus is %abitha also, who was in His na"e
raised fro" the dead Acts F:=1! for how shall we disbelieve that .hrist is risen,
when even His /a"e raised the dead5 %he sea also bears witness to the
resurrection of @esus, as you have heard before. %he drought of (shes also
testi(es, and the (re of coals there, and the (sh laid thereon. >eter also bears
witness, who had erst denied Hi" thrice, and who then thrice confessed Hi"! and
was co""anded to feed His spiritual sheep. %o this day stands ,ount Olivet, still
to the eyes of the faithful all but displaying Hi" 8ho ascended on a cloud, and
the heavenly gate of His ascension. $or fro" heaven He descended to 7ethlehe",
but to heaven He ascended fro" the ,ount of Olives ! at the for"er place
beginning His conficts a"ong "en, but in the latter, crowned after the". <ou
have therefore "any witnesses! you have this very place of the Hesurrection! you
have also the place of the Ascension towards the east! you have also for
witnesses the Angels which there bore testi"ony! and the cloud on which He
went up, and the disciples who ca"e down fro" that place.
*=. %he course of instruction in the $aith would lead "e to spea) of the Ascension
also! but the grace of 'od so ordered it, that you heard "ost fully concerning it,
as far as our wea)ness allowed, yesterday, on the -ords day! since, by the
providence of divine grace, the course of the -essons in .hurch included the
account of our Saviours going up into the heavens ! and what was then said was
spo)en principally for the sa)e of all, and for the asse"bled body of the faithful,
yet especially for your sa)e. 7ut the :uestion is, did you attend to what was said5
$or you )now that the words which co"e ne3t in the .reed teach you to believe
in Hi" 8ho rose again the third day, and ascended into Heaven, and sat down on
the right hand of the $ather. 0 suppose then certainly that you re"e"ber the
e3position! yet 0 will now again cursorily put you in "ind of what was then said.
He"e"ber what is distinctly written in the >sal"s, God is gone up with a shout !
re"e"ber that the divine powers also said to one another, $ift up your gates, you
-rinces , and the rest! re"e"ber also the >sal" which says, #e ascended on
high, #e led captivity captive ! re"e"ber the >rophet who said, ,ho builds #is
ascension unto heaven ! and all the other particulars "entioned yesterday
because of the gainsaying of the @ews.
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*A. $or when they spea) against the ascension of the Saviour, as being
i"possible, re"e"ber the account of the carrying away of Haba))u): for if
Haba))u) was transported by an Angel, being carried by the hair of his head ,
"uch rather was the -ord of both >rophets and Angels, able by His own power to
"a)e His ascent into the Heavens on a cloud fro" the ,ount of Olives. 8onders
li)e this you "ay call to "ind, but reserve the pree"inence for the -ord, the
8or)er of wonders! for the others were borne up, but He bears up all things.
He"e"ber that +noch was translated Hebrews 11:A! but @esus ascended:
re"e"ber what was said yesterday concerning +lias, that +lias was ta)en up in a
chariot of (re * Kings *:11! but that the chariots of .hrist are ten thousand/fold
even thousands upon thousands : and that +lias was ta)en up, towards the east
of @ordan! but that .hrist ascended at the east of the broo) .edron: and that +lias
went as into heaven ! but @esus, into heaven: and that +lias said that a double
portion in the Holy Spirit should be given to his holy disciple! but that .hrist
granted to His own disciples so great enEoy"ent of the grace of the Holy 'host,
as not only to have 0t in the"selves, but also, by the laying on of their hands, to
i"part the fellowship of 0t to the" who believed.
*B. And when you have thus wrestled against the @ews;when you have worsted
the" by parallel instances, then co"e further to the pre9e"inence of the
Saviours glory! na"ely, that they were the servants, but He the Son of 'od. And
thus you will be re"inded of His pre9e"inence, by the thought that a servant of
.hrist was caught up to the third heaven. $or if +lias attained as far as the (rst
heaven, but >aul as far as the third, the latter, therefore, has obtained a "ore
honourable dignity. 7e not asha"ed of your Apostles! they are not inferior to
,oses, nor second to the >rophets! but they are noble a"ong the noble, yea,
nobler still. $or +lias truly was ta)en up into heaven! but >eter has the )eys of the
)ingdo" of heaven, having received the words, ,hatsoever you shall loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven. ,atthew 1B:1F +lias was ta)en up only to
heaven! but >aul both into heaven, and into paradise 1for it behooved the
disciples of @esus to receive "ore "anifold grace2, and heard unspeakable words,
which it is not lawful for man to utter. 7ut >aul ca"e down again fro" above, not
because he was unworthy to abide in the third heaven, but in order that after
having enEoyed things above "ans reach, and descended in honour, and having
preached .hrist, and died for His sa)e, he "ight receive also the crown of
"artyrdo". 7ut 0 pass over the other parts of this argu"ent, of which 0 spo)e
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yesterday in the -ords9day congregation! for with understanding hearers, a "ere
re"inder is suLcient for instruction.
*C. 7ut re"e"ber also what 0 have often said concerning the Sons sitting at the
right hand of the $ather! because of the ne3t sentence in the .reed, which says,
and ascended into Heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the $ather. -et us
not curiously pry into what is properly "eant by the throne! for it is
inco"prehensible: but neither let us endure those who falsely say, that it was
after His .ross and Hesurrection and Ascension into heaven, that the Son began
to sit on the right hand of the $ather. $or the Son gained not His throne by
advance"ent ! but throughout His being 1and His being is by an eternal
generation 2 He also sits together with the $ather. And this throne the >rophet
+saias having beheld before the incarnate co"ing of the Saviour, says, % saw the
$ord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up %saiah J*? , and the rest. $or the $ather
no man has seen at any time 7ohn ?*?D , and He who then appeared to the
>rophet was the Son. %he >sal"ist also says, !our throne is prepared of old; !ou
are from everlasting . %hough then the testi"onies on this point are "any, yet
because of the lateness of the ti"e, we will content ourselves even with these.
*D. 7ut now 0 "ust re"ind you of a few things out of "any which are spo)en
concerning the Sons sitting at the right hand of the $ather. $or the hundred and
ninth >sal" says plainly, (he $ord said unto my $ord, Sit on "y right hand, until %
make !our enemies !our footstool. And the Saviour, con(r"ing this saying in the
'ospels, says that 4avid spo)e not these things of hi"self, but fro" the
inspiration of the Holy 'host, saying, #ow then does David in the Spirit call #im
$ord, saying, (he $ord said unto my $ord, Sit on "y right hand ,atthew **:=65
And the rest. And in the Acts of the Apostles, >eter on the day of >entecost
standing with the +leven Acts *:6=, and discoursing to the 0sraelites, has in very
words cited this testi"ony fro" the hundred and ninth >sal".
*F. 7ut 0 "ust re"ind you also of a few other testi"onies in li)e "anner
concerning the Sons sitting at the right hand of the $ather. $or in the 'ospel
according to ,atthew it is written, 8evertheless, % say unto you, #enceforth you
shall see the Son of "an sitting on the right hand of power ,atthew *B:B=, and
the rest: in accordance with which the Apostle >eter also writes, By the
+esurrection of 7esus 'hrist, who is on the right hand of God, having gone into
heaven. 1 >eter 6:** And the Apostle >aul, writing to the Ho"ans, says, %t is
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'hrist that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God. Ho"ans D:6= And charging the +phesians, he thus spea)s, 5ccording to the
working of #is mighty power, which #e wrought in 'hrist when #e raised #im
from the dead, and set #im at #is own right hand +phesians 1:1F9*G! and the
rest. And the .olossians he taught thus, %f you then be risen with 'hrist, seek the
things above, where 'hrist is seated at the right hand of God. .olossians 6:1 And
in the +pistle to the Hebrews he says, ,hen #e had made puri2cation of our sins,
#e sat down on the right hand of the "aesty on high. Hebrews 1:6 And again,
But unto which of the 5ngels has #e said at any time, Sit thou at "y right hand,
until % make your enemies your footstool 5 And again, But #e, when #e had
o&ered one sacri2ce for all men, for ever sat down on the right hand of God; from
henceforth e.pecting till #is enemies be made #is footstool. And again, $ooking
unto 7esus, the author and perfecter of our faith; ,ho for the oy that was set
before #im endured the 'ross, despising shame, and is set down on the right
hand of the throne of God.
6G. And though there are "any other te3ts concerning the session of the Only9
begotten on the right hand of 'od, yet these "ay suLce us at present! with a
repetition of "y re"ar), that it was not after His co"ing in the fesh that He
obtained the dignity of this seat! no, for even before all ages, the Only9begotten
Son of 'od, our -ord @esus .hrist, ever possesses the throne on the right hand of
the $ather. /ow "ay He Hi"self, the 'od of all, who is $ather of the .hrist, and
our -ord @esus .hrist, who ca"e down, and ascended, and sits together with the
$ather, watch over your souls! )eep unsha)en and unchanged your hope in Hi"
who rose again! raise you together with Hi" fro" your dead sins unto His
heavenly gift! count you worthy to be caught up in the clouds, to meet the $ord in
the air 1 %hessalonians =:1C, in His (tting ti"e! and, until that ti"e arrive of His
glorious second advent, write all your na"es in the 7oo) of the living, and having
written the", never blot the" out 1for the na"es of "any, who fall away, are
blotted out2! and "ay He grant to all of you to believe in Hi" who rose again, and
to loo) for Hi" who is gone up, and is to co"e again, 1to co"e, but not fro" the
earth! for be on your guard, O "an, because of the deceivers who are to co"e!2
8ho sits on high, and is here present together with us, beholding the order of
each, and the steadfastness of his faith. .olossians *:A $or thin) not that because
He is now absent in the fesh, He is therefore absent also in the Spirit. He is here
present in the "idst of us, listening to what is said of Hi", and beholding your
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inward thoughts, and trying the reins and hearts ;who also is now ready to
present those who are co"ing to baptis", and all of you, in the Holy 'host to the
$ather, and to say, Behold, % and the children whom God has given "e :; %o
who" be glory for ever. A"en. n the Clause, $nd Shall Come in (lory to
Judge the 2uic/ and the 'ead3 "f .hose 4ingdom There Shall e 5o
End%
4aniel C:F91=
% beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit, and
then, % saw in a vision of the night, and behold one like the Son of "an came with
the clouds of heaven, etc3
1. 8e preach not one advent only of .hrist, but a second also, far "ore glorious
than the for"er. $or the for"er gave a view of His patience! but the latter brings
with it the crown of a divine )ingdo". $or all things, for the "ost part, are twofold
in our -ord @esus .hrist: a twofold generation! one, of 'od, before the ages! and
one, of a Iirgin, at the close of the ages: His descents twofold! one, the
unobserved, like rain on a <eece ! and a second His open co"ing, which is to be.
0n His for"er advent, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes in the "anger! in His
second, He covers #imself with light as with a garment. 0n His (rst co"ing, #e
endured the 'ross, despising shame Hebrews 1*:*! in His second, He co"es
attended by a host of Angels, receiving glory. 8e rest not then upon His (rst
advent only, but loo) also for His second. And as at His (rst co"ing we said,
Blessed is #e that comes in the 8ame of the $ord , so will we repeat the sa"e at
His second co"ing! that when with Angels we "eet our ,aster, we "ay worship
Hi" and say, Blessed is #e that comes in the 8ame of the $ord. %he Saviour
co"es, not to be Eudged again, but to Eudge the" who Eudged Hi"! He who before
held His peace when Eudged , shall re"ind the transgressors who did those daring
deeds at the .ross, and shall say, (hese things have you done, and % kept silence.
%hen, He ca"e because of a divine dispensation, teaching "en with persuasion!
but this ti"e they will of necessity have Hi" for their King, even though they wish
it not.
*. And concerning these two co"ings, ,alachi the >rophet says, 5nd the $ord
whom you seek shall suddenly come to #is temple ,alachi 6:196! behold one
co"ing. And again of the second co"ing he says, 5nd the "essenger of the
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covenant whom you delight in3 Behold, #e comes, says the $ord 5lmighty3 But
who shall abide the day of #is coming? 4r who shall stand when #e appears?
Because #e comes in like a re2ner=s 2re, and like fullers= herb; and #e shall sit as
a re2ner and puri2er. And i""ediately after the Saviour Hi"self says, 5nd % will
draw near to you in udgment; and % will be a swift witness against the sorcerers,
and against the adulteresses, and against those who swear falsely in "y 8ame
,alachi 6:A, and the rest. $or this cause >aul warning us beforehand says, %f any
man builds on the foundation gold, and silver, and precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; every man=s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed in 2re. 1 .orinthians 6:1* >aul also )new these two
co"ings, when writing to %itus and saying, (he grace of God has appeared which
brings salvation unto all men, instructing us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and godly, and righteously in this present
world; looking for the blessed hope, and appearing of the glory of the great God
and our Saviour 7esus 'hrist. <ou see how he spo)e of a (rst, for which he gives
than)s! and of a second, to which we loo) forward. %herefore the words also of
the $aith which we are announcing were Eust now delivered thus ! that we believe
in Hi", who also ascended into the heavens, and sat down on the right hand of
the $ather, and shall co"e in glory to Eudge :uic) and dead! whose )ingdo" shall
have no end.
6. Our -ord @esus .hrist, then, co"es fro" heaven! and He co"es with glory at
the end of this world, in the last day. $or of this world there is to be an end, and
this created world is to be re9"ade anew. $or since corruption, and theft, and
adultery, and every sort of sins have been poured forth over the earth, and blood
has been mingled with blood Hosea =:* in the world, therefore, that this wondrous
dwelling9place "ay not re"ain (lled with ini:uity, this world passes away, that
the fairer world "ay be "ade "anifest. And would you receive the proof of this
out of the words of Scripture5 -isten to +saias, saying, 5nd the heaven shall be
rolled together as a scroll; and all the stars shall fall, as leaves from a vine, and
as leaves fall from a 2g/tree %saiah C>*> . %he 'ospel also says, (he sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from
heaven "atthew E>*EK . -et us not sorrow, as if we alone died! the stars also shall
die! but perhaps rise again. And the -ord rolls up the heavens, not that He "ay
destroy the", but that He "ay raise the" up again "ore beautiful. Hear 4avid
the >rophet saying, !ou, $ord, in the beginning laid the foundations of the earth,
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and the heavens are the work of !our hands; they shall perish, but !ou remain.
7ut so"e one will say, 7ehold, he says plainly that they shall perish. Hear in what
sense he says, they shall perish! it is plain fro" what follows! 5nd they all shall
wa. old as does a garment; and as a vesture shall (hou fold them up, and they
shall be changed. $or as a "an is said to perish, according to that which is
written, Behold, how the righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart
0saiah AC:1, and this, though the resurrection is loo)ed for! so we loo) for a
resurrection, as it were, of the heavens also. (he sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood. @oel *:61 Here let converts fro" the
,anichees gain instruction, and no longer "a)e those lights their gods! nor
i"piously thin), that this sun which shall be dar)ened is .hrist. And again hear
the -ord saying, #eaven and earth shall pass away, but "y words shall not pass
away ,atthew *=:6A! for the creatures are not as precious as the ,asters words.
=. %he things then which are seen shall pass away, and there shall co"e the
things which are loo)ed for, things fairer than the present! but as to the ti"e let
no one be curious. $or it is not for you, He says, to know times or seasons, which
the Father has put in #is own power. Acts 1:C And venture not thou to declare
when these things shall be, nor on the other hand supinely slu"ber. $or he says,
,atch, for in such an hour as you e.pect not the Son of "an comes. 7ut since it
was needful for us to )now the signs of the end, and since we are loo)ing for
.hrist, therefore, that we "ay not die deceived and be led astray by that false
Antichrist, the Apostles, "oved by the divine will, address the"selves by a
providential arrange"ent to the %rue %eacher, and say, (ell us, when shall these
things be, and what shall be the sign of !our coming, and of the end of the
world 5 8e loo) for <ou to co"e again, but Satan transforms himself into an
5ngel of light! put us therefore on our guard, that we "ay not worship another
instead of <ou. And He, opening His divine and blessed "outh, says, (ake heed
that no man mislead you. 4o you also, "y hearers, as seeing Hi" now with the
eyes of your "ind, hear Hi" saying the sa"e things to you! (ake heed that no
man mislead you. And this word e3horts you all to give heed to what is spo)en!
for it is not a history of things gone by, but a prophecy of things future, and which
will surely co"e. /ot that we prophesy, for we are unworthy! but that the things
which are written will be set before you, and the signs declared. Observe thou,
which of the" have already co"e to pass, and which yet re"ain! and "a)e
yourself safe.
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A. (ake heed that no man mislead you* for many shall come in "y name, saying, %
am 'hrist, and shall mislead many. %his has happened in part: for already Si"on
,agus has said this, and ,enander , and so"e others of the godless leaders of
heresy! and others will say it in our days, or after us.
B. A second sign. 5nd you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. 0s there then at
this ti"e war between >ersians and Ho"ans for ,esopota"ia, or no5 4oes nation
rise up against nation and )ingdo" against )ingdo", or no5 5nd there shall be
famines and pesti lences and earth)uakes in various places. %hese things have
already co"e to pass! and again, 5nd fearful sights from heaven, and mighty
storms. ,atch therefore, He says! for you know not at what hour your $ord does
come ,atthew *=:=* .
C. 7ut we see) our own sign of His co"ing! we .hurch"en see) a sign proper to
the .hurch. And the Saviour says, 5nd then shall many be o&ended, and shall
betray one another, and shall hate one another. ,atthew *=:1G 0f you hear that
bishops advance against bishops, and clergy against clergy, and laity against laity
even unto blood, be not troubled ! for it has been written before. Heed not the
things now happening, but the things which are written! and even though 0 who
teach you perish, you shall not also perish with "e! nay, even a hearer "ay
beco"e better than his teacher, and he who ca"e last "ay be (rst, since even
those about the eleventh hour the ,aster receives. 0f a"ong Apostles there was
found treason, do you wonder that hatred of brethren is found a"ong bishops5
7ut the sign concerns not only rulers, but the people also! for He says, 5nd
because ini)uity shall abound, the love of the many shall wa. cold.
,atthew *=:1* 8ill any then a"ong those present boast that he entertains
friendship unfeigned towards his neighbour5 4o not the lips often )iss, and the
countenance s"ile, and the eyes brighten forsooth, while the heart is planning
guile, and the "an is plotting "ischief with words of peace5
D. <ou have this sign also: 5nd this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all
the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.
,atthew *=:1= And as we see, nearly the whole world is now (lled with the
doctrine of .hrist.
F. And what co"es to pass after this5 He says ne3t, ,hen therefore you see the
abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the -rophet, standing
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in the #oly -lace, let him that reads understand. And again, (hen if any man shall
say unto you, $o, here is the 'hrist, or, $o, there; believe it not. Hatred of the
brethren "a)es roo" ne3t for Antichrist! for the devil prepares beforehand the
divisions a"ong the people, that he who is to co"e "ay be acceptable to the".
7ut 'od forbid that any of .hrists servants here, or elsewhere, should run over to
the ene"y# 8riting concerning this "atter, the Apostle >aul gave a "anifest sign,
saying, For that day shall not come, e.cept there came 2rst the falling away, and
the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and e.alts himself
against all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he sits in the temple
of God, showing himself that he is God3 Do you not remember that when % was
yet with you, % told you these things? 5nd now you know that which restrains, to
the end that he may be revealed in his own season3 For the mystery of ini)uity
does already work, only there is one that restrains now, until he be taken out of
the way3 5nd then shall the lawless one be revealed, whom the $ord 7esus shall
slay with the breath of #is mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of #is
coming3 6ven him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and
signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that are
perishing. * %hessalonians *:691G %hus wrote >aul, and now is the falling away.
$or "en have fallen away fro" the right faith ! and so"e preach the identity of
the Son with the $ather , and others dare to say that .hrist was brought into
being out of nothing. And for"erly the heretics were "anifest! but now the
.hurch is (lled with heretics in disguise. $or "en have fallen away fro" the truth,
and have itching ears. * %i"othy =:6 0s it a plausible discourse5 All listen to it
gladly. 0s it a word of correction5 All turn away fro" it. ,ost have departed fro"
right words, and rather choose the evil, than desire the good. %his therefore is the
falling away, and the ene"y is soon to be loo)ed for: and "eanwhile he has in
part begun to send forth his own forerunners , that he "ay then co"e prepared
upon the prey. -oo) therefore to yourself, O "an, and "a)e safe your soul. %he
.hurch now charges you before the -iving 'od! she declares to you the things
concerning Antichrist before they arrive. 8hether they will happen in your ti"e
we )now not, or whether they will happen after you we )now not! but it is well
that, )nowing these things, you should "a)e yourself secure beforehand.
1G. %he true .hrist, the Only9begotten Son of 'od, co"es no "ore fro" the earth.
0f any co"e "a)ing false shows in the wilderness, go not forth! if they say, $o,
here is the 'hrist, $o, there, believe it not. ,atthew *=:*6 -oo) no longer
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downwards and to the earth! for the -ord descends fro" heaven! not alone as
before, but with "any, escorted by tens of thousands of Angels! nor secretly as
the dew on the feece ! but shining forth openly as the lightning. $or He has said
Hi"self, 5s the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west,
so shall also the coming of the Son of "an be ,atthew *=:*C! and again, 5nd
they shall see the Son of "an coming upon the clouds with power and great
glory, and #e shall send forth #is 5ngels with a great trumpet ! and the rest.
11. 7ut as, when for"erly He was to ta)e "ans nature, and 'od was e3pected to
be born of a Iirgin, the devil created preEudice against this, by craftily preparing
a"ong idol9worshippers fables of false gods, begetting and begotten of wo"en,
that, the falsehood having co"e (rst, the truth, as he supposed, "ight be
disbelieved! so now, since the true .hrist is to co"e a second ti"e, the
adversary, ta)ing occasion by the e3pectation of the si"ple, and especially of
the" of the circu"cision, brings in a certain "an who is a "agician , and "ost
e3pert in sorceries and enchant"ents of beguiling craftiness! who shall sei&e for
hi"self the power of the Ho"an e"pire, and shall falsely style hi"self .hrist! by
this na"e of .hrist deceiving the @ews, who are loo)ing for the Anointed , and
seducing those of the 'entiles by his "agical illusions.
1*. 7ut this aforesaid Antichrist is to co"e when the ti"es of the Ho"an e"pire
shall have been ful(lled, and the end of the world is now drawing near. %here
shall rise up together ten )ings of the Ho"ans, reigning in di?erent parts perhaps,
but all about the sa"e ti"e! and after these an eleventh, the Antichrist, who by
his "agical craft shall sei&e upon the Ho"an power! and of the )ings who reigned
before hi", three he shall humble , and the re"aining seven he shall )eep in
subEection to hi"self. At (rst indeed he will put on a show of "ildness 1as though
he were a learned and discreet person2, and of soberness and benevolence : and
by the lying signs and wonders of his "agical deceit having beguiled the @ews, as
though he were the e3pected .hrist, he shall afterwards be characteri&ed by all
)inds of cri"es of inhu"anity and lawlessness, so as to outdo all unrighteous and
ungodly "en who have gone before hi"! displaying against all "en, but
especially against us .hristians, a spirit "urderous and "ost cruel, "erciless and
crafty. And after perpetrating such things for three years and si3 "onths only, he
shall be destroyed by the glorious second advent fro" heaven of the only9
begotten Son of 'od, our -ord and Saviour @esus, the true .hrist, who shall slay
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Antichrist with the breath of #is mouth , and shall deliver hi" over to the (re of
hell.
16. /ow these things we teach, not of our own invention, but having learned
the" out of the divine Scriptures used in the .hurch , and chiefy fro" the
prophecy of 4aniel Eust now read! as 'abriel also the Archangel interpreted it,
spea)ing thus: (he fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall
surpass all kingdoms. And that this )ingdo" is that of the Ho"ans, has been the
tradition of the .hurchs interpreters. $or as the (rst )ingdo" which beca"e
renowned was that of the Assyrians, and the second, that of the ,edes and
>ersians together, and after these, that of the ,acedonians was the third, so the
fourth )ingdo" now is that of the Ho"ans. %hen 'abriel goes on to interpret,
saying, #is ten horns are ten kings that shall arise; and another king shall rise up
after them, who shall surpass in wickedness all who were before him 4aniel C:*=!
1he says, not only the ten, but also all who have been before hi"!2 and he shall
subdue three kings! "anifestly out of the ten for"er )ings: but it is plain that by
subduing three of these ten, he will beco"e the eighth )ing! and he shall speak
words against the "ost #igh. A blasphe"er the "an is and lawless, not having
received the )ingdo" fro" his fathers, but having usurped the power by "eans
of sorcery.
1=. And who is this, and fro" what sort of wor)ing5 0nterpret to us, O >aul. ,hose
coming, he says, is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying
wonders ! i"plying, that Satan has used hi" as an instru"ent, wor)ing in his own
person through hi"! for )nowing that his Eudg"ent shall now no longer have
respite, he wages war no "ore by his "inisters, as is his wont, but henceforth by
hi"self "ore openly. And with all signs and lying wonders! for the father of
falsehood will "a)e a show of the wor)s of falsehood, that the "ultitudes "ay
thin) that they see a dead "an raised, who is not raised, and la"e "en wal)ing,
and blind "en seeing, when the cure has not been wrought.
1A. And again he says, ,ho opposes and e.alts himself against all that is called
God, or that is worshipped! 1against every God! Antichrist forsooth will abhor the
idols,2 so that he seats himself in the temple of God. * %hessalonians *:= 8hat
te"ple then5 He "eans, the %e"ple of the @ews which has been destroyed. $or
'od forbid that it should be the one in which we are# 8hy say we this5 %hat we
"ay not be supposed to favour ourselves. $or if he co"es to the @ews as .hrist,
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and desires to be worshipped by the @ews, he will "a)e great account of the
%e"ple, that he "ay "ore co"pletely beguile the"! "a)ing it supposed that he
is the "an of the race of 4avid, who shall build up the %e"ple which was erected
by Solo"on. And Antichrist will co"e at the ti"e when there shall not be left one
stone upon another in the %e"ple of the @ews, according to the doo" pronounced
by our Saviour ! for when, either decay of ti"e, or de"olition ensuing on pretence
of new buildings, or fro" any other causes, shall have overthrown all the stones, 0
"ean not "erely of the outer circuit, but of the inner shrine also, where the
.herubi" were, then shall he co"e with all signs and lying wonders, e3alting
hi"self against all idols! at (rst indeed "a)ing a pretence of benevolence, but
afterwards displaying his relentless te"per, and that chiefy against the Saints of
'od. $or he says, % beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints ! and
again elsewhere, there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there
was a nation upon earth, even to that same time. 4readful is that beast, a "ighty
dragon, uncon:uerable by "an, ready to devour! concerning who" though we
have "ore things to spea) out of the divine Scriptures, yet we will content
ourselves at present with thus "uch, in order to )eep within co"pass.
1B. $or this cause the -ord )nowing the greatness of the adversary grants
indulgence to the godly, saying, (hen let them which be in 7udLa <ee to the
mountains. ,atthew *=:1B 7ut if any "an is conscious that he is very stout9
hearted, to encounter Satan, let hi" stand 1for 0 do not despair of the .hurchs
nerves2, and let hi" say, ,ho shall separate us from the love of 'hrist and the
rest Ho"ans D:6A5 7ut, let those of us who are fearful provide for our own safety!
and those who are of a good courage, stand fast: for then shall be great
tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no,
nor ever shall be. ,atthew *=:*1 7ut than)s be to 'od who has con(ned the
greatness of that tribulation to a few days! for He says, But for the elect=s sake
those days shall be shortened ! and Antichrist shall reign for three years and a
half only. 8e spea) not fro" apocryphal boo)s, but fro" 4aniel! for he says, 5nd
they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time 3 5 time is
the one year in which his co"ing shall for a while have increase! and the times
are the re"aining two years of ini:uity, "a)ing up the su" of the three years!
and the half a time is the si3 "onths. And again in another place 4aniel says the
sa"e thing, 5nd he swore by #im that lives for ever that it shall be for a time,
and times, and half a time. 4aniel 1*:C And so"e perhaps have referred what
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follows also to this! na"ely, a thousand two hundred and ninety days ! and this,
Blessed is he that endures and comes to the thousand three hundred and 2ve
and thirty days. $or this cause we "ust hide ourselves and fee! for perhaps we
shall not have gone over the cities of %srael, till the Son of "an be come
,atthew 1G:*6 .
1C. 8ho then is the blessed "an, that shall at that ti"e devoutly witness for
.hrist5 $or 0 say that the ,artyrs of that ti"e e3cel all "artyrs. $or the ,artyrs
hitherto have wrestled with "en only! but in the ti"e of Antichrist they shall do
battle with Satan in his own person. And for"er persecuting )ings only put to
death! they did not pretend to raise the dead, nor did they "a)e false shows of
signs and wonders. 7ut in his ti"e there shall be the evil induce"ent both of fear
and of deceit, so that if it be possible the very elect shall be deceived.
,atthew *=:*= -et it never enter into the heart of any then alive to as), 8hat did
.hrist "ore5 $or by what power does this "an wor) these things5 8ere it not
'ods will, He would not have allowed the". %he Apostle warns you, and says
beforehand, 5nd for this cause God shall send them a working of error! 1send,
that is, shall allow to happen!2 not that they "ight "a)e e3cuse, but that they
might be condemned. 8herefore5 (hey, he says, who believed not the truth, that
is, the true .hrist, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, that is, in Antichrist. 7ut
as in the persecutions which happen fro" ti"e to ti"e, so also then 'od will
per"it these things, not because He wants power to hinder the", but because
according to His wont He will through patience crown His own cha"pions li)e as
He did His >rophets and Apostles! to the end that having toiled for a little while
they "ay inherit the eternal )ingdo" of heaven, according to that which 4aniel
says, 5nd at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be
found written in the book 1"anifestly, the boo) of life2! and many of them that
sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and same to
shame and everlasting contempt; and they that be wise shall shine as the
brightness of the 2rmament; and of the many righteous , as the stars for ever
and ever.
1D. 'uard yourself then, O "an! you have the signs of Antichrist! and re"e"ber
the" not only yourself, but i"part the" also freely to all. 0f you have a child
according to the fesh, ad"onish hi" of this now! if you have begotten one
through catechi&ing , put hi" also on his guard, lest he receive the false one as
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the %rue. $or the mystery of ini)uity does already work. * %hessalonians *:C 0 fear
these wars of the nations ! 0 fear the schis"s of the .hurches! 0 fear the "utual
hatred of the brethren. 7ut enough on this subEect! only 'od forbid that it should
be ful(lled in our days! nevertheless, let us be on our guard. And thus "uch
concerning Antichrist.
1F. 7ut let us wait and loo) for the -ords co"ing upon the clouds fro" heaven.
%hen shall Angelic tru"pets sound! the dead in 'hrist shall rise 2rst
1 %hessalonians =:1B;the godly persons who are alive shall be caught up in the
clouds, receiving as the reward of their labours "ore than hu"an honour,
inas"uch as theirs was a "ore than hu"an strife! according as the Apostle >aul
writes, saying, For the $ord #imself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the 5rchangel, and with the trump of God* and the dead in 'hrist
shall rise 2rst3 (hen we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the $ord in the air; and so shall we ever be with
the $ord.
*G. %his co"ing of the -ord, and the end of the world, were )nown to the
>reacher! who says, +eoice, 4 young man, in your youth, and the rest ! (herefore
remove anger from your heart, and put away evil from your <esh!... and
remember your 'reator... or ever the evil days come ,.... or ever the sun, and the
light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened ,.... and they that look out of the
windows be darkened ! 1signifying the faculty of sight!2 or ever the silver cord be
loosed! 1"eaning the asse"blage of the stars, for their appearance is li)e silver!2
and the <ower of gold be broken ! 1thus veiling the "ention of the golden sun! for
the ca"o"ile is a well9)nown plant, having "any ray9li)e leaves shooting out
round it!2 and they shall rise up at the voice of the sparrow, yea, they shall look
away from the height, and terrors shall be in the way. 8hat shall they see5 (hen
shall they see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven; and they shall
mourn tribe by tribe. And what shall co"e to pass when the -ord has co"e5 (he
almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall grow heavy, and the caper/
berry shall be scattered abroad. +cclesiastes 1*:A And as the interpreters say, the
blosso"ing al"ond signi(es the departure of winter! and our bodies shall then
after the winter blosso" with a heavenly fower. 5nd the grasshopper shall grow
in substance 1that "eans the winged soul clothing itself with the body ,2 and the
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caper/berry shall be scattered abroad 1that is, the transgressors who are li)e
thorns shall be scattered 2.
*1. <ou see how they all foretell the co"ing of the -ord. <ou see how they )now
the voice of the sparrow. -et us )now what sort of voice this is. For the $ord
#imself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the 5rchangel,
and with the trump of God. 1 %hessalonians *:1B %he Archangel shall "a)e
procla"ation and say to all, 5rise to meet the $ord. And fearful will be that
descent of our ,aster. 4avid says, God shall manifestly come, even our God, and
shall not keep silence; a 2re shall burn before #im, and a 2erce tempest round
about #im, and the rest. %he Son of ,an shall co"e to the $ather, according to
the Scripture which was Eust now read, on the clouds of heaven, drawn by a
stream of 2re , which is to "a)e trial of "en. %hen if any "ans wor)s are of gold,
he shall be "ade brighter! if any "ans course of life be li)e stubble, and
unsubstantial, it shall be burnt up by the (re. And the $ather shall sit, having #is
garment white as snow, and the hair of #is head like pure wool. 4aniel C:F 7ut
this is spo)en after the "anner of "en! wherefore5 7ecause He is the King of
those who have not been de(led with sins! for, He says, % will make your sins
white as snow, and as wool 0saiah 1:1D, which is an e"ble" of forgiveness of
sins, or of sinlessness itself. 7ut the -ord who shall co"e fro" heaven on the
clouds, is He who ascended on the clouds! for He Hi"self has said, 5nd they shall
see the Son of "an coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory
,atthew *=:6G .
**. 7ut what is the sign of His co"ing5 -est a hostile power dare to counterfeit it.
5nd then shall appear, He says, the sign of the Son of "an in heaven. 0b /ow
.hrists own true sign is the .ross! a sign of a lu"inous .ross shall go before the
King , plainly declaring Hi" who was for"erly cruci(ed: that the @ews who before
pierced #im and plotted against Hi", when they see it, "ay mourn tribe by tribe
Oechariah 1*:1*, saying, %his is He who was bu?eted, this is He whose face they
spat on, this is He who" they bound with chains, this is He who" of old they
cruci(ed, and set at nought. 8hither, they will say, shall we fee fro" the face of
<our wrath5 7ut the Angel hosts shall enco"pass the", so that they shall not be
able to fee anywhere. %he sign of the .ross shall be a terror to His foes! but Eoy
to His friends who have believed in Hi", or preached Hi", or su?ered for His
sa)e. 8ho then is the happy "an, who shall then be found a friend of .hrist5 %hat
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King, so great and glorious, attended by the Angel9guards, the partner of the
$athers throne, will not despise His own servants. $or that His +lect "ay not be
confused with His foes, #e shall send forth #is 5ngels with a great trumpet, and
they shall gather together #is elect from the four winds. ,atthew *=:61 He
despised not -ot, who was but one! how then shall He despise "any righteous5
'ome, you blessed of "y Father , will He say to the" who shall then ride on
chariots of clouds, and be asse"bled by Angels.
*6. 7ut so"e one present will say, 0 a" a poor "an, or again, 0 shall perhaps be
found at that ti"e sic) in bed! or, 0 a" but a wo"an, and 0 shall be ta)en at the
"ill: shall we then be despised5 7e of good courage, O "an! the @udge is no
respecter of persons! #e will not udge according to a man=s appearance, nor
reprove according to his speech. He honours not the learned before the si"ple,
nor the rich before the needy. %hough thou be in the (eld, the Angels shall ta)e
you! thin) not that He will ta)e the landowners, and leave you the husband"an.
%hough thou be a slave, though thou be poor, be not any whit distressed! He who
took the form of a servant >hilippians *:C despises not servants. %hough thou be
lying sic) in bed, yet it is written, (hen shall two be in one bed; the one shall be
taken, and the other left. -u)e 1C:6= %hough thou be of co"pulsion put to grind,
whether thou be "an or wo"an ! though thou be in fetters , and sit beside the
"ill, yet He who by #is might brings out them that are bound +3odus 11:A, will
not overloo) you. He who brought forth @oseph out of slavery and prison to a
)ingdo", shall redee" you also fro" your aQictions into the )ingdo" of heaven.
Only be of good cheer, only wor), only strive earnestly! for nothing shall be lost.
+very prayer of yours, every >sal" you sing is recorded! every al"s9deed, every
fast is recorded! every "arriage duly observed is recorded! continence )ept for
'ods sa)e is recorded! but the (rst crowns in the records are those of virginity
and purity! and you shall shine as an Angel. 7ut as you have gladly listened to the
good things, so listen again without shrin)ing to the contrary. +very covetous
deed of yours is recorded! your every act of fornication is recorded, your every
false oath is recorded, every blasphe"y, and sorcery, and theft, and "urder. All
these things are henceforth to be recorded, if you do the sa"e now after having
been bapti&ed! for your for"er deeds are blotted out.
*=. ,hen the Son of "an, He says, shall come in #is glory, and all the 5ngels
with #im. ,atthew *A:61 7ehold, O "an, before what "ultitudes you shall co"e
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to Eudg"ent. +very race of "an)ind will then be present. Hec)on, therefore, how
"any are the Ho"an nation! rec)on how "any the barbarian tribes now living,
and how "any have died within the last hundred years! rec)on how "any nations
have been buried during the last thousand years! rec)on all fro" Ada" to this
day. 'reat indeed is the "ultitude! but yet it is little, for the Angels are "any
"ore. %hey are the ninety and nine sheep, but "an)ind is the single one. $or
according to the e3tent of universal space, "ust we rec)on the nu"ber of its
inhabitants. %he whole earth is but as a point in the "idst of the one heaven, and
yet contains so great a "ultitude! what a "ultitude "ust the heaven which
encircles it contain5 And "ust not the heaven of heavens contain uni"aginable
nu"bers 5 And it is written, (housand thousands ministered unto #im, and ten
thousand times ten thousand stood before #im 4aniel C:1G! not that the
"ultitude is only so great, but because the >rophet could not e3press "ore than
these. So there will be present at the Eudg"ent in that day, 'od, the $ather of all,
@esus .hrist being seated with Hi", and the Holy 'host present with %he"! and
an angels tru"pet shall su""on us all to bring our deeds with us. Ought we not
then fro" this ti"e forth to be sore troubled5 %hin) it not a slight doo", O "an,
even apart fro" punish"ent, to be conde"ned in the presence of so "any. Shall
we not choose rather to die "any deaths, than be conde"ned by friends5
*A. -et us dread then, brethren, lest 'od conde"n us! who needs not
e3a"ination or proofs, to conde"n. Say not, 0n the night 0 co""itted fornication,
or wrought sorcery, or did any other thing, and there was no "an by. Out of your
own conscience shall you be Eudged, your thoughts the meanwhile accusing or
else e.cusing, in the day when God shall udge the secrets of men +omans E*?M/
?J . %he terrible countenance of the @udge will force you to spea) the truth! or
rather, even though thou spea) not, it will convict you. $or you shall rise clothed
with your own sins, or else with your righteous deeds. And this has the @udge
Hi"self declared; for it is .hrist who Eudges; for neither does the Father udge
any man, but he has given all udgment unto the Son @ohn A:**, not divesting
Hi"self of His power, but Eudging through the Son! the Son therefore Eudges by
the will of the $ather! for the wills of the $ather and of the Son are not di?erent,
but one and the sa"e. 8hat then says the @udge, as to whether you shall bear
your wor)s, or no5 5nd before #im shall they gather all nations ,atthew *A:6*:
1for in the presence of .hrist every knee must bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth >hilippians *:1G:2 and #e shall
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separate them one from another, as the shepherd divides his sheep from the
goats. How does the shepherd "a)e the separation5 4oes he e3a"ine out of a
boo) which is a sheep and which a goat5 Or does he distinguish by their evident
"ar)s5 4oes not the wool show the sheep, and the hairy and rough s)in the
goat5 0n li)e "anner, if you have been Eust now cleansed fro" your sins, your
deeds shall be henceforth as pure wool! and your robe shall re"ain unstained,
and you shall ever say, % have put o& my coat, how shall % put it on 5 7y your
vesture shall you be )nown for a sheep. 7ut if you be found hairy, li)e +sau, who
was rough with hair, and wic)ed in "ind, who for food lost his birthright and sold
his privilege, you shall be one of those on the left hand. 7ut 'od forbid that any
here present should be cast out fro" grace, or for evil deeds be found a"ong the
ran)s of the sinners on the left hand#
*B. %errible in good truth is the Eudg"ent, and terrible the things announced. %he
)ingdo" of heaven is set before us, and everlasting (re is prepared. How then,
so"e one will say, are we to escape the (re5 And how to enter into the )ingdo"5
% was an hungered, He says, and you gave "e meat. -earn hence the way! there
is here no need of allegory, but to ful(l what is said. % was an hungered, and you
gave "e meat; % was thirsty, and you gave "e drink; % was a stranger, and you
took "e in; naked, and you clothed "e; % was sick, and you visited "e; % was in
prison, and you came unto "e. ,atthew *A:6A %hese things if you do, you shall
reign together with Hi"! but if you do the" not, you shall be conde"ned. At once
then begin to do these wor)s, and abide in the faith! lest, li)e the foolish virgins,
tarrying to buy oil, thou be shut out. 7e not con(dent because thou "erely
possessest the la"p, but constantly )eep it burning. -et the light of your good
wor)s shine before "en ,atthew A:1B, and let not .hrist be blasphe"ed on your
account. 8ear thou a gar"ent of incorruption , resplendent in good wor)s! and
whatever "atter you receive fro" 'od to ad"inister as a steward, ad"inister
pro(tably. Have you been put in trust with riches5 4ispense the" well. Have you
been entrusted with the word of teaching5 7e a good steward thereof. .an you
attach the souls of the hearers 5 4o this diligently. %here are "any doors of good
stewardship. Only let none of us be conde"ned and cast out! that we "ay with
boldness "eet .hrist the +verlasting King, who reigns for ever. $or He does reign
for ever, who shall be Eudge of :uic) and dead, because for :uic) and dead He
died. And as >aul says, For to this end 'hrist both died and lived again, that #e
might be $ord both of the dead and living Ho"ans 1=:F .
164
*C. And should you ever hear any say that the )ingdo" of .hrist shall have an
end, abhor the heresy! it is another head of the dragon, lately sprung up in . A
certain one has dared to aLr", that after the end of the world .hrist shall reign
no longer ! he has also dared to say, that the 8ord having co"e forth fro" the
$ather shall be again absorbed into the $ather, and shall be no "ore ! uttering
such blasphe"ies to his own perdition. $or he has not listened to the -ord, saying,
%he Son abides for ever. @ohn D:*A He has not listened to 'abriel, saying, And He
shall reign over the house of @acob for ever, and of His )ingdo" there shall be no
end. -u)e 1:66 .onsider this te3t. Heretics of this day teach in disparage"ent of
.hrist, while 'abriel the Archangel taught the eternal abiding of the Saviour!
who" then will you rather believe5 8ill you not rather give credence to 'abriel5
-isten to the testi"ony of 4aniel in the te3t ! 0 saw in a vision of the night, and
behold, one li)e the Son of ,an ca"e with the clouds of heaven, and ca"e to the
Ancient of days.....And to Hi" was given the honour, and the do"inion, and the
)ingdo": and all peoples, tribes, and languages shall serve Hi"! His do"inion is
an everlasting do"inion, which shall not pass away, and His )ingdo" shall not be
destroyed. 4aniel C:1691= %hese things rather hold fast, these things believe, and
cast away fro" you the words of heresy! for you have heard "ost plainly of the
endless )ingdo" of .hrist.
*D. %he li)e doctrine you have also in the interpretation of the Stone, which was
cut out of a mountain without hands, which is 'hrist according to the <esh ! 5nd
#is kingdom shall not be left to another people. 4avid also says in one place, !our
throne, 4 God, is for ever and ever ! and in another place, !ou, $ord, in the
beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth, etc3, they shall perish, but !ou
remain, etc3; but !ou are the same, and !our years shall not fail : words which
>aul has interpreted of the Son Hebrews 1:1G91* .
*F. And would you )now how they who teach the contrary ran into such
"adness5 %hey read wrongly that good word of the Apostle, For #e must reign,
till #e has put all enemies under #is feet 1 .orinthians 1A:*A! and they say, when
His ene"ies shall have been put under His feet, He shall cease to reign, wrongly
and foolishly alleging this. $or He who is )ing before He has subdued His ene"ies,
how shall He not the rather be )ing, after He has gotten the "astery over the".
6G. %hey have also dared to say that the Scripture, ,hen all things shall be
subected unto #im, then shall the Son also #imself be subected unto #im that
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subected all things unto #im ;that this Scripture shows that the Son also shall
be absorbed into the $ather. Shall you then, O "ost i"pious of all "en, you the
creatures of .hrist, continue5 And shall .hrist perish, by who" both you and all
things were "ade5 Such a word is blasphe"ous. 7ut further, how shall all things
be "ade subEect unto Hi"5 7y perishing, or by abiding5 Shall then the other
things, when subEect to the Son abide, and shall the Son, when subEect to the
$ather, not abide5 $or He shall be subEected, not because He shall then begin to
do the $athers will 1for fro" eternity He does always those things that please
#im 7ohn D*EK 2, but because, then as before, He obeys the $ather, yielding, not a
forced obedience, but a self9chosen accordance! for He is not a servant, that He
should be subEected by force, but a Son, that He should co"ply of His free choice
and natural love.
61. 7ut let us e3a"ine the"! what is the "eaning of until or as long as5 $or with
the very phrase will 0 close with the", and try to overthrow their error. Since they
have dared to say that the words, till #e has put #is enemies under #is feet, show
that He Hi"self shall have an end, and have presu"ed to set bounds to the
eternal )ingdo" of .hrist, and to bring to an end, as far as words go, His never9
ending sovereignty, co"e then, let us read the li)e e3pressions in the Apostle:
8evertheless, death reigned from 5dam till "oses. 4id "en then die up to that
ti"e, and did none die any "ore after ,oses, or after the -aw has there been no
"ore death a"ong "en5 8ell then, you see that the word unto is not to li"it
ti"e! but that >aul rather signi(ed this;And yet, though ,oses was a righteous
and wonderful "an, nevertheless the doo" of death, which was uttered against
Ada", reached even unto hi", and the" that ca"e after hi"! and this, though
they had not co""itted the li)e sins as Ada", by his disobedience in eating of
the tree.
6*. %a)e again another si"ilar te3t. For until this day333when "oses is read, a veil
lies upon their heart E 'orinthians C*?>/?M . 4oes until this day "ean only until
>aul5 0s it not until this day present, and even to the end5 And if >aul say to the
.orinthians, For we came even as far as unto you in preaching the Gospel of
'hrist, having hope when your faith increases to preach the Gospel in the regions
beyond you , you see "anifestly that as far as i"plies not the end, but has
so"ething following it. 0n what sense then should you remember that Scripture,
till He has put all ene"ies under His feet 1 .orinthians 1A:*A5 According as >aul
166
says in another place, 5nd e.hort each other daily, while it is called today
Hebrews 6:16! "eaning, continually. $or as we "ay not spea) of the beginning of
the days of .hrist, so neither su?er thou that any should ever spea) of the end of
His )ingdo". $or it is written, #is kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
66. And though 0 have "any "ore testi"onies out of the divine Scriptures,
concerning the )ingdo" of .hrist which has no end for ever, 0 will be content at
present with those above "entioned, because the day is far spent. 7ut you, O
hearer, worship only Hi" as your King, and fee all heretical error. And if the
grace of 'od per"it us, the re"aining Articles also of the $aith shall be in good
ti"e declared to you. And "ay the 'od of the whole world )eep you all in safety,
bearing in "ind the signs of the end, and re"aining unsubdued by Antichrist. <ou
have received the to)ens of the 4eceiver who is to co"e! you have received the
proofs of the true .hrist, who shall openly co"e down fro" heaven. $lee
therefore the one, the $alse one! and loo) for the other, the %rue. <ou have
learned the way, how in the Eudg"ent you "ay be found a"ong those on the
right hand! guard that which is committed to you 1 %i"othy B:*G concerning
.hrist, and be conspicuous in good wor)s, that you "ay stand with a good
con(dence before the @udge, and inherit the )ingdo" of heaven:; %hrough
who", and with who", be glory to 'od with the Holy 'host, for ever and ever.
A"en.
"n the $rticle, $nd in "ne )oly (host, the Comforter, .hich Spo/e in
the &rophets%
1 .orinthians 1*:1, =
/ow concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, 0 would not have you ignorant..../ow
there are diversities of gifts, but the sa"e Spirit, etc.
1. Spiritual in truth is the grace we need, in order to discourse concerning the
Holy Spirit! not that we "ay spea) what is worthy of Hi", for this is i"possible,
but that by spea)ing the words of the divine Scriptures, we "ay run our course
without danger. $or a truly fearful thing is written in the 'ospels, where .hrist has
plainly said, ,hosoever shall speak a word against the #oly Ghost, it shall not be
forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come. ,atthew 1*:6*
And there is often fear, lest a "an should receive this conde"nation, through
167
spea)ing what he ought not concerning Hi", either fro" ignorance, or fro"
supposed reverence. %he @udge of :uic) and dead, @esus .hrist, declared that he
has no forgiveness! if therefore any "an o?end, what hope has he5
*. 0t "ust therefore belong to @esus .hrists grace itself to grant both to us to
spea) without de(ciency, and to you to hear with discretion! for discretion is
needful not to the" only who spea), but also to the" that hear, lest they hear
one thing, and "isconceive another in their "ind. -et us then spea) concerning
the Holy 'host nothing but what is written! and whatsoever is not written, let us
not busy ourselves about it. %he Holy 'host Hi"self spo)e the Scriptures! He has
also spo)en concerning Hi"self as "uch as He pleased, or as "uch as we could
receive. -et us therefore spea) those things which He has said! for whatsoever He
has not said, we dare not say.
6. %here is One Only Holy 'host, the .o"forter! and as there is One 'od the
$ather, and no second $ather!; and as there is One Only9begotten Son and 8ord
of 'od, who has no brother;so is there One Only Holy 'host, and no second
spirit e:ual in9honour to Hi". /ow the Holy 'host is a >ower "ost "ighty, a
7eing divine and unsearchable! for He is living and intelligent, a sanctifying
principle of all things "ade by 'od through .hrist. He it is who illu"inates the
souls of the Eust! He was in the >rophets, He was also in the Apostles in the /ew
%esta"ent. Abhorred be they who dare to separate the operation of the Holy
'host# %here is One 'od, the $ather, -ord of the Old and of the /ew %esta"ent:
and One -ord, @esus .hrist, who was prophesied of in the Old %esta"ent, and
ca"e in the /ew! and One Holy 'host, who through the >rophets preached of
.hrist, and when .hrist had co"e, descended, and "anifested Hi".
=. -et no one therefore separate the Old fro" the /ew %esta"ent ! let no one say
that the Spirit in the for"er is one, and in the latter another! since thus he
o?ends against the Holy 'host Hi"self, who with the $ather and the Son together
is honoured, and at the ti"e of Holy 7aptis" is included with the" in the Holy
%rinity. $or the Only9begotten Son of 'od said plainly to the Apostles, Go and
make disciples of all the nations, bapti;ing them into the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the #oly Ghost. Our hope is in $ather, and Son, and Holy 'host.
8e preach not three 'ods ! let the ,arcionites be silenced! but with the Holy
'host through One Son, we preach One 'od. %he $aith is indivisible! the worship
inseparable. 8e neither separate the Holy %rinity, li)e so"e! nor do we as
168
Sabellius wor) confusion. 7ut we )now according to godliness One $ather, who
sent His Son to be our Saviour! we )now One Son, who pro"ised that He would
send the .o"forter fro" the $ather! we )now the Holy 'host, who spo)e in the
>rophets, and who on the day of >entecost descended on the Apostles in the for"
of (ery tongues, here, in @erusale", in the Npper .hurch of the Apostles ! for in all
things the choicest privileges are with us. Here .hrist ca"e down fro" heaven!
here the Holy 'host ca"e down fro" heaven. And in truth it were "ost (tting,
that as we discourse concerning .hrist and 'olgotha here in 'olgotha, so also we
should spea) concerning the Holy 'host in the Npper .hurch! yet since He who
descended there Eointly parta)es of the glory of Hi" who was cruci(ed here, we
here spea) concerning Hi" also who descended there: for their worship is
indivisible.
A. 8e would now say so"ewhat concerning the Holy 'host! not to declare His
substance with e3actness, for this were i"possible! but to spea) of the diverse
"ista)es of so"e concerning hi", lest fro" ignorance we should fall into the"!
and to bloc) up the paths of error, that we "ay Eourney on the Kings one
highway. And if we now for cautions sa)e repeat any state"ent of the heretics,
let it recoil on their heads, and "ay we be guiltless, both we who spea), and you
who hear.
B. $or the heretics, who are "ost profane in all things, have sharpened their
tongue against the Holy 'host also, and have dared to utter i"pious things! as
0renMus the interpreter has written in his inEunctions against heresies. $or so"e
of the" have dared to say that they were the"selves the Holy 'host;of who"
the (rst was Si"on , the sorcerer spo)en of in the Acts of the Apostles! for when
he was cast out, he presu"ed to teach such doctrines: and they who are called
'nostics, i"pious "en, have spo)en other things against the Spirit , and the
wic)ed Ialentinians again so"ething else! and the profane ,anes dared to call
hi"self the >araclete sent by .hrist. Others again have taught that the Spirit is
di?erent in the >rophets and in the /ew %esta"ent. <ea, and great is their error,
or rather their blasphe"y. Such therefore abhor, and fee fro" the" who
blasphe"e the Holy 'host, and have no forgiveness. $or what fellowship have
you with the desperate, you, who art now to be bapti&ed, into the Holy 'host also
5 0f he who attaches hi"self to a thief, and consents with hi", is subEect to
punish"ent, what hope shall he have, who o?ends against the Holy 'host5
169
C. -et the ,arcionists also be abhorred, who tear away fro" the /ew %esta"ent
the sayings of the Old. $or ,arcion (rst, that "ost i"pious of "en, who (rst
asserted three 'ods , )nowing that in the /ew %esta"ent are contained
testi"onies of the >rophets concerning .hrist, cut out the testi"onies ta)en fro"
the Old %esta"ent, that the King "ight be left without witness. Abhor those
above9"entioned 'nostics, "en of )nowledge by na"e, but fraught with
ignorance! who have dared to say such things of the Holy 'host as 0 dare not
repeat.
D. -et the .ataphrygians also be your abhorrence, and ,ontanus, their ringleader
in evil, and his two so9called prophetesses, ,a3i"illa and >riscilla. $or this
,ontanus, who was out of his "ind and really "ad 1for he would not have said
such things, had he not been "ad2, dared to say that he was hi"self the Holy
'host;he, "iserable "an, and (lled with all uncleanness and lasciviousness! for
it suLces but to hint at this, out of respect for the wo"en who are present. And
having ta)en possession of >epu&a, a very s"all ha"let of >hrygia, he falsely
na"ed it @erusale"! and cutting the throats of wretched little children, and
chopping the" up into unholy food, for the purpose of their so9called "ysteries ;
1wherefore till but lately in the ti"e of persecution we were suspected of doing
this, because these ,ontanists were called, falsely indeed, by the co""on na"e
of .hristians!2; yet he dared to call hi"self the Holy 'host, (lled as he was with
all i"piety and inhu"an cruelty, and conde"ned by an irrevocable sentence.
F. And he was seconded, as was said before, by that "ost i"pious ,anes also,
who co"bined what was bad in every heresy ! who being the very lowest pit of
destruction, collected the doctrines of all the heretics, and wrought out and
taught a yet "ore novel error, and dared to say that he hi"self was the
.o"forter, who" .hrist pro"ised to send. 7ut the Saviour when He pro"ised
Hi", said to the Apostles, But tarry in the city of 7erusalem, until you are endued
with power from on high. -u)e *=:=F 8hat then5 4id the Apostles who had been
dead two hundred years, wait for ,anes, until they should be endued with the
power! and will any dare to say, that they were not i""ediately full of the Holy
'host5 ,oreover it is written, (hen they laid their hands on and they received the
#oly Ghost Acts D:1C! was not this before ,anes, yea, "any years before, when
the Holy 'host descended on the day of >entecost5
170
1G. 8herefore was Si"on the sorcerer conde"ned5 8as it not that he ca"e to
the Apostles, and said, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever % lay hands,
he may receive the #oly Ghost5 $or he said not, 'ive "e also the fellowship of
the Holy 'host, but 'ive "e the power! that he "ight sell to others that which
could not be sold, and which he did not hi"self possess. He o?ered "oney also to
the" who had no possessions ! and this, though he saw "en bringing the prices
of the things sold, and laying the" at the Apostles feet. And he considered not
that they who trod under foot the wealth which was brought for the "aintenance
of the poor, were not li)ely to give the power of the Holy 'host for a bribe. 7ut
what say they to Si"on5 !our money perish with you, because you have thought
to purchase the gift of God with money ! for you are a second @udas, for e3pecting
to buy the grace of the Spirit with "oney. 0f then Si"on, for wishing to get this
power for a price, is to perish, how great is the i"piety of ,anes, who said that he
was the Holy 'host5 -et us hate the" who are worthy of hatred! let us turn away
fro" the" fro" who" 'od turns away! let us also ourselves say unto 'od with all
boldness concerning all heretics, Do not % hate them, 4 $ord, that hate !ou, and
am not % grieved with !our enemies 5 $or there is also an en"ity which is right,
according as it is written, % will put enmity between you and her seed
'enesis 6:1A! for friendship with the serpent wor)s en"ity with 'od, and death.
11. -et then thus "uch suLce concerning those outcasts! and now let us return
to the divine Scriptures, and let us drink waters out of our own cisterns Jthat is,
the holy $athers K, and out of our own springing wells. >roverbs A:1A 4rin) we of
living water, springing up into everlasting life ! but this spoke the Saviour of the
Spirit, which they that believe in #im should receive. $or observe what He says,
#e that believes in "e 1not si"ply this, but2, as the Scripture has said 1thus He
has sent you bac) to the Old %esta"ent2, out of his belly shall <ow rivers of living
water, not rivers perceived by sense, and "erely watering the earth with its
thorns and trees, but bringing souls to the light. And in another place He says,
But the water that % shall give him, shall be in him a well of living water springing
up into everlasting life,; a new )ind of water living and springing up, springing
up unto the" who are worthy.
1*. And why did He call the grace of the Spirit water5 7ecause by water all things
subsist! because water brings forth grass and living things! because the water of
the showers co"es down fro" heaven! because it co"es down one in for", but
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wor)s in "any for"s. $or one fountain waters the whole of >aradise, and one and
the sa"e rain co"es down upon all the world, yet it beco"es white in the lily,
and red in the rose, and purple in violets and hyacinths, and di?erent and varied
in each several )ind: so it is one in the pal"9tree, and another in the vine, and all
in all things! and yet is one in nature, not diverse fro" itself! for the rain does not
change itself, and co"e down (rst as one thing, then as another, but adapting
itself to the constitution of each thing which receives it, it beco"es to each what
is suitable. %hus also the Holy 'host, being one, and of one nature, and
indivisible, divides to each His grace, according as #e will 1 .orinthians 1*:11:
and as the dry tree, after parta)ing of water, puts forth shoots, so also the soul in
sin, when it has been through repentance "ade worthy of the Holy 'host, brings
forth clusters of righteousness. And though He is One in nature, yet "any are the
virtues which by the will of 'od and in the /a"e of .hrist He wor)s. $or He
e"ploys the tongue of one "an for wisdo"! the soul of another He enlightens by
>rophecy! to another He gives power to drive away devils! to another He gives to
interpret the divine Scriptures. He strengthens one "ans self9co""and! He
teaches another the way to give al"s! another He teaches to fast and discipline
hi"self! another He teaches to despise the things of the body! another He trains
for "artyrdo": diverse in di?erent "en, yet not diverse fro" Hi"self, as it is
written, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to pro2t withal3
For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the
word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same
Spirit; and to another gifts of healing, in the same Spirit; and to another workings
of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; and to
another various kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues*
but all these works that one and the same Spirit, dividing to every man severally
as #e will.
16. 7ut since concerning spirit in general "any diverse things are written in the
divine Scriptures, and there is fear lest so"e out of ignorance fall into confusion,
not )nowing to what sort of spirit the writing refers! it will be well now to certify
you, of what )ind the Scripture declares the Holy Spirit to be. $or as Aaron is
called .hrist, and 4avid and Saul and others are called .hrists , but there is only
one true .hrist, so li)ewise since the na"e of spirit is given to di?erent things, it
is right to see what is that which is distinctively called the Holy Spirit. $or "any
things are called spirits. %hus an Angel is called spirit, our soul is called spirit, and
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this wind which is blowing is called spirit! great virtue also is spo)en of as spirit!
and i"pure practice is called spirit! and a devil our adversary is called spirit.
7eware therefore when you hear these things, lest fro" their having a co""on
na"e thou "ista)e one for another. $or concerning our soul the Scripture says,
#is spirit shall go forth, and he shall return to his earth : and of the sa"e soul it
says again, ,hich forms the spirit of man within him. Oechariah 1*:1 And of the
Angels it is said in the >sal"s, ,ho makes #is 5ngels spirits, and #is ministers a
<ame of 2re. And of the wind it says, !ou shall break the ships of (arshish with a
violent spirit ! and, 5s the tree in the wood is shaken by the spirit 0saiah C:*! and,
Fire, hail, snow, ice, spirit of storm. And of good doctrine the -ord Hi"self says,
(he words that % have spoken unto you, they are spirit @ohn B:B6, and they are
life! instead of, are spiritual. 7ut the Holy Spirit is not pronounced by the tongue!
but He is a -iving Spirit, who gives wisdo" of speech, Hi"self spea)ing and
discoursing.
1=. And would you )now that He discourses and spea)s5 >hilip by revelation of an
Angel went down to the way which leads to 'a&a, when the +unuch was co"ing!
and the Spirit said to >hilip, Go near, and oin yourself to this chariot. Acts D:*F 4o
you see the Spirit tal)ing to one who hears Hi"5 +&e)iel also spea)s thus, (he
Spirit of the $ord came upon me, and said unto me, (hus says the $ord.
+&e)iel 11:A And again, (he #oly Ghost said 5cts ?C*E , unto the Apostles who
were in Antioch, Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto %
have called them. 7eholdest thou the Spirit living, separating, calling, and with
authority sending forth5 >aul also said, Save that the #oly Ghost witnesses in
every city, saying that bonds and aIictions await me. $or this good Sancti(er of
the .hurch, and her Helper, and %eacher, the Holy 'host, the .o"forter, of who"
the Saviour said, #e shall teach you all things 1and He said not only, #e shall
teach, but also, #e shall bring to your remembrance whatever % have said unto
you @ohn 1=:*B! for the teachings of .hrist and of the Holy 'host are not di?erent,
but the sa"e2; He, 0 say, testi(ed before to >aul what things should befall hi",
that he "ight be the "ore stout9hearted, fro" )nowing the" beforehand. /ow 0
have spo)en these things unto you because of the te3t, (he words which % have
spoken unto you, they are spirit! that you "ay understand this, not of the
utterance of the lips , but of the good doctrine in this passage.
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1A. 7ut sin also is called spirit, as 0 have already said! only in another and
opposite sense, as when it is said, (he spirit of whoredom caused them to err.
Hosea =:1* %he na"e spirit is given also to the unclean spirit, the devil! but with
the addition of, the unclean! for to each is Eoined its distinguishing na"e, to "ar)
its proper nature. 0f the Scripture spea) of the soul of "an, it says the spirit with
the addition, of the man! if it "ean the wind, it says, spirit of storm! if sin, it says,
spirit of whoredom! if the devil, it says, an unclean spirit: that we "ay )now
which particular thing is spo)en of, and you "ay not suppose that it "eans the
Holy 'host! 'od forbid# $or this na"e of spirit is co""on to "any things! and
every thing which has not a solid body is in a general way called spirit. Since,
therefore, the devils have not such bodies, they are called spirits: but there is a
great di?erence! for the unclean devil, when he co"es upon a "ans soul 1"ay
the -ord deliver fro" hi" every soul of those who hear "e, and of those who are
not present2, he co"es li)e a wolf upon a sheep, ravening for blood, and ready to
devour. His co"ing is "ost (erce! the sense of it "ost oppressive! the "ind
beco"es dar)ened! his attac) is an inEustice also, and so is his usurpation of
anothers possession. $or he "a)es forcible use of anothers body, and anothers
instru"ents, as if they were his own! he throws down hi" who stands upright 1for
he is a)in to hi" who fell from heaven -u)e 1G:1D2! he twists the tongue and
distorts the lips! foa" co"es instead of words! the "an is (lled with dar)ness! his
eye is open, yet the soul sees not through it! and the "iserable "an gasps
convulsively at the point of death. %he devils are verily foes of "en, using the"
foully and "ercilessly.
1B. Such is not the Holy 'host! 'od forbid# $or His doings tend the contrary way,
towards what is good and salutary. $irst, His co"ing is gentle! the perception of
Hi" is fragrant! His burden "ost light! bea"s of light and )nowledge glea" forth
before His co"ing. He co"es with the bowels of a true guardian: for He co"es to
save, and to heal, to teach, to ad"onish, to strengthen, to e3hort, to enlighten
the "ind, (rst of hi" who receives Hi", and afterwards of others also, through
hi". And as a "an, who being previously in dar)ness then suddenly beholds the
sun, is enlightened in his bodily sight, and sees plainly things which he saw not,
so li)ewise he to who" the Holy 'host is vouchsafed, is enlightened in his soul,
and sees things beyond "ans sight, which he )new not! his body is on earth, yet
his soul "irrors forth the heavens. He sees, li)e +saias, the $ord sitting upon a
throne high and lifted up 0saiah B:1! he sees, li)e +&e)iel, #im who is above the
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'herubim +&e)iel 1G:1! he sees li)e 4aniel, ten thousand times ten thousand, and
thousands of thousands 4aniel C:1G! and the "an, who is so little, beholds the
beginning of the world, and )nows the end of the world, and the ti"es
intervening, and the successions of )ings;things which he never learned: for the
%rue +nlightener is present with hi". %he "an is within the walls of a house! yet
the power of his )nowledge reaches far and wide, and he sees even what other
"en are doing.
1C. >eter was not with Ananias and Sapphira when they sold their possessions,
but he was present by the Spirit! ,hy, he says, has Satan 2lled your heart to lie
to the #oly Ghost Acts A:65 %here was no accuser! there was no witness! whence
)new he what had happened5 ,hiles it remained was it not your own? 5nd after
it was sold, was it not in your own power? ,hy have you conceived this thing in
your heart 5 %he unlettered >eter, through the grace of the Spirit, learned what
not even the wise "en of the 'ree)s had )nown. <ou have the li)e in the case
also of +lisseus. $or when he had freely healed the leprosy of /aa"an, 'eha&i
received the reward, the reward of anothers achieve"ent! and he too) the
"oney fro" /aa"an, and bestowed it in a dar) place. 7ut the darkness is not
hidden fro" the Saints. And when he ca"e, +lisseus as)ed hi"! and li)e >eter,
when he said, (ell me whether you sold the land for so much Acts A:D5 He also
en:uires, ,hence do you come, Geha;i * Kings A:*A5 /ot in ignorance, but in
sorrow as) 0 whence do you come5 $ro" dar)ness are you co"e, and to dar)ness
shall you go! you have sold the cure of the leper, and the leprosy is your heritage.
0, he says, have ful(lled the bidding of Hi" who said to "e, Freely you have
received, freely give ,atthew 1G:D! but you have sold this grace! receive now the
condition of the sale. 7ut what says +lisseus to hi"5 ,ent not mine heart with
you5 0 was here shut in by the body, but the spirit which has been given "e of
'od saw even the things afar o?, and showed "e plainly what was doing
elsewhere. 4o you see how the Holy 'host not only rids of ignorance, but invests
with )nowledge5 4o you see how He enlightens "ens souls5
1D. +saias lived nearly a thousand years ago! and he beheld Oion as a booth. %he
city was still standing, and beauti(ed with public places, and robed in "aEesty!
yet he says, Gion shall be ploughed as a 2eld , foretelling what is now ful(lled in
our days. And observe the e3actness of the prophecy! for he said, 5nd the
daughter of Gion shall be left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of
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cucumbers. And now the place is (lled with gardens of cucu"bers. 4o you see
how the Holy Spirit enlightens the saints5 7e not therefore carried away to other
things, by the force of a co""on ter", but )eep fast the e3act "eaning.
1F. And if ever, while you have been sitting here, a thought concerning chastity
or virginity has co"e into your "ind, it has been His teaching. Has not often a
"aiden, already at the bridal threshold , fed away, He teaching her the doctrine
of virginity5 Has not often a "an distinguished at court , scorned wealth and ran),
under the teaching of the Holy 'host5 Has not often a young "an, at the sight of
beauty, closed his eyes, and fed fro" the sight, and escaped the de(le"ent5
As)est thou whence this has co"e to pass5 %he Holy 'host taught the soul of the
young "an. ,any ways of covetousness are there in the world! yet .hristians
refuse possessions: wherefore5 7ecause of the teaching of the Holy 'host.
8orthy of honour is in truth that Spirit, holy and good! and (ttingly are we
bapti&ed into $ather, Son, and Holy 'host. A "an, still clothed with a body,
wrestles with "any (ercest de"ons! and often the de"on, who" "any "en
could not "aster with iron bands, has been "astered by the "an hi"self with
words of prayer, through the power which is in hi" of the Holy 'host! and the
"ere breathing of the +3orcist beco"es as (re to that unseen foe. A "ighty ally
and protector, therefore, have we fro" 'od! a great %eacher of the .hurch, a
"ighty .ha"pion on our behalf. -et us not be afraid of the de"ons, nor of the
devil! for "ightier is He who (ghts for us. Only let us open to Hi" our doors! for
#e goes about seeking such as are worthy and searching on who" He "ay confer
His gifts.
*G. And He is called the .o"forter, because He co"forts and encourages us, and
helps our in2rmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but
the Spirit #imself makes intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be
uttered Ho"ans D:*B, that is, "a)es intercession to 'od. Oftenti"es a "an for
.hrists sa)e has been outraged and dishonoured unEustly! "artyrdo" is at hand!
tortures on every side, and (re, and sword, and savage beasts, and the pit. 7ut
the Holy 'host softly whispers to hi", ,ait on the $ord , O "an! what is now
befalling you is a s"all "atter, the reward will be great. Su?er a little while, and
you shall be with Angels for ever. (he su&erings of this present time art not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Ho"ans D:1D .
He portrays to the "an the )ingdo" of heaven! He gives hi" a gli"pse of the
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paradise of delight! and the "artyrs, whose bodily countenances are of necessity
turned to their Eudges, but who in spirit are already in >aradise, despise those
hardships which are seen.
*1. And would you be sure that by the power of the Holy 'host the ,artyrs bear
their witness5 %he Saviour says to His disciples, 5nd when they bring you unto
the synagogues, and the magistrates, and authorities, be not an.ious how you
shall answer, or what you shall say; for the #oly Ghost shall teach you in that
very hour, what you ought to say. -u)e 1*:1191* $or it is i"possible to testify as a
"artyr for .hrists sa)e, e3cept a "an testify by the Holy 'host! for if no man can
say that 7esus 'hrist is the $ord, but by the #oly Ghost , how shall any "an give
his own life for @esus sa)e, but by the Holy 'host5
**. 'reat indeed, and all9powerful in gifts, and wonderful, is the Holy 'host.
.onsider, how "any of you are now sitting here, how "any souls of us are
present. He is wor)ing suitably for each, and being present in the "idst, beholds
the te"per of each, beholds also his reasoning and his conscience, and what we
say, and thin), and believe. 'reat indeed is what 0 have now said, and yet is it
s"all. $or consider, 0 pray, with "ind enlightened by Hi", how "any .hristians
there are in all this diocese, and how "any in the whole province of >alestine, and
carry forward your "ind fro" this province, to the whole Ho"an +"pire! and after
this, consider the whole world! races of >ersians, and nations of 0ndians, 'arbs
and Sar"atians, 'auls and Spaniards, and ,oors, -ibyans and +thiopians, and the
rest for who" we have no na"es! for of "any of the nations not even the na"es
have reached us. .onsider, 0 pray, of each nation, 7ishops, >resbyters, 4eacons,
Solitaries, Iirgins, and laity besides! and then behold their great >rotector, and
the 4ispenser of their gifts!; how throughout the world He gives to one chastity,
to another perpetual virginity, to another al"sgiving, to another voluntary
poverty, to another power of repelling hostile spirits. And as the light, with one
touch of its radiance sheds brightness on all things, so also the Holy 'host
enlightens those who have eyes! for if any fro" blindness is not vouchsafed His
grace, let hi" not bla"e the Spirit, but his own unbelief.
*6. <ou have seen His power, which is in all the world! tarry now no longer upon
earth, but ascend on high. Ascend, 0 say, in i"agination even unto the (rst
heaven, and behold there so "any countless "yriads of Angels. ,ount up in your
thoughts, if you can, yet higher! consider, 0 pray you, the Archangels, consider
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also the Spirits! consider the Iirtues, consider the >rincipalities, consider the
>owers, consider the %hrones, consider the 4o"inions ;of all these the
.o"forter is the Huler fro" 'od, and the %eacher, and the Sancti(er. Of Hi" +lias
has need, and +lisseus, and +saias, a"ong "en! of Hi" ,ichael and 'abriel have
need a"ong Angels. /aught of things created is e:ual in honour to Hi": for the
fa"ilies of the Angels, and all their hosts asse"bled together, have no e:uality
with the Holy 'host. All these the all9e3cellent power of the .o"forter
overshadows. And they indeed are sent forth to "inister Hebrews 1:1=, but He
searches even the deep things of 'od, according as the Apostle says, $or the
Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of 'od. $or what "an )nows the
thing of a "an, save the spirit of the "an which is in hi"5 +ven so the things of
'od )nows no "an, but the Spirit of 'od 1 .orinthians *:1G911 .
*=. He preached concerning .hrist in the >rophets! He wrought in the Apostles!
He to this day seals the souls in 7aptis". And the $ather indeed gives to the Son!
and the Son shares with the Holy 'host. $or it is @esus Hi"self, not 0, who says, 5ll
things are delivered unto "e of "y Father ,atthew 11:*C! and of the Holy 'host
He says, ,hen #e, the Spirit of (ruth, shall come, and the rest.... #e shall glorify
"e; for #e shall receive of "ine, and shall show it unto you. @ohn 1B:1691= %he
$ather through the Son, with the Holy 'host, is the giver of all grace! the gifts of
the $ather are none other than those of the Son, and those of the Holy 'host! for
there is one Salvation, one >ower, one $aith! One 'od, the $ather! One -ord, His
only9begotten Son! One Holy 'host, the .o"forter. And it is enough for us to
)now these things! but in:uire not curiously into His nature or substance : for had
it been written, we would have spo)en of it! what is not written, let us not venture
on! it is suLcient for our salvation to )now, that there is $ather, and Son, and
Holy 'host.
*A. %his Spirit descended upon the seventy +lders in the days of ,oses. 1/ow let
not the length of the discourse, beloved, produce weariness in you: but "ay He
the very subEect of our discourse grant strength to every one, both to us who
spea), and to you who listen#2 %his Spirit, as 0 was saying, ca"e down upon the
seventy +lders in the ti"e of ,oses! and this 0 say to you, that 0 "ay now prove,
that He )nows all things, and wor)s as #e will. 1 .orinthians 1*:11 %he seventy
+lders were chosen! 5nd the $ord came down in a cloud, and took of the Spirit
that was upon "oses, and put it upon the seventy 6lders ! not that the Spirit was
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divided, but that His grace was distributed in proportion to the vessels, and the
capacity of the recipients. /ow there were present si3ty and eight, and they
prophesied! but +ldad and ,odad were not present: therefore that it "ight be
shown that it was not ,oses who bestowed the gift, but the Spirit who wrought,
+ldad and ,odad, who though called, had not as yet presented the"selves, did
also prophesy.
*B. @esus the Son of /un, the successor of ,oses, was a"a&ed! and ca"e to hi"
and said, Have you heard that +ldad and ,odad are prophesying5 %hey were
called, and they ca"e not! my lord "oses, forbid them /u"bers 11:*D . 0 cannot
forbid the", he says, for this grace is fro" Heaven! nay, so far a" 0 fro"
forbidding the", that 0 "yself a" than)ful for it. 0 thin) not, however, that you
have said this in envy! art thou ealous for my sake, because that they prophesy,
and you prophesy not yet5 8ait for the proper season! and oh that all the $ord=s
people may be prophets, whenever the $ord shall give #is Spirit upon them
/u"bers 11:*F# saying this also prophetically, whenever the $ord shall give! $or
as yet then He has not given it! so you have it not yet.; Had not then Abraha"
this, and 0saac, and @acob, and @oseph5 And they of old, had they it not5 /ay, but
the words, whenever the $ord shall give evidently "ean give it upon all! as yet
indeed the grace is partial, then it shall be given lavishly. And he secretly alluded
to what was to happen a"ong us on the day of >entecost! for He Hi"self ca"e
down a"ong us. He had however also co"e down upon "any before. $or it is
written, 5nd 7esus the son of 8un was 2lled with a spirit of wisdom; for "oses had
laid his hands upon him. 4euterono"y 6=:F <ou see the (gure everywhere the
sa"e in the Old and /ew %esta"ent;in the days of ,oses, the Spirit was given
by laying on of hands! and by laying on of hands >eter also gives the Spirit. And
on you also, who art about to be bapti&ed, shall His grace co"e! yet in what
"anner 0 say not, for 0 will not anticipate the proper season.
*C. He also ca"e down upon all righteous "en and >rophets! +nos, 0 "ean, and
+noch, and /oah, and the rest! upon Abraha", 0saac, and @acob! for as regards
@oseph, even >haraoh perceived that he had the Spirit of God within him.
'enesis =1:6D As to ,oses, and the wonderful wor)s wrought by the Spirit in his
days, you have heard often: %his Spirit @ob also had, that "ost enduring "an, and
all the saints, though we repeat not all their na"es. He also was sent forth when
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the %abernacle was in "a)ing, and (lled with wisdo" the wise9hearted "en who
were with 7e&aleel.
*D. 0n the "ight of this Spirit, as we have it in the 7oo) of @udges, Othniel Eudged
@udges 6:1G! 'ideon wa3ed strong! @ephtha con:uered ! 4eborah, a wo"an,
waged war! and Sa"son, so long as he did righteously, and grieved Hi" not,
wrought deeds above "ans power. And as for Sa"uel and 4avid, we have it
plainly in the 7oo)s of the Kingdo"s, how by the Holy 'host they prophesied
the"selves, and were rulers of the prophets;and Sa"uel was called the Seer
1 Sa"uel F:F! and 4avid says distinctly, (he Spirit of the $ord spoke by me
* Sa"uel *6:*, and in the >sal"s, 5nd take not your #oly Spirit from me , and
again, !our good Spirit shall lead me in the land of righteousness. And as we have
it in .hronicles, A&ariah * .hronicles 1A:1, in the ti"e of King Asa, and @aha&iel in
the ti"e of King @ehoshaphat, partoo) of the Holy 'host! and again, another
A&ariah, he who was stoned. And +&ra says, !ou gave also !our good Spirit to
instruct them. 7ut as touching +lias who was ta)en up, and +lisseus, those
inspired and wonder9wor)ing "en, it is "anifest, without our saying so, that they
were full of the Holy 'host.
*F. And if further a "an peruse all the boo)s of the >rophets, both of the %welve,
and of the others, he will (nd "any testi"onies concerning. the Holy 'host! as
when ,icah says in the person of 'od, surely % will perfect power by the Spirit the
$ord ,icah 6:D! and @oel cries, 5nd it shall come to pass afterwards, says 'od,
that % will pour out "y Spirit upon all <esh @oel *:*D, and the rest! and Haggai,
Because % am with you, says the $ord of #osts Haggai *:=! and "y Spirit remains
in the midst of you ! and in li)e "anner Oechariah, But receive "y words and "y
statutes which % command by "y Spirit, to "y servants the -rophets
Oechariah 1:B! and other passages.
6G. +saias too, with his "aEestic voice, says, 5nd the Spirit of God shall rest upon
#im, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the
spirit of knowledge and godliness; and the Spirit of the fear of God shall 2ll #im
0saiah 11:*! signifying that the Spirit is one and undivided, but His operations
various. So again, 7acob "y servant,..... % have put "y Spirit upon #im. And again,
% will pour "y Spirit upon your seed ! and again, 5nd now the $ord 5lmighty and
#is Spirit has sent "e ! and again, (his is "y covenant with them, says the $ord,
"y Spirit which is upon you 0saiah AF:*1! and again, (he Spirit of the $ord is upon
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"e, because #e has anointed "e 0saiah B1:1, and the rest! and again in his
charge against the @ews, But they rebelled and ve.ed #is #oly Spirit , and ,here
is #e that put #is #oly Spirit within them 5 Also you have in +&e)iel 1if you be not
now weary of listening2, what has already been :uoted, 5nd the Spirit fell upon
me, and said unto me, Speak; (hus says the $ord. +&e)iel 11:A 7ut the words, fell
upon me we "ust understand in a good sense, that is lovingly! and as @acob,
when he had found @oseph, fell upon his nec)! as also in the 'ospels, the loving
father, on seeing his son who had returned fro" his wandering, had compassion,
and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And again in +&e)iel, 5nd he
brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into 'haldLa, to them of the captivity.
+&e)iel 11:*= And other te3ts you heard before, in what was said about 7aptis"!
(hen will % sprinkle clean water upon you , and the rest! a new heart also will %
give you, and a new spirit will % put within you ! and then i""ediately, 5nd % will
put "y Spirit within you. And again, (he hand of the $ord was upon me, and
carried me out in the Spirit of the $ord +&e)iel 6C:1 .
61. He endued with wisdo" the soul of 4aniel, that young as he was he should
beco"e a Eudge of +lders. %he chaste Susanna was conde"ned as a wanton!
there was none to plead her cause! for who was to deliver her fro" the rulers5
She was led away to death, she was now in the hands of the e3ecutioners. 7ut
her Helper was at hand, the .o"forter, the Spirit who sancti(es every rational
nature. .o"e hither to "e, He says to 4aniel! young though thou be, convict old
"en infected with the sins of youth! for it is written, God raised up the #oly Spirit
upon a young stripling ! and nevertheless, 1to pass on :uic)ly,2 by the sentence of
4aniel that chaste lady was saved. 8e bring this forward as a testi"ony! for this
is not the season for e3pounding. /ebuchadne&&ar also )new that the Holy Spirit
was in 4aniel! for he says to hi", 4 Beltesha;;ar, master of the magicians, of
whom % know, that the #oly Spirit of God is in you. 4aniel =:F One thing he said
truly, and one falsely! for that he had the Holy Spirit was true, but he was not the
master of the magicians, for he was no "agician, but was wise through the Holy
'host. And before this also, he interpreted to hi" the vision of the 0"age, which
he who had seen it hi"self )new not! for he says, %ell "e the vision, which 0 who
saw it )now not. <ou see the power of the Holy 'host! that which they who saw it,
)now not, they who saw it not, )now and interpret.
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6*. And indeed it were easy to collect very "any te3ts out of the Old %esta"ent,
and to discourse "ore largely concerning the Holy 'host. 7ut the ti"e is short!
and we "ust be careful of the proper length of the lecture. 8herefore, being for
the present content awhile with passages fro" the Old %esta"ent, we will, if it be
'ods pleasure, proceed in the ne3t -ecture to the re"aining te3ts out of the /ew
%esta"ent. And "ay the 'od of peace, through our -ord @esus .hrist, and through
the love of the Spirit, count all of you worthy of His spiritual and heavenly gifts:;
%o who" be glory and power for ever and ever. A"en.
Continuation of the 'iscourse on the )oly (host%
1 .orinthians 1*:D
$or to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdo", etc.
1. 0n the preceding -ecture, according to our ability we set before you, our
beloved hearers, so"e s"all portion of the testi"onies concerning the Holy
'host! and on the present occasion, we will, if it be 'ods pleasure, proceed to
treat, as far as "ay be, of those which re"ain out of the /ew %esta"ent: and as
then to )eep within due li"it of your attention we restrained our eagerness 1for
there is no satiety in discoursing concerning the Holy 'host2, so now again we
"ust say but a s"all part of what re"ains. $or now, as well as then, we candidly
own that our wea)ness is overwhel"ed by the "ultitude of things written.
/either today will we use the subtleties of "en, for that is unpro(table! but
"erely call to "ind what co"es fro" the divine Scriptures! for this is the safest
course, according to the blessed Apostle >aul, who says, ,hich things also we
speak, not in words which man=s wisdom teaches, but which the #oly Ghost
teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 .orinthians *:16 %hus we act
li)e travellers or voyagers, who having one goal to a very long Eourney, though
hastening on with eagerness, yet by reason of hu"an wea)ness are wont to
touch in their way at various cities or harbours.
*. %herefore though our discourses concerning the Holy 'host are divided, yet He
Hi"self is undivided, being one and the sa"e. $or as in spea)ing concerning the
$ather, at one ti"e we taught how He is the one only .ause ! and at another, how
He is called $ather , or Al"ighty ! and at another, how He is the .reator of the
universe! and yet the division of the -ectures "ade no division of the $aith, in
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that He, the ObEect of devotion, both was and is One;and again, as in
discoursing concerning the Only9begotten Son of 'od we taught at one ti"e
concerning His 'odhead , and at another concerning His ,anhood , dividing into
"any discourses the doctrines concerning our -ord @esus .hrist, yet preaching
undivided faith towards Hi";so now also though the -ectures concerning the
Holy Spirit are divided, yet we preach faith undivided towards Hi". $or it is one
and the Self9sa"e Spirit who divides His gifts to every man severally as #e will
1 .orinthians 1*:11, Hi"self the while re"aining undivided. $or the .o"forter is
not di?erent fro" the Holy 'host, but one and the self9sa"e, called by various
na"es! who lives and subsists, and spea)s, and wor)s! and of all rational natures
"ade by 'od through .hrist, both of Angels and of "en, He is the Sancti(er.
6. 7ut lest any fro" lac) of learning, should suppose fro" the di?erent titles of
the Holy 'host that these are various spirits, and not one and the self9sa"e,
which alone there is, therefore the .atholic .hurch guarding you beforehand has
delivered to you in the profession of the faith, that you believe in one Holy 'host
the .o"forter, who spo)e by the >rophets! that you "ight )now, that though His
na"es be "any, the Holy Spirit is but one;of which na"es, we will now rehearse
to you a few out of "any.
=. He is called the Spirit, according to the Scripture Eust now read, For to one is
given by the Spirit the word of wisdom. 1 .orinthians 1*:D He is called the Spirit
of %ruth, as the Saviour says, ,hen #e, the Spirit of (ruth, has come. @ohn 1B:16
He is called also the .o"forter, as He said, For if % go not away, the 'omforter will
not come unto you. 7ut that He is one and the sa"e, though called by di?erent
titles, is shown plainly fro" the following. $or that the Holy Spirit and the
.o"forter are the sa"e, is declared in those words, But the 'omforter, which is
the #oly Ghost @ohn 1=:*B! and that the .o"forter is the sa"e as the Spirit of
%ruth, is declared, when it is said, 5nd % will give you another 'omforter, that #e
may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of (ruth ! and again, But when the
'omforter has come whom % will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of
(ruth. And He is called the Spirit of 'od, according as it is written, 5nd % saw the
Spirit of God descending @ohn 1:6*! and again, For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Ho"ans D:1= He is called also the Spirit of
the $ather, as the Saviour says, For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your
Father which speaks in you ,atthew 1G:*G! and again >aul says, For this cause %
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bow my knees unto the Father, and the rest!... that #e would grant you to be
strengthened by #is Spirit. +phesians 6:1=91B He is also called the Spirit of the
-ord, according to that which >eter spo)e, ,hy is it that you have agreed
together to tempt the Spirit of the $ord Acts A:F5 He is called also the Spirit of
'od and .hrist, as >aul writes, But you are not in the <esh, but in the Spirit, if so
be that the Spirit of God dwell in you3 But if any man have not the Spirit of 'hrist,
he is none of #is. Ho"ans D:F He is called also the Spirit of the Son of 'od, as it is
said, 5nd because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of #is Son.
'alatians =:B He is called also the Spirit of .hrist, as it is written, Searching what
or what manner of time the Spirit of 'hrist which was in them did signify ! and
again, (hrough your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of 7esus 'hrist
>hilippians 1:1F .
A. <ou will (nd "any other titles of the Holy 'host besides. %hus He is called the
Spirit of Holiness, as it is written, 5ccording to the Spirit of #oliness. Ho"ans 1:=
He is also called the Spirit of adoption, as >aul says, For you received not the
spirit of bondage again unto fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption,
whereby we cry, 5bba, Father. He is also called the Spirit of revelation, as it is
written, "ay give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
#im. +phesians 1:1C He is also called the Spirit of pro"ise, as the sa"e >aul says,
%n whom you also after that you believed, were sealed with the #oly Spirit of
promise. He is also called the Spirit of grace, as when he says again, 5nd has
done despite to the Spirit of grace. Hebrews 1G:*F And by "any other such9li)e
titles is He na"ed. And you heard plainly in the foregoing -ecture, that in the
>sal"s He is called at one ti"e the good Spirit , and at another the princely
Spirit ! and in +saias He was styled the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of
counsel, and might, of knowledge, and of godliness, and of the fear of God
0saiah 11:*. 7y all which Scriptures both those before and those now alleged, it is
established, that though the titles of the Holy 'host be di?erent, He is one and
the sa"e! living and subsisting, and always present together with the $ather and
the Son ! not uttered or breathed fro" the "outh and lips of the $ather or the
Son, nor dispersed into the air, but having a real substance , Hi"self spea)ing,
and wor)ing, and dispensing, and sanctifying! even as the +cono"y of salvation
which is to usward fro" the $ather and the Son and the Holy 'host, is inseparable
and har"onious and one, as we have also said before. $or 0 wish you to )eep in
"ind those things which were lately spo)en, and to )now clearly that there is not
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one Spirit in the -aw and the >rophets, and another in the 'ospels and Apostles!
but that it is One and the Self9sa"e Holy Spirit, which both in the Old and in the
/ew %esta"ent, spo)e the divine Scriptures.
B. %his is the Holy 'host, who ca"e upon the Holy Iirgin ,ary! for since He who
was conceived was .hrist the Only9begotten, the power of the #ighest
overshadowed her, and the #oly Ghost came upon her -u)e 1:6A, and sancti(ed
her, that she "ight be able to receive Hi", by whom all things were made.
@ohn 1:6 7ut 0 have no need of "any words to teach you that generation was
without de(le"ent or taint, for you have learned it. 0t is 'abriel who says to her, 0
a" the herald of what shall be done, but have no part in the wor). %hough an
Archangel, 0 )now "y place! and though 0 Eoyfully bid you All hail, yet how you
shall bring forth, is not of any grace of "ine. (he #oly Ghost shall come upon
you, and the power of the #ighest shall overshadow you; therefore also that #oly
(hing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God -u)e 1:6A .
C. %his Holy Spirit wrought in +lisabeth! for He recognises not virgins only, but
"atrons also, so that their "arriage be lawful. 5nd 6lisabeth was 2lled with the
#oly Ghost -u)e 1:=1, and prophesied! and that noble hand9"aiden says of her
own -ord, 5nd whence is this to me, that the "other of my $ord should come to
me 5 $or +lisabeth counted herself blessed. $illed with this Holy Spirit, Oacharias
also, the father of @ohn, prophesied , telling how "any good things the Only9
begotten should procure, and that @ohn should be His harbinger through baptis".
7y this Holy 'host also it was revealed to Eust Sy"eon, that he should not see
death, till he had seen the $ord=s 'hrist -u)e *:*B96A! and he received Hi" in his
ar"s, and bore clear testi"ony in the %e"ple concerning Hi".
D. And @ohn also, who had been (lled with the Holy 'host fro" his "others wo"b
, was for this cause sancti(ed, that he "ight bapti&e the -ord! not giving the
Spirit hi"self, but preaching glad tidings of Hi" who gives the Spirit. $or he says,
% indeed bapti;e you with water unto repentance, but #e that comes after me,
and the rest! #e shall bapti;e you with the #oly Ghost and with 2re. ,atthew 6:11
7ut wherefore with (re5 7ecause the descent of the Holy 'host was in (ery
tongues! concerning which the -ord says Eoyfully, % have come to send 2re on the
earth; and what will %, if it be already kindled -u)e 1*:=F5
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F. %his Holy 'host ca"e down when the -ord was bapti&ed, that the dignity of
Hi" who was bapti&ed "ight not be hidden! as @ohn says, But #e which sent me
to bapti;e with water, the same said unto me, :pon whomsoever you shall see
the Spirit descending and remaining upon #im, the same is #e which bapti;es
with the #oly Ghost. @ohn 1:66 7ut see what says the 'ospel! the heavens were
opened! they were opened because of the dignity of Hi" who descended! for, lo,
he says, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a
dove, and lighting upon #im ,atthew 6:1B: that is, with voluntary "otion in His
descent. $or it was (t, as so"e have interpreted, that the pri"acy and (rst9fruits
of the Holy Spirit pro"ised to the bapti&ed should be conferred upon the
"anhood of the Saviour, who is the giver of such grace. 7ut perhaps He ca"e
down in the for" of a dove, as so"e say, to e3hibit a (gure of that dove who is
pure and innocent and unde(led, and also helps the prayers for the children she
has begotten, and for forgiveness of sins ! even as it was e"ble"atically foretold
that .hrist should be thus "anifested in the appearance of His eyes! for in the
.anticles she cries concerning the 7ridegroo", and says, !our eyes are as doves
by the rivers of water.
1G. Of this dove, the dove of /oe, according to so"e, was in part a (gure. $or as
in his ti"e by "eans of wood and of water there ca"e salvation to the"selves,
and the beginning of a new generation, and the dove returned to hi" towards
evening with an olive branch! thus, say they, the Holy 'host also descended upon
the true /oe, the Author of the second birth, who draws together into one the
wills of all nations, of who" the various dispositions of the ani"als in the ar)
were a (gure:; Hi" at whose co"ing the spiritual wolves feed with the la"bs, in
whose .hurch the calf, and the lion, and the o3, feed in the sa"e pasture, as we
behold to this day the rulers of the world guided and taught by .hurch"en. %he
spiritual dove therefore, as so"e interpret, ca"e down at the season of His
baptis", that He "ight show that it is He who by the wood of the .ross saves
the" who believe, He who at eventide should grant salvation through His death.
11. And these things perhaps should be otherwise e3plained! but now again we
"ust hear the words of the Saviour Hi"self concerning the Holy 'host. $or He
says, :nless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God. @ohn 6:A And that this grace is fro" the $ather, He thus states,
#ow much more shall your heavenly Father give the #oly Spirit to them that ask
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him. -u)e 11:16 And that we ought to worship 'od in the Spirit, He shows thus,
But the hour comes and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the
Father in Spirit and in truth; for the Father also seeks such to worship #im3 God is
a Spirit; and they that worship #im must worship #im in spirit and in truth.
@ohn =:*6 And again, But if % by the Spirit of God cast out devils ,atthew 1*:*D!
and i""ediately afterwards, (herefore % say unto you, 5ll manner of sin and
blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the #oly Ghost
shall not be forgiven3 5nd whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man,
it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak a word against the #oly
Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to
come. And again He says, 5nd % will pray the Father, and #e shall give you
another 'omforter, that #e may be with you for ever, the Spirit of (ruth; whom
the world cannot receive, because it sees #im not, neither knows #im; but you
know #im, for #e abides with you, and shall be in you. @ohn 1=:1B And again He
says, (hese things have % spoken unto you being yet present with you3 But the
'omforter, which is the #oly Ghost, whom the Father will send in "y name, #e
shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that % said
unto you. And again He says, But when the 'omforter has come, whom % will send
unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of (ruth, which proceeds from the
Father, #e shall testify of "e. And again the Saviour says, For if % go not away, the
'omforter will not come unto you. .... 5nd when #e has come, #e will convince
the world of sin, of righteousness, and of udgment ! and afterwards again, % have
yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now3 #owbeit, when
#e the Spirit of (ruth has come, #e will declare unto you all the truth; for #e shall
not speak from #imself; but whatsoever #e shall hear that shall #e speak, and #e
shall announce unto you the things to come3 #e shall glorify "e, for #e shall take
of "ine, and shall announce it unto you3 5ll things that the Father has are mine;
therefore said %, (hat #e shall take of "ine, and shall announce it unto you. 0 have
read to you now the utterances of the Only9begotten Hi"self, that you "ay not
give heed to "ens words.
1*. %he fellowship of this Holy Spirit He bestowed on the Apostles! for it is written,
5nd when #e had said this, #e breathed on them, and says unto them, +eceive
the #oly Ghost* whose soever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and
whose soever sins you retain, they are retained. @ohn *G:** %his was the second
ti"e He breathed on "an 1His (rst breath having been stifed through wilful sins2!
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that the Scripture "ight be ful(lled, #e went up breathing upon your face, and
delivering you from aIiction. 7ut whence went He up5 $ro" Hades! for thus the
'ospel relates, that then after His resurrection He breathed on the". 7ut though
He bestowed His grace then, He was to lavish it yet "ore bountifully! and He says
to the", 0 a" ready to give it even now, but the vessel cannot yet hold it! for a
while therefore receive ye as "uch grace as you can bear! and loo) forward for
yet "ore! but tarry ye in the city of 7erusalem, until ye be clothed with power
from on high. -u)e *=:6F +eceive it in part now! then, you shall wear it in its
fullness. $or he who receives, often possesses the gift but in part! but he who is
clothed, is co"pletely enfolded by his robe. $ear not, He says, the weapons and
darts of the devil! for you shall bear with you the power of the Holy 'host. 7ut
re"e"ber what was lately said, that the Holy 'host is not divided, but only the
grace which is given by Hi".
16. @esus therefore went up into heaven, and ful(lled the pro"ise. $or He said to
the", % will pray the Father, and #e shall give you another 'omforter. @ohn 1=:1B
So they were sitting, loo)ing for the co"ing of the Holy 'host! and when the day
of -entecost was fully come, here, in this city of @erusale",; 1for this honour also
belongs to us ! and we spea) not of the good things which have happened a"ong
others, but of those which have been vouchsafed a"ong ourselves,2; on the day
of >entecost, 0 say, they were sitting, and the .o"forter ca"e down fro" heaven,
the 'uardian and Sancti(er of the .hurch, the Huler of souls, the >ilot of the
te"pest9tossed, who leads the wanderers to the light, and presides over the
co"batants, and crowns the victors.
1=. 7ut He ca"e down to clothe the Apostles with power, and to bapti&e the"! for
the -ord says, you shall be bapti;ed with the #oly Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 1:A %his grace was not in part, but His power was in full perfection! for as he
who plunges into the waters and is bapti&ed is enco"passed on all sides by the
waters, so were they also bapti&ed co"pletely by the Holy 'host. %he water
however fows round the outside only, but the Spirit bapti&es also the soul within,
and that co"pletely. And wherefore do you wonder5 %a)e an e3a"ple fro"
"atter! poor indeed and co""on, yet useful for the si"pler sort. 0f the (re
passing in through the "ass of the iron "a)es the whole of it (re, so that what
was cold beco"es burning and what was blac) is "ade bright;if (re which is a
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body thus penetrates and wor)s without hindrance in iron which is also a body,
why wonder that the Holy 'host enters into the very in"ost recesses of the soul5
1A. And lest "en should be ignorant of the greatness of the "ighty gift co"ing
down to the", there sounded as it were a heavenly tru"pet, $or suddenly there
came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind Acts *:*, signifying
the presence of Hi" who was to grant power unto "en to sei&e with violence the
)ingdo" of 'od! that both their eyes "ight see the (ery tongues, and their ears
hear the sound. 5nd it 2lled all the house where they were sitting! for the house
beca"e the vessel of the spiritual water! as the disciples sat within, the whole
house was (lled. %hus they were entirely bapti&ed according to the pro"ise, and
invested soul and body with a divine gar"ent of salvation. 5nd there appeared
unto them cloven tongues like as of 2re, and it sat upon each of them; and they
were all 2lled with the #oly Ghost. %hey partoo) of (re, not of burning but of
saving (re! of (re which consu"es the thorns of sins, but gives lustre to the soul.
%his is now co"ing upon you also, and that to strip away and consu"e your sins
which are li)e thorns, and to brighten yet "ore that precious possession of your
souls, and to give you grace! for He gave it then to the Apostles. And He sat upon
the" in the for" of (ery tongues, that they "ight crown the"selves with new
and spiritual diade"s by (ery tongues upon their heads. A (ery sword barred of
old the gates of >aradise! a (ery tongue which brought salvation restored the gift.
1B. 5nd they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them
utterance. %he 'alilean >eter or Andrew spo)e >ersian or ,edian. @ohn and the
rest of the Apostles spo)e every tongue to those of 'entile e3traction! for not in
our ti"e have "ultitudes of strangers (rst begun to asse"ble here fro" all
:uarters, but they have done so since that ti"e. 8hat teacher can be found so
great as to teach "en all at once things which they have not learned5 So "any
years are they in learning by gra""ar and other arts to spea) only 'ree) well!
nor yet do all spea) this e:ually well! the Hhetorician perhaps succeeds in
spea)ing well, and the 'ra""arian so"eti"es not well, and the s)ilful
'ra""arian is ignorant of the subEects of philosophy. 7ut the Holy Spirit taught
the" "any languages at once, languages which in all their life they never )new.
%his is in truth vast wisdo", this is power divine. 8hat a contrast of their long
ignorance in ti"e past to their sudden, co"plete and varied and unaccusto"ed
e3ercise of these languages#
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1C. %he "ultitude of the hearers was confounded;it was a second confusion, in
the roo" of that (rst evil one at 7abylon. $or in that confusion of tongues there
was division of purpose, because their thought was at en"ity with 'od! but here
"inds were restored and united, because the obEect of interest was godly. %he
"eans of falling were the "eans of recovery. 8herefore they "arvelled, saying
Acts *:D, #ow hear we them speaking5 /o "arvel if you be ignorant! for even
/icode"us was ignorant of the co"ing of the Spirit, and to hi" it was said, (he
Spirit breathes where it lists, and you hear the voice thereof, but canst not tell
whence it comes, and whither it goes ! but if, even though 0 hear His voice, 0 )now
not whence he co"es, how can 0 e3plain, what He is Hi"self in substance5
1D. But others mocking said, (hey are full of new wine Acts *:16, and they spo)e
truly though in "oc)ery. $or in truth the wine was new, even the grace of the /ew
%esta"ent! but this new wine was fro" a spiritual Iine, which had oftenti"es ere
this borne fruit in >rophets, and had budded in the /ew %esta"ent. $or as in
things sensible, the vine ever re"ains the sa"e, but bears new fruits in its
seasons, so also the self9sa"e Spirit continuing what He is, as He had often
wrought in >rophets, now "anifested a new and "arvellous wor). $or though His
grace had co"e before to the $athers also, yet here it ca"e e3uberantly! for
for"erly "en only partoo) of the Holy 'host, but now they were bapti&ed
co"pletely.
1F. 7ut >eter who had the Holy 'host, and who )new what he possessed, says,
"en of %srael, you who preach @oel, but )now not the things which are written,
these men are not drunken as you suppose. 4run)en they are, not however as
you suppose, but according to that which is written, (hey shall be drunken with
the fatness of your house; and you shall make them drink of the torrents of your
pleasure. %hey are drun)en, with a sober drun)enness, deadly to sin and life9
giving to the heart, a drun)enness contrary to that of the body! for this last
causes forgetfulness even of what was )nown, but that bestows the )nowledge
even of what was not )nown. %hey are drun)en, for they have drun) the wine of
the spiritual vine, which says, % am the vine and you are the branches. @ohn 1A:A
7ut if you are not persuaded by "e, understand what 0 tell you fro" the very ti"e
of the day! for it is the third hour of the day. $or He who, as ,ar) relates, was
cruci(ed at the third hour, now at the third hour sent down His grace. $or His
grace is not other than the Spirits grace, but He who was then cruci(ed, who also
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gave the pro"ise, "ade good that which He pro"ised. And if you would receive a
testi"ony also, $isten, he says: But this is that which was spoken by the prophet
7oel; 5nd it shall come to pass after this, says God, % will pour forth of "y Spirit
@oel *:*D ; 1and this word, % will pour forth, i"plied a rich gift! for God gives not
the Spirit by measure, for the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into
#is hand @ohn 6:6=96A! and He has given Hi" the power also of bestowing the
grace of the All9holy Spirit on who"soever He will2; % will pour forth of "y Spirit
unto all <esh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy! and afterwards,
!ea, and on "y servants and on "y handmaidens % will pour out in those days of
"y Spirit, and they shall prophesy @oel *:*F . %he Holy 'host is no respecter of
persons! for He see)s not dignities, but piety of soul. -et neither the rich be
pu?ed up, nor the poor deEected, but only let each prepare hi"self for reception
of the Heavenly gift.
*G. 8e have said "uch today, and perchance you are weary of listening! yet
"ore still re"ains. And in truth for the doctrine of the Holy 'host there were need
of a third lecture! and of "any besides. 7ut we "ust have your indulgence on
both points. $or as the Holy $estival of +aster is now at hand we have this day
lengthened our discourse and yet we had not roo" to bring before you all the
testi"onies fro" the /ew %esta"ent which we ought. $or "any passages are still
to co"e fro" the Acts of the Apostles in which the grace of the Holy 'host
wrought "ightily in >eter and in all the Apostles together! "any also fro" the
.atholic +pistles, and the fourteen +pistles of >aul! out of all which we will now
endeavour to gather a few, li)e fowers fro" a large "eadow, "erely by way of
re"e"brance.
*1. $or in the power of the Holy 'host, by the will of $ather and Son, >eter stood
with the +leven, and lifting up his voice, 1according to the te3t, $ift up your voice
with strength, you that bringest good tidings to 7erusalem 0saiah =G:F2, captured
in the spiritual net of his words, about three thousand souls. So great was the
grace which wrought in all the Apostles together, that, out of the @ews, those
cruci(ers of .hrist, this great nu"ber believed, and were bapti&ed in the /a"e of
.hrist, and continued steadfastly in the 5postles= doctrine and in the prayers.
Acts *:=* And again in the sa"e power of the Holy 'host, -eter and 7ohn went up
into the (emple at the hour of prayer, which was the ninth hour , and in the /a"e
of @esus healed the "an at the 7eautiful gate, who had been la"e fro" his
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"others wo"b for forty years! that it "ight be ful(lled which was spo)en, (hen
shall the lame man leap as an hart. 0saiah 6A:B And thus, as they captured in the
spiritual net of their doctrine (ve thousand believers at once, so they confuted
the "isguided rulers of the people and chief priests, and that, not through their
own wisdo", for they were unlearned and ignorant men Acts =:16, but through
the "ighty power of the Holy 'host! for it is written, (hen -eter 2lled with the
#oly Ghost said to them. So great also was the grace of the Holy 'host, which
wrought by "eans of the %welve Apostles in the" who believed, that they were of
one heart and of one soul , and their enEoy"ent of their goods was co""on, the
possessors piously o?ering the prices of their possessions, and no one a"ong
the" wanting anything! while Ananias and Sapphira, who atte"pted to lie to the
Holy 'host, underwent their be(tting punish"ent.
**. 5nd by the hands of the 5postles were many signs and wonders wrought
among the people. Acts A:1* And so great was the spiritual grace shed around
the Apostles, that gentle as they were, they were the obEects of dread! for of the
rest dared no man oin himself to them; but the people magni2ed them; and
multitudes were added of those who believed on the $ord, both of men and
women! and the streets were (lled with the sic) on their beds and couches, that
as -eter passed by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them. And the
multitude also of the cities round about came unto this holy @erusale", bringing
sick folk, and them that were ve.ed with unclean spirits, and they were healed
every one in this power of the Holy 'host.
*6. Again, after the %welve Apostles had been cast into prison by the chief priests
for preaching .hrist, and had been "arvellously delivered fro" it at night by an
Angel, and were brought before the" in the Eudg"ent hall fro" the %e"ple, they
fearlessly rebu)ed the" in their discourse to the" concerning .hrist, and added
this, that God has also given #is #oly Spirit to them that obey #im. And when
they had been scourged, they went their way reEoicing, and ceased not to teach
and preach 7esus as the 'hrist Acts A:=* .
*=. And it was not in the %welve Apostles only that the grace of the Holy Spirit
wrought, but also in the (rst9born children of this once barren .hurch, 0 "ean the
seven 4eacons! for these also were chosen, as it is written, being full of the #oly
Ghost and of wisdom. Of who" Stephen, rightly so na"ed , the (rst fruits of the
,artyrs, a "an full of faith and of the #oly Ghost, wrought great wonders and
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miracles among the people, and van:uished those who disputed with hi"! for
they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 7ut
when he was "aliciously accused and brought to the Eudg"ent hall, he was
radiant with angelic brightness! for all they who sat in the council, looking
steadfastly on him, saw his face, as it had been the face of an 5ngel. And having
by his wise defence confuted the @ews, those sti&necked men, uncircumcised in
heart and ears, ever resisting the #oly Ghost , he beheld the heavens opened,
and saw the Son of "an standing on the right hand of God. He saw Hi", not by
his own power, but, as the 4ivine Scripture says, being full of the #oly Ghost, he
looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and 7esus standing
on the right hand of God.
*A. 0n this power of the Holy 'host, >hilip also in the /a"e of .hrist at one ti"e
in the city of Sa"aria drove away the unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice!
and healed the palsied and the la"e, and brought to .hrist great "ultitudes of
the" that believe. %o who" >eter and @ohn ca"e down, and with prayer, and the
laying on of hands, i"parted the fellowship of the Holy 'host, fro" which Si"on
,agus alone was declared an alien, and that Eustly. And at another ti"e >hilip
was called by the Angel of the -ord in the way, for the sa)e of that "ost godly
+thiopian, the +unuch, and heard distinctly the Spirit Hi"self saying, Go near, and
oin yourself to this chariot. He instructed the +unuch, and bapti&ed hi", and so
having sent into +thiopia a herald of .hrist, according as it is written, 6thiopia
shall soon stretch out her hand unto God , he was caught away by the Angel, and
preached the 'ospel in the cities in succession.
*B. 8ith this Holy Spirit >aul also had been (lled after his calling by our -ord @esus
.hrist. -et godly Ananias co"e as a witness to what we say, he who in 4a"ascus
said to hi", (he $ord, even 7esus who appeared to you in the way which you
came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be 2lled with the #oly
Ghost. Acts F:1C And straightway the Spirits "ighty wor)ing changed the
blindness of >auls eyes into newness of sight! and having vouchsafed His seal
unto his soul, "ade hi" a chosen vessel to bear the 8ame of the -ord who had
appeared to hi", before kings and the children of %srael, and rendered the for"er
persecutor an a"bassador and good servant;one, who from 7erusalem, and
even unto %llyricum, fully preached the Gospel Ho"ans 1A:1F, and instructed
even i"perial Ho"e, and carried the earnestness of his preaching as far as Spain,
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undergoing conficts innu"erable, and perfor"ing signs and wonders. Of hi" for
the present enough.
*C. 0n the power of the sa"e Holy Spirit >eter also, the chief of the Apostles and
the bearer of the )eys of the )ingdo" of heaven, healed Pneas the paralytic in
the /a"e of .hrist at -ydda, which is now 4iospolis, and at @oppa raised fro" the
dead %abitha rich in good wor)s. And being on the housetop in a trance, he saw
heaven opened, and by "eans of the vessel let down as it were a sheet full of
beasts of every shape and sort, he learned plainly to call no "an co""on or
unclean, though he should be of the 'ree)s. Acts 1G:1191B And when he was sent
for by .ornelius, he heard clearly the Holy 'host Hi"self saying, Behold, men
seek you; but arise and get you down, and go with them, nothing doubting; for %
have sent them. And that it "ight be plainly shown that those of the 'entiles also
who believe are "ade parta)ers of the grace of the Holy 'host, when >eter had
co"e to .esarea, and was teaching the things concerning .hrist, the Scripture
says concerning .ornelius and the" who were with hi"! ,hile -eter yet spoke
these words, the #oly Ghost fell on all them which heard the word; so that they of
the circumcision also which came with -eter were astonished, and when they
understood it said that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the #oly
Ghost.
*D. And in Antioch also, a "ost renowned city of Syria, when the preaching of
.hrist too) e?ect, 7arnabas was sent hence as far as Antioch to help on the good
wor), being a good man, and full of the #oly Ghost, and of faith ! who seeing a
great harvest of believers in .hrist, brought >aul fro" %arsus to Antioch, as his
fellow9co"batant. And when crowds had been instructed by the" and asse"bled
in the .hurch, it came to pass that the disciples were called 'hristians 2rst in
5ntioch ! the Holy 'host, "ethin)s, bestowing on the believers that new /a"e,
which had been pro"ised before by the -ord. And the grace of the Spirit being
shed forth by 'od "ore abundantly in Antioch, there were there prophets and
teachers of who" Agabus was one. Acts 11:*D And as they ministered to the $ord
and fasted, the #oly Ghost said, Separate "e Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto % have called them. And after hands had been laid on the", they were
sent forth by the #oly Ghost. /ow it is "anifest, that the Spirit which spea)s and
sends, is a living Spirit, subsisting, and operating, as we have said.
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*F. %his Holy Spirit, who in unison with $ather and Son has established the /ew
.ovenant in the .hurch .atholic, has set us free fro" the burdens of the law
grievous to be borne;those 0 "ean, concerning things co""on and unclean, and
"eats, and sabbaths, and new "oons, and circu"cision, and sprin)lings, and
sacri(ces! which were given for a season, and had a shadow of the good things to
come Hebrews 1G:1, but which, when the truth had co"e, were rightly withdrawn.
$or when >aul and 7arnabas were sent to the Apostles, because of the :uestion
"oved at Antioch by the" who said that it was necessary to be circu"cised and
to )eep the custo"s of ,oses, the Apostles who were here at @erusale" by a
written inEunction set free the whole world fro" all the legal and typical
observances! yet they attributed not to the"selves the full authority in so great a
"atter, but send an inEunction in writing, and ac)nowledge this: For it has
seemed good unto the #oly Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden
than these necessary things; that you abstain from things sacri2ced to idols, and
from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication ! showing evidently
by what they wrote, that though the writing was by the hands of hu"an Apostles,
yet the decree is universal fro" the Holy 'host: which decree >aul and 7arnabas
too) and con(r"ed unto all the world.
6G. And now, having proceeded thus far in "y discourse, 0 as) indulgence fro"
your love , or rather fro" the Spirit who dwelt in >aul, if 0 should not be able to
rehearse everything, by reason of "y own wea)ness, and your weariness who
listen. $or when shall 0 in ter"s worthy of Hi"self declare the "arvellous deeds
wrought by the operation of the Holy 'host in the /a"e of .hrist5 %hose wrought
in .yprus upon +ly"as the sorcerer, and in -ystra at the healing of the cripple,
and in .ilicia and >hrygia and 'alatia and ,ysia and ,acedonia5 Or those at
>hilippi 1the preaching, 0 "ean, and the driving out of the spirit of divination in
the /a"e of .hrist! and the salvation by baptis" of the Eailer with his whole
house at night after the earth:ua)e2! or the events at %hessalonica! and the
address at Areopagus in the "idst of the Athenians! or the instructions at .orinth,
and in all Achaia5 How shall 0 worthily recount the "ighty deeds which were
wrought at +phesus through >aul, by the Holy 'host Acts 1F:19B5 8ho" they of
that .ity )new not before, but ca"e to )now Hi" by the doctrine of >aul! and
when >aul had laid his hands on the", and the Holy 'host had co"e upon the",
they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. And so great spiritual grace was upon
hi", that not only his touch wrought cures, but even the handkerchiefs and
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napkins , brought fro" his body, healed diseases, and scared away the evil
spirits! and at last they also who practised curious arts brought their books
together, and burned them before all men.
61. 0 pass by the wor) wrought at %roas on +utychus, who being borne down by
his sleep fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead! yet was saved
alive by >aul. 0 also pass by the prophecies addressed to the +lders of +phesus
who" he called to hi" in ,iletus, to who" he openly said, (hat the #oly Ghost
witnesses in every city, saying ; and the rest! for by saying, in every city, >aul
"ade "anifest that the "arvellous wor)s done by hi" in each city, were fro" the
operative power of the Holy 'host, by the will of 'od, and in the /a"e of .hrist
who spo)e in hi". 7y the power of this Holy 'host, the sa"e >aul was hastening
to this holy city @erusale", and this, though Agabus by the Spirit foretold what
should befall hi"! and yet he spo)e to the people with con(dence, declaring the
things concerning .hrist. And when brought to .esarea, and set a"id tribunals of
Eustice, at one ti"e before $eli3, and at another before $estus the governor and
King Agrippa, >aul obtained of the Holy 'host grace so great, and triu"phant in
wisdo", that at last Agrippa hi"self the )ing of the @ews said, 5lmost you
persuade me to be a 'hristian. %his Holy Spirit granted to >aul, when he was in
the island of ,elita also, to receive no har" when bitten by the viper, and to
e?ect various cures on the diseased. %his Holy Spirit guided hi", the persecutor
of old, as a herald of .hrist, even as far as i"perial Ho"e, and there he
persuaded "any of the @ews to believe in .hrist, and to the" who gainsaid he
said plainly, ,ell spoke the #oly Ghost by 6saias the -rophet, saying unto your
fathers, and the rest.
6*. And that >aul was full of the Holy 'host, and all his fellow Apostles, and they
who after the" believed in $ather, Son, and Holy 'host, hear fro" hi"self as he
writes plainly in his +pistles! 5nd my speech, he says, and my preaching was not
in persuasive words of man=s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power. 1 .orinthians *:= And again, But #e who sealed us for this very purpose is
God, who gave us the earnest of the Spirit. * .orinthians 1:** And again, #e that
raised up 7esus from the dead shall also )uicken your mortal bodies by #is Spirit
which dwells in you. Ho"ans D:11 And again, writing to %i"othy, (hat good thing
which was committed to you guard through the #oly Ghost which was given to
us.
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66. And that the Holy 'host subsists, and lives, and spea)s, and foretells, 0 have
often said in what goes before, and >aul writes it plainly to %i"othy: 8ow the
Spirit speaks e.pressly, that in later times some shall depart from the faith
1 %i"othy =:1;which we see in the divisions not only of for"er ti"es but also of
our own! so "otley and diversi(ed are the errors of the heretics. And again the
sa"e >aul says, ,hich in other generations was not made known unto the sons
of men, as it has now been revealed unto #is #oly 5postles and -rophets in the
Spirit. +phesians 6:A And again, ,herefore, as says the #oly Ghost Hebrews 6:C!
and again, (he #oly Ghost also witnesses to us. And again he calls unto the
soldiers of righteousness, saying, 5nd take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the ,ord of God, with all prayer and supplication.
+phesians B:1C And again, Be not drunk with wine, wherein is e.cess; but be
2lled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual
songs. And again, (he grace of the $ord 7esus, and the love of God, and the
communion of the #oly Ghost be with you all * .orinthians 16:1= .
6=. 7y all these proofs, and by "ore which have been passed over, is the
personal, and sanctifying, and e?ectual power of the Holy 'host established for
those who can understand! for the ti"e would fail "e in "y discourse if 0 wished
to :uote what yet re"ains concerning the Holy 'host fro" the fourteen +pistles
of >aul, wherein he has taught with such variety, co"pleteness, and reverence.
And to the power of the Holy 'host Hi"self it "ust belong, to grant to us
forgiveness for what we have o"itted because the days are few, and upon you
the hearers to i"press "ore perfectly the )nowledge of what yet re"ains! while
fro" the fre:uent reading of the sacred Scriptures those of you who are diligent
co"e to understand these things, and by this ti"e, both fro" these present
-ectures, and fro" what has before been told you, hold "ore steadfastly the $aith
in One 'od the $ather Al"ighty! and in our -ord @esus .hrist, His Only97egotten
Son! and in the Holy 'host the .o"forter. %hough the word itself and title of Spirit
is applied to %he" in co""on in the sacred Scriptures,; for it is said of the
$ather, God is a Spirit @ohn =:*=, as it is written in the 'ospel according to @ohn!
and of the Son, 5 Spirit before our face, 'hrist the $ord , as @ere"ias the prophet
says! and of the Holy 'host, the 'omforter, the #oly Ghost @ohn 1=:*A, as was
said;yet the arrange"ent of articles in the $aith, if religiously understood,
disproves the error of Sabellius also. Heturn we therefore in our discourse to the
point which now presses and is pro(table to you.
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6A. 7eware lest ever li)e Si"on thou co"e to the dispensers of 7aptis" in
hypocrisy, your heart the while not see)ing the truth. 0t is ours to protest, but it is
yours to secure yourself. 0f you stand in faith Ho"ans 11:*G, blessed are you! if
you have fallen in unbelief, fro" this day forward cast away your unbelief, and
receive full assurance. $or, at the season of baptis", when you have co"e before
the 7ishops, or >resbyters, or 4eacons ;1for its grace is everywhere, in villages
and in cities, on the" of low as on the" of high degree, on bonds"en and on
free"en, for this grace is not of "en, but the gift is fro" 'od through "en,2;
approach the ,inister of 7aptis", but approaching, thin) not of the face of hi"
you see, but re"e"ber this Holy 'host of who" we are now spea)ing. $or He is
present in readiness to seal your soul, and He shall give you that Seal at which
evil spirits tre"ble, a heavenly and sacred seal, as also it is written, %n whom also
ye believed, and were sealed with the #oly Spirit of promise.
6B. <et He tries the soul. He casts not His pearls before swine! if you play the
hypocrite, though "en bapti&e you now, the Holy Spirit will not bapti&e you. 7ut if
you approach with faith, though "en "inister in what is seen, the Holy 'host
bestows that which is unseen. <ou are co"ing to a great trial, to a great "uster ,
in that one hour, which if you throw away, your disaster is irretrievable! but if you
be counted worthy of the grace, your soul will be enlightened, you will receive a
power which you had not, you will receive weapons terrible to the evil spirits! and
if you cast not away your ar"s, but )eep the Seal upon your soul, no evil spirit
will approach you! for he will be cowed! for verily by the Spirit of 'od are the evil
spirits cast out.
6C. 0f you believe, you shall not only receive re"ission of sins, but also do things
which pass "ans power. And "ay thou be worthy of the gift of prophecy also# $or
you shall receive grace according to the "easure of your capacity and not of "y
words! for 0 "ay possibly spea) of but s"all things, yet you "ay receive greater!
since faith is a large a?air. All your life long will your guardian the .o"forter
abide with you! He will care for you, as for his own soldier! for your goings out,
and your co"ings in, and your plotting foes. And He will give you gifts of grace of
every )ind, if you grieve Hi" not by sin! for it is written, 5nd grieve not the #oly
Spirit of God, whereby you were sealed unto the day of redemption.
+phesians =:6G 8hat then, beloved, is it to preserve grace5 7e ready to receive
grace, and when you have received it, cast it not away.
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6D. And "ay the very 'od of All, who spo)e by the Holy 'host through the
prophets, who sent Hi" forth upon the Apostles on the day of >entecost in this
place, Hi"self send Hi" forth at this ti"e also upon you! and by Hi" )eep us
also, i"parting His bene(t in co""on to us all, that we "ay ever render up the
fruits of the Holy 'host, love, oy, peace, long/su&ering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance 'alatians A:**9*6, in .hrist @esus our -ord:; 7y
who" and with who", together with the Holy 'host, be glory to the $ather, both
now, and ever, and for ever and ever. A"en.
+&e)iel 6C:1
%he hand of the -ord was upon "e, and carried "e out in the Spirit of the -ord,
and set "e down in the "idst of the valley which was full of bones.
1. %he root of all good wor)s is the hope of the Hesurrection! for the e3pectation
of the reco"pense nerves the soul to good wor)s. $or every labourer is ready to
endure the toils, if he sees their reward in prospect! but when "en weary
the"selves for nought, their heart soon sin)s as well as their body. A soldier who
e3pects a pri&e is ready for war, but no one is forward to die for a )ing who is
indi?erent about those who serve under hi", and bestows no honours on their
toils. 0n li)e "anner every soul believing in a Hesurrection is naturally careful of
itself! but, disbelieving it, abandons itself to perdition. He who believes that his
body shall re"ain to rise again, is careful of his robe, and de(les it not with
fornication! but he who disbelieves the Hesurrection, gives hi"self to fornication,
and "isuses his own body, as though it were not his own. $aith therefore in the
Hesurrection of the dead, is a great co""and"ent and doctrine of the Holy
.atholic .hurch! great and "ost necessary, though gainsaid by "any, yet surely
warranted by the truth. 'ree)s contradict it , Sa"aritans disbelieve it, heretics
"utilate it! the contradiction is "anifold, but the truth is unifor".
*. /ow 'ree)s and Sa"aritans together argue against us thus. %he dead "an has
fallen, and "ouldered away, and is all turned into wor"s! and the wor"s have
died also! such is the decay and destruction which has overta)en the body! how
then is it to be raised5 %he shipwrec)ed have been devoured by (shes, which are
the"selves devoured. Of the" who (ght with wild beasts the very bones are
ground to powder, and consu"ed by bears and lions. Iultures and ravens feed on
the fesh of the unburied dead, and then fy away over all the world! whence then
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is the body to be collected5 $or of the fowls who have devoured it so"e "ay
chance to die in 0ndia, so"e in >ersia, so"e in the land of the 'oths. Other "en
again are consu"ed by (re, and their very ashes scattered by rain or wind!
whence is the body to be brought together again 5
6. %o you, poor little feeble "an, 0ndia is far fro" the land of the 'oths, and Spain
fro" >ersia! but to 'od, who holds the whole earth in the hollow of #is hand
0saiah =G:1*, all things are near at hand. 0"pute not then wea)ness to 'od, fro"
a co"parison of your feebleness, but rather dwell on His power. 4oes then the
sun, a s"all wor) of 'od, by one glance of his bea"s give war"th to the whole
world! does the at"osphere, which 'od has "ade, enco"pass all things in the
world! and is 'od, who is the .reator both of the sun, and of the at"osphere, far
o? fro" the world5 0"agine a "i3ture of seeds of di?erent plants 1for as you are
wea) concerning the faith, the e3a"ples which 0 allege are wea) also2, and that
these di?erent seeds are contained in your single hand! is it then to you, who art
a "an, a diLcult or an easy "atter to separate what is in your hand, and to
collect each seed according to its nature, and restore it to its own )ind5 .an you
then separate the things in your hand, and cannot 'od separate the things
contained in His hand, and restore the" to their proper place5 .onsider what 0
say, whether it is not i"pious to deny it5
=. 7ut further, attend, 0 pray, to the very principle of Eustice, and co"e to your
own case. <ou have di?erent sorts of servants: and so"e are good and so"e bad!
you honour therefore the good, and s"itest the bad. And if you are a Eudge, to
the good you award praise, and to the transgressors, punish"ent. 0s then Eustice
observed by you a "ortal "an! and with 'od, the ever changeless King of all, is
there no retributive Eustice 5 /ay, to deny it is i"pious. $or consider what 0 say.
,any "urderers have died in their beds unpunished! where then is the
righteousness of 'od5 <ea, oftti"es a "urderer guilty of (fty "urders is
beheaded once! where then shall he su?er punish"ent for the forty and nine5
Nnless there is a Eudg"ent and a retribution after this world, you charge 'od with
unrighteousness. ,arvel not, however, because of the delay of the Eudg"ent! no
co"batant is crowned or disgraced, till the contest is over! and no president of
the ga"es ever crowns "en while yet striving, but he waits till all the co"batants
are (nished, that then deciding between the" he "ay dispense the pri&es and
200
the chaplets. +ven thus 'od also, so long as the strife in this world lasts, succours
the Eust but partially, but afterwards He renders to the" their rewards fully.
A. 7ut if according to you there is no resurrection of the dead, wherefore do you
conde"n the robbers of graves5 $or if the body perishes, and there is no
resurrection to be hoped for, why does the violator of the to"b undergo
punish"ent5 <ou see that though you deny it with your lips, there yet abides with
you an indestructible instinct of the resurrection.
B. $urther, does a tree after it has been cut down blosso" again, and shall "an
after being cut down blosso" no "ore5 And does the grain sown and reaped
re"ain for the threshing foor, and shall "an when reaped fro" this world not
re"ain for the threshing5 And do shoots of vine or other trees, when clean cut o?
and transplanted, co"e to life and bear fruit! and shall "an, for whose sa)e all
these e3ist, fall into the earth and not rise again5 .o"paring e?orts, which is
greater, to "ould fro" the beginning a statue which did not e3ist, or to recast in
the sa"e shape that which had fallen5 0s 'od then, who created us out of
nothing, unable to raise again those who e3ist and are fallen 5 7ut you believe
not what is written of the resurrection, being a 'ree): then fro" the analogy of
nature consider these "atters, and understand the" fro" what is seen to this
day. 8heat, it "ay be, or so"e other )ind of grain, is sown! and when the seed
has fallen, it dies and rots, and is henceforth useless for food. 7ut that which has
rotted, springs up in verdure! and though s"all when sown, springs up "ost
beautiful. /ow wheat was "ade for us! for wheat and all seeds were created not
for the"selves, but for our use! are then the things which were "ade for us
:uic)ened when they die, and do we for who" they were "ade, not rise again
after our death 5
C. %he season is winter , as you see, the trees now stand as if they were dead: for
where are the leaves of the (g9tree5 8here are the clusters of the vine5 %hese in
winter ti"e are dead, but green in spring! and when the season has co"e, there
is restored to the" a :uic)ening as it were fro" a state of death. $or 'od,
)nowing your unbelief, wor)s a resurrection year by year in these visible things!
that, beholding what happens to things inani"ate, you "ay believe concerning
things ani"ate and rational. $urther, fies and bees are often drowned in water,
yet after a while revive ! and species of dor"ice , after re"aining "otionless
during the winter, are restored in the su""er 1for to your slight thoughts li)e
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e3a"ples are o?ered2! and shall He who to irrational and despised creatures
grants life supernaturally, not bestow it upon us, for whose sa)e He "ade the"5
D. 7ut the 'ree)s as) for a resurrection of the dead still "anifest! and say that,
even if these creatures are raised, yet they had not utterly "ouldered away! and
they re:uire to see distinctly so"e creature rise again after co"plete decay. 'od
)new "ens unbelief, and provided for this purpose a bird, called a >hoeni3. %his
bird, as .le"ent writes, and as "any "ore relate, being the only one of its )ind ,
arrives in the land of the +gyptians at periods of (ve hundred years, showing
forth the resurrection, not in desert places, lest the occurrence of the "ystery
should re"ain un)nown, but appearing in a notable city , that "en "ight even
handle what would otherwise be disbelieved. $or it "a)es itself a coLn of
fran)incense and "yrrh and other spices, and entering into this when its years
are ful(lled, it evidently dies and "oulders away. %hen fro" the decayed fesh of
the dead bird a wor" is engendered, and this wor" when grown large is
transfor"ed into a bird;and do not disbelieve this, for you see the o?spring of
bees also fashioned thus out of wor"s , and fro" eggs which are :uite fuid you
have seen wings and bones and sinews of birds issue. Afterwards the aforesaid
>hoeni3, beco"ing fedged and a full9grown >hoeni3, li)e the for"er one, soars
up into the air such as it had died, showing forth to "en a "ost evident
resurrection of the dead. %he >hoeni3 indeed is a wondrous bird, yet it is
irrational, nor ever sang praise to 'od! it fies abroad through the s)y, but it
)nows not who is the Only9begotten Son of 'od. Has then a resurrection fro" the
dead been given to this irrational creature which )nows not its ,a)er, and to us
who ascribe glory to 'od and )eep His co""and"ents, shall there no
resurrection be granted5
F. 7ut since the sign of the >hoeni3 is re"ote and unco""on, and "en still
disbelieve our resurrection, ta)e again the proof of this fro" what you see every
day. A hundred or two hundred years ago, we all, spea)ers and hearers, where
were we5 Know we not the groundwor) of the substance of our bodies5 4o you
not )now how fro" wea) and shapeless and si"ple ele"ents we are engendered,
and out of what is si"ple and wea) a living "an is for"ed5 And how that wea)
ele"ent being "ade fesh is changed into strong sinews, and bright eyes, and
sensitive nose, and hearing ears, and spea)ing tongue, and beating heart, and
busy hands, and swift feet, and into "e"bers of all )inds 5 And how that once
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wea) ele"ent beco"es a shipwright, and a builder, and an architect, and a
crafts"an of various arts, and a soldier, and a ruler, and a lawgiver, and a )ing5
.annot 'od then, who has "ade us out of i"perfect "aterials, raise us up when
we have fallen into decay5 He who thus fa"es a body out of what is vile, cannot
He raise the fallen body again5 And He who fashions that which is not, shall He
not raise up that which is and is fallen5
1G. %a)e further a "anifest proof of the resurrection of the dead, witnessed "onth
by "onth in the s)y and its lu"inaries. %he body of the "oon vanishes
co"pletely, so that no part of it is any "ore seen, yet it (lls again, and is restored
to its for"er state ! and for the perfect de"onstration of the "atter, the "oon at
certain revolutions of years su?ering eclipse and beco"ing "anifestly changed
into blood, yet recovers its lu"inous body: 'od having provided this, that you
also, the "an who art for"ed of blood, "ight not refuse credence to the
resurrection of the dead, but "ight believe concerning yourself also what you see
in respect of the "oon. %hese therefore use thou as argu"ents against the
'ree)s! for with the" who receive not what is written (ght thou with unwritten
weapons, by reasonings only and de"onstrations! for these "en )now not who
,oses is, nor +saias, nor the 'ospels, nor >aul.
11. %urn now to the Sa"aritans, who, receiving the -aw only, allow not the
>rophets. %o the" the te3t Eust now read fro" +&e)iel appears of no force, for, as 0
said, they ad"it no >rophets! whence then shall we persuade the Sa"aritans
also5 -et us go to the writings of the -aw. /ow 'od says to ,oses, % am the God
of 5braham, and of %saac, and of 7acob ! this "ust "ean of those who have being
and subsistence. $or if Abraha" has co"e to an end, and 0saac and @acob, then
He is the 'od of those who have no being. 8hen did a )ing ever say, 0 a" the
)ing of soldiers, who" he had not5 8hen did any display wealth which he
possessed not5 %herefore Abraha" and 0saac and @acob "ust subsist, that 'od
"ay be the 'od of those who have being! for He said not, 0 was their 'od, but %
am. And that there is a Eudg"ent, Abraha" shows in saying to the -ord, #e who
udges all the earth, shall #e not e.ecute udgment 'enesis 1D:*A5
1*. 7ut to this the foolish Sa"aritans obEect again, and say that the souls possibly
of Abraha" and 0saac and @acob continue, but that their bodies cannot possibly
rise again. 8as it then possible that the rod of righteous ,oses should beco"e a
serpent, and is it i"possible that the bodies of the righteous should live and rise
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again5 And was that done contrary to nature, and shall they not be restored
according to nature5 Again, the rod of Aaron, though cut o? and dead, budded,
without the scent of waters @ob 1=:F, and though under a roof, sprouted forth into
blosso"s as in the (elds! and though set in dry places, yielded in one night the
fowers and fruit of plants watered for "any years. 4id Aarons rod rise, as it
were, fro" the dead, and shall not Aaron hi"self be raised5 And did 'od wor)
wonders in wood, to secure to hi" the high9priesthood, and will He not vouchsafe
a resurrection to Aaron hi"self5 A wo"an also was "ade salt contrary to nature!
and fesh was turned into salt! and shall not fesh be restored to fesh5 8as -ots
wife "ade a pillar of salt, and shall not Abraha"s wife be raised again5 7y what
power was ,oses hand changed, which even within one hour beca"e as snow,
and was restored again5 .ertainly by 'ods co""and. 8as then His co""and of
force then, and has it no force now5
16. And whence in the beginning ca"e "an into being at all, O you Sa"aritans,
"ost senseless of all "en5 'o to the (rst boo) of the Scripture, which even you
receive! 5nd God formed man of the dust of the ground. 'enesis *:C 0s dust
transfor"ed into fesh, and shall not fesh be again restored to fesh5 <ou "ust be
as)ed too, whence the heavens had their being, and earth, and seas5 8hence
sun, and "oon, and stars5 How fro" the waters were "ade the things which fy
and swi"5 And how fro" earth all its living things5 8ere so "any "yriads
brought fro" nothing into being, and shall we "en, who bear 'ods i"age, not be
raised up5 %ruly this course is full of unbelief, and the unbelievers are "uch to be
conde"ned! when Abraha" addresses the -ord as the 7udge of all the earth, and
the learners of the -aw disbelieve! when it is written that "an is of the earth, and
the readers disbelieve it.
1=. %hese :uestions, therefore, are for the", the unbelievers: but the words of
the >rophets are for us who believe. 7ut since so"e who have also used the
>rophets believe not what is written, and allege against us that passage, (he
ungodly shall not rise up in udgment , and, For if man go down to the grave he
shall come up no more @ob C:F, and, (he dead shall not praise !ou, 4 $ord ;for of
what is well written, they have "ade ill use; it will be well in a cursory "anner,
and as far as is now possible, to "eet the". $or if it is said, that the ungodly shall
not rise up in udgment, this shows that they shall rise, not in Eudg"ent, but in
conde"nation! for 'od needs not long scrutiny, but close on the resurrection of
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the ungodly follows also their punish"ent. And if it is said, (he dead shall not
praise !ou, 4 $ord, this shows, that since in this life only is the appointed ti"e for
repentance and pardon, for which they who enEoy it shall praise the $ord, it
re"ains not after death for the" who have died in sins to give praise as the
receivers of a blessing, but to bewail the"selves! for praise belongs to the" who
give than)s, but to the" who are under the scourge, la"entation. %herefore the
Eust then o?er praise! but they who have died in sins have no further season for
confession.
1A. And respecting that passage, %f a man go down to the grave, he shall come
up no more, observe what follows, for it is written, #e shall come up no more,
neither shall he return to his own house. $or since the whole world shall pass
away, and every house shall be destroyed, how shall he return to his own house,
there being henceforth a new and di?erent earth5 7ut they ought to have heard
@ob, saying, For there is hope of a tree; for if it be cut down, it will sprout again,
and the tender branch thereof will not cease3 For though the root thereof wa. old
in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the rocky ground; yet from the scent of
water it will bud, and bring forth a crop like a new plant3 But man when he dies, is
gone; and when mortal man falls, is he no more @ob 1=:C91G5 As it were
re"onstrating and reproving 1for thus ought we to read the words is no more with
an interrogation 2! he says since a tree falls and revives, shall not "an, for who"
all trees were "ade, hi"self revive5 And that you "ay not suppose that 0 a"
forcing the words, read what follows! for after saying by way of :uestion, ,hen
mortal man falls, is he no more? he says, For if a man die, he shall live again !
and i""ediately he adds, % will wait till % be made again ! and again elsewhere,
,ho shall raise up on the earth my skin, which endures these things. And +saias
the >rophet says, (he dead men shall rise again, and they that are in the tombs
shall awake. 0saiah *B:1F And the >rophet +&e)iel now before us, says "ost
plainly, Behold % will open your graves, and bring you up out of your graves.
+&e)iel 6C:1* And 4aniel says, "any of them that sleep in the dust of the earth
shall arise, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame 4aniel 1*:* .
1B. And "any Scriptures there are which testify of the Hesurrection of the dead!
for there are "any other sayings on this "atter. 7ut now, by way of
re"e"brance only, we will "a)e a passing "ention of the raising of -a&arus on
the fourth day! and Eust allude, because of the shortness of the ti"e, to the
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widows son also who was raised, and "erely for the sa)e of re"inding you, let
"e "ention the ruler of the synagogues daughter, and the rending of the roc)s,
and how there arose many bodies of the saints which slept ,atthew *C:A*, their
graves having been opened. 7ut specially be it re"e"bered that 'hrist has been
raised from the dead. 1 .orinthians 1A:*G 0 spea) but in passing of +lias, and the
widows son who" he raised! of +lisseus also, who raised the dead twice! once in
his lifeti"e, and once after his death. $or when alive he wrought the resurrection
by "eans of his own soul * Kings =:6=! but that not the souls only of the Eust
"ight be honoured, but that it "ight be believed that in the bodies also of the
Eust there lies a power, the corpse which was cast into the sepulchre of +lisseus,
when it touched the dead body of the prophet, was :uic)ened, and the dead body
of the prophet did the wor) of the soul, and that which was dead and buried gave
life to the dead, and though it gave life, yet continued itself a"ong the dead.
8herefore5 -est if +lisseus should rise again, the wor) should be ascribed to his
soul alone! and to show, that even though the soul is not present, a virtue resides
in the body of the saints, because of the righteous soul which has for so "any
years dwelt in it, and used it as its "inister. And let us not foolishly disbelieve, as
though this thing had not happened: for if hand)erchiefs and aprons, which are
fro" without, touching the bodies of the diseased, raised up the sic), how "uch
"ore should the very body of the >rophet raise the dead5
1C. And with respect to these instances we "ight say "uch, rehearsing in detail
the "arvellous circu"stances of each event: but as you have been already
wearied both by the superposed fast of the >reparation , and by the watchings ,
let what has been cursorily spo)en concerning the" suLce for a while! these
words having been as it were sown thinly, that you, receiving the seed li)e richest
ground, "ay in bearing fruit increase the". 7ut be it re"e"bered, that the
Apostles also raised the dead! >eter raised %abitha in @oppa, and >aul raised
+utychus in %roas! and thus did all the other Apostles, even though the wonders
wrought by each have not all been written. $urther, re"e"ber all the sayings in
the (rst +pistle to the .orinthians, which >aul wrote against the" who said, #ow
are the dead raised, and with what manner of body do they come
1 .orinthians 1A:6A5 And how he says, For if the dead rise not, then is not 'hrist
raised ! and how he called the" fools , who believed not! and re"e"ber the
whole of his teaching there concerning the resurrection of the dead, and how he
wrote to the %hessalonians, But we would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
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concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as the rest which
have no hope 1 %hessalonians =:16, and all that follows: but chiefy that, 5nd the
dead in 'hrist shall rise 2rst.
1D. 7ut especially "ar) this, how very pointedly >aul says, For this corruptible
must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 .orinthians 1A:A6 $or this body shall be raised not re"aining wea) as now! but
raised the very sa"e body, though by putting on incorruption it shall be
fashioned anew ;as iron blending with (re beco"es (re, or rather as He )nows
how, the -ord who raises us. %his body therefore shall be raised, but it shall abide
not such as it now is, but an eternal body! no longer needing for its life such
nourish"ent as now, nor stairs for its ascent, for it shall be "ade spiritual, a
"arvellous thing, such as we cannot worthily spea) of. (hen, it is said, shall the
righteous shine forth as the sun ,atthew 16:=6, and the "oon, and as the
brightness of the 2rmament. 4aniel 1*:6 And 'od, fore9)nowing "ens unbelief,
has given to little wor"s in the su""er to dart bea"s of light fro" their body ,
that fro" what is seen, that which is loo)ed for "ight be believed! for He who
gives in part is able to give the whole also, and He who "ade the wor" radiant
with light, will "uch "ore illu"inate a righteous "an.
1F. 8e shall be raised therefore, all with our bodies eternal, but not all with
bodies ali)e: for if a "an is righteous, he will receive a heavenly body, that he
"ay be able worthily to hold converse with Angels! but if a "an is a sinner, he
shall receive an eternal body, (tted to endure the penalties of sins, that he "ay
burn eternally in (re, nor ever be consu"ed. And righteously will 'od assign this
portion to either co"pany! for we do nothing without the body. 8e blasphe"e
with the "outh, and with the "outh we pray. 8ith the body we co""it
fornication, and with the body we )eep chastity. 8ith the hand we rob, and by the
hand we bestow al"s! and the rest in li)e "anner. Since then the body has been
our "inister in all things, it shall also share with us in the future the fruits of the
past.
*G. %herefore, brethren, let us be careful of our bodies, nor "isuse the" as
though not our own. -et us not say li)e the heretics, that this vesture of the body
belongs not to us, but let us be careful of it as our own! for we "ust give account
to the -ord of all things done through the body. Say not, none sees "e! thin) not,
that there is no witness of the deed. Hu"an witness oftenti"es there is not! but
207
He who fashioned us, an unerring witness, abides faithful in heaven , and beholds
what you do. And the stains of sin also re"ain in the body! for as when a wound
has gone deep into the body, even if there has been a healing, the scar re"ains,
so sin wounds soul and body, and the "ar)s of its scars re"ain in all! and they
are re"oved only fro" those who receive the washing of 7aptis". %he past
wounds therefore of soul and body 'od heals by 7aptis"! against future ones let
us one and all Eointly guard ourselves, that we "ay )eep this vest"ent of the
body pure, and "ay not for practising fornication and sensual indulgence or any
other sin for a short season, lose the salvation of heaven, but "ay inherit the
eternal )ingdo" of 'od! of which "ay 'od, of His own grace, dee" all of you
worthy.
*1. %hus "uch in proof of the Hesurrection of the dead! and now, let "e again
recite to you the profession of the faith, and do you with all diligence pronounce it
while 0 spea) , and re"e"ber it.
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**. %he $aith which we rehearse contains in order the following, And in one
7aptis" of repentance for the re"ission of sins! and in one Holy .atholic .hurch!
and in the resurrection of the fesh! and in eternal life. /ow of 7aptis" and
repentance 0 have spo)en in the earliest -ectures! and "y present re"ar)s
concerning the resurrection of the dead have been "ade with reference to the
Article 0n the resurrection of the fesh. /ow then let "e (nish what still re"ains to
be said for the Article, 0n one Holy .atholic .hurch, on which, though one "ight
say "any things, we will spea) but briefy.
*6. 0t is called .atholic then because it e3tends over all the world, fro" one end
of the earth to the other! and because it teaches universally and co"pletely one
and all the doctrines which ought to co"e to "ens )nowledge, concerning things
both visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly ! and because it brings into
subEection to godliness the whole race of "an)ind, governors and governed,
learned and unlearned! and because it universally treats and heals the whole
class of sins, which are co""itted by soul or body, and possesses in itself every
for" of virtue which is na"ed, both in deeds and words, and in every )ind of
spiritual gifts.
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*=. And it is rightly na"ed 1+cclesia2 because it calls forth and asse"bles
together all "en! according as the -ord says in -eviticus, 5nd make an assembly
for all the congregation at the door of the tabernacle of witness. And it is to be
noted, that the word assemble, is used for the (rst ti"e in the Scriptures here, at
the ti"e when the -ord puts Aaron into the High9priesthood. And in 4euterono"y
also the -ord says to ,oses, 5ssemble the people unto "e, and let them hear "y
words, that they may learn to fear "e. 4euterono"y =:1G And he again "entions
the na"e of the .hurch, when he says concerning the %ables, 5nd on them were
written all the words which the $ord spoke with you in the mount out of the midst
of the 2re in the day of the 5ssembly ! as if he had said "ore plainly, in the day in
which you were called and gathered together by 'od. %he >sal"ist also says, %
will give thanks unto !ou, 4 $ord, in the great 'ongregation; % will praise !ou
among much people.
*A. Of old the >sal"ist sang, Bless ye God in the congregations, even the $ord,
0ye that are1 from the fountains of %srael. 7ut after the @ews for the plots which
they "ade against the Saviour were cast away fro" His grace, the Saviour built
out of the 'entiles a second Holy .hurch, the .hurch of us .hristians, concerning
which he said to >eter, 5nd upon this rock % will build "y 'hurch, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. ,atthew 1B:1D And 4avid prophesying of both
these, said plainly of the (rst which was reEected, % have hated the 'ongregation
of evil doers ! but of the second which is built up he says in the sa"e >sal", $ord,
% have loved the beauty of !our house ! and i""ediately afterwards, %n the
'ongregations will % bless you, 4 $ord. $or now that the one .hurch in @udMa is
cast o?, the .hurches of .hrist are increased over all the world! and of the" it is
said in the >sal"s, Sing unto the $ord a new song, #is praise in the 'ongregation
of Saints. Agreeably to which the prophet also said to the @ews, % have no
pleasure in you, says the $ord 5lmighty ,alachi 1:1G! and i""ediately
afterwards, For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same,
"y name is glori2ed among the Gentiles. .oncerning this Holy .atholic .hurch
>aul writes to %i"othy, (hat you may know how you ought to behave yourself in
the #ouse of God, which is the 'hurch of the $iving God, the pillar and ground of
the truth 1 %i"othy 6:1A .
*B. 7ut since the word +cclesia is applied to di?erent things 1as also it is written
of the "ultitude in the theatre of the +phesians, 5nd when he had thus spoken,
209
he dismissed the 5ssembly Acts 1F:1=2, and since one "ight properly and truly
say that there is a 'hurch of evil doers, 0 "ean the "eetings of the heretics, the
,arcionists and ,anichees, and the rest, for this cause the $aith has securely
delivered to you now the Article, And in one Holy .atholic .hurch! that you "ay
avoid their wretched "eetings, and ever abide with the Holy .hurch .atholic in
which you were regenerated. And if ever you are soEourning in cities, in:uire not
si"ply where the -ords House is 1for the other sects of the profane also atte"pt
to call their own dens houses of the -ord2, nor "erely where the .hurch is, but
where is the .atholic .hurch. $or this is the peculiar na"e of this Holy .hurch,
the "other of us all, which is the spouse of our -ord @esus .hrist, the Only9
begotten Son of 'od 1for it is written, 5s 'hrist also loved the 'hurch and gave
#imself for it +phesians A:*A, and all the rest,2 and is a (gure and copy of
7erusalem which is above, which is free, and the mother of us all 'alatians =:*B!
which before was barren, but now has "any children.
*C. $or when the (rst .hurch was cast o?, in the second, which is the .atholic
.hurch, 'od has set, as >aul says, 2rst 5postles, secondly -rophets, thirdly
teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, various kinds
of tongues 1 .orinthians 1*:*D, and every sort of virtue, 0 "ean wisdo" and
understanding, te"perance and Eustice, "ercy and loving9)indness, and patience
uncon:uerable in persecutions. She, by the armour of righteousness on the right
hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour * .orinthians B:C9D, in for"er days
a"id persecutions and tribulations crowned the holy "artyrs with the varied and
bloo"ing chaplets of patience, and now in ti"es of peace by 'ods grace receives
her due honours fro" kings and those who are in high place 1 %i"othy *:*, and
fro" every sort and )indred of "en. And while the )ings of particular nations
have bounds set to their authority, the Holy .hurch .atholic alone e3tends her
power without li"it over the whole world! for God, as it is written, has made her
border peace. 7ut 0 should need "any "ore hours for "y discourse, if 0 wished to
spea) of all things which concern her.
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*D. 0n this Holy .atholic .hurch receiving instruction and behaving ourselves
virtuously, we shall attain the )ingdo" of heaven, and inherit eternal life! for
which also we endure all toils, that we "ay be "ade parta)ers thereof fro" the
-ord. $or ours is no trifing ai", but our endeavour is for eternal life. 8herefore in
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the profession of the $aith, after the words, And in the resurrection of the fesh,
that is, of the dead 1of which we have discoursed2, we are taught to believe also
in the life eternal, for which as .hristians we are striving.
*F. %he real and true life then is the $ather, who through the Son in the Holy Spirit
pours forth as fro" a fountain His heavenly gifts to all! and through His love to
"an, the blessings of the life eternal are pro"ised without fail to us "en also. 8e
"ust not disbelieve the possibility of this, but having an eye not to our own
wea)ness but to His power, we "ust believe! for with God all things are possible.
And that this is possible, and that we "ay loo) for eternal life, 4aniel declares,
5nd of the many righteous shall they shine as the stars for ever and ever. And
>aul says, 5nd so shall we be ever with the $ord 1 %hessalonians =:1C: for the
being for ever with the $ord i"plies the life eternal. 7ut "ost plainly of all the
Saviour Hi"self says in the 'ospel, 5nd these shall go away into eternal
punishment, but the righteous into life eternal ,atthew *A:=B .
6G. And "any are the proofs concerning the life eternal. And when we desire to
gain this eternal life, the sacred Scriptures suggest to us the ways of gaining it! of
which, because of the length of our discourse, the te3ts we now set before you
shall be but few, the rest being left to the search of the diligent. %hey declare at
one ti"e that it is by faith! for it is written, #e that believes in the Son has eternal
life @ohn 6:6B, and what follows! and again He says Hi"self, Herily, verily, % say
unto you, #e that hears "y word, and believes #im that sent "e, has eternal life ,
and the rest. At another ti"e, it is by the preaching of the 'ospel! for He says,
that #e that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal. At another
ti"e, by "artyrdo" and confession in .hrists na"e! for He says, 5nd he that
hates his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal. And again, by preferring
.hrist to riches or )indred! 5nd every one that has forsaken brethren, or sisters
,atthew 1F:*F, and the rest, shall inherit eternal life. ,oreover it is by )eeping
the co""and"ents, !ou shall not commit adultery, !ou shall not kill , and the
rest which follow! as He answered to hi" that ca"e to Hi", and said, Good
"aster, what shall % do that % may have eternal life ,ar) 1G:1C5 7ut further, it is
by departing fro" evil wor)s, and henceforth serving 'od! for >aul says, But now
being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto
sancti2cation, and the end eternal life Ho"ans B:** .
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61. And the ways of (nding eternal life are "any, though 0 have passed over
the" by reason of their nu"ber. $or the -ord in His loving9)indness has opened,
not one or two only, but "any doors, by which to enter into the life eternal, that,
as far as lay in Hi", all "ight enEoy it without hindrance. %hus "uch have we for
the present spo)en within co"pass concerning the life eternal, which is the last
doctrine of those professed in the $aith, and its ter"ination! which life "ay we all,
both teachers and hearers, by 'ods grace enEoy#
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
6*. And now, brethren beloved, the word of instruction e3horts you all, to prepare
your souls for the reception of the heavenly gifts. As regards the Holy and
Apostolic $aith delivered to you to profess, we have spo)en through the grace of
the -ord as "any -ectures, as was possible, in these past days of -ent! not that
this is all we ought to have said, for "any are the points o"itted! and these
perchance are thought out better by "ore e3cellent teachers. 7ut now the holy
day of the >assover is at hand, and you, beloved in .hrist, are to be enlightened
by the $aver of regeneration. <ou shall therefore again be taught what is
re:uisite, if 'od so will! with how great devotion and order you "ust enter in
when su""oned, for what purpose each of the holy "ysteries of 7aptis" is
perfor"ed, and with what reverence and order you "ust go fro" 7aptis" to the
Holy Altar of 'od, and enEoy its spiritual and heavenly "ysteries! that your souls
being previously enlightened by the word of doctrine, you "ay discover in each
particular the greatness of the gifts bestowed on you by 'od.
66. And after +asters Holy 4ay of salvation, you shall co"e on each successive
day, beginning fro" the second day of the wee), after the asse"bly into the Holy
>lace of the Hesurrection , and there, if 'od per"it, you shall hear other -ectures!
in which you shall again be taught the reasons of every thing which has been
done, and shall receive the proofs thereof fro" the Old and /ew %esta"ents,;
(rst, of the things done Eust before 7aptis",; ne3t, how you were cleansed fro"
your sins by the -ord, by the washing of water with the word +phesians A:*B;and
how li)e >riests you have beco"e parta)ers of the /a"e of .hrist;and how the
Seal of the fellowship of the Holy 'host was given to you;and concerning the
"ysteries at the Altar of the /ew %esta"ent, which have ta)en their beginning
fro" this place, both what the 4ivine Scriptures have delivered to us, and what is
the power of these "ysteries, and how ye "ust approach the", and when and
212
how receive the";and at the end of all, how for the ti"e to co"e ye "ust
behave yourselves worthily of this grace both in words and deeds, that you "ay
all be enabled to enEoy the life everlasting. And these things shall be spo)en, if it
be 'ods pleasure.
6=. Finally, my brethren, reoice in the $ord always; again % will say, +eoice* for
your redemption has drawn near , and the heavenly host of the Angels is waiting
for your salvation. And there is now the voice of one crying in the wilderness,
-repare ye the way of the $ord 0saiah =G:6! and the >rophet cries, #o, you that
thirst, come ye to the water ! and i""ediately afterwards, #earken unto me, and
you shall eat that which is good, and your soul shall delight itself in good things.
And within a little while you shall hear that e3cellent lesson which says, Shine,
shine, 4 thou new 7erusalem; for your light has come. 0saiah BG:1 Of this
@erusale" the prophet has said, 5nd afterwards you shall be called the city of
righteousness, Gion, the faithful mother of cities ! because of the law which went
forth out of Gion, and the word of the $ord from 7erusalem , which word has fro"
hence been showered forth on the whole world. %o her the >rophet also says
concerning you, $ift up your eyes round about, and behold your children gathered
together ! and she answers, saying, ,ho are these that <y as a cloud, and as
doves with their young ones to me 5 1clouds because of their spiritual nature, and
doves, fro" their purity2. And again, she says, ,ho knows such things? 4r who
has seen it thus? Did ever a land bring forth in one day? 4r was ever a nation
born all at once? For as soon as Gion travailed, she brought forth her children.
And all things shall be (lled with Eoy unspea)able because of the -ord who said,
Behold, % create 7erusalem a reoicing, and her people a oy.
6A. And "ay these words be spo)en now again over you also, Sing, 4 heavens,
and be oyful, 4 earth! and then! for the $ord has had mercy on #is people, and
comforted the lowly of #is people. And this shall co"e to pass through the loving9
)indness of 'od, who says to you, Behold, % will blot out as a cloud your
transgressions, and as a thick cloud your sins. 0saiah ==:** 7ut ye who have been
counted worthy of the na"e of $aithful 1of who" it is written, :pon "y servants
shall be called a new name which shall be blessed on the earth ,2 you shall say
with gladness, Blessed be the God and Father of our $ord 7esus 'hrist, who has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in 'hrist
+phesians 1:6 * in whom we have our redemption through #is blood, the
213
forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of #is grace, wherein #e
abounded towards us , and what follows! and again, But God being rich in mercy,
for #is great love wherewith #e loved us, when we were dead through our
trespasses, )uickened us together with 'hrist , and the rest. And again in li)e
"anner praise ye the -ord of all good things, saying, But when the kindness of
God our Saviour, and #is love towards man appeared, not by works of
righteousness which we had done, but according to #is mercy #e saved us,
through the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the #oly Ghost, which
#e shed on us abundantly through 7esus 'hrist our Saviour, that being usti2ed by
#is grace, we might be made heirs, according to hope, of eternal life. %itus 6:=
And "ay 'od Hi"self the $ather of our -ord @esus .hrist, the $ather of glory, give
unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of #imself, the eyes
of your understanding being enlightened +phesians 1:1C91D, and "ay He ever
)eep you in good wor)s, and words, and thoughts! to 8ho" be glory, honour, and
power, through our -ord @esus .hrist, with the Holy 'host, now and ever, and
unto all the endless ages of eternity. A"en.
,irst Lecture on the +ysteries%
8ith a -esson fro" the $irst 'eneral +pistle of >eter, beginning at Be sober, be
vigilant, to the end of the +pistle.
1. 0 have long been wishing, O true9born and dearly beloved children of the
.hurch, to discourse to you concerning these spiritual and heavenly ,ysteries!
but since 0 well )new that seeing is far "ore persuasive than hearing, 0 waited for
the present season! that (nding you "ore open to the infuence of "y words fro"
your present e3perience, 0 "ight lead you by the hand into the brighter and "ore
fragrant "eadow of the >aradise before us! especially as you have been "ade (t
to receive the "ore sacred ,ysteries, after having been found worthy of divine
and life9giving 7aptis". Since therefore it re"ains to set before you a table of the
"ore perfect instructions, let us now teach you these things e3actly, that you
"ay )now the e?ect wrought upon you on that evening of your baptis".
*. $irst ye entered into the vestibule of the 7aptistery, and there facing towards
the 8est ye listened to the co""and to stretch forth your hand, and as in the
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presence of Satan ye renounced hi". /ow ye "ust )now that this (gure is found
in ancient history. $or when >haraoh, that "ost bitter and cruel tyrant, was
oppressing the free and high9born people of the Hebrews, 'od sent ,oses to
bring the" out of the evil bondage of the +gyptians. %hen the door posts were
anointed with the blood of a la"b, that the destroyer "ight fee fro" the houses
which had the sign of the blood! and the Hebrew people was "arvellously
delivered. %he ene"y, however, after their rescue, pursued after them
+3odus 1=:F, *6, and saw the sea wondrously parted for the"! nevertheless he
went on, following close in their footsteps, and was all at once overwhel"ed and
engulphed in the Hed Sea.
6. /ow turn fro" the old to the new, fro" the (gure to the reality. %here we have
,oses sent fro" 'od to +gypt! here, .hrist, sent forth fro" His $ather into the
world: there, that ,oses "ight lead forth an aQicted people out of +gypt! here,
that .hrist "ight rescue those who are oppressed in the world under sin: there,
the blood of a la"b was the spell against the destroyer! here, the blood of the
-a"b without ble"ish @esus .hrist is "ade the char" to scare evil spirits: there,
the tyrant was pursuing that ancient people even to the sea! and here the daring
and sha"eless spirit, the author of evil, was following you even to the very
strea"s of salvation. %he tyrant of old was drowned in the sea! and this present
one disappears in the water of salvation.
=. 7ut nevertheless you are bidden to say, with ar" outstretched towards hi" as
though he were present, 0 renounce you, Satan. 0 wish also to say wherefore ye
stand facing to the 8est! for it is necessary. Since the 8est is the region of
sensible dar)ness, and he being dar)ness has his do"inion also in dar)ness,
therefore, loo)ing with a sy"bolic "eaning towards the 8est, you renounce that
dar) and gloo"y potentate. 8hat then did each of you stand up and say5 0
renounce you, Satan,; you wic)ed and "ost cruel tyrant# ,eaning, 0 fear your
"ight no longer! for that .hrist has overthrown, having parta)en with "e of fesh
and blood, that through these He might by death destroy death Hebrews *:1=91A,
that 0 "ight not be "ade subect to bondage for ever. 0 renounce you,; you
crafty and "ost subtle serpent. 0 renounce you,; plotter as you are, who under
the guise of friendship contrived all disobedience, and wor) apostasy in our (rst
parents. 0 renounce you, Satan,; the arti(cer and abettor of all wic)edness.
215
A. %hen in a second sentence you are taught to say, and all your wor)s. /ow the
wor)s of Satan are all sin, which also you "ust renounce;Eust as one who has
escaped a tyrant has surely escaped his weapons also. All sin therefore, of every
)ind, is included in the wor)s of the devil. Only )now this! that all that you say,
especially at that "ost thrilling hour, is written in 'ods boo)s! when therefore
you do any thing contrary to these pro"ises, you shall be Eudged as a
transgressor. 'alatians *:1D <ou renounce therefore the wor)s of Satan! 0 "ean,
all deeds and thoughts which are contrary to reason.
B. %hen you say, And all his po"p. /ow the po"p of the devil is the "adness of
theatres , and horse9races, and hunting, and all such vanity: fro" which that holy
"an praying to be delivered says unto 'od, (urn away my eyes from beholding
vanity. 7e not interested in the "adness of the theatre, where you will behold the
wanton gestures of the players , carried on with "oc)eries and all unsee"liness,
and the frantic dancing of e?e"inate "en ;nor in the "adness of the" who in
hunts e3pose the"selves to wild beasts, that they "ay pa"per their "iserable
appetite! who, to serve their belly with "eats, beco"e the"selves in reality "eat
for the belly of unta"ed beasts! and to spea) Eustly, for the sa)e of their own god,
their belly, they cast away their life headlong in single co"bats. Shun also horse9
races, that frantic and soul9subverting spectacle. $or all these are the po"p of
the devil.
C. ,oreover, the things which are hung up at idol festivals , either "eat or bread,
or other such things polluted by the invocation of the unclean spirits, are
rec)oned in the po"p of the devil. $or as the 7read and 8ine of the +ucharist
before the invocation of the Holy and Adorable %rinity were si"ple bread and
wine, while after the invocation the 7read beco"es the 7ody of .hrist, and the
8ine the 7lood of .hrist , so in li)e "anner such "eats belonging to the po"p of
Satan, though in their own nature si"ple, beco"e profane by the invocation of
the evil spirit.
D. After this you say, and all your service. /ow the service of the devil is prayer in
idol te"ples! things done in honour of lifeless idols! the lighting of la"ps , or
burning of incense by fountains or rivers , as so"e persons cheated by drea"s or
by evil spirits do Jresort to this K, thin)ing to (nd a cure even for their bodily
ail"ents. 'o not after such things. %he watching of birds, divination, o"ens, or
a"ulets, or char"s written on leaves, sorceries, or other evil arts , and all such
216
things, are services of the devil! therefore shun the". $or if after renouncing
Satan and associating yourself with .hrist , thou fall under their infuence, you
shall (nd the tyrant "ore bitter! perchance, because he treated you of old as his
own, and relieved you fro" his hard bondage, but has now been greatly
e3asperated by you! so you will be bereaved of .hrist, and have e3perience of
the other. Have you not heard the old history which tells us of -ot and his
daughters5 8as not he hi"self saved with his daughters, when he had gained the
"ountain, while his wife beca"e a pillar of salt, set up as a "onu"ent for ever,
in re"e"brance of her depraved will and her turning bac). %a)e heed therefore to
yourself, and turn not again to what is behind , having put your hand to the
plough, and then turning bac) to the salt savour of this lifes doings! but escape
to the "ountain, to @esus .hrist, that stone hewn without hands 4aniel *:6A, =A,
which has (lled the world.
F. 8hen therefore you renounce Satan, utterly brea)ing all your covenant with
hi", that ancient league with hell 0saiah *D:1A, there is opened to you the
paradise of 'od, which He planted towards the +ast, whence for his transgression
our (rst father was banished! and a sy"bol of this was your turning fro" 8est to
+ast, the place of light. %hen you were told to say, 0 believe in the $ather, and in
the Son, and in the Holy 'host, and in one 7aptis" of repentance. Of which
things we spo)e to you at length in the for"er -ectures, as 'ods grace allowed
us.
1G. 'uarded therefore by these discourses, be sober. For our adversary the devil,
as was Eust now read, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may
devour. 1 >eter A:F 7ut though in for"er ti"es death was "ighty and devoured,
at the holy -aver of regeneration 'od has wiped away every tear from o& all
faces. $or you shall no "ore "ourn, now that you have put o? the old "an! but
you shall )eep holy9day , clothed in the garment of salvation 0saiah B1:1G, even
@esus .hrist.
11. And these things were done in the outer cha"ber. 7ut if 'od will, when in the
succeeding lectures on the ,ysteries we have entered into the Holy of Holies , we
shall there )now the sy"bolic "eaning of the things which are there perfor"ed.
/ow to 'od the $ather, with the Son and the Holy 'host, be glory, and power, and
"aEesty, forever and ever. A"en.
217
6"n the +ysteries% II%7
"f aptism%
Ho"ans B:691=
4o you not )now, that so "any of us as were bapti&ed into @esus .hrist, were
bapti&ed into His death5 etc.....for you are not under the -aw, but under grace.
1. %hese daily introductions into the ,ysteries , and new instructions, which are
the announce"ents of new truths, are pro(table to us! and "ost of all to you,
who have been renewed fro" an old state to a new. %herefore, 0 shall necessarily
lay before you the se:uel of yesterdays -ecture, that you "ay learn of what
those things, which were done by you in the inner cha"ber , were sy"bolic.
*. As soon, then, as you entered, you put o? your tunic! and this was an i"age of
putting o& the old man with his deeds. .olossians 6:F Having stripped yourselves,
you were na)ed! in this also i"itating .hrist, who was stripped na)ed on the
.ross, and by His na)edness put o& from #imself the principalities and powers,
and openly triumphed over them on the tree. $or since the adverse powers "ade
their lair in your "e"bers, you "ay no longer wear that old gar"ent! 0 do not at
all "ean this visible one, but the old man, which wa.es corrupt in the lusts of
deceit. +phesians =:** ,ay the soul which has once put hi" o?, never again put
hi" on, but say with the Spouse of .hrist in the Song of Songs, % have put o& my
garment, how shall % put it on Song of Songs A:65 O wondrous thing# <ou were
na)ed in the sight of all, and were not asha"ed ! for truly ye bore the li)eness of
the (rst9for"ed Ada", who was na)ed in the garden, and was not asha"ed.
6. %hen, when you were stripped, you were anointed with e3orcised oil , fro" the
very hairs of your head to your feet, and were "ade parta)ers of the good olive9
tree, @esus .hrist. $or you were cut o? fro" the wild olive9tree , and grafted into
the good one, and were "ade to share the fatness of the true olive9tree. %he
e3orcised oil therefore was a sy"bol of the participation of the fatness of .hrist,
being a char" to drive away every trace of hostile infuence. $or as the breathing
of the saints, and the invocation of the /a"e of 'od, li)e (ercest fa"e, scorch
and drive out evil spirits , so also this e3orcised oil receives such virtue by the
invocation of 'od and by prayer, as not only to burn and cleanse away the traces
of sins, but also to chase away all the invisible powers of the evil one.
218
=. After these things, you were led to the holy pool of 4ivine 7aptis", as .hrist
was carried fro" the .ross to the Sepulchre which is before our eyes. And each of
you was as)ed, whether he believed in the na"e of the $ather, and of the Son,
and of the Holy 'host, and you "ade that saving confession, and descended
three ti"es into the water, and ascended again! here also hinting by a sy"bol at
the three days burial of .hrist. $or as our Saviour passed three days and three
nights in the heart of the earth, so you also in your (rst ascent out of the water,
represented the (rst day of .hrist in the earth, and by your descent, the night! for
as he who is in the night, no longer sees, but he who is in the day, re"ains in the
light, so in the descent, as in the night, you saw nothing, but in ascending again
you were as in the day. And at the self9sa"e "o"ent you were both dying and
being born! and that 8ater of salvation was at once your grave and your "other.
And what Solo"on spo)e of others will suit you also! for he said, in that case,
(here is a time to bear and a time to die +cclesiastes 6:*! but to you, in the
reverse order, there was a ti"e to die and a ti"e to be born! and one and the
sa"e ti"e e?ected both of these, and your birth went hand in hand with your
death.
A. O strange and inconceivable thing# 8e did not really die, we were not really
buried, we were not really cruci(ed and raised again! but our i"itation was in a
(gure, and our salvation in reality. .hrist was actually cruci(ed, and actually
buried, and truly rose again! and all these things He has freely bestowed upon us,
that we, sharing His su?erings by i"itation, "ight gain salvation in reality. O
surpassing loving9)indness# .hrist received nails in His unde(led hands and feet,
and su?ered anguish! while on "e without pain or toil by the fellowship of His
su?ering He freely bestows salvation.
B. -et no one then suppose that 7aptis" is "erely the grace of re"ission of sins,
or further, that of adoption! as @ohns was a baptis" conferring only re"ission of
sins: whereas we )now full well, that as it purges our sins, and "inisters to us the
gift of the Holy 'host, so also it is the counterpart of the su?erings of .hrist. $or
this cause >aul Eust now cried aloud and said, 4r are you ignorant that all we who
were bapti;ed into 'hrist 7esus, were bapti;ed into #is death? ,e were buried
therefore with #im by baptism into #is death. %hese words he spo)e to so"e who
were disposed to thin) that 7aptis" "inisters to us the re"ission of sins, and
219
adoption, but has not further the fellowship also, by representation, of .hrists
true su?erings.
C. 0n order therefore that we "ight learn, that whatsoever things .hrist endured,
for us and for our salvation He su?ered the" in reality and not in appearance,
and that we also are "ade parta)ers of His su?erings, >aul cried with all
e3actness of truth, For if we have been planted together with the likeness of #is
death, we shall be also with the likeness of #is resurrection. 8ell has he said,
planted together. $or since the true Iine was planted in this place, we also by
parta)ing in the 7aptis" of death have been planted together with Hi". And (3
your "ind with "uch attention on the words of the Apostle. He said not, $or if we
have been planted together with His death, but, with the likeness of #is death.
$or in .hrists case there was death in reality, for His soul was really separated
fro" His body, and real burial, for His holy body was wrapt in pure linen! and
everything happened really to Hi"! but in your case there was only a li)eness of
death and su?erings, whereas of salvation there was not a li)eness but a reality.
D. Having been suLciently instructed in these things, )eep the", 0 beseech you,
in your re"e"brance! that 0 also, unworthy though 0 be, "ay say of you, 8ow %
love you , because ye always remember me, and hold fast the traditions, which %
delivered unto you. And 'od, who has presented you as it were alive from the
dead Ho"ans B:16, is able to grant unto you to walk in newness of life : because
His is the glory and the power, now and for ever. A"en.
6"n the +ysteries% III%7
"n Chrism%
1 @ohn *:*G9*D
7ut you have an unction fro" the Holy One, etc.....that, when He shall appear, we
"ay have con(dence, and not be asha"ed before Hi" at His co"ing.
1. Having been bapti;ed into 'hrist, and put on 'hrist Galatians C*E@ , you have
been "ade confor"able to the Son of 'od! for 'od having foreordained us unto
adoption as sons 6phesians ?*M , "ade us to be conformed to the body of 'hrist=s
glory. >hilippians 6:*1 Having therefore beco"e partakers of 'hrist
Hebrews 6:1=, you are properly called .hrists, and of you 'od said, (ouch not "y
220
'hrists , or anointed. /ow you have been "ade .hrists, by receiving the antitype
of the Holy 'host! and all things have been wrought in you by i"itation , because
you are i"ages of .hrist. He washed in the river @ordan, and having i"parted of
the fragrance of His 'odhead to the waters, He ca"e up fro" the"! and the Holy
'host in the fullness of His being lighted on Hi", li)e resting upon li)e. And to you
in li)e "anner, after you had co"e up fro" the pool of the sacred strea"s, there
was given an Nnction , the anti9type of that wherewith .hrist was anointed! and
this is the Holy 'host! of who" also the blessed +saias, in his prophecy
respecting Hi", said in the person of the -ord, (he Spirit of the $ord is upon "e,
because #e has anointed "e* #e has sent "e to preach glad tidings to the poor
0saiah B1:1 .
*. $or .hrist was not anointed by "en with oil or "aterial oint"ent, but the
$ather having before appointed Hi" to be the Saviour of the whole world,
anointed Hi" with the Holy 'host, as >eter says, 7esus of 8a;areth, whom God
anointed with the #oly Ghost. Acts 1G:6D 4avid also the >rophet cried, saying,
!our throne, 4 God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre
of !our kingdom; !ou have loved righteousness and hated ini)uity; therefore God
even !our God has anointed !ou with the oil of gladness above !our fellows. And
as .hrist was in reality cruci(ed, and buried, and raised, and you are in 7aptis"
accounted worthy of being cruci(ed, buried, and raised together with Hi" in a
li)eness, so is it with the unction also. As He was anointed with an ideal oil of
gladness, that is, with the Holy 'host, called oil of gladness, because He is the
author of spiritual gladness, so you were anointed with oint"ent, having been
"ade parta)ers and fellows of 'hrist.
6. 7ut beware of supposing this to be plain oint"ent. $or as the 7read of the
+ucharist, after the invocation of the Holy 'host, is "ere bread no longer , but
the 7ody of .hrist, so also this holy oint"ent is no "ore si"ple oint"ent, nor 1so
to say2 co""on, after invocation, but it is .hrists gift of grace, and, by the
advent of the Holy 'host, is "ade (t to i"part His 4ivine /ature. 8hich oint"ent
is sy"bolically applied to your forehead and your other senses ! and while your
body is anointed with the visible oint"ent, your soul is sancti(ed by the Holy and
life9giving Spirit.
=. And you were (rst anointed on the forehead, that you "ight be delivered fro"
the sha"e, which the (rst "an who transgressed bore about with hi"
221
everywhere! and that with unveiled face ye might re<ect as a mirror the glory of
the $ord. * .orinthians 6:1D %hen on your ears! that you "ight receive the ears
which are :uic) to hear the 4ivine ,ysteries, of which +saias said, (he $ord gave
me also an ear to hear 0saiah AG:=! and the -ord @esus in the 'ospel, #e that has
ears to hear let him hear. ,atthew 11:1A %hen on the nostrils! that receiving the
sacred oint"ent ye "ay say, ,e are to God a sweet savour of 'hrist, in them
that are saved. * .orinthians *:1A Afterwards on your breast! that having put on
the breast/plate of righteousness, you "ay stand against the wiles of the devil.
$or as .hrist after His 7aptis", and the visitation of the Holy 'host, went forth
and van:uished the adversary, so li)ewise ye, after Holy 7aptis" and the
,ystical .hris", having put on the whole ar"our of the Holy 'host, are to stand
against the power of the adversary, and van:uish it, saying, % can do all things
through 'hrist which strengthens me >hilippians =:16 .
A. Having been counted worthy of this Holy .hris", you are called .hristians,
verifying the na"e also by your new birth. $or before you were dee"ed worthy of
this grace, you had properly no right to this title, but were advancing on your way
towards being .hristians.
B. ,oreover, you should )now that in the old Scripture there lies the sy"bol of
this .hris". $or what ti"e ,oses i"parted to his brother the co""and of 'od,
and "ade hi" High9priest, after bathing in water, he anointed hi"! and Aaron
was called .hrist or Anointed, evidently fro" the typical .hris". So also the High9
priest, in advancing Solo"on to the )ingdo", anointed hi" after he had bathed in
'ihon. 1 Kings 1:6F %o the" however these things happened in a (gure, but to
you not in a (gure, but in truth! because you were truly anointed by the Holy
'host. .hrist is the beginning of your salvation! for He is truly the $irst9fruit, and
you the "ass Ho"ans 11:1B! but if the $irst9fruit be holy, it is "anifest that 0ts
holiness will pass to the "ass also.
C. Keep %his unspotted: for it shall teach you all things, if it abide in you, as you
have Eust heard declared by the blessed @ohn, discoursing "uch concerning this
Nnction. $or this holy thing is a spiritual safeguard of the body, and salvation of
the soul. Of this the blessed +saias prophesying of old ti"e said, 5nd on this
mountain,; 1now he calls the .hurch a "ountain elsewhere also, as when he
says, %n the last days the mountain of the $ord=s house shall be manifest
0saiah *:*!2; on this mountain shall the $ord make unto all nations a feast; they
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shall drink wine, they shall drink gladness, they shall anoint themselves with
ointment. And that he "ay "a)e you sure, hear what he says of this oint"ent as
being "ystical! Deliver all these things to the nations, for the counsel of the $ord
is unto all nations. Having been anointed, therefore, with this holy oint"ent, )eep
it unspotted and unble"ished in you, pressing forward by good wor)s, and being
"ade well9pleasing to the .aptain of your salvation, .hrist @esus, to who" be
glory for ever and ever. A"en.
6"n the +ysteries% I*%7
"n the ody and lood of Christ%
1 .orinthians 11:*6
0 received of the -ord that which also 0 delivered unto you, how that the -ord
@esus, in the night in which He was betrayed, too) bread, etc.
1. +ven of itself the teaching of the 7lessed >aul is suLcient to give you a full
assurance concerning those 4ivine ,ysteries, of which having been dee"ed
worthy, you have beco"e of the same body and blood with .hrist. $or you have
Eust heard hi" say distinctly, (hat our $ord 7esus 'hrist in the night in which #e
was betrayed, took bread, and when #e had given thanks #e broke it, and gave
to #is disciples, saying, (ake, eat, this is "y Body* and having taken the cup and
given thanks, #e said, (ake, drink, this is "y Blood. Since then He Hi"self
declared and said of the 7read, (his is "y Body, who shall dare to doubt any
longer5 And since He has Hi"self aLr"ed and said, (his is "y Blood, who shall
ever hesitate, saying, that it is not His blood5
*. He once in .ana of 'alilee, turned the water into wine, a)in to blood , and is it
incredible that He should have turned wine into blood5 8hen called to a bodily
"arriage, He "iraculously wrought that wonderful wor)! and on the children of
the bride/chamber ,atthew F:1A, shall He not "uch rather be ac)nowledged to
have bestowed the fruition of His 7ody and 7lood 5
6. 8herefore with full assurance let us parta)e as of the 7ody and 7lood of .hrist:
for in the (gure of 7read is given to you His 7ody, and in the (gure of 8ine His
7lood! that you by parta)ing of the 7ody and 7lood of .hrist, "ay be "ade of the
sa"e body and the sa"e blood with Hi". $or thus we co"e to bear .hrist in us,
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because His 7ody and 7lood are distributed through our "e"bers! thus it is that,
according to the blessed >eter, we become partakers of the divine nature
* >eter 1:= .
=. .hrist on a certain occasion discoursing with the @ews said, 6.cept you eat "y
<esh and drink "y blood, you have no life in you. @ohn B:A6 %hey not having
heard His saying in a spiritual sense were o?ended, and went bac), supposing
that He was inviting the" to eat fesh.
A. 0n the Old %esta"ent also there was show9bread! but this, as it belonged to the
Old %esta"ent, has co"e to an end! but in the /ew %esta"ent there is 7read of
heaven, and a .up of salvation, sanctifying soul and body! for as the 7read
corresponds to our body, so is the 8ord appropriate to our soul.
B. .onsider therefore the 7read and the 8ine not as bare ele"ents, for they are,
according to the -ords declaration, the 7ody and 7lood of .hrist! for even though
sense suggests this to you, yet let faith establish you. @udge not the "atter fro"
the taste, but fro" faith be fully assured without "isgiving, that the 7ody and
7lood of .hrist have been vouchsafed to you.
C. Also the blessed 4avid shall advise you the "eaning of this, saying, !ou have
prepared a table before me in the presence of them that aIict me. 8hat he says,
is to this e?ect: 7efore <our co"ing, the evil spirits prepared a table for "en ,
polluted and de(led and full of devilish infuence ! but since <our co"ing. O -ord,
!ou have prepared a table before me. 8hen the "an says to 'od, !ou have
prepared before me a table, what other does he indicate but that "ystical and
spiritual %able, which 'od has prepared for us over against, that is, contrary and
in opposition to the evil spirits5 And very truly! for that had co""union with
devils, but this, with 'od. !ou have anointed my head with oil. 8ith oil He
anointed your head upon your forehead, for the seal which you have of 'od! that
you "ay be "ade the engraving of the signet, #oliness unto God. And your cup
into.icates me, as very strong. <ou see that cup here spo)en of, which @esus too)
in His hands, and gave than)s, and said, (his is "y blood, which is shed for many
for the remission of sins ,atthew *B:*D .
D. %herefore Solo"on also, hinting at this grace, says in +cclesiastes, 'ome
hither, eat your bread with oy 1that is, the spiritual bread! 'ome hither, he calls
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with the call to salvation and blessing2, and drink your wine with a merry heart
1that is, the spiritual wine2! and let oil be poured out upon your head you see he
alludes even to the "ystic .hris"2! and let your garments be always white, for
the $ord is well pleased with your works +cclesiastes F:C9D! for before you ca"e
to 7aptis", your wor)s were vanity of vanities. 7ut now, having put o? your old
gar"ents, and put on those which are spiritually white, you "ust be continually
robed in white: of course we "ean not this, that you are always to wear white
rai"ent! but you "ust be clad in the gar"ents that are truly white and shining
and spiritual, that you "ay say with the blessed +saias, "y soul shall be oyful in
my God; for #e has clothed me with a garment of salvation, and put a robe of
gladness around me 0saiah B1:1G .
F. Having learned these things, and been fully assured that the see"ing bread is
not bread, though sensible to taste, but the 7ody of .hrist! and that the see"ing
wine is not wine, though the taste will have it so, but the 7lood of .hrist ! and
that of this 4avid sung of old, saying, 5nd bread strengthens man=s heart, to
make his face to shine with oil , strengthen your heart, by parta)ing thereof as
spiritual, and "a)e the face of your soul to shine. And so having it unveiled with a
pure conscience, "ay you re<ect as a mirror the glory of the $ord
* .orinthians 6:1D, and proceed fro" glory to glory, in .hrist @esus our -ord:; %o
who" be honour, and "ight, and glory, for ever and ever. A"en.
4ownload /ow or 'et the .4
6"n the +ysteries% *%7
"n the Sacred Liturgy and Communion%
1 >eter *:1
,herefore putting away all 2lthiness, and all guile, and evil speaking , etc3
1. 7y the loving9)indness of 'od you have heard suLciently at our for"er
"eetings concerning 7aptis", and .hris", and parta)ing of the 7ody and 7lood
of .hrist! and now it is necessary to pass on to what is ne3t in order, "eaning
today to set the crown on the spiritual building of your edi(cation.
225
*. <ou have seen then the 4eacon who gives to the >riest water to wash , and to
the >resbyters who stand round 'ods altar. He gave it not at all because of bodily
de(le"ent! it is not that! for we did not enter the .hurch at (rst with de(led
bodies. 7ut the washing of hands is a sy"bol that you ought to be pure fro" all
sinful and unlawful deeds! for since the hands are a sy"bol of action, by washing
the", it is evident, we represent the purity and bla"elessness of our conduct. 4id
you not hear the blessed 4avid opening this very "ystery, and saying, % will wash
my hands in innocency, and so will compass !our 5ltar, 4 $ord 5 %he washing
therefore of hands is a sy"bol of i""unity fro" sin.
6. %hen the 4eacon cries aloud, Heceive ye one another! and let us )iss one
another. %hin) not that this )iss is of the sa"e character with those given in
public by co""on friends. 0t is not such: but this )iss blends souls one with
another, and courts entire forgiveness for the". %he )iss therefore is the sign that
our souls are "ingled together, and banish all re"e"brance of wrongs. $or this
cause .hrist said, %f you are o&ering your gift at the altar, and there rememberest
that your brother has anything against time, leave there your gift upon the altar,
and go your way; 2rst be reconciled to your brother, and then come and o&er
your gift. %he )iss therefore is reconciliation, and for this reason holy: as the
blessed >aul so"ewhere cried, saying, Greet ye one another with a holy kiss
1 .orinthians 1B:*G! and >eter, with a kiss of charity 1 >eter 6:1A .
=. After this the >riest cries aloud, -ift up your hearts. $or truly ought we in that
"ost awful hour to have our heart on high with 'od, and not below, thin)ing of
earth and earthly things. 0n e?ect therefore the >riest bids all in that hour to
dis"iss all cares of this life, or household an3ieties, and to have their heart in
heaven with the "erciful 'od. %hen ye answer, 8e lift the" up unto the -ord:
assenting to it, by your avowal. 7ut let no one co"e here, who could say with his
"outh, 8e lift up our hearts unto the -ord, but in his thoughts have his "ind
concerned with the cares of this life. At all ti"es, rather, 'od should be in our
"e"ory but if this is i"possible by reason of hu"an in(r"ity, in that hour above
all this should be our earnest endeavour.
A. %hen the >riest says, -et us give than)s unto the -ord. $or verily we are bound
to give than)s, that He called us, unworthy as we were, to so great grace! that He
reconciled us when we were His foes! that He vouchsafed to us the Spirit of
adoption. %hen ye say, 0t is "eet and right: for in giving than)s we do a "eet
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thing and a right! but He did not right, but "ore than right, in doing us good, and
counting us "eet for such great bene(ts.
B. After this, we "a)e "ention of heaven, and earth, and sea ! of sun and "oon!
of stars and all the creation, rational and irrational, visible and invisible! of
Angels, Archangels, Iirtues, 4o"inions, >rincipalities, >owers, %hrones! of the
.herubi" with "any faces: in e?ect repeating that call of 4avids "agnify the
$ord with me. 8e "a)e "ention also of the Seraphi", who" +saias in the Holy
Spirit saw standing around the throne of 'od, and with two of their wings veiling
their face, and with two their feet, while with two they did fy, crying #oly, #oly,
#oly, is the $ord of Sabaoth. 0saiah B:*96 $or the reason of our reciting this
confession of 'od , delivered down to us fro" the Seraphi", is this, that so we
"ay be parta)ers with the hosts of the world above in their Hy"n of praise.
C. %hen having sancti(ed ourselves by these spiritual Hy"ns, we beseech the
"erciful 'od to send forth His Holy Spirit upon the gifts lying before Hi"! that He
"ay "a)e the 7read the 7ody of .hrist, and the 8ine the 7lood of .hrist ! for
whatsoever the Holy 'host has touched, is surely sancti(ed and changed.
D. %hen, after the spiritual sacri(ce, the bloodless service, is co"pleted, over that
sacri(ce of propitiation we entreat 'od for the co""on peace of the .hurches,
for the welfare of the world ! for )ings! for soldiers and allies! for the sic)! for the
aQicted! and, in a word, for all who stand in need of succour we all pray and o?er
this sacri(ce.
F. %hen we co""e"orate also those who have fallen asleep before us, (rst
>atriarchs, >rophets, Apostles, ,artyrs, that at their prayers and intercessions
'od would receive our petition. %hen on behalf also of the Holy $athers and
7ishops who have fallen asleep before us, and in a word of all who in past years
have fallen asleep a"ong us, believing that it will be a very great bene(t to the
souls , for who" the supplication is put up, while that holy and "ost awful
sacri(ce is set forth.
1G. And 0 wish to persuade you by an illustration. $or 0 )now that "any say, what
is a soul pro(ted, which departs fro" this world either with sins, or without sins, if
it be co""e"orated in the prayer5 $or if a )ing were to banish certain who had
given hi" o?ense, and then those who belong to the" should weave a crown and
227
o?er it to hi" on behalf of those under punish"ent, would he not grant a
re"ission of their penalties5 0n the sa"e way we, when we o?er to Hi" our
supplications for those who have fallen asleep, though they be sinners, weave no
crown, but o?er up .hrist sacri(ced for our sins , propitiating our "erciful 'od for
the" as well as for ourselves.
11. %hen, after these things, we say that >rayer which the Saviour delivered to
His own disciples, with a pure conscience entitling 'od our $ather, and saying,
4ur Father, which art in heaven. O "ost surpassing loving9)indness of 'od# On
the" who revolted fro" Hi" and were in the very e3tre"e of "isery has He
bestowed such a co"plete forgiveness of evil deeds, and so great participation of
grace, as that they should even call Hi" $ather. 4ur Father, which art in heaven!
and they also are a heaven who bear the image of the heavenly
1 .orinthians 1A:=F, in who" is 'od, dwelling and walking in them
* .orinthians B:1B .
1*. #allowed be !our 8ame. %he /a"e of 'od is in its nature holy, whether we
say so or not! but since it is so"eti"es profaned a"ong sinners, according to the
words, (hrough you "y 8ame is continually blasphemed among the Gentiles , we
pray that in us 'ods /a"e "ay be hallowed! not that it co"es to be holy fro"
not being holy, but because it beco"es holy in us, when we are "ade holy, and
do things worthy of holiness.
16. !our kingdom come. A pure soul can say with boldness, !our kingdom come!
for he who has heard >aul saying, $et not therefore sin reign in your mortal body
Ho"ans B:1*, and has cleansed hi"self in deed, and thought, and word, will say
to 'od, !our kingdom come.
1=. !our will be done as in heaven so on earth. 'ods divine and blessed Angels
do the will of 'od, as 4avid said in the >sal", Bless the $ord, all you 5ngels of
#is, mighty in strength, that do #is pleasure. So then in e?ect you "ean this by
your prayer, as in the Angels <our will is done, so li)ewise be it done on earth in
"e, O -ord.
1A. Give us this day our substantial bread. %his co""on bread is not substantial
bread, but this Holy 7read is substantial, that is, appointed for the substance of
the soul. $or this 7read goes not into the belly and is cast out into the draught
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,atthew 1A:1C, but is distributed into your whole syste" for the bene(t of body
and soul. 7ut by this day, he "eans, each day, as also >aul said, ,hile it is called
today Hebrews 6:1A .
1B. 5nd forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. $or we have "any
sins. $or we o?end both in word and in thought, and very "any things we do
worthy of conde"nation! and if we say that we have no sin, we lie, as @ohn says.
And we "a)e a covenant with 'od, entreating Hi" to forgive us our sins, as we
also forgive our neighbours their debts. .onsidering then what we receive and in
return for what, let us not put o? nor delay to forgive one another. %he o?enses
co""itted against us are slight and trivial, and easily settled! but those which we
have co""itted against 'od are great, and need such "ercy as His only is. %a)e
heed therefore, lest for the slight and trivial sins against you, you shut out for
yourself forgiveness fro" 'od for your very grievous sins.
1C. 5nd lead us not into temptation, 4 $ord. 0s this then what the -ord teaches us
to pray, that we "ay not be te"pted at all5 How then is it said elsewhere, a "an
unte"pted, is a "an unproved ! and again, "y brethren, count it all oy when you
fall into various temptations @a"es 1:*5 7ut does perchance the entering into
te"ptation "ean the being overwhel"ed by the te"ptation5 $or te"ptation is,
as it were, li)e a winter torrent diLcult to cross. %hose therefore who are not
overwhel"ed in te"ptations, pass through, showing the"selves e3cellent
swi""ers, and not being swept away by the" at all! while those who are not
such, enter into the" and are overwhel"ed. As for e3a"ple, @udas having
entered into the te"ptation of the love of "oney, swa" not through it, but was
overwhel"ed and was strangled both in body and spirit. >eter entered into the
te"ptation of the denial! but having entered, he was not overwhel"ed by it, but
"anfully swa" through it, and was delivered fro" the te"ptation. -isten again, in
another place, to a co"pany of unscathed saints, giving than)s for deliverance
fro" te"ptation, !ou, 4 God hast proved us; !ou have tried us by 2re like as
silver is tried3 !ou brought us into the net; !ou layed aIictions upon our loins3 !ou
have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through 2re and water; and
you brought us out into a place of rest. <ou see the" spea)ing boldly in regard to
their having passed through and not been pierced. But !ou brought us out into a
place of rest! now their co"ing into a place of rest is their being delivered fro"
te"ptation.
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1D. But deliver us from the evil. 0f $ead us not into temptation i"plied the not
being te"pted at all, He would not have said, But deliver us from the evil. /ow
evil is our adversary the devil, fro" who" we pray to be delivered. %hen after
co"pleting the prayer you say 5men ! by this 5men, which "eans So be it,
setting your seal to the petitions of the divinely9taught prayer.
1F. After this the >riest says, Holy things to holy "en. Holy are the gifts
presented, having received the visitation of the Holy 'host! holy are you also,
having been dee"ed worthy of the Holy 'host! the holy things therefore
correspond to the holy persons. %hen ye say, One is Holy, One is the -ord, @esus
.hrist. $or One is truly holy, by nature holy! we too are holy, but not by nature,
only by participation, and discipline, and prayer.
*G. After this ye hear the chanter inviting you with a sacred "elody to the
co""union of the Holy ,ysteries, and saying, 4 taste and see that the $ord is
good. %rust not the Eudg"ent to your bodily palate no, but to faith unfaltering! for
they who taste are bidden to taste, not bread and wine, but the anti9typical 7ody
and 7lood of .hrist.
*1. 0n approaching therefore, co"e not with your wrists e3tended, or your (ngers
spread! but "a)e your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to
receive a King. And having hollowed your pal", receive the 7ody of .hrist, saying
over it, 5men. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of
the Holy 7ody, parta)e of it! giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof ! for
whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were fro" one of your own
"e"bers. $or tell "e, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold
the" with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of the", and
su?ering loss5 8ill you not then "uch "ore carefully )eep watch, that not a
cru"b fall fro" you of what is "ore precious than gold and precious stones5
**. %hen after you have parta)en of the 7ody of .hrist, draw near also to the .up
of His 7lood! not stretching forth your hands, but bending , and saying with an air
of worship and reverence, 5men , hallow yourself by parta)ing also of the 7lood
of .hrist. And while the "oisture is still upon your lips, touch it with your hands,
and hallow your eyes and brow and the other organs of sense. %hen wait for the
prayer, and give than)s unto 'od, who has accounted you worthy of so great
"ysteries.
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*6. Hold fast these traditions unde(led and, )eep yourselves free fro" o?ense.
Sever not yourselves fro" the .o""union! deprive not yourselves, through the
pollution of sins, of these Holy and Spiritual ,ysteries. 5nd the God of peace
sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit, and soul, and body be preserved entire
without blame at the coming of our $ord 7esus 'hrist 1 %hessalonians A:*6:; %o
who" be glory and honour and "ight, with the $ather and the Holy Spirit, now
and ever, and world without end. A"en.
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