Church Fathers: Nicene Fathers Vol 04: 14.01.22 Reply to Marcion Part 2

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Church Fathers: Nicene Fathers Vol 04: 14.01.22 Reply to Marcion Part 2



TOPIC: Nicene Fathers Vol 04 (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 14.01.22 Reply to Marcion Part 2

Other Subjects in this Topic:

When dawns "the holy day"-these works, for such

As hope in Him, in plenitude, (to keep

His plighted word,) He taught men thus His power

To do them.

What? If flesh dies, and no hope

285 Is given of salvation, say, what grounds

Christ had to feign Himself a man, and head

Men, or have care for flesh? If He recallshyperlink

Some few, why shall He not withal recall

All? Can corruption's power liquefy

290 The body and undo it, and shall not

The virtue of the Lord be powerful

The undone to recall?

They, who believe

Their bodies are not loosed from death, do no,

Believe the Lord, who wills to raise His own

295 Works sunken; or else say they that the Good

Wills not, and that the Potent hath not power,-

Ignorant from how great a crime they suck

Their milk, in daring to set things infirm

Above the Strong.hyperlink In the grain lurks the tree;

300 And if thishyperlink rot not, buried in the earth,

It yields not tree-graced fruits.hyperlink Soon bound will be

The liquid waters: 'neath the whistling cold

They will become, and ever will be stones,

Unless a mighty power, by leading on

305 Soft-breathing warmth, undo them. The great bunch

Lurks in the tendril's slender body: if

Thou seek it, it is not; when God doth will,

'Tis seen to be. On trees their leaves, on thorns

The rose, the seeds on plains, are dead and fail,

310 And rise again, new living. For man's use

These things doth God before his eyes recall

And form anew-man's, for whose sake at firsthyperlink

The wealthy One made all things bounteously.

All naked fall; with its own body each

315 He clothes. Why man alone, on whom He showered

Such honours, should He not recall in all

His first perfectionhyperlink to Himself? man, whom

He set o'er all? Flesh, then, and blood are said

To be not worthy of God's realm, as if

320 Paul spake of flesh materially. He

Indeed taught mighty truths; but hearts inane

Think he used carnal speech: for pristine deeds

He meant beneath the name of "flesh and blood; "

Remembering, heavenly home-slave that he is,

325 His heavenly Master's words; who gave the name

Of His own honour to men born from Him

Through water, and from His own Spirit poured

A pledge;hyperlink that, by whose virtue men had been

Redeemed, His name of honour they withal

330 Might, when renewed, receive. Because, then, He

Refused, on the old score, the heavenly realm

To peoples not yet from His fount re-born,

Still with their ancient sordid raiment clad-

These are "the dues of death"-saying that that

335 Which human is must needs be born again,-

"What hath been born of flesh is flesh; and what

From Spirit, life; "hyperlink and that the body, washed,

Changing with glory its old root's new seeds,hyperlink

Is no more called "from flesh: "Paul follows this;

340 Thus did he speak of "flesh." In fine, he saidhyperlink

This frail garb with a robe must be o'erclad,

This mortal form be wholly covered;

Not that another body must be given,

But that the former one, dismantled,hyperlink must

345 Be with God's kingdom wholly on all sides

Surrounded: "In the moment of a glance,"

He says, "it shall be changed: "as, on the blade,

Dispreads the red corn'shyperlink face, and changes 'neath

The sun's glare its own hue; so the same flesh,

350 From "the effulgent glory"hyperlink borrowing,

Shall ever joy, and joying,hyperlink shall lack death;

Exclaiming that"the body's cruel foe

Is vanquisht quite; death, by the victory

Of the brave Christ, is swallowed; "hyperlink praises high

355 Bearing to God, unto the highest stars.

Book III.-Of the Harmony of the Fathers of the Old and New Testaments.

Now hath the mother, formerly surnamed

Barren, giv'n birth:hyperlink now a new people, born

From the free woman,hyperlink joys: (the slave expelled,

Deservedly, with her proud progeny;

5 Who also leaves ungratefully behind

The waters of the living fount,hyperlink and drinks-

Errant on heated plains-'neath glowing star:hyperlink )

Now can the Gentiles as their parent claim

Abraham; who, the Lord's voice following,

10 Like him, have all things left,hyperlink life's pilgrimage

To enter. "Be glad, barren one; "conceive

The promised people; "break thou out, and cry,"

Who with no progeny wert blest; of whom

Spake, through the seers, the Spirit of old time:

15 She hath borne, out of many nations, one;

With whose beginning are her pious limbs

Ever in labour.

Hers "just Abel"hyperlink was,

A pastor and a cattle-master he;

Whom violence of brother's right hand slew

20 Of old. Her Enoch, signal ornament,

Limb from her body sprung, by counsel strove

To recall peoples gone astray from God

And following misdeed, (while raves on earth

The horde of robber-renegades,hyperlink ) to flee

25 The giants'sacrilegious cruel race;

Faithful in all himself. With groaning deephyperlink

Did he please God, and by deserved toil

Translatedhyperlink is reserved as a pledge,

With honour high. Perfect in praise, and found

30 Faultless, and just-God witnessinghyperlink the fact-

In an adulterous people, Noah (he

Who in twice fifty yearshyperlink the ark did weave)

By deeds and voice the coming ruin told.

Favour he won, snatched Out of so great waves

35 Of death, and, with his progeny, preserved.

Then, in the generationhyperlink following,

Is Abraham, whose sons ye do deny

Yourselves to be; who first-race, country, sire,

All left behind-at suasion of God's voice

40 Withdrew to realms extern: such honours he

At God's sublime hand worthily deserved

As to be father to believing tribes

And peoples. Jacob with the patriarchs

(Himself their patriarch) through all his own

45 Life's space the gladdest times of Christ foresang

By words, act, virtue, toil. Him follows-free

From foul youth's stain-Joseph, by slander feigned,

Doomed to hard penalty and gaol: his groans

Glory succeeds, and the realm's second crown, so

50 And in dearth's time large power of furnishing

Bread: so appropriate a type of Christ,

So lightsome type of Light, is manifest

To all whose mind hath eyes, that they may see

In a face-mirrorhyperlink their sure hope.

Himself

55 The patriarch Judah, see; the origin

Of royal line,hyperlink whence leaders rose, nor kings

Failed ever from his seed, until the Power

To come, by Gentiles looked for, promised long,

Came.

Moses, leader of the People, (he

60 Who, spurning briefly-blooming riches, left

The royal thresholds,) rather chose to bear

His people's toils, afflicted, with bowed neck,

By no threats daunted, than to gain himself

Enjoyments, and of many penalties

65 Remission: admirable for such faith

And love, he, with God's virtue armed, achieved

Great exploits: smote the nation through with plagues;

And left their land behind, and their hard king

Confounds, and leads the People back; trod waves;

70 Sunk the foes down in waters; through a "tree"hyperlink

Made ever-hitter waters sweet; spake much

(Manifestly to the People) with the Christ,hyperlink

From whose face light and brilliance in his own

Reflected shone; dashed on the ground the law

75 Accepted through some few,hyperlink -implicit type,

And sure, of his own toils!-smote through the rock;

And, being bidden, shed forth streams; and stretched

His hands that, by a sign,hyperlink he vanquish might

The foe; of Christ all severally, allhyperlink

80 Combined through Christ, do speak. Great and approved,

Hehyperlink rests with praise and peace. But Joshua,

The son of Nun, erst called Oshea-this man

The Holy Spirit to Himself did join

As partner in His name:hyperlink hence did he cleave

85 The flood; constrained the People to pass o'er;

Freely distributed the land-the prize

Promised the fathers!-stayed both sun and moon

While vanquishing the foe; races extern

And giants' progeny outdrave; razed groves;

90 Altars and temples levelled; and with mind

Loyalhyperlink performed all due solemnities:

Type of Christ's name; his virtue's image. What

Touching the People's Judges shall I say

Singly? whose virtues,hyperlink it unitedly

95 Recorded, fill whole volumes numerous

With space of words. But vet the order due

Of filling out the body of my words,

Demands that, out of many, I should tell

The life of few.

Of whom when Gideon, guide

100 Of martial band, keen to attack the foe,

(Not keen to gain for his own family,

By virtues,hyperlink tutelary dignity,hyperlink )

And needing to be strengthenedhyperlink in the faith

Excited in his mind, seeks for a sign

105 Whereby he either could not, or could, wage

Victorious war; to wit, that v. with the dew

A fleece, exposed for the night, should be

Moistened, and all the ground lie dry around

(By this to show that, with the world,hyperlink should dryhyperlink

110 The enemies' palm); and then again, the fleece

Alone remaining dry, the earth by night

Should with the self-samehyperlink moisture be bedewed:

For by this sign he prostrated the heaps

Of bandits; with Christ's People 'countering them

115 Without much soldiery, with cavalryhyperlink

Three hundred-the Greek letter Tau, in truth,

That number ishyperlink -with torches armed, and horns

Of blowers with the mouth: thenhyperlink was the fleece,

The people of Christ's sheep, from holy seed

120 Born (for the earth means nations various,

And scattered through the orb), which fleece the word

Nourishes; night death's image; Tau the sign

Of the dear cross; the horn the heraldings

Of life; the torches shining in their standhyperlink

125 The glowing Spirit: and this testing, too,

Forsooth, an image of Christ's virtue was:hyperlink

To teach that death's fierce battles should not be

By trump angelic vanquished before

Th' indocile People be deservedly

130 By their own fault left desolate behind,

And Gentiles, flourishing in faith, received

In praise.

Yea, Deborah, a woman far

Above all fame, appears; who, having braced

Herself for warlike toil, for country's sake,

135 Beneath the palm-tree sang how victory

Had crowned her People; thanks to whom it was

That the foes, vanquisht, turned at once their backs,

And Sisera their leader fled; whose flight

No man, nor any band, arrested: him,

140 Suddenly renegade, a woman's hand-

Jael'shyperlink -with wooden weapon vanquished quite,

For token of Christ's victory. With firm faith

Jephthah appears, who a deep-wounding vow

Dared make-to promise God a grand reward

145 Of war: himhyperlink then, because he senselessly

Had promised what the Lord not wills, first meets

The pledgehyperlink dear to his heart; who suddenly

Fell by a lot unhoped by any. He,

To keep his promise, broke the sacred laws

150 Of parenthood: the shade of mighty fear

Did in his violent mind cover his vow

Of sin: as solace of his widowed life

Forhyperlink wickedness, renown, and, for crime, praise,

He won.

Nor Samson's strength, all corporal might

155 Passing, must we forget; the Spirit's gift

Was this; the power was granted to his head.hyperlink

Alone he for his People, daggerless,

Armless, an ass-jaw grasping, prostrated

A thousand corpses; and no bonds could keep

160 The hero bound: but after his shorn pride

Forsook him thralled, he fell, and, by his death,-

Though vanquisht,-bought his foes back 'neath his power.

Marvellous Samuel, who first received

The precept to anoint kings, to give chrism

165 And show men-Christs,hyperlink so acted laudably

In life's space as, e'en after his repose,

To keep prophetic rights.hyperlink

Psalmographist

David, great king and prophet, with a voice

Submiss was wont Christ's future suffering

170 To sing: which prophecy spontaneously

His thankless lawless People did perform:

Whomhyperlink God had promised that in time to come,

Fruit of his womb,hyperlink a holy progeny,

He would on his sublime throne set: the Lord's

175 Fixt faith did all that He had promised.

Corrector of an inert People rose

Emuloushyperlink Hezekiah; who restored

Iniquitous forgetful men the Law:hyperlink

All these God's mandates of old time he first

180 Bade men observe, who ended war by prayers,hyperlink

Not by steel's point: he, dying, had a grant

Of years and times of life made to his tears:

Deservedly such honour his career Obtained.

With zeal immense, Josiah, prince

185 Himself withal, in like wise acted: none

So much, before or after!-Idols he

Dethroned; destroyed unhallowed temples; burned

With fire priests on their altars; all the bones

Of prophets false updug; the altars burned,

190 The carcases to be consumed did serve

For fuel!

To the praise of signal faith,

Noble Elijah, (memorable fact!)

Was rapt;hyperlink who hath not tasted yet death's dues;

Since to the orb he is to come again.

195 His faith unbroken, then, chastening with stripes

People and frenzied king, (who did desert

The Lord's best service), and with bitter flames

The foes, shut up the stars; kept in the clouds

The rain; showed all collectively that God

200 Is; made their error patent;-for a flame,

Coming with force from heaven at his prayers,

Ate up the victim's parts, dripping with flood,

Upon the altar:hyperlink -often as he willed,

So often from on high rushed fire;hyperlink the stream

205 Dividing, he made pathless passable;hyperlink

And, in a chariot raised aloft, was borne

To paradise's hall.

Disciple his Elisha was, succeeding to his lot:hyperlink

Who begged to take to him Elijah's lothyperlink

210 In double measure; so, with forceful stripe,

The People to chastise:hyperlink such and so great

A love for the Lord's cause he breathed. He smote

Through Jordan; made his feet a way, and crossed

Again; raised with a twig the axe down-sunk

215 Beneath the stream; changed into vital meat

The deathful food; detained a second time,

Double in length,hyperlink the rains; cleansed leprosies;hyperlink

Entangled foes in darkness; and when one

Offcast and dead, by bandits'slaughter slain

220 His limbs, after his death, already hid

In sepulchre, did touch, he-light recalled-

Revived.

Isaiah, wealthy seer, to whom

The fount was oped,-so manifest his faith!

Poured from his mouth God's word forth. Promised was

225 The Father's will, bounteous through Christ; through him

It testified before the way of life,

And was approved:hyperlink but him, though stainless found,

And undeserving, the mad People cut

With wooden saw in twain, and took away

230 With cruel death.

The holy Jeremy

Followed; whom the Eternal's Virtue bade

Be prophet to the Gentiles, and him told

The future: who, because he brooded o'er

His People's deeds illaudable, and said

235 (Speaking with voice presaging) that, unless

They had repented of betaking them

To deeds iniquitous against their slaves,hyperlink

They should be captived, bore hard bonds, shut up

In squalid gaol; and, in the miry pit,

240 Hunger exhausted his decaying limbs.

But, after he did prove what they to hear

Had been unwilling, and the foes did lead

The People bound in their triumphal trains,

Hardly at length his wrinkled right hand lost

245 Its chains: it is agreed that by no death

Nor slaughter was the hero ta'en away.

Faithful Ezekiel, to whom granted was

Rich grace of speech, saw sinners' secrets; wailed

His own afflictions; prayed for pardon; saw

250 The vengeance of the saints, which is to be

By slaughter; and, in Spirit wrapt, the place

Of the saints' realm, its steps and accesses,

And the salvation of the flesh, he saw.

Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, too,

255 With Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, come;

Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai,

And Zechariah who did violence

Suffer, and Malachi-angel himself!

Are here: these are the Lord's seers; and their choir,

260 As still they sing, is heard; and equally

Their proper wreath of praise they all have earned.

How great was Daniel! What a man!

What power!

Who by their own mouth did false witnesses

Bewray, and saved a soul on a false charge

265 Condemned;hyperlink and, before that, by mouth resolved

The king's so secret dreams; foresaw how Christ

Dissolves the limbs of kingdoms; was accused

For his Lord's was made the lions' prey;

And, openly preservedhyperlink before all eyes,

270 Rested in peace.

His Three Companions, scarce

With due praise to be sung, did piously

Contemn the king's iniquitous decree,

Out of so great a number: to the flames

Their bodies given were; but they preferred,

275 For the Great Name, to yield to penalties

Themselves, than to an image stretch their palms

On bended knees. Now their o'erbrilliant faith,

Now hope outshining all things, the wild fires

Hath quencht, and vanquisht the iniquitous!

280 Ezra the seer, doctor of Law, and priest

Himself (who, after full times, back did lead

The captive People), with the Spirit filled

Of memory, restored by word of mouth

All the seers' volumes, by the fires and mouldhyperlink

285 Consumed.

Great above all born from seed

Is John whose praises hardly shall we skill

To tell: the washerhyperlink of the flesh: the Lord's

Open forerunner; washer,hyperlink too, of Christ,

Himself first born again from Him: the first

290 Of the new convenant, last of the old,

Was he; and for the True Way's sake he died,

The first slain victim.

See God-Christ! behold

Alike, His Twelve-Fold Warrior-Youth!hyperlink in all

One faith, one dove, one power; the flower of men;

295 Lightening the worldhyperlink with light; comrades of Christ

And apostolic men; who, speaking truth,

Heard with their ears Salvation,hyperlink with their eyes

Saw It, and handled with their hand the late

From death recovered body,hyperlink and partook

300 As fellow-guests of food therewith, as they

Themselves bear witness.

Him did Paul as well (Forechosen apostle, and in due time sent),

When rapt into the heavens,hyperlink behold: and sent

By Him, he, with his comrade Barnabas,

305 And with the earlier associates

Joined in one league together, everywhere

Among the Gentiles hands the doctrine down

That Christ is Head, whose members are the Church,

He the salvation of the body, He

310 The members' life perennial;

He, made flesh, He, ta'en away for all, Himself first rose

Again, salvation's only hope; and gave

The norm to His disciples: they at once

All variously suffered, for His Name,

315 Unworthy penalties.

Such members bears

With beauteous body the free mother, since

She never her Lord's precepts left behind,

And in His home hath grown old, to her Lord

Ever most choice, having for His Name's sake

320 Penalties suffered. For since, barren once,

Not yet secure of her futurity,

She hath outgiven a people born of seed

Celestial, andhyperlink been spurned, and borne the spleenhyperlink

Of her own handmaid; now 'tis time to see

325 This former-barren mother have a son

The heir of her own liberty; not like

The handmaid's heir, yoked in estate to her,

Although she bare him from celestial seed

Conceived. Far be it that ye should with words

330 Unlawful, with rash voice, collectively

Without distinction, give men exemplary

(Heaven's glowing constellations, to the mass

Of men conjoined by seed alone or blood),

The rugged bondman'shyperlink name; or that one think

335 That he may speak in servile style about

A People who the mandates followed

Of the Lord's Law. No: but we mean the troop

Of sinners, empty, mindless, who have placed

God's promises in a mistrustful heart;

340 Men vanquisht by the miserable sweet

Of present life: that troop would have been bound

Capital slavery to undergo,

By their own fault, if sin's cause shall impose

Law's yoke upon the mass. For to serve God,

345 And be whole-heartedly intent thereon,

Untainted faith, and freedom, is thereto

Prepared spontaneous.

The just fathers, then, And holy stainless prophets, many, sang

The future advent of the Lord; and they

350 Faithfully testify what Heaven bids

To men profane: with them the giants,hyperlink men

With Christ's own glory satiated, made

The consorts of His virtue, filling up

The hallowed words, have stablished our faith;

355 By facts predictions proving.

Of these men

Disciples who succeeded them throughout

The orb, men wholly filled with virtue's breath,

And our own masters, have assigned to us

Honours conjoined with works.

Of whom the first

360 Whom Peter bade to take his place and sit

Upon this chair in mightiest Rome where he

Himself had sat,hyperlink was Linus, great, elect,

And by the mass approved. And after him

Cletus himself the fold's flock undertook;

365 As his successor Anacletus was

By lot located: Clement follows him;

Well known was he to apostolic men:hyperlink

Next Evaristus ruled without a crime

The law.hyperlink To Sixtus Sextus Alexander

370 Commends the fold: who, after he had filled

His lustral times up, to Telesphorus

Hands it in order: excellent was he,

And martyr faithful. After him succeeds

A comrade in the law,hyperlink and master sure:

375 When lo! the comrade of your wickedness,

Its author and forerunner-Cerdo highs-

Arrived at Rome, smarting with recent wounds:

Detected, for that he was scattering

Voices and words of venom stealthily:

380 For which cause, driven from the band, he bore

This sacrilegious brood, the dragon's breath

Engendering it. Blooming in piety

United stood the Church of Rome, compact

By Peter: whose successor, too, himself,

385 And now in the ninth place, Hyginus was,

The burden undertaking of his chair.

After him followed Pius-Hermas his

Own brotherhyperlink was; angelic "Pastor" he,

Because he spake the words delivered him:hyperlink

390 And Anicetushyperlink the allotted post

In pious order undertook.'Neath whom

Marcion here coming, the new Pontic pest,

(The secret daring deed in his own heart

Not yet disclosed,) went, speaking commonly,

395 In all directions, in his perfidy,

With lurking art. But after he began

His deadly arrows to produce, cast off

Deservedly (as author of a crime

So savage), reprobated by the saints,

400 He burst, a wondrous monster! on our view.

Book IV.-Of Marcion's Antitheses.hyperlink

What the Inviolable Power bids

The youthful people,hyperlink which, rich, free, and heir,

Possesses an eternal hope of praise

(By right assigned) is this: that with great zeal

5 Burning, armed with the love of peace-yet not

As teachers (Christ alone doth all things teachhyperlink ),

But as Christ's household-servants-o'er the earth

They should conduct a massive war;hyperlink should raze

The wicked's lofty towers, savage walls,

10 And threats which 'gainst the holy people's bands

Rise, and dissolve such empty sounds in air.

Wherefore we, justly speaking emulous words,hyperlink

Out of hishyperlink own words even strive to express

The meaning of salvation's records,hyperlink which Is

15 Large grace hath poured profusely; and to ope

To the saints' eyes the Bandit'shyperlink covert plague:

Lest any untrained, daring, ignorant,

Fall therein unawares, and (being caught)

Forfeit celestial gifts. God, then, is One

20 To mortals all and everywhere; a Realm

Eternal, Origin of light profound;

Life's Fount; a Draught fraughthyperlink with all wisdom. HE

Produced the orb whose bosom all things girds;

Him not a region, not a place, includes as

25 In circuit: matter none perennial is,hyperlink

So as to be self-made, or to have been

Ever, created by no Maker: heaven's,

Earth's, sea's, and the abyss'shyperlink Settlerhyperlink is

The Spirit; air's Divider, Builder, Author,

30 Sole God perpetual, Power immense, is He.hyperlink

Him had the Law the Peoplehyperlink shown to be

One God,hyperlink whose mighty voice to Moses spake

Upon the mount. Him this His Virtue, too,

His Wisdom, Glory, Word, and Son, this Light

35 Begotten from the Light immense,hyperlink proclaims

Through the seers' voices, to be One: and Paul,hyperlink

Taking the theme in order up, thus too

Himself derives; "Father there is Onehyperlink

Through whom were all things made: Christ One, through whom

40 God all things made; "hyperlink to whom he plainly owns

That every knee doth bow itself;hyperlink of whom

Is every fatherhoodhyperlink in heaven and earth

Called: who is zealous with the highest love

Of parent-care His people-ward; and wills

45 All flesh to live in holy wise, and wills

His people to appear before Him pure

Without a crime. With such zeal, by a lawhyperlink

Guards He our safety; warns us loyal be;

Chastens; is instant. So, too, has the same

50 Apostle (when Galatian brethren

Chiding)-Paul-written that such zeal hath he.hyperlink

The fathers'sins God freely rendered, then,

Slaying in whelming deluge utterly Parents alike with progeny, and e'en

55 Grandchildren in "fourth generation"hyperlink now

Descended from the parent-stock, when He

Has then for nearly these nine hundred years

Assisted them. Hard does the judgment seem?

The sentence savage? And in Sodom, too,

60 That the still guiltless little one unarmed

And tender should lose life: for what had e'er

The infant sinned? What cruel thou mayst think,

Is parent-care's true duty. Lest misdeed

Should further grow, crime's authors He did quench,

65 And sinful parents' brood. But, with his sires,

The harmless infant pays not penalties

Perpetual, ignorant and not advanced

In crime: but lest he partner should become

Of adult age's guilt, death immature

70 Undid spontaneous future ills.

Why, then,

Bids God libation to be poured to Him

With blood of sheep? and takes so stringent means

By Law, that, in the People, none transgress

Erringly, threatening them with instant death

75 By stoning? and why reprobates, again,

These gifts of theirs, and says they are to Him

Unwelcome, while He chides a People press

With swarm of sin?hyperlink Does He, the truthful, bid,

And He, the just, at the same time repel?

80 The causes if thou seekst, cease to be moved

Erringly: for faith's cause is weightier

Than fancied reason.hyperlink Through a mirrorhyperlink -shade

Of fulgent light!-behold what the calf's blood,

The heifer's ashes, and each goat, do mean:

85 The one dismissed goes off, the other falls

A victim at the temple.

With calfs blood

With water mixt the seerhyperlink (thus from on high

Bidden) besprinkled People, vessels all,

Priests, and the written volumes of the Law.

90 See here not their true hope, nor yet a mere

Semblance devoid of virtue:hyperlink but behold

In the calf's type Christ destined bodily

To suffer; who upon His shoulders bare

The plough-beam's hard yokes,hyperlink and with fortitude

95 Brake His own heart with the steel share, and poured

Into the furrows water of His own

Life's blood. For these "temple-vessels" do

Denote our bodies: God's true templehyperlink He,

Not dedicated erst; for to Himself

100 He by His blood associated men,

And willed them be His body's priests, Himself

The Supreme Father's perfect Priest by right.

Hearing, sight, step inert, He cleansed; and, for a "book,"hyperlink

Sprinkled, by speaking.hyperlink words of presage, those

105 His witnesses: demonstrating the Law

Bound by His holy blood.

This cause withal Our victim through "the heifer" manifests

From whose blood taking for the People's sake

Piacular drops, them the first Levitehyperlink bare



Footnotes



102 i.e., to life.

103 I have ventured to alter the "Morti," of the edd. into "Forti;" and "causas" (as we have seen) seems, in this late Latin, nearly = "res."

104 i.e., the grain.

105 This may seem an unusual expression, as it is more common to regard the fruit as gracing the tree, than the tree the fruit. But, in point of fact, the tree, with its graceful form and foliage, may be said to give a grace to the fruit; and so our author puts it here: "decoratos arbore fructus."

106 I read "primum" here for "primus."

107 "Tantum" = "tantum quantum primo fuerat," i.e., with a body as well as a spirit.

108 Pignus: "the promise of the Father" (Acts i. 4); "the earnest of the Spirit" (2 Cor. i. 22; v. 5.). See, too, Eph. i. 13, 14; Rom. viii. 23.

109 The reference is to John iii. 6, but it is not quite correctly given.

110 See note on 245, above.

111 See 2 Cor. v. 1. sqq.

112 I read "inerum" - a very rare form - here for "inermem." But there seems a confusion in the text, which here, as elsewhere, is probably corrupt.

113 "Cerae," which seems senseless here, I have changed to "cereris."

114 There seems to be a reference to 2 Pet. i. 17.

115 Here again I have altered the punctuation by a very simple change.

116 See 1 Cor. xv. 54; Isa. xxv. 8 (where the LXX. have a strange reading).

117 Isa. liv. 1; Gal. iv. 27.

118 Gal. iv. 19-31.

119 The Jewish people leaving Christ, "the fountain of living waters" (Jer. ii. 13; John vii. 37-39), is compared to Hagar leaving the well, which was, we may well believe, close to Abraham's tent.

120 Et tepidis errans ardenti sidere potat. See Gen. xxi. 12-20.

121 See Matt. xix. 27; Mark x. 28; Luke xviii. 28.

122 See Matt. xxiii. 35.

123 i.e., apparently the "giants;" see Gen. vi. 4; but there is no mention of them in Enoch's time (Migne).

124 i.e., over the general sinfulness.

125 I suggest "translatus" for "translatum" here.

126 See Gen. vii. 1.

127 Loosely; 120 years is the number in Gen. vi. 3.

128 Gente.

129 Speculo vultus. The two words seem to me to go together, and, unless the second be indeed redundant, to mean perhaps a small hand-mirror, which affords more facilities for minute examination of the face than a larger fixed one.

130 "Sortis;" lit. "lot," here = "the line or family chosen by lot." Compare the similar derivation of "clergy."

131 Lignum.

132 I have ventured to substitute "Christo" for "Christi;" and thus, for

"Cum Christi populo manifeste multa locutus,"read,

"Cum Christo (populo manifeste) multa locutus."The reference is to the fact, on which such special stress is laid, of the Lord's "speaking to Moses face to face, as a man speaketh with his friend." See especially Num. xii. 5-8, Deut. xxxiv. 9-12, with Deut. xviii. 17-19, Acts iii. 22, 23, vii. 37.

133 The Latin in Oehler and Migne is thus:

"Accepram legem per paucos fudit in orbem;"and the reference seems to me to be to Ex. xxxii. 15-20, though the use of "orbem" for "ground" is perhaps strange; but "humum" would have been against the metre, if that argument be of any weight in the case of a writer so prolific of false quantities. Possibly the lines may mean that "he diffused through some few" - i.e., through the Jews, "few" as compared with the total inhabitants of the orb - "the Law which he had received;" but then the following line seems rather to favour the former view, because the tables of the Law - called briefly "the Law" - broken by Moses so soon after he had received them, were typical of the inefficacy of all Moses' own toils, which, after all, ended in disappointment, as he was forbidden, on account of a sin committed in the very last of the forty years, to lead the people into "the land," as 'he had fondly hoped to do. Only I suspect some error in "per paucos;" unless it be lawful to supply "dies," and take it to mean "received during but few days," i.e., "within few days," "only a few days before," and "accepted" or "kept" by the People "during but a few days." Would it be lawful to conjecture "perpaucis" as one word, with "ante diebus" to be understood?

134 i.e., the sign of the cross. See Tertullian, adv. Marc., l. iii. c. xviii. sub. fin.; also adv. Jud., c. x. med.

135 i.e., all the acts and the experiences of Moses.

136 Moses.

137 See Ex. xxiii. 20-23; and comp. adv. Marc., l. iii. c. xvi.

138 Legitima, i.e., reverent of law.

139 i.e., virtuous acts.

140 Or, "valour."

141 The Latin runs thus:

"Acer in hostem.

Non virtute sua trtelam acquirere genti."I have ventured to read "suae," and connect it with "genti;" and thus have obtained what seems to me a probable sense. See Judg. viii. 22, 23.

142 I read "firmandus" for "firmatus."

143 Mundo.

144 I have again ventured a correction, "coarescere" for "coalescere." It makes at least some sense out of an otherwise (to me) unintelligible passage, the "palm" being taken as the well-known symbol of bloom and triumph. So David in Ps. xcii. 12 (xci. 13 in LXX.), "The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree." To "dry" here is, of course, neuter, and means to "wither."

145 I have changed "eadem" - which must agree with "nocte," and hance give a false sense; for it was not, of course, on "the same night," but on the next, that his second sign was given - into "eodem," to agree with "liquore," which gives a true one, as the "moisture," of course, was the same, - dew, namely.

146 Equite. It appears to be used loosely for "men of war" generally.

147 Which is taken, from its form, as a sign of the cross; see below.

148 Refers to the "when" in 99, above.

149 Lychno. The "faces" are probably the wicks.

150 "Scilicet hoc testamen erat virtutis image."

151 The text as it stands is, in Oehler: -

... "Hic Baal Christi victoria signo

Extemplo refugam devicit femina ligno;"which I would read: -

... "Hunc Jael, Christi victorioe signo,

Extemplo," etc.

152 For "hic" I would incline to read "huic."

153 i.e., child.

154 i.e., instead of.

155 i.e., to his unshorn Nazarite locks.

156 Viros ostendere Christos.

157 See 1 Sam. xxviii. (in LXX. 1 Kings) 11-19.

158 i.e., to whom, to David.

159 "Ex utero:" a curious expression for a man; but so it is.

160 i.e., emulous of David's virtues.

161 Comp. especially 2 Chron. xxix. xxx. xxxi.

162 Our author is quite correct in his order. A comparison of dates as given in the Scripture history shows us that his reforms preceded his war with Sennacherib.

163 The "tactus" of the Latin is without sense, unless indeed it refer to his being twice "touched" by an angel. See 1 Kings (in LXX. 3 Kings) xix. 1-8. I have therefore substituted "raptus," there being no mention of the angel in the Latin.

164 "Aras" should probably be "aram."

165 See 2 Kings (in LXX. 4 Kings) i. 9-12.

166 For "transgressas et avia fecit," I read "transgressus avia fecit," taking "transgressus" as a subst.

167 Sortis.

168 Sortem.

169 Our author has somewhat mistaken Elisha's mission apparently; for as there is a significant difference in the meaning of their respective names, so there is in their works: Elijah's miracles being rather miracles of judgment, it has been remarked; Elisha's, of mercy.

170 The reference is to a famine in Elisha's days, which - 2 Kings (in LXX. 4 Kings) viii. i. - was to last seven years; whereas that for which Elijah prayed, as we learn in Jas. v. 17., lasted three and six months. But it is not said that Elisha prayed for that famine.

171 We only read of one leprosy which Elisha cleansed - Naaman's. He inflicted leprosy on Gehazi, which was "to cleave to him and to his seed for ever."

172 Praestata viam vitae atque probata per ipsam est. I suspect we should read "via," quantity being of no importance with our author, and take "praetestata" as passive: "The way of life was testified before, and proved, through him."

173 This seems to be the meaning, and the reference will then be to Jer. xxxiv. 8-22 (in LXX. xli. 8-22); but the punctuation both in Oehler and Migne makes nonsense, and I have therefore altered it.

174 See the apocryphal "Susanna."

175 For "servatisque palam cunctis in pace quievit," which the edd. give, I suggest "servatusque," etc., and take "palam" for governing "cunctis."

176 Ignibus et multa consumpta volumina vatum. Multa must, apparently, be an error for some word signifying "mould" or the like; unless, with the disregard of construction and quantity observable in this author, it be an acc. pl. to agree with volumina, so that we must take "omnia multa volumina" together, which would alter the whole construction of the context.

177 Ablutor.

178 Ablutor.

179 Juventus.

180 Mundo.

181 Salutem = Christum. So Simeon, "Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation," where the Greek word should be noted and compared with its usage in the LXX., especially in the Psalms. See Luke ii. 30.

182 Comp. 1 John i. 1, 2.

183 See 2 Cor. xii. 1 sqq.

184 The common reading is, "Atque suae famulae portavit spreta dolorem." for which Oehler reads "portarit;" but I incline rather to suggest that "portavit" be retained, but that the "atque" be changed into "aeque," thus: "Aeque suae famulae portavit spreta dolorem;" i.e., Since, like Sarah, the once barren Christian church-mother hath had children, equally, like Sarah, hath she had to bear scorn and spleen at her handmaid's - the Jewish church-mother's - hands.

185 Dolorem.

186 i.e., Ishmael's.

187 "Immanes," if it be the true reading.

188 This is the way Oehler's punctuation reads. Migne's reads as follows: -

... "Of whom the first

Whom mightiest Rome bade take his place and sit

Upon the chair where Peter's self had sat," etc.

189 "Is spostolicis bene notus." This may mean (a) as in our text; (b) by his apostolically-minded writings - writings like an apostle's; or (c) by the apostolic writings, i.e., by the mention made of him, supposing him to be the same, in Phil. iv. 3.

190 Legem.

191 Legis.

192 Germine frater.

193 An allusion to the well-known Pastor or Shepherd of Hermas.

194 Our author makes the name Anicetus. Rig. (as quoted by Oehler) observes that a comparison of the list of bishops of Rome here given with that given by Tertullian in de Praescr., c. xxxii., seems to show that this metrical piece cannot be his.

195 The state of the text in some parts of this book is frightful. It has been almost hopeless to extract any sense whatever out of the Latin in many passages - indeed, the renderings are in these cases little better than guess-work - and the confusion of images, ideas, and quotations is extraordinary.

196 See the preceding book.

197 I have changed the unintelligible "daret" of the edd. into "docet." The reference seems to be to Matt. xxiii. 8; Jas. iii. 1; 1 Pet. v. 2, 3.

198 Molem belli deducere terrae.

199 Aemulamenta. Migne seems to think the word refers to Marcion's "Antitheses."

200 i.e., apparently Marcion's.

201 Monumenta.

202 See the opening of the preceding book.

203 "Conditus;" i.e., probably (in violation of quantity) the past part. of "conditio" = flavoured, seasoned.

204 I have altered the punctuation here.

205 Inferni.

206 Locator.

207 These lines are capable, according to their punctuation, of various renderings, which for brevity's sake I must be content to omit.

208 i.e., the People of Israel. See the de Idol., p. 148, c. v. note 1.

209 See Deut. vi. 3, 4, quoted in Mark xii. 29, 30.

210 This savours of the Nicene Creed.

211 Migne's pointing is followed, in preference to Oehler's.

212 "Unum hunc esse Patrem;" i.e., "that this One (God) is the Father." But I rather incline to read, "unumque esse;" or we may render, "This One is the Sire."

213 See 1 Cor. viii. 5, 6 (but notice the prepositions in the Greek; our author is not accurate in rendering them); Eph. iv. 4, 5, 6.

214 Ad quem se curvare genu plane omne fatetur. The reference is to Phil. ii. 10; but our author is careless in using the present tense, "se curvare."

215 The reference is to Eph. iii. 14, 15; but here again our author seems in error, as he refers the words to Christ, whereas the meaning of the apostle appears clearly to refer them to the Father.

216 Legitimos. See book iv. 91.

217 See Gal. iii. 20. But here, again, "Galatas" seems rather like an error; for in speaking to the Corinthians St. Paul uses an expression more like our author's: see 2 Cor. xi. 2. The Latin, too, is faulty: "Talem se Paulus zelum se scripsit habere," where, perhaps, for the first "se" we should read "sic."

218 Comp. Ex. xx. 5; Deut. v. 9.

219 See Isa. i. 10-15; Jer. vi. 20.

220 Causa etenim fidei rationis imagine major.

221 Comp. 1 Cor. xiii. 12; Heb. x. 1.

222 Moses. See Heb. ix. 19-22, and the references there.

223 Comp. Heb. ix. 13.

224 Alluding probably to our Lord's bearing of the cross-beam of His cross - the beam being the "yokes," and the upright stem of the cross the "plough-beam" - on His shoulders. - See John xix. 17.

225 Templum. Comp. John ii. 19-22; Col. ii. 9.

226 Libro. The reference is to the preceding lines, especially 89, and Heb. ix. 19, auto to Biblion. The use of "libro" is curious, as it seems to be used partly as if it would be equivalent to pro libro, "in the place of a book," partly in a more truly datival sense, "to serve the purposes of a book;" and our "for" is capable of the two senses.

227 For this comparison of "speaking" to "sprinkling," comp. Deut. xxxii. 2, "My doctrine shall drop as the rain; my speech shall distil as the dew," etc.; Job xxix. 22, "My speech dropped upon them;" with Eph. v. 26, and with our Lord's significant action (recorded in the passage here alluded to, John xx. 22) of "breathing on" (enefushsen) His disciples. Comp., too, for the "witnesses" and "words of presage," Luke xxiv. 48, 49; Acts i. 6-8.

228 i.e., the chief of the Levites, the high priest.