you were the hope of his faith. Wherefore let us give heed unto the last times. For all the time' past of our life, and our faith will profit us nothing, unless we continue to hate what is evil, and to withstand the future temptations. So the Son of God tells us, Let us resist all iniquity and hate it. Wherefore Do not consider the works of the evil way. withdraw yourselves from others, as if already justified; but coming all together into one place, inquire what is agreeable to, and profitable for, the beloved of God. For the Scripture saith, Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight'. Let us become spiritual, a perfect temple to God. As much as in us lies, let us meditate upon the fear of God; and strive, to the utmost of our power, to keep his commandments, that we may rejoice in his righteous judgments. For God will judge the world, without respect of persons; and every one shall receive according to his works. If a man shall be good, his righteousness shall go before him; if wicked, the reward of his wickedness shall follow him. Take heed, therefore, lest sitting still, now that we are called, we fall asleep in our sins; and the wicked one, getting the dominion over us, stir us up, and shut us out of the kingdom of the Lord1. Consider this also: although you have seen so great signs and wonders done among the people of the Jews, yet (this notwithstanding) the Lord hath forsaken them. Beware therefore, lest it happen to us: as it is written, There be many called, but few chosen3. V. For this cause did our Lord vouchsafe to give up his body to destruction, that through the 1 Days. 2 Heb. x. 25. X 3 Vid. Gr. Clem. Alex. Isa. v, 21 5 Matt. xxii. 14. forgiveness of our sins we might be sanctified; that is, by the sprinkling of his blood. Now for what concerns the things that are written about him-some belong to the people of the Jews, and some to us. For thus saith the Scripture, He was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our, iniquities; and by his blood we are healed. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth'. Wherefore we ought the more to give thanks unto God, for that he hath both declared unto us what is passed, and not suffered us to be without understanding of those things that are to come. But to them he saith, The nets are not unjustly spread for the birds. This he spake, because a man will justly perish, if having the knowledge of the way of truth, he shall nevertheless not refrain himself from the way of darkness. And for this cause the Lord was content to suffer for our souls, although he be the Lord of the whole earth; to whom God said before the beginning of the world, Let us make man after our own image and likeness*. Now, how he suffered for us, seeing it was by men that he underwent it, I will shew you. The Prophets, having received from him the gift of prophecy, spake before concerning him; but he, that he might abolish death, and make known the resurrection from the dead, was content, as it was necessary, to appear in the flesh, that he might make good the promise before given to our fathers, and preparing himself a new people, might demonstrate to them, whilst he was upon earth, that, after the resurrection, he would judge the 1 Isa. liii. 5. 7. 3 Prov. i. 17. 2 Vid. Edit. Oxon. p. 21. 5 Learn. world. And finally, teaching the people of Israel, and doing many wonders and signs among them, he preached to them, and shewed the exceeding great love which he bare towards them. And when he chose his Apostles, which were afterwards to publish his Gospel, he took men who had been very great sinners; that thereby he might plainly shew, That he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance'. Then he clearly manifested himself to be the Son of God. For had he not come in the flesh, how should men have been able to look upon him, that they might be saved? seeing if they behold only the sun, which was the work of his hands, and shall hereafter cease to be, they are not able to endure steadfastly to look against the rays of it. Wherefore the Son of God came in the flesh for this cause, that he might fill up the measure of their iniquity who have persecuted his prophets unto death. And for the same reason also he suffered: for God hath said, of the stripes of his flesh, that they were from them. And, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scat tered. Thus he would suffer, because it behoved him to suffer upon the cross. For thus one saith, prophesying concerning him, Spare my soul from the sword. And again, 'Pierce my flesh from thy fear. And again, The congregation of wicked doers rose up against me, [They have pierced my hands and my feet.] And again, he saith, I gave 4 1 Matt. ix. 13. 2 Namely, from the Jews. According to the Lxx. xxii. 16, 3 Zech. xiii. 6, 7. Psal. xxii. 20; cxviii. [cxix. Heb.] 120; 5 These words were doubtless cited thus by Barnabas; because that without them, those foregoing do not prove the crucifixion of Christ. But through the repetition of the same preposition, this latter part was so early omitted, that it was not in the Latin Interpreter's Copy. Psal. xxi. 16. my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to be buffeted, and my face I set as an hard rock'. VI. And when he had fulfilled the commandment of God, what says he? Who will contend with me? Let him stand against me: or who is he that will implead me? Let him draw near to the servant of the LORD.' Woe be to you! Because ye shall all wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat you up. And again the Prophet adds, He is put for a stone of stumbling. Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a precious stone, a choice cornerstone, an honourable stone. And what follows? And he that hopeth in him shall live for ever. What then? Is our hope built upon a stone? God forbid. But because the Lord hath hardened his flesh against sufferings, he saith, I have put me as a firm rock3. And again the Prophet adds, The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner. And again he saith, This is the great and wonderful day which the LORD hath made". [I write these things the more plainly to you that ye may understand:] For', indeed, I could be content even to die for your sakes. But what saith the Prophet again,-The counsel of the wicked encompassed me about. They came about me, as bees about the honey-comb; and, Upon my vesture they cast lots. Forasmuch then as our Saviour was to appear in the flesh, and suffer, his passion was hereby foretold. For thus saith the Prophet against Israel, Woe" be to their soul, because they have taken wicked counsel against 1 Isa. L. 6. 2 Isa. L. 8, 9. Septuag. Inter. Isa. viii. 14; xxviii. 16. 4 Gr.-Put in strength, or strengthened. 5 Isa L. 7. 7 Psal. cxvii. 24. 6 Psal. cxvii. 22. 8 Clem. Alex. Strom. v. This is not in the old Lat. Version. 11 Isa. iii. 9. themselves, saying, Let us lay' snares for the righteous, because he is unprofitable to us. Moses also in like manner speaketh to them; Behold thus saith the LORD God, Enter ye into the good land of which the LORD hath sworn to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, that he would give it you, and possess it; a land flowing with milk and honey. Now what the spiritual meaning of this is, learn: It' is as if it had been said, Put your trust in Jesus, who shall be manifested to you in the flesh. For man is the earth which suffers; forasmuch as out of the substance' of the earth Adam was formed. What therefore does he mean when he says, Into a good land flowing with milk and honey? Blessed be our Lord, who has given us wisdom, and a heart to understand his secrets! For so says the Prophet, Who shall understand the hard sayings of the LORD? But he that is wise, and intelligent, and that loves his LORD'. Seeing therefore he has renewed us by the remission of our sins, he has put us into another frame, that we should have souls like those of children, forming us again himself by the Spirit. For thus the Scripture saith concerning us, where it introduceth the Father speaking to the Son; Let us make man after our likeness and similitude; and let them have dominion over the beasts of the earth, and over the fowls of the air, and over the fish of the sea. And when the Lord saw the man which he had formed, that behold he was very good, he said, Increase, and multiply, and replenish the earth". And this |