46. But lest any should unreasonably urge, to turn men sinners
Those who lived by the Word before Christ, Christians.
have I begotten Thee before the morning star.
The words Api)L. then, He will send Thee the rod of isomer out of Jerusalem, ^' ^^'' are presignificant of that powerful doctrine which His Apostles went out from Jerusalem and preached every where and although death is decreed against those who teach, or in any way confess, the name of Christ ; we every where both embrace and teach it.
And if you also should read these words as enemies, you can do no more, as I have already said, than put us to death, which to us indeed involves no loss ; but to you, and to all who persecute us unjustly, and do not repent, brings eternal punishment by fire.
46. But lest any should unreasonably urge, to turn men sinners awayi from our doctrines, that we assert Christ to have chrisr, been born one hundred and fifty years ago, under Cyrenius, &"''^)'and to have taught what we afiirm that He did teach subsequently, in the time of Pontius Pilate ; and should urge it against us as if all men who were born before Him were irresponsible, I will, by anticipation, answ^er this difficulty.
^ We are taught that Christ is the First-born of God, and we !/^ have^sliewn above that He is the Word of Whom the whole
Kuman race are partakers, and those who lived according to reason are Christians, even though accounted Atheists.
Such among the Greeks were Socrates, and Heraclitus, and~"tbose who resembled thorn: of the Barbarians, Abraham, and Ananias, and Azarias, and Misael, and ' whose actions; or names, would ; Elias, and man}^ others I know be tedious to relate ; and for the present I refrain from so doing.
So also they who have been before Him, and lived without reason, were worthless', and enemies to ' ^xp^Christ, and murderers of those who governed their lives by reason ; but they who lived, and now live, in accordance with it, are Christians, and are fearless, and tranquil.
But for what reason, through the power of the Word, according to the will of God, the Father and Lord of all things, He was born as man of a virgin, and was called Jesus, and was crucified, and died, and rose again, and went up into
h.-nQrp6'Kf]v.
"Thirlby," says the versy with those who would distort Benedictine, "would read o.vaTp6-Kr\v, and calumniate, rather than overthrow , but wrongly, as St. Justin is in coutrohis doctrines." p. 71. note a. d2
Rejection of Christ, and fall of the Jews, foretold.
Just, heaven ; from all that I have said already at such length, a -'man of understanding will be able to comprehend, but as the discussion of the proof is not necessary now, I will pass on, for the present, to those proofs which are pressing.
Fall of 4^^ That the land of the Jews, then, was to be laid waste, theJews i o • • ^ tti foretold. hear what was said by the Spirit of prophecy: His words were uttered as in the person of the people wondering at Is. 64, what had been done; they are as follows;
Zion is become a ~ ' wilderness, Jerusalem is become as a desolation, the house of our sanctuary is become a curse, and the glory ivhich our fathers blessed is burned icith fire, and all its glorious things are fallen, and Thou refrainest Thyself at these things, and dost hold Thy peace, and afflict us very sore.
And that Jerusalem was laid waste, as it was foretold should come to pass, you know.
Of this desolation, and of none of its people being permitted to inhabit it, the Prophet Isaiah Is. 1, 7. spoke thus; Their country is desolate, their enemies devour it in their presence, and there shall not be one of them to dwell in it; and that it is guarded by you to prevent any one from dwelling in it, and that death is decreed against a Jew who is detected in entering it, you know well.
Prophe48. And that it was foretold that our Christ should heal Christ. ^ diseases, and raise the dead, hear what was said; it is as Is. 35, follows ; At His coming the lame shall leap like a stag, and the tongue of the dumb shall be eloquent, the blind shall receiver sight, and the lepers shall be cleansed, and the dead shall rise and walk about.
That He performed these things you may easily be satisfied, from the Acts" of Pontius Pilate; and how it was foretold by the Spirit of prophecy that both He, and those who trusted in Him, should lose their lives, hear Is. 57, wliat was said by Isaiah : Behold how the Righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and just men are takeii away, and none considereth.
The Righteous is taken away from the presence of evil, and His grave shall be in peace. He is taken from the midst of us.
Calling 49^ And again, how it was said by the same Isaiah, that Gentiles the people of the Gentiles who did not look for Him should foretold, -worship Him, but that the Jews who were always looking for •" 'Yivoix4vuv ovr^. Ben after Casauy)robab]e by the use of the term in bnn, would read &ktwu. which is made *.
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