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| Chapter XLIV.—The Jews in vain promise themselves salvation, which cannot be obtained except through Christ.
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Chapter XLIV.—The Jews in vain
promise themselves salvation, which cannot be obtained except through Christ.
“For thus,
so far as you are concerned, I shall be found in all respects innocent,
if I strive earnestly to persuade you by bringing forward demonstrations.
But if you remain hard-hearted, or weak in [forming] a resolution, on
account of death, which is the lot of the Christians, and are unwilling
to assent to the truth, you shall appear as the authors of your own
[evils]. And you deceive yourselves while you fancy that, because you are
the seed of Abraham after the flesh, therefore you shall fully inherit
the good things announced to be bestowed by God through Christ. For no
one, not even of them,2077
has anything to look for, but
only those who in mind are assimilated to the faith of Abraham, and who
have
recognised all the mysteries: for I say,2078
| 2078 Justin distinguishes between
such essential acts as related to God’s worship and the
establishment of righteousness, and such ceremonial observances as had a
mere temporary significance. The recognition of this distinction he
alleges to be necessary to salvation: necessary in this sense, that
justification must be placed not on the latter, but on the former; and
without such recognition, a Jew would, as Justin says, rest his hopes on
his noble descent from Abraham. | that some injunctions were
laid on you in reference to the worship of God and practice of
righteousness; but some injunctions and acts were likewise mentioned in
reference to the mystery of Christ, on account of2079
| 2079 More probably, “or on account
of,” etc. | the hardness of your people’s hearts.
And that this is so, God makes known in Ezekiel, [when] He said
concerning it: ‘If Noah and Jacob2080
| 2080 In Bible, “Job;” Maranus prefers
“Jacob,” and thinks the mention of his name very suitable to
disprove the arrogant claims of Jacob’s posterity. | and
Daniel should beg either sons or daughters, the request would not be
granted them.’2081
And in Isaiah, of the
very same matter He spake thus: ‘The Lord God said, they shall both
go forth and look on the members [of the bodies] of the men that have
transgressed. For their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be
quenched, and they shall be a gazing-stock to all flesh.’2082
So that
it becomes you to eradicate this hope from your souls, and hasten to know
in what way forgiveness of sins, and a hope of inheriting the promised
good things, shall be yours. But there is no other [way] than this,
—to become acquainted with this Christ, to be washed in the
fountain2083
| 2083 Some refer this
to Christ’s baptism. See Cyprian, Adv. Jud. i. 24.—
Otto. | spoken of
by Isaiah for the remission of sins; and for the rest, to live sinless
lives.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
