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| Chapter XXVIII.—True righteousness is obtained by Christ.
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And Trypho replied, “We heard you adducing this
consideration a little ago, and we have given it attention: for, to tell
the truth, it is worthy of attention; and that answer which pleases most
—namely, that so it seemed good to Him—does not satisfy
me. For this is ever the shift to which those have recourse who are
unable to answer the question.”
Then I said,
“Since I bring from the Scriptures and the facts themselves both
the proofs and the inculcation of them, do not delay or hesitate to put
faith in me, although I am an uncircumcised man; so short a time is left
you in which to become proselytes. If Christ’s coming shall have
anticipated you, in vain you will repent, in vain you will weep; for He
will not hear you. ‘Break up your fallow ground,’ Jeremiah
has cried to the people, ‘and sow not among thorns. Circumcise
yourselves to the Lord, and circumcise the foreskin of your
heart.’2019
Do not sow, therefore, among
thorns, and in untilled ground, whence you can have no fruit. Know
Christ; and behold the fallow ground, good, good and fat, is in your
hearts. ‘For, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will
visit all them that are circumcised in their foreskins; Egypt, and
Judah,2020
| 2020 So in A.V., but
supposed to be Idumæa. | and Edom, and the sons of Moab. For
all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are
uncircumcised in their hearts.’2021
Do you
see how that God does not mean this circumcision which is given for a
sign? For it is of no use to the Egyptians, or the sons of Moab, or the
sons of Edom. But though a man be a Scythian or a Persian, if he has the
knowledge of God and of His Christ, and keeps the everlasting righteous
decrees, he is circumcised with the good and useful circumcision, and is
a friend of God, and God rejoices in his gifts and offerings. But I will
lay before you, my friends, the very words of God, when He said to the
people by Malachi, one of the twelve prophets, ‘I have no pleasure
in you, saith the Lord; and I shall not accept your sacrifices at your
hands: for from the rising of the sun unto its setting My name shall be
glorified among the Gentiles; and in every place a sacrifice is offered
unto My name, even a pure sacrifice: for My name is honoured among the
Gentiles, saith the Lord; but ye profane it.’2022
And by David He said, ‘A people whom I have not known,
served Me; at the hearing of the ear they obeyed Me.’2023
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