Anf-03 v.iv.v.xxxvi Pg 22
Mic. vi. 8. The last clause agrees with the Septuagint: καὶ ἕτοιμον εἶναι τοῦ πορεύεσθαι μετὰ Κυρίου Θεοῦ σου.
Now Christ is the man who tells us what is good, even the knowledge of the law. “Thou knowest,” says He, “the commandments.” “To do justly”—“Sell all that thou hast;” “to love mercy”—“Give to the poor:” “and to be ready to walk with God”—“And come,” says He, “follow me.”4937 4937 The clauses of Christ’s words, which are here adapted to Micah’s, are in every case broken with an inquit.
The Jewish nation was from its beginning so carefully divided into tribes and clans, and families and houses, that no man could very well have been ignorant of his descent—even from the recent assessments of Augustus, which were still probably extant at this time.4938 4938 Tunc pendentibus: i.e., at the time mentioned in the story of the blind man.
But the Jesus of Marcion (although there could be no doubt of a person’s having been born, who was seen to be a man), as being unborn, could not, of course, have possessed any public testimonial4939 4939 Notitiam.
of his descent, but was to be regarded as one of that obscure class of whom nothing was in any way known. Why then did the blind man, on hearing that He was passing by, exclaim, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me?”4940 4940
Anf-01 ii.ii.xvii Pg 4
Job i. 1.
But bringing an accusation against himself, he said, “No man is free from defilement, even if his life be but of one day.”75 75
Anf-02 vi.iv.iv.xvi Pg 7.1
Anf-02 vi.iv.vii.xii Pg 66.1
Anf-03 vi.vii.xiv Pg 4
Job. See Job i. and ii.
—whom neither the driving away of his cattle nor those riches of his in sheep, nor the sweeping away of his children in one swoop of ruin, nor, finally, the agony of his own body in (one universal) wound, estranged from the patience and the faith which he had plighted to the Lord; whom the devil smote with all his might in vain. For by all his pains he was not drawn away from his reverence for God; but he has been set up as an example and testimony to us, for the thorough accomplishment of patience as well in spirit as in flesh, as well in mind as in body; in order that we succumb neither to damages of our worldly goods, nor to losses of those who are dearest, nor even to bodily afflictions. What a bier9171 9171 “Feretrum”—for carrying trophies in a triumph, the bodies of the dead, and their effigies, etc.
for the devil did God erect in the person of that hero! What a banner did He rear over the enemy of His glory, when, at every bitter message, that man uttered nothing out of his mouth but thanks to God, while he denounced his wife, now quite wearied with ills, and urging him to resort to crooked remedies! How did God smile,9172 9172
Anf-02 vi.iv.i.xxvii Pg 20.1
Npnf-201 iii.xvi.iv Pg 27
Npnf-201 iii.xvi.iv Pg 35
Anf-01 ix.iv.xxiv Pg 15
Prov. i. 7, Prov. ix. 10.
the sense of sin leads to repentance, and God bestows His compassion upon those who are penitent. For [Adam] showed his repentance by his conduct, through means of the girdle [which he used], covering himself with fig-leaves, while there were many other leaves, which would have irritated his body in a less degree. He, however, adopted a dress conformable to his disobedience, being awed by the fear of God; and resisting the erring, the lustful propensity of his flesh (since he had lost his natural disposition and child-like mind, and had come to the knowledge of evil things), he girded a bridle of continence upon himself and his wife, fearing God, and waiting for His coming, and indicating, as it were, some such thing [as follows]: Inasmuch as, he says, I have by disobedience lost that robe of sanctity which I had from the Spirit, I do now also acknowledge that I am deserving of a covering of this nature, which affords no gratification, but which gnaws and frets the body. And he would no doubt have retained this clothing for ever, thus humbling himself, if God, who is merciful, had not clothed them with tunics of skins instead of fig-leaves. For this purpose, too, He interrogates them, that the blame might light upon the woman; and again, He interrogates her, that she might convey the blame to the serpent. For she related what had occurred. “The serpent,” says she, “beguiled me, and I did eat.”3766 3766
Anf-02 vi.iii.i.ix Pg 12.1
Anf-02 vi.iv.ii.vii Pg 7.1
Anf-02 vi.iv.ii.vii Pg 18.1
Anf-02 vi.iv.vii.xii Pg 8.1
Anf-03 v.iii.xliii Pg 4
Ps. cxi. 10; Prov. i. 7.
Where the fear of God is, there is seriousness, an honourable and yet thoughtful2295 2295 Attonita, as if in fear that it might go wrong (Rigalt.).
diligence, as well as an anxious carefulness and a well-considered admission (to the sacred ministry)2296 2296 In contrast to the opposite fault of the heresies exposed above.
and a safely-guarded2297 2297 Deliberata, where the character was well weighed previous to admission to the eucharist.
communion, and promotion after good service, and a scrupulous submission (to authority), and a devout attendance,2298 2298 Apparitio, the duty and office of an apparitor, or attendant on men of higher rank, whether in church or state.
and a modest gait, and a united church, and God in all things.
