Anf-03 v.iii.xiv Pg 8
Luke xviii. 42.
not observe your skill2005 2005 Exercitatio.
in the Scriptures. Now, faith has been deposited in the rule; it has a law, and (in the observance thereof) salvation. Skill,2006 2006 Exercitatio.
however, consists in curious art, having for its glory simply the readiness that comes from knack.2007 2007 De peritiæ studio.
Let such curious art give place to faith; let such glory yield to salvation. At any rate, let them either relinquish their noisiness,2008 2008 Non obstrepant.
or else be quiet. To know nothing in opposition to the rule (of faith), is to know all things. (Suppose) that heretics were not enemies to the truth, so that we were not forewarned to avoid them, what sort of conduct would it be to agree with men who do themselves confess that they are still seeking? For if they are still seeking, they have not as yet found anything amounting to certainty; and therefore, whatever they seem for a while2009 2009 Interim.
to hold, they betray their own scepticism,2010 2010 Dubitationem.
whilst they continue seeking. You therefore, who seek after their fashion, looking to those who are themselves ever seeking, a doubter to doubters, a waverer to waverers, must needs be “led, blindly by the blind, down into the ditch.”2011 2011
Anf-03 v.iv.v.xxxvi Pg 32
Luke xviii. 42.
What would you have the blind man’s faith to have been? That Jesus was descended from that (alien) god (of Marcion), to subvert the Creator and overthrow the law and the prophets? That He was not the destined offshoot from the root of Jesse, and the fruit of David’s loins, the restorer4947 4947 Remunerator.
also of the blind? But I apprehend there were at that time no such stone-blind persons as Marcion, that an opinion like this could have constituted the faith of the blind man, and have induced him to confide in the mere name,4948 4948 That is, in the sound only, and phantom of the word; an allusion to the Docetic absurdity of Marcion.
of Jesus, the Son of David. He, who knew all this of Himself,4949 4949 That is, that He was “Son of David,” etc.
and wished others to know it also, endowed the faith of this man—although it was already gifted with a better sight, and although it was in possession of the true light—with the external vision likewise, in order that we too might learn the rule of faith, and at the same time find its recompense. Whosoever wishes to see Jesus the Son of David must believe in Him; through the Virgin’s birth.4950 4950 Censum: that is, must believe Him born of her.
He who will not believe this will not hear from Him the salutation, “Thy faith hath saved thee.” And so he will remain blind, falling into Antithesis after Antithesis, which mutually destroy each other,4951 4951 This, perhaps, is the meaning in a clause which is itself more antithetical than clear: “Ruens in antithesim, ruentem et ipsam antithesim.”
just as “the blind man leads the blind down into the ditch.”4952 4952 In book iii. chap. vii. (at the beginning), occurs the same proverb of Marcion and the Jews. See p. 327.
For (here is one of Marcion’s Antitheses): whereas David in old time, in the capture of Sion, was offended by the blind who opposed his admission (into the stronghold)4953 4953
Anf-03 vi.iii.xii Pg 19
Luke xviii. 42; Mark x. 52.
and, “Thy sins shall be remitted thee,”8672 8672
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Chapter 18
VERSE (42) - Ps 33:9; 107:20 Mt 8:3; 15:28
