Ante-Nicene Fathers • VOLUME 8
The Twelve Patriarchs, Apocrypha, Clementine Homilies & More
SECTION 41
Chapter XXI.--Advantage of the Delay.
Chapter XXI.--Advantage of the Delay. To this Peter answered: "Tell Simon in the meantime to do as he pleases, and to rest assured that, Divine Providence granting, he shall always find us ready." Then Zacchæus went out to intimate to Simon what he had been told. But Peter, looking at us, and perceiving that I was saddened by t…
912 wordsSECTION 42Chapter XXIV.--Repetition Continued.
Chapter XXIV.--Repetition Continued. "There always was, there is now, and there ever shall be, that by which the first Will begotten from eternity consists; and from the first Will proceeds a second Will. After these came the world; and from the world came time: from this, the multitude of men; from the multitude the election o…
837 wordsSECTION 43Chapter XXVII.--Account of the Creation.
Chapter XXVII.--Account of the Creation. "In the beginning, [546] when God had made the heaven and the earth, [547] as one house, the shadow which was cast by the mundane bodies involved in darkness those things which were enclosed in it. But when the will of God had introduced light, that darkness which had been caused by the …
956 wordsSECTION 44Chapter XXX.--Noah's Sons.
Chapter XXX.--Noah's Sons. "In the twelfth generation, when God had blessed men, and they had begun to multiply, [551] they received a commandment that they should not taste blood, for on account of this also the deluge had been sent. In the thirteenth generation, when the second of Noah's three sons had done an injury to his f…
829 wordsSECTION 45Chapter XXXIV.--The Israelites in Egypt.
Chapter XXXIV.--The Israelites in Egypt. "Nevertheless, as he had got these two sons during the time while he still lived in ignorance of things, having received the knowledge of God, he asked of the Righteous One that he might merit to have offspring by Sarah, who was his lawful wife, though she was barren. She obtained a son.…
831 wordsSECTION 46Chapter XXXVII.--The Holy Place.
Chapter XXXVII.--The Holy Place. "In addition to these things, he also appointed a place in which alone it should be lawful to them to sacrifice to God. [560] And all this was arranged with this view, that when the fitting time should come, and they should learn by means of the Prophet that God desires mercy and not sacrifice, …
880 wordsSECTION 47Chapter XLI.--Rejection of the True Prophet.
Chapter XLI.--Rejection of the True Prophet. "But some one perhaps may say that it is possible for any one to imitate a number; but what shall we say of the signs and miracles which He wrought? For Moses had wrought miracles and cures in Egypt. He also of whom he foretold that He should rise up a prophet like unto himself, thou…
940 wordsSECTION 48Chapter XLV.--The True Prophet: Why Called the Christ.
Chapter XLV.--The True Prophet: Why Called the Christ. Then Peter began to instruct me in this manner: [577] "When God had made the world, as Lord of the universe, He appointed chiefs over the several creatures, over the trees even, and the mountains, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all things which He had made, as we ha…
830 wordsSECTION 49Chapter XLVIII.--The True Prophet, a Priest.
Chapter XLVIII.--The True Prophet, a Priest. Then Peter answered, with an appearance of indignation: "What! do you suppose, Clement, that all of us can know all things before the time? But not to be drawn aside now from our proposed discourse, we shall at another time, when your progress is more manifest, explain these things m…
799 wordsSECTION 50Chapter LII.--The Saints Before Christ's Coming.
Chapter LII.--The Saints Before Christ's Coming. When he had thus spoken, I answered: "If those shall enjoy the kingdom of Christ, whom His coming shall find righteous, shall then those be wholly deprived of the kingdom who have died before His coming?" Then Peter says: "You compel me, O Clement, to touch upon things that are u…
879 wordsSECTION 51Chapter LV.--Public Discussion.
Chapter LV.--Public Discussion. "However, as we were proceeding to say, when the high priest had often sent priests to ask us that we might discourse with one another concerning Jesus; when it seemed a fit opportunity, and it pleased all the Church, we went up to the temple, and, standing on the steps together with our faithful…
715 wordsSECTION 52Chapter LIX.--Pharisees Refuted.
Chapter LIX.--Pharisees Refuted. "Then a certain Pharisee, hearing this, chid Philip because he put Jesus on a level with Moses. To whom Bartholomew, answering, boldly declared that we do not only say that Jesus was equal to Moses, but that He was greater than he, because Moses was indeed a prophet, as Jesus was also, but that …
964 wordsSECTION 53Chapter LXIII.--Appeal to the Jews.
Chapter LXIII.--Appeal to the Jews. "Thus we argued and bore witness; and we who were unlearned men and fishermen, taught the priests concerning the one only God of heaven; the Sadducees, concerning the resurrection of the dead; the Samaritans, concerning the sacredness of Jerusalem (not that we entered into their cities, but d…
783 wordsSECTION 54Chapter LXVII.--Speech of Gamaliel.
Chapter LXVII.--Speech of Gamaliel. "If I, Gamaliel, deem it no reproach either to my learning or to my old age to learn something from babes and unlearned ones, if haply there be anything which it is for profit or for safety to acquire (for he who lives reasonably knows that nothing is more precious than the soul), ought not t…
795 wordsSECTION 55Chapter LXX.--Tumult Raised by Saul.
Chapter LXX.--Tumult Raised by Saul. "And when matters were at that point that they should come and be baptized, some one of our enemies, [596] entering the temple with a few men, began to cry out, and to say, What mean ye, O men of Israel? Why are you so easily hurried on? Why are ye led headlong by most miserable men, who are…
851 wordsSECTION 56Chapter LXXIII.--Welcomed by Zacchæus.
Chapter LXXIII.--Welcomed by Zacchæus. "When I entered the city, our most beloved brother Zacchæus met me; and embracing me, brought me to this lodging, in which he himself stayed, inquiring of me concerning each of the brethren, especially concerning our honourable brother James. And when I told him that he was still lame on o…
863 wordsSECTION 57Chapter II.--Curtailment of Sleep.
Chapter II.--Curtailment of Sleep. Then I, when I heard this, said: "You have very well said, O Peter; for one custom is superseded by another. For when I was at sea, I was at first distressed, and all my system was disordered, so that I felt as if I had been beaten, and could not bear the tossing and tumult of the sea; but aft…
956 wordsSECTION 58Chapter VI.--Simon Magus: His Wickedness.
Chapter VI.--Simon Magus: His Wickedness. When Niceta had thus spoken, Aquila also, asking that he might be permitted to speak, proceeded in manner following: "Receive, I entreat thee, most excellent Peter, the assurance of my love towards thee; for indeed I also am extremely anxious on thy account. And do not blame us in this,…
762 wordsSECTION 59Chapter IX.--Simon Magus: His Profession.
Chapter IX.--Simon Magus: His Profession. "But not long after he fell in love with that woman whom they call Luna; and he confided all things to us as his friends: how he was a magician, and how he loved Luna, and how, being desirous of glory, he was unwilling to enjoy her ingloriously, but that he was waiting patiently till he…
837 wordsSECTION 60Chapter XII.--Simon Magus and Luna.
Chapter XII.--Simon Magus and Luna. "Therefore, after the death of Dositheus Simon took Luna to himself; and with her he still goes about, as you see, deceiving multitudes, and asserting that he himself is a certain power which is above God the Creator, while Luna, who is with him, has been brought down from the higher heavens,…
700 wordsSECTION 61Chapter XIV.--Simon Magus, Professes to Be God.
Chapter XIV.--Simon Magus, Professes to Be God. "At those sayings of his Simon grew pale; but after a little, recollecting himself, he thus answered: Do not think that I am a man of your race. I am neither magician, nor lover of Luna, nor son of Antonius. For before my mother Rachel and he came together, she, still a virgin, co…
802 wordsSECTION 62Chapter XVII.--Men Enemies to God.
Chapter XVII.--Men Enemies to God. "But, inasmuch as inborn affection towards God the Creator seemed to suffice for salvation to those who loved Him, the enemy studies to pervert this affection in men, and to render them hostile and ungrateful to their Creator. For I call heaven and earth to witness, that if God permitted the e…
1,437 wordsSECTION 63Chapter XX.--The Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Chapter XX.--The Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. "Peace be to all of you who are prepared to give your right hands to truth: [614] for whosoever are obedient to it seem indeed themselves to confer some favour upon God; whereas they do themselves obtain from Him the gift of His greatest bounty, walking in His paths of righ…
917 wordsSECTION 64Chapter XXIII.--Simon Refuses Peace.
Chapter XXIII.--Simon Refuses Peace. To this Simon answered: [618] "We have no need of your peace; for if there be peace and concord, we shall not be able to make any advance towards the discovery of truth. For robbers and debauchees have peace among themselves, and every wickedness agrees with itself; and if we have met with t…
825 wordsSECTION 65Chapter XXVI.--Simon's Interruption.
Chapter XXVI.--Simon's Interruption. When therefore Peter had begun to continue his discourse, Simon, interrupting his speech, said: "Why do you hasten to speak whatever you please? I understand your tricks. You wish to bring forward those matters whose explanation you have well studied, that you may appear to the ignorant crow…
902 wordsSECTION 66Chapter XXX.--Peace to the Sons of Peace.
Chapter XXX.--Peace to the Sons of Peace. "In like manner, also, during the last period of His teaching, He wages war against the scribes and Pharisees, charging them with evil deeds and unsound doctrine, and with hiding the key of knowledge which they had handed down to them from Moses, by which the gate of the heavenly kingdo…
938 wordsSECTION 67Chapter XXXIV.--Order of Proof.
Chapter XXXIV.--Order of Proof. Then said Simon: "I have no need to learn this from you, but how these things agree with one another. For if he shall be shown to be inconsistent, he shall be proved at the same time not to be a prophet." Then says Peter: "But if I first show Him to be a prophet, it will follow that what seems to…
936 wordsSECTION 68Chapter XXXVIII.--Simon's Creed.
Chapter XXXVIII.--Simon's Creed. Then Peter: "Are not you making use of long preambles, as you accused us of doing, because you have no truth to bring forward? For if you have, begin without circumlocution, if you have so much confidence. And if, indeed, what you say be displeasing to any one of the hearers, he will withdraw; a…
870 wordsSECTION 69Chapter XLI.--The Answer, Continued.
Chapter XLI.--The Answer, Continued. "Listen, then," says Peter, "that you may know, first of all, that even if there are many gods, as you say, they are subject to the God of the Jews, to whom no one is equal, than whom no one can be greater; for it is written that the prophet Moses thus spoke to the Jews: The Lord your God is…
890 wordsSECTION 70Chapter XLIV.--The Serpent, the Author of Polytheism.
Chapter XLIV.--The Serpent, the Author of Polytheism. "But even if there be others, as we have said, who are called gods, they are under the power of the God of the Jews; for thus saith the Scripture to the Jews, The Lord our God, He is God of gods, and Lord of lords.' [647] Him alone the Scripture also commands to be worshippe…
820 wordsSECTION 71Chapter XLVII.--Simon's Cavil.
Chapter XLVII.--Simon's Cavil. To this Simon replied: [658] "From the words of your master I shall refute you, because even he introduces to all men a certain God who was known. For although both Adam knew the God who was his creator, and the maker of the world; and Enoch knew him, inasmuch as he was translated by him; and Noah…
837 wordsSECTION 72Chapter LI.--The Sixth Sense.
Chapter LI.--The Sixth Sense. "But believe me, that you could never know what light is unless you had received both vision and understanding from light itself; so also in other things. Hence, having received understanding, you are framing in imagination something greater and more sublime, as if dreaming, but deriving all your h…
983 wordsSECTION 73Chapter LIV.--How Simon Learned from the Law What the Law Does Not Teach.
Chapter LIV.--How Simon Learned from the Law What the Law Does Not Teach. "Thus then, since he who made man and the world is, according to what the law relates, imperfect, we are given to understand, without doubt, that there is another who is perfect. For it is of necessity that there be one most excellent of all, on whose acc…
905 wordsSECTION 74Chapter LVII.--Simon's Inconsistency.
Chapter LVII.--Simon's Inconsistency. Then Simon: "Do you so far err, Peter, as not to know that our souls were made by that good God, the most excellent of all, but they have been brought down as captives into this world?" To this Peter answered: "Then he is not unknown by all, as you said a little while ago; and yet how did t…
856 wordsSECTION 75Chapter LX.--The Creator the Supreme God.
Chapter LX.--The Creator the Supreme God. Then Peter said: "You represent him as weak enough. For if, as you say, he is more powerful than all, it can never be believed the weaker wrenched the spoils from the stronger. [667] Or if God the Creator was able by violence to bring down souls into this world, how can it be that, when…
794 wordsSECTION 76Chapter LXIII.--Peter's Reverie.
Chapter LXIII.--Peter's Reverie. Then Peter: "In short, when I did not perceive, through the occupation of my mind, that I had caught a very large fish which was attached to the hook, and that although it was dragging the hook-line from my hand, my brother Andrew, who was sitting by me, seeing me in a reverie and almost ready t…
730 wordsSECTION 77Chapter LXVI.--Existence and Conception.
Chapter LXVI.--Existence and Conception. To this Simon replied: [669] "O thou who hast woven a web of many frivolities, listen now. It is impossible that anything which comes into a man's thoughts should not also subsist in truth and reality. For things that do not subsist, have no appearances; [670] but things that have no app…
736 wordsSECTION 78Chapter LXX.--Adjournment.
Chapter LXX.--Adjournment. To this Simon replied: "It is a great thing which you promise, that the eternity of boundless light can be shown from the law." And when Peter said, "I shall show it whenever you please," Simon answered: "Since now it is a late hour, I shall stand by you and oppose you to-morrow; and if you can prove …
745 wordsSECTION 79Book III. [674]
Book III. [674] Chapter I.--Pearls Before Swine. Meantime Peter, rising at the crowing of the cock, and wishing to rouse us, found us awake, the evening light still burning; and when, according to custom, he had saluted us, and we had all sat down, he thus began. "Nothing is more difficult, my brethren, than to reason concerni…
824 wordsSECTION 80Chapter XIV.--Simon Claims the Fulfilment of Peter's Promise.
Chapter XIV.--Simon Claims the Fulfilment of Peter's Promise. While Peter spoke these words, and others to the same effect, Simon answered: "I will not have you detain me with long speeches, Peter; I claim from you what you promised yesterday. You then said that you could show that the law teaches concerning the immensity of th…
873 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.