The Testaments Of The Twelve Patriarchs And Fragments Of The Second And Third Centuries PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ...to have recourse to the assertion that these poems were not by the Sibyls, but made up and composed by our own writers. But he will assuredly not think this who has read Cicero, ' and Varro, and other ancient writers, who make mention of the Erythraean and the other Sibyls, from whose books we bring forward these examples; and these authors died before the birth of Christ according to the flesh. But I do not doubt that these poems were in former times regarded as ravings, since no one then understood them. For they announced some marvellous wonders, of which neither the manner, nor the time, nor the author was signified. Lastly, the Erythraean Sibyl says that it would 1 " In solido." So Virg. Georg. ii. 231: "Alteque jubebis In solido puteum demitti." ' Virg../En. x. 765. 3 Matt. viii.; Mark iv.; Luke viii. ' Cicero, de Natura Deorum, ii. come to pass that she would be called mad and deceitful. But assuredly " They will say that the Sibyl Is mad, and deceitful: but when all things shall come to pass, Then ye will remember me; and no one will any longer Say that I, the prophetess of the great God, am mad." Therefore they were' neglected for many ages; but they received attention after the nativity and passion of Christ had revealed secret things. Thus it was also with the utterances of the prophets, which were read by the people of the Jews for 1500 years and more, but yet were not understood until after Christ had explained 2 them both by His word and by His works. For the prophets spoke of Him; nor could the things which they said have been in any way understood, unless they had been altogether fulfilled. CHAP. XvI.--Of the passion of Jesus Christ; that it was foretold. I come...