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Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

37.

It is impossible, in a digression like this, to refer, however briefly, to all the figurative predictions of Christ which are to be found in the law and the prophets. Will it be said that these things happened in the regular course of things, and that it is a mere ingenious fancy to make them typical of Christ? Such an objection might come from Jews and Pagans; but those who wish to be considered Christians must yield to the authority of the apostle when he says, "All these things happened to them for an example;" and again, "These things are our examples." ¹ For if two men, Ishmael and Isaac, are types of the two covenants, can it be supposed that there is no significance in the vast number of particulars which have no historical or natural value? Suppose we were to see some Hebrew characters written on the wall of a noble building, should we be so foolish as to conclude that, because we cannot understand the characters, they are not intended to be read, and are mere painting, without any meaning? So, whoever with a candid mind reads all these things that are contained in the Old Testament Scriptures, must feel constrained to acknowledge that they have a meaning.

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Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

37.

Quis potest ex occasione alterius operis omnia, quae in illis veteribus legis et prophetarum libris figurate Christum adnuntiant, quantalibet brevitate perstringere? p. 364,7 Nisi forte quis putat ingenio fieri, ut ea quae rerum ordine per sua tempora cucurrerunt, ad Christi significationes interpretando vertantur. Hoc forte Iudaei possunt dicere sive pagani; eis autem, qui se christianos putari volunt, premit cervicem apostolica auctoritas dicens: Omnia haec in figura contingebant illis et: Haec omnia figurae nostrae fuerunt. Nam si Ismahel et Isaac, homines nati, duo testamenta significant, quid credendum est de tot factis, quae nullo naturali usu, nulla negotii necessitate facta sunt? Nihil significant? Si quis nostrum, qui Hebraeas litteras ignoramus, id est ipsos vocum characteres, videret eas in pariete conscriptas honorato aliquo loco: quis esset tam excors, ut eo modo pictum parietem putaret? p. 364,20 Ac non potius intellegeret scriptum, ut, si legere non valeret, non tamen illos apices aliquid significare dubitaret? Ita prius illa omnia, quae sunt in vetere instrumento scripturarum sanctarum, quisquis non perverso animo legerit, sic oportet moveatur, ut aliquid ea significare non ambigat.