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Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

30.

The Israelites are led through the wilderness, as those who are baptized are in the wilderness while on the way to the promised land, hoping and patiently waiting for that which they see not. In the wilderness are severe trials, lest they should in heart return to Egypt. Still Christ does not leave them; the pillar does not go away. The bitter waters are sweetened by wood, as hostile people become friendly by learning to honor the cross of Christ. The twelve fountains watering the seventy palm trees are a figure of apostolic grace watering the nations. As seven is multiplied by ten, so the decalogue is fulfilled in the sevenfold operation of the Spirit. The enemy attempting to stop them in their way is overcome by Moses stretching out his hands in the figure of the cross. The deadly bites of serpents are healed by the brazen serpent, which was lifted up that they might look at it. The Lord Himself gives the explanation of this: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but have everlasting life." ¹ So in many other things we may find a protest against the obstinacy of unbelieving hearts. In the passover a lamb is killed, representing Christ, of whom it is said in the Gospel, "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world!" ² In the passover the bones of the lamb were not to be broken; and on the cross the bones of the Lord were not broken. The evangelist, in reference to this, quotes the words, "A bone of Him shall not be broken." ³ The posts were marked with blood to keep away destruction, as people are marked on their foreheads with the sign of the Lord's passion for their salvation. The law was given on the fiftieth day after the passover; so the Holy Spirit came on the fiftieth day after the passion of the Lord. The law is said to have been written with the finger of God; and the Lord says of the Holy Spirit, "With the finger of God I cast out devils." ⁴ Such are the Scriptures in which Faustus, after shutting his eyes, declares that he can see no prediction of Christ. But we need not wonder that he should have eyes to read and yet no heart to understand, since, instead of knocking in devout faith at the door of the heavenly secret, he dares to act in profane hostility. So let it be, for so it ought to be. Let the gate of salvation be shut to the proud. The meek, to whom God teaches His ways, will find all these things in the Scriptures, and those things which he does not see he will believe from what he sees.

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Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

30.

Ducitur populus per desertum: Baptizati omnes nondum perfruentes promissa patria, sed quod non vident sperando et per patientiam exspectando tamquam in deserto sunt; et illic laboriosae et periculosae temptationes, ne revertantur corde in Aegyptum; nec ibi tamen Christus deserit; nam et illa columna non recedit. p. 358,6 Et amarae aquae ligno dulcescunt: quia inimici populi signo crucis Christi honorificato mansuescunt. Et duodecim fontes septuaginta palmae arbores irrigantes apostolicam gratiam praefigurant populos in septenario numero decuplato rigantem, ut per septiforme spiritus donum legis decalogus impleatur. Et hostis intercludere molitus viam extensis Moysi manibus signo crucis dominicae superatur. Et morsus mortiferi serpentum exaltato et respecto aeneo serpente sanantur: quod verbis ipsius domini declaratur: Sicut exaltavit inquit Moyses serpentem in heremo, sic oportet exaltari filium hominis, ut omnis, qui credit in eum, non pereat, sed habeat vitam aeternam. Itane ista non clamant? Tantane est surditas in cordibus duris? p. 358,18 Fit pascha in occisione ovis: occiditur Christus, de quo in evangelio dicitur: Ecce agnus dei, ecce qui tollit peccatum mundi. Prohibentur qui pascha faciunt ossa frangere: non franguntur in cruce ossa domini; attestatur evangelista hinc esse dictum: Os eius non comminuetis. Sanguine illiniuntur postes, ut pernicies depellatur: signantur signo dominicae passionis in frontibus populi ad tutelam salutis. Datur ibi lex quinquagesimo die post actum pascha: Venit spiritus sanctus quinquagesimo die post domini passionem. Dicitur illic scripta lex digito dei: Dicit dominus de spiritu sancto: In digito dei eicio daemonia. p. 359,4 Et clamat Faustus oculis clausis nihil se in illis litteris invenisse, quod ad praenuntiationem Christi pertineat! Quid autem mirum, si oculos habet ad legendum et cor ad intellegendum non habet, qui positus ante ostium clausum divini secreti non fide pietatis pulsat, sed elatione impietatis insultat? Plane ita sit, ita fiat, iustum est enim: claudatur superbis ianua salutis! veniat mansuetus, quem docet dominus vias suas, videat et haec in illis libris et cetera vel omnia vel quaedam, qualia credat in omnibus.