Page:Ante-Nicene Christian Library Vol 2.djvu/157

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DIALOGUE WITH TRYPHO.
143

God and practice of righteousness; but some injunctions and acts were likewise mentioned in reference to the mystery of Christ, on account of[1] the hardness of your people's hearts. And that this is so, God makes known in Ezekiel, [when] He said concerning it: 'If Noah and Jacob[2] and Daniel should beg either sons or daughters, the request would not be granted them.'[3] And in Isaiah, of the very same matter He spake thus: 'The Lord God said, they shall both go forth and look on the members [of the bodies] of the men that have transgressed. For their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a gazing-stock to all flesh.'[4] So that it becomes you to eradicate this hope from your souls, and hasten to know in what way forgiveness of sins, and a hope of inheriting the promised good things, shall be yours. But there is no other [way] than this,—to become acquainted with this Christ, to be washed in the fountain[5] spoken of by Isaiah for the remission of sins; and for the rest, to live sinless lives."


Chap. xlv.Those who were righteous before and under the law shall be saved by Christ.

And Trypho said, "If I seem to interrupt these matters, which you say must be investigated, yet the question which I mean to put is urgent. Suffer me first."

And I replied, "Ask whatever you please, as it occurs to you; and I shall endeavour, after questions and answers, to resume and complete the discourse."

Then he said, "Tell me, then, shall those who lived according to the law given by Moses, live in the same manner with Jacob, Enoch, and Noah, in the resurrection of the dead, or not?"

I replied to him, "When I quoted, sir, the words spoken

  1. More probably, "or on account of," etc.
  2. In Bible, "Job;" Maranus prefers "Jacob," and thinks the mention of his name very suitable to disprove the arrogant claims of Jacob's posterity.
  3. Ezek. xiv. 20.
  4. Isa. lxvi. 24.
  5. Some refer this to Christ s baptism. See Cyprian, Adv. Jud. i. 24.Otto.