is of the sheep and oxen spoken of by Moses); but learn rather to discern the blood of the Word, and hear him saying: For this is my blood which shall be shed for you. Whosoever is instructed in the mysteries, knows the flesh and blood of the Word of God. Let us not, therefore, dwell on a subject, known to the initiated, and which the uninitiated ought not to know."-Hom. ix. in Levit. n. 10. T. ii. p. 236.
TERTULLIAN, L. C. “ Above all, they (certain heretics) make no distinction between the Catechumens and the Faithful; for they are both equally admitted to hear and pray together. Even the Pagans are not excluded, should they happen to be present; and thus no difficulty is made in casting bread before dogs, and pearls, though false ones, to swine.” De Præsc. p. 88. Paris, 1580.-In his work addressed to his wife, he says: “You would, by marrying an infidel, (after his death) thereby fall into this fault, that the Pagans would come to the knowledge of our mysteries. Will not your husband know what you taste in secret, before any other food; and if he perceives bread, will he not imagine that it is what is so much spoken of?” Ad Uxorem, L. ii. c. 5. p. 430. Ibid.
CENT. II. & I.
The secrecy of the primitive Christians on the doctrine of the Eucharist is demonstrated from the nature of the atrocious calumnies spread abroad against them,-from the punishments employed to extort from them what they practised in their assemblies,—and from these calumnies and cruelties being coeval with the first preaching of Christianity.
MINUTIUS FELIX, L. C.[1] Cecilius says: “This evil sect, (the Christians) increases every day. Lust forms a
- ↑ He lived in the beginning of the third century, and has left us A Dialogue, between Cecilius, a Pagan, and Octavius, a Christian.Rigault gave an excellent edition of it in 1643.
