Page:Ante-Nicene Christian Library Vol 5.djvu/429

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Book iv.]
IRENÆUS AGAINST HERESIES.
403

who was borne witness to by Christ, as He did Himself declare to those who were accusing His disciples of not observing the tradition of the elders: "Why do ye make void the law of God by reason of your tradition? For God said, Honour thy father and mother; and, Whosoever curseth father or mother, let him die the death."[1] And again, He says to them a second time: "And ye have made void the word of God[2] by reason of your tradition;" Christ confessing in the plainest manner Him to be Father and God, who said in the law, "Honour thy father and mother; that it may be well with thee."[3] For the true God did confess the commandment of the law as the word of God, and called no one else God besides His own Father.


Chap. x.The Old Testament Scriptures, and those written by Moses in particular, do everywhere make mention of the Son of God, and foretell His advent and passion. From this fact it follows that they were inspired by one and the same God.

1. Wherefore also John does appropriately relate that the Lord said to the Jews: "Ye search the Scriptures, in which ye think ye have eternal life; these are they which testify of me. And ye are not willing to come unto me, that ye may have life."[4] How therefore did the Scriptures testify of Him, unless they were from one and the same Father, instructing men beforehand as to the advent of His Son, and foretelling the salvation brought in by Him? "For if ye had believed Moses, ye would also have believed me; for he wrote of me;"[5] [saying this,] no doubt, because the Son of God is implanted everywhere throughout his writings: at one time, indeed, speaking with Abraham, when about to eat with him; at another time with Noah, giving to him the dimensions [of the ark]; at another, inquiring after Adam;

  1. Matt. xv. 3, 4.
  2. Another variation from the textus receptus borne out by the Codex. Bezæ, and some ancient versions.
  3. Ex. xx. 12, LXX.
  4. John v. 39, 40.
  5. John v. 46.