Chapter IV.—Antichrist is at hand: let us therefore avoid Jewish errors. It therefore behoves us, who inquire much concerning events at hand,31 to search dili- gently into those things which are able to save us. Let us then utterly flee from all the works of iniquity, lest these should take hold of us; and let us hate the error of the present time, that we may set our love on the world to come: let us not give loose reins to our soul, that it should have power to run with sinners and the wicked, lest we become like them. The final stumbling-block (or source of danger) approaches, concerning which it is written, as Enoch32 says, “For for this end the Lord has cut short the times and the days, that His Beloved may hasten; and He will come to the inheritance.” And the prophet also speaks thus: “Ten king- doms shall reign upon the earth, and a little king shall rise up after them, who shall subdue under one three of the kings.”33 In like manner Daniel says concerning the same, “And I beheld the fourth beast, wicked and powerful, and more savage than all the beasts of the earth, and how from it sprang up ten horns, and out of them a little budding horn, and how it subdued under one three of the great horns.”34 Ye ought therefore to understand. And this also I further beg of you, as being one of you, and loving you both individually and collectively more than my own soul, to take heed now to yourselves, and not to be like some, adding largely to your sins, and saying, “The covenant is both theirs and ours.”35 But they thus finally lost it, after Moses had already received it. For the Scripture saith, “And Moses 139 was fasting in the mount forty days and forty nights, and received the covenant from the Lord, tables of stone written with the finger of the hand of the Lord;”36 but turning away to idols, they lost it. For the Lord speaks thus to Moses: “Moses go down quickly; for the people whom thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt have transgressed.”37 And Moses under- stood [the meaning of God], and cast the two tables out of his hands; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him.38 Now, being desirous to write many things to you, not as your teacher, but as becometh one who loves you, I have taken care not to fail 31 Or it might be rendered, “things present.” Cotelerius reads, “de his instantibus.” 32 The Latin reads, “Daniel” instead of “Enoch;” comp. Dan. ix. 24–27. 33 Dan. vii. 24, very loosely quoted. 34 Dan. vii. 7, 8, also very inaccurately cited. 35 We here follow the Latin text in preference to the Greek, which reads merely, “the covenant is ours.” What follows seems to show the correctness of the Latin, as the author proceeds to deny that the Jews had any further interest in the promises. 36 Ex. xxxi. 18, Ex. xxxiv. 28. 37 Ex. xxxii. 7; Deut. ix. 12. 38 Literally, “in hope of His faith.” Chapter IV.—Antichrist is at hand: let us therefore avoid Jewish errors. 373 Chapter IV.—Antichrist is at hand: let us therefore avoid Jewish errors