of idols: are these then also within the bond of His covenant?129 Yea, the Egyptians also practise circumcision. Learn then, my children, concerning all things richly,130 that Abraham, the first who enjoined circumcision, looking forward in spirit to Jesus, practised that rite, having received the mysteries131 of the three letters. For [the Scripture] saith, “And Abraham 143 circumcised ten, and eight, and three hundred men of his household.”132 What, then, was the knowledge given to him in this? Learn the eighteen first, and then the three hundred.133 The ten and the eight are thus denoted—Ten by Ι, and Eight by Η.134 You have [the initials of the, name of] Jesus. And because135 the cross was to express the grace [of our redemption] by the letter Τ, he says also, “Three Hundred.” He signifies, therefore, Jesus by two letters, and the cross by one. He knows this, who has put within us the engrafted136 gift of His doctrine. No one has been admitted by me to a more excellent piece of knowledge137 than this, but I know that ye are worthy. 129 Dressel and Hilgenfeld read, “their covenant,” as does Cod. Sin.; we have followed Hefele. 130 Cod. Sin. has “children of love,” omitting “richly,” and inserting it before “looking forward.” 131 Literally, “doctrines.” 132 Not found in Scripture: but comp. Gen. xvii. 26, 27, Gen. xiv. 14. 133 Cod. Sin. inserts, “and then making a pause.” 134 This sentence is altogether omitted by inadvertence in Cod. Sin. 135 Some mss. here read, “and further:” the above is the reading in Cod. Sin., and is also that of Hefele. 136 This is rendered in the Latin, “the more profound gift,” referring, as it does, to the Gnosis of the initiated. The same word is used in chap. i. 137 Literally, “has learned a more germane (or genuine) word from me,” being an idle vaunt on account of the ingenuity in interpreting Scripture he has just displayed. 384 Chapter IX.—The spiritual meaning of circumcision.