Chapter 32.—That at No Time in
the Past Was the Mystery of Christ’s Redemption Awanting, But Was
at All Times Declared, Though in Various Forms.
This mystery of eternal life, even
from the beginning of the human race, was, by certain signs and
sacraments suitable to the times, announced through angels to those
to whom it was meet. Then the Hebrew people was congregated into
one republic, as it were, to
perform this mystery; and in
that republic was foretold, sometimes through men who understood
what they spake, and sometimes through men who understood not, all
that had transpired since the advent of Christ until now, and all
that will transpire. This same nation, too, was afterwards
dispersed through the nations, in order to testify to the
scriptures in which eternal salvation in Christ had been
declared. For not only the prophecies which are contained in
words, nor only the precepts for the right conduct of life, which
teach morals and piety, and are contained in the sacred
writings,—not only these, but also the rites, priesthood,
tabernacle or temple, altars, sacrifices, ceremonies, and whatever
else belongs to that service which is due to God, and which in
Greek is properly called
λατρεία
,—all these signified and
fore-announced those things which we who believe in Jesus Christ
unto eternal life believe to have been fulfilled, or behold in
process of fulfillment, or confidently believe shall yet be
fulfilled.