Chapter XIV.—Righteousness is not placed in Jewish rites, but in the conversion
of the heart given in baptism by Christ.
“By reason, therefore, of this laver of repentance and knowledge of God, which has been
ordained on account of the transgression of God’s people, as Isaiah cries, we have believed,
and testify that that very baptism which he announced is alone able to purify those who
have repented; and this is the water of life. But the cisterns which you have dug for yourselves
are broken and profitless to you. For what is the use of that baptism which cleanses the flesh
and body alone? Baptize the soul from wrath and from covetousness, from envy, and from
hatred; and, lo! the body is pure. For this is the symbolic significance of unleavened bread,
that you do not commit the old deeds of wicked leaven. But you have understood all things
in a carnal sense, and you suppose it to be piety if you do such things, while your souls are
filled with deceit, and, in short, with every wickedness. Accordingly, also, after the seven
days of eating unleavened bread, God commanded them to mingle new leaven, that is, the
performance of other works, and not the imitation of the old and evil works. And because
this is what this new Lawgiver demands of you, I shall again refer to the words which have
been quoted by me, and to others also which have been passed over. They are related by
Isaiah to the following effect: ‘Hearken to me, and your soul shall live; and I will make with
you an everlasting covenant, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given Him for
a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the nations. Nations which know not
Thee shall call on Thee; and peoples who know not Thee shall escape unto Thee, because
of Thy God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified Thee. Seek ye God; and when you
find Him, call on Him, so long as He may be nigh you. Let the wicked forsake his ways, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will obtain
mercy, because He will abundantly pardon your sins. For my thoughts are not as your
thoughts, neither are my ways as your ways; but as far removed as the heavens are from the
earth, so far is my way removed from your way, and your thoughts from my thoughts. For
as the snow or the rain descends from heaven, and shall not return till it waters the earth,
and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread for food, so shall
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My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return until it shall have accom-
plished all that I desired, and I shall make My commandments prosperous. For ye shall go
out with joy, and be taught with gladness. For the mountains and the hills shall leap while
they expect you, and all the trees of the fields shall applaud with their branches: and instead
of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle.
And the Lord shall be for a name, and for an everlasting sign, and He shall not fail!’215 Of
these and such like words written by the prophets, O Trypho,” said I, “some have reference
to the first advent of Christ, in which He is preached as inglorious, obscure, and of mortal
215 Isa. lv. 3 to end.
Chapter XIV.—Righteousness is not placed in Jewish rites, but in the conversion of the heart given in baptism by Christ.
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Chapter XIV.—Righteousness is not placed in Jewish rites, but in the conversion…