17. Have thou ever in thy mind this
seal The Benedictine Editor
argues from Cat. i. 5, “that thou mayest by faith seal up the
things that are spoken;” and xxiii. 18: “sealing up
the Prayer by the Amen,” that Cyril means by “this
seal” the firm belief of Christian doctrine. Compare
John iii. 33. But Milles understands by the
“seal” the Creed itself, which agrees better with the
following context., which for the present has been lightly
touched in my discourse, by way of summary, but shall be stated, should
the Lord permit, to the best of my power with the proof from the
Scriptures. For concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the
Faith, not even a casual statement must be delivered without the Holy
Scriptures; nor must we be drawn aside by mere plausibility and
artifices of speech. Even to me, who tell thee these things, give
not absolute credence, unless thou receive the proof of the things
which I announce from the Divine Scriptures. For this salvation
which we believe depends not on ingenious reasoning ἡ σωτηρία γὰρ
αὕτη τῆς
πίστεως
ἡμῶν, which might be rendered, “this
our salvation by faith,” or, with Milles, “this safety of
our Faith.” For the rendering in the text compare
Heb. iii. 1: ἀρχιερέα τῆς
ὁμολογίας
ἡμῶν. On εὑρεσιλογία,
see Polybius xviii. 29, § 3: διὰ τῆς προς
ἀλλήλους
εὑρεσιλογίας.,
but on demonstration of the Holy Scriptures.