7. But the Jews contradict this There is so close a
resemblance between the remainder of this Lecture and the explanation
of the same Article of the Creed by Rufinus, that “I have no
doubt,” says the Benedictine Editor, “that Rufinus drew
from Cyril’s fountains.” Cf. Rufin. de
Symbolo, § 19, sqq., ever ready, as they are, to cavil, and
backward to believe; so that for this cause the Prophet just now read
says, Lord, who hath believed our report Isa. lii. 15.? Persians believe Cf. Acts ii. 9: Parthians and Medes and
Elamites. These Jewish converts of the day of Pentecost would
naturally be the first heralds of the Gospel in their respective
countries. On the dispersion of the Apostles, “Parthia,
according to tradition, was allotted to Thomas as his field of
labour” (Euseb. Hist. Eccl. III. 1; cf. I.
13). An earlier notice of the tradition is found in the
Clementine Recognitions, L. IX. c. 29, where the Pseudo-Clement
professes to have received a letter from “Thomas, who is
preaching the Gospel among them.”, and Hebrews believe not; they shall see,
to whom He was not spoken of, and they that have not heard shall
understand Rom. xv. 21, quoted from Isaiah, u
s., while they who
study these things shall set at nought what they study. They
speak against us, and say, “Does the Lord then suffer?
What? Had men’s hands power over His
sovereignty?” Read the Lamentations; for in those
Lamentations, Jeremias, lamenting you, wrote what is worthy of
lamentations. He saw your destruction, he beheld your downfall,
he bewailed Jerusalem which then was; for that which now
is Gal. iv. 25. shall not be
bewailed; for that Jerusalem crucified the Christ, but that which
now is worships Him. Lamenting then he says, The breath of
our countenance, Christ the Lord was taken in our
corruptions Lam. iv. 20: The breath of our
nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their
pits.. Am I then
stating views of my own? Behold he testifies of the Lord Christ
seized by men. And what is to follow from this? Tell me, O
Prophet. He says, Of whom we said, Under His shadow we shall
live among the nations Ibid.. For he
signifies that the grace of life is no longer to dwell in Israel, but
among the Gentiles.