Understand, then, ye children of gladness,
that the good Lord has foreshown all things to
us, that we might know to whom we ought for
everything to render thanksgiving and praise.
If therefore the Son of God, who is Lord [of
all things], and who will judge the living and
the dead, suffered, that His stroke might give
us life, let us believe that the Son of God could
not have suffered except for our sakes. More-
over, when fixed to the cross, He had given
Him to drink vinegar and gall. Hearken how
the priests of the people '- gave previous indica-
tions of this. His commandment having been
written, the Lord enjoined, that whosoever did
not keep the fast should be put to death, be-
cause He also Himself was to offer in sacrifice