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NovATus. A. D. 251. 113
Matthew's gospel. ' Iliin,' says*^ he, ' the ancient prophecies,
as Avell as the gospels, testify to be the son of Abraham,
and the Son of David.' Here is probably a reference to
the first chapter of St. Matthew's gospel. The words of
Matt. i. 23. are'*' quoted by him in another place. Once
more :
' So '^ Christ himself says ; " Lo, I am with you unto
the end of the m orld :" ' chap, xxviii. 20.
2. To St. Mark's gospel there are very few, if any, references.
However, we may take a passage or two to be considered.
' If >' it belong- to God only to forgive sins, Christ
forgiveth sins:' see Mark ii. 5, 6, 7. ' God' is not worshipped
by the belly, nor with meats, which the Lord says
perish, and are purged in the draught, according to the
course of nature :' See Mark vii. 19.
3. ' They'^ also urge and insist upon what is said in the
gospel of Luke : " The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee ; therefore
that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be
called the Son of God :" chap. i. 35.
4. ' For'' " and the word," says John, " was made flesh,
and dwelled among us:" ' John i. 14. This'^ gospel is expressly
quoted as John's several times by this writer.
5. The book of the Acts of the Apostles is no where expressly
quoted, or very plainly referred to, in the remaining
pieces of Novatus : but it may be reckoned probable that he
has an eye to the history contained in the first chapters of
that book when he ' says ; The'' Holy Spirit, the comforter,
whom Christ had promised to the disciples, is he who explained
to them the evangelic mysteries, and illuminated
them with the knowledge of divine things ; by whom being'
" Hunc enim Abrahae filium, hunc David, hunc non minus et velera prae-
dicta et evangelia testantur. De Regula Fidei, cap. 9. p. 58.
" Et vocabitis nomen ejus Emmanuel, quod est interpretatum, Nobiscum
Deas. lb. cap. 24. [al. 19.] p. 186 '^ Sic Christus ipse
dicit, Ecce ego vobiscum sum usque ad consummationem seculi. cap. 12. p. 87.
y Quod si, cum nullius sit, nisi Dei, peccata dimittere, idem Christus peccata
dimittit. De Reg. Fid. c. 1-3. p. 97, 98.
^ Deus ventre non colitur, nee cibis, quos Dominus dicit perire, et in secessu
naturali lege purgari. De Cib. Jud. cap. 5. p. 275.
* Proponunt enim atque ilia praetendunt, quae in evangelio Lucse relata sunt,
—Spiritus Sanctus veniet in te De Reg. Fid. cap. 24. [al. 19.] p. 186.
^ Nam, Et Verbum, inquit Joannes, caro factum est, et inhabitavit in nobis.
lb. c. 10. p. 74.
De Reg. Fid. cap. 13. init.
'^ Ac sic Joannes nativitatem Christi describens.
Si enim Joannes dicit. Omnia per ipsum facta
sunt. cap. 17. [al. 25.] init. et passim.
^ Hie est enim qui evangelica sacramenta distinxit, qui in ipsis inlumi-
nator rerum divinarum fuit, quo confirmati pro nomine Domini nee carceres
nee vinculatirauemnt; quinimo ipsas seculi potestates et torraenta calcaverunt
lb. c 29. p. 220.
VOL. III. I