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Arnobius. a. D. 4G0. 479
16. The author of" the epistle to the Hebrews s|)eaks
much of Christ's priesthood : Arnobius also has the expression
of" Christ's hih-priesthoo(l. In Ileb. ix. 0, are
the words " eternal spirit :" Arnobius has a like expression.
I refer to a passage, which" may be consulted for both
these particulars. But I somewhat question, whether any
will think our author h;:d an eye to the epistle to the
Hebrews.
17. It may be proper to observe here, thatP in one place
Arnobius speaks of the burning- of the christian scriptures,
and complains of it as a most unreasonable thing.
18. This is all which we have to produce from this writer
upon this head. We have seen good evidence of his beingwell
acquainted with the gospels. And it is likely that he
had read, and highly respected, the other books of the New
Testament, generally received by christians. But he did
not judge it proper to quote expressly, and as of authority,
any books of scripture, in an argument with heathens.
V. I shall now, as formerly proposed, make some extracts
out of the other Arnobius's Commentaries upon the Psalms.
But a few particulars will sufKce out of so late a writer,
who flourished not till about the year 460. I shall take it
for granted, that he received the Old Testament, and those
books of the New, which were always received by all chris-
tians in g'eneral. I shall only observe some passages, relating"
to such books, or parts of books, of the New Testament,
which have been denied, or disputed by some, together with
a few other remarkable things.
1. There are in these Commentaries some indications,
that 1' there still were heathens, who practised their idolatrous
rites and ceremonies.
2. He magnifies the speedy progress of the gospel in this
manner: ' For"^ many ages God was known in Judea only.
But upon the coming of Christ, the word of the Lord ran
swiftly from the east to the west, from the Indies to Britain.'
° That passage is quoted already, p. 473. note "'.
p Nam nostra quidem scripta cur ignibus meruerunt dari ? cur iinmauiter
conventicula dirui ? 1. iv. p. 152. f.
1 Usque hodie gentes fremunt adversus Christum, qui idohs fiiiem imposuit.
Arnob. in Ps. ii. p. 3. Basil. 1560. In Libano sacrificantes usque hodie turpissimae
Veneri, vitulorum virilia aniputant, et in ejus sacrificio hujusmodi
incensa supponunt : mercedem quam oportuit erroris sui, dese suas exhibent
meretrici. In Ps. xxviii. p. 64. Vid. et in Ps. ix. p. 17.
' Et tam velociter currit sermo ejus, ut, cum per tot iriillia annorum in sola
Judaea notus fuerit Deus, nunc, intra paucos annos, nee ipsos Indos lateat a
parte Orientis, nee ipsos Britones a parte occidentis : ubique cucurrit velociter
sermo ejus. In Ps. cxlvii. p. 443. Sicut enim ecclcsiae in toto mundo pos.te
civitates sanctorum sunt. In Ps. ix. p. 17.