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Lactantius. a. U. 306. 529
(10.) He says the'" prophets were inspired, and tliey tanoht
tlie worship of one God only. Again, "^Ihey Mere sent that"
they nii*>ht teach men just sentiments coneernin' the divine
glory and majesty. They" were also sent to reprove and
reform mankind, and to'' foretell things to eome, partieularly
concerning the Christ: that when he appeared, men ujight
believe in him.
(11.) He frequently asserts^ the antiquity of the Jewish
prophets.
(12.) He observes, that"^ the ])rophets often declare in
what kings' reigns they lived and prophesied.
(13.) He calls their scriptures* sacred and divine.
2. We are not, for the reason before hinted, to expect the
like plain citations of the New Testament. Nev(Mtheless, it
may be discerned, that he received most of the books in
that collection as scripture, or writings of authority. But
his reserved manner will oblige to a greater prolixity in
making" this out, than otherwise would have been necessary.
(1.) In the passage produced not long' ago, Ave saw distinct
mention made by him of the New, as well as the Old
Testament.
(2.) 1 would likewise here refer to, and transcribe in the
margin, as a general passage concerning the New Testament,
what Lactantius says of one of those persons, who at the
beginning of Dioclesian's persecution A^rote against the
christians. Lactantius informs us, 'that" this writer endea-
" Prophetae, qui fuerimt admodum multi, iinum Deura praedicant, unum
loquuiitur ; qiiippe qui unius Dei spiritu pleni. 1. i. c. 4. in.
" Idcirco enim a Deo mittebantur, ut praecones essent majestalis ejus, et
conectores pravitatis humanae. J. i. c. 4. in.
° Propterea Deus prophetas ad eos raisit, divino spiritu adimpletos, qui illis
peccata exprobrarent, et poenitentiani indicerent. Epit. c. 43. Vid. et Inst.
1. iv. c. 11. in.
P Ideo prophetas ante praemisit, qui de adventu ejus pradicarent, ut, cum
facta essent in eo quaecunque praedicata sunt, tunc ab hominibus et Dei Filius
et Deus crederetur. Epit. cap. 49.
i quorum sane ultiuius Zacharias fuit.—Quae omnia eo profero, ut
errorem suuiii sentiant, qui scnpturani Sviuctam coarguere nituntur, tanquam
novam et recens fictani, 1. iv, c. 5. sub tin. Salomonem, patremque ejus
David, potentissimos reges fuisse, et cosdem prophetas quorum alter, qui
posterius regnavit, Trojanae urbis excidium centum et quadraginta annis antecessit.
I. iv. c. 8. p. .372. Vid. Epit. c. 42.—initium facientes a propheta
Moyse, qui Trojanum bellum nongentis fere annis antecessit. 1. iv. c. 5. p. 359.
''
Teslati sunt enim, sub quo quisque rege divini spiritus fuerit passus in-
stinctuni. i. iv. c. 5. p. 359. * Sicut sacrae literae decent, 1. ii.
c. 12. p. 210. quod divinis literis proditum. ib. ut sanctae literae decent, ib.
p. 212. Vid. 1. iv. c. 8. p. 372. ' See p. 52 7.
" Composuit enim hbellos duos, non contra christianos, —sed ad
christianos in quibus ita talsitatem scripturae sacrae arguere conatus est,
tanquam sibi esset tota contraria. Nam quaedam capita, quae repugnare sibi
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