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Lactantius. a. D, 306. 533
relate our Lord's burial, and the military gniard at tlie sepul-
chre, and his resurrection on the third day, as he had foretold.'
(8.) Ot" all these things he speaks ag-ain suniuinrily in
the'' Epitome. And in another chapter ot" the*^^ Institutions
he mentions many ot'our I^ord's miracles.
(.9.) That whole history just transcribed, is plainly taken
from our gospels. And though, perhaps, it is not so easy to
distinguish references to St. Mark's gospel, as to the other
three, yet I suppose most will allow, that here is good
proof of his receiving- our four gospels, as authentic his-
tories of Jesus Christ.
(10.) in the Epitome he seems to allude to the parable of
the pharisee and the j)ublican, which we have in Lukexviii.
9— 14. ' For' humility, ' says he, ' is dear and acceptable
to God. And if he rather accepts a confessing sinner, than
a proud, righteous man; how much more will he approve a
righteous man who confesseth his failings, and exalt him
ill his heavenly kingdom for his humility !'
(11.) He likewise says, ' that» God has commanded us,
when we make a feast, to invite such as cannot invite us
again, and make us a recompence :' referring', I think, to
Luke xiv. 12.
(12.) He must be allowed now and then to use expressions
allusive to the gospels. He speaks of' having- the mind, or
heart in heaven. Comj)are Matt. vi. 21. Again :
' That' we
may be able to do all these things, we must despise riches,
and lay up to ourselves heavenly treasures, where no thief
may break through, nor rust corrupt, nor tyrant plunder.'
See Matt. vi. 19, 20.
(13.) He may be reckoned likewise to refer to'' what is in
Matt. V. 27—32.
lucem, terrae motu facto, repente patefactum est sepulcrum, et custodibus, qiios
attonitos obstupefecerat pavor, nihil videnfibixs, integer sepnlchro ac vivus
egressus, in sepnlchro vero nihil repertum est, nisi exuviae, quibus
in v'olufum corpus incluserant. ib. c. 19. p. 417.