A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 49. The Development of the Cultus 261who imitates what Christ did; and he then offers a true andfull sacrifice in the Church of God to God the Father when he [236]proceeds to offer it according to what he sees Christ himself tohave offered.Ch. 15. But the discipline of all religion and truth is overturnedunless what is spiritually prescribed be faithfully observed; unless,indeed, any one should fear in the morning sacrifices lestthe taste of wine should be redolent of the blood of Christ. 78Therefore, thus the brotherhood is beginning to be kept back fromthe passion of Christ in persecutions by learning in the offeringsto be disturbed concerning His blood and His blood-shedding.…But how can we shed our blood for Christ who blush to drink theblood of Christ?Ch. 16. Does any one perchance flatter himself with thisreflection—that, although in the morning water alone is seen tobe offered, yet when we come to supper we offer the mingledcup? But when we sup, we cannot call the people together forour banquet that we may celebrate the truth of the sacrament inthe presence of the entire brotherhood. But still it was not in themorning, but after supper that the Lord offered the mingled cup.Ought we, then, to celebrate the Lord's cup after supper, that soby continual repetition of the Lord's Supper we may offer themingled cup? It was necessary that Christ should offer about theevening of the day, that the very hour of sacrifice might show thesetting and the evening of the world as it is written in Exodus:“And all the people of the synagogue of the children of Israelshall kill it in the evening.” 79 And again in the Psalms: “Letthe lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.” 80 But wecelebrate the resurrection of the Lord in the morning.78 Reference to the possibility of detecting Christians in times of persecutionby the odor of wine which they had received in the eucharist early in themorning.79 Ex. 12:6.80 Psalm. 141:2.