fays, that the apoftles in mentioning the fubjection of Chrift to the Father (1 Cor. xv.) fpake of him more lowly than was neceffary for their advantage *."

Ecumenius allo fays, that " Peter in his "firft fpeech, though by faying that Chrift rofe according to the flesh, he intimated that " he was God, yet refers all to the Father,

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"that he might draw his hearers *." Again, he obferves, that he faid" the Father, and not "Chrift, promised that appearance by Joelt." On another part of his fpeech, in which mention is made of God glorifying his Son Jefus, he fays, "he fpake humbly concerning him ."

Quoting Theodoret, he "calls low dif "courfe's concerning Chrift the first ele"ments. To those who were not capable "of a perfect faith, the preachers of the "gofpel offered what relates to the huma"nity of Chrift. Thus the bleffed Peter "preaching to the Jews, measures his doc"trine by the weakness of his hearers. For he fays, Jefus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you. And ye "have need, he fays, from negligence, "not being fuch (i. e. perfect) of milk, "not of ftrong meat. He calls low dif

* Και παλινάω πατρι ανατίθησι το γεγονος. οιδε γαρ στω τις ακροατας επισπωμένος. Oecumen, vol. 1. p. 21. + Κατ αρχας μεν γαρ τον πρωτα [παλεξα] ελεγεν κ τον χρισον απαγγειλάθαι τετο δια Ιωήλ ο προφητε. Vol.1. p.21. * Ελ των ταπεινότερων εχεται δια τι ειπειν κα ιδια δυναμει θαυμαλέργησαι τω προσθείναι τον παιδα. ε γας το αυτοδοξασον εκε προσθηκην δόξης λαβειν. Ibid. p. 28.

"courfes concerning Chrift, those that re"late to the flesh, milk, and strong meat " for the perfect, difcourfes concerning the divinity of Chrift. For those, there

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fore, who were babes in faith, there was "need of low difcourfes, as milk is fit "for babes; but for the perfect in faith, "there was need of ftrong meat, the fublime philosophy concerning Christ. Every “ one, he fays, who partakes of milk, that “ is, every one, who wants thefe low "difcourfes concerning the humanity of "Chrift (for they are milk) is unfkilful, "and not a partaker of the word of righte "oufness. By the word of righteousness, "he means the doctrine of the divinity of « Chrift, &c.*”

* ΑΛΛΟ. τοιχεία της αρχής των λογιών τε θες, τις ταπεινότερες περι χρισε λογος εκάλεσε. τοις γαρ μηδε πω την πιςιν εσχηκοσι τέλειαν, τα περι της ανθρωποιηθος προσέφερον μονα, της αληθείας οι κηρυκες . ε ως ο μακαριος Πείρος Ιεδαίοις δημηγορων εμείρησε την διδασκαλίαν τη ασθένεια των ακεονίων. Ιησεν γαρ, εφη, τον Ναζωραίον, άνδρα απο τ8 θες αποδεδειγμένον εις υμας. Και γεγονάλε χρειαν εχον Ἷες. Αυτοι γεγοναῖε, φησιν, εκ ραθυμίας, εκ ούλες τοι&ίοι, γαλακίος - τερεας τροφέως. γαλα λέγει τις ταπεινές περι χρισε λογος, τις περι της σαρκος : σέρεαν δε τροφήν, τις τέλειες της περι της θεοληλος αυτε τοις εν ετι νηπίοις την πίσιν, εδει λόγων ταπεινών (κατάλληλον γαρ τοῖς νηπεοις το γαλα) τοις δε τελείοις την πίτιν, της τερεάς τροφής και της

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υψηλή

Having called difcourfes concerning "the humanity of Chrift, the first principles; "and those concerning his divinity perfection, left they should defpond, as not

being worthy of the most perfect dif "courses, he endeavours to give them those "that were perfect. And he says so, but "not in the fame fenfe in which he had « ufed the word perfect

before, for they “ were not able to bear it. But he difpofes σε his difcourfe in another manner, caling "first principles, baptifin, the impofition of

Commenting on Heb. v. 7. he was heard, "in that he feared, Ecumenius fays, "this " he said on account of the weakness of his

"hearers *." And again, fpeaking of God having raifed up Chrift, he fays, "the di"vine Paul often speaks in a low style; say"ing, That the Father raised up Chrift +."

Theophylact, commenting on Heb. i. says, "Why did he not say that Christ spake "to us? It was both because they were "weak, and not yet able to hear concerning "Chrift, and to fhew, that the Old and the "New Testament have the fame author ‡."

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