in the name of the Lord, we have become new creatures, formed again from the beginning. Wherefore in our habitation God truly dwells in us. How? His word of faith; His calling[1] of promise; the wisdom of the statutes; the commands of the doctrine; He himself prophesying in us; He himself dwelling in us; opening to us who were enslaved by death the doors of the temple, that is, the mouth; and by giving us repentance introduced us into the incorruptible temple.[2] He then, who wishes to be saved, looks not to man,[3] but to Him who dwelleth in him, and speaketh in him, amazed at never having either heard him utter such words with his mouth, nor himself having ever desired to hear them.[4] This is the spiritual temple built for the Lord.
Chap. xvii.—Conclusion of the first part of the epistle.
As far as was possible, and could be done with perspicuity, I cherish the hope that, according to my desire, I have omitted none[5] of those things at present [demanding consideration], which bear upon your salvation. For if I should write to you about things future,[6] ye would not understand, because such knowledge is hid in parables. These things then are so.
Chap. xviii.—Second part of the epistle. The two ways.
But let us now pass to another sort of knowledge and doctrine. There are two ways of doctrine and authority, the
- ↑ Cod. Sin. reads, "the calling."
- ↑ Cod. Sin. gives the clauses of this sentence separately, each occupying a line.
- ↑ That is, the man who is engaged in preaching the gospel.
- ↑ Such is the punctuation adopted by Hefele, Dressel, and Hilgenfeld.
- ↑ Cod. Sin. reads, "my soul hopes that it has not omitted anything."
- ↑ Cod. Sin., "about things present or future." Hilgenfeld's text of this passage is as follows: "My mind and soul hopes that, according to my desire, I have omitted none of the things that pertain to salvation. For if I should write to you about things present or future," etc. Hefele gives the text as above, and understands the meaning to be, "points bearing on the present argument."
