Chapter VIII. I Salute Him Who Is Reckoned Worthy to Go to Antioch in My Stead, as I Commanded Thee · Chapter XIV. The Work Is Not of Promise, Unless a Man Be Found in the Power of Faith, Even to the End

Chapter XIX

Page 232 of 830

There was concealed from the ruler of this world the virginity of Mary and the birth of our Lord, and the three renowned mysteries¹¹⁵⁸ which were done in the tranquillity of God from the star. And here, at the manifestation of the Son, magic began to be destroyed, and all bonds were loosed; and the ancient kingdom and the error of evil was destroyed. Henceforward all things were moved together, and the destruction of death was devised, and there was the commencement of that which was perfected in God.¹¹⁵⁹

Notes

1158
Literally, "the mysteries of the shout." The meaning is here confused and obscure. See the Greek.
1159
Chaps. xx. and xxi. of the Greek are altogether wanting in the Syriac. [N.B.—See spurious Epistle to Philippians, cap. 4, infra. This concealment from Satan of the mystery of the incarnation is the explanation, according to the Fathers, of his tempting the Messiah, and prompting His crucifixion. Also, Christ the more profoundly humbled himself, "ne subtilis ille diaboli oculus magnum hoc pietatis deprehenderet sacramentum" (St. Bernard, opp. ii. 1944). Bernard also uses this opinion very strikingly (opp. ii. 1953) in one of his sermons, supposing that Satan discovered the secret too late for his own purpose, and then prompted the outcry, Come down from the cross, to defeat the triumph of the second Adam. (Comp. St. and St. , where, after the first defeat of the tempter, this demon suspects the second Adam, and tries to extort the secret).]

Chapter XIX

Page 232 of 830

Notes

1158
Literally, "the mysteries of the shout." The meaning is here confused and obscure. See the Greek.
1159
Chaps. xx. and xxi. of the Greek are altogether wanting in the Syriac. [N.B.—See spurious Epistle to Philippians, cap. 4, infra. This concealment from Satan of the mystery of the incarnation is the explanation, according to the Fathers, of his tempting the Messiah, and prompting His crucifixion. Also, Christ the more profoundly humbled himself, "ne subtilis ille diaboli oculus magnum hoc pietatis deprehenderet sacramentum" (St. Bernard, opp. ii. 1944). Bernard also uses this opinion very strikingly (opp. ii. 1953) in one of his sermons, supposing that Satan discovered the secret too late for his own purpose, and then prompted the outcry, Come down from the cross, to defeat the triumph of the second Adam. (Comp. St. and St. , where, after the first defeat of the tempter, this demon suspects the second Adam, and tries to extort the secret).]