Lactantius

Footnotes

^[853] The account, Ex. xii., makes no mention of colour. “Without spot” is equivalent to “without blemish.” [But the whiteness implied. “Without spot” excludes “the ring-streaked and speckled,” and a black lamb a fortiori — 1 Pet. i. 19. “Without spot” settles the case. Isa. i. 18 proves that the normal wool is white.]

^[854] Significatio.

^[855] ὰπο του̑ πάσχειν, “from suffering” The word “pascha” is not derived from Greek, as Lactantius supposes, but from the Hebrew “pasach,” to pass over.

^[856] [See book vii., and the Epitome, cap. li., infra.]

Chap. XXVII.—Of the Wonders Effected by the Power of the Cross, and of Demons.

^[857] Litant, a word peculiar to the soothsayers, used when the sacrifices are auspicious.

^[858] Virg., Georg., iii. 491.

^[859] Nostri, i.e., Christians.

^[860] Depingere; to make observations on the entrails of the victims, so as to foretell future events.

^[861] Prosecrârant. Others read “prosecârant,” a sacrificial word, properly denoting the setting apart some of the victim for offering to the gods.

^[862] Præsentibus pœnis, “on the spot.”

^[863] i.e., the sign of the cross, with which the early Christians frequently marked themselves. [So long as Christians were mocked and despised as followers of a crucified one, there was a silent testimony and bold confession in this act which must be wholly separated from the mere superstition of degenerate Christians. It used to mean just what the Apostle says, Gal. vi. 14. In this sense it is retained among Anglicans.]

^[864] [See vol. iii. pp. 37, 176, 180, and iv. 189–190.]

^[865] [The cessation of oracles is attested by Plutarch. See also Tertullian, vol. iii. p. 38, this series, and Minucius, vol. iv. p. 190. Demonology needs further exposition, for Scripture is express in its confirmation of patristic views of the subject.]

^[866] There is probably a reference to Iliad, i. 221, where Athene is represented as going to Olympus:—

ἡ δ' Οὔλυπόνδε βεβήκει

δώματ' ἐς αιγιόχοιο Διὸς μετὰ δαίμονας ἄλλους

^[867] Ut errores hominibus immittant.

^[868] Per diversa regionum. There is another reading, “perversâ religione”—by perverted religion.

^[869] The reference is to necromancy, or calling up the spirits of the dead by magic rites.

^[870] There is another reading: “qui de Deo patre omnia, et de filio locutus est multa;” but this is manifestly erroneous.

Chap. XXVIII.—Of Hope and True Religion, and of Superstition.

^[871] So our Lord, John xvii. 3: “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.”

^[872] [“ Hoc vinculo pietatis obstricti Deo et religati sumus.” He returns to this in the same chapter, infra.]

^[873] A religendo. There is little doubt that the true derivation of “religio” is from religere, not from religare According to this, the primary meaning is, “the dwelling upon a subject, and continually recurring to it.”

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