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Lactantius
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Introductory Notice To Lactantius.
[898] So Jer. ii. 13.
[899] See Matt. xviii. 7; Luke xvii. 1; 1 Cor. xi. 19; 2 Pet. ii. 1.
[900] Concordiam.
[901] Lubrica.
[902] [N.B.—The Callistians, Novatians, etc.; vol. v. Elucidation XIV. p. 160; and Ibid., p. 319, 321–333.]
[903] Depravati sunt.
[904] The Phrygians were the followers of Montanus, who was the founder of a sect in the second century. He is supposed to have been a native of Ardaba, on the borders of Phrygia, on which account his followers were called the Phrygian or Cataphrygian heretics. Montanus gave himself out for the Paraclete or Comforter whom our Lord promised to send. The most eminent of his followers were Priscilla and Maximilla. [But see vol. ii. pp. 4 and 5; also vol. iii. and iv. this series, and notes on Tertullian, passim ]
[905] The Novatians were the followers of Novatus, in the third century, They assumed to themselves the title of Cathari, or the pure. They refused to re-admit to the ir communion those who had once fallen away, and allowed no place for repentance.
[906] The Valentinians were the followers of Valentinus, an Egyptian who founded a sect in the second century. His system somewhat resembled the Gnostics. He taught that Christ had a heavenly or spiritual body, and assumed nothing from the Virgin Mary.
[907] The Marcionites were the followers of Marcion, a heretic of the second century, who held the Oriental belief of two independent, eternal, co-existing principles, one of good, the other of evil. He applied this doctrine to Christianity. His chief opponent was Tertullian.
[908] The Anthropians held that Jesus Christ was nothing but man (ἄνθρωπος).
[909] This word is omitted by some editors, as Lactantius wrote before the Arian heresy had gained strength. [See vol. vi. p. 291.]
[910] This is directed against the Novatians. See preceding note on the Novatians, [and vol. v., this series, passim].
[911] Penetrale, “the interior of a house or temple.”
[912] Uberius. Others read “verius,” more truly; but the reading of the text is preferable.
[913] These words are omitted in some editions. The chapter is a kind of preface to the whole book, in which he complains that punishment has been inflicted on the Christians, without due inquiry into their cause. [Religious = superstitious. See p. 131, supra.]
[914] Jure humanitatis.
[915] Coacervant, “they heap up.”
[916] Mella.
[917] Virgil, Bucol., x. 8.
[918] There is a reference here to a well-known passage of Lucretius, i. 935: “As physicians, when they purpose to give nauseous wormwood to children, first smear the rim round the bowl with the sweet yellow juice of honey, that the unthinking age of children may be fooled as far as the lips, but though beguiled, not be betrayed.”
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