Tertullian

“ I venture to read, “Quod capit,” etc., taking “capit” as ="capax est.” “By these,” of course, is by wisdom and art; and “virtue” ="power.”↑ i.e., the Evil One.↑ i.e., may learn to know.↑ Oehler’s “visus” seems to be a mistake for “vivus,” which is Migne’s reading; as in the fragment “De exsecrandis gentium diis,” we saw (sub. fin.) “videntem” to be a probable misprint for “viventem.” If, however, it is to be retained, it must mean “appearing” (i.e., in presence of God) “wholly,” in body as well as soul.↑ i.e., the double gift of a saved soul and a saved body.↑ In æternum. ”

“ He possibly may lurk unseen. At length
50 The soul’s Light [4] as the thrall of flesh is held;
The hope of the despairing, mightier
Than foe, enters the lists; the Fashioner,
The Renovator, of the body He;
True Glory of the Father; Son of God;
55 Author unique; a Judge and Lord He came,
The orb’s renowned King; to the opprest
Prompt to give pardon, and to loose the bound;
Whose friendly aid and penal suffering
Blend God and renewed man in one. With child
60 Is holy virgin: life’s new gate opes; words
Of prophets find their proof, fulfilled by facts ”

“ The rendering in my text, I admit, involves an exceedingly harsh construction of the Latin, but I see not how it is to be avoided; unless either (1) we take nomen absolutely, and “ad Marcionis infima” together, and translate, “A name has carried you to Marcion’s lowest depths;” in which case the question arises, What name is meant? can it be the name “Electi”? ”

“ Can holy parent-love withstand; (lest else
305 Ill’s cause [44] should mightier prove than Power Supreme;)
That man even now saved by God’s gift, may learn [45]
(Mortal before, now robed in light immense
Inviolable, wholly quickened, [46] soul
And body) God, in virtue infinite,
310 In parent-love perennial, through His King
Christ, through whom opened is light’s way; and now,
Standing in new light, filled now with each gift, [47]
Glad with fair fruits of living Paradise,
May praise and laud Him to eternity, [48]
315 Rich in the wealth of the celestial hall. ”

“ And realms divided: ill’s cause is the Lord [12]
95 Who built the orb, fashioned breath-quickened flesh,
And gave the law, and by the seers’ voice spake.
Him he affirms not good, but owns Him just;
Hard, cruel, taking pleasure fell in war ”

“ It seems to me that the “his” is an ablative here, the men being regarded for the moment as merely instruments, not agents; but it may be a dative ="to these he preaches,” etc., i.e., he dictates to them what they afterwards are to teach in public.↑ It must be borne in mind that “Dominus” (the Lord) , and “Deus” (God) , are kept as distinct terms throughout this piece.↑ i.e., for which reason.↑ i.e., as Marcion is stated by some to have taught, in the fifteenth year of Tiberius; founding his statement upon a perverted reading of Luke iii. 1. It will be remembered that Marcion only used St. ”

“ See Col. ii. 14, 15.↑ i.e., the Enemy.↑ i.e., with the Holy Spirit, the “Pledge” or “Promise” of the Father (see Acts i. 4, 5) , “outpoured” upon “the peoples”—both Jewish and Gentile—on the day of Pentecost and many subsequent occasions; see, for instances, Acts x. and xix.↑ The “mirandæ virtutis opus, invisaque facts,” I take to be the miracles wrought by the apostles through the might (virtus) of the Spirit, as we read in the Acts. These were objects of “envy” to the Enemy, and to such as—like Simon Magus, of whom we find record—were his servants.↑ i.e., excommunicated, as Marcion was. ”